Vegetables in the Vegetables in the Ford GardenFord Garden

The Written WordThe Written Word

AquaponicsAquaponics Aquaponics combines aquaculture

with hydroponics.

Fish produce ammonia (NH), which bacteria convert to nitrate (NH3).

The water is sent to plants, which absorb nutrients that they need.

The water returned to the fish.

Mexico: Aztecs built rafts (chinampas). Waste from canals and cities irrigated the plants.

Asia: Farmers combined rice in paddies with fish to grow both.

Spinach: Spinacia oleracea

Vitamins A, C, E, K, cal- cium for eyes and brain. More iron than meat !

Too bad Popeye ate out of a can. Loses color and vitamins when processed.

Yummy in salads.

Likes cool weather. Nearly all grown out West.

Origin: Persia, Nepal

AquaponicsAquaponics

Will nitrogen grow plants Will nitrogen grow plants better in the soil or the better in the soil or the water ? water ?

What bacteria are best for What bacteria are best for plants? What do they do?plants? What do they do?

How do fish help plants and How do fish help plants and plants help fish? plants help fish?

Is this a new idea or has it Is this a new idea or has it worked for millions of years? worked for millions of years?

Can this knowledge help us Can this knowledge help us grow food in the city? grow food in the city?

Can it feed people who don’t Can it feed people who don’t have enough water?have enough water?

TaroTaro Family-Family-AraceaeAraceae

Tropical plant, grown for its Tropical plant, grown for its roots (corms), leaves.roots (corms), leaves.

African and Asian staple, African and Asian staple, starchy like potato.starchy like potato.

Origin: India - one of the Origin: India - one of the early cultivated plants.early cultivated plants.

Toxic when raw. Baked Toxic when raw. Baked roasted, boiled. Sugars are roasted, boiled. Sugars are sweet, nutty. sweet, nutty.

Called dasheen, gabi, Called dasheen, gabi, elephant ears, name, yam, elephant ears, name, yam, cocoyam, inhame. cocoyam, inhame.

Radish: Raphanus sativusRoo t crop, same as beets, ga rlic, potato , carrots.

A bit b itter. Grown for oil.

Rich in B6, asco rbic acid, p otassium.

Grows in 30 d ays.

Cultiv ated tho usand s of years a go in Ch ina an d Greece – h ere in 1629 .

Tomato:Tomato: LycopersiconLycopersicon

Romans called it wolf peach. Italians: golden apple. Romans called it wolf peach. Italians: golden apple.

90% comes from the West and sprayed. 90% comes from the West and sprayed.

7,500 varieties: really a fruit. Grown in greenhouses in 7,500 varieties: really a fruit. Grown in greenhouses in cool climates. cool climates.

Served in salads and cooked, as in pizza, sauces. Served in salads and cooked, as in pizza, sauces.

Like most veggies, 90% water. Like most veggies, 90% water.

Origin: South AmericaOrigin: South America

Corn:Corn: Zea maysZea mays

No. 1 US crop. Used to produce eggs, milk, No. 1 US crop. Used to produce eggs, milk, meat, fuel, cooking oil, whiskey, dog food, meat, fuel, cooking oil, whiskey, dog food, plastic.plastic.

Major source of starch. Major source of starch.

Sweetens cereals, tonic, peanut butter. Too Sweetens cereals, tonic, peanut butter. Too much sugar ! much sugar !

Yellow, red, pink, black, and blue. Kernels Yellow, red, pink, black, and blue. Kernels grow on ears, protected by silk in a husk. grow on ears, protected by silk in a husk.

Origin: Mexico 9,000 years ago. Called mOrigin: Mexico 9,000 years ago. Called maizeaize..

Collards:Collards: Brassica Brassica oleraceaoleracea

Leafy like cabbage, kale, Leafy like cabbage, kale, broccoli. Blue green leaves. broccoli. Blue green leaves. Slight bitter taste. . Slight bitter taste. .

Southern favorite. Loves hot Southern favorite. Loves hot weather and the cold of late weather and the cold of late autumn. Flavor enhanced by autumn. Flavor enhanced by light frost.light frost.

High in fiber, vitamin C, coun- High in fiber, vitamin C, coun- ters cancer, virus, bacteria. ters cancer, virus, bacteria.

Also called Also called berza, couve.berza, couve.

Origin: Asia MinorOrigin: Asia Minor

Pea :Pea : Pisum sativumPisum sativum Edible seeds grow six feet inEdible seeds grow six feet in pods. Tendrils help it stand. pods. Tendrils help it stand.

Leaves have 1-3 leaflets. White flowers, purple blossoms. Leaves have 1-3 leaflets. White flowers, purple blossoms.

Used in soups, salads, snacks. High: protein, vitamins A, Used in soups, salads, snacks. High: protein, vitamins A, C. C.

Cousin of beans and peanuts.Cousin of beans and peanuts.

Mendel used them to found study of genetics. Mendel used them to found study of genetics.

Origin: Georgia (5,000 BCE)Origin: Georgia (5,000 BCE)

Bean:Bean: FabaceaeFabaceae

High in protein. Can be stored for years. Soaking revives.

Some boiled to destroy toxin.

4,000 types; kidney, soy green, pole, string, snap, refried, black, pinto, etc.

Beans, beans, the magical fruit.The more you eat, the more you toot.The more you toot, the better you feel.Lets have beans with every meal !

Origin: Mid-East, Americas

Long Bean Vigna unguiculata

Grows to three feet: tastes best at 18 inches.

Used in casseroles, stir-fry, soups. Blanch and fry with garlic and olive oil.

Called yard-long, asparagus snake bean, cow pea, bora.

Same plant family as black-eyed pea.

Good source of protein, vitamin A and C, thiamin, iron, folate, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, manganese.

Blueberry: Blueberry: VacciniumVaccinium

Perennial: grows on a bush. Perennial: grows on a bush. Turns from green to purple to Turns from green to purple to

blue. blue. Low-bush benefit from fires.Low-bush benefit from fires. Pruned or burned every two Pruned or burned every two

years to manage pests.years to manage pests. Maine crop is largest low-Maine crop is largest low-

bush: uses 50,000 beehives.bush: uses 50,000 beehives. Helps with infections, strokes, Helps with infections, strokes,

cognition, blood pressure. cognition, blood pressure. Canada’s largest fruit crop.Canada’s largest fruit crop.

Bok ChoyBok Choy: : Brassica rapaBrassica rapa

Related to cabbage, turnip;Related to cabbage, turnip;

Studied in Ming dynasty for Studied in Ming dynasty for medicinal qualities; medicinal qualities;

Pekinensis: broad leaves with Pekinensis: broad leaves with head;head;

Chinensis: no head, more like Chinensis: no head, more like celery or mustard;celery or mustard;

Winter-hardyWinter-hardy

In small amounts, may In small amounts, may prevent cancer. Toxic in large prevent cancer. Toxic in large amounts. amounts.

Beets:Beets: Beta vulgarisBeta vulgaris

Red-purple, white-red roots. Bleeds during cooking. Sweet taste – made into sugar.

Roots crunchy and buttery. Leaves are bitter, can be boiled.

Made into soup (borscht).

Lowers blood pressure, fights tumors, laxative.

Rich in vitamins & minerals.

Origin: No. Africa 2,000 BCE

Chives Chives Allium schoenoprasumAllium schoenoprasum

Smallest of onions, perennial.

Stems serve as leaves.

Repels insects, attracts bees.

Rich in vitamins A and C, calcium and iron.

Cut back, it continues to grow.

Its use dates back 5,000 years. .

Carrots: Daucus carota

Favorite of Bugs Bunny. Will eating carrots improve your eyesight? High energy food.

Orange, white, yellow, purple, red. The root is eaten. crunchy, sweet. Feathery leaves bitter and toxic.

Made into juice, cake, pudding.

Helps with digestion, parasites, constipation.

Origin: Asia, Middle East

Pepper:Pepper: Capsicum annuumCapsicum annuum

Comes out of the flower. Comes out of the flower. Natives used it as seasoning. Natives used it as seasoning. In tropics, grows several In tropics, grows several

season. Here an annual. season. Here an annual. A thick, fleshy wall A thick, fleshy wall

surrounds the seeds like surrounds the seeds like fruit; wall is eaten. fruit; wall is eaten.

Hot peppers are jalapeno Hot peppers are jalapeno and habanera. Eat at own and habanera. Eat at own risk ! risk !

Origin: South AmericaOrigin: South America

Eggplant:Eggplant: Solanum Solanum melongenamelongena

Large, egg-shaped. Purple Large, egg-shaped. Purple variety in U.S. since 1860. variety in U.S. since 1860. Low in vitamins / calories. Low in vitamins / calories.

White, brown, yellow, or White, brown, yellow, or striped fruits. striped fruits.

Grow in tropics. Fruit grows Grow in tropics. Fruit grows out of gray-green hairy out of gray-green hairy leaves as large as a football. leaves as large as a football.

Some thought it caused bad Some thought it caused bad breath, madness, leprosy, breath, madness, leprosy, cancer. cancer.

Origin: Northern India Origin: Northern India

Cauliflower: Cauliflower: Brassica oleraceaBrassica oleracea

Looks like broccoli, opens Looks like broccoli, opens

outward with green florets, white outward with green florets, white flowers. flowers.

Loves cool, moist climate. Heavy Loves cool, moist climate. Heavy leaves protect flowers from sun. leaves protect flowers from sun.

Low in fat, high in vitamin C, Low in fat, high in vitamin C, fiber, and carbohydrates. Cancer-fiber, and carbohydrates. Cancer-reducer? reducer?

Eaten raw, cooked, pickled. Eaten raw, cooked, pickled.

OriginOrigin: : Asia Minor Asia Minor

Lettuce:Lettuce: Lactuca sativaLactuca sativa

Used in salads; few calories. High in Used in salads; few calories. High in calcium, iron and vitamin A.calcium, iron and vitamin A.

Types: Romaine, Bibb, Iceberg, Chinese. Types: Romaine, Bibb, Iceberg, Chinese.

Large leaves grow close to the ground on Large leaves grow close to the ground on short stems. Dislikes dryness. short stems. Dislikes dryness.

Important farm crop, mainly grown out Important farm crop, mainly grown out West. West.

Origin: Middle East as early as 550 Origin: Middle East as early as 550 BCE.BCE.

Cabbage:Cabbage: Brassica oleraceaBrassica oleracea

Easy to grow, frost-hardy. Easy to grow, frost-hardy. Lots of vitamin C. Lots of vitamin C.

Family: cabbage, broccoli, Family: cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts. cauliflower, Brussel sprouts.

Types: white, red, savoy. Savoy is Types: white, red, savoy. Savoy is wrinkled. White cabbage (pale wrinkled. White cabbage (pale green) eaten in salads, cooked, green) eaten in salads, cooked, pickled as sauerkraut. pickled as sauerkraut.

Problems: snails, slugs, worms.Problems: snails, slugs, worms.

Origin: Europe, Origin: Europe, Mediterra-nean. Called “wild mustard.”