June Harvest of the Month: Eggs

Humans and other predatory animals have been eating eggs for millions of years. Then, about 5,000 years ago, people in Asia domesticated the first wildfowl. It was so successful that the idea spread worldwide. Later, the Egyptians developed a method to incubate eggs in heated caves, freeing up hens to lay more. In the 1940s,Continue reading “June Harvest of the Month: Eggs”

Creating an Edible Landscape with Dani Baker

Join us in person on May 18, 2023 at 7pm at the Charlotte Library, or connect via zoom If you want to create an edible hedge, an edible bed, a foundation planting or a forest garden, you will discover there are a variety of native food plants to choose from to fill your space. WhenContinue reading “Creating an Edible Landscape with Dani Baker”

May Harvest of the Month: Mixed Greens

​There are a wide variety of salad greens available in Vermont, spanning across several plant families, each bearing a unique history and taste.The versatility of greens, in flavor, shape and application, is enormous! They can accompany any type of dish and, many varieties can be eaten raw or cooked. No matter what the season, fresh greens can endContinue reading “May Harvest of the Month: Mixed Greens”

April Harvest of the Month: Whole Grains

​A grain is the edible seed inside a cereal crop. These grains are comprised of four parts: the husk, the bran, the endosperm and the germ. The husk is inedible and has to be removed before it can be consumed. The bran is a thick inner coveringthat is made up of several layers. The germContinue reading “April Harvest of the Month: Whole Grains”

March Harvest of the Month: Maple Syrup

Maple syrup comes from sugar maple trees, known as senômozi to the Abenaki. Sugar maple is native across New England, parts of the upper Midwest, and Quebec– a unique bioregion known as Maple Nation. Many thousands of years ago, the Indigenous people of this region devised a way of tapping into that flow of sap, collecting it inContinue reading “March Harvest of the Month: Maple Syrup”

Book Study — Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture

Back by popular demand! Join Karen Tuininga and Linda Hamilton for this 4-part study of Toby Hemenway’s classic guide to home-scale permaculture. New and experienced gardeners are welcome for the study of this practical book. Expect interesting reading (about 70 pages in preparation for each session) and lively discussions!Whether you missed our first Gaia’s GardenContinue reading “Book Study — Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture”

Harvest of the Month: February

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 “Harvest of the Month: February”

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,Continue reading “January Harvest of the Month”

December Harvest of the Month: Winter Squash

​Winter squash are a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, also known as the gourd family, along with cucumbers, summer squash (pattypan, zucchini), and watermelon. Originally, winter squash were cultivated for the consumption of their seeds only, as they had minimal, bitter-tasting flesh; over time, fleshier, fruitier varieties were developed.  More info and recipes here: http://www.vermontharvestofthemonth.org/december-2022–winter-squash.html

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”