December 2016 Issue #136

Hello,

What fun that we both love gardening. Thanks for joining me.

1) Gardeners' love Facebook
2) Eco gardening tips
3) Vegetable Christmas Tree

Some of us still have to work in the garden at Christmas! Oh, and just got time to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Eco gardening tips

• Gardeners' love Facebook
  Social media, such as Facebook is absolutely enjoyable, in fact mind-blowing in many ways… as long as you control it.
  
  
  

  It's free and easy to join, and then life as you know it will never be the same again. Turn off any notifications you don't want (there's a heap of rubbish), and share with friends anything interesting.

  Best of all you will get to read No dig Vegetable Garden's FACEBOOK page, where I post seriously interesting (ok, odd) bits and pieces about our beautiful world!



• An hour here or there...
  We have an idea or two on my store page. For you or to gift. If you want to encourage a new gardener to start, or perhaps you'd like to help your family get their garden going, there are a few choice books there.
  
  

  Having said that, the most magnificent idea could be the simple gift of time. From one person to another, this sense of caring and offering of your time, strengthens community ties and draws us all together to make the world (and gardens) a better place.



• Especially crunchy spuds
  Here's a tip from reader Ilsa (I learned something too…my, what a useful site we have)!
  
  

  Potato skins can be dicey to eat as they may have developed the bitter and possibly poisonous solanine in them. But if you save them and dry in sun or oven, they make excellent firelighters.

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  A week by week and zone by zone growing system

  Want to know what vegetables to plant?

  Want to know when to plant them?

  The GroVeg Garden Planner is your answer. Click here for a 30 DAY FREE TRIAL!

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  Broccoli and Cauli Tree

  There are lots of ways to make a festive arrangement using food. This one goes down well, and you can vary it infinitely.

  Ingredients

  • 2 heads of broccoli
  • 1 head of cauliflower
  • Cherry tomatoes, about 10-20 or as many as you like
  • 2 Tblns olive oil, juice of lemon, or ½ cup of mayonnaise
  • Other decorations if liked, such as grated parmesan cheese, chives, nuts etc.

  Method
  

  • On a round platter, stand 1 broccoli head upright and break off florets from other head to put around base to balance 'tree'.
  • Using toothpicks, decorate tree with cherry tomatoes.
  • Either chop cauliflower into small pieces and drizzle with your choice of dressing such as mayonnaise or oil and lemon juice, OR blend altogether.
  • Spread cauliflower mix around base of tree so it looks like snow, and this can be used as a dip.

  Preparation: 30 minutes.

  Serves: Serve as part of a Christmas gathering.

  

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  Live, love and garden.
  Megan

  

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