Preparing A Vegetable Garden
things to cook, read, watch + more ✨
Allô! 👋
Isn't that a lovely picture at the top of the newsletter? I sure think it is. I took it a few summers ago after returning from the Atwater Market with a couple of tote bags full of exciting vegetables, herbs, fungi and fruit from nearby farms. My weekly trips to the markets were always so exciting. I would wake up early to make the 1 hour round-trip on foot (or the 25 minute bicycle ride) and, no matter the weather, I was always in a sunshiny mood.
Part of the thrill was never knowing exactly what I would buy. It was the best way to discover something new. So I rarely made shopping lists. If anything, there would be a post-it note in my back pocket simply scribbled with the names of places I wanted to shop: “bakery, bulk food shop, dairy, coffee roaster, vegetable stands”. As if I'd forget.
These market trips were supplemented with top-up shops at the supermarket, of course – and I was almost entirely reliant on grocery stores in the winter months – but in the summertime, I got a buzz of excitement about fresh food from another source: my balcony garden.
Culinary herbs were a mainstay on that little outdoor slice of urban paradise (fresh herbs, much like citrus, seem to elevate any dish but, alas, no citrus trees for moi). Yet, the space always left me wanting more. Sure, in Montreal I also had a pot of tomatoes and some bok choy successfully regrown from a bunch I bought at the market, and then in Oslo we even managed to keep eggplant, chili peppers and lettuces alive. Still, the itch to one day have a full-blown vegetable patch kept growing with each passing summer.
Well, it seems this year might just be the year. As you read these words we'll be packing our things and moving them all to a place with a backyard. And boy do I have plans. Potentially overly ambitious, I'll admit, but to me this will be the opportunity to learn, make mistakes, and learn some more.
And I couldn't be more excited!!!
So, in this month's newsletter, I invite you to check out two new recipes and join me in learning all about how to grow food – be it a small windowsill herb, a gaggle of balcony pots, or an enormous vegetable patch in an community garden, neighbourhood allotment or private yard.
Sending big fat virtual hugs (because those are thankfully still okay these days),
👋simone
p.s. If you enjoyed the newsletter, I'd love to to hear about it! As always, feel free to reach out over on Instagram :)
it's mid-winter: what to cook? 🌨️
The latest recipes on the site are bound to brighten up any cold, grey day.
a colourful cauliflower citrus salad
This is the sort of salad that momentarily lets you forget that it's dark, cold and wet outside. So close your eyes and taste the sunshine.
beans on toast, two ways
Breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner – whatever the meal, these beans on toast are always a winner.
growing food at home (who I'm learning from) 🎧📚📺
Went for a leisurely stroll to Bygdøy, Oslo a few months back only to discover that the King's royal vegetable gardens are located there! Lucky for us, the farm café was open and it was still warm enough to sit out in the greenhouse. A must-stop visit if you're ever in the area.
Let me first say that my knowledge about growing vegetables (and herbs and fruit) is on the lower end of the mastery spectrum. I know the basics, especially in theory, but my practical experience is not exactly what I'd like it to be.
That being said, I've been growing at least one edible thing on a balcony, windowsill or backyard for the past eight years, so I do feel confident in embarking on something a little bit more enterprising this year.
Okay, okay... a lot more enterprising. Basically, I want to grow everything. Beans, potatoes, garlic, herbs, lettuces, squashes, brassicas, melons, berries – even quinoa and lentils. The new yard is big enough and I'm motivated enough so I see no reason not to try.
•••
Part of the challenge (and excitement) comes from growing in southern Norway. Because for me, it's new. The weather is a whole lot milder than it is back in south-western Quebec, which is nice for extending the season for frost-tolerant greens in the fall, but also makes it more difficult to grow warmth-demanding plants like tomatoes and cucumbers in the summer.
In any case, I'm quite looking forward to sharing the process over the coming months on Instagram. And in the meantime, I am more than happy to share right here and now some of the resources that have helped me in planning this new project. I hope they can be of some help to you too!
THINGS TO LISTEN TO 🎧
There's nothing like a good podcast for learning new things while on the go. Walking, cooking, gardening, cleaning – all these activities lend themselves well to the humble podcast.
BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Podcast
Gardeners' World is a fantastic resource, even if your local climate is not quite British. Check out their website for every article you could ever need.
Epic Gardening: Daily Tips & Advice
The goal of this podcast is to provide a wide range of information in 10 minutes or less, every day. All I can say is mission accomplished! You can also check out the corresponding (and very popular) YouTube channel here.
Guest experts discuss all sorts of topics about vegetable, fruit, and cut flower gardening. Encyclopedic, indeed.
Hosts Sarah and Chris make every episode not only relevant to the season, but also a quite cosy listening experience.
Gardening with the RHS (the Royal Horticultural Society)
This podcast combines the latest horticultural advice, scientific research and tried-and-tested techniques to help bring out the best in your garden.
I've only listened to one or two episodes from each podcast so far, but they've all left me excited to hear more! One other recommendation would be to look for local gardening radio shows. These are likely best for getting advice most relevant to your climate, plus you can often call in with your own questions.
THINGS TO READ 📚
If you've got time for TV in the evening, you've got time for a good book and a cup of tea (at least that's what I keep telling myself).
Rodale’s Basic Organic Gardening — A Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Healthy Garden by Deborah L. Martin
From explaining the value of soil to the importance of climate, this book gives you all the basics for starting something delicious at home. A bit technical, but great for understanding the why as well as the how of organic gardening.
Fork to Fork by Monty and Sarah Don
A journal of a year spent in Sarah and Monty’s garden gives you a snapshot of what growing your own food can truly be like — from mitigating the ravages of disease to savouring the seasons. An absolute delight from start to finish.
THINGS TO WATCH 📺
It is, of course, also often quite helpful to get a visual on what you're learning about.
True Food TV with Nicole Jolly
Ever wonder how your favourite foods grow? I do. A lot! Lucky for us, the charming and enthusiastic Nicole Jolly does the legwork of investigating and shares all of her delicious findings with us on YouTube.
This is who I'm getting the most value from this winter. Charles' videos are all incredibly useful for learning not only what to do, but why – all with an emphasis on using the no dig (also called no till) philosophy. He also has a great website and Instagram page, as well as neat courses and books.
•••
Of course, if you're got access to a community garden near you and if you have friends and family with green thumbs, I highly encourage you to make the most of those resources too! Maybe you can even bake them a little something as a thank you.
Anyway, that's it from me for now. I've got some seed shopping to do!
Happy food growing :)
Bon jardinage! ♥
This was a Substack edit of an archived newsletter. To read the newsletter in its original format, click here.