For people who want to grow more food with less work. 🌱 This is my weekly newsletter loved by 38,000+ subscribers—here's what one of them had to say: "These are not the regular run-of-the-mill garden-based emails. You actually touch on more unusual tidbits that encourage me to keep growing and learning."
this gourmet spice grows on a landscaping tree (and most people don't realize it)
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Can I be honest here? A lot of people ask what I miss most about living in Southern California. They think I'll say I miss my old garden, and sure, there's a lot to love about it: the year-round growing season, all the citrus trees we had, there was even a little ocean view since our home was on top of a hill. But I actually love the challenges of growing in Central Oregon. Is that weird? I'm a constant tinkerer and learner, and being in this crazy climate (that claims to be zone 6b but anyone who lives here knows we're really in zone 4 or 5) has opened up a whole new world of tinkering and learning that totally lights me up. There is one thing I do miss about SoCal, however, and that's my old neighborhood. I lived on the Palos Verdes Peninsula for seven years, which feels unlike anywhere else in the Greater LA Basin. Think: surfing with whales, magical tidepools, and rugged coastlines dotted with marine sanctuaries. There were also tons of pretty hikes all over the peninsula, and this time of year, I loved heading out for a quick coastal hike to take in the sunset and forage for one of my favorite spices: pink peppercorns. Yep, the same pink peppercorns you buy in the store. They actually grow on trees all over SoCal, and many people don't realize the berries can be dried and turned into those fancy pink peppercorns you pay a premium for. The spice (which is not related to black peppercorns at all, nor is it a true pepper) comes from Peruvian pink pepper trees, which are grown as ornamental trees in suburban backyards and all over sidewalks. They're also found in the wild and they're beautiful trees, with long sweeping branches that look like weeping willows. Every fall and winter, the branches are draped in reddish-pink berries that end up littering the ground if they aren't harvested. Such a shame, right? (They're so prolific that many people actually think of them as a nuisance! If only they knew...) If you live in one of the regions where pink pepper trees thrive, you're in for a real treat. (They're NOT exclusive to California!) It's so easy to harvest and dry the berries, and because they're a really unusual forage, they make wonderful gifts if you're the type of person who likes to bring food as gifts. (You have no idea how many times I've heard from a friend, "Wow! You found these on a hike?!")
What other wild edibles do you love to hunt for? California bay leaves were another favorite of mine (they're found in the foothills on many popular hikes) but now that I'm in the Pacific Northwest, I love to forage for huckleberries, thimbleberries, and salmonberries. Mushrooms are next on my list to learn! P.S. Pink peppercorns grow on common landscaping trees. Here's how you can find and gather this gourmet spice in winter! P.P.S. Planning to add a new raised bed to your garden this coming year? Vego Bed, which makes modular metal raised bed kits, is running a New Year sale through January 18! Get up to 40% off their raised beds and other garden products, a free gift with the purchase of a greenhouse, or a free gift box with orders of $300+. No code necessary. I bought their 17" tall modular metal raised bed last year and love how versatile it is. It's definitely steps ahead of the cheap metal beds you can find on Amazon and elsewhere. |
Garden Betty
For people who want to grow more food with less work. 🌱 This is my weekly newsletter loved by 38,000+ subscribers—here's what one of them had to say: "These are not the regular run-of-the-mill garden-based emails. You actually touch on more unusual tidbits that encourage me to keep growing and learning."