Will The Change in Hardiness Zones Alter Your Garden Planning?

Like many Michigan gardeners the especially mild winter has raised hope for starting the garden early this year. The trouble is though, that I KNOW we're still likely to have a hard freeze, some snow and possibly a lot more winter. I was interested however when a friend on Michigan's west coast mentioned that her area changed planting zones. Did mine? So I set out to discover and answer to my query.

Gardeners throughout Michigan will notice a change in their planting zones in 2012.
Source: USDA Agricultural Research

Sure enough, my zone has changed from Zone 5 to Zone 6a. An altered planting zone...  What???  What does that mean?  What new plants can I add to my collection that I don't already have, or that I have been dreaming of... I don't know the answer to that just yet, but it is interesting to notice the shift in zones throughout the United States. Changing our hardiness zones is nothing new though, as recently as 2006 there was a big shift in hardiness zones from the 1990's.

So how will our gardens change? Will you try something new in your garden planning that you may not have been able to plant in years past? To find out your current USDA planting zone based upon zip code information, be sure to visit the USDA website.

Michigan Winter Farmer's Markets Are a Big Deal!

Did you know that Michigan is in the top 10 states with the most winter farmer's markets? We have 33 this year, which is a 58% increase over last year. Hopefully that means that more folks are feeding their families and eating healthier.

Where do you go to buy produce in the winter? Do you visit any local farmer's markets year round?

To find a Michigan Farmer's Market that runs through the winter please be sure to visit the Michigan Farmer's Market Association website.

I'm Baaaackk

I'll admit, it's sometimes difficult to keep up with blogging, especially when the kids keep me busy or I have been busy with other blogs. I am going to be blogging more on this platform now though, since I have been picked up as a gardening contributor for the Prime Parents Club! So sit tight fellow Michigan gardeners and let's see what pop-up.  I promise to have plenty of great content and engaging conversation!

Mushroom Hunting Is On!

With the rain and the cooler weather the kids and I have begun watching one of our favorite spots for puffball mushrooms. Last week we found many that were the size of my thumbnail, so we waited it out a week and headed back out. That's when we immediately found 2 giant puffball mushrooms approximately 20 feet apart and dozens of golf ball sized ones!

What does one do with puffball mushrooms - Well eat them! Just be sure to slice them open and verify that they are solid white flesh with no gills! I'm making soup now and will cook some more with a seafood recipe I found.

Puffballs don't dehydrate as well, so I'll likely cook it all up and freeze them for use in recipes later! That is if there is any left over to cook and freeze...

We'll start looking for Hen of the Woods now too...

Sorry Folks...

I'll admit it, this summer has been a complete blur. Sadly this one blog suffered as a result since I picked up a several good size client contracts. Combine that with being home with the kids and something has to fall through the cracks...

I promise to post lost of great content at appropriate times throughout the winter and also into the coming seasons! Happy hunting, gardening, canning, preserving and eating!

Farmers Market Resource

In the spring and summer months the kids and I try to get to one of the area farmers markets at least weekly. In doing so, we have found some excellent and healthy local favorites as well as discoverd new and unusual plants and food.  I ran across a couple of great websites that include information on South East Michigan area farmers markets that I thought I would include:

• Real Time Farms includes a market report for Ann Arbor, Saline, Dexter, Canton and Ypsilanti that includes what one might expect in-season that week. 
• Michigan State University also offers a great site for Michigan Farmers Markets.
• Farmers Markets online.

Stop by and visit a local farmers market - it supports the local community, is a great way to introduce kids to all kinds of foods, has the freshest foods and often provides a few surprises. If you have a favorite site that should be included please let me know, I would be happy to add it!

Try A Few Gardening Perennials For Food To Remember!

My grandparents on both side of the family really fostered my love of gardening - it was nothing to head out, at any time of the summer, and snack own way through picking. Radishes. Carrots. Rhubarb. Asparagus. Horseradish. Corn. Berries. Grapes. Fruits of all kinds! We ate and then either froze or canned the produce for eating during the winter months. I found it amazing to watch seeds grow to become food, but I was even more amazed to watch some things come back year after year!

If you haven't tried growing garden perennials, I highly recommend it. They are simple to grow and often produce some of the most delicious results! Here are some of my top garden perennials for you to try:

Asparagus: Find a full-sun place to grow the rhizomes in your garden and watch out. It will take a few years for them to get to the size you can harvest, however buying 2-3 year old root crops can speed that up a bit! We eat them all spring, harvesting them until July 4 - My grandparents taught us to allow them to go to seed after that! I like to grill them tossed in olive oil and serve them with a splash of balsamic vinegar.

Garlic: It's not a true perennial, however Michigan gardeners can over winter several varieties or even use a cold frame to make it happen further. I like to cut the tops off full bulbs, brush on olive oil and roast them until the bulbs can be squeezed out onto toasted breads or crackers.

Horseradish: This was one of the must-haves in my family. While I do not like it straight from the jar, I do like it mixed into an applesauce mix or made into other types of sauces! As long as you harvest just the side roots, horseradish taproots will continue to produce a new harvest every year.

Kale and Collard Greens: A few years back while visiting my best friend I picked up a type of Collard Green - Sure enough it comes back yearly and adds beautiful green foliage with red stems. To eat them I like to wilt them in a pan with olive oil and serve up salted to taste or dress them with butter/olive oil, vinegar/lemon juice and salt or feta cheese. YUMM-O!

Rhubarb: This was another family staple in my grandparent's garden. As a child I really didn't care for it, but have now eaten a rhubarb crisp that is to die for - sweet and tart in one bite with a hint of crunch! I also had a tasty rhubarb jam that my kids devour.

What is your favorite garden perennial and how do you serve it to your family? Try planting just one of these options for your family memories and wonderful meals!