Happy first day (ish) of Spring out there! Are you expecting snow where you live today? We are here in Calgary, and that is par for the course in Spring. But, I am considering starting my tomato plants and perhaps a few others to make my kitchen window lively and green again. Plus, I have a bunch of new blog entries in the works for you... really I do! 


In the meantime, my friend and dietitian/nutritionist Andrea posted a great article on her blog about kids and veggies that I would like to share. Take a read! I hope you enjoy!


http://www.healthstandnutrition.com/blog/archives/973

Summertime

A few blogs ago, I mentioned my love, my adoration, my complete and utter eagerness for when the days turn warm. When the scents of blooming flowers fill the air and I can look out over my yarden (yard & garden) to see the fruits and vegetables of our labour. Much to our surprise this year, our Community Garden Plot has really taken-off, and our new varietals of salad greens are huge! Short are these days, but abundant are the verdant hope filled surprises of soon-to-be peas, tomatoes and beans. Take a look at just some of the food our little space in the city will offer up this year...

 

Tomato Blossoms

Lettuce Harvest

Our Community Garden Plot

Rhubarb

Nasturtiums

Deck Tomatoes

Sunflowers, in a few weeks

Mustard Flowers

A Case of The Februarys

Sunshine! Lime Green Salad Varietal Tomatoes From Casey's 

February is not my favorite month. I dream of sunshine and often suffer from that "getaway" feeling. You know, where if you don't getaway to somewhere else, you might tell your colleagues, friends and family to get away from you... Anyway, Spring & Summer here in Calgary are short, and I like to harness some of that delicious brightness by growing some of my own veggies. I started with just a little tomato pot here and there, then moved to a 2' x 5' box, and now I have rented a garden plot from my Community Garden. Last year we had a plethora of potatoes, swiss chard, lettuces, carrots, and kale. It was amazing what that little plot produced for us. To augment the garden supply of veggies, I also lovingly tended to heirloom tomatoes that I started from seed. My seeds came from a fantastic community seed event called Seedy Saturday, and Casey's Heirloom Tomatoes of Airdrie. My unique tomatoes were so beautiful and interesting, and truly tasted amazing. They were perfect in salads, bruschetta, and even just on their own with a little Himalayan pink sea salt. 


A friend recently gave me a cookbook that was compiled by some of her friends and family, and the community of Nelson, BC. (Check it out if you are ever there; Seasonings: A Year of Local Flavour in Words and Recipes). In it, there was a wonderful ode to tomatoes, written by Antonia Banyard. Here is just an excerpt...

JD's Special C-Tex Varietal From Casey's 

"You have flushed with new colours. The light bounces off your curves. The lines on your skin darken from white to yellow to orange. Your smells are so familiar, I could find you with my eyes closed. I know every blemish and wrinkle, every scar. Some of you are misshapen or maturing too quickly. I will keep all of you. I will wait until you ripen. I will take you all in." 

Can you smell that terrific, oh-so-Summer scent of those tomatoes yet? I can't wait for Seedy Saturday to get started on growing some new varietals.