Have you ever been to Kroger to get some fresh mint or some basil for a Caprese Salad, and spent the $4 to buy the big bunch of basil? Then, that basil lasts about a day in your fridge before it starts to wilt, and by the end of the second day you’ve thrown it out!
This has always been frustrating for me, because I love cooking with fresh herbs. Like many of you, though, I’ve never really had a place where I could grow them. Well, that’s finally changed! The other day I borrowed some pots from my mom, got some soil and seedlings at Home Depot, and planted a mini-garden.
Now I have mint, basil, and Swiss chard, mostly because that is all Home Depot had left this late in the season. My experience with actually growing plants is rather thin, but I figured, “Hey, how hard could it be to grow a few herbs?”
I read the packaging on each plant, which told me that they would like sun, water, and living in the ground. Nothing too complicated there. I put my plants in some soil, gave them a little water, and sat back to watch them grow. Thinking I would water my plants every other day to try and conserve some water, I arrived home the second day to find my Swiss Chard wilted. I had managed to kill a plant in near record time! Desperately, I poured a large bowl of water into the pot, hoping to save the mint and the basil from what I was now sure was certain doom. Much to my surprise, the next morning when I woke up the Swiss Chard had bounced back, and has now regained its old form. (I will be watering it every day now.)
Growing just a few things on your porch takes very little time, of which we, as med students, have very little to begin with. If it sounds intriguing, just buy a small pot, fill it with some dirt, and pop in a couple of seeds. You might be surprised what can happen when you just add a little water.
–Campbell Grant
Filed under: News
So you think you know your way around the aisles? Well, there’s always more to learn. The UK Health & Wellness Department has graciously offered to take a group of medical students on a tour of a local Kroger store.
We’ll talk about what to look for as you shop, menu planning, and vegetarian/vegan options. It’s guaranteed to be a helpful experience.
The size of this tour is somewhat limited, so send an e-mail to chefmed.uk@gmail.com if you’d like to jump on. Then we’ll send you the details!
Filed under: News
Check it out! chefMed has been invited to pitch in the fourth meeting of 5across on August 18th.
5across is a bi-monthly gathering of entrepeneurs, investors, and service providers in from the Lexington business community. At each meeting, 5 local entrepeneurs gives a 5-slide, 5-minute presentation (starting at 5pm). A panel of judges determines which pitch merits the $500 prize.
This money would act as a seed grant to fund chefMed until our program becomes self-sustaining. $500 would be a huge help!
5 across is presented by Awesome, Inc. and the Lexington Venture Club, and the meeting will be held at 348 E Main Street in Lexington. We would love for you to come out in support. Tickets are available at 5across.org
Filed under: News
Our first event of the school year will be a morning of gardening with friends at Seedleaf. Seedleaf is a community gardening non-profit in Lexington that works to increase access to healthy foods in underserved areas. They also facilitate monthly workshops on cooking and preserving seasonal produce.
We’ll see what’s growing as summer ends, learn about the possibilities for gardening in the city, and have wheelbarrow-loads of fun. Maybe we’ll even walk down to the farmer’s market afterward! Wear sunscreen and clothes suitable for work. If it’s raining, we’ll postpone.
Gardening with Seedleaf
August 21, 2010
10am-12pm
London Ferrell Community Garden
E 3rd Street, between Martin Luther King Blvd. and Elm Tree Ln.
chefMed 