Jujube and Goji Fever

...We ended up planting them elsewhere in the yard, since our black walnut area is a bit too shady, and we’ll report back on how they do. Supposedly the leaves are edible as well, for those of you keeping score on the alternate uses of fruits and vegetables. Note that the Papaya tree nursery is by appointment only and can be reached at (818) 363-3680. No mail order except for miracle fruit berries (see those strange berries and some video of the Papa...

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Cottage Food Operations Workshop Offered by UC Cooperative Extension

...should attend? This workshop is designed especially for farmers of fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, and honey interested in making value-added products in home kitchens as Cottage Food Operations (CFOs). Workshop is open to everyone. What is a Cottage Food Operation? The California Homemade Food Act (AB1616) allows individuals to prepare and package certain non-potentially hazardous foods in private-home kitchens referred to as “Cottage Food Opera...

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Damned Figs!

...r of . . . Styrofoam packing materials. We tried everything from drying to making jam with these accursed figs but never got satisfactory results. During the day flies laid their larvae in the fruits yielding gooey masses that would drop to the ground to provide rotting fig feasts to visiting rats and possums. We replaced the fig tree with the Valencia orange tree in the photo above. One of the most important lessons we’ve learned in our ten years...

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Physalis pruinosa a.k.a. “Ground Cherry”

...he best arguments for growing your own food–access to flavorful and exotic fruits and vegetables. The very similar Cape Gooseberry (Physalis perviana) is commercially cultivated in many places in the world but is not considered an important crop. It is most commonly used in jams and pies. According to the Horticulture department of Purdue University, In England, the cape gooseberry was first reported in 1774. Since that time, it has been grown the...

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Saturday Linkages: Paleo Flour, Viking Tents and Chinese Cabbage as the New Kale

...— Root Simple (@rootsimple) September 18, 2015 Startling animated MRIs of fruits and vegetables via @BoingBoing http://t.co/a7BavXmdvN — Root Simple (@rootsimple) September 18, 2015 Tent Porn – Dual Viking Tent. This is pretty damn… http://t.co/zm3C72NKKy — Prepper Chicks (@PrepperChicks) September 16, 2015 Toilet Garden http://t.co/ulBQ0q4pe9 — Root Simple (@rootsimple) September 16, 2015 Is your honey cut with sugar syrup? http://t.co/SzuMwM3xs...

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