We all know that it is unhealthy to ingest residual pesticides and fungicides found on store bought produce, that is a primary reason we grow organic fruits and vegetables in our own gardens; yet we too must deal with and safely deter insects. Oil and soap mixtures are safe, easy to use and fairly effective in detering both insects and insect eggs on our plants. Combine one cup of cooking oil (vegetable, olive, canola, etc.) with one tablespoon of liquid dish soap (Dawn, Sunlight, Palmolive, etc.), then combine two and one-half teaspoons of the oil/soap mixture with one cup of water in a squirt/spray bottle and shake well before each use. Always spray the tops and undersides of leaves, do not over-apply and do not spray in the hot sun. Re-apply after rain storms and whenever insects are seen.

The authorities say it will take 6 months for the food prices to rise due to the severe drought in the us this summer. We are not sure about that, the fall corn crop is seriously impacted. Either way it is a great time to plan a vegetable garden and learn the skills necessary to grow your own food and offset the inflation of food prices, whenever they hit. Start now please, don't wait until good healthy food is a stretch for the food budget.

Part One:

Start with a small garden that produces the items needed for salads, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Green Onions, Carrots, Radishes etc. Start these in a seed starter kit for the most economical approach, or with small plants. Grown these in a small raised bed, or if you have a deck outside your kitchen use the Growcamp 'Greenhouse'. If you are in an apartment and have a balcony use container pots. You will notice a savings over buying the grocery store salad items.

Part Two:
Then use the savings from your 'salad garden' to expand your garden to include vegetable varieties for the dinner table- cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, more Tomato varieties like "Roma". If you have a raised bed, add another. If you are using the Growcamp 'Greenhouse' you can now add an extenstion which will give you four more feet of growing space for less money than the original unit. If you are gardening on a balcony add a few more pots.

Part Three:
Get into canning and freezing. You can buy large quantities at your local farmer's market and make spaghetti sauce, chili sauce, and pre-made dishes like ratatouille (see our recipe page).

If you are unemployed we will do the vegetable garden design for free. We will give you free advice on how to grow your garden and save money. Email us at sandy@myvegetablegarden.net

Due to this country's worst recession since the Great Depression and with all the people's revolutions in Northern Africa and the Middle East it is more apparent that ever THAT WE SHOULD ALL GROW OUR OWN FOOD. Now is the time to add a strong level of stability to your household, the country and to the world. If everyone grew their own food the world would be a much happier and safer place.

Go to the home page of this site and sign up. The Newsletter will come to your email account NO MORE THAN ONCE A MONTH will preview the recipe of the month. This month, February 2011 it is Grouper Oscar, which features fresh asparagus. It is delicious! You can grow the asparagus in your garden for this and other fabulous recipes.

Thanksgiving is just a little over one month away and along with it the planning and preparation of a large meal for family and friends. We all have recipes for turkey, stuffing, side dishes, salads and deserts; how about trying something new this year, go to our recipes file and check out the recipes for Maple Glazed Turkey and Cranberry Bourbon Relish, easy to make and wonderfully delicious. When Thanksgiving is over, what to do with all that leftover turkey, how about Turkey Tetrazzini, a high class dish that can be served for dinner or lunch; go to our recipes file and check out the best recipe ever created for Turkey Tetrazzini, it is out of this world!. Happy Holidays from your friends at www.MyVegetableGarden.net

Virtually every chef, who wants to grow their own fresh herbs, would need to have the following herbs planted in their garden: basil, oregano, rosemary, french thyme, curly parsley, flat leaf parsley, sage, ginger, tarragon, pepper mint, lemon mint, chives and hot chile pepper; the plant quantity for each herb would vary considerably, for instance, you would plant six basil plants versus one rosemary, or six curly parsley plants versus one tarragon. Understandably the quantities you choose to plant will also be heavily influenced type and volume of the cuisine you generally prepare. Virtually all of the aforementioned herbs can be grown in the ground or in containers; the soil should be rich in organic matter to insure strong healthy plants which eliminates the need to use fertilizers, which have a negative impact on the flavor of many herbs. The great thing is you can grow these herbs in your garden. See the Pre-Planned Herb Garden page.

Considered to be the standard of the world by the best food authorities: including Zagat, Michelin, Cordon Bleu and leading gourmands around the world; this recipe will stand up to any other recipe on the planet! Find it on the "Recipes" tab:

www.myvegetablegarden.net/Recipes

This is so good you have to try it. 10 cups of coarse grated zucchini, 4 cups of finely chopped sweet white onion, 1/4 cup of sea salt (Kosher salt), 5 cups of sugar, 2 1/4 cups white vinegar, 1 tablespoon celery seed, 1 tablespoon ground tumeric, 1 tablespoon white pepper; combine zucchini, onion and salt in a large bowl, cover and refrigerate overnight; rinse the above in a colander under cold water and press in towel to dry; combine with other ingredients in stock pot and simmer for 30 minutes; fill half-pint canning jars to half inch from top and process in canner for 15 minutes, makes 9 half pints.

All kinds of recipes, vegetables by themselves or fabulous dishes based around vegetables like Seafood Gazpacho Salad on the "Salad Garden" Page of the "Pre-Planned Salad" Page on myvegetablegarden.net

Plant a vegetable garden. Used raised beds, fill them with great soil. Buy non-hybrid seeds so you can harvest the seeds for future years. Learn How to can and preserve. Go ahead and start gardening. These are the skills that will be needed if you HAVE to garden.

Buy an emergency vault of seeds (see "Emergency Seeds" page of the myvegetablegarden.com website. This vault has seeds stored in packages that will last a long time. DON'T USE THIS VAULT, JUST TUCK IT AWAY for a world crisis that we hope never comes.

Not only will a vegetable garden give you exercise it will get you (and your family) interested in the different varieties of vegetables.

Fresh vegetables are great cooked by themselves, however try recipes that are classics than are built around vegetables -- like Ratatouille. See our favorite "Ratatouille" recipe at the bottom of the "Mediterranean - Large" garden design under the "Pre-Planned Gardens" Page in the myvegetablegarden.com site.

Are you concerned about produce grown outside of the United States? We are. The standards set for U.S. Farmers are not required of imported produce. No one is really sure what was used on the vegetables that we import from other countries.

The solution is to grow your own. You can use good agricultural practices to reduce the pests and use hot pepper spray and garlic to help fend off the inevitable bug.