A quick view of the garden in summer.
Health in the News
BEVERAGES
So everyone knows that veggies are very good for us; and we have heard that chocolate and coffee are also beneficial. Well, I was impressed with this article in Inc Magazine about just how great coffee and chocolate are! According to the report they cited from the Neurochemical Research Magazine, coffee and chocolate make us smarter, as well as healthier!
I’m ALL in! Not only are chocolate and coffee delicious in a multitude of ways, together they are dynamite! (Of course, keeping the flavors in the mix without adding spoonfuls of sugar (even raw sugar and honey end up as glucose, or fructose, in our digestive systems) or piles of whipped cream! Actually, I use a coffee maker that froths milk, and it works just as well as richer options, especially when sprinkled with cinnamon or your preferred “kick it up” spice!
It’s also good with a “little something” added to make your beverage a dessert – just leave the whipped cream in the kitchen and touch it up with a bit of light cream, if you must!
SEASONS
Florida isn’t like other places – we have a hot, muggy season; a wet, windy season, better know as Hurricane Season; and finally, a warm, sunny – many days, if not nights – THIS is why I live in Florida – season!
Not only do the seasons differ from those in other parts of the country, timetables for planting, harvesting and staying out of the garden all together are on a completely different cycle.
More to come….
WINTER
Winter is Florida brings relief from the heat and humidity, EVENTUALLY! Telltale signs are a few bright leaves hidden in tree branches, thermometers that fluctuate 20+ degrees from day to night, and suddenly an abundance of new visitors to my refuge.
Cooler weather also means it is finally time to work outside, plant a winter garden, and execute the design changes you chaffed about doing while the summer heat and rain kept you indoors. Another pleasure is to watch nature preparing for the coming spring!
Family Produce Market – Casselberry
Do you like to find special ingredients; buy big, fresh bunches of mint, basil, and dill; or pick your fruit, beans, tomatoes and eggplant from bins brimming with this week’s crops?
I love shopping local – so I’m going to share a great local secret with you! This family owned, local grocery specializes in fresh, Mediterranean, and European foodstuff.
Did you find a special candy, cookie, pickle or sauce while traveling, and really, really wish you could find that flavor or brand?
Do you want a selection of freshly baked pocket bread, phyllo dough for spanakopita, or ingredients to make Napoleons? What about seasoned olives in buckets, jars of pickles, jellies and jams, and delicious beverages, such as creamy mango juice?
Are you hungry yet? Here’s a link to their Facebook page, and some more examples of the offerings you might see when you step through the vinyl door strip curtain.
Sundew Gardens
July 4, 2019
Sadly, this amazing farm is no longer active. Read my review below, and hope that others step into this space soon!
They have seasonal vegetables, including several types of kale, Asian greens and bok choy, radishes and green onions, green beans, okra, eggplant, radishes, carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers, herbs of several types, and bunnies! The offerings vary with the month and weather, but when you join Tom’s mailing list, he keeps you up to date on availability.
Many people take advantage of their Harvest Baskets, and others come for the fun of picking their own vegetables.