Soil, Plants, and What Tastes Good

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Introducing Community Members to Soil Health

  1. Youth/families discuss what are traditional or favored meals.
  2. Pull ingredients that can be grown in gardens—tomatoes for pizza, herbs for spaghetti and meatballs, peppers for sofrito—what nutrients do they have in common?

Connecting Soil Health and Human Health

  1. Vitamins such a calcium, magnesium and potassium are vital parts of soil—the necessary for human health.
  2. Invite families to look at soil composition and the composition of their favorite foods—what are the common nutrients?

Create Learning events around soil and food

  1. Work with youth and families to create an event using tools like microscopes, magnifying glasses to see the smallest mineral.
  2. Invite families and youth to taste, prepare and journal about the activties.

Planting a Sofrito Plot

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Types of plants that work well together in a 4′ by 8′ plot:

  • Onions
  • Red and Green Peppers
  • Garlic
  • Cilantro
  • Culantro

Varieties that are best for Northern Areas:

  • Peppers: Aji dulce, cubanelle, bell peppers, Italian red peppers
  • Onions: yellow, Vidalia, white onions

For beginners: start with plant starts. More experienced growers starting seeds late in the winter is preferable (based on the zone in which you live).

Recipe for Sofrito

Tipos de plantas que funcionan bien juntas en una parcela de 4′ por 8′:

  • Cebollas
  • Pimientos rojos y verdes
  • Ajo
  •  Cilantro
  •  Culantro – Recao

Variedades que son mejores para las áreas del norte:

  • Pimientos: ají dulce, cubanelle, pimientos morrones, imientos rojos italianos, pimientos verdes
  • Cebollas: amarillas, Vidalia, cebollas blancas

Para principiantes: comience con las plantas iniciales. Los cultivadores más experimentados prefieren comenzar con las semillas a fines del invierno (según la zona en la que viva).

Receta de Sofrito

Perennials in Small Urban Growing Spaces

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Benefits of Growing Perennials

  1. Adding perennial berries and herb plants bring great benefits to small garden spaces.
  2. The raspberries, blackberries and other fruit plants produce flowers that attract many beneficial pollinators that help other plants grow.
  3. Some perennial vegetables can provide excellent ground cover. Examples are: artichokes, asparagus, rhubarb and Egyptian walking onions.
  4. Fruit bushes can act as windbreaks, preventing soil erosion.
  5. Perennials assist with improving soil health

Some Considerations for Using Perennials in Small Spaces

  1. Use varieties of plants and fruits that can be grown in compact spaces such as raised beds, or containers.
  2. Consider planting fruit trees that will not shade smaller growing areas, such as vegetable gardens. Dwarf trees can fit nicely in garden spaces.
  3. To maintain or improve soil organic matter, select plants that will produce high volumes of organic material.

Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust

A tribally-led nonprofit reconnecting American Indian tribes, clans, Urban Indians, and Indigenous people across the Northeast. Rooted in reverence for Mother Earth, we care for the land for future generations and honor our connection to Earth, Sky, and Creator.

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