Some thoughts on my gardening journey

-
Every cook's dream is to have a garden of herbs and fresh vegetables. When one cooks, as when one merely eats, one understands the importance of freshness and nutrients. It is when one cooks that one understands food preservation as opposed to serving not fresh, non nutritious food. Now that I have a spare lot behind my house and using the gift money I received for my 2018 which was originally planned to be invested in ornamental garden, I had a greenhouse constructed in 2020. From my garden, I learned a lot. Here are what I gather so far.

1) Zucchini seeds sprouted and flowered but did not result into fruition. 

2) Cucumbers are easy to grow and they gave me lots. I had the prolific shotgun and the long pretty but not-so-abundant japanese cucumber. at present, I am nursing Kyuri to maturity which I think I can enjoy by March.

3) Tomatoes are so stressful to take care as they are nutrient hungry. I gather eggshells and mix them with coconut vinegar to turn it into Calcium Phosphate. i also make tea compost out of bananas and have to foliar spray Calcium Borate. I have heirloom tomatoes planted so I deserve the stresses. For rewarding tomatoes, I think a native variety should be planted. 

4) Grow the herbs you love to use. Vietnamese coriander can be an easy alternative to kinchay and coriander and best for soups and stirfried bihon. Chives of all kinds are wonderful to grow. Upland Kangkong is so rewarding, and we were on our 4th harvest already. Bokchoy is a fave. It has this particular pleasant smell I look forward to.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do you still remember how Sarali or Sirali taste?

-
Image
This "Sarali" is a childhood fruit for everyone who grew up in the Visayan area of the Philippines. Also known as  Flacourtia jangomas or Indian Plum or coffee plum, Sarali is best enjoyed by pressing one fruit between one's palm, move it in circular motion until tender, and pop the soft flesh quickly in one's mouth save the seeds. Just like apple, this fruit oxidizes quickly and thus, gets dark brown easily. It can give one's teeth a nasty brown shade. Sour with a hint of sweet, this is a must-try fruit. I believe, the fruit has an economic value just like sarguellas and lanzones. *** *** *** ***  Related readings:  Possible Treatment of Diabetes http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2959214/ Anti bacterial property:  http://www.ijplsjournal.com/issues%20PDF%20files/july2011/1.pdf
Read more

Linabog nga Bisaya nga Manok

-
Image
When I searched for Linabog in th web, I can see entries on Linabog but using a different souring agent and usually the fish called "pagi" is used. Also, they attribute Linabog to the Cebuanos and there is one video which explained that the word means "throw away" because the parts used in the dish are parts which are usually to be thrown away, like the bony "pagi." Meanwhile, there is also a "kinunot" way of cooking which means "hinimay" or flaked for the Luzon. The name was also coined for leftover parts of fish or chicken. In Hiligaynon, the word "labog" means forcefully thrown away.  This surprised me because when I was small, I heard from my father and his friends about this linabog and they used the leaves of labog plant. So I grew up having some idea of what linabog cooking means and definitely, the Cebuanos' definition of Linabog dish is far from my Ilonggo definition. And yes, Ilonggos ...
Read more

TIKUM KADLUM (The Enchanted Dog, The First of the Ten Epics of Panay Bukidnon)

-
Image
At the house. One day, Bulawanon engaged the help of Tikum Kadlum, a hunting dog with the gift of sensing the spirits, in cooking rice for his husband Paiburong and his brother Dumaraog who will be going hunting. When the rice was cooked, the brothers ate fast. Then, while Bulawanon packed the betel nut for her husband, Paiburong and Dumaraog dressed themselves, with Dumaraog suggesting they match their sashes and belts, since he is his brother's loyal protector. To complete their hunting preparations, the two brought out their long-bladed sharp knives, shields, spears, and lances from their gold chest and wall hanger. When everything is set, Paiburong bade goodbye to his wife, Bulawanon, who reminded her husband to be careful as he might meet in the forest one named Makabagting, who is accompanied by a man-eating woman called Muwa. Makabagting is a nobleman and a warrior who is widely known as having tasted human flesh. Paiburong went out of his house, and he heard a sound. It...
Read more