Cheshire County

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?

Whether you grow your own, shop the Farmer’s Market or buy from the local grocery store, this summer you can eat healthy now and preserve that fresh produce for later. You don’t need an enormous amount of land to grow your own garden.

Any way you toss it, a main dish green salad is an easy, nutritious meal especially on a hot summer’s night – and I’m not talking about iceberg lettuce. Early garden produce includes greens (lettuce, spinach, chinese cabbages/bok choy), radishes, green onions and snow peas. Here’s some tips to make your salads super:

• Add extra flavor (and nutrition) to salads with ingredients such as toasted sunflower seeds, toasted almonds, toasted walnuts, sliced black or green olives and shaved Parmesan cheese.
• Go easy on the salad dressing -- it just takes about 1 tablespoon per 1-1/2 to 2 cups of greens.
• Color your salad appealing AND healthy with a variety of colorful fruits (both fresh and dried) and vegetables.
• Eggs are an easy-to-fix protein source for your salad. Others include: cooked dried beans, such as garbanzo beans; canned tuna or salmon; and sliced meat or poultry from a previous meal.
• Serve your main dish salad with whole grain crackers or rolls and end your meal with a cool serving of low-fat or fat-free vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt topped with fresh fruit or your favorite canned fruit.
• Experiment!

In this beginning phase of fresh, don’t forget to plan for the harvest. Check your canning/freezing supplies – do you need to replace anything? Do you have those supplies that you need to buy every year? Have you had your canning gauge checked? Preserving the harvest is a lot more fun if you don’t have to dash around for the essentials when you start the process.

To enjoy all the goodness of summer year-round, many people can or freeze the abundant fruits and vegetables. Whether you’ve done it for years or are just beginning, the resources available through the Extension Office may be helpful.

Pressure canner dial gauges should be tested annually for accuracy and this can be done free of charge at the Extension Office. Please call ahead to make arrangements for the gauge to be checked. Remove the dial gauge from the canner lid and bring just the gauge in to be tested. Weighted gauges do not need to be checked for accuracy. Don’t wait until the last minute! Call the office at 352-4550 for information on backyard gardening, container garden-ing, or the foods you plan to preserve.

Credit: Salad information adapted from COOK IT QUICK!, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension (lancaster.unl.edu/food/ciq.htm)

Farmers’ Markets

Fitzwilliam Farmers' Market-Saturdays, 9am-1pm.May 17-October 11.

Next to the Town Hall. Website: www.harvesttomarket.com. Products: Vegetables, plants, fruits, eggs, bread, wool and wool products, flowers, maple products.

Hancock Farmers' Market-Saturdays, May-October, 9am-noon. Rain or shine.
Behind church in horse sheds. Products: Organic vegetables, breads, jams, honey, maple syrup, berries, peace toys, rustic art, perennials, wreaths, fibers, fiber arts and bedding plants.

Jaffrey Farmers' Market-Saturdays, July-September, 9am-noon. Rain or shine.
Route 202, Monadnock Plaza. Products: Produce, perennials, baked goods, jellies, jams, honey.

The Farmers' Market of Keene-Tuesdays & Saturdays, May-October, 9am-2pm.
Rain or shine. Commercial parking lot off Gilbo Avenue. Products: Fruits, vegetables, herbs, plants, flowers, maple syrup, honey, baked goods, bread, jams, jellies, eggs, soap and wool products, lamb, pork and juried crafts.

Peterborough Farmers' Market-Wednesdays, May 21-October 29, 3-6pm. Rain or shine. Depot Square. Products: Starter plants, cut flowers, bouquets, perennials, vegetables, eggs, raw milk, chicken, goat meat, maple syrup and products, prepared Greek foods, vinegars, baked goods, bread, crafts, knitted sweaters, yarn/fleece, fresh roasted coffee, roasted nuts and ice cream.

HOME AND GARDEN DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

Soil Testing - Lab will analyze your soil sample and return recommendations for amending your soil to promote optimum plant growth. Compost testing, too!
Insect Identification - Get those unknown insects, spiders and mites identified. Submit samples by mail or in person.
Plant Diagnostic Laboratory (Plant Diseases) - Extension Plant Health specialist will diagnose plant diseases, stress-related disorders and pests for both commercial and home gardeners. Walk in or submit samples through the mail.