small + friendly

10 Tips for a Drought-Friendly Vegetable Garden

The drought here in California is serious and scary.  We have been asked to reduce our water usage as much as possible and for the most part the sacrifices have been easy.  I have no problem taking quick showers and letting the lawn get brown, but I didn't want to miss out on a fruit and vegetable harvest.  I set out to make my vegetable garden as drought-friendly as possible and I've teamed up with Edyn to share my very best tips.  The best part?  These gardening tips are super helpful, even if you don't have to worry about drought!

How To Grow A Drought-Friendly Garden 

1.  Use Straw Mulch.  A thick layer of straw really helps keep moisture where you want it, in the ground. You have many options for mulch but I have had the most success with straw and as an added bonus, it's cheap!

2.  Monitor with Edyn.  This thing is so rad!  Edyn is a sensor that lives in your garden and connects to your smart phone.  It relays valuable information about moisture, nutrition, light, and humidity.  It takes all the guess work out of when to water.  With it's help I have been able to keep my garden just moist enough without overwatering. 

3.  Install Drip Irrigation.  Watering your plants right at the soil helps insure that you don't waste water to evaporation or areas that don't have plants.  Installing drip irrigation doesn't have to be a complicated endeveavor.  In fact, my favorite way to water my raised beds is with soaker hose.  I zigzag a soaker hose around the plants, cover it with straw, and attach it directly to a hose bibb (you can also attach it to a hose with an adaptor).  Then I just barely turn on the faucet and let it slowly drip into the soil.

4.  Try Deep Watering with Milk Jugs.  This year I decided to try watering my tomatoes as little as possible.  We live in too arid a place to truly dry farm, but with the help of this DIY watering system I have been able to water them deeply, and rarely.  Simply save up one gallon milk jugs, drill a few hole in the sides and bury them in between your plants.  Whenever your plants are thirsty, fill the jugs, and the water will slowly seep into the earth right where your plants need it most.  

5.  Recycle Water.  In a perfect world we would all have rain catchment and grey water systems complete with cisterns and pumps, but there are simple ways to collect water that would otherwise go to waste.  Consider placing a rain barrel at one of your roof's down spouts.  And if you use earth friendly soaps you can recycle bath water for your thirsty plants.         

6.  Skip the Water Hogs.  Gardening in drought conditions does involve some sacrifice.  I skipped watermelons, cucumbers, and corn this year because they tend to need a whole lot of water.  

7.  Try Some Shade.  I planted greens (chard and kale) in most-to-partial shade.  It helps them not bolt in the summer heat and they require much less water than when they are planted in full sun.  

8.  Plant Perennials.  Consider expanding your fruit and vegetable haul with unthristy perennials.  My artichokes receive no supplemental water and I get a great harvest every winter and spring.  We also have a pomegranate tree that once established needs no extra water and provides us will loads of jewel studded fruit!  Grapes are another rough-friendly perennial, our pergola is dripping with grapes and I never water the vine!  Woody herbs such as rosemary and thyme are also drought resistant.

9.  Use Compost.  Compost not only provides nutrients for your plants, it also helps improve the water retention of your soil.  Furthermore, having nutrient rich soil helps your plants grow strong and hearty, making them better able to withstand periods of dryness.  Plus, if you use compost your Edyn will tell you that your plants love you!    

10. Try Containers. Grouping plants with the same water needs in containers or raised beds helps a lot.  This way you can easily water according to needs without excess waste.  I love planting my strawberries in a big galvanized tub where it's easy to give them the water they need.

I hope these tips help you enjoy gardening, even in dry conditions!  

Here's to a Happy (Guilt-Free) Harvest!

A big thanks to Edyn for sponsoring this post.  As always all words, photos, and opinions are my own.  

10+ Tips to Raise Happy, Healthy Little Eaters

This post was brought to you by Kandoo.  Thanks so much for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.  

The other day at the farm stand Jude exclaimed, “Mom! Kale! Can we get some?”  The woman next to us was shocked, and I was beaming with pride.  Jude is an amazing eater.  He is adventurous and loves nutritious food.  Some of this is surely nature, but so far his little brother is following in his footsteps, and I can’t help but believe that at least some of this healthy behavior is nurture.  I thought I'd share how we approach food in the hopes that a few of these tips make feeding your little ones stress free.  I should also note that I learned most of these tips from my own mother who raised three very different girls who all love healthy food.  As with all parenting advice, try what feels right to you and ignore the rest; I’m pretty sure if you simply follow tip number three, everything will work out just fine.  Oh, and if you struggle to get your kiddo to wash up when it's time to eat, my bonus tip is for you!     

1.  Make Your Own Baby Food.  Homemade baby food isn't just cheaper and often healthier, it also helps baby learn how to be a healthy eater.  Homemade baby food tastes so much more like grown-up food that it helps train your little one's taste buds.  This makes for an easier and often swifter transition to eating the same food as the rest of the family.

2.  Grow A Garden.  Growing your own vegetables is so fun, and it teaches your kids where healthy food comes from.  It’s hard to resist trying a vegetable that you helped grow and harvest!  If growing a garden isn't an option, a trip to the farmers market can have a similar effect.  When you meet the farmer who grew your broccoli, it makes it much more appealing. 

3.  Model Healthy Behavior.  Kids are such sponges and learn just about everything by example.  Sitting down to eat as many meals as possible together really helps teach kids about healthy eating.  When they see you eating and enjoying your vegetables, they are much more likely to do the same!  

 

4.  Let Them Cook.  There was a time when Jude didn't want to eat salad, that is until it became his job to prepare it.  When kids get to take ownership of their meals they can't help but try the results of their hard work.  I also encourage a lot of sampling and tasting as we cook.    

5.  Try the One Bite Rule.  They don’t have to like it, they just have to try it.  It takes many tries before your tastebuds become accustomed to a new and different flavor.  Trying just one bite isn’t torturous, and with enough tries, one bite might just turn into two or three or four!   

 

6.  Make it Tasty.  The ranch that your child dips his carrot into does not negate the health benefits of the carrot.  In fact, homemade dips and sauces can add nutritional value to veggies and proteins, all the while, making them more appealing to kids.  Make sure that the food you prepare is well seasoned and not overcooked.  Help your kid learn that healthy food is delicious food.  

7.  Change Preparations.  Jude loves raw carrots but doesn't care for cooked ones.  Try presenting healthy food in as many different ways as often as possible; raw, steamed, roasted, etc.  You can also encourage your child to eat a healthy item by introducing it with something they really like.  Try adding spinach to pizza or corn to tacos.  

8.  Don't Barter.  Power struggles at meal time aren't fun for anyone.  When you plead, beg, or promise dessert, you are creating an opening for negotiation.  Healthy eating is non-negotiable.  Do your best to make it fun and tasty, but beyond that, a healthy meal is a reward in and of itself.  Kids vibe off this casual, "this is what we do" attitude.  

 

9.  Avoid Making Special Meals.  If your kiddo knows they will be served a special meal, they don’t really have any incentive to try what you’ve made for the family.  Instead of making something special, try deconstructing the meal a bit, leaving the “undesirable” bit on the side.  That way they can try their one bite and still have something to fill their belly.  A full belly is another thing to consider.  You want to be sure that your little one is actually hungry at meal time.  This might mean skipping or scaling back on snacks.     

10.  Tell a Story.  Teach your child about healthy foods in terms they understand.  For example, you could explain that ninjas have to eat lots of carrots, so that they can see well in the dark.  There are also lots of great children’s books that teach about healthy eating, my favorite one is Bread and Jam For Francis.  

 

11.  Make Washing Up Fun! One big hurdle we have to healthy eating is getting our active little ones to wash up and come sit at the table.  Washing hands before eating is a must, but Jude never wanted to stop playing and wash up.  To make the process more fun, we got a special kids soap.  The Kandoo Foaming Hand Soap has cool scents and a fun bright color that makes hand washing much more enticing.  So far, it's worked like a charm.  Before meal time, break out the fun Kandoo foam soap, and they’ll be all washed up and ready eat in no time! Click here to get a coupon.  

This post was brought to you by Kandoo.  As always, all opinions and content are my own. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make this blog possible. 

 

Zucchini Fest: 12 Simple and Delicious Recipes

It's that time of year, when the zucchini grows faster than I can pick it.  In case you're in a similar pinch, I thought I'd do a little round up of zucchini recipes.  A few of my own, a few I've tried and loved.  And a few on my list to try in the very near future.

1. Zucchini Bread is a family favorite.  Moist, full of fiber, and heady with cinnamon and brown sugar.  You really can't go wrong.  It is an especially great way to use one of those sneaky giant squash that manage to evade harvest until they have reached monumental proportions.

2. Baby Zucchini make the perfect pizza topping.  

3. And babies love zucchini too, especially when sauteed with fresh spinach in a little olive oil.  Got a toddler?  Consider adding an egg or two to the pan.

4. Living with someone who isn't a zucchini fan?  This simple pasta dish by Smitten Kitchen might just change their mind.

5. Warning:  these fried disks of delight, courtesy of Remedial Eating, are dangerously addictive.

6. And these simple yet rich zucchini ricotta fritters make a great meatless main.

7. Looking for a great way to preserve the bounty?  You must try these Zucchini Pickles by Rowan & Oak.

8. Nothing is simpler than grilled zucchini.  Brushed with olive oil and generously seasoned, topped with fresh herbs or pesto, it is my go-to summer side.

9.  Although, I think next time I grill, I'll try these stuffed numbers by the little red house.

10.  Pinterest generously provided this recipe for Oven Fried Zucchini that I can't wait to try.

11.  And casa imagine gnats offered me a recipe for Sweet Potato Zucchini Pancakes that sounds delicious:  Combine shredded sweet potato, zucchini, onion and cheese, bind with egg, season with curry powder, and fry.    

12.  The award for healthiest, most creative use of zucchini goes to Eat This Poem for Superfood Salad with Zucchini Walnut Dressing.  If it tastes as good as it looks we are all in for a treat.       

Do you have squash growing out of your ears?  What is your favorite way to prepare zucchini?

Garden Glimpses

In the garden ...

... we are enjoying flowers

... and patiently awaiting fruit

... smelling the roses

... and making friends with ladybugs and bees

... picnicking on the no-mow grass

... so soft for people and kitties alike

... dreaming of a front yard free of sod

... and full of silvery herbs, food, and succulents

... soaking up the sun

... and grateful for the shade of our oaks and grapes

Wishing you and yours a garden-filled week!

P.S. - I'd have loads of pictures of ripe strawberries, if I could catch them faster than Jude pops them in his mouth! 

this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  Words (and inspiration) by Amanda Soule.

Wishing everyone a beautiful weekend!

Linking up with Life in an Instant at Kid*Stuff*World

In The Garden

 

 

 

 

 

watching: spring unfold

appreciating: heavy rains and loads of compost

eating: artichokes, broccoli, chard, and lemons

fighting: earwigs, slugs, and crab grass (organically)

planting: seedlings, a pear tree, raspberries, and a potato tower

planning: for a big summer harvest, drip irrigation, and a sunflower fort

wondering: if the potato tower will work, and what rosemary honey tastes like

reading: Sunset Western Garden and my new favorite, And Then It's Spring

wishing: you and yours a beautiful start to the season of green

Here's to the magic of spring! 

What's happening in your garden?

Heirloom Tomato Sauce

We have been enjoying a nice (though not bumper) crop of beautiful heirloom tomatoes.  Not a big enough haul to make canning worth it, but enough to make a big batch of sauce ... some for dinner, plus some for the freezer.  I thought I'd share my recipe for simple fresh tomato sauce because it differs slightly from many I've seen.  

The biggest difference is skins.  Why would you go to all the trouble of growing your own organic tomatoes just to strip them of their gorgeous, flavorful, nutrient rich skins?  Especially when doing so means more work for you?  I say, celebrate the skins!  And don't bother turning on the oven in 95 degree weather.  (Yes, summer finally arrived here ... just when I was excited about pumpkin-spice-sweater-and-boots weather.)  

  Please excuse this loose recipe, but measuring and detail in the aforementioned heat aren't my strong suits.  Plus, I'm convinced this is the kind of recipe that tastes better the more you wing it.  

Here's what you need:

Extra virgin olive oil

Garlic

Fresh basil

A bunch of ripe (even a little overripe is okay) heirloom tomatoes

Salt and pepper

*** The more tomatoes you have, the more of the other ingredients you will need.  Be generous, eyeball it, and don't worry, it will come out great!  

1.  Place olive oil, sliced garlic, and fresh basil in a large pan.  Heat over medium heat until fragrant.

2. Meanwhile core and coarsely chop your tomatoes.

3.  Stick those beauties, skin and all, in the food processor or blender.  And turn it on!

4.  Pour your pureed tomatoes into the pan with the olive oil and simmer until reduced and delicious.

5.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Buon Appetito! 

This sauce is great as is and freezes beautifully.  Looking for something more refined?  Run that bad boy through a fine strainer and "mount" it with a bit of butter.  Looking for something more substantial?  Try it with Sausage and Spinach.

Here's to late summer sauce and a little sunshine stashed in the freezer.  

Ode to a Sungold

Within the smallest of spheres is the largest of sweets,

So easily thriving in fickle August heat. 

Eaten alone or with many a flavor,

In summer you’re always our favorite to savor.

Astride verdant vines you never last longly,

So quickly devoured to help us grow strongly.

We love thee, sweet Sungolds, on pizzas, with wine;

Amongst our tomatoes, you’re truly divine.

-Words by our resident poet, and love of my life, Jason