‘Old’ gardening practices making a comeback
Dear Helen: I wonder why gardeners these days don’t seem to know how we dealt with lawn weeds long ago. I remember digging out dandelions with a special tool designed to lift out the entire root along with the top growth. With current banning of many garden chemicals, wouldn't it be wise to return to old methods?
S.H. Judging from the array of hand weeding tools available, I think that many gardeners still do weed by hand. There are six pages of various weeding devices in the Lee Valley Tools catalogue.
I’m guessing that the dandelion digger you mention is the same as one I have. It’s a long-handled claw weeder that Lee Valley still lists, as “Grandpa’s Weeder.” It is often referred to as a dandelion weeder. The claws are centred over the head of a weed and a foot pedal is stepped on to push the claws into the ground. Tilting the handle levers up the weed and its long root.
This useful tool has an interesting history, according to the Lee Valley catalogue description: “This elegant weeder was first produced in the early 1900s, but manufacturing was abandoned when materials were diverted to the war effort during [the Second World War]. A timeless tool, it works with a simple technique that is fast, easy, and doesn’t require any stooping.”
A similar tool, available in long-handled and short-handled versions, is a century-old V-shaped design with a spoom-shaped backing that allows for easy levering of weeds out of the soil. A more recent development is a trigger-handled water weeder that shoots a high-pressure stream of water to loosen long taproots for easy removal.
A short-handled weeder-trowel that I find useful as well has a 20-cm long, narrow, tapered blade notched with centimetre and inch markings. The comfortable, bright yellow handle is a bonus for those among us who tend to lose tools in the garden.
I hope, and think, that some of the “old” gardening practices are coming back into common use. Here’s an example: When I started out gardening, clover was often a component in lawn seed blends. Then, clover came to be regarded as a weed that required eradication with the use of herbicides targeting broad-leaved plants.
Now, clover is considered again to be a valued component of lawns as a natural manufacturer of nitrogen to feed the grass plants. It is also, once established, tolerant of dryish conditions.
Dear Helen: I have misplaced your recipe for a raw beet, onion and apple salad with a cumin-flavoured dressing. My family loves it and I am desperate to make it again. I’m sure other readers would like an introduction to this salad as well.
N.F. This is one of my favourite salads, too. In my potluck group we share recipes. This one appears regularly at our gatherings.
The recipe is an adaptation of one I found in a book about European organically produced foods. Combine grated raw beet, chopped apple and minced onion and toss in a blend of oil, vinegar, honey, cumin, and toasted, chopped hazelnuts.
Though amounts can vary according to taste, most often I use one small onion, one apple, and about three medium sized beets, and in the dressing around 3 Tbsp each apple cider vinegar and sunflower oil, 1 Tbsp honey and 1 tsp ground cumin. The salad develops its richest flavours when made a little ahead of serving.
I’m drawn to make this salad often, especially when I want something delicious that also promotes health and cleansing.
GARDEN EVENT
Art Under the Umbrellas. A group of artists has joined together to host an art-in-the-garden event on Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 6051 Hunt Rd. Hunt is the extension of Sayward, just north of Elk Lake. Twenty artists, including painters, jewellers and potters, will be displaying and selling their works and visitors are invited to enjoy them in a beautiful, tranquil garden setting. Lemonade, coffee and water will be available. There is no admission fee, but there will be a donation box for contributions to a therapeutic art group called We Rage, We Weep for people with dementia. The group will have an information table at the event, with samples of the artwork produced by participants. Plenty of parking will be available in an adjacent hay field.