July 5, 2012                                                                                              Volume 18, Issue 4 

Greetings!

Meet the Gardeners

My name is Emily Reimer and I am a junior environmental studies major from Crystal, Minn. Besides being an assistant gardener at Common Ground, I am a student naturalist at the Saint John's Arboretum and a sustainability coordinator at the CSB Office of Sustainability. I love fresh, organic, and local produce. I like being able to grow food free of pesticides and in the most sustainable way possible, while encouraging community interaction. I like being outside, surrounded by nature, no matter the terrain. My favorite place in the entire world is the ocean and I like everything that comes with it (except the Pacific Garbage Patch, but no one likes that anyway). I am interested in food justice, animal rights, and political activism. I also enjoy reading books, watching documentaries, and cooking international food. 

Hello, friends, of the garden! My name is Michael Benson, and this will be my first summer working here at Common Ground. I'm a second-year Johnnie from Northfield, Minn., with a tentative plan on double-majoring in history and English. I've spent my life around gardens; almost every home that I've lived at has had one, ranging from a tiny backyard plot for vegetables to a three-acre orchard-garden intended to provide for farmers' markets. I hope to put that experience to good use as I serve the community here. Of all the various tasks that must be accomplished by a gardener, I have two favorites that never fail to make me smile. The first is sprouting; it is so satisfying to see the tiny seeds come to life! I particularly love germinating indoors for later transplant; the room is always filled with the scent of new growth. The second is the harvest; collecting the first crop from every plant is always fun, as is the inevitable good food that follows! Few things compare to splitting a watermelon that is literally fresh from the garden.

My goal for this summer is to learn a lot more about efficiently using a large garden, as well as learning new ways to use our produce in the kitchen.  I hope to grow more connected to the community in St. Joseph and the monastery in the process. One thing's for sure: if my first two weeks here are anything to go by, this summer is going to be a lot of fun!

A Great Garden Blessing  

The Garden Blessing last Thursday was a great kickoff to the summer garden season. Subscribers, friends, neighbors and Sisters blessed the space in song and prayer. Together we prayed that our soil remained rich and "full of life" and to provide us with a fruitful harvest this year and into the future.

We also honored Nick and Helen Zaczkowski and named two of our newly planted apple trees in their memory. Dr. Z was a botanist and biology professor at the College of Saint Benedict from roughly 1961-1996. He was greatly devoted to caring for the earth and plants. S. Phyllis spoke fondly of him and their time working together at St. Johns.

And to top it all off, we munched on radish dip, hummus from last season's dry beans, focaccia bread with spinach and spicy greens, and bread from Collegeville Artisan Bakery, and enjoyed the beauty and lushness of the garden.

Make homemade, natural chap-stick and lotion with Gardener Emily Reimer

Thursday, July 26, 5-6 p.m., in the Barn Milk House

Emily will lead us through the process. If you would like to take home a sample, please bring $3 to cover the cost of supplies.

Outdoor Movie Night at the Garden

Join the gardeners for a viewing of The Lorax on Friday, August 3, at 9:30 p.m.. Bring chairs or blankets. We'll have bug spray and some snacks.

From the Catholic Worker

All are invited to a "Clarification of Thought" gathering on Friday, July 13. Join us for dinner at 6:30 p.m. and a movie and conversation on a social justice topic to follow. And Monday, July 16, will be a family friendly potluck and prayer gathering: 6-7 p.m. dinner, 7-7:30 p.m. prayer.  

35 2nd Ave SE, St. Joseph  

Eat your veggies and get ready for crafts with the gardeners. Bingo cards will still be available this week at distribution. This is a playful way to engage your kids in eating from the garden. Cross off vegetables when your child has eaten it. Any child who has at least 5 in a row by the end of the season will be invited for a special craft event.

Pea Pods and Radishes Expand (Martha Stewart Living, Spring 1991)

Serves: 4

3/4 pound sugar snap peas, trimmed

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 bunch radishes, very thinly sliced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Cook peas in boiling water for 1 minute. Pour off the water, and add butter, radishes, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss well.

Arugula and Radish Salad
(marthastewart.com)

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Coarse salt and ground pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 to 5 bunches arugula (1 1/4 pounds total; thick stems removed), washed well and dried

1 bunch radishes (8 ounces), sliced

In a large bowl, whisk together mustard and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Whisk in oil. (To store, refrigerate, up to 1 day.) Add arugula and radishes to bowl, and toss to coat. Serve salad immediately.

Servings: 4

1 bunch kale, washed and torn (stems removed)

1 small onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil 

balsamic vinegar (optional)

Heat oil in large pan. Add chopped onions and garlic. Sauté until onions are clear and begin to caramelize. Stir often. Do not allow garlic to burn. Add torn kale. Toss with onions and garlic. Cook until kale is wilted. Sprinkle with a tiny bit of balsamic vinegar if desired.

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Every week we will send several recipes that make use of the produce you are receiving in your bag. We also have a significant collection of recipes on our website at http://sbm.osb.org/ministries/common_ground_garden/recipes/.   Please send us your own recipes, too--either favorites from your cook books or your own concoctions.

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Common Ground Garden is the ministry of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Bneeidct

104 Chapel Lane
St. Joseph, Minnesota 56374