I laugh as I reread this post which I couldn’t publish on June 29th when our area had a massive, many day, power failure not to mention record heat, no rain and even a few days of water restrictions but now that I’m back home with power, my garden continues to produce, provide and bring not just joy but awe……
As the temperatures soar to near 100◦ today, I think about last week and what Goldilocks said, “not too hot, not too cold but just right”. It was a beautiful week especially for gardens.
A week ago, my single cucumber plant had climbed about 4 feet of a 6 foot trellis and was covered in blossoms. Six days later it has climbed 3 feet above the trellis on to a tree and I picked 2 6” cucumbers to slice and sprinkle with sea salt for dinner. Delicious, and many more to come.
As I welcome the cucumbers and the beginning to ripen tomatoes, I say farewell to all the late lettuces, spinach and arugula that finally bolted in the heat.
The kale and swiss chard are still going strong and will last all summer though we eat most of it now because the leaves are sweeter. Swiss chard, especially Rainbow Chard, makes a beautiful decorative plant in a container so it does double duty.
Kale is basically the #1 rated green for nutrients -A, C, K, calcium, 45 flavonoids (think anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory). Kale is in the cabbage family (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel spouts and another great leafy green, collard greens). My favorite is Lacinato aka Tuscan.
Swiss Chard is also packed with A,C, K, iron, protein, folate and fiber and is anti-inflammatory. Chard is from a family of plants called Chenopods that also includes beets, spinach and, go figure, quinoa!
Even if you have little space or no green thumb these greens are so easy to grow and do well in containers. And they really are delicious. Are you getting your recommended number of servings of “dark leafy green vegetables”/the anti-cancer food?
In honor of these wonderful greens and to the first (green) eggs from my granddaughter’s chickens, Condi, Hiliary and Merkel , click on Recipes above and try Green(s) Eggs and Mushrooms from the drop down menu. An easy, fast, vegetarian, gluten-free, delicious year round dish especially with greens and sage from your own garden.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is not intended to substitute for medical counseling. Intentional Health does not treat, prevent, cure, or diagnose any disease or ailment.
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