GenAcres Homestead

Parsley is a tender herb with soft stems and leaves.  It is popular for many reasons including its variety of uses, vitamin content and its ability to grow and give you a flavorful harvest even after a light snowfall.  Parsley has a light, peppery flavor that complements other seasonings.      Types of Parsley Curly Leaf Parsley.   Deep curled leaves and attractive appearance.  Only used as a garnish. Flat Leaf Parsley (AKA Italian Parsley) Preferred by cooks for its flat, celery-like leaves.  Pleasant tasting foliage can be eaten fresh or added to recipes.  Single Leaf Italian Parsley has a rich flavor that is best for seasoning cooked dishes.   Giant of Italy Parsley.  Huge, dark green leaves with great flavor.  Strong, upright stems make this one of the best parsley varieties for fresh-market sales. Starting Parsley from Seed Parsley is slow to germinate, but after you do get it to the plant stage, it's not fussy at all.  To speed up this process, soak or

The perennial shrub, Thyme, certainly deserves a place in every herb garden.  Not only is it one of the most useful plants in the kitchen, but it also has attractive foliage, long-lasting flowers and it's an easy-to-care-for compact plant.  English Thyme is used most often in cooking. Types of culinary Thyme include Thymus Vulgaris, also referred to as Common Thyme, and include summer, winter, and French Thyme.  Starting Thyme From Seed Thyme seeds are difficult and slow to germinate, but it can be done.  It will take a year to get a good-sized plant. Seed Longevity:                                           2 years. Seed Sowing Depth:                                    Cover thinly. Best Soil Temp for Germination:                  70 degrees. Days to Germination:                                    7-10+ days. Spring Sowing Sow indoors 6-10 weeks before the last spring frost.    Plant outside 2-3 weeks before the first last spring frost.

Pressure Canning Item List With this fast-paced and ever-changing world we live in now, there is no better time to learn to pressure can food. Many people are taking a renewed interest in learning to can food in light of the recent world events taking place. Pressure Canning Check List In addition to saving money by buying food in bulk at grocery sales and farmers’ markets, a pantry full of jars of food can give you confidence that your family will stay safely fed. Whether you are harvesting the food from your own large garden or farm or beginning to grow some veggies on your deck or porch, the art of canning food is a great way to stock up on items you regularly use. To learn the basics of pressure canning, a good book like this one is very important. There are some essential kitchen appliances that you will need to get started. The cost of some of these items may seem a bit daunting at first, but the investment will be well worth it. Pressure Canner First, you wi

Canning Jars Sizes and Their Common Usages Mason jars have many uses, but the glass in them is particularly molded for use in home canning to preserve food. The mouths of Mason jars have threads on their outer perimeter so they can accept a metal ring when it is screwed down onto them.

Growing Kale A hardy biennial usually grown as an annual. Height 12-18"    Width   8-12" When it comes to Kale in salads, Kale adds substance, color, and most importantly nutrition.  Its colorful leaves are packed with vitamins and minerals.  Kale's leaf texture can range from deeply puckered to deeply frilled. Types: Curley Leaf (Scotts Kale).  Noticeable pungent flavor with a peppery quality.... Dinosaur Kale.  Hearty leaves that are tall and narrow.  It retains its firm texture even after cooking.  It is slightly sweeter with a more delicate taste. Red Russian Kale.  Flat, fringed leaves that resemble large Arugula leaves.  Great sweet flavor with a bit of pepper. Rape kale (aka Leaf and Spear).  A cross between a curly leaf and plain leaf . Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks     Starting Seeds of Kale Seed Depth:                     1/2" Seed Spacing:                  3" Days to Germinate:           5-7 days