Composting Class: Ann Arbor

Mom, Dad and the whole family can get down and dirty with a little composting at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens during a green thumbs program. On Saturday, May 12 10:00 a.m. - noon, learn about the secret to making the most of your vegetable scraps and leaves by creating "super soil" for the garden.

The program cost just $5/person and you even get to decorate and take home your own counter-top compost bin. This is a great course for the kids to learn about contributing to a beautiful, healthy garden.

For more information or to register, call 734-647-7600 or visit the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum website.

Early Spring Finds and Easy Violet Blossom Jam

While the garden is just starting to pop up with some of the early spring plantings beneath my hoop house, I've been searching for springs bounty. So far I've come home with ramps for cooking and pickling, garlic mustard for pesto, wild onions and garlic, and violets for jam. I know there is a lot more out there starting to burst forth, I just have to find the time to go and get it!

Each year, I've been learning more about foraging too. I really do enjoy learning about what you can eat for free in nature. It's produced some wonderful foods and beverages, and my children enjoy heading out with mom to see what she can find.

My new favorite though is violet blossom jam. We made violet jelly last year, straining the violet blossoms out after they soaked overnight. This year though, I left them in, and made a freezer jam recipe. Maybe it was the laziness of not wanting to pull the canning items out of the basement, but it ended up being pure genius! I actually think I prefer the violet blossom jam to the jelly we made last year. If you can imagine a cross between a kiwi, melon and strawberry flavor with a hint of light floral as an aftertaste, then you can imagine how wonderful the violet blossom jam is.

The jam takes very little time to make too. In fact this year it took me even less time, since I bribed my daughter to pick the flowers initially. Picking the stems off the violets was the most consuming part of the process for me.

It's wonderful though, and I encourage anyone out there to try it and let me know how it turns out. Hurry though, violets are the gems of spring and won'tr be here in this abundance for long.

Violet blossom freezer jam is like spring in a jar!

Violet Blossom Jam Ingredients:
2 cups, loosely packed violet blossoms. Remove their stems.
The juice from 1 lemon
1-1/2 cup water
2-1/2 cups sugar
1 pkg. pectin

Place the violet blossoms and 3/4 cups of the water into a blender and blend well. Next add the freshly squeezed lemon juice to the blender and notice that the liquid turns from purple to fuchsia. Next the sugar and blend until the sugar is dissolved.

Next add the remaining 3/4 cups of water and a package of pectin into a non-reactive pot and bring it to a boil. Continuing to boil hard for 1 minute. Pour the hot pectin mixture into the blender with the pulverized violet blossoms and sugar and blend until thoroughly smooth.

The "jam" may now be poured into small jars or small storage containers. Once it is cool, add lids to cover and store in the freezer.

This recipe makes approximately 4 pints of violet blossom jam.

What's Popping Up?

I've been out in the yard inspecting the various beds. Most are still sleepy but the crocus, daffodils and tulips are all starting to wake up. Love spring blooming flowers. I have to remember though to snap photos of what is where so I can add  colors for next spring!

What's coming up in your gardens?

Spring crocus flowers are a sure sign of favorable weather!

Spring Has Sprung!

I found this image on Facebook yesterday and just about spit my coffee out. Gotta love some good gardening humor!

So how many of you have begun preparing your garden? I'm lucky to have raised beds located between the houses that warm up rather quickly so I amended the soil, pulled anything that shouldn't be there, watered then draped the lastic over the hoops we installed later year. It's warm enough to do without BUT the nights are sure chilly! I even dropped in some lettuce, spinach, radish seeds, peas and am taking a chance on swiss chard! Mother Nature is sure being awesome this (early) spring.

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!