All the Dirt on Gardening

Exploring new plants and gardens is just part of the thrill when you approach gardening the way Nan Chase does. Chase is the author of the book “Eat Your Yard” and her new book “Drink the Harvest” is out this month.  Chase is a dynamic speaker who knows how to simplify her concepts, making it seem possible to grow plenty of fruits and vegetables to satisfy family and friends. One of her websites, http://drinktheharvest.com , is filled with ideas about what to plant and how to use what you grow. The book, “Drink the Harvest” is a well-illustrated how-to manual for those are just beginning or are experienced in putting food up. Chase and her co-author DeNeice C. Guest are enthusiastic about juicing garden produce because it is much easier to can than jam or pie filling, useful for making beverages, and makes use of bumper crops and less attractive produce. Their favorite juicing fruits are apples, crab apples, lemons, oranges, grapefruit, peaches, pears, bramble...

If you go Nan Chase speaking July 9, 7 to 8:30 pm Tulsa Garden Center 2435 S. Peoria Ave., Tulsa, Free and open to the public, refreshments served I nformation www.tulsaherb.com Nan Chase has three books to her credit, including:   “Asheville: A History”, and “Eat Your Yard: Edible trees, shrubs, vines, herbs and flowersfor your landscape” . After 30-years of what she calls serious gardening, Chase and her husband moved to a home with a small lot in Asheville, NC. When they had land they grew apple, pear, and peach trees; berries , nuts, and herbs; green beans, tomatoes, lettuce, and kale, pawpaws, persimmons, crabapples, quince, yucca, and medlar. Their move to a more manageable place meant less work but growing edibles was part of their life and they had to figure out a way to grow things that were familiar. The Chases rotated plantings, engineered trellises, fences and railings that would support food crops growing vertically. They added ...

Asheville NC journalist, Nan Chase's book, "Eat Your Yard" has been out since 2010 so I'm a little late to the party in writing about it. Since she lives in zone 7 - same as northeast Oklahoma's zone - I was especially interested in seeing her recommendations. "The edible yard combines beauty and practicality: beautiful form in the garden with bounteous crops to eat fresh or preserve for year-round enjoyment," says Chase in the introduction. She does not recommend ripping out the lawn to plant zucchini but suggests that we add some productive and beautiful trees, shrubs, vines, herbs and wildflowers that provide edibles for our tables and kitchens. Plus, there are recipes for the suggested plants so we can enjoy them out of season. The first chapter, Favorite Fruits, covers apples with a German Pancake recipe, landscape highlights, edible highlights, where it grows best, how to grow it and hardiness zones. I've had trouble finding a good apple varie...