04/30/99

Readers Go a'Gardening

Some readers' children love "Snackin' Off the Vine" (4/16/99) not only on vegetables but flowers, too! Read on and find out how other people plan their family gardens and keep unwanted, pilfering critters away.

Gardening Teaches Kids about Life

"I enjoyed your article on kids and gardens. I intend to introduce my two children this year to this physically healthy and mentally therapeutic hobby. I have been gardening since my early teens and have not missed a single year for over 25 years now. It's an excellent stress reliever. In these days of ever increasing demands on our children, it is sweet, as sweet as a vine-ripened strawberry, to help our children find relaxation and a tangible sense of accomplishment in the garden -- no alcohol or drugs needed. Interactive gardening programs for inner city kids and adults are great, too. Gardening is a activity that involves physical and intellectual skills. You have to follow directions that involve a certain amount of research in order to create a garden to proud of. As you stated, physical labor also plays a part in successful gardening. All of the skills learned in the garden can be applied to life in the "real world." Children will learn that projects in life, like gardens, require research, planning, hands on work, dedicated vigilance, constant observation, maintenance and the pursuit of excellence. Building careers and communities demands the same steps."

---

Protect the Garden from Unwanted Critters

"To keep "critters" off the plants, put a wire fence around your garden. Another critter deterrent is the following: mix 1 or 2 eggs in a couple gallons of water and pour from a watering can around the perimeter of the garden or on plants before they have fruit on them yet. The sulfurous smell of the eggs will turn away deer, woodchuck and rabbits. Repeat application every 2 weeks and after heavy rainfall. Don't eat any vegetation that has been freshly sprinkled with the egg solution. Be sure to wash all veggies thoroughly before consumption. The use of the eggs is considered organic gardening. Better than DDT ! You can discourage birds from eating the strawberries by stringing up disposable aluminum pie plates around the strawberry bed. Or place cheesecloth over the plants as they begin to ripen. I know a senior citizen who left a cheap transistor radio (protected from the elements) in his garden. It was a great bird and mammal deterrent, even better than a scarecrow. These are tried and true ways to deter pests economically. Your children may lose interest in gardening if the critters make off with their fruit and vegetables before they even get a taste!"

Note from Beth: We planted a ring of marigolds around our tomato plants to keep the bugs off -- worked like a charm!

---

It's Surprising What You Can Eat

"You're wrong to say you can't eat corn and squash raw. Both are delicious eaten raw, having more flavor that way than when boiled. When you cook veggies from the garden, steam them briefly - don't overcook. Summer squash and zucchini can be eaten like cucumbers, out of hand or sliced into salads. The winter squashes are harder to eat that way, but it can be done. From someone who doesn't really care for cooked turnips, I like them raw. Try it. Our daughter still hates cooked spinach, but loves it raw in salads. Her children have never eaten it cooked. When our grandchildren were young, preschool to grammar school ages, they always asked, "What can we eat from the yard?" I taught them about the flowers and weeds that are edible and the ones that are poisonous, too. Did you know that peach and rhubarb leaves are poisonous? But you can eat the flowers and leaves of violets. For more information about edible herbs and flowers, check out the following web site: http://www.herbthyme.com/flowers.htm"

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.