Bravo for tomatoes, beans and kale. But what's next for the ardent home
gardener? Wheats, including farro, spelt and kamut, are surprisingly
easy and very rewarding backyard crops. They can be planted as early as
the ground can be worked in spring and harvested mid-summer to make room
for fall crops. These ancient food sources can be milled for flour,
sprouted or eaten as whole grains to retain their natural amino acids,
fibre, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics, among other
benefits.
In addition to wheat, there are also heirloom cultivars of barley and
oats that offer an abundant way for gardeners to harvest fibre, protein
and carbohydrates. Buckwheat makes an excellent grain substitute and
attracts many beneficial insects. Seeds like soybeans, flax, amaranth,
quinoa and Styrian pumpkin are very high in protein and there are many
beautiful types that are easy to grow. Expert gardener Dan Jason
provides gardening advice and recommends varieties that are adapted to
Canadian conditions.
Once the harvest is in, it's time to celebrate with Michele Genest's
fifty vibrant vegetarian recipes featuring the garden's bounty. Ranging
from the simple (Pumpkin Seed Butter Cookies) to the sophisticated (Beet
and Triticale Gnocchi with Kale Pesto), the recipes in this exciting
garden-to-kitchen volume will inspire readers to expand their horizons
when it comes to growing and cooking grains and seeds.
