Why I do it. OutStandingInTheGarden.net is my way to express the true me, in my own words, from my own point of view. The blog is named for the simple reason, (thought of as “outstanding”) that, this is where you will find me, Alison Reynolds, Out Standing In The Garden any given free time, taking in the wonder of growing your own. I live in Southern Utah and have almost my whole life. This area is desert and the growing conditions are tough. But I am here making do with what I have and learning every day. One thing I have learned is, it can’t be done here if you can’t laugh and find things funny. I love growing just about anything, raising animals and the simple life. Organic is the only way I have grown for over 10 years and after going both directions of growing it is my love and passion. I hope to inspire all of you that just want to enjoy the moment you are in, Out Standing In The Garden.
Corn Gluten Meal AKA Corn Weed Blocker
Derived from corn, it contains 10 percent nitrogen fertilizer. Apply it only to actively growing plants, because it inhibits the growth of seeds. Allow 4-6 months after using it before planting seeds. Use it on lawns in early spring to green up the perennial grasses and prevent annual weeds like crabgrass! We love it in our corn patch after seeds have germinated! Works great!Value of Wood Ashes
Wood Ashes are a high source of potash, but they are also alkaline. If your soil is high on the pH scale, skip the ashes! If your soil is acidic ashes are a great amendment to add!Saving Tomatoes from Freeze
If you have some space in your garage this works great! When expecting a frost and you have lots of tomatoes that are not quit ripe, you can pull up the entire tomato bush, hang upside down in the garage and let them ripen on the vine. By doing it this way the tomatoes will still have that great vine ripened flavor. If space is limited, pick the tomatoes, wrap them separately in newspaper and place in a shallow box in the garage or a cool, but not freezing place. Watch them closely for ripening. If tomatoes are very immature they will only rot, so keep only larger sized tomatoes or the ones with a slight coloring.Zucchini Pickles
When you have an over abundance of zucchini, make pickles. You will be amazed at how good they taste during the cold winter months or anytime! They are great for gifts too! Cut zucchini into long spears, pack them into jars, add whole garlic cloves and fresh dill and fill with a basic pickle brine. Just like the real deal!Composting Idea
You can build a compost pile on an unused growing bed so the next crop grown in that bed will pick up and utilize any nutrients leached out from the pile into the soil.Veggie Wash
It's still the season! Whether your fresh fruits and vegetables are from a home garden, a market, or roadside stand they need to be washed. Stores offer expensive sprays, washes, and soaks. Here are simple and economical homemade ones. Spray: combine 1 T lemon juice, 1 T baking soda, 2 T salt, and 1 cup water OR 1 cup water, 1 cup vinegar and 1 T vinegar. For the sprays, combine in a deep pitcher because the mixtures will foam up; then pour into a spray bottle. To use, shake gently, spray on fruits or veggies, let them sit for a few minutes and then rinse under cold water.Herb Facts
Dried herbs are more potent than fresh - 1 teas. dried equals 1 T. fresh. To store fresh herbs, wrap them in barely damp paper towels, place inside resealable plastic bags, and keep refrigerated. Add most herbs about 30 minutes before the end of cooking time; simmer slowly to release flavor and retain volatile oils. The chopped leaves of fresh hervs may be frozen with water into ice cubes and then stored in labeled, airtight freezer bags. Use to impart an herbal flavor in soups or stews. Use herbs in moderation. Some may be overpowering if to much is used. Flavor to taste.How to get rid of that garlic smell on your hands!
Rub your hands all over any stainless steel utensil under running water and the garlic smell with magically disappear.Pea, Radish and Pea Shoot Salad
Whisk together 3 T. shallot, 2 t. white wine vinegar, and 1/2 t. kosher salt in a medium bowl and set aside for at least 5 minutes. Whisk in 2 T. sour cream and 1/4 c. good olive oil. Season with with pepper. Fill a large bowl with ice water. Bring a large saucepan of water to boil. Add 1/2 t. kosher salt per cup of water. Add 2 c. sugar snap peas and 1 c. freshly shelled garden peas and cook for 1 minute, then use a slotted spoon or strainer to transfer them into the ice water to stop the cooking and set their color. Drain the peas, pat dry, and transfer into a meduim bowl. Add 1 c. thinly slice radishes and dressing and stir gently to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Cut 2 c. pea shoots (tendrils from the top of pea plants) into bite-sized and arrange on a serving plater. Spoon the pea and radish mixtue over the shoots, scatter with cubed farmer cheese.Bouquet Garni
Bouquet garni are simply bundles of herbs and armoatics wrapped with a 5-inch long dark greed leek leaf and tied together with kitchen string. To make the bouquet, spread the leek leaf open and place herbs and aromatics in the middle. Fold the leaf tightly around the herbs, then wrap a peice of kitchen string around the leaf multiple times and tie to secure.
You are A-W-E-S-O-M-E, woman!!!!
Love ya Ali! Miss seeing you and the family! I got to come and see you for help soon! Dixie Hatanaka
I love to come to your garden and get inspired….Thank You!
Wow! Ali, what a wonderful thing you have done here! I’m overjoyed to Wow! Wonderful! …and delivered in such a rich, personal manner. Great pictures too! I have come to appreciate organic farmers-like you! Not just because you are “earthy”, but because there is such a sense of joy in what you do (& you help us novice gardeners with our problems!). I’m inspired, excited & lucky to have found your blog! It’s just about as good as your figs & your Dad’s pecans! Thanks!!
Hey Ali, lots of great information. I was wondering since you live in Utah have you played with rock dust? I am learning about it myself. One of the big names is Azomite which comes from Utah. That is the reason I ask. Looking forward to getting more great info from your site.
I LOVE rock dusts! I am working on my next blog today and it will be on rock dusts. Azomite is one of my favorites….
I need help with my tomatoe plants. They are growing great, but they are getting to tall. They are already about five feet high. Do I let them keep going or stop them? If I let them keep going, how do I stick them? They are higher then the sticks? Or how do I stop their growth? Thanks for your help
You can always trim back tomatoes, but never more than a third to keep them in check. Yes you do lose some tomatoes you may have gotten if you let them go, but sometimes you just don’t have a choice! They will send out new growth before fall and could even be healthier. If mine get to tall I drive a stake, either t-post, bamboo or just a 5 foot stake and hold the tomato to the stake, then wrap jute around everything. This seems to hold well. I do have to wrap the jute around a few more times during the season, but this keeps them tidy.