As a Matter of Fact: female farmers, pink pumpkins and more

Female Farmers: Nearly 1 million women work America’s land, generating $12.9 billion in annual agricultural sales.  30% of America’s farmers are female.

Talk-talk: They’re growing pink pumpkins to support breast cancer research. While I’m not endorsing any particular charity here, if you’re interested in this hybrid, they list some of the seed sellers here: http://pinkpumpkinpatch.org/buy-pink-pumpkin-seeds/.

In the spring and summer of 2017, the average household spent $400 on backyard gardens and landscaping projects.

Buzzword:  Naturescaping is growing native plants, herbs and flowers to attract birds and insect pollinators. It’s about allowing people and nature to coexist with landscaping.

New word:  Agvocate – “an individual or group that actively promotes agriculture by adding their voice to the food conversation in respectful and meaningful ways…” We see them sharing their farming practices on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media. Many are experienced farmers who go back several generations and wish to pass on their expertise.

What’s new for 2018? Peaches, pears and apples grown in translucent bags to protect against pests and air-borne plant diseases.

Quick and Easy: Turn kitchen scraps into liquid fertilizer for your home garden. Check thrift stores and yard sales for used blenders. Fill halfway with vegetable scraps, add 3 cups of water, blend 1 minute on high. Pour the liquid around roses, herbs and flowers.

The poinsettia is popular as a Christmas floral display, but it is not a snow-friendly plant. It’s actually native to sunny Mexico where it grows as a perennial shrub. It’s important to cover the plant on the way home from the store. Don’t leave the plant in the car while you run other errands. Temperatures below 45 F can chill the plant and ruin the flowers. Tuck the plant down inside a plastic bag before you leave the store. Once you’re home, place the poinsettia in a warm room with bright sunlight. Keep the soil evenly moist.

Ancient Greeks and Romans fed their horses fresh parsley as they believed it made the horses run faster.

A winter treat: Heat 2 cups of milk in a sauce pan, toss in a few fresh or dried chocolate mint leaves, simmer 3 minutes and strain out the mint leaves. Add 3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup, stir, pour into a cup and sip away.

Blessed Be, sweet ones.

~Meadow Walker

Image courtesy of https://www.morningagclips.com/women-in-agriculture/