As the snow continues to pile up here, we have chosen to go deeper into the “why” of growing your own food. Our goal is to motivate new or seasoned gardeners into creating those spaces where greater health and wellness is pulled right from the soil. Think of this series as a “grow this, not that.” Our intention is to share nutrition, the physiological benefits and a few of our personal favorite vegetables to achieve the desired result. We formulated our soil amendment to provide your garden with everything the plants need to thrive, and those nutrients are transferable. “You are what you eat” applies to plants too! We are so very grateful for our partners, community support and valued retailers. Food security, sustainability, and self reliance are at the forefront of much of the global population like never before. It’s a brave new world. So, if your desire is to grow better Tomatoes, Beets, Carrots, Beans etc, we will share our experience on the varieties that contain more of what you’re gardening for. A “grow these, not those” approach. The varieties that are higher in nutrient density is where you want to focus your efforts to optimize the nutrition per square foot that you’ll harvest. Disclaimer: This will apply to all blog posts in this series. We are not doctors. We don’t play doctors on TV. We are victory garden, soil health, nutrition junkies! Please, if you are under the care of a medical professional, consult with them before making any huge dietary changes that may potentially complicate or undermine their treatment plan. So, with all that said, lets get into it!

If it came from a plant, eat it. If it was made in a plant, don’t. Michael Pollan   -FOOD RULES  

ANTHOCYANINS  

      Anthocyanins are plant compounds that act as an effective antioxidant within the human body.  It is the color pigment the gives many nutrient-dense vegetables, fruits and berries their dark green, blue, red or purple hue.  High levels of anthocyanins are found throughout a wide assortment of the healthiest foods and are considered “brain food” because it also helps protect the fats (lipids) found in brain cell membranes.  Eggplant is a great example of this.  Additionally, there are 36 different variations of anthocyanin compounds discovered in Red Cabbage.  As a general nutritional suggestion, a recommendation that you consume 12-15 grams of any dark, rich fruit or vegetable daily.  Scientific research is ongoing to verify this data.  I would love to define gram intake compared to the per-cup intake. However, 15 grams of Kale would have a lot more volume than 15 grams of eggplant.  I have chosen to keep this simple, so just keep in mind that seeking the darker pigments can yield the higher anthocyanin levels.  Grow these: 

Eggplant 

Purple Asparagus

Red Cabbage

Dark Red Beets

Heirloom Carrot: Pusa Asita!!!

Honorable mentions:  Blackberries, Blueberries, Black Currants, Red Raspberries and Concord Grapes.