Two motivational talks by two inspirational gardeners

While browsing through TED.com, I came across these two brilliant short videos that will leave you charged and you might end up plotting a new garden ( like me!!).

Here is the first one by Britta Riley who dint want to depend on anyone to come up with an idea to grow food food even in harsh winters. She knew that NASA uses hydroponic systems to grow food in space, so she made her own system that is now getting famous around the world. The best part is that its surprisingly easy to build! Watch the video to learn more.

Britta Riley: A garden in my apartment
www.windowfarms.org/

Loved it? I know !
Here is our next inspirational video of the day. Roger Doiron is the founder of the KGI.org Kitchen Gardeners International that has over 20,000 members from 100 countries! He grows his own food and wants everyone to grow their own food too. You must watch and listen to what he has to say!

Roger Doiron: My subversive (garden) plot
http://kitchengardeners.org/ 



I am sure you enjoyed these videos and learned something from them too. If you did, share! :)


happy gardening!
Zahra

Lets swap our plants!

Plant exchange is a brilliant practice that lets us swap plants from our gardens.  

My first home-grown pineapple!

To initiate plant-swap on Crops in Pots, I am offering my home-grown Pineapple plant.


2 years back, a friend gave me a Pineapple plant that was 1 year old. Last year it produced the most delicious Pineapple I have ever tasted and later it left me with 4 baby plants. 


I am keeping 3 for my own garden. 1 of these plants can be yours if you have a special plant to make a trade :)


So hurry up! Post a photo of your plant on Crops in Pots that you wish to swap for my pineapple plant or email me at crops.in.pots@gmail.com




Note: Pineapples loves to grow in containers but will take up some space. They fruit when they are 2 years old and after fruiting they will leave 3-4 new plants for you.


* this offer is only for Karachi.

Sunny Solutions

Guilty of overindulging in bottled water? You’re certainly not the only one. 


The number of “health-conscious” people in Pakistan, who carry their bottles of mineral water while rushing off to work, sauntering in parks and shopping at malls, is on the rise. Bottled water is now ubiquitous in Pakistan — not only is it on the checklist of essentials of most people; it’s also served during conferences and business meetings. And there are figures to prove its rampant consumption. The use of bottled water — typically considered as high quality and safe drinking H20 — is growing by 40 per cent each year. In the year 2000 alone, Pakistan experienced an astonishing 140 per cent growth in bottled water usage — the highest in Asia. It is estimated that the cost of mineral water for one person is roughly Rs1,400 per month — equivalent to Rs. 16,800 per annum. That is a lot of money for something that is our basic right: drinkable water!


The increasing acceptance of bottled water has obviously made consumption of tap water — generally associated with nasty stomach bugs — unthinkable in today’s age. But what if I told you that you can purify water, straight from the tap? You won’t even have to filter or boil it. All you need are some empty PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) bottles, clear tap water and some bright sunlight and you can start the solar water disinfection (SODIS) process at home! This process, developed by the University of Beirut in 1985, has been practiced in many countries and regions around the world, including Pakistan.

To purify your water by using sunlight, simply follow these steps:
Find PET bottles with a resin identification sign of 1. Your plastic water or juice bottles are safe to be reused for this project. The bottles must not contain more than 3 litres of water.
• Wash the bottles thoroughly with soup.
• Fill them with tap water. Make sure your tap water is visibly clean. This method is not very effective for hard water.
• Put on the cap and place the bottles in full sunlight for at least 6 hours. If it’s cloudy, keep them out there for two days.
Your water, without any added chemicals, is now ready to drink!
Despite being the simplest way to purify your water, SODIS has a few disadvantages:
• The process will only be fully effective on sunny days
• It does not work on hard water (water with high mineral con tent)
• It takes time and effort.
But look at the bright side (pun intended) of the entire procedure. It’s a natural, eco-friendly and healthy way of disinfecting your water and will allow you to save money in the long-term. And as far as the exertion required in disinfection is concerned, a light workout never harmed anyone!
So go ahead: make use of nature and purify your water the sunny way!

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, December 11th, 2011

Winter Colours and Flavours for Your Garden

Winter may feel cold and colorless but your garden doesn’t need to be monochrome. Nature presents us with stunningly vibrant foliage and flowers that adds warmth to your garden and gives you a reason to be out in the sun on a wintry day.

Using a blend of seasonal winter flowering plants in a variety of containers is an easiest way to brighten up your garden. Place it at your entrance, align it along the pathway or position it on your window sill, they will add interest to your garden for months to come.

Add some plants to hanging baskets and place them outside your windows to add a color to the view from inside.

A Spark of colors

Pleasing fusion of bulbs and winter-flowering plants adds sparks of colors to your garden. Select from your local bulbs such as the classic white tube roses or go for Lilies, Daffodils, Tulips or Amaryllus according to the city you live in. Plant large Indian Dahlia for a bold splash of colors or clusters of tiny Alyssum flowers in containers. If you have an ugly wall to hide, grow tall stunning Holy Hocks. Options are endless,but here are some must-haves for this season: Petunia, Carnation, Marigolds, Antirrhinum, Salvia, Calendula, Dahlia, Geranium, Lupin, Pansies and many more. Select according to your taste and space.  

Add fragrance and flavour  

Yes flavor! Why not play with edible plants, vegetables, herbs and flowers! Here are some ideas:

- Combine a bush cherry tomato plant with chives or marigolds in a hanging basket.

- Mix together pansies with strawberries.

- Use mixed verities of leaf lettuce as fillers between your other ornamental plants.

- Blend Dill with Nasturtium flowers which are edible!

-  Blend a contrasting color Petunia with strawberries or hanging tomatoes. Imagine a purple petunia plant with yellow cherry tomatoes hanging right on your favorite corner!

- mix dwarf sweet pea with Purple Cabbage.

Use plants with lush green or colored foliage and different textures. Have some perennials and annuals too along with the seasonal plants. Bring together plants that have similar needs( sunlight, type of soil, water) and also keep in mind about the space they will need to grow. 

The options are endless so why not create a garden this winter that not only has stunning colors but also something much more.

Published in Express Tribune Classifieds on Sunday 27th November, 2011

Image credit: Mehlum Sadriwala studios

Brussels sprouts: Best buds

With their clusters of buds that look like tiny cabbages, Brussels sprouts are a rewarding plant to grow.

Kitchen gardening is all about planting seeds which you have never sown before and being proud of your harvest. For me, growing Brussels has been a personal achievement.

The name comes from the city of Brussels in Belgium where, it is believed, selected cabbage varieties were cultivated in the 18th century. Clusters of tiny leaf buds resembling miniature cabbages grew along a thick stem and became famous as Brussels sprouts. They were named Brassica oleracea variety gemmifera, or simply, ‘garden cabbage bearing gems’. Closely related to kale, kohlrabi, cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage, Brussels sprouts are dark green and the miniature cabbages are typically 1-2 inches long, which explains why they are referred to as gems. The stalk itself can grow up to 3 feet tall.
Brussels sprouts contain sulforaphane, a chemical with anticancer and antidiabetic properties, along with indole-3 carbinol which improves DNA repair in cells, making it a true treasure for any vegetable garden.

Growing Brussels sprouts in your garden


Winter is the best time to grow good quality Brussels sprouts that have compact heads. On the other hand, hot temperatures result in loose tufts. Some heat tolerant varieties can be grown in spring or early summer. Brussels sprouts will love temperatures between 7-24c˚ and yield will peak somewhere within this range.
Brussels sprouts love well-drained and fertile soil. Prepare your pot or plot by adding lots of organic compost to the soil. Your aim is to achieve a PH level of 6-6.5. If the soil gets too acidic add lime.
Sow the seeds ¼ deep in a 14-inch terracotta pot or any other container of that size. For planting on a vegetable patch, transplant your 3-inch seedlings 20-24 inches apart with the same distance between rows. Brussels sprouts are slow growers and most of the varieties are harvested in 90-180 days.

Use companion plants such as beans, mint, dill, garlic, basil, sage and onions to repel insects and get better yields. Cabbage worms and aphids can ruin the experience of growing Brussels sprouts if you do not inspect your plants regularly for signs of pest attack. If you sense some trouble, use organic means of protecting your plants. If you see pretty white butterflies or moths fluttering over your plants, do not get too excited — they will lay eggs on your plants that will develop into cabbage worms or caterpillars.

Harvest and beyond
Brussels sprouts can be picked individually when the heads reach around 1-1.5 inches in diameter. The ones at the bottom of the stem mature first. You can also harvest the entire stem if you wish.
Brussels sprouts can easily be stored for up to three weeks by freezing. You can blanch your sprouts by following these simple steps:

1. Separate each sprout from the stem and remove outer leaves.
2. Wash it thoroughly to get rid of insects and dirt.
3. Bring a pan of water to boil and blanch your sprouts for roughly three minutes. Leave larger ones for an extra minute.
4. Now soak them in ice water for about the same length of time.
5. Store in an airtight bag or a container in the refrigerator to use later.

The key to retaining most of the nutrition in your Brussels sprouts is to not overcook them.
There is nothing better than growing your own food — not only does it add flavour to your meal but is also a feast for the eyes.



Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, November 6th, 2011.