Author Archive
06.26.2014
Go Visit a Gwinnett Farmer's Market!
The vegetable garden season is in full swing and although I can’t boast my first homegrown tomato yet, but we’ve been enjoying strawberries, blackberries and wineberries by the bowl. And I just might make my annual July 4th tomato target this year with a nice juicy BLT sandwich! If the hot summer months and the mountains of office work have kept you out of the garden this year, don’t despair. There are plenty of homegrown everything to be had right here in Gwinnett County during prime farmers market season! You might just pick up a jar of local honey, a loaf of sprouted grain bread and some fresh milk too. Below is a convenient list of the farmers markets which have been around awhile. Would love to hear of others which have sprung up too! (I know, bad pun…) Gwinnett County Farmers’ Markets Auburn – Burel Park Pavilion Weds (2- 6 pm) June 4 – Sept 24 gcvb.org Dacula – 2225 Givens Rd. Saturdays (9 am – 1 pm) ranchoalegrefarm.com Lawrenceville – Historic Lawrenceville Saturdays (8 am – noon) June – Sept. lawrencevillefarmersmarket.com Lilburn – Greenway Trail Parking Lot Fridays (4 – 8 pm) lilburnfarmersmarket.org Norcross – Whistle Stop Farmers […]
03.13.2014
March is for Lettuce!
Early spring in Metro Atlanta is the perfect time to plant lettuce, greens and spinach. The cool temps and the warm sunshine will put lettuce on your dinner plate in just 30 to 45 days! Better yet, plant successively (every week) through the end of April to enjoy bountiful , succulent lettuce right up until the days heat up in June. (It’s also the perfect spring gift!) Here are my best lettuce pointers. Types of Lettuce There are basically four types of lettuce: crisphead, butterhead, romaine, and looseleaf. I don’t bother with crisphead; that’s iceberg which has no nutritional value. Butterhead varieties are great because they form smaller, looser heads that are tender, hence the name. Romaine grows upright in a loose, cylinder form. Looseleaf is my favorite because it is exactly what it sounds like; loose leaves of lettuce. Loose leaf has the advantage of being a “cut and come again” crop which means you can cut it ½” above the soil and have another crop growing from the same roots in a matter of weeks. Translation – several harvests from one planting. Plants or Seeds? Skip the lettuce plants and go for seeds. The plants are usually already […]
