When Should You Buy Organic?

[William]

Hey Reader, nice reply....

 

   Has anyone here ever have Blueberries?  There is a world of difference from store bought blueberries and having a friend like I do who grows them and picks a big bag for me right off his blueberry bush!  Thats when you start to think about Organics!

  

[Reader]

It is a bit too hot where I am for growing the different berries - the most successful was always strawberries, but we stopped a long time ago as the goannas were always feasting on them (plus the slaters and snails).  It is better to grow them in pots well up from ground level - again, the homegrown ones always have the best flavour as we can pick when they are really ripe and sweet.

[William]

  I started my Strawberries too late this summer so no go.

[Reader]

We are halfway thru spring so the winter produce is finishing and the summer ones have germinated - stone fruits have all set, and loquats - late oranges are ready for picking.  I guess we are very lucky to have the opportunity to enjoy all these.  We don't have snow (occasional frost in winter) so we can plant whatever whenever, tho' I do love tropical fruits which don't like a temperate climate.

[William]

Reader.    I love, love, Loquats...  Some people here call them Japanese plums but I was raised calling them Loquats.  As a child I use to Climb our loquat tree it was that big.   I have 2 loquat trees that I will plant after this winter.  Ive had 2 die planted out front so I will plant these in my back yard.   You can keep the comquats tho.  too sour for me....

 

[Reader]

Many people aren't sure what loquats are but I really like them too.  We have two sorts, very round, and oval shaped.  The birds always have their share so there are often small seedlings popping up from the dropped pips.  I have made jam from them also - it is delicious (very sweet) but fiddley to prepare - I think there is also a pickle recipe using loquats.  We all just grab some when walking past and eat them straight off the tree (I prefer to peel off the skins so no need to wash them).   Cumquats are really only suitable for jam (marmalade) but they make a very attractive addition to a garden with the orange and green contrast - just a bit messy when the fruit falls if it is not picked.

[William]

  Ive only recently have seen some Loquats in the store but I have never tasted them that way.  Ive always just picked them off trees.  They say Loquats are very good fer ya and are antioxidents errr something like that.  But I love their taste.  Back as a kid our Loquat tree was big enough for 6 kids climb it easily maybe more.  We never washed them just crammed them in our mouths and spit out them big seeds.    Yum.

[haven]

:orctong: You guys are killing me.  I have a sad basil plant growing on my balcony that I make pesto with lol.  I used to get a farm to deliver a box of produce a week, but my husband is very veggie hateful so I ended up wasting the cool stuff or not getting all the ordinary stuff eaten. 

Then we moved to an area JUST as urban but without any fresh delivery service (have I mentioned I hate the bay area? :big grin:) and I developed a horrible addiction 5.99 a LB (!!!) heirloom tomatoes .  My family always had a garden growing up and I get a little nutso for a tomato that actually tastes like something. 

Thanks for the info, Richard.  I will keep this little list handy.  (You and DT are looking mighty fine in your avatars, BTW :nod:)

[Richard]

Thanks haven and welcome back. We missed having you around here. :)

[Polly]

Hey Reader, nice reply....

 

   Has anyone here ever have Blueberries?  There is a world of difference from store bought blueberries and having a friend like I do who grows them and picks a big bag for me right off his blueberry bush!  Thats when you start to think about Organics!

  

William, I made a blueberry pie last night.  The blueberries came from the bushes here.  They were last year's blueberries which had been in the deep freezer.  The pie tastes pretty good to me.  I don't think I have ever had a piece of blueberry pie before as I am not much of a pie eater.  I used organic sugar which I think makes a difference in taste, too.

I would like to get one of those vacuum pack machines for storing and freezing food.