Sunday, November 18, 2012
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Crazy Discovery
My family and I took a trip to Richard B Russell Dam in Elberton, Ga. Beside the lake my husband saw a crazy plant. I went to check it out and it appeared to be a fuzzy cabbage. It looked like the cabbage that cabbage patch kids come from! Ironically during a visit to Tybee Island, GA we discovered a plant that looked like lettuce growing out the sand in the beach.
I am amazed by these leafy impostors I'm glad I had my camera handy.
I am amazed by these leafy impostors I'm glad I had my camera handy.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Fruit and Spice Park, Homestead, Florida
I understand that a homestead can be defined as a farmhouse with land but Homestead, Florida is a stretch way beyond the imagination! During my visit to Miami I saw a brochure about the Fruit and Spice Park and it did not receive great reviews when i googled further info. But, it was only 30 minutes from Miami so I said what do I have to lose I'll form my own opinion once I get there even though the reviews were weak and to my surprise I was overwhelmed with discovery of such a wholesome place nesting right under the city of Miami
I saw peacock & parrots in flocks witness urban and rural farming intertwine together it seem mystical to me cause this is where my heart belongs. This was not the stereotype of what agriculture is all about. It seemed as if I was no longer in the US due to the exotic scenary. I saw dragon fruit orchard, many nurseries of tropical plants and even passed a bonsai farm. Just the ride out there was heavenly. When I finally arrived at the fruit and spice park there was so many beautiful fruit trees, tropical palms and coconuts as well as a large variety of plantains and bananas. This 35 acres of land was a eye opening experience. I would recommend it to anyone, it's the only park of its kind an offers a great deal of knowledge.
-Brandy & Derrick Alford
I saw peacock & parrots in flocks witness urban and rural farming intertwine together it seem mystical to me cause this is where my heart belongs. This was not the stereotype of what agriculture is all about. It seemed as if I was no longer in the US due to the exotic scenary. I saw dragon fruit orchard, many nurseries of tropical plants and even passed a bonsai farm. Just the ride out there was heavenly. When I finally arrived at the fruit and spice park there was so many beautiful fruit trees, tropical palms and coconuts as well as a large variety of plantains and bananas. This 35 acres of land was a eye opening experience. I would recommend it to anyone, it's the only park of its kind an offers a great deal of knowledge.
-Brandy & Derrick Alford
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Brandys Botany Bay Instructions
Thank you for your recent purchase with Brandy’s Botany Bay by rzashida as promised I have included the instructions as well as recipes for your recent purchase. I am always open to suggestions and love a challenge. If you need assistance with anything that grows please contact me , I love to help. I would love to stay in contact with you your can reach me via Twitter at http://twitter.com/brandysbotany on etsy @ http://www.etsy.com/shop/rzashida?ref=pr_shop_more and please like us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brandys-Botany-Bay/317074098307876 we are corky and informative. Please frequent my blog as well I have a great wealth of information.
Jellymelon
Here are the instructions on how to grow the jellymelons. Direct sow after all dangers of frost, You can also try peat pots or transplanting but I suggest direct sowing. You can use a trellis or a fence or allow to scatter on the grown but they spread about 10 feet and hog a lot of space so do not plant too close to others
Gourds
Gourds, directly sow in grow in an area with full sun. Keep the ground moist and provide a trellis or gate for the vines after true leaves appear the gourds will basically care for themselves.
Huckleberries
Huckleberries are very easy to grow, simply put them in a peat pot keep moist and transplant when @ least 6 leave have developed. (After frost) As promised here is your recipe.
Huckleberry Sauce DO NOT EAT GREEN HUCKLEBERRIES.
Garden Huckleberry Pie
4 C. garden huckleberries 1-1/2 C. sugar 1/4 t. nutmeg 1/4 t. salt 1 T. butter Juice of one lemon 2 T. cornstarch Pastry for 9-inch double crust pie
Stem, wash and drain huckleberries. Place berries in a heavy pot, cover with cold water and bring to a slow boil. Cook until soft. Drain; mash berries with a potato masher to break their skins.
Add sugar, nutmeg, salt, butter, lemon juice and cornstarch. Cook for about five minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens.
Place pastry for bottom crust in pie pan. Pour in the berry mixture and dot with butter. Cover with top crust, crimping crust edges to seal. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until the crust is a light brown. Cool. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream, if you plant a few at a time every month throughout the summer you will have a constant supply. They usually die with the hard freeze of winter which in Georgia is in either November or December.
Morning Glories
Morning Glory plants like full sun. The seed coat is thick. Nick Morning Glory seeds, or soak it in warm water for a couple of hours to soften it, and increase germination rates.
Sow Morning Glory seeds early in the season and cover lightly with 1/4" of soil. Water thoroughly once. Thin or space plants to a final distance of 6" apart. They will tolerate a little crowding if there is ample supports for their vines to spread up and out.
Passion Flower
To improve germination, lightly sandpaper the seeds on one or both sides using fine sandpaper, and then soak them in tepid water for 24 hours. Sow 2-5mm deep in peat or soil based seed compost. Temperature is probably the most important factor in germination, ideally at 20 degrees C (68F) for 16 hours and 30 degrees C (86F) for 8 hours each day. If this is not possible, then a constant temperature of 26 degrees C (79F) is advisable
Swiss Chard
Swiss chard are very easy to grow they can be planted during the spring or summer and grow until the first frost of winter, they come back in the spring to seed.
They can be planted direct into the ground and require full sun, as promised here is a recipe for swiss chard..
Put 3 teaspoons of olive oil in a pan on medium heat add about 20 sprigs of Swiss chard sauté and add mushrooms, basil and garlic. salt and pepper according to your desire. Enjoy.
Cucumbers
Here are the instructions on how to grow the cucumbers. Direct sow after all dangers of frost, I would not suggest peat pots or transplanting cucumbers because they seem not to adapt well to change. You can use a trellis or a fence for cucumbers because they grow on vines and they spread. That pack will give you at least 10 pounds of cucumbers. Apple cucumbers skin have a really pungent taste but the inside of cucumber taste normal with the exception that its crunchier and very aromatic. I suggest always taking the skin off of the cucumber. Also if you choose to save your seeds keep in mind that various cucumbers cross pollinate and you may not get the original parent if you choose to grow more than one type of cucumber ( Cucumbers also cross pollinate with honeydew,cantalope, winter melons, and small melon fruits)
by rzashida
6 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried dill (optional)
1 large cucumber (seeded, peeled and finely chopped)
1 pinch salt (to taste)
1 pinch pepper (to taste)
Directions
1Put the cucumber into a colander and sprinkle with a little salt.
2Let rest for 10-15 minutes to allow extra juices to escape the cucumber.
3Gently squeeze the cucumber in a paper or cloth towel.
4Put everything a bowl and mix well (I don't rinse the cucumber).
5Add salt and pepper to taste.
6Refrigerate for a couple of hours prior to using (if you have time).
7 A turn or two in the food processor would yield a nice smooth sauce
Okra
Okra take a little patience to grow I suggest soaking you seeds I water a few day before you directly sow them. The require full sun after all danger of frost have passed.
Here is the recipe for fried okra
Ingredients:
1/2 lb. okra
1 cup cornmeal
1 Tbsp. salt
2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 cup cultured buttermilk
vegetable oil
Preparation:
1. Choose okra that is an even green color and 2" - 4" long.
2. Trim stem ends from okra and cut into 3/4" lengths.
3. Soak in buttermilk for 15 minutes.
Deep fry in 350 degrees until golden brown
Thanks for choosing Brandy's Botany Bay Click in often.
Jellymelon
Here are the instructions on how to grow the jellymelons. Direct sow after all dangers of frost, You can also try peat pots or transplanting but I suggest direct sowing. You can use a trellis or a fence or allow to scatter on the grown but they spread about 10 feet and hog a lot of space so do not plant too close to others
Gourds
Gourds, directly sow in grow in an area with full sun. Keep the ground moist and provide a trellis or gate for the vines after true leaves appear the gourds will basically care for themselves.
Huckleberries
Huckleberries are very easy to grow, simply put them in a peat pot keep moist and transplant when @ least 6 leave have developed. (After frost) As promised here is your recipe.
Huckleberry Sauce DO NOT EAT GREEN HUCKLEBERRIES.
Garden Huckleberry Pie
4 C. garden huckleberries 1-1/2 C. sugar 1/4 t. nutmeg 1/4 t. salt 1 T. butter Juice of one lemon 2 T. cornstarch Pastry for 9-inch double crust pie
Stem, wash and drain huckleberries. Place berries in a heavy pot, cover with cold water and bring to a slow boil. Cook until soft. Drain; mash berries with a potato masher to break their skins.
Add sugar, nutmeg, salt, butter, lemon juice and cornstarch. Cook for about five minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens.
Place pastry for bottom crust in pie pan. Pour in the berry mixture and dot with butter. Cover with top crust, crimping crust edges to seal. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until the crust is a light brown. Cool. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream, if you plant a few at a time every month throughout the summer you will have a constant supply. They usually die with the hard freeze of winter which in Georgia is in either November or December.
Morning Glories
Morning Glory plants like full sun. The seed coat is thick. Nick Morning Glory seeds, or soak it in warm water for a couple of hours to soften it, and increase germination rates.
Sow Morning Glory seeds early in the season and cover lightly with 1/4" of soil. Water thoroughly once. Thin or space plants to a final distance of 6" apart. They will tolerate a little crowding if there is ample supports for their vines to spread up and out.
Passion Flower
To improve germination, lightly sandpaper the seeds on one or both sides using fine sandpaper, and then soak them in tepid water for 24 hours. Sow 2-5mm deep in peat or soil based seed compost. Temperature is probably the most important factor in germination, ideally at 20 degrees C (68F) for 16 hours and 30 degrees C (86F) for 8 hours each day. If this is not possible, then a constant temperature of 26 degrees C (79F) is advisable
Swiss Chard
Swiss chard are very easy to grow they can be planted during the spring or summer and grow until the first frost of winter, they come back in the spring to seed.
They can be planted direct into the ground and require full sun, as promised here is a recipe for swiss chard..
Put 3 teaspoons of olive oil in a pan on medium heat add about 20 sprigs of Swiss chard sauté and add mushrooms, basil and garlic. salt and pepper according to your desire. Enjoy.
Cucumbers
Here are the instructions on how to grow the cucumbers. Direct sow after all dangers of frost, I would not suggest peat pots or transplanting cucumbers because they seem not to adapt well to change. You can use a trellis or a fence for cucumbers because they grow on vines and they spread. That pack will give you at least 10 pounds of cucumbers. Apple cucumbers skin have a really pungent taste but the inside of cucumber taste normal with the exception that its crunchier and very aromatic. I suggest always taking the skin off of the cucumber. Also if you choose to save your seeds keep in mind that various cucumbers cross pollinate and you may not get the original parent if you choose to grow more than one type of cucumber ( Cucumbers also cross pollinate with honeydew,cantalope, winter melons, and small melon fruits)
by rzashida
6 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried dill (optional)
1 large cucumber (seeded, peeled and finely chopped)
1 pinch salt (to taste)
1 pinch pepper (to taste)
Directions
1Put the cucumber into a colander and sprinkle with a little salt.
2Let rest for 10-15 minutes to allow extra juices to escape the cucumber.
3Gently squeeze the cucumber in a paper or cloth towel.
4Put everything a bowl and mix well (I don't rinse the cucumber).
5Add salt and pepper to taste.
6Refrigerate for a couple of hours prior to using (if you have time).
7 A turn or two in the food processor would yield a nice smooth sauce
Okra
Okra take a little patience to grow I suggest soaking you seeds I water a few day before you directly sow them. The require full sun after all danger of frost have passed.
Here is the recipe for fried okra
Ingredients:
1/2 lb. okra
1 cup cornmeal
1 Tbsp. salt
2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 cup cultured buttermilk
vegetable oil
Preparation:
1. Choose okra that is an even green color and 2" - 4" long.
2. Trim stem ends from okra and cut into 3/4" lengths.
3. Soak in buttermilk for 15 minutes.
Deep fry in 350 degrees until golden brown
Thanks for choosing Brandy's Botany Bay Click in often.
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