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Tomato Pie Recipe

April 10, 2010 in Food and Garden with 0 Comments

Here is a recipe for all those tomatoes you will harvest this year from your garden.

Ingredients:

2 frozen pie crusts (thawed)
2-4 tomatoes (depending on size & fresh as possible) – sliced
2 bags shredded cheese of choice (I usually use cheddar &/or Mozzarella/swiss)
Olive oil, basil & minced garlic – see mixture below

Mix in a bowl:
¼ – ½ cup of Olive Oil – start with less & add if seems dry
1 ½ Tablespoon basil (fresh or dried)
1 teaspoon minced garlic

In the pie shells add one layer of cheese of choice
Add one layer of sliced tomatoes
Spoon ¼ mixture on top of tomatoes in each pie shell
Add another layer of cheese
Add another layer of sliced tomatoes
Add the remaining mixture ½ on one pie ½ on the other
Add another layer of cheese

Bake at 350º for 30-40 min. until crust has browned & cheese has melted

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3 Simple Steps To Composting

April 10, 2010 in Food and Garden with 0 Comments

I love composting because it really improves the dirt in your garden and makes great use of some of your household waste.  Compost improves soil by helping it maintain it’s neutral pH  and helps it retain more water and nutrients.  The nice thing about compost is that it does not matter what type of soil you start with, compost can improve it.

The first thing you need to do is you need to pick a spot in your yard for your compost “pile”.  There are also compost bins and containers you can purchase for a more aesthetic looking compost pile.  Whichever you choose, make sure it is at least 3x3x3.  If you pile is too small it will not heat properly.  If you pile is too large than it becomes difficult to turn.

The next thing you need to know about is moisture, oxygen and heat.  The stuff you put in your compost pile should not be sopping wet, but moist.  You keep the oxygen flowing through the pile by turning it.  If you have a ready made bin, usually it comes with a crank you turn which turns the pile.  If you have a pile in your yard, you can use a pitch for or rake to literally turn the pile.  The oxygen from turning your compost will helps the microbes that break down your pile.  If you don’t aerate the pile it will break down slowly.  Heat is your compost piles friend.  The heat helps break it down faster.  As the pile breaks down it will generate heat which in turn speeds up the break down process and so and so on.

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4 Easy Steps to Building Raised Beds

April 10, 2010 in Food and Garden with 0 Comments

If you speak gardening you know what the title of this blog means.  Over the last few years I have learned a lot from my gardening experience.  I have had large gardens and small gardens.  This year I decided to tackle raised beds.  I have a small usable garden space this year.  Raised beds can be a challenge but I was able to tackle it in four easy steps.

The first thing you need to do is pick out the frame.  There are many ready made kits for raised gardens.  I looked at many ready made kits and none suited my needs or my budget.  My wonderful father in law agreed to help me build my own.  It was easier than I thought.  Just find the wood you want to use and cut it yourself or find someone with the right tools to cut it for you.

Next thing you want to do is make sure it drains well.  We drilled holes in the bottom of my bed.  I then added a layer of newspaper to the bottom.  If you bought a kit check to make sure it can drain well and then place a layer of newspaper to the bottom.

This next step is very important.  You need to do your research and fill your raised bed with quality soil.  The type of soil you put in will determine the healthiness of your harvest.  I chose organic soil and natural compost.  I will go into why I chose organic soil in another blog post.  It is important to make sure the soil you use is rich in natural nutrients to help your plants grow.

The last step is the most fun.  Choose your plants and put them in the beds.  The best thing to do is make sure you grow things you eat.  I also like to try to grow something new each season.  I also use lots of herbs to cook, so I like to include an herb section in the garden.

Gardening is a very relaxing experience.  Enjoy the season and stay on top of your garden.  Make sure to read about the pests and diseases that may plague your plants.  Keep track of your harvest so you know what you need to do the following year.  Let me know how things go with your raised bed.

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