Saturday, January 07, 2012
By Norman Winter, McClatchy Newspapers

‘Aristotle’ basil is compact, mounding and flavorful, perfect for the porch or patio.
If you have ever had even a fleeting thought on trying a little herb growing for own culinary creations, then by all mean remember the name Aristotle. ‘Aristotle’ is a relatively new compact basil that will thrill with both its ease at growing and its flavor in the kitchen.
Last week I wrote about the ‘Tumbling Tom’ tomato and how vegetables were going compact or even in baskets for today’s urban gardener. Well, ‘Aristotle’ basil fits this theme perfectly. In a container or the landscape for that matter, it looks like a 12-inch dwarf evergreen shrub, at least until you brush the aromatic foliage with your hands. As the name might suggest, many consider it a fine Greek basil.
Whether you say “bay-zil” or “baa-zil,” we can agree on one thing: Juicy tomato chunks mixed with olive oil, freshly torn basil and garlic spooned over hot pasta is a true feast.
Besides having extraordinary taste, basil is incredibly easy to grow. ‘Aristotle’ is perfect for tucking into unused garden corners, displaying among vegetables, edging a flower garden or along a path where they gently release pungent anise aroma when brushed. Because it is a smaller basil, it makes a superb edging for the perennial border, or vegetable garden. But don’t forget the container on the porch, patio or deck.
Basil asks for nothing more in the garden than full sun and well-drained soil. It grows quickly from seed, but several varieties of transplants can be found in the herb section at your garden center. Basil thrives during warm summer weather and excels in fall plantings as well.
Harvest basil just as the flower buds begin to form. The leaves contain the most concentrated oils and provide the best flavor and fragrance at this time. Once the plant begins to expend energy in flower and seed production, it loses some of its potency.
Cut or pinch basil just above a leaf or pair of leaves, removing no more than one-fourth the plant. This leaves enough foliage to keep the plant healthy and looking good in the landscape.
Simple air-drying produces tasty basil for use all winter. Rinse the leaves in cool water and gently shake off extra moisture. When thoroughly dry, tie a handful of stems firmly into a bundle. Place the bundle in a paper bag, gather the top of the bag around the stems and tie again.
Label, and hang the bag in a dry place where the temperature doesn’t get above 80 degrees. After two to four weeks, the herbs should be dry and crumbly. Once basil is dried, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark cupboard. Keep the leaves whole if possible to preserve the oils, and crush or grind only when using them.
For the fullest flavor in the kitchen, add fresh basil to dishes within the last 5 or 10 minutes of cooking time. Use fresh in tomato dishes, soups, salads, sauces and pasta. Its flavor blends well with other herbs like rosemary, oregano, thyme and sage.
‘Aristotle’ via http://www.2bseeds.com/container-aristotle-basil-seeds.shtml and plant your own.
First published on January 7, 2012 at 12:00 am
From Norman Winter, McClatchy Newspapers

2BSEEDS has earned the status of the Company that truly cares for their customers.

When I went to 2BSeeds to place my order I saw that 2BSeeds had an offer to help out those out of work with some free tomatoes seeds and a 40% discount coupon. This was very exciting because of my limited budget. If I could get a 40% discount on my seed purchase I could get all of the seeds I needed – not just the few I could afford.
I emailed 2BSeeds at custserv@2bseeds.com to see if I qualified for the program.

Linda wrote me back right away to let me know that I could use the discount program. I felt truly blessed. The discount allowed me to receive $90 worth of the best quality seeds for only $50!

There are a lot of people talking about helping their fellow man in today’s hard times. But 2BSeeds is ACTUALLY doing something about it. THANK YOU SO MUCH 2BSEEDS!!!

You have earned a loyal customer for life!
Jerry Henricks, Russellville, TN

Seeds Of Compassion

Here’s some hopeful news we have to share and which may do a bit to restore your faith in humanity. Our highly valued clients of longstanding, Dan and Linda Busch of 2BSeeds.com, are doing something very real to help American families get through lean times. 2Bseeds is offering a packet of free tomato seeds to anyone who is unemployed or who is trying to plant a vegetable garden to help feed his or her family this year.
Everyone talks about the need to help others, but it’s beautiful to see a company come up with a small yet utterly meaningful way to actually do this! The Busch family’s great-grandparents did a similar act of kindness back in the years of Great Depression, giving away free tomatoes to hungry folks at the farmers’ market. The wonderful thing about this present day offer 2BSeeds is making is that these tomato seeds are an heirloom red tomato, meaning gardening families can save some of the seed for next year from this summer’s tomato crop, further increasing their future food security. It’s a little bit like the adage of giving a man a fish, or teaching a man to fish: the effects of this simple gift from this caring family could be very far reaching for their customers. We are really proud to know such good people.
Praise and thanks are already rolling into this Colorado-based seed company’s inboxes.

From Solas Web Design- SEOigloo Blog-Miriam Ellis

The Pride in Growing since 1870

We are the fifth generation of Busch’s to grow vegetables, flowers and herbs. We have since developed the 2BSeeds Company. Our statement was to ensure that all home gardeners could have the same quality of seeds that professional growers have enjoyed for years. 2B Seeds’ is a family business, even with grand-children enjoying the “Love of the Seed”. Dan Busch-one of the family members, has been a grower for over 40 years, and has served as the President of Colorado Greenhouse Growers Association.

We strongly believe that the best gardening results start from the best beginnings, and that is what we are making available to you, our customer. Our primary focus is to ensure that you are successful in your plantings with quality seeds.

Take control of your health and safety of your family by growing your own vegetables with our selection of seeds.

Allowing someone other than yourself to retain control of your food supply is too important to overlook. Food not only is critical for one’s self-being, it is also a basic necessity and cornerstone of our culture. Without food, nothing can survive. View our line of organic vegetable seeds here!

Flowers for Bees.

Organic Vegetables from 2BSeeds.

Hi Everyone!
We are so excited to be bringing to you these incredible sauces, as we have personally used them with many dinners for our friends and family. If you know of anyone that needs Gluten Free sauces this will be a great addition for their meal selection. The Meals in a Minute Gluten Free, MSG Free Sauces have been formulated, tested and bottled to provide you with Gourmet Restaurant Quality taste, ingredients and fragrances. You will get the secret of a chef’s kitchen in every MiM jar. You can find all of the products at www.mealsinaminute.net/2bseeds. Or go to http://www.mealsinaminute.com and our chef consultant # is 1124.

It is so easy! Just add Chicken, meat, fish or tofu along with your choice of fresh vegetables or even the ones that you have put in your freezer from last years harvest and cook in a wok or saucepan and then add your choice of sauce for tonights dinner. Not only are they delicious and Gluten-Free, they are also Dairy Free, MSG-Free, some are Vegan as well as Peanut and Sesame Oil Free.

Pad Thai
Ingredients

Vegetable Oil 1 Tbsp
Egg 1
Shrimp (de-veined and shelled) 8 – 10
Rice Noodles, softened in water (about ¼ package dried noodle sticks) 3 Cups
Tamarind Sauce 4 Tbsp
Scallions/Chives, cut into 1-in. lengths 2 Stems
Bean Sprouts or thinly sliced Cabbage ½ Cup
Paprika ½ Tsp
Lime 1 Wedge
Ground Roasted Peanuts (optional) 1 Tbsp

Cooking Instructions Pour boiling water over dried noodles until covered. Let noodles soften for 10 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside. Heat wok or stir-fry pan until hot at med-high heat. Add oil, then egg and scramble until cooked. Add shrimp and cook until partially done (about 30 seconds). Add noodles; toss until soft and noodles start to clump together (about 60-90 seconds). Add Tamarind Sauce; stir until shrimp is cooked. Add scallions, bean sprouts or cabbage, and paprika and mix until heated through (about 10 sec). Serve with a wedge of lime and roasted peanuts.
Watch on You Tube- How To
href=”http://mealsinaminute.com/Videos.aspx“>

New Organics and Wildflowers

Introducing our new Organics and Wildflower Selections.

The 2010 Garden Contest Winner

With all of the new varieties this year and all of our favorites, our personal Vegetable Garden is the largest that we have ever planted. As of today we have 12 different Tomatoes, 15 Peppers including Chili Peppers, Eggplant, Squash, Beans, Onions, Leeks, Watermelons, Cucumbers, Beets and the list just goes on and on. Dan and I and the grand-kids have had a great time planting this year in pots and in the ground.

We will definitely have a bounty this year. How are your gardens coming along? Drop us a line and let us know.

Did you know that this year we are having a contest for the best garden- may it be for Vegetables or for Flowers. Just send us a picture of your garden and you may be the winner of $100.00 of free seeds for next year. You can send your pictures to custserv@2bseeds.com. The drawing will be August 31st 2010. Good Luck to all of you!!

Dan & Linda Busch
Owners of 2BSeeds

Letting Your Kids Pick

Probably the single most useful – and obvious – tip for getting your kids interested in growing their own food is to allow them to pick things they would like to grow.

For many adult gardeners, much of the enjoyment comes from planning what to do grow, so if you let your children in the process, they would more likely feel they have a real stake in what’s going on. Give them their say and you might be amazed at the ideas they’ll come up with and what it appealing for them and the reasons.
By growing your own food is another good way to stimulate your child’s interest in gardening and cooking. Your children will be amazed by planting their own fruit or vegetable in your own garden, preparing the soil, planting the seeds, watching it germinate, taking care of the plants as it grows and then going to the garden and picking it to eat for dinner. There are many educational and health benefits for the whole family, as well as the satisfaction of seeing the whole garden project through -from beginning to end, especially if the end product tastes really good.

If this is your children’s first attempt at growing their own food, try to aim for rapid results – especially when they are quite young – to keep their interest and excitement a quick reward. Plant some fast-producing crop like snow peas and beans, carrots, radishes.

They’re curious, and like to learn by doing, and as you know they love to play in the dirt.

By working in a garden, your child can experience the satisfaction that comes from caring for something that lives and over time they are observing the cycle of life firsthand.

Gardening also gives your children a chance to learn an important life skill, one that is unfortunately overlooked in most standard school curriculums. Gardening is also a great way to teach environmental knowledge and awareness by exploring nature.

Our children and our grandchildren have been involved with gardening from an early age, and it was exciting to watch their interest and their self-esteem grow as their gardening efforts yielded food for the dinner table. Although there are many crops suitable for your young gardener, here are some of our favorites, which are relatively easy to grow, have short growing seasons and are fun to harvest.

Favorites for Kids

Sunflower
Sunflowers are a must for any child’s garden. Plant just one or two, since they take a lot of room. Sunflowers will sprout in 1 week, and then become a small seedling with in 2 weeks, and should be 2′ tall with in a month, depending on the variety planted. In 8 weeks, the buds will flower revealing hundreds of seed kernels. Make sure to grow ‘eatable’ types of sunflowers, if you are growing for food. They will dry naturally in the late summer sun; you can also hang upside down with a net below to catch the seeds, rich in protein and iron, can be roasted for snacks. Save a few for next summers’ planting.

Radishes
These little gems give quick results for the young gardener. Radishes germinate in 3-10 days, and have a very short growing season of 20-30 days. They can be planted closely, 4-6″ apart. Plant in cool weather for a mild radish, or hot weather for a hotter radish.

Tomatoes or Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes are a must for kids. These may be the most fun crop for a child. Plant in full sun and use seedlings rather than planting from seed. Put in a 2′ stake alongside each seedling; they need to be tied loosely to stakes as they get taller. Add lots of compost. Water at ground level, trying to keep leaves dry. Growing season is 50-75 days.

Nasturtiums
Flowers that are easy to grow and yield results quickly, which will encourage the young gardener. Nasturtiums will bloom in about 50 days after the seeds are planted, with orange, yellow and red flowers. They do prefer sunny, dry locations and do well in poor soil as well. Choose the shorter varieties for garden beds. One great thing about nasturtiums is that they are pest resistant, which ensures a successful planting. The flowers can be edible, and can be used to add color to a fresh garden salad.

Bush Beans
These little green gems are fast, easy, and have a high yield, and because they do not grow tall, they are easy for your kids to pick. Bush beans will germinate in about 4-8 days, and mature in 40-65 days. Plant closely spaced, about 4′ apart. Grow in direct sun; water the soil but try to keep the leaves dry as to prevent disease. Bush beans will not need poles or trellises to grow.

Pumpkin

If you have the room to grow Pumpkins, your kids will love watching them grow. Plant seeds in a small hill; poke three holes in the hill and put one seed in each hole. Seeds will sprout in about 1 week, and after a few days, vine leaves begin to form and creep along the ground. Once you have 3 pumpkins on the vine, it is best to pick off any new blossoms. Pumpkins will take about 80 – 120 days to harvest. They will be ready when it feels hard on the outside and sounds hollow when you tap the skin. Let an adult supervise the cutting, using shears. Seeds can be dried to eat or baked, or save for future planting. The inside can be used for pies, and the pumpkin for the kids to carve.

Children Love Ownership

Let them have their own garden beds. May it be a raised bed or a container or a ground plot, be sure to give each child his or her own separate plot. Keep it small, very small for young kids. Put their plots right in the middle of the action, with the best soil and light. Set them up for success.

It is important to engage them throughout the entire process, from planting the seed to placing on the table. Children learn better when they understand the reason and context of their activity. They will also learn that gardening can be fun, and far more than idle play; they are contributing to the family well-being and especially in these hard economical times that they are helping the family. Besides planting and nurturing their garden beds, try to be sure they alone do the harvesting and preparation of their crop for the table, no matter how modest the offering.
A good lesson is always start from seeds. While it may be a convenient shortcut to buy starters, children will learn more by seeing the growing process as it begins with seeds. The care given to sprouting seeds and nurturing the young seedling are a valuable part of the gardening experience as well as how to nurture any living thing.

Show off their work. When your friends some to visit make sure to point out the children’s beds. Take pictures of their harvest and send it to their grandparents, aunts and uncles. The more attention given to their work is the best motivator for children to stay involved with a project.

A Colorado man is giving away free tomato seeds. Why? Because Dan Busch’s great grandparents once handed out free tomatoes during the Great Depression as a way to provide unemployed families with a way to supplement their own food. Now, as owner of 2BSeeds, Busch is looking to do something similar for this century’s Great Recession, this time with vegetable seeds. As the economy goes down, food gardening goes up.

Press Release, Broomfield, CO (PRWEB) March 10, 2010 — Free tomato seeds. They are one man’s way to make a difference.

It may be a different time, but Dan Busch of 2BSeeds in Broomfield, Colorado, will never forget the stories of the Great Depression in the 1930s that were passed on to him by his great grandparents. His great grandfather was a tomato grower during the Depression and he decided to give away free tomatoes at the farmers market to all whom were unemployed and in need of finding a way to feed their families.

Now 2BSeeds is looking to give back and follow their family’s tradition in a very big way by offering a free package of heirloom red tomato seeds to all who are unemployed or in need of supplementing their food budget.

Vegetable gardens are on the rise and there will be 40% more of them this year than there were just two years ago, states the National Gardening Association, a non-profit gardening education organization. Bruce Butterfield, the group’s research director, says, “As the economy goes down, food gardening goes up.”

Tomatoes are easy to grow and one plant can provide 10-20 lbs of harvest for most families. The quality of fruit picked in the garden when fully ripe far surpasses anything available in the market, even in season. Tomatoes are excellent for canning, freezing, and drying.

Nutritionists have always known tomatoes were good for you, now there is research-based information as to why. Tomatoes are high in vitamin C, potassium, fiber and vitamin A in the form of health promoting beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. With other vegetable seeds, gardens can be planted to provide an effective, cheap way to produce needed food.

Dan and his wife Linda own and operate 2BSeeds, an Internet business that ships quality vegetable seeds, flower seeds and herb seeds throughout the United States. Dan and Linda are not new to gardening, as they owned and operated a greenhouse in Colorado from 1980 to 2004. Supporting charities and international children’s food programs has always been a custom for their family and their company.

2BSeeds.com offers information for the novice growing his first tomatoes as well as the ambitious gardener who wants to plant a full vegetable garden to feed a whole family. Guidance is provided for all U.S. growing zones. Dan and Linda’s hope is that more families will discover the pleasure of growing their own garden using vegetable seeds. Valued at $2.50, free tomato seeds are just a click away. Submit to the shopping cart, and fill out the shipping information to receive the tomato seeds with 2BSeed’s secure Web site.

A nominal shipping and handling fee is required to receive the free tomato seeds, and this offer remains valid only while supplies last. So be sure to visit our free tomato seeds page or call 1-800-833-5988 to receive your batch of free vegetable seeds.