1. | Jun 18, 2014

some of it is the weather cniontiods, but we are so different from NY that it's hard to say why else. I will do better planning this year.I would suggest getting a book that's specific for your region I am about to order one for NC because with our hot weather and dreaded red clay, it's miserable. I decided to do raised garden instead of messing with the clay and amending it. I will suggest growing Golden Beets they have become a favorite of ours and you just bake them in the oven remind me of almost a carrot. Also, try to find Goji Berries. These are my new favorite thing and I am going to try to plant them this year the oldest living people in the world ate Goji berries, and they think the berries may have had something to do with it. I would also say to try collards, kale, pole beans, summer squash, spaghetti squash, cukes, peppers, tomatoes (including a cherry), herbs, beets, lettuce, and spinach try them and see how they do!And try the book, Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew not only do you learn about the square-foot raised gardens and what to grow in them (how many per square, etc), but he also shows you inexpensive ways that you can rig trellises and covers, greenhouses, etc. You can also use the resources at gardeners.com where the have an interactive garden planner so you can drag items into your garden and it gives info for each, including how many to plant in each square foot. Also, when you go to do tomatoes, I've found that building your own cages from rebar at a hardware store/home improvement store works the best. My tomatoes were HUGE last year and towered even over those (I may have to go bigger this year). I cannot remember the varieties I planted, because I usually try a few, but I believe they were Big Boys, Mountain Pride, Better Boys and then my cherries were Sweet 100s. I had more than we needed, for sure. We also love to grow basil and hot peppers, which did great here. We make fresh salsa often and also bruschetta.Good luck and keep updating us on your progress!

2. | Jun 14, 2014

some of it is the weather conitidons, but we are so different from NY that it's hard to say why else. I will do better planning this year.I would suggest getting a book that's specific for your region I am about to order one for NC because with our hot weather and dreaded red clay, it's miserable. I decided to do raised garden instead of messing with the clay and amending it. I will suggest growing Golden Beets they have become a favorite of ours and you just bake them in the oven remind me of almost a carrot. Also, try to find Goji Berries. These are my new favorite thing and I am going to try to plant them this year the oldest living people in the world ate Goji berries, and they think the berries may have had something to do with it. I would also say to try collards, kale, pole beans, summer squash, spaghetti squash, cukes, peppers, tomatoes (including a cherry), herbs, beets, lettuce, and spinach try them and see how they do!And try the book, Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew not only do you learn about the square-foot raised gardens and what to grow in them (how many per square, etc), but he also shows you inexpensive ways that you can rig trellises and covers, greenhouses, etc. You can also use the resources at gardeners.com where the have an interactive garden planner so you can drag items into your garden and it gives info for each, including how many to plant in each square foot. Also, when you go to do tomatoes, I've found that building your own cages from rebar at a hardware store/home improvement store works the best. My tomatoes were HUGE last year and towered even over those (I may have to go bigger this year). I cannot remember the varieties I planted, because I usually try a few, but I believe they were Big Boys, Mountain Pride, Better Boys and then my cherries were Sweet 100s. I had more than we needed, for sure. We also love to grow basil and hot peppers, which did great here. We make fresh salsa often and also bruschetta.Good luck and keep updating us on your progress!

3. | Dec 18, 2013

I made a delicious riepce with the kale that I kind of copied from Back to Earth Health Food Store in New City. Cut the kale very small, saute in a little EVOO and garlic. Add slivered almonds and raisons. Delicious!

4. | Nov 15, 2013

Eve,You must be peeking at my list of planend posts (the next recipe I'm posting is for borscht and I also started my first giant batch of homemade sauerkraut.) Indeed beets and cabbage can be a bit tricky to use up. Lately I've been roasting my beets, slicing them tossing them in a simple brine very similar to the recipe I posted for pickled carrots. Just sitting in brine will multiply the time that your cooked beets will keep in the fridge. I'm eating my fair share of beet and goat cheese sandwiches these days. As for cabbage, sauerkraut is a good way to preserve cabbage, but it is also a big smelly project (at least two weeks to ferment depending on whose recipe you read). I smell a cabbage-related post in my future, but maybe that's just the fermentation starting A few quick cabbage ideas: Make a raw coleslaw with sliced cabbage, sliced onions, lime juice, oil and salt. Make a warm slaw by cooking a chopped onion in a little oil and then tossing in sliced cabbage, grated apple and some raisins (just wilt the cabbage, don't cook all the way through). Season with salt and vinegar. I hope that helps! Renee

5. | Nov 10, 2013

Try coming up with a real issue beorfe you pretend that one (1) blogger is 1.) a BIG DEAL; and 2.) and I quote RCP . . . posting links one story equals links.The way you breathless posted your comment, I had assumed that the front page was flooded with links to stories about Christie's malfeasance. I had to do a search of the site to even find this one puny blog entry. It definitely ranks up there with Bush & Katrina! Thanks for alerting us to the news. If you want to see what a real pummeling looks like, just Google Bloomberg and Snow Storm. P.S. For the truly clueless, consult your dictionary entry for HYPERBOLE.

6. | Sep 8, 2013

Fred Going forward I will cutninoe to comment and post info as before with one exception, I will no longer engage in any dialogue with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. After reading today's posts, I finally realized that there is something seriously wrong with him, and my constant challenging of his “facts” and opinions was only making the situation worse.For those who wish to know – I am not, nor have I ever been, an employee or contractor of the Daily Record or its parent, Gannett. I have no desire to work for them, although I am certain they are a fine organization. I’m just an average citizen who likes to express his opinions on all things political.As anyone who has even seen the play (or movie) 1776, this nation was founded by a group of individuals who agreed on one thing – Freedom from Tyranny, but little else. By debating openly and honestly, they eventually agreed on the most important document in the history of mankind – the Declaration of Independence.A decade later, a similar group of men came together to write a Constitution. Again, there was much debate and disagreement. But again, one of the most important documents of all time was produced, and for over 200 years this nation has grown and flourished as a result.Today, we find ourselves facing many important decisions In NJ, electing a governor and one branch of the legislature. On the federal side, several issues that will permanently reshape America – health care reform, Medicare, climate change legislation, growing national debt, etc.As a state and nation, we are better off if everyone who has an opinion or idea is heard. One of NJ's biggest problems is the general lack of interest in what's going on in our government at all levels.Therefore, I’ve appreciated the opportunity to voice my opinion via your website and blog, and hope to cutninoe to do so for a long time to come.Thanks, P