Tips for Hardy Gardeners

Listening to this morning's episode of The Simple Plate, Tom Kasper started thinking about how growing our own food can have an impact on our economic lives, social issues, environmental issues ... and our psychological as well as physical health.

The days are getting longer, the sun is getting warmer, but we're still months away from being able to get out into the garden.

Although the winter snow has been building a good water-base in the soil for the upcoming spring, Tom Kasper advises us that it has also provided coverage for voles and other ground critters to feast on your recently-planted trees and shrubs.  You might want to do a little snow excavation and get some wrap around the bases of those plants.

The annual "gifts for gardeners" episode of Tips for Hardy Gardeners has been a regular feature of the series almost since the beginning.

And no matter how the world changes in its annual lap around the sun, two things remain the same: the gift of time and an electric wheelbarrow.

This morning, a conversation about gratitude, the abundance of the earth and the life-changing surprises the garden has in store for you.

Things Tom Kasper is pretty excited about: microgreens (eating and growing them throughout the winter), forcing tulip and daffodil bulbs (or encouraging them, if you prefer) and KUMD's new feature, The Simple Plate.

Gardeners, apparently, come in one of two forms: the Oscar Madisons, who leave everything standing in their gardens, even after the first frost.  They like the idea of providing food, cover, and habitat for the little wild things in their years.

Felix Ungers, on the other hand, clear everything out of the garden and leave everything spick and span, satisfied they've not given any bad insect or plant diseases a place to overwinter.

So what should your approach be? 

Tom Kasper talks about how gardens and KUMD feed your soul ... and offers a special thank you gift of his own.

For information on how you can donate fresh produce to the Damiano Center, you can find their contact information here.