Monthly Archives: June 2012

I’m joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program
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I’m joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program

I read Simple Mom on a somewhat regular basis. Recently I was browsing through the menu of her most popular posts, and I saw this: 11 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget.

I already do some of these things, but #7, ” Invest in a Community Supported Agriculture program,” caught my eye.

If you’ve read some of my recent posts, you know that I am a first-time gardener and I am totally excited about it. This year I planted my first “real” garden and I am growing tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley (all from seeds), peppers, watermelon and basil (all from plants). Last night I literally rushed home after work to see how big my baby cucumbers have gotten (about 1.5-2 inches long right now)!

I can’t always make it to area farmer’s markets. So this got me wondering what kinds of CSAs are in my area.

I found out there’s one a town away. I’m signing up this afternoon. I’ll be missing the first few weeks, but they are prorating the cost for me.

This is what last week’s share consistent of:

1 head romaine lettuce, 1 head Napa cabbage, 1 bunch leeks, CHOICE: broccoli raab, tatsoi or mizuna, 1 bunch salad turnips, CHOICE: spinach or swiss chard, 1 lb fava beans, CHOICE: cilantro or dill

I have no idea what tatsoi or mizuna are but I’m stoked! (Insert pause here for Google search….typing…..searching…. OHHHHHHH.)

There is a volunteering requirement involved… I’m looking into that. If I won’t be able to volunteer my time because of child care conflicts or work there is also a “work buy-out” option.

Stay tuned.

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New study supports low glycemic diet for sustained weight loss
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New study supports low glycemic diet for sustained weight loss

I found this via Mark Bittman at the New York Times. Some “food for thought”….but of course an article called “Which Diet Works?” is going to get my attention!

From the article:

  1. Study was performed at the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center of Boston Children’s Hospital
  2. looked at people’s ability to maintain weight loss, which is more difficult than just losing weight
  3. their low glycemic diet: 40 percent carbs — minimally processed grains, fruit, vegetables and legumes — 40 percent fat and 20 percent protein
  4. Study participants on the low glycemic diet burned 150 calories more per day.

In addition Bittman talks about how not all calories are created equal:

There’s an increasing body of evidence, however, that calories from highly processed carbohydrates like white flour (and of course sugar) provide calories that the body treats differently, spiking both blood sugar and insulin and causing us to retain fat instead of burning it off.

But I like broccoli!

Sometimes I need reminders like this to stay on track. Hope you’re all having a great day!

Homemade deodorant?
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Homemade deodorant?

I sweat. A lot. Sorry, TMI.

While I usually never wear more make up than some lip gloss and sometimes mascara, I do use a heavy-duty deodorant/anti-perspirant every day. And like Lexie, I am concerned about the chemicals in the products I use. But I don’t want to smell like B.O. I’ve tried “natural” deodorants before and they don’t quite keep me, um, fresh.

So I saw this and I’m intrigued. I need to find the time to make this and try this soon! Thank you Lexie’s Kitchen for this post!

How does your garden grow?
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How does your garden grow?

Mine is growing very well, thank you! =)

Looking back over my last gardening post, I see my plants have really come a long way in the last month.

Left to right: May 20 was the day my seedlings went in the ground. The picture on the right was taken June 24. Um, yeah, the tomatoes are way too close to each other, I know.

My tomatoes have really taken off. Next year I’ll space these out better…for sure.

I really haven’t expected much of any of my other plants, but the cucumbers are really coming in nicely too. I didn’t know the flowers would be so pretty.

June 8 cucumbers

June 15 cucumbers

June 15 cucumber flower

None of the pepper seeds I planted came up; the day or day after I put them in the ground we had a lot of rain, and I guess they washed away. But the pepper plant I put between the cukes and tomatoes is hanging in there even though it’s almost being overtaken by the toms.

June 24 peppers

We’ve also been enjoying the lettuce. Just throwing the seeds in a this pot has given us several salads, and the leaves are delicious. Just keeping it in a large pot on a table has worked, too. I’d do a few types of lettuce next year like this for sure!

Left to right: May 25, June 8, June 21

We also added two basil plants (one in a pot, one next to the fenced garden) and a watermelon plant. I don’t know if the watermelon will do anything, but it was an impulse purchase. What the heck. Unless I add on to the fence the critters will get it, anyway.

basil and watermelon

Chloe still won’t try lettuce, but George is hopeful she’ll like our fresh tomatoes. Currently she is enjoying raw red/orange/yellow peppers and cucumbers.

Two nights ago she refused sampling my avocado, but she ate all the broccoli I put on her plate. And last night she ate and liked snap peas for the first time. I was so happy she tried them and liked them!