Celebrating Carrot History and Diversity
Once upon a time, before carrots gained their iconic orange hue, they were wild things—bitter, pale, and purple. Some say they were so earthy-tasting that even rabbits rolled their eyes. …
carrots
Carrots: The Root of Health
My eldest stepson came into my life like a whirlwind. He was a wild and beautiful child, never still, always dirty, charming and provocative. He regarded me, with just suspicion, …
Forget Chocolate Think Celery
Valentine’s Day, it turns out, owes a lot to Geoffrey Chaucer, the 14th-century author of The Canterbury Tales. It was Geoffrey who pointed out – in a 1375 poem titled …
Deformed Carrots? Here’s What Your Garden Soil is Trying to Tell You
Last spring, I practiced crop rotation and moved where I generally plant my carrots to a much lower raised garden bed. Later this summer I pulled up what I thought …
Lamb Shank Shepherd’s Pie
During a trip to London, I discovered something remarkable at The King's Head tavern – a shepherd's pie that completely transformed my understanding of this humble dish. Unlike the traditional …
Classic Shepherd’s Pie Casserole
Growing up, shepherd's pie was more than just dinner in our house – it was a signal that winter was slowly giving way to spring, appearing most often around St. …
Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Every year after Thanksgiving, as I survey the landscape of leftover turkey in my refrigerator, I'm reminded that sometimes the best recipes come from necessity. This turkey shepherd's pie was …
What to Plant in January in Zones 9-10
Lucky you! While gardeners in other zones are huddled inside with their seed catalogs, January in zones 9-10 feels more like spring in most other places. With daytime temperatures typically …
What to Plant in January in Zones 7-8
January in zones 7-8 brings average temperatures ranging from 20°F to 40°F (-6°C to 4°C), with occasional dips below freezing and the odd warm spell. While it's not prime planting …
How to Plant a Food Garden According to Your Palate
Winter is the season of garden planning, and once the holidays are over, I like to sit down and dream about what my garden will look like in the spring …
