Food Gardening Network

Growing food, fun & more

October 2024

At The Gate

As October arrives and the leaves turn to fiery reds, golds, and oranges, we find ourselves in one of the most magical times of year in the garden. There’s a crispness in the air that reminds us change is coming, but for now, the garden is still ablaze with late-season blooms, the last flush of vegetables, and the peaceful, rhythmic dance of falling leaves.   READ MORE right arrow

Club Notes

The Rise of the Compost Connoisseurs

Ladies and gentlemen, gather ‘round and let me regale you with a tale of modern alchemy. No, we’re not turning lead into gold here—something far more practical, I assure you. I’m talking about the humble, yet transformative, act of composting.  READ MORE right arrow

Filching Fruit in France

I knew I would get into trouble when I agreed to lead a tour through the south of France this past summer, and I thought I had already achieved my goal when my wife left her hairbrush behind.   READ MORE right arrow

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

In the heartwarming glow of Autumn, there's hardly a figure more iconic than the Great Pumpkin from the beloved TV special, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" This classic piece of animation not only captures the essence of Fall but also echoes the anticipation and delight that comes with the season.  READ MORE right arrow

Fallen Apples

My brother's birthday is in the autumn. He celebrates it with first visits to the beach, anticipation of summer, delight in spring. The children, he tells me, are looking forward to the long, hot holidays and their traditional Christmas barbecue.   READ MORE right arrow

Growing Points

Shep Ogden, the fellow who started The Cook’s Garden seed company, happened to drop by last Summer, the day after the neighbor’s cows broke through the fence and chomped all my two-foot corn plants down to three-inch ones. I was, at the time, definitely not a happy gardener.  READ MORE right arrow

A Perfect Fall Day

Growing up, my great-aunt owned an apple orchard. To me, it was a place of magic and wonder. The gnarled apple trees, stretching as far as the eye could see, looked like a scene from The Wizard of Oz. But there were no wicked witches there, although there was a scarecrow or two.  READ MORE right arrow

PLANTS WE LOVE

The Humble Peanut

Peanuts, or groundnuts, have a story richer than the creamiest peanut butter. Originating in South America over 3,500 years ago, they traveled to North America via early Spanish explorers.  READ MORE right arrow

Garlic: The Tiny Bulb with Big Flavor

Once upon a time, in a little village nestled in the heart of Italy, there was a gardener named Giuseppe who had a peculiar obsession with garlic. His garden was filled with rows upon rows of garlic, their green shoots reaching for the sky and their bulbs growing plump beneath the earth.  READ MORE right arrow

The Tale of the Great Pumpkin

Once upon a time, in the fertile fields of the Americas, there grew a plant that would become the centerpiece of Fall festivities, the delight of pies, and the guardian of Halloween porches everywhere: the humble pumpkin.  READ MORE right arrow

STORIES FROM THE GARDEN

The Blue Devil’s Garden

Burt Freeman was positively potty about plants. He'd been a plantsman all his life, and now retired, he could spend his time following his favorite horticultural pursuits. Burt liked to run a tight ship in the garden.  READ MORE right arrow

The Mischievous Garlic

Garlic possesses a certain slyness. At first glance, it appears innocent enough—a mere bulb, unassuming and straightforward. Yet, beneath its unpretentious exterior lies a mischievous nature.  READ MORE right arrow

Autumn Garden Tales: Harvesting Joy with Grandkids

Ah, the warmth of October's sun in eastern North Carolina, where Fall is just a whisper and the joy is as abundant as the laughter of grandchildren. Join me on a delightful journey through my daughter Sarah's garden, where the soil is rich, the sun is gentle, and the stories unfold like petals in the breeze.  READ MORE right arrow

Long-Legged Beauty

Preparing for the first storm of the season, I readied myself to stow away the lawnmower and garden tools in the storage container—an inheritance from a former boyfriend who had found it on Craigslist. The backend of an old U-Haul truck, it housed an assortment of seasonal items.  READ MORE right arrow

They Call Me Mr. Stan

After thirty years in law enforcement, retirement didn't mean hanging up my boots. Unexpectedly, my best post-retirement gig turned out to be a garden, where I became the volunteer gardener.  READ MORE right arrow

Bees in the Barn

From the moment we laid eyes on our quirky 1800s farmhouse with its sprawling barn and picturesque five-acre property, my husband Henry and I knew we were in for an adventure. Little did we anticipate that our journey would involve unexpected bee tenants and a charming twist of fate.  READ MORE right arrow

Autumn Delights

You sense that familiar chill in the air, a gentle reminder that the seasons are shifting. Leaves cascade down in a vibrant display, painting the ground with hues of gold and crimson. Despite the lingering warmth of sunny days, there's a quiet acknowledgment in our hearts that our cherished growing season is drawing to a close.  READ MORE right arrow

GARDEN TO TABLE JOURNEYS

A Culinary Journey Down the Danube

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the rippling Danube, my wife Gail and I found ourselves aboard a charming riverboat, slowly gliding toward Budapest. The air was filled with the promise of a magical evening, and the anticipation of a five-course Hungarian feast for two that would make our journey truly unforgettable.  READ MORE right arrow

Hungarian Goulash and Herb Dumplings

It was a splendid Midsummer evening in Budapest, where my friend Marguerite treated Gail and me to an unforgettable dinner overlooking the majestic Danube. Marguerite, an Irish soul with a passion for Hungarian agriculture, had become a beloved figure in Budapest.  READ MORE right arrow

Hungarian Cucumber Salad

>Once upon a sun-drenched summer day, my wife Gail and I embarked on a delightful adventure through the picturesque countryside of hungry. Our destination: a local farm with an inviting restaurant that promised farm-to-table delights.  READ MORE right arrow

A Sweet Symphony of Hungarian Creams

As the sun dipped below the historic skyline of Budapest, my wife Gail and I found ourselves on the enchanting streets of this vibrant city, on a mission to discover the delightful world of Hungarian creams. Our evenings became a magical journey filled with laughter, warmth, and the exquisite taste of these heavenly desserts.  READ MORE right arrow

A Gastronomic Journey Through Hungarian Wines

Ah, the memories of our enchanting visit to the Faust Wine Cellar in Budapest still linger like the notes of a fine Hungarian wine. The atmosphere was nothing short of magical, nestled beneath the Budapest Hilton and the ancient walls of the Buddha Castle.  READ MORE right arrow

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