Community Corner
Gardening Talk Gives Great Tips for Bloomfield Residents
The 'Gold from Your Garden' talk provides the Bloomfield Public Library patrons with ideas for keeping their harvest tasty and fresh.
Now, that the summer crop is being harvested by Bloomfield’s amateur gardeners, it is the perfect time to look to the upcoming Fall season.
Luckily, the Bloomfield Public Library played host to “Gold from Your Garden”, a talk by Sandy Siedsma on how to make the most out of your garden.
Although the talk quickly moved into a lively recipe sharing roundtable, there were a number of excellent tips, particularly on how to make the most of your harvest.
Some of the tips included:
- Drying Herbs
Air drying is the easiest, least expensive and preserves the herbs natural oils. However, this method takes the longest. Bay, Dill, Marjoram, Oregano, Rosemary, and Thyme are the best for air drying. Moister herbs such as Basil, Chives, Mint and Tarragon are better in a dehydrator or freezer. Microwaves and ovens are best avoided as they will slightly cook the herbs and you will lose some flavor.
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1) Cut healthy branches and rinse off. Dry pat them off with a paper towel to avoid mold.
2) Bundle the branches in groups of 4 – 6
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3) Cut holes in a paper bag.
4) Place the bundles in the paper bag. Tie at one end.
5) Hang in a warm, airy room for at least two weeks. Check once a week and note the herbs’ progress.
- Freezing Fresh Vegetables
Before you begin make sure you are freezing the right vegetables. Watery vegetables such as cucumbers, potatoes and celery will become soft if frozen. Vegetables that will stay firm through freezing and thawing include peas, corn and green beans.
1) Set a large pot of water to boil (one gallon for every pound of veggies) and fill a bowl with cold water.
2) Clean and prep the vegetables as you normally would.
3) Boil the vegetables briefly (diced carrots – 2 minutes; green beans, broccoli, celery – 3 minutes, corn – 7 to 11 minutes depending on the size)
4) Remove the veggies and drop them in the cold water for the same amount of time they boiled.
5) Drain your vegetables thoroughly and place them in freezer bags with as little air as possible.
Siedsma, a retiree, explained it can be incredibly easy to get into gardening.
“All you need is one good, red tomato and you’re hooked.”
