Another type of Macarons

Images are used from the website with permission. Copywrite 2011 Synchrophonic Corporation dba Duverger

This week I will attempt a baking recipe; something that I do not usually indulge in.  The reason?  At the Atwater Farmer's market I bought a 3 pack of "cookies" for $5 from Les Macaron Duverger and after tasting the Blueberry Lavender Macaron, I will definitely be back for more!  However, since my budget will not allow this on a weekly basis, it's worth experimenting in my own kitchen. Unlike the equally delicious treat spelled "macaroon", these are light & fluffy with a rich ganache in the middle and they don't require coconut- though I bet a coconut version would taste amazing.

Here is a link to the recipe that I am going to try: http://hicookery.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/lavender-macarons/

These are the flavors that are available from Les Macaron Duverger:

Save Time, Money and Plants with Recycled Water

By AZRainman Mark Rain 

Filling up buckets with water from around the house is a good way to water plants you forget to water during your regular routine. 


I spend time filling up a watering can to take downstairs and water my raspberries, but If I put that can under the shower while I am waiting for the water to heat up, I would save time and money.  (I'd also feel less guilty about running water to take a long, warm shower while billions of people around the world are lucky to even get a 2 minute cold shower.)   


I got the idea from this blog post on Re-nest: 5 Ways to Collect and Reuse Water for Plants

Watering Options

Before planting, plan the most efficient way to water your plants, so that you can plant them accordingly..  If you have containers you probably need to water them by hand. For ground rooted plants, soaker hoses with timers are a great choice because they are easy to install, low maintenance and save tons of water due to very low evaporation rates.  Another of my favs is the self-watering container.  It's more work to plant, but if you fill the reservoir once a week, the plant literally waters itself, which means the optimum health of the plant and the best water conservation.  The next step at mi casa is to install a rain water catchment system and greywater capture.  I can still use drip systems to distribute the water I capture from these processes.

Vegetables generally need average water until fruiting, then heavy water.  Fruit trees in general need average water until mature.  Average means inconsistently watering down to the roots a couple times a week.  Check how long it takes to get water to the roots by digging into the dirt a few inches. During adulthood, citrus trees need less water and they are drought tolerant.  

This great article is an in-depth look at what "Average" watering means for a fruit tree.  It talks about a citrus tree, but we can generalize.  

http://meyerlemontree.com/watering.html

By PV KS Kevin K

Watering Options

Hand Water 

Use a hose with an adjustable nozzle on the end or a watering can.  Unless you are blessed with lots of rain at just the right time, you will probably have to do this until your seeds sprout.  While watering observe what’s goin’ on in your plants life.  Does it look healthy?  If not what can you determine from looking at it closely.  Are there bugs hiding in the leaves?  If you have lots to water, it is not recommended as a long term plan, since it takes lots of time.   

by Keith Williamson

Program a Timer to work with a soaker hose or sprinkler system 

Video http://youtu.be/oUoir-wk2Yc  My thoughts drifted to a million other places watching this boring video... If you find a better one, or make a better one, send it my way so I can get this one outta here!

By JobyOne Joby Elliott

Drip Hose Systems 

Before attaching the hose to your faucet, install a filter to catch small rocks that could cause your hose to burst.

Install a Soaker/Drip Hose Video http://youtu.be/mf4d1Y4SSbw

Install a Multi Drip/Spout Irrigation System Video http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-install-a-multi-drip-irrigation-system-2

Sprinkler System

You could use this instead of hand watering when you plant seeds since the surface is the part that should be the most wet... But this wastes the most water and can cause mold and disease to spread especially in cucumber vines which are very susceptible.

Combine either Grey Water or Rain Water Capture with a Drip System

Video overview of Grey Water and How to Install a Legal (in Sonoma County, CA in 2009) Greywater System http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBMpaWq4EKE I am using this system to plan my own... However, it's 30 min long, 10x longer than most of the recommended videos!  Start 6 min in to get past the chat about living sustainably.  

Diagram of Grey Water Laundry System http://greywatercorps.com/whatl2l.html

by Manish Bansal

Bury an Olla- Clay Pot

The Olla (Oy-ya) 'Pumpkin'  saves 85% more water than even drip irrigation!  Read this article to see how this ancient watering technique delivers water directly to the roots. http://www.pakissan.com/english/newtech/pitcher.irrigation.a.water.shtml

By Jason Sandeman

Make a Self-Watering Container 

This little invention turned my black thumb into a green one and for that I will be forever thankful.  The basic idea is to create a reservoir of water that allows the plant roots to draw from so they are drinking just the right amount of water. For this reason, if the soil in your self-watering container dries out, you must re-wet the dirt and refill the reservoir.

This is an ideal solution for people who have small spaces, can't water daily or cement "yards" and want to grow food.

This is the best webpage on the subject providing great graphics and how-to videos http://earthtainer.tomatofest.com/

Here's a Video that scratches the surface of the fine art of making a container... http://youtu.be/chTKL6W1ntA

Written Instructions on a Variety of Sizes:

A Cool Twist on the Idea http://livingthefrugallife.blogspot.com/2010/04/food-production-in-small-spaces-fig.html This seems like an interesting blog and it's an excellent idea for a variation of self watering container


Small Container http://www.instructables.com/id/Self-Watering-Plant-Container-out-of-a-2-liter-bot/ A good intro project with a 2 liter bottle for people "on the edge".  You could not use this to plant a vine or tree, but perhaps you'd get away with a small pepper plant.

By sdixclifford Stephanie Clifford

Medium Container http://www.urbanorganicgardener.com/self-watering-containers/how-to-make-a-self-watering-container/ Using a 5 Gallon Bucket- How to Build a Self Water Container for Less than $5 | Urban Organic Gardener

Large Container 
http://www.josho.com/gardening.htm Using 30 gallon storage containers Homemade Self-Contained Gardening Systems: use bamboo instead of plastic 

Some quick notes from my experience... The picture of the large container is simply to show you how it works. If you are creative, you can make any container into a self-watering container.  I've made mine out of old artillery cases, wood storage containers and old trunks (photos to come).  Think of your own variation using whatever you have around the house.  

How are you going to water your plants? 

Create a diagram or sketch of the watering system for your garden.

The Value of Growing Food

It’s good for you- the physical act of gardening, the mental acts of designing and problem solving and the higher nutrient content of food that has had to adapt to an environment (ie- grown without tons of pesticides, fungicides, etc..) all contribute to a more healthy physiology. 

It’s fun, interesting and fulfilling.

It teaches you communication skills.

Helps reduce the effects of poverty.  You can contribute excess food to people in need... But more important in my book is that once you learn how to grow food, you can teach people who don't have a lot of money how-to do it, thus alleviating one stress in their life; affording wholesome food.  

Can save money. 

Empowerment.  (Need I remind you that food is on the first level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?  Many people from my generation don’t even know what a tomato plant looks like, not too mention how-to grow one.  If we can’t even take care of our basic needs on our own, then how are we supposed to take care of the higher needs?)  

You feel more connected to the earth and your community.

You can teach people in impoverished places how-to grow their own food and improve their lives incredibly.

You can teach children, because they have fun doing it and we are clearly going to live very different in the future... It’s better to have the option and skills to grow your own food than not. 

Cut down on your carbon foot-print.  It currently takes about 10 calories of energy to produce and ship each calorie of food eaten from US Supermarkets.  

Conserve dwindling water supplies.  Believe it or not only about 3% of water on this planet is potable.  Much of that water resides in underground reservoirs and watersheds.  We have inadvertently made it very difficult for water to find it’s way back into many of those reservoirs before they dry up. In addition, private companies are trying to possess those reservoirs and control the water supplies.  By using water conservation techniques to grow your food you will inevitably use less water than normally used to grow mono-crops.

Help break our dependency on factory food, which among other things, causes humans and animals around the world to live and die with exhaustion, disfigurations and horrendous infections. 

Help reduce top-soil degradation (if you add compost, bumper crop or nitrogen rich plants like alfalfa to the soil).


Rest assured that the hands feeding you are 

After reviewing these reasons, ask yourself, "What is the value of growing food to me?"

Gift Basket Idea: Grow & Make a Spicy Cucumber Margarita

Contents:

Recipe Card 

Habanero (or any Hot Pepper) Syrup 

Habanero  (or any Hot Pepper) Tequila

Cucumber Seeds

Branches from a Lemon Tree

Pepper Seeds

Lemons

Hot Peppers

Cucumber(s)

Pot for Starting Seeds