In this issue:

  1. June in the Garden
  2. Celebrate Seed Freedom at Heirloom Expo
  3. Gardenerd Tip of the Month: Summer Recipes
  4. Gardenerd Product of the Month: Gardenerd Recycled Grocery Tote

 


1. June in the Garden

Summer is officially here and we’re loving the longer days and warmer weather. The garden loves it too. We’re harvesting cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans, zucchini, and yellow crookneck. We’re drying out our Dakota Black Popping Corn and shelling it off the ears. I just paused writing to weigh the harvest and it’s pretty exciting: 2 1/2 pounds of popcorn from just one 4×4 square foot bed! That’s a year’s supply. Yay for small-space gardening!

If you’re harvesting from your garden, you’re probably looking for cooking ideas right about now. We’ve got some delicious suggestions below, from refreshing beverages to hearty meals to desserts.

If you want to brush up (or start from scratch) on your gardening skills, there’s still time to sign up for Basic Organic Gardening 101 at Santa Monica College. The 4-class course begins Sunday, July 13, 3-5 p.m. And I’m excited to announce that I’ll be speaking at the 2014 Heirloom Expo in September. See below for details.

Happy Gardening,

Christy


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2. Celebrate Seed Freedom at the Heirloom Expo

If you haven’t yet been to the Heirloom Expo, make this the year. Why? Because Gardenerd will be there! We’re not just going, Christy will be speaking about small-space urban gardening, sharing her techniques for getting the most out of your growing space. Signed copies of Gardening for Geeks will also be available.

What’s so great about the Heirloom Expo? It’s absolute heaven for gardeners: seed vendors galore; classes about seed saving, homesteading, and gardening; and educational speakers sharing their work to preserve food safety and freedom for all of us. Learn why saving seeds is so important and meet hundreds of people who are doing it! While you’re there, check out the glorious displays of hundreds of heirloom varieties that will knock your socks off. Need a sampling? Check out our blog post from 2012.

The Heirloom Expo runs September 9, 10, 11 in Santa Rosa, CA. Visit the website and stay tuned for more details about Christy’s presentation time.


3. Gardenerd Tip of the Month – Summer Recipes

Overwhelmed by your squash harvest this summer?
Overwhelmed by your squash harvest this summer?

It’s that time of year, when you’re stashing surplus giant zucchini in your neighbor’s mailbox and the back seat of unlocked vehicles. What to do with all that squash? We’re here to help. We’ve got recipes for squash, cucumbers and more:

Zucchini Overload: Zucchini Bread Cookies

Spicy Zucchini Soup

Cherry Tomato and Yellow Squash Crumble – Just made this last night. Tasty!

Tomato Cobbler

and last by not least…

Cucumber Citrus Spa Water

Fill a pitcher with filtered water

Slice 1 Lemon cucumber (or any variety will do)

Slice 1/2 an Orange

Drop slices into water. Chill for 15 minutes before serving. Refreshing and delicious!

cucumber citrus water

You can search for recipes on Gardenerd.com anytime. We’ve got tons! Just type in the veggie or fruit in question and the word “recipe” and find some great results.


4. Gardenerd Product of the Month – Gardenerd Recycled Grocery Tote

With all that you’ll be harvesting from the garden this summer, you’ll need something to carry the bounty. Our Gardenerd Recycled Grocery Tote is perfect for the job. With a 7 1/2 inch gusset, it holds everything from pumpkins to sweet corn. Our sturdy canvas bag is made from recycled cotton, so you’re sparing the environment from another plastic bag. Get yours today!

Gardenerd Recycled Grocery Tote

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Stay tuned for more tips and tidbits from Gardenerd.com. Happy summer gardening!

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