Nov 5, 2013

Growing Winter Greens

Another sustainable food source experiment. I've wondered how to keep greens available during the winter months if, for some reason, we were unable to purchase them. We live where -40 is a temperature we see a few times in the winter. Somewhere I read (could have been at Herrick Kimball's site http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com/) or I may have picked up some book I have, anyways, way back early homesteaders would dig up turnips, put them in pots and bring them in the house for the winter. The greens would grow and they would harvest them, then they would grow again. I decided to try it with beets.
I only have one, but it's growing quickly and I've been nibbling on it. I suppose if I were serious about it, I would have five or six in the house. Another source of fresh greens are sprouts. Use whole wheat, alfalfa, radish, onion, lentils, etc. Place in a quart jar, soak in the jar for 5-10 hours or so. Rinse, put cheesecloth, held in place by a canning rim, on the top of the jar. Place at a downward angle for drainage. Rinse sprouts 2-4 times a day. Once sprouted, they are full of vitamins. This is a good way to use up extra seed you may have harvested. God Bless.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have some beets in the house right now that are sprouting! I cooked some fresh, which we like, but I hadn't gotten around to canning this bunch. I think that I'll try to pot them, too. What a great idea!

odiie said...

Mrs. T-
I just started a half gallon of fermented beets. I'll let you know how they turn out.

odiie said...

The fermented beets were a bust. Any suggestions on what to ferment next?

Unknown said...

Greens grow through the winter here in Texas, but I still like this idea ... maybe a windowsill lined with little pots of greens to nibble on.
Beets are a favorite of mine, too.
Thanks for stopping by Still Room Herbs!
Blessings,
Catherine :)

Unknown said...

I haven't done this in a while, I have trouble keeping little ones and our CATS from getting into my house plants. lol But my Grandma used to grow some things in the house over winter to. One thing she often did was tuck the bottom part of green onions around her house plants. They regrow quickly and you can just keep clipping what you need.

odiie said...

Catherine-you could do a little parsley, a bit of mint....good idea.

Kim-The onions are a great idea. Maybe I can try that one next fall.

Nov 5, 2013

Growing Winter Greens

Another sustainable food source experiment. I've wondered how to keep greens available during the winter months if, for some reason, we were unable to purchase them. We live where -40 is a temperature we see a few times in the winter. Somewhere I read (could have been at Herrick Kimball's site http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com/) or I may have picked up some book I have, anyways, way back early homesteaders would dig up turnips, put them in pots and bring them in the house for the winter. The greens would grow and they would harvest them, then they would grow again. I decided to try it with beets.
I only have one, but it's growing quickly and I've been nibbling on it. I suppose if I were serious about it, I would have five or six in the house. Another source of fresh greens are sprouts. Use whole wheat, alfalfa, radish, onion, lentils, etc. Place in a quart jar, soak in the jar for 5-10 hours or so. Rinse, put cheesecloth, held in place by a canning rim, on the top of the jar. Place at a downward angle for drainage. Rinse sprouts 2-4 times a day. Once sprouted, they are full of vitamins. This is a good way to use up extra seed you may have harvested. God Bless.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have some beets in the house right now that are sprouting! I cooked some fresh, which we like, but I hadn't gotten around to canning this bunch. I think that I'll try to pot them, too. What a great idea!

odiie said...

Mrs. T-
I just started a half gallon of fermented beets. I'll let you know how they turn out.

odiie said...

The fermented beets were a bust. Any suggestions on what to ferment next?

Unknown said...

Greens grow through the winter here in Texas, but I still like this idea ... maybe a windowsill lined with little pots of greens to nibble on.
Beets are a favorite of mine, too.
Thanks for stopping by Still Room Herbs!
Blessings,
Catherine :)

Unknown said...

I haven't done this in a while, I have trouble keeping little ones and our CATS from getting into my house plants. lol But my Grandma used to grow some things in the house over winter to. One thing she often did was tuck the bottom part of green onions around her house plants. They regrow quickly and you can just keep clipping what you need.

odiie said...

Catherine-you could do a little parsley, a bit of mint....good idea.

Kim-The onions are a great idea. Maybe I can try that one next fall.