Wenesday / Garden Leeks; Plant Different Varieties for Year-Round Harvest

Leeks, allium ampeloprasum, looks like an over grown scallion and tastes like a very mild onion. Leeks are a vegetable related to onions, garlic, chives and scallions. Leeks turn plain potato soup into the French leek and potato soup vichyssoise. Leeks may be started from seeds or later in the growing season from seedlings. Sow 4 seeds per inch, 1/4 inch deep in very fertile soil. When planting seedlings plant 6 inches apart in rows that are 24 inches apart. To produce the long white stems plant seedlings in trenches or furrows. As they grow fill in around the stalks with soil, mounding the soil as the leek matures. Leeks are heavy feeders so water with a 50% solution of 20-20-20 or 10-10-10 fertilizer when planting, and then side dress with 10-10-10 fertilizer again half way through the season. Water weekly but avoid watering too much as too much water will promote fungal disease. Dig mature leeks as needed. When cold temperatures approach cover the leeks with a thick layer of mulch. Many varieties of leeks are frost resistant and withstand temperatures down to the 20's.

Bakers Seeds in Mansfield, MO www.rareseeds.com , offers a variety of leek from Western Europe called ' Autumn Giant ' that does well over mild winters and survives until December in colder climates. Bakers also offers heirloom varieties of leeks dating back to the 1800's including ; 'Carentan' , a large 2 inch thick fast growing variety, 'Giant Musselbury' , from Scotland, and 'Blue of Solaise' , a very cold hardy French variety rarely seen in this country. Johnny's Select Seeds www.johnnyseeds.com , offers a variety of finger bunching leeks. The variety 'Lincoln', are sown and harvested like scallions. Swo two or three successive plantings in season to have leeks all through the summer. We love leeks 'Around Our Southern Home and Garden'.

How to Get Rid of Skunks Around The Home

As a young child we had a skunk, it had it's stink glands removed, so it couldn't spray and we use to take it for walks on a leash. I was asked to bring the skunk to school for show and tell and everything was fine until I walked into the classroom with little 'Stinky'. All my classmates began screaming and many of the kids jumped up on their desk scaring the poor little skunk beyond anything he had ever seen. My teacher trying to calm down the class yelled at me to pick 'it' up!!! Without his stink gland, that he would normally use for defense, Stinky bit me on the finger and didn't let go. His two sharp pointed teeth hung on to my small index finger as I was escorted down the long hall to the principals office, tears running down my cheeks the entire way. Stinky finally let use in the quiet of the principals office where I waited for my Grandfather to come and take me home. As a Great-grandmother I to this day carry my scar a gift from Stinky. I don't carry any malice towards skunk. They are fun to watch on cartoons and in the movies, but not so cute in real life. Recently I received a call from a friend asking how to get rid of a skunk that had moved under his house. Unlike raccoons, possums and other wild critters, skunks present a stinky problem. Because skunks are carriers of rabies special precautions need to be taken. If you see a skunk acting suspicious, running around during the day ( skunks are nocturnal)or foaming at the mouth call the local animal control agency and let them deal with the problem. Skunks spray when frightened. They lift their bushy tail and anything within a 6 - 16 foot radius is in trouble. Eye contact with the spray will cause eye irritation even temporary blindness. But the smell, oh my gosh, the smell, can be picked up by humans a mile down wind. How to get rid of the smell is another blog. The best solution to getting rid of skunks is to avoid having them take up residence in the first place. This means securing any openings under the house or shed. Skunks can gain entrance in an area opening as small as 4 inches. They also like to burrow so be on the lookout for holes around any buildings. Wood piles can be a problem, so if you burn wood in a fireplace or wood stove , stack it off the grounds. Skunks like to eat grubs. No grubs, no food no skunks. Be sure garbage can lids are secure and no pet food is left outside. My friend's skunk had already moved in so now what? One solution is a spray proof skunk trap. This trap is large enough to allow the skunk entrance, but not enough room to allow the frightened animal to raise its tail to spray. Check out the trap at www.itanimalcontrol.com on how to bail and use the trap. Another option is to use light. Skunks are nocturnal and come out at night. Set up flood lights during the day or after the skunk leaves for the night. Leave the light on night and day for a week. Don't use a motion detector as the skunk may become frightened and spray. Pepper spray also works as a skunk deterrent. Spray the area leading up to the entrance and under the house or building while the skunk is away. Re-apply every few days until the skunk is gone and then re read this article on how to prevent skunks from taking up residence. This is how we deal with skunks ' Around Our Southern Home and Garden'.

Sweet Corn in Season

It's sweet corn time all across the country. No summer time picnic, BBQ or family supper would be complete with fresh steamed corn on the cob dripping with butter on the table. Back when there were two varieties of sweet corn to choose from ; yellow or white. Each had their fans. Today the most popular sweet corn in the country is a hybrid of white and yellow named peaches and cream. I can't get enough sweet corn in season and always buy extra to freeze for use during the winter months. Besides steaming or roasting ears of corn, I also like to fry my corn , sometimes on the cob , sometimes cut off the cob.

To fry corn add equal amounts of butter and olive oil in a frying pan and bring to medium high heat.. Add corn on or off the cob to the hot oil. Sprinkle with coarse salt and fresh ground black pepper. Stir the loose corn or turn the cob corn allowing the sugars in the corn to caramelize. Be careful not to burn. When the desired color remove from heat and serve. Several years ago I came across Mexican Street Style Corn. OMG, it is so messy yet so good to eat ...and fun!!

To make Mexican Street Style Corn begin by roasting the corn on the grill . ( I have cooked it on the stove-top ). When done, brush with butter, then slather on mayonnaise, yes I said Mayonnaise, sprinkle with salt, black pepper, parmesan cheese , chili pepper or red pepper and fresh cilantro. Yum Yum !! or as they say in Mexico Yum Yum !!! To freeze corn remove corn from cob with a sharp knife. Place corn in a pot of boiling water for one - three minutes to blanch. Remove corn from boiling water and pour immediately into a large bowl filled with ice and water. Cool quickly. Drain thoroughly and pack into freezer bags. I also like to dry a small amount of corn to use in a dried corn casserole to serve at Thanksgiving. While this isn't my favorite corn casserole, to me it's tradition dating back to the Pilgrims and Native Americans and the first Thanksgiving. To dry corn, cut corn off the cob. Place in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in the oven at 200 or 225 degrees turning every 20 minutes until dried out. Depending upon the moisture in the corn this could take anywhere from 1 hour to two hours. Allow to cool completely and then store in a glass jar with a tight lid. I hope you enjoy this sweet corn season as much as we do 'Around Our Country Home and Garden'.

Kid Stuff ; Free Fun for Families in Knoxville, TN

Orange rules in Knoxville, home of the University of Tennessee, the Tennessee Vols Basketball and Football teams. Famous Knoxvillians include Kenny Chesney, Johnny Knoxville, Peyton Manning, Quentin Tarantino, Dave Thomas ( founder of Wendy's) ,Mountain Dew and from 'just down the road a piece ' Dolly Parton. Located 2 hours from Nashville and 30 minutes from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park don't be surprised if a movie or music video is being filmed around the city during your visit. Or you might find yourself standing in line next to Sara Evans waiting for ice cream or David Keith shopping at Market Square Farmer's Market. While Knoxville has expensive restaurants and a great nightlife, there is plenty to do around town that won't cost you a dime. Here are some of my favorites.

WDVX Radio host a free concert daily at noon , Monday - Saturday at their station located inside the Knoxville Visitor's Center on the corner of Gay Street and Summit Hill Drive. The 2nd Saturday of each moth WDVX host families, kids and kids at heart with their live Kids Stuff Show at 10 a.m. Check out the weekly schedule or listen to some real great music at www.wdvx.com Just around the corner from the station is Market Square and home to Market Square Farmer's Market one of the finest farmer's markets in the country featuring over 150 vendors. Every Wednesday and Saturday the square and side streets close to the square fill with farmers, craftsmen, artistic, bakers, butchers , musicians and food trucks turning Market Square into a free fun festival. The market is open Wednesdays 11-2 and Saturdays 9 - 2 from May until November. Thursday nights in April through June, there are free Jazz concerts on the square July through August the Tennessee Stage Company host Shakespeare on the Square starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Bring a chair or a blanket. Where else can you see Shakespeare for free? Knox County Public Library host free movies on Market Square, from September through October. Bring a blanket, some popcorn and a drink and enjoy a family movie outdoors. Check out their weekly schedule at www.knoxcounty.org/library . Also check out their weekly events schedule that offers activities

for kids ranging from magic shows to crafts. Ijams Nature Center is a jewel for families in Knoxville and surrounding counties. Located at 2915 Island Home Road, in South Knoxville , the Center offers 12 miles of trails, an environmental learning center , a 150 acre wildlife sanctuary with paved walkways and a waterfront boardwalk. Saturdays Ijams features Creature Features throughout the day in the summer, giving kids a look up close with some of the animals and birds that inhabit the area. The third Saturday of each month during the summer , they hold a family friendly drum circle. Visit their web page at www.ijams.org or like them on Facebook. No matter what time of the year there is always something happening in Knoxville, Tennessee and Around Our Southern Home and Garden.

Crafts: How to Make a Gourd Purse

Gourd purse are fun, fashionable and most important one of a kind. The first gourd purses that caught my attention were gourd purses from Peru. They all were crafted with the traditional brown and black patters that are traditionally seen in gourd bowls, ornaments, cups and rattles from Peru.

The Peruvians have a very distinctive style when it comes to decorating their gourds. The design is burned into the gourd and then painted with leather stain. The designs often include birds, owls, frogs, bees and flowers. I like to make my one of a kind gourd purses in bright colors with designs of flowers either etched with a dremil or painted with acrylic. I love making gourd purses and the only drawback with carrying a gourd purse is that people are constantly stopping me on the street and in the market and asking what is that and where did you get it? To make a gourd purse you will need; One hard shell canteen gourd. Canteen gourds can be found locally at the farmer's market or go online to www.americangourdsociety.org for a list of gourd growers in your state. Leather stain and leather straps or acrylic paint and some kind of purse strap. A finish of some sort to coat the purse after painting. Choose a clear coat spray or varnish or a brush on finish. Grommets and a grommet tool to attach the grommets to the gourd may be found at the hardware store. I use a Velcro closer on my purses but I have also seen cord used effectively. Begin by marking the gourd into thirds with a pencil. Cut the gourd using a dremil tool or a jig saw all the way around the top third mark. You will have two pieces, one 1/3 piece and one 2/3 piece. The smaller 1/3 piece will be the top of the purse. Clean out the gourd and remove all the seeds and "guts". Paint the outside using the leather stain or acrylic paint in whatever design you choose. When dry coat with sealer or varnish. Next attach a small piece of leather to the back of the two gourds to use as a hinge with the grommets. Attach the leather strap to each side with the grommets as a shoulder strap. Measure to your specifications to fit comfortably. Glue the Velcro closure on the front or drill holes if using a cord as a closure and tie cord into place. If using Velcro allow to dry overnight. The gourd purse is ready to carry or give as a one of a kind gift. Today I will be crafting gourd purses for Market Square Around Our Southern Home and Garden.

Choosing the Perfect Cantaloupe

Nothing says summer more than melon. I believe there are two camps when it comes to melons. The watermelon lovers and those that prefer cantaloupe. Personally I prefer watermelon and I can't get enough of cold red ripe juicy watermelons in the summer. That doesn't mean that I don't enjoy a nice sweet cantaloupe from time to time, especially if it is halved and the center filled with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Unlike peaches that can be gently squeezed to feel for ripeness or blackberries or blueberries that can be sampled for sweetness, melons must be purchased and taken home before tasting. Nothing is worst then purchasing a melon , cutting into it and being disappointed with under ripe or over ripe fruit. The best method for picking a cantaloupe is by using your senses. Pick up the cantaloupe. It should be heavy for the size. It should be firm with no soft spots, yet not rock hard. Look at the skin. The skin should be cream to light beige in color. If growing cantaloupes in the garden watch the melons turn from green to creamy beige or pale yellow. Check for bruising. The stem should be brown and the bottom flat from the weight of the melon. Some people thump the cantaloupe and listen for a dull hollow sound. I believe this works well for watermelon not so much for cantaloupe. Others shake the melon and listen for loose seeds, again I don't recommend this way of testing. Instead use your nose. The sense of smell is the best tool one has when choosing a ripe cantaloupe. e. Close your eyes and lift the melon to your nose and take a whiff. It should smell sweet and fresh " cantloupey' like the best cantaloupe you have ever had. Trust your instincts. Ignore shoppers that pick up any melon and put it in their basket. You are going for melon perfection. Just like the cantaloupe vendor at your local farmer's market with a little practice and a good nose , you too will be able to select the best tasting cantaloupe. And last but not least, if you do bring home a cantaloupe that isn't quite ripe, cantaloupes unlike watermelon will continue to ripen after being picked so wait a day or two before eating. Still waiting for the cantaloupes to ripen Around Our Southern Home and Garden.

DIY Herb Vinegars

Herbal vinegars are fun and easy to make. By making your own you can save money while controlling the variety and intensity of flavors. I usually have a bottle of tarragon vinegar sitting on the shelf, but my favorite is an Italian blend or Lemon vinegar made with lemon verbena and lemon thyme. Today most vinegars are used for culinary purposes but in earlier days herbal vinegars were used medicinally. The legend of the Four Thieves Vinegar comes from Europe during the Black Plague ( 1347-1350). By placing handkerchiefs dipped in this vinegar across their nose and mouth , thieves freely entered the homes of plague victims, robbing them without catching the deadly plague. Four Thieves Vinegar was made with ; mint,rosemary,sage,garlic,tarragon,cloves,cinnamon,pepper,allspice,mustard,rue,salt and red wine vinegar. Except for the rue which should not be taken internally this vinegar would make an interesting marinade. An herbal vinegar used in Colonial times to ease the discomfort of mosquito bites called for one ounce each of dill seed, lavender flowers, spearmint, rosemary, rue, sage and wormwood. Add herbs to one gallon of apple cider vinegar and allow to stand for five days. Strain and bottle. This remedy was also used in place of smelling salts. Herbal vinegars moved from the medicine cabinet into the kitchen around the late 1700's or early 1800's. In the 1823 revision of "Cook's Oracle", we are told 'The flavors of burnet leaves resemble cucumber so exactly that when infused in vinegar, the nicest palate would pronounce it to be cucumber'. To make your own herb vinegar, fill a jar with the desired herb and cover with a good quality vinegar. Red or white wine vinegar works well, but I have also used cider vinegar for stronger flavored herbs and rice wine vinegar for delicately flavored herbs. Place the jar in a sunny window for 2 - 3 weeks. Check the flavor after the first week, and then every few days to keep the vinegar from becoming to strong.

If the flavor is too strong add more vinegar. Remove the herbs and strain. Pour into a decorative bottle and add a spring of herb if desired for decoration. As a rule use one cup of fresh herbs or 1/2 cup of dried herbs for each quart of vinegar. Use glass jars or bottles with non metal rings for making and storing the vinegar. The combination of herbs are limited only by ones imagination. Purple or opal basil produces a pretty burgundy colored vinegar. Add oregano, thyme and garlic cloves for an Opal Italian Vinegar. Orange mint has a citrus flavor and a pinkish-green color if made with mint in bloom. Dill vinegar can be made with the dill weed, the seed heads or both for use on cucumber dishes , cabbage and fish. Now is the time when the herb garden is at it's peak to make herb vinegar for your pantry and to put aside for Christmas gifts. Today this is what we are doing Around Our Southern Home

Pizza Peach Pie

It is peach time across the South. We are blessed with ripe, juicy peaches from the Carolina's and Georgia available at roadside stands and in the supermarket. Last year we took a road trip across the mountain to Asheville to one of the cities many farmer's markets where we found the most marvelous peaches at the peak of the season on almost every stand. After shopping the produce stands we had lunch at the Farmer's Market Restaurant where they serve the fruits and vegetables prepared from the produce sold at the market's stands. Yellow squash casserole, fried green tomatoes and okra, cucumbers and onions, fried corn on the cob and my first ever tomato pie. When we got home I made short work of my bushel of peaches; turning some into peach jam, sliced and frozen peaches for the winter months, and slicing up a huge bowl for peach shortcake and my Pizza Peach Pie. This really isn't a pie but a tart made with a shortbread crust baked on a pizza pan, hence the name. The name came with the recipe many years ago so I keep the name. I often add blueberries which are also in season this time of year. The colors of the yellow peaches and the dark blue of the berries paint a pretty picture. The crust may be made in advance and allowed to cool before adding the fruit and glaze. Pizza Peach Pie does not sit well as the crust gets soggy with time so plan on making and eating the whole thing in one sitting. An option would be to make small individual size crust and adding the fruit and glaze as needed. Fresh or canned peaches may be used but I look forward to peach season each year as a reminder for me to make this pie. This is an old favorite Around Our Southern Home. Pizza Peach Pie Easy * Serves 6 Crust; 1/2 Cup Butter, 1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar, 1 Cup Flour. Cream butter with powdered sugar. Blend in flour with fingers. Pat evenly onto the bottom and sides of a pizza pan. Bake 350 degrees F. for 15 to 20 minutes. Be careful not to burn. The crust should be light brown around the edges. Cool before adding fruit. Topping; 2 cups sliced peaches, fresh, frozen or canned, well drained, 1/2 Cup peach jelly, slightly warmed. Arrange peaches on top of crust in a pleasing pattern. Spread warm jelly on top to form a glaze coming all the peaches. Serve within an hour. Nice with whipped cream or ice cream. Enjoy !!!

Welcome to Our Home and Garden

Today I start a new blog. Mike and I have been writing DIY, food, garden and craft articles for many years and with Mike's prompting we have decided to share what we have learned over the years, our new discoveries and even our failures . That said we have created this blog. Monday we will cover food , Tuesday will be DIY, Wednesday the Garden, Thursday Crafts, Friday Kids Stuff, Saturday Odds and Ends and Sunday Prayer and the Bible. Welcome to Our Southern Home and Garden!!