Eggplant

Overview: Eggplant fruits are usually a dark purple color, but can also be white, pink, green, or black. An eggplant can grow to be a variety of shapes and sizes. Similar to tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers, eggplants are part of the nightshade plant family (Source: Almanac).

Most eggplants have a similar taste, however, they may vary in sweetness or sourness. Eggplants have a meaty, spongy texture, which helps the fruit absorb flavors when used for cooking.

Seed Starting: Eggplants are frost sensitive and typically require a long, warm growing season. Prime growing temperatures are between 68º and 86ºF. Start seeds indoors, sowing 3-6 seeds per section and ¼ of an inch deep in flats or peat pots (Source: Almanac).

Growing Advice: Once temperatures are between 70° to 75°F, set seedlings in holes 24 to 30 inches apart in rows, approximately 3 feet apart from one another (Source: Almanac). Immediately after planting, set 24-inch-high stakes 1 to 2 inches from each plant in order to provide support.

Eggplants mature in about 50 to 75 days from transplanting from indoors to outdoors. Typically, the fruit requires a total of 100 to 140 days until time of harvest (Source HarvestToTable).

The most common eggplant pests are lace bugs and flea beetles. When the fruit is young, collars and row covers can be used in order to prevent attacks. Natural predators, such as ladybugs, can also help minimize the pest problems.

Harvesting Advice: An eggplant is ready to harvest when the inner flesh is cream-colored, the fruit is firm, and there are no visible seeds. Leaving an eggplant to harvest too long may cause a bitter taste, tough skin, or large seeds (Source: Gardening Know How).

When it is time to harvest, cut a short piece of stem above the cap attached to the top of the eggplant. The best place to store eggplants is at room temperature, or in a pantry.

Eggplant Parmesan Recipe

This non-fry sheet-pan eggplant parmesan is less oily and more delicious!

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil 
  • 2 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 
  • Kosher salt 
  • ⅓ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped, plus more torn leaves for serving 
  • 1 medium-large eggplant (about 1 ½ pounds), sliced into ½-inch-thick rounds 
  • ⅓ cup all purpose flour 
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • ¾ cup italian-style breadcrumbs 
  • 1 pound fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced 
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan

Cooking Directions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F

Step 2: Put 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the garlic in a large skillet and place over medium heat. Add the tomatoes, red pepper flakes, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Stir in the chopped basil.

Step 3: Line up 3 shallow dishes; fill one with flour, one with the beaten eggs, and one with breadcrumbs. Sprinkle both sides of the eggplant slices with salt. Dredge an eggplant slice in the flour (tapping off excess), then dip in the egg, and finally dredge it in the breadcrumbs.

Step 4: When all the eggplant slices are breaded, carefully remove the heated sheet pan from the oven and brush it with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Place the eggplant on the sheet pan in a single layer. Bake until the undersides are crisp and browned 8 to 10 minutes, then flip the slices and continue baking until they are golden on the second side, 8 to 10 minutes more.

Step 5: Top the baked eggplant with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Return the pan to the oven and bake, rotating halfway through, until the cheese melts and browns and the sauce is bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes. Top with torn basil before serving.

Written By: Natalie Calkins

Bell Peppers

Written by: Ella Stolba

February 21, 2023

Overview: Peppers are a fruit of a flowering plant in the Chile pepper family, as well as the botanical family, Solanaceae. They can be eaten cooked or raw, and have no heat or spiciness.

Seed starting: Bell peppers will perform better if their nutritional needs are met. These seeds are often started indoors, around two months before the last spring frost date. Bell peppers prefer a more shady, rich soil. In order to grow your pepper at it’s best ability, keep your ground conditions well-drained and warm. 

Planting Directions:

  1. Plant the seeds 18 to 24 inches apart in a sunny, well-drained spots. Plants need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day. (Source: bonnieplants).
  2. Mix compost or other organic matter into the soil when planting. (Source: bonnieplants)
  3. Water immediately after planting, then regularly throughout the season. Aim for a total of 1-2 inches per week (more when it’s hotter). (Source: bonnieplants)
  4. Mix a continuous-release fertilizer into the soil at planting and replenish as directed during the growing season. (Source: bonnieplants)
  5. Spread mulch (such as chopped leaves or straw) around the plants to help keep the soil cool and moist. (Source: bonnieplants)
  6. Support each pepper plant with a stake or small tomato cage, to help bear the weight of the fruit once it begins to produce. (Source: bonnieplants)
  7. Harvest peppers with shears or a knife, then store in the fridge. Be sure to pick all peppers before the first fall frost comes. (Source: bonnieplants)

Growing Advice: The best time to plant bell peppers, is in mid-March to early April at the latest. The best thing to do is to count back 6 weeks from when you want to plant your transplants into the garden, to determine when to plant the seeds. (Source: Nola)

Harvesting: Your bell peppers will stay green for a while, but once they start to ripen, they’ll change to yellow, orange, and or red. Your peppers will be ready to harvest 60–90 days after transplant, and once they are 3-7 inches long, and about 4 inches wide.

Your freshly picked peppers can do best staying fresh in many different ways. On your countertop, in the fridge (dried), freezer (removing stems in advanced), as well as pickled, canned, or dried. You can actually try eating the stem of the pepper which is completely safe! It does not have much flavor, and is considered very mild.

Recipe for Bell Pepper

Try this tasted Roasted Red Pepper Spread, it can be used in so many ways and has become a very popular dish.

Ingredients:

  • 1 jar (12 ounces) roasted sweet red peppers, drained 
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Baking Steps/directions:

  • Place ingredients in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment
  • process until smooth, while scraping down sides of bowl as needed.

Red pepper spread can be refrigerated up to 2 weeks or frozen up to 3 months.

Nutrition Facts:

2 tablespoons: 16 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 276mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.

Walleye Waters

Written By: Hannah Corneliusen  

In the big state in Minnesota lies the greatest lake of walleye fishing. Lake of the Woods is 85 miles long and 56 miles wide. It includes 14,632 islands throughout the lake and 65,000 miles of shoreline. Lake of the Woods is connected to two Canadian provinces; Ontario and Manitoba. I grew up on this lake as my father had his own fishing business called “Reel Adventures Fishing Service” which he took over from my grandfather. My dad has been fishing this lake for 20 years. On a bright summer day, my dad, his girlfriend, my boyfriend Austin, and myself headed out on the big lake to one of my dads favorite spots in hopes to bring some supper back. Once we got out to our spot, we put our rods in the water and started jigging. Looking across the lake, all you could see was blue sparkling water and a clear sky for miles unless you were feeding the pelicans your snacks. Lake of the Woods is home to some of the biggest walleyes and my dad has never really had luck on catching huge fish on this lake. He catches enough to eat but no record breakers. On this very day, my dad caught the biggest fish he had ever reeled up into his boat. At that moment I knew it was a huge fish as my dad told me I needed to reel up my rod to help him with this big fish. I grabbed the net and he struggled to reel it in, but eventually we were able to get the fish into the boat. After measuring the walleye with the yardstick, it showed 30 ½ inches which is the biggest walleye my dad has ever caught. I was so happy that I got to experience him catching the biggest walleye he had ever caught. It made me so proud to see my dad not give up after all these years. This fish now hangs on the wall at home as a trophy even though it took 20 years to find. My dad will continue to go back out everyday to hopefully catch one even bigger. 

Me and my dad on the day he caught his 30 1/2 Walleye
Lake of the Woods Warroad, MN

Bell Peppers

Overview: Peppers can be found in a variety of colors as well as being effortless to maintain.

Seed Starting: Peppers prefer to be grown in a sunny, well drained spot. They can also be grown in containers, raised beds and in-ground gardens. Mix compost or other organic matter in the soil while planting. Another thing when planting the seed you want to plant them around 18-24 inches apart to allow room to grow. It’s also necessary for the pepper plants to get just about 6-8 hours of sunlight per day. 

Harvesting: Most pepper seeds will sprout after a week although superhots and others can take up to 6 weeks. Keeping the soil wet but not damp is crucial while they are growing. It’s been shown that bell peppers change from green to red when fully ripened and when you buy red bell peppers they are ripened to green peppers to keep in mind while picking them!  (Source)

Growing Advice: Sow seeds in late winter or early spring and no more than two months before there has been frost. 

Recipe for Bell Pepper Nachos!

Try this low carb easy meal to make for you and your friends!

  • Cook ground beef thoroughly until cooked and stir in a packet of taco seasoning as well as a splash of water
  • Cut the bell peppers in half, drizzle some olive oil on and place them on a baking sheet 
  • Then spoon the beef mixture into the bell peppers 
  • Add some shredded cheese on top and bake on 350 until cheese is melted. 

Madison Gagliano

Spearmint

Fully grown spearmint leaves

Overview: Spearmint is the most common type of mint people can grow themselves. This plant has many uses such as flavouring in foods, cosmetics, essential oils and culinary. It’s one of the easiest herbs to grow and one or two plants will provide a ton of leaves if adequately taken care of!

Seed starting advice: Seeds should be planted 18 to 24 inches apart and ¼ inch deep in spring right after the last frost (Source) . This herb grows best in partial shade and adapts to any kind of soil but will produce a crazy amount in moist, well-drained soil.  

Growing and Harvesting advice: Seeds should be harvested from late spring and mid-autumn before the shoots die back over winter. For the plant to reach its full potential, make sure the top ½ inch of soil is never dry, the plant always needs water! Since spearmint tends to spread a lot as it grows, pull off large chunks of the plant as it spreads so it doesn’t get overwhelmingly big.

Recipe for Refreshing Spearmint Tea

  • 2 cups of water
  • 15-18 fresh spearmint leaves
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey
  • 2 lemon slices
  • Chamomile flowers (optional)
  1. Bring water to a boil.
  2. Remove water from the heat and add in the spearmint leaves and chamomile flowers. Steep for 3 to 5 minutes.
  3. Add honey to the pot and stir.
  4. Pour tea into mug and garnish with lemon slices.

Written by: Sam Lessick

Tulips

Bouquet of yellow tulips

Overview: Tulips are beautiful spring flowers that bloom in many different colors.  For many, tulips signal the end of winter and the changing to spring.  (Source: How to Plant Tulip Bulbs | Martha Stewart)

Seed Starting: Tulips are actually not started from seeds; instead, they are started from bulbs.  It is best to purchase dry bulbs.  To plant, the bulbs should be covered with around eight inches of soil, about 5 inches apart (Source: Growing Tulips | The Old Farmer’s Almanac).  Water the tulip bulbs right after planting so that they can start growing.  Be careful, as tulips can be sensitive to wet soil, so they need good drainage.  Planting the bulbs in the fall will allow for them to bloom a couple of months later in the spring. (Source: How to Plant Tulip Bulbs | Martha Stewart)

Growing Advice: When it comes to watering your bulbs, you really don’t need to that much.  Weekly rain will be just fine for the bulbs, and they do not need extra water unless you are in a drought.  Some pests that will come for tulips are deer, voles, and mice, so make sure your tulips are protected from them! (Source: Growing Tulips | The Old Farmer’s Almanac)

Harvesting: Tulips can be harvested before they’re fully in bloom and only have a small amount of color on their outer petals.  The stems can just be cut and put into water with flower food.  Fresh tulips can usually last from 5 days to a week while still looking great! (Source: How to Grow Tulips – Floret Flowers)

Arrangements: Tulips are very simple to arrange!  One of the best ways is by just adding tulips to a clear glass jar with cold water in it.  The simplicity of the vase helps put the focus onto the tulips.  Depending on the size of the jar, you might need more or less tulips; but, 8-10 stems is a good number for a medium sized vase.  Just remember to refresh the water after a couple of days!

Written By: Kristen Tracy

White tulips displayed in a clear glass vase during a party

My Big BackYard..!

(Carver Cranberry Bog’s)

As I pull back into my rocky driveway and see the blue light sky with the silky, milky clouds parting through the sky over the sandy pathways leading to childhood memoirs, a new world and an escape for what around us. As I return back from school, I rush to put all of my things away and toss my dirty laundry at my mother she has the best look on her face as the basket is overflowing with everything in my closet. But all my mind is on is my next adventure into my backyard. I quickly grab all my things and my sweatshirt because even though its a beautiful sunny day out the Bogs are known for they whipping winds that might make it feel like your ears are falling off. Im all ready to go I start my walk by leaving my yard I walk though the make shift “zigzag” pathways made by all the previous friends that’s have made this same journey into the bogs with me..! As the pathways end they opening to a sunny, magical sandy waste land filled with cranberries that have just been picked, tall grass, ocean looking like pond with the wind whipping making the waves fall over with white caps and memoirs that flood my mind an just might make a tear hit my eye.

Every time I come back and walk these bogs my mind is overwhelmed with the great childhood memoirs that I was given by this amazing place. Time with great friends enjoying times that we thought weren’t the best but damn weren’t we wrong..! Spending time in this amazing backyard of sand and berries was something we all took for granted, as we talk now we all know what those sandy wasteland like trails and ocean like res. did for our imganation it gave use a new world to explore without that we’d wouldn’t have made such memorable memoirs.

The full walk around the res. makes my legs feel like jelly know that me and my best-friend “Owen” don’t walk it everyday like we used too its about 3 miles fully around, plenty of time to rethink a re look at all the fun things we did out here. Ride bikes/golf carts, fishing tournaments, hunting, finding a game too play or even just walking our dogs from middle school to high school there wasn’t a week that I didn’t escape into the new world for a different adventure with my friends. the bogs gave use kids more than just food and cranberries “witch we took a lot off” it gave a use a new world and huge playground to explore and without that me and all my friends would be different people..!

The full walk around the res. makes my legs feel like jelly know that me and my best-friend “Owen” don’t walk it everyday like we used too its about 3 miles fully around, plenty of time to rethink a re look at all the fun things we did out here. Ride bikes/golf carts, fishing tournaments, hunting, finding a game too play or even just walking our dogs from middle school to high school there wasn’t a week that I didn’t escape into the new world for a different adventure with my friends. the bogs gave use kids more than just food and cranberries “witch we took a lot off” it gave a use a new world and huge playground to explore and without that me and all my friends would be different people..!

As my walk comes too an end on this amazing sunny day the memoirs start to faded away, in the fare distance I see the vivid red pop off the ground with the many little flickers of sunlight reflecting off the crisp blue water of the flooded bog. “Cranberries” where left..! What an aiming way to end and amazing walk, I’ll some off these back home and my nana will make the best cranberry bread you could dream off..!

written by Brodin Benting

Pumpkins

https://www.stockvault.net/photo/218080/bunch-of-pumpkins

Overview: Pumpkins are usually a very orangish color, but can also be white and yellowish sometimes. They are smooth with some ridges and firm to touch. The best time to grow pumpkins is in the early summertime, from May through June.

Seed Starting Advice: Pumpkins grow best when you plant them directly into the ground, about 1 inch deep with the point facing downward. (source: Planting Pumpkin Seeds by Julie Martens Forney.) They should be spaced out at least 5 feet apart in rows that are at least 10 feet apart. You are also able to plant them indoors, in a pot, and under artificial light.

Growing Advice: They usually germinate within 10 days of planting, and grow best in 80-85 degrees. The most common pests for pumpkins are beetles, snails, and slugs, however you can easily get rid of them with pesticides. They are the most common because they like the flesh of new pumpkin crops. Squash bugs are another pest that are harder to get rid and harmful because they can destroy the stem and leaves of the pumpkin. (source: Gardening Know How by Liz Baessler).

Harvesting Advice: You know your pumpkin is ripe when it is fully colored and firm. If the pumpkin seems too soft and not ready to harvest, it will die after just a few days of picking. The best time to harvest is in late September or early October.

Recipe for Pumpkin Bread

Recipe for the best pumpkin bread that is delicious and easy to make provided by the food network.

Ingredients:

  • Unsalted butter
  • 3 1/2 cups of flour
  • 3 cups of sugar
  • 1 cup of vegetable oil
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons of salt
  • 2 teaspoons of baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon of ground allspice
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
  • 2/3 cups of water
  • 1 15-ounce can of pure pumpkin puree

Baking Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and butter and flour two loaf pans.
  2. Whisk together sugar and oil in a bowl, then once they are fully mixed add in the eggs and pumpkin.
  3. Whisk together flour, salt, baking soda, baking power, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon and cloves into a different bowl until fully mixed together.
  4. Add half of the dry ingredients to the mixture and stir to combine, then add half the water and stir to combine, repeat this step with all of the left over flour and water.
  5. Divide the batter between the two pans you have.
  6. Bake for about one hour, until the loaves are golden brown.
  7. Remove the loaves from the pan and let cool completely, for about one hour.
Written by: Mollie Flanagan

Echinaceas

Overview: Echinaceas (aka coneflowers) are a native plant to the United states that bloom during mid summer throughout the fall and act as a great pollinator. They can be grown to use in a bouquet or they are edible and provide many positive health benefits. (Source)

(Photo Source)

Seed starting advice: Echinacea can be grown from seeds in a pot indoors and transported into the ground, or they can be planted directly into the ground. When planting directly into the ground, they must be planted mid to late summer, in an area that gets a lot of sunlight. It is important to remove weeds from the area you are planning them in and mix in fertilizer with the soil. Plant seeds evenly about ¼ inch under the soil. Firm down the soil and keep it evenly moist throughout the area. Seedlings should form within 10-20 days. (Source)

Growing advice: Echinacea grows best in hardiness Zones 3-9. It is necessary to water about an inch deep into the soil once a week to help the roots grow. Make sure the weeds around are under control and removed because they will compete with the plant for water. Covering the area with mulch can help retain the moisture. Echinacea die over the winter, as the wet soil with poor drainage usually makes them rot. (Source

Harvesting advice: You can begin to pick echinacea flowers once they have fully bloomed. To harvest, cut the stems above the lowest leaf part of the stem. To create a bouquet, place the stems into a vase of water, changing the water every 2-3 days. To store them as an ingredient, it is easiest to store them by drying them out, lay them out flat in a sheltered, dry location, or hang them in bunches until they’re entirely dry, and then store in a sealed container.  (Source)


Recipe for Echinacea Tea (Source)

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoon of fresh or dried echinacea (aka coneflower)
  • 10 ounces of water
  • Honey (optional)
  • Lemon (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Boil water in a pot
  2. Once the water boils, turn the heat down to medium and add in the coneflower
  3. Place a lid on the pot, simmer for 5-10 min
  4. Strain the loose flowers, roots, leaves, from the pot and pour water into a teacup
  5. Add flavorings or sweeteners such as honey or lemon if desired

Health Benefits:

  • Helps boost immune system
  • Helps prevent infections
  • Reduce pain
  • Boosts Mood

Written by: Mary Flaherty

Basil

Overview: Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an herbaceous plant that is known for its uses in Italian cuisine. The bright green plant is best used fresh or dried.

https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health-general-science/science-basil
Basil leaves

Seed starting: Basil seeds should be planted in temperatures from 60 Fahrenheit to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Three to four weeks before the planting time one can start the process indoors. In a tray or pot place your seeds. If using a pot place 4 to 6 seeds and once the first set of leaves sprout, then thin each pot out with 1-2 seeds in each (Source: Gardener’s Supply Company). It is important that the soil is not dry but doesn’t receive too much water at once. Once it is time to plant it is best for basil to be planted in a rose bed with compost as the soil. In addition, when planting it is important to space each one 12-18 inches apart so the leaves can fully spread out (Source: Bonnie Plants). 

Growing advice: Basil thrives in the sun needing 6 to 8 hours every day! Meaning they need to be watered regularly to make sure the soil is continuously moist, rich, and well drained. Though not necessary it is smart to annually test the soil with the goal of a 6 to 7 PH (Source: Bonnie Plants). If there are possible days of cold weather, it is important to cover the plants because of their sensitivity to cold. 

Harvesting Advice: Once the plant has grown to a height of 6-8 inches it is ready to harvest. Pinch the leaves from the tips of the stem (Source: Bonnie Plants). This encourages the plant to grow more leaves. If there is any frost on the plant, then cut the plant out of the ground and pick all the leaves left. If it does frost that could mean two things. One you didn’t cover the plant during a cold night/day or that fall is approaching. There are three different ways to store basil. One is to freeze the leaves to use them later on. Second is to dry them but this form doesn’t keep the flavor as well. The third and final method is to preserve them in vinegar, so they last longer as fresh as possible (Source: Bonnie Plants). 

Caprese Salad Recipe

Basil is not an ingredient that would be eaten by itself but is a major ingredient used in Italian food. (Originally found here). You will need the following: 

  1. 3 vine-ripe tomatoes, ¼-inch thick slices
  2. 1-pound fresh mozzarella, ¼-inch thick slices 
  3. 20 to 30 leaves (about 1 bunch) fresh basil 
  4. Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling 
  5. Coarse salt and pepper 

Directions: 

On a large dish layer alternating slices of tomato and mozzarella, adding a basil leaf between each. Drizzle the extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper. 

Written by Sarah Jane O’Connor