Emma's Garden Blog
Blog/Garden Journaling
Usnea - Old Man's Beard Lichen
-A lichen (an alga and a fungus together) that grows on trees, bushes, and rocks.
-Contains a compound called usnic acid, which is said to promote wound healing and may promote weight loss by increasing your metabolic rate.
-Research is still being done on the effectiveness and safety of the use of usnic acid, and is currently dicsouraged due to it known negative side effects.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/usnea#benefits
"He who marvels at the beauty of the world in the summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter."
- John Burroughs
My hometown is full of trails and beautiful wooded areas to explore, which is where these photos come from.
"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape. Something waits beneath it; the whole story doesn't show."
-Andrew Wyeth
When I was growing up, my friends and I spent hours in these woods. Now, they serve as a place of reflection, restoration, and exercise.
Winter Traditions -
Advent Calendar
Every winter, I am gifted with an Advent Calendar for the weeks leading up to Christmas. This year, I got a seed advent calendar. Each day has a seed packet with a fun quote on the back.
December 16
Today's seed quote felt oddly fitting. Today is the start of Fall 2024 finals week, marking the halfway point of the school year. This gently reminds us to trust the process and believe in your abilities.
December 18+19 ~ Last Days of Finals Week
Reflecting on these quotes after a long and busy semester reminds me to use winter break to rest. Though there is not much physical garden laboring to be done, there is always space for mental scheming and dreaming of garden plans.
Winter Growing - December 2024
"Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle." ~Luther Burbank
Our greenhouse has been put to bed, but we are still growing. Under the garden beds' blankets lie arugula, winter spinach, lettuce, kale, and turnips. Gardening is not easy work. It is important to use winter as a time of rest, recovery, dreaming, and planning.
2024 UMF Garden Fall Open House
We welcomed over 65 campus and community members to our garden for an open house in late October!
Various stations woven throughout the garden included a fall greeting card decorating, a pumpkin painting table, a make-your-own dorm garden station, a leek and potato soup sample table(with vegetables grown in our garden!), a cover crop planting demo, a garden scavenger hunt, a poet's corner, and more!
Thank you to all who joined us! Stay tuned for more garden events in the spring!
Colors
Of
"Autumn leaves don't fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on their only chance to soar." ~Delia Owens
Fall
-Forest bathing, known as shinrin-yoku in Japanese, is exactly what it sounds like; bathing in the forest.
-Forest bathing originated in Japan in the 1980s.
Forest Bathing
-It is a sensory practice where one spends time in a forest and connects to nature through their five senses.
-There is really no right or wrong way to forest bathe. It is self-guided and recommended that you slow down and let your body guide you.
-Forest bathing is a therapeutic practice that is proven to reduce stress and promote individuals to connect to their sense of self.
-Use your senses! Take deep breaths, smell the air around you, hear the noises of nature, be observant, be still.
Some 2024 Harvests!!
Tomatoes
9/30/24
Tomatoes
9/19/24
Various Produce
9/15/24
Tomatoes
8/29/24
Cucumbers
8/28/24
Hungarian Hot Wax Peppers
8/26/24
Green Beans
8/22/24
Green Beans cont.
8/22/24
Patterson Onions
8/22/24
Ailsa Craig Onions
8/22/24
Cucumbers
8/22/24
Tomatoes
8/22/24
Cucumbers
8/8/24
Tomatoes
8/8/24
Beans
8/8/24
Patterson Onion
8/2/24
Garlic
8/2/24
Hungarian Hot Wax Peppers
8/8/24
Cucumbers
8/2/24
Beans
8/2/24
Cayenne Peppers
8/2/24
Hungarian Hot Wax Peppers
8/2/24
Tomato
8/2/24
Ailsa Craig Onions
8/2/24
Hungarian Hot Wax Peppers
7/31/24
Zucchini
7/31/24
Roma Tomatoes
7/31/24
Garlic
7/21/24
Ailsa Craig Onions
7/21/24
Ailsa Craig Onions
7/29/24
Peas
6/19/24
Garlic Scapes
6/20/24
Strawberries
6/28/24
Recipes!
Cheesy Baked Zucchini Crisps
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup shredded zucchini packed
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar or medium cheddar cheese
1/4 cup panko
1/4 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder (optional)
This recipe was adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe:
Recipe
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
Wring out zucchini and mix all ingredients until combined. Beat egg before mixing in.
-add extra cheese or breadcrumbs to taste (optional)
Scoop drop-fulls w/an ice cream scoop on the baking sheet and press to be flat.
Bake for 16-20 minutes until edges are golden.
Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins
Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 stick melted butter, unsalted
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
About 2 packed cups grated zucchini(no need to wring dry)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Recipe
Preheat oven to 350 deg F . Coat muffin pan with cooking spray or muffin liners.
Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix melted butter and brown sugar. Add in eggs and vanilla extract and whisk together. Stir in zucchini.
Add the dry ingredients into zucchini mixture and stir until combined. Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips.
Divide batter evenly into muffin wells and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top of each. Bake for 20-22 minutes, until tester is clean.
Cucumber Tomato Sandwich
~There's nothing better than a fresh sandwich on a hot summer day paired with some chips.
~Add mayo, salt and pepper, and cheese of your choice to taste on your cucumber and tomato sandwich.
Stuffed Mushrooms w/ Garlic or Garlic Scapes
Ingredients
1 pound whole mushrooms
1/4 cup butter or oil
1 small onion finely chopped
3 garlic scapes OR 3-4 garlic cloves finely chopped
2/3 breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
4 tablespoons grated parmesan
salt and black pepper to taste
Recipe
Remove stems from whole mushrooms. Set caps aside and finely chop stems.
Saute chopped mushroom stems in butter over medium heat until seared. Add chopped onion and garlic. Cook for another 4-5 min.
Add breadcrumbs and seasoning to the pan and stir for 3-4 min. If the mixture is dry, add more butter. Take off the heat and stir in parmesan cheese and salt/pepper to taste. Take off heat and let cool.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Fill mushroom caps evenly and add parmesan over the top. Bake until top is browned. About 20-25 min.
This recipe was adapted from Savory Nothing's "Garlic Parmesan Easy Stuffed Mushrooms".
Parmesan Zucchini Crisps
Ingredients
Zucchini
Olive Oil
Freshly Grated Parmesan
Salt and Pepper
Recipe
Preheat oven to 450 deg F. Slice zucchini into chips between 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick. Place tin foil on a baking sheet and spread chips on sheet.
Drizzle light olive oil (not a lot!) over chips and then add salt and pepper.
Sprinkle freshly grated parmesan evenly on each zucchini chip.
Bake for about 10 mins. Then broil for 2-3 min or until cheese is golden brown.
Did you know? Fresh onion stems can be added to dishes for extra flavor. They serve a similar purpose as other greens like scallions by adding an oniony flavor. Use as garnish on baked potatoes and sandwiches or add them to soups and stir frys for flavor.
Pollinator Protection at UMF
Pollinator Bed
Our pollinator bed is home to native pollinator plants that provide a place for insects such as bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and other pollinators to gather and move pollen.
In this garden, you can find plants such as yarrow, chives, daffodils, milkweed, echinacea, shasta daisies, and more!
In the "Projects" section you will find images of a bird bath that I have been refinishing this summer, to allow for pollinators to find some water.
Water is good for pollinators in various ways;
Cooling
Drinking
Reproduction
Projects!
Harvest Hutch Painting
Pollinator Bird Bath Restoration
June 23
June 25
July 12
July 15
Garden Signage
Other Happenings
These rocks appeared in our garden recently. They are simple reminders of how beautiful life can be. Slow down and breathe :) Thank you to the artists!
Helpful Garden Toad
We found this little guy in our garden. Toads are helpful creatures to have nearby gardens as they are good at controlling pests and insects. Toads also do not eat produce; they are carnivorous.
