Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Djordje Novakov via Shutterstock

'Sunflowers literally follow the sun across the horizon, only to turn back and face east by sunrise'

The sunflower is one of the most animated, optimistic and downright cheery flowers you can have in your garden, writes Michael Kelly.

I MET A guy who told me a story about the power of food growing to create an understanding in children about nutritious food and sustainable living (or food “empathy” as we’re fond of calling it in GIY).

His children sowed sunflower seeds in planting cups in school, and then brought them home where they were planted down the end of the garden, against a south-facing wall.

In this high-tech age, he’s been astonished by the interest the children have shown in their sunflowers – there are daily trips to the end of the garden to measure progress, which with sunflowers is a satisfying thing indeed since they grow so rapidly (and up to 10ft tall eventually).

Then a miraculous thing happens – the plants produce enormous, beautiful sunflowers. The sunflower is one of the most animated, optimistic and downright cheery flowers you can have in your garden – the flower literally follows the sun across the horizon by day, only to turn back and face east by sunrise.

Sunflower seeds

A joy to behold, but also the starting point in the sunflower’s demise –the flower eventually bows down and looks rather sad as it starts to die. But there’s time for one more miracle in which the dying plant suddenly becomes useful from a food perspective – the seeds in the flower head can be harvested for food.

So from this strange plant, you get an unlikely abundance of seeds that can be nibbled on (wonderfully nutty) or sprinkled in to yoghurt or on top of porridge.

If this direct connection between the act of sowing a seed and the act of food-consumption wasn’t eye-opening enough for his kids, consider what happened next. It occurred to them that the seeds they were about to eat looked the very same as the seeds sown in soil months back. And so, a light bulb moment occurred, where the full food lifecycle from seed to plant, plant to flower, flower to food, food to seed – was laid out before them.

Food empathy is a deeper understanding of seasonality and the life cycle of “growth-decay- growth” which is so central to life on this planet.

The Basics – Onions

shutterstock_210236569 Shutterstock / Alsu Shutterstock / Alsu / Alsu

Generally speaking onions are ready when the tops of the plants fall over. An old trick was to bend the stems yourself, but this is now frowned upon. Many GIYers then loosen the soil around the bulb with a fork to accelerate bulb ripening and allow them some more space to swell – a suggestion I once received was to turn the onion very gently and very slightly in the soil, which presumably achieves the same thing.

A week or so after the stems have bent over, the leaves will wither and yellow. Lift the onions and shake off the soil. If the weather is dry, place them on a wire rack outside to dry. If rain is forecast, keep them on a rack in the greenhouse or tunnel. Leave for 10 days to dry out or until the skin is paper thin.

The presence of moisture in the onions is what causes them to rot in storage so make sure all the moisture is gone from them (particularly in the neck) before you store. Store in net bags or make a braid by twisting the onion tops around some wire. Store somewhere cool and dry. Remove any shoots that form over the winter.

Incidentally, summer onions can be used as required (fresh) straight out of the ground while you wait on the rest of the crop to ripen. In other words you don’t have to dry them out before using – the drying process is only to enable storage.

Recipe of the Week – Sugarsnap Peas with Shallots and Thyme

shutterstock_334817027 Shutterstock / topotishka Shutterstock / topotishka / topotishka

This week we’ve been enjoying the first of our sugarsnap peas. Sugarsnap peas are like a hybrid between mangetout and regular peas – you can eat the delicious pods before they form peas, but leave them alone (if you can) and they will go on to produce lovely peas.

Ingredients

  • 250kg sugarsnap peas
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon chopped shallots
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

Preheat the oven to 230 degrees C. Spread sugar snap peas in a single layer on a medium baking sheet, and brush with olive oil.

Sprinkle with shallots, thyme, and season with plenty of rock salt and freshly ground pepper. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes in the preheated oven, until tender but firm.

Michael Kelly is founder of GIY and GROW HQ. 

Click here for more GIY tips and recipes.

download

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
6 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute abcyz
    Favourite abcyz
    Report
    Jun 21st 2017, 9:41 AM

    The pressure of exams is not nice. Peer pressure is awful in this country too. If you are poorest in a countryside school that doesn’t have deis status and your parents can’t afford the school “voluntary” contribution who could be literally embarrassed to death for the money by teachers nevermind fellow bullying students.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute cortisola
    Favourite cortisola
    Report
    Jun 21st 2017, 10:28 AM

    @abcyz: Wait till you go to work…

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim
    Favourite Jim
    Report
    Jun 21st 2017, 11:27 AM

    Thanks to the lack of education and awarness, our little country is in the stone age when it comes to the myriad of mental health issues. Much like we were for those with special needs back in the 80s. There seems to be an attitude of, unless you have a problem that is physically visable or can be diagnosed, then anything else is your own problem. Addiction is rife in this country, alcohol, drugs both prescription and non, gambling, sex and the list goes on. Depression, anxiety, as well as other more specific mental issues. The reality..Unless you are strong willed or have funds for private help, you have a good chance of ending up in a morgue. This is the sad truth. To those suffering in silence ending up there is NOT the best option. What you are going through will pass, this is certain.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Drake
    Favourite Nick Drake
    Report
    Jun 21st 2017, 12:47 PM

    @Jim: Jim you are pretty much talking out of your hat, if may say so.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim
    Favourite Jim
    Report
    Jun 22nd 2017, 12:19 AM

    @Nick Drake: Be a tad more specific Nick. Your comment lacks any sort of counter suggestion.

    5
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim
    Favourite Jim
    Report
    Jun 22nd 2017, 12:26 AM

    @Nick Drake: and while you are at it, can you tell me how long the public waiting list is for any individual seeking a mental health professional? Where is their first port of call? You do realise that mental health issues arent cured with a chat and a cup of tea…They require the correct professional, competent in the individuals needs…So lets say i am an alcoholic that also suffers with severe depression. I am working part time….where will i go Nick…the clock is ticking? You my friend are the one talking out of your hat. Where as I see the nett results of this scenario every day.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute billy Dorney
    Favourite billy Dorney
    Report
    Jun 21st 2017, 2:04 PM

    Very sad ,hard topic,as a father,i can see ,today’s teens,are under awful pressure,from peers,us parents,and society,as a whole,social media most of all

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Linda Hughes
    Favourite Linda Hughes
    Report
    Jun 21st 2017, 10:18 AM

    This country needs a kick in the ass when it comes to mental health. Just because you can’t see a physical injury doesn’t mean that the person isn’t suffering. Not been able to understand or talk about how you are feeling is crippling and to have text book people patronising you is so damaging. When you feel so down and alone in the blackness of your mind all you need is for someone to understand what is going on for you, “I know I’ve been there and still struggle every minute of every day ” there are more suicide’s than there are road deaths and yet all the media keep pushing it in your face! For all the families out there that have been affected by suicide don’t feel ashamed or blame yourself it wasn’t you’re fault at all!

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute billy Dorney
    Favourite billy Dorney
    Report
    Jun 21st 2017, 6:27 PM

    @Linda Hughes: good points boy,but I think we’re getting there,albeit,snail slow,wouldn’t/couldn’t discuss this on an open forum like this a few years back

    5
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds