By Cindy Naas

There are many foods reputed to have aphrodisiac tendencies, and many of these foods are fruits and vegetables.

While it may be too late to grow these for this Valentine’s Day, you might consider serving some or all at a special dinner this year.

Who knows- you may even be inspired to grow your own fig tree because of this!

• Asparagus – long considered an aphrodisiac, French bridegrooms were fed three courses of this vegetable prior to their wedding night. It is also rumored that the Romans fed asparagus to their stallions. At any rate, asparagus is delicious, good for you and a great plant for an urban farmer, even growing well in dedicated pots.

• Figs – perhaps it’s the fig’s appearance which gives it the Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

They may be worried about the economy, the safety of their produce, or simply desiring the splendid taste that comes with homegrown vegetables.

Whatever the reason, one thing is clear : 2009 will have even more vegetable growers than usual.

“We’ve seen almost double demand,” says Tracy Lee, director of horticulture at the seed company W. Atlee Burpee Co. in Warminster, Pa. (burpee.com). “It’s amazing.”

Many people are looking to find ways to ease their budget woes in a plummeting economy. Seeds and transplants can provide vegetables in your diet for a fraction of the cost.

An increase in seed sales is “typical when we see an economic downturn,” according to Stephanie Turner, director of seed product at Park Seed Co., another venerable catalog house in Greenwood, S.C. (parkseed.com). “People are trying to stay home and beautify what they have and grow their own food.”

It’s not just about money, though. Think back to Read the rest of this entry »

By Cindy Naas

Gaia’s Garden, Second Edition: A Guide To Home-Scale Permaculture is a remarkable book.

I count it as one of only a handful of gardening books I’ve ever read that present completely new ideas.

It is one of those books which will forever change the way you think about all gardens, most especially your own.

From The Ground Up

Hemenway examines the way soil is built and then presents an interesting new way to create growing beds. His method also includes new ways to companion plant in order to create long-term sustainable gardens, with combinations of plants maintaining soil fertility.

New Partners

Hemenway details interesting combinations of plants for maximum food production coupled with the increased ability to attract wildlife. One page alone of this book has me throwing out every plan I’d drawn for my new garden and drawing up an entirely new planting scheme. My new garden will couple apples with lettuce, raspberries with carrots and roses with sweet corn and runner beans.

The Urban Food Forest

One of Hemenway’s most intriguing ideas is that Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

These days, my life seems to revolve mainly around gardening.

I write for 3 garden websites, am starting a non-profit garden, and go around telling my friends and family all sorts of random horticulture facts.

Where did all this garden geekery start?

One influence was my great grandparents and other assorted relatives that owned farms. It was a fun day when we got to visit the hen house in search of eggs or visit a potato farm. We lived in the suburban jungle of Southern California, so it was always an adventure.

The main influence, though, was Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

There has been no official position announced.

However, that hasn’t stopped one site from conducting a search for a “White House Farmer”.

The website was begun in response to Michael Pollan saying that the White House needed to hire a farmer.

“Pollan suggested the farmer be charged with transforming “five prime south-facing acres of the White House lawn and plant[ing] in their place an organic fruit and vegetable garden” whose produce will be used by the White House Chef, and given to area food banks.”

From November 2008 – January 2009, the site accepted nominations for the White House Farmer. 111 people were nominated for the position. A poll was Read the rest of this entry »