Early Crops

We hope you’ll be able to join us this Thursday, February 27, at Pathfinder Produce for the best prices and freshest flavors around!  We’re open from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Village Commons Building at Pathfinder Village, just off NYS Route 80.
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A few weeks ago I shared some tips on how home gardeners may build hoop houses or even start plants in old milk jugs.  The discussion reminded me of my pre-Pathfinder days of working at The Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown, where the historic farmstead staff planted crops as our forbearers did, always in tune with the changing seasons. 

During this region’s past, it was the rule that 19^th century farmsteads would have kitchen gardens, relatively close to the house. Typically these were the responsibility of women and girls to tend, as the men and boys would focus their energies on field crops, livestock, or pursuing trades. As soon as winter released its grip, women would turn to their gardens to prepare seed beds, aerating and amending the soil, pulling out the stems and roots from the previous year’s plants.

“Tilth” is the term used to describe soil’s condition, and experienced gardeners (then and now) knew how to read their soil.  According to Colorado State Garden Notes, soil with good tilth has large pore spaces for air infiltration and water movement, and is necessary for root health. Here’s the Beekman Boys post on how they prepare their raised beds in spring.

The soil’s pH (relative acidity) can affect growth and a low or high reading indicates that your soil needs adjusting: pH kits are available to buy, but you can also test your soil using common substances found in the kitchen cupboard.  Typically, soils in our region may be too acidic (“sour”) and require finely ground lime, which should be worked in several weeks before planting.  Organic gardening sites also recommend adding lots of quality compost into a garden, both in the fall or in early spring, as the abundance of nutrients helps plant growth and can improve soil quality.

Spring planting is done (both historically and by today’s avid gardeners) with rotating harvests in mind, with early vegetables like peas, radishes, spinach, leeks and lettuces going in first.  Historically, these fresh-tasting early producers were eagerly anticipated, following farm families’ winter diets that were heavy on root vegetables and salted meats.  A good site to check is P. Allen Smith Garden Home which speaks about frost zones and recommended planting dates.

Of these early crops, spinach is my favorite, which we usually eat fresh in salads. Historically, the plant originated in modern Iran, then traveled to India and China, and was introduced to Europe by 827, according to many web sources.  It became popular throughout the Mediterranean, and migrated to England and France by the 1300s.  Because of its early arrival in spring, spinach became popular and then crossed the Atlantic to be a staple in the gardens of Massachusetts Bay and Virginia.  More spinach history can be found at gracelinks.org, and spinach’s health benefits are found at the World’s Healthiest Foods.

Until next time, be well!

Lori

 

The Forbidden Fruit

We hope everyone will take advantage of Thursday’s predicted warm temperatures to come out for our weekly fresh fruit and vegetable market, Pathfinder Produce, at the Village Commons from 2 to 5 p.m. We offer great produce at very competitive prices ... as the old commercial used to say, “Try it, you’ll like it!”

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Pathfinder Produce offers fruits and veggies seasonally, and it's nice to see the citrus fruits coming to us again.  The sweet oranges and tangy grapefruits are personal favorites, and the Vitamin C they provide offers a boost to the immune system during the cold and flu season.

Grapefruits are the result of an accidental cross between the Jamaican sweet orange, and the Indonesian pomelo, and were first cultivated in Barbados in the 1700s. A Captain Shaddock of the East India Company is thought to have brought the pomelo seeds to the Caribbean in 1698 – another example of cultural exchange during the Age of Exploration.  The fruit was first described in the Rev. Griffith Hughes’ “Natural History of Barbados,” (1750) and was then called the “forbidden fruit.”  According to worldwidewords.org  the grapefruit was called “forbidden” as Hughes and other gentlemen scholars of the day were searching for the identity of the Tree of Good and Evil mentioned in the Book of Genesis.  During the 1800s, the fruit was sometimes referred to as the shaddock.

In 1823, Count Odette Phillipe brought the seeds from the Bahamas to Florida. The modern name came about as grapefruits grow in clusters, resembling bunches of grapes.  It wasn't until the late 19th century that grapefruit became a large scale commercial crop, and I suspect that the advent of practical refrigerated railway cars in the 1870-80s helped it gain a foothold in northern states.

Pink grapefruit was first grown in 1906, a hybrid developed by the Atwood Grapefruit Company, which at the time was the world's largest producer.  From there, other hybrids were grown which led to the development of the Ruby Red variety in 1929.  Today, the U.S. is the top producer of grapefruit, with Texas and Florida being the main areas where it is grown; other top producers include China and South Africa.  More historical facts are at this site: http://www.vegparadise.com/highestperch63.html .

For some of us, grapefruit actually is forbidden:  Many new pharmaceuticals are adversely affected by grapefruit consumption, especially statin drugs used to lower cholesterol (atorvastatin, lovastatin, or simvastatin).  Grapefruit contains a chemical called bergamottin, which blocks the enzymes that breakdown the statins for transport throughout the body. If grapefruit is taken at the same time as the drug, it can actually cause toxic levels of the statins to accumulate, which can cause damage to muscles, liver and kidneys.  Grapefruit is so potent, this toxic build up can happen through even a single dose.

Grapefruit also interacts with other oral medications that rely on enzyme action to be introduced into the bloodstream; you should consult with your doctor or pharmacist before eating grapefruit to make sure it’s safe.  This link, bigthink.com/neurobonkers, has a list of other drugs that shouldn't be taken with grapefruit products.

However, if you aren't taking these medicines, eating grapefruit can actually help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, according to The World's Healthiest Foods website. Grapefruit contains pectin, a soluble fiber that slows down the progression of atherosclerosis. Researchers from Hebrew University studied groups of participants who added either red grapefruit, white grapefruit or no grapefruit to their daily diets. The results showed that both red and white grapefruit lower LDL cholesterol in 30 days: total cholesterol by 15.5% in those eating red grapefruit and 7.6% in those eating white grapefruit; LDL cholesterol by 20.3% and 10.7% respectively; and triglycerides by 17.2% and 5.6% respectively. No changes were seen in the control group (those that didn't eat any grapefruit).

The World's Healthiest Foods also recommends grapefruit for its high Vitamin C content, other antioxidants, and lycopene, found in red and pink varieties, which may help prevent prostate cancer in men.  Grapefruit is also rich in phytonutrients called limonoids, which are believed to slow tumor formation by increasing the efficacy of the liver's functions to flush toxic compounds from the body.

Until next time, be well, and we hope to see you at this Thursday’s Pathfinder Produce!

Lori

February is American Heart Month!

This week we celebrate Valentine’s Day … rather than turning to sugary candies, why not buy your sweetie the ingredients for a DIY fruit and gift basket at this Thursday’s Pathfinder Produce from 2-5 p.m.  Here are a few links with ideas if you are feeling creative: 

• Mint in the Middle Fruit Kabobs
• Spend With Pennies Strawberry Roses
• Catch My Party Valentine's Tray

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Every Valentine’s Day, we enjoy seeing cascading red hearts that decorate all the storefronts, and the fun stories on Facebook.  Here at Pathfinder Village, I especially enjoy the card exchange with our school students and the residents’ dance that are our annual traditions.  But matters of the heart are not merely focused on romance this month … it’s American Heart Month, and a good time to start taking care of “the old ticker.”

Our Pathfinder School students are participating in Jump Rope for Heart for the first time this year, with the culminating jumping event happening on February 26.  If you are interested in supporting the students as they raise money for the American Heart Association, please email our Adaptive Physical Education Teacher Megan Shirey.  We also have a CPR Training Course this week for new residential staff, taught by Assistant Director of Enrichment Char Orendorff, who is also a member of our Edmeston EMS team.  Char has been a key part in our heart health program here at Pathfinder, as both our CPR/AED educator and as our fitness and games expert as part of our Enrichment Department.

A new survey from the Cleveland Clinic indicates that most Americans are uninformed about recognizing and preventing heart disease, despite it being the number one cause of death for adults in the U.S.  The survey found:

• 74% of Americans are not afraid of dying from heart disease
• 32% of Americans do not take proactive steps to prevent heart disease
• 70% of Americans are unaware of the symptoms of heart disease

The Cleveland Clinic has put together an impressive and informative web presentation on some of the myths and misperceptions on heart disease; you may review it at this link.  To spell it out plainly, the signs of heart disease are below; check out this link for more from the WebMD site.  Men and women often experience different symptoms: If you have a combination of any of these signs, you should talk to your medical care provider:

 

1.      Chest discomfort, pain or burning sensations often centered under the sternum.

2.      Anxiety or feelings of impending doom.

3.      Persistent cough or wheezing.

4.      Dizziness.

5.      Fatigue or weakness.

6.     Nausea, vomiting or lack of appetite.

7.     Pain that spreads from the chest, to the shoulders, arms, elbows, back, neck, or jaw.

8.      Rapid or irregular pulse.

9.      Shortness of breath.

10.   Breaking out in a cold sweat.

11.   Swelling, often in the feet, ankles, legs, or abdomen.

A key part to taking better care of your heart is to eat better, and that’s where our weekly Pathfinder Produce market can help.  By making the shift to eating less processed foods, and placing more fruits and vegetables on your plate, you can do a great deal to improve your overall health.  Fruits and veggies are great on so many levels – they have vitamins your body needs, they are low in saturated fats and do not have trans fats, and they contain dietary fiber, which can be helpful in maintaining a healthy weight.

So, learn more about heart health, step it up with some moderate exercise, and factor in some fruits and veggies during American Heart Month.

Be well!

Lori

Six Weeks 'til Spring

We hope you’ll be able to join us this Thursday from 2 to 5 p.m. for our weekly Pathfinder Produce market, which features great prices and the freshest fruits and veggies around.

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We've passed a few milestones this winter – Groundhog Day and the Super Bowl – which should give all of us affected by cabin fever a few reasons to look past the gray and dreary days.  Although “Punk-sutawney Phil” has forecast six more weeks of winter, at least the end is in sight.

I confess I’m not a great gardener, but I believe people should know where their food comes from, and the processes that are involved in growing it.  Now is the time to start planning ahead for the gardening season: A few avid gardener friends are eagerly awaiting their seed catalogs in the mail box, reviewing their companion planting layouts, and will soon start their seedlings.  At Pathfinder, we'll start planning our new hoop house that we received a 5-2-1-0 grant for, so that we can extend the growing season.

The hoop house will be a great addition to our horticultural tradition at the Village.  We've had greenhouses at Pathfinder since the early 1980s; the donor of the first greenhouse, Mrs. Burlingham, was an environmentalist and believed that working in the soil and tending living things was empowering and offered a way for residents to connect with nature.  Our new Button Greenhouse, named in honor of local farmer Leslie Button by his family, continues that tradition. 

A hoop house can be made using different materials, like rebar or pvc piping, and they don't have to be large to boost garden production.  Heavy duty plastic sheeting is available at home centers or your corner hardware store, like Hoyt’s here in Edmeston.  There are many links online to review if you're interested, and basic plans are available at http://westsidegardener.com/howto/hoophouse.html or http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-build-a-hoop-house/index.html.  Make sure you can raise the sides of the plastic later on to prevent the hoop house from getting too hot.

Of course, there are other methods to starting your plants earlier and less-expensively.  Many websites suggest “winter sowing,” using gallon plastic milk containers as mini greenhouses.  This sounds like a great project to try with kids or grandkids:  Cut off the bottoms of the milk jugs at about 3” high, and use the base as a starter tray.  Poke holes in the bottom for drainage, fill with potting soil, and plant a few seeds in each container.  Replace the top of the jug (with its cap) over the bottom, and use some duct tape to secure the halves together.

Plant hardier crops like peas, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli in mid-February, wait for March or April for veggies that are more temperature-sensitive.  Place the jugs outside, and as the sun warms the soil, your seeds will germinate.  Make sure you label the jugs with a permanent marker for easier identification.  On warmer days, remove the caps to prevent burning the plants.  If the plants sprout and you're concerned about a hard freeze, just cover the jugs with old blankets.

A good guide to this method is at http://www.getbusygardening.com/2010/02/winter-sowing-seeds.html.  Once the weather gets nice and there are no more threats of frost, carefully transplant your young plants into your garden space, raised beds, or larger pots if you're doing a patio or container garden.

Of course, the real work in gardening is fighting weeds … I confess I usually lose the battle against noxious plants.  I ran across this piece, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/pests/insects-diseases-weeds/winning-the-weed-war/, and hope that some these practices will help with our garden this year.  If anyone has some non-chemical methods that have proven successful, please feel free to share!

Until next time, be well!

Lori