Growing Potatoes

This past summer, we grew potatoes in a garbage can! Above is a pic of the potatoes we grew! Growing potatoes is a really easy and fun food to grow! You do have to be careful of the soil..you don't want to reuse the soil with other foods that are in the potato family for 3 years.

Essentially, I drilled holes in the bottom of garbage cans for drainage..in the bottom and about 12 inches above. I lined the bottom with pea gravel, then put some potting mix and compost and planted the seed potatoes..about 5 per can. I put tin foil on the insides of the cans to reflect light into the bottom of the can. As the potato stems grew, I coverd them with soil and contined to cover them all summer long until it was as high as the top of the can. You can harvest them after they flower and when the stems and leaves die. You harvest them by tipping over the cans. I've only done it once and most of the potatoes were on the bottom. I'm not sure if I had to keep covering them all summer if most of the potatoes were on the bottom? I need to learn more about this for next year..

I used the following links as a guide for how to do it!

In a garbage can:

http://www.gardeningblog.net/2008/06/23/grow-potatoes-in-a-trash-can/

http://www.ehow.com/how_2222722_grow-potatoes-garbage-can.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art

http://hgfn.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/growing-potatoes-in-a-garbage-bag/

http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2007/08/21/garbage-can-potatoes-082107/

In a wooden-built structure: This way looks really neat!!

http://tipnut.com/grow-potatoes/

Pumpkin Season

Making Pumpkin From Scratch including cooking the pumpkin, etc.. : : http://pickyourown.org/pumpkinpie.php This is a great site, chock full of information!

Pumpkin Spice Latte

http://www.foodbuzz.com/blogs/us/california/san_francisco/1477560-pumpkin-spiced-latte

Pumpkin Spiced LatteServes 2
Ingredients
2 cups whole milk (or whatever)5 Tbsp canned pumpkin5 Tbsp granulated sugar1/2 tsp cinnamon1/8 tsp freshly ground nutmeg1/8 tsp ground cloves1 Tbsp vanilla extract1 shot of strong coffee1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (optional)
Method
1. Start boiling water to make the French press coffee. Meanwhile, gently heat the milk in a small saucepan. Be careful not to scald the milk or bring it to a boil. Whisk in pumpkin and mix thoroughly. Stir in sugar and blend until dissolved. Add spices and blend. Add vanilla and stir. Keep milk on the heat as long as it is not starting to boil or scald.
2. Make the coffee in the French press, stronger than usual.
3. Use a hand-held egg beater (or an immersion blender if you have one) to froth up the warm milk mixture.

4. Use a whisk, or an egg beater, or a hand held mixer to whip the cream.
4. Pour about 1/4 cup of coffee into a tall mug. Pour the milk mixture on top until the cup is nearly full. Add a large dollop of whipped cream and grate a little bit of nutmeg on top. This recipe makes two tall cups.

Comfort in Times of Worry

O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.
O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord.

- 'Abdu'l-Bahá

(Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 150)