CherylGrows.com » Archive
Life Among the Ruins
Plants want to grow. In fact, annual plants especially want to live their one and only short life cycle to the max. So when some early summer intense storms caused flooding in the basement of The Chapel Barrington campus, this theory was put to the test. Some quick action had to be taken to move our 8 raised bed gardens to make way for heavy equipment sent to resolve the flooding situation. Our hard work and thriving vegetable … Read entire article »
Filed under: Raised Beds, Square Foot Gardening, Vegetables
Free Farmers Market
Free Farmers Market Today Back in May I attended a meeting of a group of folks interested in bringing healthy food to a food desert in Lake County Illinois. They were pastors, non-profit leaders, forest preserve and community health representatives, gardeners, and concerned citizens. This group had been meeting for some time and there was already much momentum. By July 29th the Manna Garden Initiative was born. And a Free Farmers Market was held every Friday at Trinity AME … Read entire article »
Filed under: Manna Garden Initiative, Vegetables
Farm Hand – Day Two
Just a little stiff in the morning, but off early again for more farm fun. Of course I didn’t tell you that I was asleep in my recliner at 7pm. I actually had felt pretty good that I kept up with the others that day. Just didn’t try to climb up in the back end of the truck to arrange the crates – I’m saving that for another time when I have become a bit … Read entire article »
Filed under: Farm Dreams
Farm Hand – Day One
Since I have been having “Farm Dreams” I thought it might be a good idea to spend some time actually farming. Through a set of divine circumstances, I met Meg Runyan of Wild Goose Farm. Meg farms close to 3 acres as part of the incubator farm program (yes, hatching future farmers!) through the Farm Business Development Center at Prairie Crossing, a Conservation Community in Grayslake, IL. Wild Goose Farm … Read entire article »
Filed under: Farm Dreams
In Her Boots – Sep 11, 2011
On Sep 11th a group of women gathered at the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in East Troy WI around the subject of growing and eating organic vegetables. The daylong event was part of the series In Her Boots: Sustainable Farming For Women, By Women, a workshop series focusing on women farmers and food-based business owners, sponsored by The Rural Women’s Project in association with MOSES: Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service. During this celebration of the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Farm Dreams, Vegetables
Farm Dreams
I don’t know when I actually decided that I wanted to farm. But, I do know a few times in my life when it wasn’t. It wasn’t when I was about 7 and went down with my family to visit a buddy of my dad’s from the Marine Corps who lived with his family on a farm in Missouri. While I enjoyed playing in the hayloft with the other kids, I welcomed being back home … Read entire article »
Filed under: Farm Dreams
A Bowl of Cherries
Isn’t life just a bowl of cherries? It is when you grow black cherry tomatoes like these. (Those are Green Grapes on top.) Black Cherries have been the most prolific of my tomato plants this year – both in my back yard and at the Square Foot Giving Gardens at The Chapel Barrington Campus. So tasty they don’t always make it up to the kitchen. I decided to save seeds from some of this heritage crop for the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Vegetables
Veggies Abound!
Don’t you just love veggies? What a rainbow of colors and fun shapes and sizes. Not to mention the textures and flavors. Gotta love the harvest! … Read entire article »
Filed under: Vegetables
Square Foot Gardening
Square Foot Gardening is the best! Just a few boards, some organic mix and some plants or seeds. And, Magic!! We have had a bountiful year – radishes, beets, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, onions, peas, beans, cucumbers, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers and more. Hundreds of pounds of food. All grown organically and all given away to local food pantries!! … Read entire article »
Filed under: Raised Beds, Square Foot Gardening
Welcome to Cheryl Grows!
I can’t help but grow. It’s who I am. Whether I am taking a class or reading a magazine or book and growing myself, or taking that knowledge and applying it to a seed, seedling or plant – I am always growing. I grew up watching my father grow – in his mind and in his garden and yard. So, it is definitely in my nature. Because I love growing, I can’t help but want to pass that love on to others, too. It’s who I am. Enjoy! And, I hope you will grow, too. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
