© By Deborah S. Tukua
www.hollycreekbooks.com

Berry in the Straw, Berry in the Hay. Isn’t that how the song goes? No! Well it should, I thought, after learning a little bit about the strawberry and how it’s been grown through the ages.

Strawberries are in season now. So, pick up a pint, enjoy these juicy sweet rubies and learn a few intriguing facts about strawberries.

–Strawberries are grown in every state in the U.S.
–Strawberries are also grown all over Europe, in every province of Canada, in Iran and Australia.
–Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in spring.
–Strawberries have about 200 seeds and are the only fruit with its seeds on the outside.
–Strawberries are members of the rose family. Its botanical name is Frugaria, which means, ‘fragrance’. The first syllable of its common name comes from the fact that ‘straw’ was commonly used as mulch around this plant.
–Ancient records reveal that the strawberry was grown in Rome dating back to 200 B.C.
–94% of households in the U.S. eat strawberries.
–Americans consume an average of 3.4 pounds of fresh strawberries each year plus nearly another 2 pounds of frozen strawberries.
–Cincinnati, Ohio growers were the first to ship fresh, chilled strawberries in 1843 by placing ice on top of boxes containing the berries.
–A low-cal treat, 8 medium strawberries only add up to around 50 calories.
–Strawberries contain beneficial amounts of Vitamin C, potassium and fiber and block cancer causing substances as well as retro-viruses and herpes viruses.
–To retain the Vitamin C in fresh strawberries, do not wash or cut off the caps until ready to eat.

How wonderful it is that strawberries, so good for you, tastes so sweet too!
Don’t miss the recent strawberry growing blog and Strawberry Shortcake Waffle recipe here at the Farmfeed Barn Blogs, also by freelance writer and country author, Deborah Tukua. Don’t forget to do a little shopping. Picnic baskets, perfect for toting strawberries and all your healthy fruits and veggies are in at the FATV shop. Look them over!

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by Farmers Almanac Staff
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© By Deborah S. Tukua

www.hollycreekbooks.com

Whether you’re into edible landscaping, dressing up your lawn with unique, attractive planters or desiring lots of results in a small, confined space, a strawberry pyramid fills all three needs deliciously, beautifully and in the smallest of yards.

If there is a level, sunny spot on your property that receives eight hours of sunlight each day, you can grow an abundance of strawberries in a terraced garden, just six feet in diameter. Although we just constructed a 3-tier pyramid from a sheet of steel cut into three strips of graduated heights and lengths, then riveted each one together to form 3 separate circles, laying one inside the other, kits can be purchased from most gardening catalog companies for about $35. The kits generally include heavy aluminum bands that interlock together and a sprinkler system. All you’ll need in addition to the kit is the soil, to fill the inside of each ring, fertilizer and 50 strawberry plants.

Instead of the circular, metal-tiered garden you can also use landscape timbers to form a square pyramid. Each flat surface of the terrace should be from 6 to 8 inches in width to allow adequate room for the strawberry plants to grow. A sprinkler is positioned in the center of the top tier. To make the square pyramid more attractive, position it at an angle to give a diamond shaped appearance.

More important than the shape of the pyramid is that it is set up on level ground. Having the garden bed level will assure that each plant receives a uniform amount of water. As with all raised beds, the tendency to be more vulnerable in dry conditions and to freezing temperatures exists. Additional mulch or cover will be needed in winter and the sprinkler watering system in the unit is a must to protect the tiered beds from drying out in the summer.

For more practical helps in gardening with raised beds and containers as well as establishing interesting and unique theme gardens in your back forty feet or acres, you’ll want a copy of Deborah Tukua and Vicki West’s lovely hardbound book, Pearls of Garden Wisdom, available on sale today at the FATV shop!

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by Farmers Almanac Staff
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© By Deborah S. Tukua
www.hollycreekbooks.com

To bring the Irish green indoors, you can pick up a genuine Shamrock plant at most major garden centers this week.

Oxalis, also known as Wood Sorrel and Shamrock, has large clover shaped green leaves, much bigger than the unrelated clover you see growing in a lawn or hayfield. There are many varieties of Oxalis, but the one most commonly sold as houseplants have lovely tiny, fragrant, white flowers.

To help you keep the Shamrock green once you have it home, here are the key tips and facts about the plant.
~During the growing cycle, fertilize the plant every 2 to 3 weeks with a basic houseplant fertilizer. Keep the potted soil damp, but well drained.
~The Shamrock plant flourishes best in a 70° to 75° daytime environment. Night temperatures should be ten degrees cooler.
~ Shamrock plants like light and can be kept near a window in winter, but not during the summer.
~Shamrock plants will go into a dormancy period after about 3 months of blooming. The time of dormancy usually occurs in the summer. During the time of dormancy the plant should not be watered or fertilized. It should be moved to a cool and dark place. A basement or cellar would be the ideal location to store a dormant shamrock.
~Shamrock plants can be divided during the dormant stage and repotted.
~After 2 to 3 months of dormancy, bring the shamrock back out, repot into a larger container, if necessary and begin watering regularly again.

By following these key tips, a potted Shamrock plant should yield those charming cloverleaves and lovely petite blooms for years to come.

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by Farmers Almanac Staff
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By Deborah Tukua
www.hollycreekbooks.com

March is the month that the sap runs in Maple trees. Without a slow transition from winter to spring, we’d have no maple syrup in this country. So, if you love maple syrup like we do, well something good and very sweet does come out of a lazy spring start.

Did you know that…

…a maple tree can yield sap (used for making syrup) for 100 years?

…a maple tree must be around 45 years old before it is tapped for syrup making?

…it takes an average of 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup?

…although maple trees are found in other continents, no other continent’s maples can compare in sweetness to the sugar maple trees in North America.

…frosty nights and warm sunny days encourage the sap to flow.

…when buds appear on the trees, in late March or April, the sap turns bitter in flavor.

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by Farmers Almanac Staff
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© By Deborah S. Tukua
www.hollycreekbooks.com

There’s something special about the simplicity of a beeswax candle. Using beeswax to make candles eliminates the need for extra scent or color to be added. Beeswax has the subtle, natural fragrance of honey and ranges from light gold, to yellow to tan in color.

To make a beeswax candle, you’ll need these supplies: beeswax, candle wicking, wick clips, pot for melting, handled container for pouring, wood spoon, and a glass container to house your candle

Where to get beeswax~
Beeswax is available in craft and hobby stores and from on-line candle supply companies. To purchase a large supply of beeswax, contact a local beekeeper. Many beekeepers sell the wax. However, if you buy beeswax from a beekeeper you may need to clean it first. This is accomplished by melting the wax, then straining it to remove debris.

Glass containers~
Select the container of your choice. Some attractive glass containers include ivy bowls; apothecary jars with lids, brandy snifters or glass votives. Many craft stores carry a unique selection of glass containers.

Directions for making a candle~
1. Add broken chunks of beeswax to the top pot in a double boiler. Use an old pot to melt the wax that you can designate just for candle making. Use a wooden spoon to carefully stir the wax during the melting process. Direct heat can be used successfully to melt wax if you keep it on low heat. Do not leave melting wax unattended.
2. Cut the wick a couple of inches longer than the glass container.
3. Place one end of the wick through a round, metal wick clip. This holds the wick in place during the process. Set the clip and wick in the bottom center of the glass container. 4. Wind the excess wicking at the opening of the container around a pencil or long nail and lay across the top.
5. Pour the melted beeswax from the pot into a handled container and pour it into the glass.
6. Allow the poured candle in the glass container to dry naturally at room temperature 24 hours. Clip the excess wick and remove the pencil before lighting.

Now it’s your turn to share a country hobby of yours with us! Tell us a little bit about your craft or hobby. Post your comments below.

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by Farmers Almanac Staff
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By Deborah S. Tukua
www.hollycreekbooks.com

Late winter is the ideal time to remove dead and broken limbs and to shape certain trees, vines and bushes.

The right tool makes pruning a breeze. Loopers, hand clippers and shears help trim and shape everything in your yard from tree branches to vine. Always make clean cuts using sharp, rust-free pruning tools to avoid limb disease and bug infestation. If there is any evidence of rust on the blade or your pruning tools, wipe the tools clean with motor oil or vegetable oil before using. Oil the wooden handles of your pruning tools with linseed oil annually.

Plants to prune in late winter include:
Barberry - remove dead branches or reshape
Boxwood - clip new growth off shrub
Butterfly Bush - remove dead branches or reshape
Clematis – Prune summer-blooming varieties of this climbing vine
Currant
Flowering Dogwood – Remove only dead wood and to reshape
Fruit trees - before blooms or new growth appears
Gooseberry
Grapevines
Holly - bushes or trees
Hydrangea
Lilacs – prune shrub branches to encourage fuller flowering
Pyracanthas - prune overly long shrub stems to keep it in its established perimeters.
Roses - in the first month that no freeze will occur.

This is a general pruning guide. For more specific information on how to prune and when to prune in your area of the country, check with your local garden center or agricultural county extension agent.

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by Farmers Almanac Staff
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