The name Pumpkin comes from the Greek name pepon, which is a large melon.

Native American Indians cooked pumpkins by roasting long strips on an open fire. They also dried strips of pumpkin and wove them into mats. The colonists made pumpkin pie by slicing off the top, removing the seeds, filing the inside with milk, spices and honey and baking in hot ashes. The colonists also used pumpkin as side dishes, in soups, and made beer with it.

The practice of carving Halloween pumpkins into Jack-O-Lanterns was brought to the United States by Irish Immigrants, who originally used turnips to carve Jack-O-Lanterns. Pumpkins in the U.S. were cheaper and more abundant so the switch was made from turnips to pumpkins.

Pumpkins are a good source of vitamins and minerals. Pumpkins contain beta-carotene, vitamin c and potassium. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of zinc and unsaturated fatty acids.

When choosing pumpkins for cooking, smaller sizes will be more tender and flavorful. Look for pumpkins that feel heavy for their size with stems attached and no blemishes. Pumpkins should have a dull finish. If the pumpkin has a shiny skin, it could have been picked too soon or might have a wax coating on it.

Pumpkins can be skinned and cooked in the same manner as most winter squash. Cut into chunks and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. When the pumpkin is cool, puree it.

Don’t forget to roast those pumpkin seeds. Roasting pumpkins seeds is a healthy delicious snack.

Just today the FDA announced that even more states are susceptible to the outbreak of salmonella (salmonellosis) infected tomatoes. On their list of don’t eats include raw: Roma, Round Red and Plum tomatoes. You should also not eat any products containing these raw tomatoes.

As someone who loves tomatoes, I’m in shock. Although I live in Tennessee, a so-called “cleared” state, I’m not so anxious to buy any tomatos in the grocery store. (Other cleared states and regions: Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas in its traceback investigation. Imported tomatoes from Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, The Netherlands and Puerto Rico also have been cleared).

If you live here, or buy tomatoes that come from any of these areas, you are affected: Two significant sources in production at that time that have not been cleared by the federal agencies are Florida and Mexico. New Mexico Department of Health officials have said that its investigators are looking closely at product from Mexico. States reporting the highest sicknesses (no deaths have been reported yet): Texas (56), New Mexico (39), Illinois (17) and Arizona (12).

Other states affected are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Given all of this, I am glad that I decided to grow my own tomatoes (and zucchini and cucumbers and fresh herbs), although my plants are not quite to the bearing fruit stages yet. Stil I would recommend anyone who intends on eating fresh, uncooked vegetables anytime in the future, that you grow your own. It’s not hard to do, with our guide to growing tomatoes and other vegetables, you have all the information and sources you need. It’s not expensive, if you frequent our vendors, you’ll find some of the best prices around for seeds, seedlings and starter plants. Space isn’t an issue as most vegetables can grow in containers if that is all you have room for, and tomatoes are especially accommodating as they can actually grow upside-down,
hanging from a basket!

Don’t wait for the FDA to tell you that today’s supermarket produce is not actually the best thing for you, and often carries diseases, germs and other unpleasantness – such as high price tags. Take the bull by the horns and start your own vegetable garden today! See our recent post: Planting Vegetables 101

Since the BornToGarden.com mascot is a little groundhog, we thought we’d launch our site by telling you all a little bit about Groundhog’s Day, which was just a few days ago.

So, thanks to our friends at GroundHog.org the official website of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, here’s a flash course on what happened last Saturday, and therefore, when we can expect spring to arrive:

Phil Says Six More Weeks of Winter!

Phil’s official forecast as read 2/2/08 at sunrise at Gobbler’s Knob:

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

On Gobbler’s Knob on this fabulous Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2008 Punxsutawney Phil, the Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators, Rose to the call of President Bill Cooper and greeted his handlers, Ben Hughes and John Griffiths.

After casting a weather eye toward thousands of his faithful followers, Phil consulted with President Cooper and directed him to the appropriate scroll, which proclaimed:

“As I look around me, a bright sky I see, and a shadow beside me. Six more weeks of winter it will be!”

And there you have it. So according to Phil, now is the time to start planning your spring garden. Six weeks is the ideal time frame to make some critical decisions about your garden. Thinking of changing the layout, creating a new landscape plan, wondering about groundcover, shrubs and flowering bushes and plants? Now is the time and BornToGarden.com is the place!

We’ve got all the topics covered…so start exploring our pages and pages of gardening tips, information, and news!

And if you’re still thirsty for more Groundhog Day lore… Continue Reading →