I have a confession to make.
As soon as I reach 2,000 pounds of produce, I’m planning on ripping up all the Swiss chard and kale in the back yard and tossing it to the chickens. Let’s hope it happens before Thanksgiving. Don’t you think the Swiss chard be a wonderful Thanksgiving meal for them? Ohh, I bet they would totally love it. Yep, I’m pretty sure they would.
I’d give it to Mrs. Hillbilly or The Hunter, but they won’t even take it anymore. Apparently I’m not the only one who’s tired of it. I don’t know what I was thinking when I planted it. Wait, actually I do. Both kale and Swiss chard are beautiful at maturity. Especially the Rainbow Swiss chard.
But since I am not out of the clear yet, I decided to transfer the last of the Swiss chard from the greenhouse out to the raised garden beds in hopes of it will grow better outside. Thus giving me a few more pounds of food. I think I have 3 beds full of Swiss chard right now. Uggg.
Have you ever planted a vegetable just because you thought it was pretty? I mean is that a valid reason for growing something? The chickens like it, so it’s not like the food is going to waste or anything. But I think next year, I may just grow it for them.
Is that weird? Growing food for chickens?
Hmmm.
What do YOU think?
~Mavis
You Grow Girl: The Groundbreaking Guide to Gardening
This is not your grandmother’s gardening book. You Grow Girl is a hip, humorous how-to for crafty gals everywhere who are discovering a passion for gardening but lack the know-how to turn their dreams of homegrown tomatoes and fresh-cut flowers into a reality.
Kamilla says
Have you ever tried it in a green smoothie? Wondering if it could be frozen that way? Just an idea for your “bounty”:)
Missy says
Eggplant. I have yet to find something that I truly love doing with it, but the plants are so beautiful with their purple flowers and shiny fruit. Gross, but I grow ’em anyways!
Jennifer says
Garlic, I love the look of garlic when you get the scape it’s so cute! Added bonus is it’s so useful. On one of my lunch walks last summer I noticed someone had used garlic to trim the outside of their flower garden, it looked great too!
Jesse says
I am growing purple cabbage, bok choi and brocoli right now. It is all for the chickens! I don’t intend to eat any of it.
I also grow jalapenos just to give away. I might eat 3 a year and give away buckets full!
C says
Have you tried donating to the food bank? I hear they love fresh veggie donations.
Cindi Myers says
Swiss chard is one of my favorite vegetables. Use it in almost any recipe that calls for cooked spinach. Make cabbage rolls — substitute the chard leaves for cabbage. Stir fry it.
I’m not a fan of kale, though. Or beets. blech.
alliegator says
Not silly to grow food for chickens at all. Better to grow it than buy it. 🙂
Barbara says
This is one of my favorite recipes using rainbow chard.
flat bottom pan
fresh garlic (to taste) sauteed in olive oil
toss in 6 oz. swiss chard and cook until wilted
beat two – three eggs (can add milk or cream if desired)
pour over wilted garlic greens
cover with lid until eggs are set
fold in half and top with hot sauce and crumbled feta cheese
Enjoy!
Barbara says
btw, I chop the swiss chard before adding to the garlic… and I used lots of chopped garlic!
Susie says
I grow patty-pan squash for looks. It didn’t start off that way. We ate a few of them early on. But then, because they produced SO MUCH, I let them go and grow huge and then let my 4-year-old daughter paint them.
Paula Perez says
I plant radishes just because they’re fun to pull! I do have one young friend who loves them, so I give them all to her after I pull them.
I am also not a big carrot fan, so I happily give my big beautiful orange carrots to my big beautiful orange rabbit! He loves them, especially the tops!
Teri says
Rhubarb! Like to see how big it gets but don’t much care to eat it — too much sugar has to be added in order for it to be edible!
Ashley says
I came across this kale recipe today and thought of you 🙂
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/11/mushroom-kale-lasagna-rolls.html#comment-form
connie says
I dehydrate mine and crumble it into vegetable soup.