Comments on: Project Thoreau – March-May 2009 Updates

By: Ezanee

Ezanee — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:58:06 +0000

Hello everyone

Thank you all for your suggestions concerning nasturtium, and your encouragement in general. I ate nasturtium for the first time, chopped up as Darren suggested, and served with scrambled eggs. The initial taste was certainly unique, but the after effects were just like English Mustard or wasabi. If ever I get a blocked nose, I now have an easy solution to overcome it.

Diane, I hope you read this. The recipe came from Reader’s Digest “Back to Basics” and is really simple. Just add a cup of nasturtium leaves to one cup of water and boil it for about 15 minutes. Once it has cooled, dilute it with an equal volume of water, pour it in a spray bottle, and then spray away. I’ve tried soap solution as well as garlic and chilli sprays in the past, and this seemed much more effective. I hope you have the same success.

Kindest regards and happy gardening to you all.

Ezanee

By: Gabrielle Marsden

Gabrielle Marsden — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:40:19 +0000

It has been my experience that flowers seem to attract a lot of beneficial insects. In my garden there is a lot of self-sown chamomile which the ladybirds, that is what you guys call them right? I call them ladybugs. The ladybirds really seem to like chamomile. They also seem pretty keen on my chervil, once I let it go to flower. I see them devouring insects then taking breaks for nectar.

Anyway, your garden looks lovely but would be prettier with more flowers!

I am in Pittsburgh, U.S.A.

By: Milica

Milica — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:34:52 +0000

Nasturtium-wise, the flowers aren’t so peppery(the leaves are) & thier mildly flavored bright colorful petals are a joy visually in salads.Colored foods having other nutrients & anti-oxidents than greens, so sure to be beneficial. I’ve heard people pickle the seedpods, treat them just like capers. I’ve only ever eaten the leaves in a mixed green salad with vinegarette.

By: Milica

Milica — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:30:18 +0000

I love the aerial view of your small garden space. Motivated me to get on with planting rather than bemoaning renting. ANyway, I type to share that when replanting/repotting my lemon tree yesterday a massive amount of earwigs, hundreds of them fanned out from the base of the pot. Er yuck how am I going to get rid of those? My chooks nailed them! So I wondered for you any space for a silky bantam chook. Small very loving pet.
Keep up your good work, If you lost a fence to your neighbour more garden would be possible for both of you & sunlight.
Milica

By: chloe wolsey

chloe wolsey — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:56:58 +0000

Hi Ezanee,
Don’t worry about nasturtium consumption at all! We eat them daily now & they are delicious. We go for oriental mustards in a big way, so the peppery flavour is great.
Their flowers are great in ice-bowls, if you have the time & want to do something special for a salad/ fruit-salad for guests. Takes a while.
Good gardening!
Chloe

By: Darren (Green Change)

Darren (Green Change) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:34:36 +0000

With the nasturtiums, try folding or rolling the leaves up and then chopping them before adding to salads or sandwiches. They’re peppery, so you probably don’t want too much in each mouthful.

By: Diane Hall

Diane Hall — Sun, 31 May 2009 15:52:12 +0000

Your garden looks awesome Ezanee. Very inviting.

As with you, the more time that has passed since taking my PDC, the more I know it was the right thing to do.

I was wondering if you’d be willing to share your nasturtium spray recipe. I haven’t had any aphids yet, but it’s just spring in the Northern Hemisphere, so time will tell how my garden grows!