Homegrown Blog

Apr 8, Latest Edition Homegrown: Chard on TV, dahlia bread, husking walnuts

Mon, 8 Apr 2013 09:27:01 -0400

The latest edition of Homegrown is out! Chard on TV, dahlia bread, husking walnuts.

Jan 20, Urban Beekeeping

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 11:03:36 -0500

Live in the city but want to keep bees? Toronto Beekeepers Cooperative is hosting a Beekeeping 101 day, for those interested in learning about urban beekeeping. Feb 2nd, $45 per person.

Nov 22, Latest Edition of Homegrown is Out

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 11:57:03 -0500

The latest edition of Homegrown is out!

American persimmon
Chard on TV
Figs
Cooking cardoon

Click here to get it.

Nov 2, WIN a Great Vegetable Gardening Book

Fri, 2 Nov 2012 11:16:06 -0400

Win a copy of No Nonsense Vegetable Gardening. Simply check out the review on the Fine Gardening blog, and then leave a comment. No Nonsense Vegetable Gardening is the American edition of my book No Guff Vegetable Gardening, co-authored with Donna Balzer. CLICK HERE to check out the review and enter to win.

Oct 9, I'm Cooking on TV tomorrow

Tue, 9 Oct 2012 18:37:30 -0400

Tomorrow evening at 9 pm eastern I'll be on Live Healthy Now, with Bev Miller, talking about veggie gardening and showing her a favourite recipe of mine with Swiss Chard, Sorrel, and Leeks ( http://www.the-locavores-garden.com/spanakopita.html )

Oct 9, Ag in the City, Veg in Containers

Tue, 9 Oct 2012 18:32:49 -0400

Ag in the City event, Toronto area, Oct 13, 14. Free. Learn to milk, get cooking tips, find out about farming, learn to grow your own, and hear about neat new veggies. I’ll give a talk with tips and ideas for growing veggies in containers and small space.

May 15, Growing Figs

Tue, 15 May 2012 08:28:16 -0400

Read my guest post about growing figs on the blog of garden writer and year-round veg growing expert Niki Jabbour.

May 10, Plant Sale in Toronto

Thu, 10 May 2012 14:54:46 -0400

My gardening friends at the Beach Garden Society are having a plant sale! Beach Garden Society Plant Sale, May 19

Location: Adam Beck Community Centre, 77 Lawlor Ave. (north of Kingston Rd., west of Victoria Park Ave.) Time: 9 am - 11:30 am (or sooner, if all the plants are gone!).

Special features: Beach Babies, hand-selected Connoisseur Collection, great bargains on member-grown perennials

BEACH BABIES Beautiful combinations, perfect for Beach gardens.

SCENTED GARDEN Dianthus gratiopolitanus 'Bath’s Pink’, Agastache foeniculum, Lavandula ‘Munstead’, Monarda didyma ‘Raspberry Wine’, Cheddar Pinks, Anise Hyssop, Lavender, Bee Balm,

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL Ligularia dentata ‘Midnight Lady’, Hosta ‘August Moon’, Astilbe arendsii ‘Bridal Veil’, Luzula nivea, Rocket, Hosta, False Spirea, Snowy Woodrush,

SHADY CHARACTERS Carex elata ‘Bowles Golden’, Epimedium youngianum ‘Niveum’, Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’, Polystichum acrostichoides, Golden Sedge Grass, Barrenwort, Coral Bells, Christmas Fern,

Apr 16, Great Gardening Talk in Toronto Tomorrow

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:59:56 -0400

EDIBLES IN THE URBAN LANDSCAPE, April 17, 7 pm I’m giving a really inspiring, really fun fund-raising talk about Edibles in the Urban Landscape for the Ontario Historical Society at the historic John McKenzie house in Toronto (North York). Hear about front yard veggie gardens, “veggiephobia,” fun plant choices, and fitting veg into your landscape. It’s a cool venue—and it’s next door to a very cool community vegetable garden, the Parkview Neighbourhood Garden. Seating is limited, so RSVP, (416) 226-9011 or ohs@ontariohistoricalsociety.ca

Apr 16, Latest Issue of Homegrown is out

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:54:56 -0400

Homegrown: pruning, seeds, worms (again), training

Mar 15, Spot Guff for a Free Book at Canada Blooms

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 07:11:17 -0400

Win a free copy of the book No Guff Vegetable Gardening at the Sheridan Nurseries booth at Canada Blooms. At 3 p.m. on March 16, 19, and 22, find the Guff postcard marked “winner” and give it to me, Steven Biggs. To see what Guff looks like, explore www.GardenCoachesChat.com or look in the book at the Sheridan booth.

Mar 6, Store Leeks + a Soiled Reputation

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 09:30:01 -0500

While I was in Stratford last weekend I dropped by the Stratford Slow Food market.

I met market gardener Antony John, whose farm name I love: Soiled Reputation.

John had fresh leeks for sale, and they looked nicer than the ones I’ve picked from my garden lately. It turns out, he picked these in December.

Here’s how he stored them between December and now, in his cold room: he digs them so there is still a little bit of soil around the roots, and then stands them upright in a box, making sure there is space (an inch or two) between the leeks. The space, he explains, is critical, otherwise they get slimy.

Here are the leeks in my garden a couple of weeks ago:

Feb 28, Homegrown: Latest Issue

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 20:29:46 -0500

The lastest issue of Homegrown is out. Read about starting seeds, currants, leeks--and lots of great gardening talks.

Feb 28, Stratford Garden Festival

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 10:11:06 -0500

Spring is almost here! March 1-4 is the Stratford Garden Festival. I'll be there Saturday March 3 to talk about (1)Growing Figs in Ontario and Growing Vegetables in Small Spaces and Containers.

Feb 14, Seedy Events + "New" in Heirlooms

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:14:29 -0500

It’s Seedy Saturday season, the time of year when you can go to seed exchanges and trade seeds or buy seed from local seed producers. Just because these events are about heirloom and open-pollinated seed doesn’t mean there’s nothing new. Case in point: I was recently talking to Colette Murphy of Urban Harvest (www.uharvest.ca) and asked what’s new in her catalogue for 2012. She's excited about one of her "new" seeds, Violet Jasper tomato, which is a Chinese heirloom with a violet-purple skin and green stripes. More than just being really productive and having a neat appearance, this is a variety with a thicker skin, making it perfect for holding up to the cooking in shish-kabobs.

Jan 25, Latest issue of Homegrown is out

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:28:56 -0500

The latest issue of Homegrown is out. Find out about seed starting, storage onions, lemons, figs--and, as usual, cooking ideas.

Jan 21, Making Holubtsi

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:05:28 -0500

”This is delicious!" declared Emma after we made the filling for holubtsi (cabbage rolls). I think she was eating as much as she was putting into the cabbage leaves. I make the filling the way my great Aunt Anna taught me: rice, ground beef, onions, bacon, bacon fat...and the secret ingredient. The secret ingredient? Dill. And don't be stingy with the dill. GARDEN TIP: When dill is plentiful in the garden, I chop and freeze it. If you allow dill to self-seed in the garden, you'll probably have a nice crop for freezing in late summer.)

Jan 15, The Untamed Garden: Garden Book Review

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:52:26 -0500

The Untamed Garden. Vegetable gardening books reviewed by journalist, horticulturist, and garden coach Steven Biggs.

Jan 15, Readers Write: questions about growing vegetables and success in the edible gard

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:44:50 -0500

Readers write: questions about growing vegetables and success in the edible garden. Answered by Toronto horticulturist Steven Biggs on www.the-locavores-garden.com.

Jan 14, Adventures in the Childrens Garden: growing vegetables with kids

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:47:31 -0500

Adventures in the Childrens Garden. Get ideas and have a laugh reading about growing vegetables with kids, in Steven Biggs’ Toronto garden.

Jan 12, Kids Pick Crops

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:16:10 -0500

”Quinn, come and choose what to grow in your garden this year,” said Emma, coaxing him to the table. I gave Emma the catalogue, not sure how interested she would be, let alone her brother. But there she was, circling what she wanted and directing Quinn to do the same. Some of what the circled: carrots, gladiolus bulbs, strawberry plants, cherry tomatoes, and beets.

Dec 5, FREE Book in Time for Holiday Gifts

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 21:57:00 -0500

FREE BOOK. If you’re shopping online for gift books, but want to see them first, then check out the complete digital version of No Guff Vegetable Gardening for FREE. Send an e-mail to info@noguffpress.com with (1) “sampler” in subject line, and (2) your first name and last initial in the body of the e-mail. I’ll email you back with login details to view our great browser-based digital version for 1 month. No strings attached, and no unsolicited e-mail afterwards. I just hope you love the book enough to buy the print version as a gift!

Jul 18, Emma Teaches Transplanting

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:27:27 -0400

Last week I heard Emma (6) explain to Quinn (3) that tomatoes had self seeded in her garden from fruit that fell last year--and that there wasn't space for the tomato plants. Later, I found them transplanting the tomato plants into soil-filled pots that were dotted around their play house!

Jun 23, Red Currant Jelly

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:42:24 -0400

Last night I decided to use up the last of the frozen 2010 red currant crop. I made what I usually make--red currant juice concentrate--except I overcooked it. Today I have a pitcher full of red currant jelly! Not a bad mistake.

Jun 1, On the Radio this weekend

Wed, 1 Jun 2011 22:28:43 -0400

This Sunday, 11:05 Atlantic time (10:05 ET), tune in on www.news957.com or listen live online as I chat with Niki Jabbour on The Weekend Gardener. (It airs across the Maritime provinces on the three Rogers stations.)

May 20, Cardoon

Fri, 20 May 2011 08:23:48 -0400

One thing I love about giving talks is what I learn from the audience. I showed a slide of a cardoon at a talk yesterday, and came home with a few cooking ideas. I'm looking forward to cardoon stalk, breaded with garlic-infused coating and fried.

May 20, Front Gardens Build Community

Fri, 20 May 2011 08:23:48 -0400

Front-yard gardening is an act of social engagement. An evening spent removing my front lawn and I met 2 neighbours, had 5 I know come over especially to chat, said hello to countless passersby...and sold 2 books! What's replacing the grass? Edibles...of course: saskatoons, honeyberries, nanking cherries, artichoke, tomatoes--and a few flowers for good measure.

May 9, WIN A FREE COPY of No Guff Vegetable Gardening

Mon, 9 May 2011 09:47:25 -0400

Help other gardeners weed out silly advice by sharing your own! WIN A FREE COPY of No Guff Vegetable Gardening by sharing your favourite vegetable garden Guff on the Garden Coaches Chat Facebook Wall. http://www.facebook.com/GardenCoachesChat The authors of the 3 Guff postings with the most “likes” will win a copy of No Guff Vegetable Gardening. Garden Coaches Steve and Donna will tally up likes on May 2, 2011. (Maximum one book per Guff-poster.) Garden Coaches Chat: No Guff. Lots of Fun!

May 3, Potatoes planted

Tue, 3 May 2011 19:53:59 -0400

Potatoes planted. This year, I simply placed my seed potatoes on the garden, then covered them with a thick layer of semi-composted leaves. My reason for doing so were twofold: (1) laziness; and (2) the black walnut tree nearby, which adds juglone to the soil. Because potatoes don't like juglone, my reasoning is that not burying them will expose them to a bit less of this stuff.

Apr 19, Earth Day West End YMCA Toronto

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 07:29:38 -0400

This Saturday (April 23) I’ll be at an Earth Day event at the West End YMCA (College and Dovercourt) in Toronto from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. Drop by to talk veggie gardening if you have any questions as the gardening season gets into full swing!

Apr 18, Average Frost Dates

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:17:44 -0400

On www.GardenCoachesChat.com Donna and I have posted averagle first and last frost dates for Alberta and Newfoundland. Other provinces soon to come...

Apr 14, Stop by at the Green Living Show

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 07:11:48 -0400

Stop by to say hi to me at the Sheridan Nurseries booth at the Green Living Show in Toronto, where I’ll hang out on Saturday and Sunday. The Sheridan booth is focused on growing vegetables and herbs (with a good selection of herb plants and veg seed)—and they are selling my book No Guff Vegetable Gardening. I’LL BE THERE to sign books and chat. Come by to say hi and ask questions! (The Green Living Show takes place April 15-17, at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto. Sheridan Nurseries is booth #1014.)

Apr 11, Town Crier interviews Steven Biggs

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 09:56:45 -0400

Steve Biggs' book is graphic novel meets veggie gardening guide

Apr 4, Roasted Caramelized Onions

Mon, 4 Apr 2011 20:31:19 -0400

There are sprouts coming from some of my onion braids in the cold room. That means it’s time to use them up. IN THE SPIRIT OF EATING UP AS MANY ONIONS AS POSSIBLE, last week I cooked a prime rib roast (which I rubbed with butter into which I’d blended rosemary, garlic, and sea salt.) Around the base of the pan ....

Apr 4, Kids in the Garden: Quinn Meets Rosemary

Mon, 4 Apr 2011 20:10:13 -0400

It’s my own fault: I left him unattended for a couple of minutes. Three years old, with a whirling, helicopter-like propeller powered by a pull-string—and left alone with dad’s rosemary plant, the temptation was too much. Quinn didn’t waste any time coming to find me. He was proud as a peacock as he explained that he had given the plant a haircut.

Apr 4, Q+A: Start Seeds Indoors

Mon, 4 Apr 2011 20:00:03 -0400

ANNE ASKED: When do you start your seeds? Response: Timing of seed starting is often a confusing thing for new gardeners, as not all books and seed packets say the same thing. The confusion is made worse by the fact that ....

Apr 4, Courgette Vignette

Mon, 4 Apr 2011 19:44:40 -0400

Out of the misty memories of childhood, only the occasional incident plays back in crystal-clear detail for me. While I have warm, if vague, childhood memories of my great-aunt and great-uncle, Peg and Percy—who came to visit a couple of times from England—there is one incident involving Aunt Peg that I recall quite vividly: It was in the backyard, sitting at the picnic table, when I remarked that she spoke differently from me—that she had a funny accent. She quickly retorted, “No, you’re the one with the accent.” At first, the expression on her face remained dead serious; then, she slowly cracked a smile....

Apr 4, Kids in the Garden: Sneak a Leek

Mon, 4 Apr 2011 19:23:50 -0400

Kids Sneak the Leeks Emma and Quinn were delightedly playing in the snow, so I said they could stay out there while I started supper. When they came inside, Emma told me that they too had been cooking: stew. A bit of water from the downspout, some spruce needles, snow, mud…and “those onion things.” ....

Apr 4, Q+A: Veg for Partial Shade

Mon, 4 Apr 2011 19:23:50 -0400

JASON ASKED: Can you suggest vegetables not extremely sensitive to sunlight it the afternoon, as I don't get any sun after noon—when it passes over the building. (Note: Jason is growing a balcony garden.)

Apr 4, E-book of No Guff Vegetable Gardening is born

Mon, 4 Apr 2011 19:00:09 -0400

The e-book of No Guff Vegetable Gardening is ready! Check out a sample here:

Apr 4, Root Parsley

Mon, 4 Apr 2011 18:56:43 -0400

I just pulled some root parlsey from the garden. This member of the parsley family has a carrot-like root that's nice in soups and stews. I grated it to use in bruschetta...since I haden't any fresh parsley.

Apr 4, Potato Latkes

Mon, 4 Apr 2011 18:54:25 -0400

My spuds sprouted into a spider-like mess of shoots. It’s my fault: my “cold” room isn’t really cold enough…and once I turned on the lights for seedlings in February, it was no longer very dark.

Mar 24, Canada Blooms 2011 CP Interview

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:12:41 -0400

Jan 1, Grow onions then make pickled onions

Sat, 1 Jan 2011 23:34:53 -0500

Grow onions, pickle onions for your own homemade traditional pickles.

Dec 31, Kids in the Garden: Quinn Meets Rototiller

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:53:17 -0500

Quinn loves tractors. He loves any loud, moving machinery. So when I told him that I was getting our tractor out of the shed, I had his undivided attention. That’s rare for a two year old...

Dec 31, Repurposing Runner Beans

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:53:17 -0500

My painted lady runner beans took off up the apple tree, well beyond my picking reach by the time fall arrived, so I didn’t get around to picking the high-up beans until late October, when I was on the ladder picking apples. They were no longer green beans: By then, the large, mottled beans inside the pods were dry—and ideal for making baked beans.

Dec 31, Q+A: Seed Suppliers

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:53:17 -0500

SUE ASKED: Are seeds from a local retailer best? Response: In our book, Serving Up…No-Guff Vegetable Gardening, Donna and I explain the rationale for buying locally or domestically—or not...

Dec 31, Kids in the Garden: Windfall Apples

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:53:17 -0500

Keaton would look to see if I was watching, then, at full toddle, head for a windfall apple. At just over a year old, he desperately wanted to eat apples like his older siblings...

Oct 8, Kids in the Garden: Train Tracks

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 09:53:20 -0400

“Choo choo, Daddy, choo choo,” exclaims my two-and a half year old Quinn as he entreats me to follow the line where the edge of the sidewalk meets grass. For him it’s more than grass meeting sidewalk: it’s a train track. We regularly follow the same routine as we walk home from the playground. Trains are at the forefront of his thoughts these days. So I figured that trains might just be the ticket in the vegetable garden. Now, when we go into the garden to pull carrots or pick tomatoes, I say, “Remember, stay on the track.” It’s working—and we have fewer footprints in the planted beds.

Oct 8, Make Sauerkraut

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 09:53:20 -0400

THE COARSE SALT GRATES against my white knuckles as I pack down the shredded cabbage, punching it until a film of juice arises to cover it. After beating a further two heads of cabbage into the heavy, glazed, clay crock I lug it to the basement, where the transformation begins. Two weeks later my wife Shelley matter-of-factly informs the furnace repairman to disregard the smell, “I’m sorry, it’s my husband, he’s making sauerkraut.” CLICK LINK TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE SAUERKRAUT

Oct 8, QA: Rotating Tomatoes

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 09:53:20 -0400

THERESA ASKED: I grew tomatoes this year using two methods: the double-pail system described by Montreal Rooftop Garden Project; and in a garden bed. I know you aren't supposed to grow tomatoes in the same soil two years running, so, given my very limited space, I am wondering: •Can I reuse the soil from the pails somehow (1/3 garden soil, 1/3 compost, 1/3 manure)? •Is there something I can do to the soil in the outdoor garden bed so that I can I plant tomatoes in the same garden bed next year? It's really the only garden space I have. CLICK LINK TO SEE ANSWER