Green Home and Garden

Category: Food & Cooking

  • Cold Weather Gardening

    Cold Weather Gardening

    After some unseasonably warm weather this Fall, it has finally gotten cold in the northeast and started to snow. We have been winterizing the house and garden and thought we would offer a few tips here to embrace the season.

    Embrace Winter Composting

    One of our favorite winter activities is composting. Even when the temperatures drop, we continue to collect kitchen scraps and yard waste. To keep our compost pile active, we insulate it with straw and leaves, which helps maintain the internal temperature. This practice ensures that by spring, we have rich compost ready to nourish our garden. For more tips on winter composting, check out this article from Better Homes & Gardens.

    Protect Perennials and Shrubs

    Winter can be harsh on plants, especially those not native to our zone. To help our perennials and shrubs survive the cold, we apply a thick layer of mulch around their bases. This insulation protects the roots from freezing temperatures. Additionally, we prune dead or diseased branches to prevent issues in the spring. The Spruce offers a terrific guide on overwintering plants.

    Grow Cold-Hardy Vegetables

    Believe it or not, some vegetables thrive in cooler weather. We enjoy growing kale, spinach, and Brussels sprouts during the winter months. These cold-hardy crops not only provide fresh produce but also add greenery to our garden when most plants are dormant.

    Use Cover Crops

    To maintain soil health, we plant cover crops like clover and rye. These plants prevent soil erosion, suppress weeds, and, when tilled into the soil, add valuable nutrients. It’s a natural way to prepare our garden beds for the upcoming growing season.

    Create Winter Containers

    For a splash of color, we assemble winter containers with hardy plants such as pansies, hellebores, and ornamental grasses. These arrangements brighten our porch and provide visual interest during the gray winter months. The Times has some great recommendations for winter containers.

    Get the Kids Involved

    Gardening has become a family affair year round. We (do our best to) involve the kids in planting, composting, and caring for the garden. It’s a great way to teach them about sustainability and, as always, the effort that goes into putting food on the table.

    Enjoy and stay warm!

  • Getting Started with Urban Farming

    Getting Started with Urban Farming

    Rebecca and I lived in New York City in our twenties and heard rumors about rooftop farms in Gowanus that grew enough vegetables to meaningfully supplement what came from the local co-ops. But growing food on a NYC rooftop was a daunting proposition to most city dwellers.

    These days, “urban farming” is more accessible and a lot easier if you’ve defected to the suburbs, like we have. As always, urban farming is an amazing way to transform small spaces into productive gardens. Here are a few tips we’ve collected on how to get started:

    1. Choose Your Space: Especially if you’re right in the city, use balconies, rooftops, or even window boxes to grow plants. Vertical gardening techniques can maximize space.

    2. Select Crops Wisely: Grow herbs, leafy greens, and small vegetables that thrive in limited areas. We have had a ton of success growing herbs, which makes cooking with fresh herbs easier and always makes your food better.

    3. Use Containers: Pots, planters, and grow bags are essential for urban farming. Ensure they have good drainage. You can even move these into a garage or enclosure when the weather gets colder and keep some plants alive during the winter season.

    4. Compost for Nutrients: Turn kitchen scraps into compost to enrich your soil naturally. We have had varied success with composting — one year we created the world’s largest muck bucket full of black fly larvae. 0 out of 10, do not recommend.

    There’s a company called The Compost People near us in Southwestern PA. Look for something similar in your area if you’re not up for DIY.

    5. Embrace Community: Farming is more fun together. Look for a community garden or even your local nursery or hardware store to share resources, knowledge, and produce. We have found that urban farming not only provides fresh food but also helps us build community and promote sustainability in our neighborhood.

  • The key to reducing food waste is… chickens??

    The key to reducing food waste is… chickens??

    We have been surprised to read recently that integrating chickens into communities can dramatically increase sustainability and reduce food waste. Chickens not only provide fresh eggs and meat but also recycle organic waste, transforming kitchen scraps into valuable resources. Here are a few of the highlights from our research and links to interesting articles.

    Chickens as Natural Recyclers

    Chickens have an innate ability to consume a wide variety of food scraps, effectively diverting organic waste from landfills. Research indicates that each backyard chicken can consume approximately 82.9 pounds of household food scraps annually. This means that 24 chickens can process a ton of municipal solid waste food annually, producing less than half the greenhouse gases compared to the anaerobic decomposition of the same waste in landfills.

    Enhancing Soil Fertility

    Beyond waste reduction, chickens contribute to soil health through their manure, which is rich in nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. When properly composted, chicken manure serves as an excellent fertilizer, enhancing soil structure and promoting sustainable gardening practices.

    Economic and Environmental Benefits

    Utilizing food waste as chicken feed presents significant economic advantages. Poultry farmers can save up to 50% on feed costs, which constitute about 65% of their production expenses. This practice not only boosts profitability but also contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing the need for commercial feed production.

    Community Engagement and Education

    Incorporating chickens into community gardens or urban farming initiatives fosters community engagement and education. Residents, especially children, gain hands-on experience in sustainable living practices, learning about the food cycle, waste reduction, and responsible animal husbandry.

    Case Study: Urban Farming Initiatives

    Cities worldwide are recognizing the benefits of urban farming with chickens. For instance, in New York City, initiatives like “Make Food, Not Waste Restaurant Week” encourage restaurants to create zero-waste dishes, highlighting the importance of reducing food waste—a concept that can be extended to community-based chicken farming.

    Considerations and Best Practices

    While the benefits can be substantial, aspiring urban chicken farmers must be prepared to manage backyard chickens responsibly. Proper housing, regular health checks, and adherence to local regulations ensure the well-being of the birds and the community. Additionally, not all food scraps are suitable for chickens; it’s crucial to avoid feeding them spoiled or toxic foods.

    While we have not introduced chickens to our yard yet — it’s too cold at the moment! — we are excited about the possibilities for food waste management, soil enhancement, and community engagement. Who knew!?

  • 5 Simple Ways to Waste Less Food as a Family of Four

    5 Simple Ways to Waste Less Food as a Family of Four

    Reducing food waste is not only great for the planet, but it also saves money and makes meal planning less stressful. For families of four like ours, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly buying, cooking, and (unfortunately) tossing food. The good news? A few small changes can make a big difference.

    Here are five simple ways we have started to waste less food.

    1. Plan Your meals (and stick to the list)

    Meal planning might feel like a chore, but it’s a game-changer when it comes to avoiding waste. Start by checking your fridge and pantry for ingredients that need to be used up. Then, create a weekly menu that incorporates those items. Make a shopping list based on your plan and (this is the key) only buy what’s on the list. We really like Budget Bytes as a resource.

    Pro tip: Add “flex meals” for leftovers. A stir-fry or pasta night is perfect for tossing in random veggies and proteins from earlier in the week.

    2. Get creative with leftovers

    Leftovers don’t have to be boring! Instead of reheating the same meal, transform leftovers into something new. Roast chicken from last night? Shred it into tacos or add it to a salad. Extra rice? Stir-fry it with veggies and eggs for a quick fried rice. Even veggie scraps can shine—save them to make homemade stock or toss them into a hearty soup.

    For families with picky eaters *ahem*, turn leftover ingredients into fun DIY meals, like build “decorate-your-own” pizzas. They make everyone feel like they’re eating something fresh and exciting.

    3. Store food smarter

    How you store your food can make or break its shelf life. Keep fruits and vegetables in the right spots (hint: apples like the fridge, potatoes don’t). Use clear containers so you can see what’s inside and don’t forget to label leftovers with the date.

    A family fridge can get chaotic, so try designating one shelf for “eat me first” items. This helps everyone know what needs to be used up before it goes bad. And remember to freeze anything you can’t use right away—frozen bread, bananas, or even cooked meals can be lifesavers on busy nights.

    4. Get everyone involved

    Kids can be surprisingly enthusiastic about food waste when you make it fun. Challenge them to spot ingredients that are about to expire and come up with creative ways to use them. Maybe they create a smoothie combo with leftover fruits or design a “no-waste pizza” topped with odds and ends.

    Even small tasks, like helping to pack lunches or portion snacks, teach kids about not wasting food. Plus, when they feel involved, they’re more likely to eat what’s served.

    5. Compost the rest

    No matter how hard you try, some waste is inevitable. But instead of tossing food scraps in the trash, start a compost bin. We talked this in a previous post and recommended a local pickup service like The Compost People.

    Composting keeps food waste out of landfills (where it produces harmful methane gas) and turns it into nutrient-rich soil for your garden. Bonus: It’s a great hands-on way to teach kids about sustainability!