Project Ideas

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ORGANIC FIELD GUIDE ORGANIC FIELD GUIDE
COMMON EDIBLE PLANTS GROW IT EAT IT LOVE IT
Aloe Vera
Health Power
Used for centuries as a medical treatment. Juice from broken leaves soothes
wounds, rejuvenates burns and treats rare skin conditions. Benefits of drinking
juice less well known. Great for digestive tract. Helps maintain healthy tissues
and promotes slower, more controlled absorption of food. Good source
of essential amino acids that help replenish and build enzymes crucial to
functions throughout the body. High volume of phytonutrients and vitamins.
Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties help protect immune system and
major organs from cellular damage. Increases blood circulation, metabolism
and detoxification of blood stream.
Vitamin and Mineral Content
Vitamins – A, B1 (Thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B6 (Pyridoxine),
B9 (Folate), B12 (Cobalamin), C and E
Minerals – Iron, Copper, Manganese, Calcium, Chromium, Potassium
and Magnesium
Disease Prevention
Excellent for skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. May help prevent
colon and colorectal cancer, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers
and constipation. Juice may help reduce symptoms of joint disorders like
rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Alkaline nature soothes acid indigestion.
How to Grow
Popular succulent is great to have during hot, sunny weather. Prefers warm
climates and full sun. Choose plant with erect, healthy leaves. In mild
climate, plant in a pot and bring inside to the warmest sunny spot indoors
or in greenhouse. In warm, sunny weather put outside to help dry up excess
moisture. Outdoors, it prefers great drainage and full sun. Amend planting
soil with pebbles, compost/planting mix and sand. If soil naturally lacks good
drainage, put in a raised bed. In a pot, must have 18 inches minimum depth.
Water plants weekly, depending on soil moisture. Water less in humid or moist
weather, more in warm, dry spells. Native to warm, dry areas. Tolerates dry
weather well. Never over water, which causes root rot. Let soil dry out to 3-4
inches deep where soil begins to pull away from the sides before watering.
Remove weeds to maintain proper pH and nutrient availability. Plant is good
at foliar feeding. Apply foliar spray several times during growing season to
maintain rigidity and spur healthy growth. When harvesting leaf for medicinal
use, trim mature exterior leaves at the base. Leaves will not grow back
following harvest. After some growth, plant produces baby plants around base.
Pluck these out to replant or share with friends.
Insect Control
Extremely hardy. No known pests pose serious threat.
Tips
Avoid letting suckers (new shoots around the base) establish. They suck the life
from the mother plant. Cut them at 3-4 inches in height, repot and water well to
spur root growth. Makes a nice gift.
Health Power
Tasty leaves (nutty and/or peppery flavor) contain small quantities of many
phytonutrients and vitamins. 4-5 cups give moderate to large dose. Cruciferous
vegetable (similar to broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bok choy) helps prevent
many cancers. Most benefit comes from phytonutrients. Glucosinolates and
sulforaphanes help stimulate enzymes for detoxifying and removing cell-
damaging (possibly carcinogenic) chemicals. Carotenes act as antioxidants
to protect skin cells, blood vessel cells and others from sun and free-radical
damage. Help ward off cancer and cardiovascular problems. Source of
chlorophyll, present in all plants. Limited research on this phytonutrient. Some
basic studies suggest chlorophyll may protect from carcinogenic chemicals
eaten or created during metabolism. More carefully controlled research is
needed to confirm link between chlorophyll and reduced cancer risk. Health
benefits come from synergy of all or many nutrients with regular consumption.
Vitamin and Mineral Content
Vitamins – K, A, C and B9 (Folate)
Minerals – Calcium, Manganese, Magnesium and Potassium
Disease Prevention
Regular eating linked with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, cataracts,
macular degeneration, many cancers (lung, colorectal, skin, perhaps others).
How to Grow
An easy-to-grow annual. Matures quickly (6-8 weeks). Likes cool weather
and plenty of water. Sow seeds early spring and fall. Successive plantings OK
through summer in cooler areas; through fall in warmer areas. Choose site with
much sun. Soil wants good drainage. Enrich with much compost, manure or
planting mix. Sow seeds thinly (1-2 inches apart) in rows spaced roughly 10
inches apart. Water regularly to keep soil moist. Take care not to over water.
Ready to harvest when leaves are young and tender. Cut them and encourage
plant to grow again. Make successive sowings every 2-3 weeks after first
sowing. Watch out for sensitivity to hot weather; makes plant go to seed. Avoid
growing during heat waves or plant in partial shade.
Insect Control
Resistant to common insect pests and diseases. Susceptible to slugs or snails.
Early morning or evening, remove by hand. Or embed cup of beer in soil; lures
them to crawl in and drown.
Tips
Harvest leaves while young. Older, larger leaves tough and bitter. Works well
added to soups and salads or as garnish.
Health Power
Basil known for flavonoids (protect DNA, which creates and regulates cells) and
volatile oils (antibacterial action). Some oils even halt growth of drug-resistant
bacteria. Volatile oil eugenol may reduce inflammation and pain, such as in
arthritis.
Vitamin and Mineral Content
Vitamins – K, A and C
Minerals – Iron, Calcium, Manganese, Magnesium and Potassium
Disease Prevention
Basil contains strong antioxidant beta-carotene. Prevents unstable molecules
(free radicals) from damaging epithelial cells including blood vessel walls.
Beta-carotene helps prevent plaque build up (atherosclerosis) in arterial walls
by blocking oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Lowers risk of heart attack and stroke.
Contributes to the prevention of asthma, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.
How to Grow
Grow as an annual where winter snow or frost are common; a perennial
in warm, Southern regions. Two types: sweet and bush. Sweet is taller
(1.5-2 feet high, more productive, better flavor). Sweet basil grows best in
sunny, protected area with healthy soil. Sow seeds in early spring in smaller
containers indoors. Prepare soil by working in aged compost, manure or
planting mix with plenty of organic matter. Transplant outdoors about one
foot apart after last frost. Keep soil moist; water thoroughly during hot, dry
weather. Remove flower buds when they appear to stimulate more growth.
Harvest younger leaves through summer in quantities needed for cooking. Also
dry and put in airtight containers or freeze for later use.
Insect Control
Minor pest problems. Prevent Japanese beetles from eating foliage by
hand picking.
Tips
Save seeds for next year by harvesting stems after seeds ripen. Hang upside
down in a closed area. Set cloth underneath to catch seeds as plant dries up
and releases them
INGREDIENTS
1 cup organic apple juice
2 cups chopped spinach
2 cups frozen or fresh strawberries
1 spear aloe, split and gel scraped out
INSTRUCTIONS
■ Blend apple juice and spinach together.
■ Mix in strawberries and aloe gel.
■ Blend until smooth.
■ Serve immediately.
Aloe Vera Smoothie
RECIPE CARD
Arugula Basil