Coca-Cola Ribs-with Chives

This recipe is courtesy of Cola Ribs: I have a perennial Chives garden, and maintain seasonal herb gardens.  Here's your ticket to success:

1. Boil the ribs with a handful of chives for 60-90 minutes, until soft-not falling off the bone, but soft. 
2. Remove and douse with favorite barbecue sauce. 
3. Gas-grill closed-lid for 20 minutes.
4. Enjoy!

I tried this 5 days ago and it was fan-tastic!  Lemme know whatcha think!

Giuliano

 

Hi everyone! Our 3rd video installment is up on our Facebook page and on YouTube for all to view. This video is for kids and parents alike and highlights the fun, ease and low cost of sustainable gardening with a fairytale twist.

Sometimes it is easy to get busy and forget to include the little ones in our gardening efforts but it is one of the best teaching tools one can use to encourage community, family and environmental participation as well as fostering a sense of self efficacy.

I was amazed at how eager my own princess was to participate in this video, and as much as she loves to have her picture taken she was far more excited to be planting a vine that would "make pickles". I suppose a lesson in canning will be next!

Not enough time 2 garden, time is money

One of the main objections to behavior change from thinking about gardening to actually doing it, is time.  More so, the false assumption that there is simply not enough time to do the actual gardening.

Let's break down this time:

1. Decide what you want to grow: tomatoes.  Time: 5 seconds.
2. Find a store-you have seen them at Home Depot, Lowe's, or Bachman's.  Time:0.          
3. Buy the tomatoes and dirt on your way home from work.  Time: 30 mins.
4. Find a container: plastic milk jugs, containers from old plants, boxes, etc. Time: 20 mins.
5. Plant the tomatoes: make drainage holes, fill with dirt, insert the plant.  Time: 20 mins.

Total time including some watering: 90 mins, 1.5 hrs.

Time is money: let's say you want to pay yourself for this time:
1. One tomato plant average production: 10-15 lbs, per Arizona Master Gardener Manual.
2. Cost of 10-15 pounds: 30-45 dollars, assuming $3/lb.

It's a clean living, when you're making $20-30/hr and enjoying fresh tomatoes, at home!

For Immediate Release: First Minnesota-Grown Palm Tree Unveiled

Researchers create grafted palm tree for Zones 3 and 4

St. Paul, MN, June 9, 2013: The unveiling of the first truly Minnesota-grown palm tree will be held at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum on June 16, 2013 at 10 AM. Sprouts, a local gardening club, will host the event and presentation of the first frost-proof palm tree created by the University of Minnesota’s Horticulture department. The event will feature the team working on this genetic breakthrough, and will have a living palm tree vignette that will become a permanent feature at the Landscape Arboretum.
This amazing project came to bear fruit thanks to the dedicated researchers at the University of MN Horticulture department, in cooperation with Mala University of HI at Kauai. This seemingly impossible genetic feat started in the University’s Horticultural Lab presided by Dr. Andrew Green.  Together with his team, Green wanted to make his daughter’s 8 year birthday wish come true: to have a palm tree grow outside her bedroom window. There was enough retail interest for palm trees in MN to generate adequate funding for this project, 4 years in the making. The new patented frost-proof palm tree is grafted to grow year round in Minnesota’s Zones 3 and 4.

The first 50 ticket holder will receive a free seedling of the frost resistant grafted palm tree, valued at $45. The trees will become available for sale at select retailers starting June 16, 2013.
For more information regarding tickets and direction for this event visit the Sprouts Blog, call 763-545-0303, or visit the MN Landscape Arboretum.