Veggie Garden Zone

Why should you care about sustainable agriculture?

As you begin to change where you shop for healthier food, you may notice some packaging claims that its food was grow using “sustainable agriculture.” This doesn’t necessarily mean the food is healthier or better, though it can be. The main benefit as far as consumption is that the process strives for the most natural methods of farming, meaning very little use of chemicals. .

There are other reasons why you might pay extra for food made with sustainable crops. The food you consume will likely be better for you, due to the methods used to produce it, true. But …

Keeping Healthy With Summer Squash

Squash has had a long legacy as a healthy staple food for thousands of years in North America. In fact, the Native Americans introduced squash to the European settlers and showed them its huge value.

Believe it or not, summer squash is related to melons and cucumbers, and belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. A few different types of squash in existence include: cylindrical squash, patty pan squash, and constricted neck squash. Patty pan squash can be many colors, running the spectrum from green to yellow to white. Constricted neck squash, which itself comes in a few sub-varieties, can be green …

Combining the Curing Power of Garlic and Honey

Do you need something natural that can help strengthen your immune system to help you get over colds and other sicknesses faster? Mix garlic with a bit of honey into a container and keep it in your refrigerator. It barely costs a thing, takes hardly any effort to make, and a garlic / honey combination is exactly what you need to set your immune system into overdrive.

For centuries, both garlic and honey have been well-regarded as natural remedies for various ailments, and their power is only boosted when they are taken in combination.…

Using Milk as Soil Food

Most people will be amazed to hear that using milk on the compost and in the garden is a good way to feed the soil. This claim was not widely accepted by all not until a closer inspection was done and it began to make sense to people. The presence of enzymes, proteins amino acid and natural sugars in milk makes it a food and it’s beneficial to both humans and animals.

These same nutrients in milk can also be used to nurture a healthy community of fungi and microbes in your manure and the soil of your garden. Raw …

How Healthy are Beets?

The two most compelling reasons why beets have always been such a popular vegetable is their ease of maintenance in a garden and the fact that little of the plant goes to waste because most of it is perfectly edible. In fact, the leaves of the plant have more nutrients than the beet root itself.

If you think of a beet, you probably call to mind that plump root with a deep maroon shade, but actually beets can be a few different colors: there are yellow beets and even white beets. Although beets can survive very warm weather, they thrive …

The Latest News About Cabbage

Let’s face it; cabbage is certainly not the most popular member of the cruciferous vegetable family. But it should be. I am going to tell you why and discuss the different benefits cabbage has.

Before we can discuss this, let’s talk about what it isn’t good for. It has some of the greatest medical benefits. By incorporating cabbage into your diet two or three times a day, you will begin to see many of the significant health benefits.…

Rules Of Pressure Canning

Always make sure you clear the harvest safely and easily by applying these pressure-canning procedures.

Using the boiling water-bath canning protocol, the rules are straightforward and tools easy to use. The food preserver collects together vegetables containing high pH-high acidity level, such as berries, peaches or tomatoes. It prepares the food to its liking—may be with some added acidity, fills the jars and within a little time of processing, changes the jars to cool.…

Health Benefits of Cucumbers

Cucumbers belong to the Cucurbitaceae family: The same plant family with squash, water melon, and pumpkin. Like the watermelon, cucumbers are mainly constituted of water, this making about 95 percent of the cucumber. Apparently, eating them on a hot summer day will ensure you remain hydrated.

However, there’s a vital reason to eat cucumbers all through the year. With vitamins B and K, potassium, copper, manganese, and vitamin C, cucumbers will shield you from nutrient deficiencies that are common with those who feed on the typical American dishes.…

How to Winterize Potted Strawberry Plants

Among all the fruits, strawberries are one of those that can be easily grown. Having a potted strawberry plant winterized will keep the happy plant year in and year out.

The popular reddish-orange pots used to grow strawberries are mostly made of terra cotta. The common terra cotta pots and those which are specifically made for strawberries will work perfectly. Terra cotta is highly porous, this characteristic gives a better soil drainage, this is why it is the preferred. You can purchase the strawberry pots either at local garden stores, or you get them online on websites like Amazon.com. …

10 Reasons To Grow This Common Herb

Mouth ulcers, skin inflammation, indigestion, blood sugar problems, allergies, menstrual issues, high cholesterol, eye problems, and diarrhea all have something in common, and it’s not just that they’re things that you don’t want to have.

These are all problems that can be treated with an herb known as coriander, which is also known as cilantro and dhania. It’s primary function is as a garnish because the odor it gives off helps to embellish the scent of the dish it is accompanying, and it’s delicate leaves instantly boosts the aesthetic value of whatever it’s on.