Recipe: Basil Pasta Salad

Hello Bethel Gardeners!

This is one of my favorite recipes of all time. Pasta Salad is perfect for the use of early summer garden produce, because you can use the first bits and pieces of the tomatoes and peppers that come in. And Basil! One of the most amazing tasting herbs. I hope you enjoy!

Garden Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Fresh Basil (Pack a measuring cup full)

1 to 1 1/2 Cups Bell Peppers, Finely Chopped (Different colors are fun)

About 2 Medium Tomatoes, Finely Chopped (Or cherry tomatoes, an amount to your liking)

  

16 Ounces Pasta

2/3 Cup Oil

3 TB Red Wine Vinegar

3 Cloves Garlic

1 TB Oregano (Fresh or Dried) 

1/4 Tsp Black Pepper

 Salt (To taste)

8 oz. Feta Cheese (or More to taste)

Start by cooking the pasta. After draining, rinse well with cold water to bring the temperature down.

While the pasta is cooking, chop the tomatoes and peppers. It's good if the pieces are small, so you get a variety of flavors in each bite.

In a blender or food processor, combine basil, oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, and oregano.

Mix everything together with the pasta, including the feta, salt, and pepper to your liking.

Enjoy this delicious salad bursting with summer flavor!

Growing Together- Winter Farmer’s Market?

        Every fall there comes a time when the local Farmer’s Markets close down….leaving a huge gap in our food sources and entertainment.  Sally and I miss the stimulation of walking the market and buying fresh food and a bite of food.  While reading the book, Good Food: Grounded Practical Theology by Jennifer Ayres, I came across her reference to a Winter Farmer’s Market sponsored by Faith in Place, and hosted by local churches.
    Twice monthly, through the long Chicago winter, farmers and craftspeople come from as far away as 400 miles to the Winter Farmer’s Market.  What is sold?  Winter vegetables, of course, but also canned goods, pastries, eggs, fiber arts, spices, meats, and oils…mushrooms, even!
     It struck me that a Winter Farmer’s Market could be a real opportunity for service, for community-building, as well as for food and for profit here in the Brush Prairie/Battle Ground area.  What do you think?  Is this a project worthy of our efforts and energy?  If so, let’s start thinking and dreaming now to see what we might be able to put together in late November when the Markets are closed and the Bazaars are over!
     One step I will take when I return from China is to plan and plant a fall and winter garden.  The possibilities and varieties of food plants are nearly endless in our temperate climate (and they predict a mild winter to come!).  When I get home I will start dreaming in earnest about this intriguing idea.
     In the meantime, happy and productive gardening! – Joe

What are these Holes in my Potato Leaves?

Looks like Bethel Community Garden has Flea Beetles. This is not a very big problem. Flea Beetles are fairly common in this area, and hatch during damp, cool spring conditions. We imagine this will lessen as the season progresses. They can also effect Tomatoes, Lettuces, and Cole Crops. Leaf feedings damage plant appearance. It takes 20% to 30% foliage damage to effect yield.

Indications of flea beetle damage to plants:
-Leaves look like they've been peppered with fine shot. There may be hundreds of tiny holes in a single leaf.
-When plants are disturbed, tiny black insects jump.
-Heavily damaged plants may be wilted or stunted.
-Potatoes have surface scars or deeper holes bored into them, causing discoloration.

Please continue to keep your beds and paths weeded. Flea Beetles can jump 3 feet from weeds to our garden plants, and weeds are potential food sources and hibernation sites.

If you recognize this problem on your plants, control is recommended.
Just out of courtesy to your fellow gardeners. Although these bugs aren’t a big deal, we want to keep them from spreading to neighboring beds.

For more information on prevention and control, read WSU Master Gardeners “Beating Flea Beetles”.
http://clark.wsu.edu/volunteer/mg/gm_tips/fleabeetles.html

Feel free to contact Garden Mentors with your questions.