Gardens in buckets,
Gardens in lace,
Gardens on rooftops …
Gardens in space?
Captain Kirk never dared to dream such succulence.
Nevertheless, it’s not science fiction.
On August 10, astronauts at the International Space Station ate fresh food grown in space for the very first time. In a collapsible and expandable Veggie Unit dubbed Lada, the astronaut gardeners grew a real, live crop of red romaine lettuce out there among the stars, and the taste test was documented in live-stream fashion:
Sure, it’s a little avant-garde in the realm of gardening, but it sure beats the Jetson’s Meal-o-Matic fare.
Image courtesy of Mike Licht via Flickr
Driven by more than mere curiosity (and serious cravings for fresh salad), NASA is experimenting with space-grown food in hopes that it might aid astronauts in extended expeditions through the galaxy.
Watch out, Mars, here we come.
Photo by Cmichel67 via Wikimedia Commons
P.S. If you’re “spacing” out and still wondering about the “gardens in lace” mentioned in line two, come back for tomorrow’s post!
Today’s recipe is taken from my Glamping with MaryJane book. (Actually, in my book, my basic recipe below ends up with a host of yummy, unlikely ingredients added, but I’ll save those surprises for you until you have my book in your hands!)
And let’s not forget their partner, the homemade graham cracker, which will be part two of this recipe series next week. Don’t forget to check back.
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Judith Lickteig!!!
Judith Lickteig (#3926) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Expert Level Herbs Merit Badge!
“This year, I am growing all my herbs in pots, which I hope to move to raised beds next year. Three new herbs I am growing are borage, catnip, and peppermint.
The borage flowers are beautiful! I’ve used the fresh flowers and new leaves in salads. Also, the flowers are a pretty blue and star-shaped. I like to freeze the flowers in ice cubes and add the cubes to lemonade or ice water. I’ve harvested some of the catmint for tea and for adding to cat toys. I’ll try to add a picture of one I made. I plan to send a photo of a cat toy and the pattern to the Wildflower Henhouse sisters. I have also included teabags of dried catmint for use as tea or to put in the toys. My son’s family uses a supply of catmint regularly as a digestive and a calming mint tea. I laughed when he told me that once, he drank so much of it that his nose became numb. Ha! I will also send the Wildflowers teabags of my dried peppermint. This is really a great tea for calming stress and insomnia. My entire family drinks it for colds or just calming.”
Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
