My Garden

I finally finished planting my garden last Monday. It has been so cold and rainy here, I haven't been able to get any seeds planted. I started last Friday since the weather had been dry for a couple days. I planted six rows of corn and some serrano peppers for my husband before it started raining again. I was in Salt Lake City all day Saturday, so I finished planting on Monday since the weather was dry again. This is only my second garden ever. I actually enjoy going outside and working in the dirt. I just make sure to wash my hands thoroughly when I am done, including under my fingernails. This year, I'm growing sweet corn, blue corn, red potatoes, carrots, spaghetti squash, zucchini, pumpkins, tomatoes, lettuce, serrano peppers and jalapeno peppers (my husband likes to torture himself with the hot stuff). I also planted strawberries in my flower bed. Last year I planted watermelon seeds but, like this year, it was cold and rainy well into June. Watermelon needs heat and sunlight (which I didn't know last year) so it didn't come up at all. I am going to try again this year, so I'm waiting for warm weather before I plant those seeds. Again, I am a total amatuer at this. I'm learning as I go. I will be happy with whatever survives and provides me with food. At least I won't have to worry about recalls due to e-coli or salmonella contamination on the food I grow.

Washing Fresh Fruit & Vegetables

Is it really necessary to wash fresh fruit and vegetables? My advice is: better safe than sorry. You not only need to remove any germs, but pesticides as well. Should they be washed with soap, some kind of vegetable wash or just plain water? According to an article in USA Today, chlorinated water kills many of the bacteria and viruses that may be on fruit and vegetables. They recommend soaking them in a gallon of cold water with 1/2 teaspoon of bleach for about 10 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly. Personally, I use water with just a drop of dish soap and rinse thoroughly. I wash fruit like apples or pears under running water with a drop of soap that I rub all over it with my hands. Other things like broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries and grapes, I put in a bowl of water, add a drop or two of soap and swish it around with my hand. Then I put them in a strainer and rinse well. I, personally, have not had any problems so far using this method. That, of course, is not a guarantee. Don't forget about bananas, watermelon, cantaloupe or other items that are peeled or cut. You still have to handle them or cut through the outside and you don't want to spread germs or pesticides on the outside to the fruit on the inside. You can also wash fruit and vegetables with a produce wash. They can be purchased or made at home. It's best to avoid pre-packaged or pre-cut fruit and vegetables. There have been several recalls of these types of products in recent years. They seem to be at a higher risk of contamination and because they are supposedly "pre-washed" they are usually consumed without being washed at home. Again, I strongly recommend to grow whatever you can on your own and buy local as much as possible.

Another E. Coli Lettuce Recall

It seems to be happening more and more often these days, recalls on some type of produce for e. coli. This time it is shredded romaine lettuce manufactured by Freshway Foods of Sidney, Ohio. So far it is linked to 19 cases of e. coli, of which 12 people were hospitalized.

This is why I recommend, if at all possible, growing your own food. Even if you live in an apartment, you can grow a little garden in a window box or in pots inside. If it is absolutely impossible to grow your own fruit and vegetables, try shopping at a local farmer's market or a grocery store that sells local produce. This reduces the chance of infection.

If you're someone like me and do not have a "green thumb," try it anyway. I had my first ever garden last summer. I know very little about plants. I bought some seeds for fruit & vegetables that we like and planted them in the backyard. Some of the plants did very well and others didn't. I planted watermelon and they didn't come up at all. That's okay, I'm going to try again. I was glad to get whatever survived my inexperienced gardening. It's all about trial and error. I'm planning to plant another garden this year if it will ever stop snowing!