Search Results for: blog grow your own carrots

Easy Tasty Healthy Toddler Snacks

Sometimes it can be hard to get toddlers to eat anything, let alone things that are good for their growing minds and bodies. They are busy little people who often prefer to remain engrossed in whatever activity they happen to be engrossed in at the time instead of sitting down and clearing a plate of whatever nutritious meal you have just lovingly prepared for them. Fortunately, hunger does eventually overcome the excitement of play and your little one is likely to rush to your side and demand to be fed. Right. Now. With a little advance planning, you can make … Continue reading →

Creating Color: Dye Plants in the Garden

If you have children, you’ll know about some amazing dye plants. Tomatoes (via spaghetti sauce) are pretty good, as are blueberries and cherries, particularly when they’re mashed on a white shirt. While many of us run for the wash at the sight of these glorious fruits being mashed into clothing, some people actively seek out plants that dye cloth. I want to be one of them. I love dyeing silk, and I would love to dye some wool this year. Through my experiments, I’ve discovered a number of plants that make lovely dyes. Over the next few years, I’ll be … Continue reading →

Easiest Plants For A Child’s Garden

Oats, peas, beans, and barley might grow, but what will thrive in a child’s garden? It’s a little depressing to find wilting and slug-munched plants, especially if you’re a child who’s been excited to eat from your very own garden. If you’re poring through seed catalogues like I am, think about the kid-friendly prospects inside. Peas and beans are great small space container crops. One added benefit of container crops is that they’re not always as prone to predators of the slimy persuasion. While slugs and snails can reach your containers, it might be easier to eat the goodies in … Continue reading →

Curbing Obesity In Children

I read an article today that said that in a study of 8717 children between the ages of 4 and 9 showed higher rates of obesity in girls from single parent families. They said those same girls watched more televisions, ate more foods high in fat and sugar and less fruits and vegetable than girls in dual parent households. They authors of this study were quick to point out that this doesn’t mean single parents are doing a bad job, just that this is the result of the stress of single parenting, especially single parenting girls. Girls overall are more … Continue reading →

For Green-Thumbed Pet Lovers

As I write this I’m sitting on my porch. Though many days recently have been so grossly hot and humid that I’ve never wanted to venture outdoors, some have been pleasant, especially in the mornings. These days I’ve taken to bringing my laptop out to the porch and completing my work here. I let the dog wander around the yard as I do so. Just a moment ago I had to do something that’s become common during these work outdoors mornings: chase my dog away from my garden. The majority of my garden items – herbs and berries – are … Continue reading →

Real Life Science: Gardening Activities That Kids Will Enjoy

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Some of us enjoy gardening. Some of have children who enjoy gardening. Others are not so lucky. Ah, it is far from the days when my daughter used to look at me adoringly and follow my every move. I think that happened for a few months, anyway. It didn’t last. Now, she’s much more interested in doing her own thing. If I suggest an activity that I enjoy and she does not, faces are made. Sure, we still do activities that she’s not particularly fond of, but I don’t like to push the matter. I want her to love gardening … Continue reading →

Our Frugal Monday Night Dinner

One of my goals this year is to spend even more time in the kitchen doing some cooking from scratch. While this does take time, it reaps many benefits. I can serve my family good healthy food with minimal preservatives, and for a price that we can afford. Since I do most of the cooking for our family of five, I need to find filling meals that will stretch. The cost of food seems to be growing weekly, and the stores have more and more rules that make saving money with coupons not as easy as it used to be. … Continue reading →

No Carrot Halloween for My Kid

I’m all for healthy lifestyles, exercise, eating right, eliminating childhood obesity, yada, yada, yada, but when it comes to consuming candy on Halloween, I don’t mess with tradition. Moderation. Everything in moderation. I wonder if the folks at Bolthouse Farms understand this concept and its relation to Halloween candy. I’m thinking not, considering the intense nature of its massive ad campaign and cult-like obsession with replacing traditional Halloween candy with its new SCARROTS treats. For those of you who don’t watch TV, read newspapers, flip through magazines, surf the web, listen to the radio or look up at billboards while … Continue reading →

Those That Don’t Get Along

Just as we don’t always get along with certain people and find them hard to take or to be in their presence, your plants have the same problem. We’ve looked at those plants that happily grow together, but what about those that don’t like being in close proximity? While it may seem to be impossible to believe, some plants really don’t like each other. Certain herbs when planted next to vegetables improve the flavor of the veggies while others may give a strong and unpleasant taste to neighboring plants. Those with shallow root systems too will compete and steal nutrients … Continue reading →

Friends in the Garden

Just the way we enjoy being with our friends, so do plants in your garden. To continue on with the friends in the garden or buddy planting, here are some other suggestions of plants that like each other’s company. Broccoli does well when grown with beetroot, chamomile, celery, onions, potatoes, rosemary and sage. Cabbage is another one that will happily co-exist with all the items mentioned in the broccoli list as well as dill, and mint. The one problem with mint is that is can tend to take over in the garden if left unchecked. Carrots like to have cabbage, … Continue reading →