Cold Frames, Kim Chee, and Lawns 2 Lettuce 4 Lunch

and glass frame on Nov 28. I was expecting really slow growth but with all the
warm weather the lettuce is bursting out of the glass topped frame and it seems
like every seed germinated in the strawbale cold frame. The plants are small but sturdy and growing
well. I planted thickly expecting lower germination rates based on the
temperature charts in Nancy Bubel’s  <em>
<a href=”http://www.southernexposure.com/the-new-seed-starters-handbook-book-p-57.html”>The
New Seed Starters Handbook</a>
</em>. Growth in both cold frames and our greenhouses is continuing at a rapid
pace. Maybe we’ll skip the Persephone days this year and be like our gardening
friends along the coast and in the lower south who just keep growing all
winter.<br />
<br />
<div align=”center”>

</div>
</div>
<p>Since I
actually do think we will get some wintry weather soon, yesterday we harvested
the last heads of Michihili and Wong Bok Chinese cabbage as well a bucket of
Daikon and Black Spanish winter radishes. We’ll use both to make more Korean style Kim Chee. I’ve been trying a
number of different recipes. So far my favorites are from <a href=”http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&ved=0CFIQFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.maangchi.com%2Frecipe%2Fkimchi-kaktugi&ei=xML8TsvLJqbZ0QHAooTYAw&usg=AFQjCNH_5Em26_4DPA626A0X4PE36bCBtA&sig2=OLrxTQufYRTN2h8HiTrUQg”>Maangchi</a> (available online) and Sandor
Katz’s cookbook  <a href=”http://www.wildfermentation.com/”>Wild
Fermentation</a>. Sandor’s method is the most adaptable to
different vegetables, but Maangchi offers a more authentic traditional version.
Both are good. Taking the time to buy or grow Korean ground red pepper flakes
is definitely worth the effort.<br />
</p>
<div align=”center”>
<br />
</div>
<p>For all
of you who are thinking about how to bring fresh grown food and gardening into
your schools I want to share this short post from our <a href=”http://www.southernexposure.com/blog/2011/12/lawns-2-lettuce-4-lunch-sese-seeds/”>Southern Exposure Blog</a> that highlights what can be
done. I’d love to hear about your successes creating school and community
gardening partnerships.<br />
<br />”We love hearing about how our seeds are growing, but were particularly
delighted to have an update from Joan Horwitt, who founded the <strong>Lawns 2
Lettuce 4 Lunch </strong>initiative in Arlington, Virginia. Joan writes:
“We’ve had fun using the great variety of lettuce seeds from Southern
Exposure Seed Exchange for our school and community collaboration, LAWNS 2
LETTUCE 4 LUNCH. We’ve added a variety of SESE greens and garlic . . . and a
great fall harvest of sweet potatoes.”<br />
<br />She also shared a <a href=”http://www.apsva.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=16078″>video from Arlington
Public Schools</a> on the Reevesland-Lawns 2 Lettuce 4 Lunch event at Ashlawn
Elementary School last November and the recent <a href=”http://www.abundantcommunity.com/home/book.html”>AbundantCommunity</a>
article highlighting <a href=”http://www.abundantcommunity.com/home/stories/parms/1/story/20111206_sweet_potatoes_newest_star_of_lawns_2_lettuce_4_lunch.html”>the
addition of sweet potatoes to their program</a>!”<br />
<br />
<em>Thanks for stopping by and we hope you’ll come back often to see what
we’re growing and cooking.</em>
</p>
<div align=”center”>
<hr width=”100%” size=”2″ align=”center”>
</div>
<p>
<em>Ira Wallace lives and gardens at Acorn Community Farm, home of </em>
<a href=”http://www.southernexposure.com/”>Southern Exposure Seed Exchange</a>
<em>,
where she coordinates variety selection and seed growers. Southern Exposure
offers 700+ varieties of Non-GMO, open pollinated and organic seeds. Ira is a
co-organizer of the </em>
<a href=”http://heritageharvestfestival.com/”>Heritage
Harvest Festival at Monticello</a>
<em>. She serves on the board of the Organic
Seed Alliance and is a frequent presenter at the MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIRS </em>
<a href=”http://www.southernexposure.com/events-ezp-40.html”>and many other events</a>
<em>
throughout the Southeast.  </em>
</p>