Autumn brings the final ripening of the garden, and tomatillos are at their sweetest-best as the vines begin to decline. Tomatillos, or “husk tomatoes,” are native to Mexico and have been cultivated since pre-Columbian times. A member of the nightshade family (Physalis), they grow wild throughout the Americas except in the coldest zones, as they […]
vegetables
Posted inGarden
Raising ‘Em Up on the Farm
Five-year-old Kavi Ostrom announced one day to her mother, “These plants aren’t doing well because we haven’t put enough compost on them.” Maia Ostrom said, laughing, “I’m pretty sure that Kavi will be running the farm soon.” Maia Ostrom and her husband, Erik, owners of Dusk to Dawn Farm near Poulsbo, are part of a […]
Posted inCommunity News
Become a Gleaner to Pick Produce for Those in Need (and Yourself)
Kitsap Harvest is a program that organizes volunteers to pick surplus fruits and veggies from farms, yards and gardens across Kitsap County. This activity is called “gleaning.” Kitsap Harvest donates the fresh produce to local organizations that feed people, like food banks, shelters, school summer meal programs and senior residences. Kitsap Harvest needs your help to pick […]
Posted inAt Home
Put a Twist on Your Next Picnic with a Crab Salad
From the trees to the breeze, picnics are a fun way your family can soak up the sunshine while enjoying a delicious and nutritious meal together. “Picnics should be a prescription for health,” said registered dietitian nutritionist and TV host Annessa Chumbley. “They accomplish three amazing things needed for healthy living: nourishing the body, focusing […]
Posted inAt Home
Healthy Summer Salad Recipes
Adding more fruits and vegetables is one of the simplest ways to make at-home meals healthier for your family. Focusing your plate on more of the good stuff — vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, plant-based proteins, lean animal proteins and fish — can help you cut back on the not-so-good stuff, including refined carbohydrates, […]
Posted inGarden
Gig Harbor Garden Tour
Gardeners seem to be some of the happiest and nicest people on Earth. There is something euphoric about getting one’s hands in the soil, planting little sprouts and seeds, and watching them become beautiful, living things. As if that weren’t enough to make the happy endorphins emerge, gardening also produces a strange desire in the […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
The Thrill of the Grill — Why Do You Do It?
Americans have a long-standing love affair with grilling. This relationship started many years ago. Our ancestors first learned to cook over an open flame, and today grilling has become a year-round lifestyle choice, with many preferring to cook outdoors on the grill. Why do Americans love grilling so much? The reasons are wide ranging. Some […]
Posted inGarden
Cultivating Connections — Family’s Heritage Becomes New Venture to Help Farmers
Newcomers and longtime Kitsap residents alike can overlook some of the most treasured local assets: the hard-working farmers and their land. Tucked in here and there on back roads are families who have been in West Sound for generations farming the land, growing food and figuring out how to make farms survive as times change. […]
Posted inGarden
Bremerton City Nursery — A Destination for Urban, Organic Gardening
The Bremerton City Nursery has been part of Bremerton for more than six decades, thanks to two local families. Today, it brands itself as an urban city nursery, and it sells almost exclusively organic products. The Berger family founded the nursery in the early 1950s, originally naming it Berger’s Garden Center. While raising four sons, […]