G A R DEN P. Allen Smith’s
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VOLUME 3 2015
FALL ISSUE Grow| Celebrate| Cook | Design | Create | Travel |Shop
summer 2014 | 1
GARDEN HOME
TABLE OF CONTENTS
12 cook
‘DEEP PURPLE’ MUSTARD GREENS
5
ALLEN’S LETTER
24 travel
URBAN GREENSPACES
28
MARKETPLACE
16 design 6grow
ORGANIZE YOUR TOOL SHED
SUSTAINABLE VEGETABLE GARDEN
30
1.2.3 DONE! – BUCKET LIST GARDEN
32 11 celebrate LOCAL FOOD
HERITAGE POULTRY
20 create
HOMEMADE GARDEN REMEDIES
33
RESOURCES
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W E MADE THIS! Head Cheese
P. ALLEN SMITH Second Head Cheese
The Creative Minds
JOHN OWENS
KELLY MCLARTY KATIE LUNSFORD
Guard of the Coffers
PAM HOLDEN
Stylist Extraordinaire
LAURA GRIMES
Master Marketer and Organizer of All
MIMI SAN PEDRO
The Internet Artisan
Keeper of the Head Cheese
TODD ORR
LAURA LEECH
Emissary to Our Partners
Photography Hoarder
Task Master
Hucksters of Fine Goods
SUZANNE SELBY
BRANDI MORAN
MARY ELLEN PYLE
MIKE MUELLER LAURA GRIMES CHANCE SLAUGHTER
Social Butterfly
MYRA GREEN Scribes
P. ALLEN SMITH • MYRA GREEN • MARY ELLEN PYLE Makers of Video Magic
BRENT WALKER • DAVID CRAFT • PATRICK GREEN HEAVEN MERCER • JEFF CERINO • CHIP SIMONS Shutterbug
MARK FONVILLE • JANE COLCLASURE Farm Sentinels
JOYCE SMITH • CHRIS SMITH • GUY COUCH
GARDENSTYLE . .
grow cook design
2 | fall 2015
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Get a behind-the-scenes view of what goes on at the farm. Follow #mossmountainfarm on Twitter and Instagram.
4 | fall 2015
ALLEN’S LETTER Autumn Aromatherapy As we were tossing around ideas for this issue of Garden Home Style we found ourselves discussing the characteristics that make this season special. We all agreed the scent – a combination of leaf mold, rich dirt, bonfire smoke, rain – is one of the things that makes autumn, well, autumn. It’s an earthy fragrance that brings us back to center after the last carefree days of summer. Typically, people celebrate our planet in spring when the landscape is just waking up, but because of the way this season grounds us, we thought autumn would be an ideal time to present our green issue. In the following pages you’ll find ways to be good stewards of the environment through sustainable gardening practices, travel to cities with inviting greenspaces and using upcycled objects to organize your tool shed. So dig into this issue full of ideas for giving back to Mother Nature this fall. Cheers,
BUY
LOCAL
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FARMER
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grow
Sustainable Vegetable Garden While it might seem like every vegetable garden is - by the very nature of being a garden – sustainable, there are varying degrees. Think of it this way. Some gardens are homemade granola bars and others are more like a Caramello; both are delicious, but one has a decidedly lower impact. Although the Caramello offers instant gratification, I suggest you try the homemade granola bar. The results are a little slower and perhaps less pristine, but pride in your efforts and confidence in what you eat make up for it. All that to say that if you are good to Mother Nature when you garden, she’ll be good to you.
Here are six best practices for growing a more earth-friendly garden. Reuse – Don’t just recycle, find ways to reuse materials in the garden. Newspaper makes
an effective weed barrier that will biodegrade and plastic milk jugs are perfect cloches for protecting plants from light frosts. Give your trash a second life before you throw it into the recycle bin.
Choose Organic – Whenever possible select
organic fertilizers and controls. They may take longer than their synthetic chemical cousins, but they do the job without taking a toll on the environment. Plus, because you are eating what you grow in a vegetable garden going organic just makes sense.
Conserve Water – Use drip irrigation to water
your crops. Drip irrigation does three things: it saves water, gets moisture right to the roots and keeps water off foliage, which can lead to disease.
Integrated Pest Management – Before you
unleash the hounds on suspected insect pests consider using an integrated approach that begins with identifying the problem. Once identified, manage the pest with the most ecological method first. For instance, you can remove Japanese beetles by hand
Add one of these flowering shrubs to your vegetable garden to attract pollinating insects. All stay a manageable size that you can grow in a container or in a border.
Double Play® Artisan Spirea and trap white flies on sticky fly catchers. Leave the bug sprays (even the organic ones) as a last resort and limit the application to affected areas.
Compost – There are reasons why
people refer to compost as garden gold: it improves soil texture, adds nutrients and helps retain moisture. It’s one of the best soil amendments available and it’s made from materials you would normally throw away. What’s not to love? It takes about six months to cook up a batch of compost, but the wait is worth it.
Buddleia ‘Miss Violet’
Plant for Pollinators – Leave space in
your vegetable garden for flowers that attract pollinators such as honey bees. Pollinators are essential for producing crops that produce a fruit like melons, tomatoes and corn.
Blue Satin® Hibiscus
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grow
Flowering Shrubs for the Vegetable Garden
The Sharpest Tool
In Your Garden! Free App
HOMEGROWN With Bonnie Plants
• Note, track and photograph your garden • Weather and reminders • Variety info and grow guides • Fully searchable • Hands-free dictation • Share to social networks
bonnieplants.com/app APPLE, THE APPLE LOGO AND IPHONE ARE TRADEMARKS OF APPLE INC., REGISTERED IN THE U.S. AND OTHER COUNTRIES. APP STORE IS A SERVICE MARK OF APPLE INC.
© EHA 2015 BPF 001674
Fall is our most abundant season with a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables available to enjoy. Whether you are hitting the farmers’ market or dining at a favorite farm-to-table restaurant, this is the time to sample local fare.
Arkansas Foodie Destinations
Arkansas Gleaning Project Have you ever wondered about what happens to produce that is left in the field? In Arkansas some of the crops are gleaned for distributing to hunger relief organizations. Volunteers with the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and Society of St. Andrew and Regional Maintenance Crews from the Arkansas Department of Correction hand-gather, or glean, fruits and vegetables in fields owned by partnering farmers. Since 2008, Arkansas farmers have given over 3 million pounds of produce to the gleaning project.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
photo credit Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance
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celebrate
Local Food
cook
I prefer the smooth leaf ‘Deep Purple’ mustard greens from my Homegrown Seed Collection for easy sauté dishes and healthy salads. It has a sweet spicy mustard flavor unlike other varieties I’ve tried making them tasty as well as highly nutritious—and so easy to grow from seed in a cool vegetable garden.
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Prep Time: 25 minutes Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS
Cook Time: 14 minutes
¾ cup of sweet onions, sliced 3 cloves of garlic, minced 1 tablespoon of olive oil 1 pound of mustard greens, cleaned
¼ teaspoon dried thyme ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary ¼ teaspoon of fennel seeds ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper
with rough chop if large leaf ¼ cup of diced pancetta 1 pinch of dried pepper flakes (optional)
Directions
In a large sauté pan, cook onions and pancetta in olive oil over medium heat until the onions become transparent and pancetta lightly browns, for about 5 to 8 minutes. Toss in minced garlic and stir until fragrant for about 1 minute. Add the mustard greens, thyme and rosemary, then cook until mustard greens are gently wilted. Add a pinch of dried pepper flake for an optional mild kick. Add salt and pepper.
Cleaning Mustard Greens from the Garden Leafy greens tend to hold lots of dirt from the garden, so it’s important to properly wash and clean them. Fill a large bowl with cold water and submerse your greens. Gently swish the greens around then lift them out of water—dirt will settle to the bottom so never pour the greens out with the same water. Place them to the side while you rinse any sediment from the bowl and repeat the process until no sediment remains. Once cleaned, dry them and cook or refrigerate.
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cook
Sautéed Mustard Greens
GARDEN WEDDINGS Exclusive events and weddings at P. Allen Smith’s country home, Moss Mountain Farm James Sumpter jsumpter@pallensmith.com / 501.747.9345
FALL INTO AUTUMN
Moss Mountain Farm for your next business meeting or retreat. James Sumpter jsumpter@pallensmith.com / 501.747.9345
design
10 Ways to Organize Your Tool Shed with Re-purposed Objects You don’t need to spend a small fortune on bins and boxes in order to get your garden tools organized. Instead, give new life to things you’ve got on hand like jelly jars and broken rake heads. You’ll keep money in your wallet and trash out of the landfill.
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Hose Hanger – I found an old metal design
basket and mounted it on the wall to hold the garden hose. Inside the basket I store sprayer heads and other water hose accessories.
Quick Clean-up for Hand Tools –
Tools like my pruners and trowels always seem to be pitted and covered in rust when I don’t clean them regularly. Now keeping them ready to use is as easy as sticking them in a bucket of sand mixed with a little mineral oil. The sand acts like sandpaper, cleaning off the debris, and the oil keeps water from damaging the metal. Plus the bucket makes a good place to store the tools so I’ll know right where they are.
Tool Maintenance Caddy – When
it’s time to get my other tools cleaned up and ready to use, I like to work on them on the center table. This caddy keeps all my tool care supplies such as a file, sandpaper, WD 40, Pam spray, whetstone, etc. in one convenient carrier so they are easy to transport and keep all the items together.
Seed Box – I re-purposed an old file box
to store seeds. With divisions by month, I can organize my seed packets according to planting seasons. I also have an area in the box designated for seeds that I want to start indoors.
Handy Holder – When the handle came
off of this old rake, I was about to give it a toss when I suddenly saw its potential as a holder. Now the rake enjoys a second life as a place to hang small dried flower bundles or tools.
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design
Purr-fect Containers – The cat food I
buy comes in plastic containers. Rather than throw them out when they’re empty I’ve found they are just the right size to hold bird seed and other items I want to keep from the mice. They also make great containers to hold and transport cut flowers in summer.
Belt Hanger Hold Up – One day I was
rummaging through my clothes closet and found this belt hanger and decided I could put it to better use in the tool shed. I discovered the prongs on the hanger made a convenient place to store partially used packets of seeds. After opening the packet, I just clamp the top shut with an office clip and hang them on the hooks.
Spice Jar Storage – I seem to have lots
of little items like nails, screws and matches that get lost in the shuffle or fall into the bottom of a box. This spice jar holder is an ideal way to keep them within reach.
Recycled Thread Holder – Instead
of spools of thread, I use this holder to organize all my rolls of twine and tape as well as a handy spot for my scissors.
Jelly and Coffee Jars – I also use an assortment of recycled clear glass jars for storing an assortment of hardware.
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Stylish new Garden Hoses from P. Allen Smith “Enjoy your lawn, garden or just about anything with the ease of using this lightweight, stylish, no-kink garden hose inspired by my Water Colors Collection.” -P. Allen Smith, Lifestyle Expert and Television Host
• Lightweight, no kink under pressure • SwivelGrip™ fittings attach easily • Superior O-ring connects leak-free • Extreme all-weather flexibility • Drinking water safe • Lifetime warranty
SwivelGrip™ Connections
watercolorscollection.com By
®
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create
Homemade Garden Remedies 10 Garden Solutions You Can Find in Your Pantry
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Homemade Garden Remedies 10 Garden Solutions You Can Find in Your Pantry
Hot Pepper Spray to Keep Critters Away –
Puree 1 hot pepper. Add an equal amount of water, plus a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. The dishwashing liquid will help the solution stick. Strain and spray on plant leaves.
Garlic Insect Repellent – To shoo away insects
make a garlic cayenne pepper spray. Combine one head of garlic, chopped; a tablespoon of cayenne pepper; and one quart of water. Set aside to steep for one hour. Strain and spray on plant leaves. Be aware that this will repel ALL insects including pollinators like honeybees. Leftover spray will keep for 2 or 3 weeks in an air tight container in the refrigerator.
Fruit Cocktail Japanese Beetle Trap – Open
a can of fruit cocktail, set it outside in a sunny spot for a week to ferment. Place a brick in a pail. Place the can of fruit cocktail on the brick. Fill the pail with water up to the rim of the can. Beetles trying to get to the fruit cocktail will fall into the pail and drown.
Vinegar Weed Killer – Vinegar can be used as
a broad spectrum herbicide, which means it will kill all plants not just weeds; so be careful. Mix one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with one gallon of vinegar. Spray on the weed, being careful not to spray desirable plants. Weeds should die within 24 hours. Now the thing about vinegar is that it is not absorbed by the leaves down to the roots like commercial herbicides. So it will kill the foliage, but not necessarily the roots. Mature or tough weeds may require a repeat application when new growth emerges.
vinegar that makes it a weed killer can also be beneficial for plants that love acidic soil. I know, it seems like cross purposes, but that’s just how versatile vinegar is. If you notice the leaves on your azaleas or gardenias turning yellow, it could be a symptom of the soil having too much lime. Mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar to one quart of water. Pour one cupful around the base of the plant. Repeat every 2 weeks until the yellow is gone.
Boiling Water Weed Killer – Even easier than the vinegar
weed killer is boiling water. Simply pour boiling water over weeds sprouting up through walks or patios. They will wilt instantly.
Give Your Tomatoes Some Salt - Epsom salt is magnesium
sulfate, which plants use to develop stronger root systems and to aid in the uptake of chlorophyll. When setting out your tomato plants sprinkle 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt in each planting hole. If you have trouble with squirrels digging up spring flowering bulbs, a pinch of Epsom salt added to the planting hole will take care of that problem.
Keep the Rabbits & Groundhogs at Bay with Talcum Powder – Okay so this isn’t something you would find in your
kitchen, but talcum powder is an effective repellent. Dust vegetables and surrounding area with talcum powder. This will need to be reapplied when washed away by rain. Talcum powder also works on flea beetles. These are the “no-see-um” bugs that chew holes in the leaves of morning glories and sweet potato vines.
Clean Your Dentures and Your Glass Flower Vases –
One thing that drives me nuts is that milky residue that builds up on glass flower vases. This can be removed with effervescent denture tablets. Fill the vase with hot water and add a couple of the tablets. The glass will rinse sparkling clean without lifting a finger.
Offer Slugs a Cuppa Joe – Snails and slugs can be deterred
by spraying plants with coffee. Although high levels of caffeine are thought to kill slugs and snails, a regular cup of coffee will only discourage them from eating your plants. You can try sprinkling coffee grounds around the plant too. Although coffee grounds are acidic, a thin layer won’t change the composition of the soil and earthworms love them. fall 2015 | 23
create
Vinegar Azalea/Gardenia Fertilizer – The acetic acid in
travel
Green Cities
Put your money where your suitcase is and spend your vacation dollars in one of these eco-friendly U.S. cities that take pride in their greenspaces. Atlanta – The Atlanta Beltline is 33 miles of greenspace trails for walking, jogging,
biking and foot commuting for those who live along the beltline in nearby neighborhoods. With a 22 mile strip that traces the original railroad line, the beltline branches into many of Atlanta’s existing parks and trails. Plans to expand this trail system for the entire metro area are underway.
Albuquerque – Known as “Quiet in the Middle of the City,” the city of
Albuquerque Open Space Division manages 29,000 acres of urban green belt. Breathtaking vistas and a network of hiking trails provide access to green space conservation efforts and archaeological resources all within an urban environment. The Rio Grande Bosque, clusters of forest lacing the banks of the Rio Grande, is popular among locals and visitors for its biking trails and natural park habitats in close proximity to the metro.
Chicago – Chicago has amazing greenspace available to city dwellers and
visitors—and the city has a right to be proud of its “green” record. Chicago is well-known for Grant Park, Millennium Park and Lincoln Park. You can also find the Garfield Park Conservatory, known as the “landscape art under glass.” Like Atlanta, Chicago is in the midst of transforming old railway lines slicing through city neighborhoods into raised green park space for getting around the town.
Portland – Going from the nickname “Stumptown” to “Green City”, Portland
has invested substantial resources into bringing nature into the city limits. For instance, more than 200 miles are dedicated bike lanes resulting in greater energy conservation for local commutes and recreation. Portland is also known for its contemporary eco-districts, as well as restored natural habitats all within the metro area.
Minneapolis/St. Paul – Minneapolis has a lot to be proud of in its efforts
to promote a green environment. This metropolitan has over 6,700 acres of diverse water and green park area. The Nice Ride bike- sharing program is a popular urban transportation option for residents and visitors to travel around town. Known for the Mall of America, this mega-shopping center mainly uses solar power as a source of heat energy during the cooler months of the year. 24 | fall 2015
Love to bike, run or stroll? Check out the Razorback Regional Greenway in northwest Arkansas. The recently opened multi-use paved trail covers 36 miles from south Fayetteville to north Bentonville – home to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. For those of you that enjoy a more rugged route, ride your mountain bike over one of the area’s backcountry paths running through the beautiful Ozark Mountains.
photo credit Northwest Arkansas Council
“Trails are a fantastic way to explore Northwest Arkansas whether by bike or on foot. More than 200 miles of natural-surface trails and more than 100 miles of paved trails encircle the region, providing opportunities for trail users of all skill levels. The diversity of the network is impressive - some trails take you to bustling downtowns, while others take you into serene woodlands.” - Misty Murphy, Regional Trails Coordinator, Northwest Arkansas Council fall 2015 | 25
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Razorback Regional Greenway
Marketplace
PROVEN WINNERS WATERWISE If you have container gardens that need water, this WATERWISE irrigation kit is the way to go ProvenWinners.com.
ELECTRIC LEAF SHREDDER This YardForce shredder will make quick work of mulching leaves for your compost bin. Lightweight, easy to move and collapses for storage. HomeDepot.com
DRIPWORKS It’s important to keep your garden watered through fall. This system is incredibly simple to install and it actually works. DripWorks.com
GALVANIZED METAL GARDEN INCINERATOR CAN Burn leaves, garden debris and paper trash in this sturdy metal garbage can with a chimney. PlowHearth.com
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JOSEPH BENTLEY WEEDING KNIFE Shape up your garden pathways or clear out the pesky weed growth along your sidewalk and driveway with this sturdy weeding tool. Shop.PAllenSmith.com
RAWSPICEBAR Autumn and cooking go hand-in-hand. Expand your menu with a monthly subscription to the Spice of the Month Club. RawSpiceBar.com
WILDFLOWER SEED GIFT TAGS Give a little extra with a plantable gift tag embedded with wildflower seeds. Etsy.com
HOMEGROWN WITH BONNIE PLANTS APP More than just a journal this app provides weather updates, growing guides and plant suggestions. BonniePlants.com GOOD DIRT™ SOIL CONDITIONER Fall is an ideal time to give your soil a boost. Enrich your garden beds with GoodDirt™ Soil Conditioner – a mix of BogBits™, organic-based plant food and plant probiotics. FullCycleGardening.com
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1.2.3 DONE!
“Bucket List” Garden
Use five-gallon buckets to grow an edible garden.
MATERIALS NEEDED: •(3) five-gallon buckets • Potting soil • Greens – we used red romaine, spinach and buttercrunch lettuce
DIRECTIONS: 1. Turn each bucket upside down, and use a drill to create three holes for drainage in the bottom. 2. Turn each bucket right side up and fill it near to the top with potting soil. 3. Plant two to three leafy greens (of the same kind) in each bucket. See more DIY projects like this on BonniePlants.com!
GET MORE DIY PROJECTS LIKE THIS ON BONNIEPLANTS.COM!
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summer 2014 | 33
Can You Guess This Heritage Breed?
Be Sure to support your local 4-H/FFA chapters and to visit your county, state and regional livestock and poultry shows to help further the cause.
answer: Silver Spangled Appenzeller Spitzhauben
SPONSORED BY: 34 | fall 2014 速 Hubbard Life & Hubbard速 Homestead
Resources
Below are a few of the products we use at Moss Mountain Farm to create a beautiful and sustainable autumn garden.
Crescent® Home Tableware P. Allen Smith’s Home Grown Seed Collection (Swiss Chard ‘Peppermint’ pictured here.)
Jobe’s® Organics Bulb Fertilizer
P. Allen Smith Water Colors Collection Hoses
Proven Winners® (Butterfly Argyranthemum pictured here.)
Stargazer Barn
Star® Roses
Van Bloem Gardens® (Tulip ‘Chato’ pictured here.)
Bonnie Plants™ Vegetables fall 2015 | 33
THERE is something in the autumn that is native to my blood— Touch of manner, hint of mood; And my heart is like a rhyme, With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time. The scarlet of the maples can shake me like a cry Of bugles going by. And my lonely spirit thrills To see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills. There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir; We must rise and follow her, When from every hill of flame She calls and calls each vagabond by name.
-Bliss Carmen, “A Vaganbond Song”
visit us at PAllenSmith.com to find more of your favorite recipes and creative tips.