One of my other creative pursuits is participating in a friendly Instagram “Plate Off” competition (@plate.off). This was my entry for December’s competition themed Holiday Cocktail Hour. The poppyseed bread pictured was baked by my future mother-in-law.
Author Archives: alexstubbz
House plants
House plants are a great way to bring nature inside. Living greenery can add a touch of warmth and relaxation to a room in a way that other decorative elements can’t quite match. I think we can all agree that we can use some additional stress relief this year. House plants are great for this. …
Hand Tool Maintenance
Taking care of your gardening tools is important for food safety, plant health, and tool longevity. Some of the key maintenance tasks for gardening tools include sanitizing, oiling, and sharpening. Sanitizing your tools helps protect against spreading plant diseases from plant to plant and from contracting a food illness if being used on food plants. …
Playing with Pumpkins
‘Tis the season for pumpkin spice, pumpkin pie, and decorating our porches with this marvelous orange gourd! Though I did not grow any pumpkins this year, my boyfriend and I did buy a couple of these seasonal squash for carving. In a year that’s been far from usual, it’s been nice to turn to some …
Winter Veggies
As fall approaches, you may have noticed some of your garden veggies have slowed down. The leaves may look a little crispy or droopy or they’re starting to yellow. At this point in the season, it probably doesn’t have to do with watering. Plants that went into the ground back in May or June are …
Sheet Mulching
So you want to ditch your lawn? We decided to ditch ours this summer (well, most of it). It was one of numerous projects we had planned for our yard this year, and if possible, we wanted to keep the cost of the project lower by doing the labor ourselves. After a little research and …
Garden Fresh Pico de Gallo
Making your own pico de gallo salsa is an easy way to spice up your Taco Tuesday! With ripe tomatoes and jalapenos from your garden, the freshness and flavor of this salsa will out shine any store bought pico. If you grow your own onions and cilantro, even better! Pico de Gallo 3-4 ripe tomatoes …
Caprese Salad
Even as our summer garden wilts in the current heat wave, we are enjoying the last fruits of our labor and savoring each ounce of it! One of my favorite ways we’ve been enjoying our late summer produce is in caprese salads. By itself or on a crostini (really toasty bread), this is a delicious …
Visiting the Yisrael Family Urban Farm
In the midst of these difficult and uncertain times, an interest in growing one’s own food is seeing a renewed fervor. Many home gardeners are posting pictures of their freshly planted vegetable gardens with the caption #victorygarden as an homage to another time of food shortages during World War II. Some are reminded of a …
Lavender
Lavender is a beautiful and useful plant that is a must have for gardens! Not only does it smell and look great, but it is beneficial for pollinators, too. Not to mention you can use its fragrant flowers and leaves to scent soap or candles and flavor food and beverages. Making lavender sachets or using …
