Author Archives: charlotteseedlibrary

2022 NOFA-VT Winter Conference:  Dream Into Being

February 17th – March 5th Each year, we look forward to attending the NOFA-VT Winter Conference, and this year is no exception.  The folks at Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont bring together a marvelous collection of workshops, speakers, and events on such a variety of topics that there really is something for everyone.  From theContinue reading “2022 NOFA-VT Winter Conference:  Dream Into Being”

February Harvest of the Month: Carrots

Carrots are derived from a Middle Eastern crop called Queen Anne’s Lace. This wild ancestor is also a taproot crop but has a white root. For thousands of years, the carrot was not a popular vegetable because it had a woody texture and was difficult to eat. A subspecies of this plant has been selectivelyContinue reading “February Harvest of the Month: Carrots”

January Harvest of the Month: BEETS

Beets are native to the shores of North Africa, Europe and the Middle East; they were first cultivated by the ancient Romans. In the 19th century, when it was found that beets could be converted into sugar, the crop’s commercial value significantly grew. Beets are a member of the Amaranthaceae family, along with chard, quinoaContinue reading “January Harvest of the Month: BEETS”

December Harvest of the Month: Winter Squash

​Squashes are a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, also known as the gourd family, along with cucumbers, summer squash (pattypan, zucchini), and watermelon. Originally, squashes were cultivated for the consumption of their seeds only, as they had minimal, bitter-tasting flesh; over time, fleshier, fruitier varieties were developed.  Check the Harvest of the Month website for details andContinue reading “December Harvest of the Month: Winter Squash”

November Harvest of the Month

​Native to Central America, the sweet potato is not related to potatoes but instead is in the same family as morning glory. ​Sweet potatoes are very popular in the southern United States, and have been grown in that region since the 16th century. Although often mistaken for the yam, sweet potatoes are more flavorful and lessContinue reading “November Harvest of the Month”

Harvest of the Month: October

2021 October Harvest of the Month is Kale! Kale is a member of the Brassicaceae family, also known as the cabbage family, along with broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and kohlrabi. It originated in the Mediterranean region and was brought to the United States from England in the 17th century. Kale is a very hardyContinue reading “Harvest of the Month: October”

From our friends at HANDS: Gardening expert Charlie Nardozzi will be presenting our FINAL (sadly) “HANDS in the Dirt” workshop of the season tomorrow, September 15, at 10:00am via Zoom. He’ll make a brief presentation titled “Putting Food By” and then make time to answer questions. Here’s the link so please join us: Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/85052009899?pwd=U09vUThlVnVOb2NHbGpNYjI0YmVGQT09 MeetingContinue reading

Harvest of the Month: September

September’s Harvest of the Month is Sweet Peppers. Here’s some information from the Vermont Harvest of the Month site: Peppers are native to Central and South America. They are among the first plants to be cultivated there. Pepper seeds dating back to 5000 B.C. havebeen discovered in Mexico. After explorers from Portugal & Spain madeContinue reading “Harvest of the Month: September”