ISSUE 2 | 2024

magazine

DIG INTO
SOMETHING
NEW

Dig Into Something New 1

FEATURES

2 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

 Inside This Issue
Features
THE GARDEN JACK BUILT.............................. 6
A HARVEST WITH SOME HEAT. . .................... 14
WHAT'S GROWING ON WITH CASSANDRA ��� 24
FROM CONDO TO HOMESTEAD................... 28
CREATING THE BASKET WEAVE PLANTER...... 34

Ask a GreenStalk Gardener

BARBARA FENN.. ........................................38
KIM HUNT................................................. 40
ANNICIA MARTIN.. .....................................42

Gardening Tips
QUICK TIPS FROM
GREENSTALK GARDENERS....................... 44
OUR IDEAL PLANTINGS............................ 46
PEST CONTROL QUEST.. ............................50
WE'RE DIGGING BUSH BEANS...................54
GROWING LEEKS & POTATOES.................. 70

GreenStalk Kitchen
STRAWBERRY PIE......................................62
GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE. . ........................66
LEEK & POTATO SOUP............................... 72
LAVENDER LEMONADE.............................. 74
GARLIC & THYME COMPOUND BUTTER ��� 76

RESOURCES............................................... 78
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................... 78

Dig Into Something New 3

DEPARTMENT

4 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

This year, our small family
business turns 10 years
old. What an amazing
journey it's been!
We have experienced the
joy of gardening in new
ways alongside you.
We’ve seen you grow things
we didn’t realize were
possible, and it's inspired
growth of our own.
As we enter our next
decade of growing, we
can’t wait to dig into new
things with you.
Thank you for being a part
of our unconventional
gardening journey!

Dig Into Something New 5

FEATURES

The
Garden
Jack Built photo essay by Bethany Anderson

6 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

Dig Into Something New 7
FEATURES

J
ack and Kathy Peterson have
been married for nearly 50 years.
During that time, they have raised
five children and have over a dozen
grandchildren.
Jack is always in the garden, and it has
become an oasis for family to gather and
nurture the future generations.

Left: Coreopsis
Top: Shasta daisy
Right: Kathy and Jack stroll
through the back yard, shaded
by trees with impatiens in full
bloom. Large rocks add texture
and dimension to the beds.

8 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

Dig Into Something New 9
FEATURES

Top and left:

Lush royal
standard
hostas line
the windows
by the house,
while lantana
and creeping
Jenny cover the
garden bed.
Right: Bush
beans and
cucumbers
burst from a
GreenStalk on
the patio where
the family
gathers to
socialize.
10 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024
Dig Into Something New 11
GARDENING TIPS

12 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

The perimeter is
hedged by lime-
light hydrangeas
nestled under
birch and red bud
trees, with pink
Twist-n-Shout
reblooming lace-
cap hydrangeas
sprinkled in.

Dig Into Something New 13

FEATURES

scan the qr code

to see Damien sample
his hot peppers!
14 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024
A Harvest
with Some
Heat By Bethany DuVal

Damien Strimple and Vince Henry

give us two different perspectives on
growing our favorite spicy crop.

Dig Into Something New 15

FEATURES

Last summer, Damien

Strimple’s GreenStalk Planter
burst with the bright oranges
and reds of hot peppers ready
for harvest. Damien pulled
hundreds off the vine, filling
bags and giving them away to
friends and business partners
as fast as he could.
A casual gardener, Damien
planted the peppers on a lark.
It all started when he saw a
Carolina Reaper pepper plant
for sale at Walmart.
“I thought that was pretty
interesting because that’s not
something most people want
to mess with,” Damien says.
Carolina Reapers are the
second hottest peppers in
the world, ranking 1.6 mil-
lion Scoville Heat Units on
average. For comparison, a
jalapeño ranks about 2,000 to
8,000 SHU.
Damien bought one of the
plants and brought it to the
GreenStalk Garden office in
Knoxville, Tennessee, where
he works as the company’s
engineering manager.

Damien planted his peppers

from starts in mid-May (top). By
mid-August, they were producing
a bountiful harvest (bottom).
16 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024
He joked they should plant were painted. Over the years, he
the Carolina Reaper plant in a developed a keen eye for details.
GreenStalk Vertical Planter. To his Today, Vince says he can’t
surprise, the team had an even stop inventing solutions to the
bigger proposal: Why not grow a problems he sees. When he first
whole variety of hot peppers? learned about GreenStalk Garden,
As someone who loves to play with he was fascinated by the ingenuity
spice, Damien couldn’t resist. He of the planters.
filled the planter with Trinidad “I just love the creativity of it. I
Moruga scorpion peppers, ghost mean, you just pour water in the
peppers, red scotch bonnets, top, and it individually distributes.
serranos, habaneros, ancho chile … And I’m like, that’s genius,”
peppers, and more. Vince says.
In just six weeks, Damien had more But Vince is convinced that
hot peppers than he could count. GreenStalk can do far more than
Yet, just 20 minutes away, there’s a make gardening easy for home
gardener who would find Damien’s growers: “My goal is to find some
bumper crop disappointing. sort of commercial value because
That’s because this gardener has it’s such a small footprint.”
fine-tuned his GreenStalk pepper With 42 pockets on a 7 Tier
strategy for years—and he won’t GreenStalk Leaf Planter, each unit
stop until he has the ultimate hot can produce thousands of peppers
pepper harvest. within 2.5 square feet. Its efficient
An Ideal Planter for Peppers watering system also reduces
If anyone could have predicted waste, making it an ideal tool for
Damien’s pepper harvest, it’s urban gardens and growing large
Vince Henry. quantities of produce.

As an engineer, contractor, and Vince began his GreenStalk journey

inventor, Vince is a lifelong problem with a variety of vegetables, but he
solver. He began working in his decided to narrow his focus to one
dad’s auto body shop when he was crop so he could run more realistic
just seven years old. His first job mass growing experiments.
was making newspaper masks to Hot peppers were an ideal choice
protect windshields while they for several reasons. First, most hot

Dig into Something New 17

FEATURES

pepper plants are highly prolific Start Strong with Warm Soil
with some varieties producing up Hot peppers take 60 to 90 days
to 150 peppers per season. These to present their first harvest—but
high numbers allow growers to sell gardeners shouldn’t let this rush
their produce at a high margin. them. These heat-loving plants
Second, any peppers that aren’t need a soil temperature of at least
eaten fresh can be turned into hot 70 F (21 C) to thrive. It’s wise to
sauce and seasonings, ensuring wait at least two weeks after the
nothing goes to waste. last frost to plant them.

Finally, Vince realized hot pep- In case of a late frost, a GreenStalk

pers simply thrive Planter allows for
when planted in a flexibility. Damien
GreenStalk Planter. Over the years, bought his plants
in late May, but
He credits this to
the higher tempera-
Vince has grown the nights in East
ture the soil reaches thousands of Tennessee were
still too cold for the
when it’s put in a
planter versus being peppers by peppers to thrive.
left in the ground.
perfecting his “I had to put them in
the garage at night,”
“The soil tempera-
ture is naturally techniques Damien says. “It
going to match more
of something further
of topping, wasn’t until about
the first couple of
south, like in Texas, fertilizing, and weeks of June where
I could actually
which these plants
like,” Vince explains. overwintering. bring them outside
and be reasonably
Over the years, Vince
confident they
has grown thousands of peppers by
weren’t going to [freeze].”
perfecting his techniques of top-
ping, fertilizing, and overwintering. As summer continues, extreme
Together, he and Damien provided heat can also be a threat. Pepper
their best tips for growing a bumper plants like six to eight hours of
crop of hot peppers. direct sunlight. However, tempera-
tures above 90 F (32 C) can cause
The first key to growing hot
heat stress or sun scald. The plants
peppers? It’s all about timing.
may need afternoon shade at the
height of summer.

18 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

Dig Into Something New 19
FEATURES

Combine Topping and Fertilizer

for Optimal Growth
After planting his peppers,
Damien took a hands-off
approach. He filled the
GreenStalk Planter’s Reservoir
and let the watering system do
its job.
“As long as you … watch them
regularly, they just grow and
they look beautiful. You'll get
so many peppers growing,”
Damien says.
Vince, on the other hand, is
committed to fine-tuning every
part of his growing strategy.
One question he wanted to
answer: to top or not to top?
Topping a plant simply means
cutting off the top part of
its growth.
Pepper plants produce hor-
mones which cause them to
grow upward. When you cut off
the top, these hormones shift
to lower branches, encouraging
the plants to grow outward.
This creates a bushier plant with
more branches for growing fruit.
Some plants are better suited
to topping than others—and hot
pepper plants are among them.

Damien grew a variety of peppers,

including habanero (top). Vince
shows off his GreenStalk full of hot
chili peppers (bottom).
20 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024
Vince recommends topping when To encourage growth, Vince says
the plant has at least three or four to pick the first flowers and fruits.
leaves underneath the cutoff point. “You don’t want it to really focus on
For the next two weeks, he feeds the first few,” he explains.
the plant with a general fertilizer to While Damien gave away bags
help it produce new leaves. Then, of peppers, Vince is passionate
he switches to a flowering fertilizer about creating seasonings and
to produce fruit. hot sauce. He starts by making a
Vince says this simple brine out of
simple process salt and vinegar.
easily doubled his
pepper harvest
After planting his “I cut the peppers

in 2022. In 2023, peppers, Damien in half, leave the

seeds in them, …
he tried growing
without topping took a hands-off and let them sit in
this brine,” Vince
or special fertil-
izer and saw his
approach ... Vince, says. “Literally, the

pepper produc- on the other habanero will turn

orange.”
tion return to
regular levels.
hand, is committed After brining the

Reap Your Harvest to fine-tuning peppers, Vince dries

some of them to turn
After two to
three months, the
every part of his into seasonings.
The rest are used for
harvest begins. A growing strategy. his secret-recipe
7 Tier GreenStalk hot sauce.
Planter can Brining brings out the peppers’
produce 2,000 to over 6,000 hot finer flavor notes, which are often
peppers, depending on the varieties. hidden by intense heat. For exam-
“They go so far, too,” Damien says. ple, Vince says habaneros have
“I mean, you pick a couple of them a fruity flavor if you brine them
and you cut them up and put them at the right time. “It’s almost like
in things, and … it’s not like a bell wine,” he says.
pepper where you’re going to cut Like Damien with his bags of
a huge pepper up and put it in peppers, Vince can’t give away the
spaghetti sauce.” hot sauce fast enough—and his

Dig into Something New 21

FEATURES

friends love it. Next year, he plans A garage, basement, or even a tall
to use a large fermenting tank so crawl space can be great over-
he can brine more peppers as he wintering options, as long as the
harvests them. temperature stays about 55 F (12 C).

Save Your Pepper Plants for It’s important to note that not all
Next Year plants are good candidates for
Depending on their location, hot overwintering, but hot peppers do
pepper plants may continue pro- well with the right kind of care.
ducing well into the fall. However, For Vince, easy overwintering
when lows of 32 F (0 C) are pre- is a major advantage to growing
dicted, it's time to with GreenStalk.
prepare for next year. Traditionally, gar-
Many gardeners growing hot deners dig up plants,
re-pot them, and
choose to dry out a
quantity of seeds for
peppers in a move them to their
the following planting greenstalk winter location.
season. They remove “You see these
the seeds from the planter can [gardeners] that
peppers and lay them
out on plates, paper
be as easy or want to overwinter,
and they’re bringing
towels, coffee filters, complex as them in their houses
or dehydrator screens,
making sure they’re the gardener in all these weird
containers,” Vince
not in direct sunlight. desires. says. “It looks like a
ton of work.”
In about a week, the
seeds are dry and With a GreenStalk
easily able to be snapped in half. Vertical Planter, Vince can simply
When stored in an airtight con- carry or roll the whole planter to its
tainer, dried pepper seeds can last winter location. No digging or extra
up to five years. containers are required, and the
Vince has opted to dry out his seeds planter’s small footprint means it
in the past, but last year, he started doesn’t overtake his indoor space.
experimenting with overwintering. When warm temperatures return,
This means bringing plants inside he simply brings the GreenStalk
so they’re protected from the cold. outside again. With warmth and

22 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

sunshine, the pepper plants Growing peppers in a GreenStalk
will start producing like they Planter is all about what brings
did the year before. the gardener joy. Make it simple
or make it a testing ground. But
Enjoy the Process definitely make plans for all those
Damien’s and Vince’s radically peppers—because you’re going to
different approaches prove have a ton of them.
a simple point: Growing hot
peppers in a GreenStalk Planter
can be as easy or complex as
the gardener desires.
As an engineer, Damien
celebrates the simplicity of
growing with a GreenStalk
Vertical Planter. It’s so easy
that his kids (11 and 9 years
old) can grow their own crops.
There are no weeds to pull, and
the watering system keeps his
plants hydrated and happy.
For Vince, growing peppers has
given him a chance to experi-
ment and play in a new way.
“My wife … said, ‘The first thing
you do every day when you get
home is go out there and mess
with those plants,’” Vince says.
“It’s kind of therapeutic for me.”
He already has plans for how
he’ll experiment with sunlight
and shade this year.

Vince Henry grows thousands

of peppers each season for his
secret recipe hot sauce.

Dig Into Something New 23

DEPARTMENT

What’s
Growing On
With
Cassandra? By Cassandra Daniel

24 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

D
o you remember the days
when growing your own food
seemed to demand acres
of land or a spacious back yard? I
certainly do.
When my husband and I first moved
into our townhome, it felt like I
might never have the chance to take
control of even a small part of my
food source. But you know what?
The desire to grow your own food
is reason enough, no matter where
you call home.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener
or just starting out, a GreenStalk
Vertical Planter can effectively
convert any space into a thriving,
food-producing powerhouse. I began
my gardening journey with one
planter four years ago, and I’ve added
a planter each year since.
Now, I proudly consider myself
a vertical gardener, growing an
amazing array of over 200 fruits,
vegetables, and herbs right on my
townhouse deck!
As a homestead dreamer who has a
few more years to wait until we can
start our farm, I initially wondered
if vertical gardening would pre-
pare me for in-ground gardening.
I've found my experience with
GreenStalk Vertical Planters to
be a valuable asset. Many of the
skills you’ll cultivate as a vertical
gardener are highly transferable to
in-ground gardening, making your

Dig Into Something New 25

FEATURES

transition that much I seem momentarily Cassandra Daniel is a full-

smoother and enjoyable. silent, it’s only because time school administrator
It’s the perfect solution my mouth is brimming residing in Maryland. She
for those of us with with the delectable generously imparts her
big dreams and small crunch of kale! Let’s knowledge and demon-
spaces. If you’re looking connect and explore the strates the remarkable
for a gardening friend beauty of GreenStalk potential of GreenStalk
who will share the gardening together! Vertical Planters through
same enthusiasm for her engaging YouTube
your GreenStalk as channel, Becoming a
you do, join me in my Farm Girl, and blog,
GreenStalk garden. If becomingafarmgirl.com.

26 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

 GreenStalk Magazine Exclusive!
Use code MAGAZINE2024 with any purchase of $50 or
more, and get free gifts throughout the year!*
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GreenStalk Journal GreenStalk Spring December
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January 1, 2025.
Dig Into Something New 27
FEATURES

from
condo to
homestead
By Ashley Skeen, Inventor's Daughter

28 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

W hat began as a neat and
tidy life in a Virginia
condo blossomed into
a homesteading adventure. Along
with her husband Andrew and three
cascaded over the gentle hills. The
final fifteen minutes of our drive
felt like a scene straight from a
movie. It seemed everything was
magically in bloom.
children (ages six and under), Allie As soon as we pulled into the long
Gooch inspires others with her driveway, their little ones rushed to
attainable minimalism and lifestyle greet us, wearing vintage overalls
vlogs through her passed down from
YouTube channel, Allie's brother.
Simply Allie. An older golden
Gathering eggs retriever also
from the coop made her way
and plucking toward the fun.
slugs from cab-
bages is a far cry As expected,
from her humble Allie's property
beginnings as a was beautifully
porch gardener, pristine and
but she has remarkably
warmly embraced quiet. She was
every season of bubbly and
growth alongside welcoming as she
her family. laughed and told
me stories from
Meeting Allie their years of
When I met Allie condo living.
and her family at
their homestead Living in an
this past July, it was easy to see HOA and Dreamin’
Allie has always been drawn
the allure of the land. We stayed in
to the beauty in life. After five
Bedford, a small town rich in his-
tory due to "The Bedford Boys" and years of creating content for her
YouTube channel, she began to
National D-Day Memorial. On the
listen to the whisper of a dream
drive to Allie’s homestead, swathes
that began in childhood.
of farmland and classic farmhouses

Dig Into Something New 29

FEATURES

Life felt cramped and controlled attend college at her parents' alma
in their condo. For starters, they mater. While in college, she met her
could only have a limited container husband Andrew. Later, her parents
garden and absolutely no raised moved to the area along with
beds. While there's a certain beauty Andrew’s parents.
to be had in clean lines and clut- Initially, she tried her hand at
ter-free spaces, Allie envisioned a raised bed gardening at her
wild garden and parent’s home
rolling plains. in 2019 while
Also, their condo they lived in a
backed up to the townhouse and
neighborhood “it did well.” It
pool, so the was encouraging,
family lacked pri- but it wasn’t
vacy. With three something she
young, energetic could continue
kids, there wasn't managing with
enough space to kids in tow. The
run and freely garden needed to
explore the be onsite.
outdoors. Their homestead
She wanted to dream hadn’t
dip her toes into taken shape yet
the homestead so they moved
life by getting from the town-
chickens, but house to a condo
they were for- with the struc-
bidden by the tured HOA.
Homeowners Association. And here is where her story con-
Where the Dream Began verges with the story of so many
Allie grew up in Southern California GreenStalk gardeners. In 2020,
in the middle of a big city. She’s fresh veggies and fruit were hard to
quick to say, “But I could still ride come by in some areas of America
horses.” She moved to Virginia to during the worldwide pandemic.

30 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

This was an unfamiliar reality to always wanted this lifestyle even
those of us who were raised in a as a kid.” She added, “We were just
world where anything we needed looking for an excuse to make
was readily available. It was our it happen.”
great grandparents’ generation who With her husband’s support behind
grew up in a world where “victory the scenes and little ones in tow,
gardens” were the norm due to the dream began to take shape.
rations and scarcity caused by
Allie likes to prepare as much as
World War II. Nearly everyone had
possible when making a big change.
their own garden.
This was no exception. One of
Bountiful harvests were essential. the ways she wanted to prepare
They were meant to be enjoyed was getting more experience in
in-season and preserved until the the garden. She saw our vertical
next growing season or shared planters as a simple solution while
with neighbors. Growing fruit and they were living in their condo.
vegetables wasn’t just a hobby, it “GreenStalk fulfilled that need to
was a necessity. garden,” she said.
Until recently, this wasn’t a com- She could start on learning about
mon thing. If you had a garden, it homesteading while Andrew
was more for beauty or as a hobby. searched for the right property.
While these are great reasons to
garden, growing necessary food for Growing with GreenStalk
your family created a new surge in She started with two GreenStalks
gardening during the pandemic. on her back deck at the condo.
“When everything went down with She'll tell you it was a disappointing
COVID-19, my eyes were opened.” first year, but it was also a learning
she said. The desire to be able to curve. “They didn’t do as well as
provide for her family in new ways they could have because I didn’t
became a priority. “I wanted to fertilize them. Bless my heart, I
have the skills and the knowledge didn’t know.”
to grow my own food.” Allie empathizes with new gardeners
When I asked what the final straw and new homesteaders alike. She’s
was, she said, “Honestly, this has made mistakes, too. She’s a gardener
always been a dream of mine. I’ve who is eager to admit she is learning

Dig Into Something New 31

FEATURES

and doesn’t have all the answers. But all dreams come easily. Growing in
she is trying and open to learning. a GreenStalk may be much easier
She said, “This summer, I learned than growing inground or in
I should never have put my raised beds, but it requires think-
GreenStalks so close together,” she ing differently about plant growth
said. “When I turn them, they get and maintenance.
stuck on the fence and stuck on Making the Move
each other. Next year, I want my It was Andrew who would soon
GreenStalks away from everything.” find a way to make their dream
Growing a garden may have been a happen. Even though he wanted
dream of hers, but it still involves to live in Charleston—his beloved
a love of learning, hard work, and hometown—he made Allie's dream
a desire to do something new. Not come true.

32 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

He knew a friend was going to be
selling their home in the country.
It is almost six acres with some
pasture, a simple barn, plenty of
garden space, a pool, and it just
happens to be close to both of
their families near Lynchburg,
Virginia. It was perfect, but maybe
too perfect. They thought it would
surely be out of their price range,
but it wasn’t.
“[It was] our chance to really go in
on this dream,” she said.
It's been about a year, and so far,
they're living the dream. “We are
very blessed to be here,” she said.
Trying something new is paying
off in the little things. “It’s really
cool my kids are learning so much.
Just yesterday, my older son said,
‘Mom, there’s a male flower on the
butternut squash plant,’ and I’m so
proud of that.”
This may be Allie’s dream, but it's
certainly become the dream of her
family and so many others.
Here’s your encouragement to try
something new, too!

Dig Into Something New 33

 W C T O N!
N E FEATURES
U
OD O
PR ING S
M
CO

Creating the
Basket Weave
Planter
By Bethany DuVal

Gardens everywhere are about to get a fashionable

update. That’s because GreenStalk Garden is
introducing a beautiful Basket Weave Vertical
Planter in 2024.

Appropriately, the inspiration for our when a wicker basket in the room
new planter's farmhouse look came caught her eye.
from a tender moment at home. “I thought it would be so cool if we
The GreenStalk team had been had a planter that could look like
discussing how to update the look that,” Cody says.
of our classic vertical planter. The team loved the idea, but
Customers have loved the simple bringing it to life wouldn’t be as
style for years, but we all agreed simple as it sounded. That step
it was time for something fresh. would require the brilliance and
Then one night, inspiration struck perseverance of GreenStalk’s
Cody Thomas. Master Inventor and Designer—and
As Director of Operations and Cody’s brother—Ryan Peterson.
daughter of the GreenStalk Garden
inventor Jack Peterson, Cody often Learning the
has GreenStalk on her mind. She Family Business
was rocking her daughter to sleep Long before GreenStalk Garden

34 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

existed, Jack Peterson had a In 2014, Jack and Ryan started
mold-making business. Ryan talking about vertical gardening
started working for his dad in high and decided to create the first
school, learning how to make steel GreenStalk Original Vertical Planter.
injection molds for plastic parts. For the first few years, the planter
Over the years, Ryan has made was made of perfectly smooth
molds for a wide variety of custom- plastic. Then the team decided to
ers—from automotive companies to add a texture. Customers loved the
Shark Tank inventors. new appearance, but the team kept
“It’s a very involved process,” Ryan wondering if there was more they
says. “One mold typically [takes] could do to make the planters shine.
about 12 weeks.”

Dig Into Something New 35

FEATURES

And then inspiration struck in the Plastic injection molds for mass
form of a wicker basket. production are made of two pieces
of steel. One piece stays in place,
The Challenge and the other moves back and
of Undercuts forth. When the two pieces come
“Cody gave me a picture of a basket together, plastic is injected from
and said, ‘Can we do this on our the side into the mold. After the
pots?’ At first, it seemed undoable,” plastic cools, the mold opens, and
Ryan says. the new plastic pieces fall out.
The challenge was something It sounds simple, but details like
called an undercut. hooks, holes, or protrusions create

36 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

a challenge. That’s because they
prevent the plastic pieces from
easily falling out of the mold.
Ryan explains, “Think about a mold
that produces a cup, okay? Open
and shut. There are no undercuts.
But what if I put a hole in the side
of the cup?”
In that scenario, a steel piece will
have to make the hole, or under-
cut, in the mold. But when the
mold opens, the plastic cup will
be dried around the steel piece
making the hole.
Mold makers have strategies they
can use to create undercuts. In the
case of the cup with a hole in it,
they might create a mechanism that
pulls a pin before the mold opens.
However, creating enough under-
cuts for a basket weave was going to
be a massive challenge.

Perseverance Makes
Perfection
Ryan decided the best approach
was to mimic the basket weave
look without creating undercuts.
It took perseverance to get the look
right. Ryan would create a design, everywhere. With a little inspiration
bring it to the team, get feedback, and a lot of hard work, the new
and go back to the drawing board. Basket Weave Vertical Planter will
Each iteration got a little closer, and be released in early 2024.
by the fifth model, Ryan nailed it.
We can’t wait to bring this beau-
What once seemed impossible tiful planter to your amazing
will soon be available for gardens gardens!

Dig Into Something New 37

 FEATURES

Ask a
GreenStalk
Gardener

Experience the joy of gardening at any

age and skill level with stories from real
GreenStalk Gardeners like you!

*ANSWERS
38 HAVE BEEN
EDITED FOR LENGTH AND CLARITY.
Barbara Fenn is a 93-year-old not having to worry about getting
gardener enjoying life to the down on the ground—I can just sit
fullest in Pomerene, AZ. Her on a stool and garden!
10 children came together
What advice do you have for a
to purchase a GreenStalk
new gardener?
Vertical Planter, helping her Gardening is unique to the spot you
garden when growing in the are at; it is not one-size-fits-all! It’s
ground became too difficult. all an experiment. What worked last
year may not work this year, and
What is your background in what worked for you may not work
gardening? for someone else—even if they're
I’ve gardened for years and years only a few miles down the road.
inground, and my husband did
as well. I got my GreenStalks in
September 2023, and I have two
GreenStalk Leaf Planters.
What do you like to grow?
Okra, herbs, and spaghetti squash.
What is your favorite soil and
fertilizer for GreenStalk?
I use FoxFarm Happy Frog potting
soil and fertilize with worm cast-
ings. Once plants are harvested,
I sprinkle some in and mix it to
replant the next crop.

What does gardening mean

to you?
Joy! I love to wake up everyday and
be able to do something I enjoy!

What is something new you’ve

learned this past gardening
season?
Being able to have an option to
safely garden is incredible. I love

Dig Into Something New 39

ASK A GREENSTALK GARDENER

What is your background in

gardening?
I’ve been gardening for more than
10 years. I grew up on a small farm
in western North Carolina with
my grandparents where I learned
the basics of traditional garden-
ing. Everything else came from
researching the growth habits of
plants, following other gardeners
in my area, and trial and error over
the years.

Why do you like growing in a

GreenStalk?
The GreenStalk allows me to grow a
lot of food in a very small footprint.
Compared to other containers, it
provides just enough growing space.
I also like how the vegetables are not
as dirty as the ones grown in the
ground, and I feel like the vertical
planters reduce water usage. It’s very
easy to determine when the pockets
are thoroughly watered. My family
was getting tired of me taking more
and more of the yard and turning
Kim Hunt lives with her family it into garden space. Implementing
of four in Dayton, Ohio. She GreenStalks into my garden saved
works full time and travels for my children’s play area and the lawn!
work. Her goal is to grow all Tell us about your climate and
of her own veggies, and her 11 how often you water your
GreenStalks help her get the GreenStalk.
most out of her limited space. I always check the pockets first to
You can learn more about see if the soil is moist 3-4 inches
her gardening journey on down before watering. I don’t
YouTube at Kim's Kozy Korner. water if only the top inch or two is

40 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

dry. How often I water depends on insect pressure but was still able
several things, but I typically water to get a good harvest on the
every three days or so when the broccoli and cauliflower. I haven’t
temperature is less than 85 F. Once harvested my cabbage yet, but it’s
it climbs above 85 F, I water once a heading up nicely.
day, especially if it’s windy and the
air is dry (low humidity). I prefer
What is something new you’ve
to water first thing in the morning. learned this past gardening
The end of July to the first half of season?
Liquid fertilizer every 10 to 14 days
August is the hottest for my area,
really makes a difference. Slow-
but if I give a good soaking in the
release fertilizer at initial planting
morning, my planters can usually
and again about three months later.
handle the heat. During the dog
days of summer when it’s humid, I What advice do you have for a
can back off on watering every day. new gardener?
Start small and slowly expand
Have you tried a new plant or
the garden space. If you jump in
variety recently? What was it
too fast with a routine that isn’t
and how did it go?
manageable, you will become
This is the first year I’ve grown
overwhelmed.
broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage
in my GreenStalks. I had some

Dig Into Something New 41

ASK A GREENSTALK GARDENER

Annecia Martin, a chemist from Murietta,

CA, purchased her first GreenStalk in
December 2021. She loves experimenting
to see how much yield she can get from
her GreenStalks and raised beds.

What is your background in is the most trying, but consistent

gardening? watering and shade covering helps
Absolutely none! I’m a scientist so I tremendously.
became fascinated with how things
grow and probably spend more Have you tried a new plant or
time than I should researching variety recently? What was it
and watching how others garden. and how did it go?
I learned from my husband who I experimented with growing
grew up gardening at his home in potatoes in the GreenStalk last fall.
Jamaica—and once I got hooked, he I planted only two tiers, one seed
was gracious enough to let me take potato per pocket and was pleased
the lead. It’s a team effort never- with the yield. I then decided this
theless, and when growing certain spring, I was going to plant four
vegetables not native to the US, he’s tiers of potatoes and measure the
my go-to guy. yield. I was pleased as the four
tiers (24 seed potatoes) yielded 13
Tell us about your climate and pounds. This was only four pounds
how often you water your less than what I got in my buckets
GreenStalk. but with a smaller footprint. I plan
Our climate is dry and hot! Our on planting the full four tiers for
winters here in Southern California this fall again.
are pretty mild and allows us to
grow year round. In the winter What does gardening mean
months, I water on average every to you?
two to three days. In the summer It means sustenance and self-suf-
it’s every day and sometimes ficiency. The fact that I never liked
twice a day if the temperatures or appreciated gardening in my
are 95 F and above. Summertime younger days to where I am now is a

42 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

testament that anyone can
fall in love with gardening.
I love gardening and look
forward to growing food for
my family. It’s also a way to
spend time with your loved
ones doing something that
is fun yet beneficial.

What is something new

you’ve learned this past
gardening season?
Planning is crucial, and
knowing the gardening
needs of each plant
matters—especially when
planting in the GreenStalk.

What advice do you have

for a new gardener?
Don’t be hesitant about
trying different things,
and don’t be afraid to fail.
The knowledge, more
often than not, comes
from failures. Keep good
notes of when, what, how,
and why so that you have
a reference, and don’t be
afraid to ask questions.
There are a lot of resources
available; take advantage of
them. This is how you learn
and grow.

Dig Into Something New 43

FEATURES

TIPS FROM
GREENSTALK
GARDENERS
We’ve all been a beginner before!
Here’s some advice from our seasoned
GreenStalk Gardeners to those just
starting out:

Never give up. There

Grow what you
will be failures, but
actually like to eat!!
the triumphs out-
—Amy T.
weigh the failures.
—Marlene M.

When planting from seed, make sure you mist

Gardening is an
the individual pockets (about twice a day) for
experiment; have
proper germination.
fun with it!
—Paula S.
—Brenda

Water, fertilization, and sunshine are import-

ant. Don’t get discouraged! Every season and Relax. We all
gardening year is different! You’ll have successes make mistakes and
and failures—celebrate successes and learn from deal with Mother
the failures! Nature’s curveballs!
—Mark S. —Robin L.

44 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

Don’t lose hope even if you have a bad year. You Start small, invest
can’t control the weather or the pests, just keep in soil and don’t
growing. I’ve been gardening my whole life and be afraid to make
the goal is to grow more than what dies, what- mistakes. Even pros
ever that ratio looks like! have failures but
—Jennifer B. they keep at it.
—Shana

Get started! Go for it, you may make a few

mistakes, write them down and learn. There are
three growing seasons: spring, summer and fall
so take advantage of all the growing seasons.
—Debbie

Plant a seed! They

want to grow! All you
need is soil, sunlight
and water (warmth
and moisture)! It’s
the most therapeutic
and rewarding thing
you will ever do!
—Jackie D.

Susie, our Lead Gardener, is always experimenting

with new crops. Her 2023 planter of baby bubba okra
was a huge success!

Dig Into Something New 45

 al
GARDENING TIPS

Our Ide
Plantings
One of the first questions people ask is
“What should I plant?” Our response is
usually “What do you like to eat?”
Since you can grow almost anything in a
GreenStalk, the possibilities are endless! So, to
give you a little inspiration, we asked
Jack, Cody, and Susie what they would
plant in their ideal GreenStalk. Jack
is GreenStalk’s Inventor, Cody
is Jack’s daughter and Chief
Operations Officer, and Susie
is our Lead Gardener.

46 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

Jack
Jack’s ideal planter is a 7
Tier Leaf—42 pockets to
maximize growing space!
He prefers to plant one
crop per tier, making it
easy peas-y to attend to
each plant’s needs.

• Top Level: Spring onions

• Level 2: Lettuce
• Level 3: Beets
• Level 4: Spinach
• Level 5: Collards
• Level 6: Beets again!
• Bottom Level: Kale

Dig Into Something New 47

GARDENING TIPS

Cody
Jack's daughter Cody
brought GreenStalk to
market and manages day-
to-day operations. Her
ideal planter is a 5 Tier
Original full of her cool
season favorites!

• Top Level: Onions and

arugula
• Level 2: Dill, lavender,
parsley, and rosemary. Not
shown are oregano and
thyme.
• Level 3: Lettuce and cilantro
• Level 4: Kale and cabbage
• Bottom Level: Broccoli and
leeks

48 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

 Susie
Our Lead Gardener Susie
plants 3 Original Tiers on
the bottom and 3 Leaf Tiers
on the top. She loves mixing
veggies, leafy greens, herbs,
and flowers to get a bountiful
and beautiful planter!

• Top Level: Strawberries

• Level 2: Jalepeños, parsley, and
purple basil. Not shown are
rosemary, lemon thyme, and
purple angelonia.
• Level 3: Purple calibrachoa,
genovese basil, gold rush bush
beans, and lavender. Not shown
are more gold rush beans and
slow bolt cilantro.
• Level 4: Swiss chard and gold
rush beans with more swiss
chard and lavender on the
other side.
• Level 5: Poblano peppers,
anaheim peppers, and grape
tomatoes with red bell peppers
and more grape tomatoes on
the other side.
• Bottom Level: Dill, celebrity
tomatoes, and Swiss chard. Not
shown are two more celebrity
tomatoes and more purple basil.

Dig Into Something New 49

GARDENING TIPS

Pest Control QUEST

WITH SUSAN MULVIHILL

Q
How can I get rid of ants?
In general, ants aren’t a problem in
the garden. But occasionally, they
do cause problems for plants by
chewing around the base of the
main stalk… and that’s a showstop-
per for most crops! To control this
Susan Mulvihill is a long- type of problem, look for an organic
time garden columnist, product that contains spinosad as
a Master Gardener, and
the active ingredient. It is made
author of "The Vegetable
from fermented soil bacteria that
Garden Pest Handbook"
kills them on contact or when the
and "The Vegetable Garden
Problem Solver Handbook." ants ingest it. It’s important to know
She is the face of Susan’s that spinosad is toxic to pollinators,
in the Garden on YouTube, so it should never be applied on or
Facebook, Instagram and near flowers. Spray it either very
her blog of the same name. early in the morning or late in the
Susan and her husband, day when pollinators aren’t active.
Bill, live in Spokane, Also note that insects can develop a
Washington on five acres, resistance to spinosad if you use it
where growing vegetables repeatedly, so only apply it in your
using organic methods is garden when absolutely necessary.
her forte. Susan has been You can also alternate it with other
growing with GreenStalk organic products such as diatoma-
since Spring 2021. ceous earth, which can be sprinkled
onto the foliage and around the
plant base.

50 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

 Q Should I leave ladybugs or
remove them?
You should always leave ladybugs
Q
Should I worry about stink bugs?
Stink bugs primarily damage
tomatoes, beans, and artichokes,
alone because they do so much as well as berries and soft tree
good in our gardens! Both the fruits. Most gardeners encounter
adults and their larvae (which either Southern green or brown
look like little crocodiles, by the marmorated stink bugs, the latter
way) love to eat aphids. The adults of which is a very damaging,
also feed on asparagus beetles, invasive insect.
Colorado potato beetle larvae,
Your best bet is to hand-pick them
corn earworms, harlequin bugs,
or knock them into a container of
hornworms, leafhoppers, Mexican
water plus a couple of squirts of
bean beetle larvae, and whiteflies.
dish soap. There are also insec-
Be sure to familiarize yourself
ticidal soaps that are labeled to
with what ladybug larvae look
control stink bugs. You could also
like by studying the image below;
try a stink bug trap which contains
you definitely want to be able to
pheromones (mating hormones)
recognize them.
to attract and capture them. Be
aware that stink bugs love to enter
our homes through openings and
cracks during the fall months, so
seal them up before then!

Ladybugs as larvae (top)

or adults (right) are friends
for your garden!

Dig Into Something New 51

GARDENING TIPS

Q How can I get rid of fungus

gnats?
Fungus gnats are so annoying
Q
How do I get rid of Japanese
beetles?
Japanese beetles are a gardener’s
because they always want to fly in worst nightmare because they are
our faces. They also can damage so prolific and so damaging. The
our plants. Oftentimes, they appear adults emerge from the soil in early
in your home when you’ve brought summer and feed on their host
tender plants indoors after keeping plants (primarily basil, beans, col-
them outside all summer. That’s lards, corn, eggplants, leafy greens,
because the adults typically lay eggs okra, peppers, and tomatoes). The
near the top of the potting soil. female beetles lay clusters of eggs in
the soil underneath turfgrass. The
There is an organic product called
grubs take a few weeks to mature,
Mosquito Bits which you can find
then move deeper into the soil
at garden centers and online. The
during the winter months, emerg-
granules are coated with beneficial
ing the following summer as adults.
bacteria called Bt israelensis. All you
have to do is sprinkle the granules One of the most effective ways
onto the surface of the pots, water to control Japanese beetles is by
your plants regularly, and it will hand-picking them and putting
control the fungus gnats. This them into a container of water
product will also control whiteflies and a couple of squirts of dish
and mosquitoes. soap. The beetles are a bit more
sluggish in the early morning
hours. Beneficial nematodes can be
purchased and applied to the soil
in lawns. There is also a beneficial
bacteria called Bt galleriae that has
shown promise. Consider watering
your lawn less during the summer
because the grubs are very suscep-
tible to dry conditions. Avoid using
a Japanese beetle trap in your
garden because it will attract even
more to the area, which is the last
thing you want!
Japanese beetle

52 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

Q
Ugh, slugs! How do I remove
them?
Slugs are a type of mollusk that
and sage to repel them. Simple-to-
make beer traps work well since
slugs are attracted to the smell of
causes a lot of damage to our yeast in beer. You can also create
plants. They are nocturnal, copper barriers to put around the
although you’ll occasionally see base of single-stemmed plants
them on damp, dreary days. Look such as cabbage, broccoli and kale
for large, irregular holes in the by using the copper-backed tape
leaves and slime trails, since they that garden centers carry. There
exude a mucous substance in order are also organic slug baits (iron
to move about. They damage a lot phosphate is the active ingredient)
of different vegetable crops, but that work well. Avoid using non-or-
especially cabbage family crops ganic slug baits (which contain
such as broccoli and kale. metaldehyde) because they are
You have a lot of options for con- toxic to kids and pets.
trolling them: Eliminate any moist
hiding places in your garden (i.e.,
if you have a leaky faucet, fix
it!). You can hand-pick
them. Interplant your
susceptible crops with
aromatic plants such
as rosemary, lavender,

Aromatic plants like

lavender can repel slugs.

Dig Into Something New 53

 We’re Digging
Bush Beans
By Susie Pipkins, GreenStalk Lead Gardener

Get ready to grow one of

our favorite crops!
 For a scrumptious
made-from-scratch
green bean casserole
recipe, see page 66!

Green beans may not be

surrounded by much fanfare,
but they are a staple in many
households around the world. In
America, they take center stage
during the Thanksgiving
holiday in green bean cas-
seroles. Some restaurants
choose to list them by
their French name,
haricots verts. Mild in
flavor, green beans are
low in calories and contain vita-
mins A, C, and K, along with iron
and potassium.
I love growing bush green beans in
the GreenStalk Planter! They are
one of the easiest vegetables to grow
and they germinate quickly (4 to 10
days), so they’re such a fun project
to do with kids. I think we all can
confess to checking multiple times a
day to see if they’ve emerged.

Dig Into Something New 55

GARDENING TIPS

56 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

One of my favorite and start focusing
on maturing the
seeds. The beans

green beans isn’t green inside the pods

will become large
and bulging.

at all; it’s yellow! Sometimes even

tiny new beans
will develop one
large seed in their pod. The outer
For my first harvest, I had 90 plants
shells will become tough while the
right at my fingertips, and all I had
beans are becoming seeds. You
to do was spin and pick—no crawl-
can allow mature pods to dry out
ing around on the ground needed.
on or off the bush, and then store
Why would I want to grow them
them in a cool dry place for the
any other way? It was so easy, and
next growing season.
my harvest was huge!
In most locations in North
There are so many wonderful
America, there is time for multiple
varieties available that it can be
crops—or flushes—of beans within
difficult to choose. One of my favor-
one season. Some gardeners
ite green beans isn’t green at all;
choose to pull their plants after
it’s yellow! Gold rush (a yellow wax
the first harvest and sow a
bean) is high-yielding and very tasty
second and sometimes a
right off the bush. Other popular
third crop. If you want
varieties include blue lake, provider,
a continual harvest,
Kentucky wonder bush, jade, royal
you must pick
Burgundy, and many others.
your beans
As with most summer vegetables, almost
it’s best to harvest beans often
while they are young and tender.
Taking weather conditions into
consideration, most bush beans
will mature between 45-65 days.
If you allow the beans to stay
on the bush too long, the plants
receive a signal to stop growing

Dig Into Something New 57

 GARDENING TIPS

every day the GreenStalk with amended soil

Remember
while your has produced great results.
plants are I sowed three beans per pocket
healthy and

to pick
directly in the Original Planter, but
producing. have also successfully grown them
If you miss a in the Leaf Planter. Keeping the

your beans few consec-

utive days,
soil slightly moist helps to ensure
a bountiful harvest, and with

every day
your plants FoxFarm’s Happy Frog potting soil,
will shift into I haven’t needed to add fertilizer.
seed-pro- Fertilizing green beans can be
while your ducing mode.
Last year, I
tricky because they create, deposit,
and use their own nitrogen. If

plants are decided to

pick the first
you use potting soil without any
nutrients, you can add a small

producing! flush over a

two-week
amount of mild granular fertilizer
and worm castings before planting.
period. By the No additional fertilizer should be
third week, needed throughout the growing
the plants process. However, that’s not to say
were beginning to produce seeds, so that if your plants become pale
I left the remaining beans to dry out yellow early on, you shouldn’t add
for the next year’s planting. a mild solution of liquid fertilizer
For good germination, it’s best to to help them along. Come fall, after
wait until temperatures approach the bush beans are spent, you can
the 65-75 F (18-21 C). Remember to refresh your soil and grow nitrogen
read the back of your seed pack, loving plants like lettuce, chard,
but also that you are growing in a kale, cabbage, and broccoli in that
container. The soil in containers same planter.
can be slightly warmer or colder The GreenStalk Planter makes
than the ground. sustainable gardening possible for
Because bush beans are nitrogen everyone. I have green beans in the
fixers, crop rotation is recom- freezer, seed pods drying for next
mended. In my experience, grow- year, and a fresh batch growing all at
ing a second consecutive crop in the same time! I will rotate my crop

58 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

to leafy greens this fall and back to
green beans in the spring. It's so
easy to grow year-round fresh, clean We’re
produce in GreenStalk Planters. ROOT-ing
There's nothing like the satisfaction for you! You
of growing your own food. can set up
a call with
Susie, our Lead
Gardener by
emailing
[email protected].

Dig Into Something New 59

DEPARTMENT

In the
GreenStalk
Kitchen

Our family and staff share how they prepare the

abundance of produce from their GreenStalk
Planters. Maybe one of their favorite recipes
will become one of your favorites, too!

60 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

Dig Into Something New 61
DEPARTMENT

62 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

Kathy’s Chocolate Strawberry Pie
Who doesn't love strawberries—and, better yet, strawberries in a
pie?! For almost 30 years, I've made this often-requested recipe in
nine-inch and three-inch mini pie pans.

Most recently, I made it with my daughter Brooke and

granddaughter Emma for a family gathering. We hope you enjoy it
as much as we do!

Pie Crust: Make the dough:

3 cups flour Preheat oven to 425 F.
1 teaspoon salt Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut
¾ cup shortening, cold in cold shortening and butter with pastry
cutter or fork until mixture resembles
¾ cup butter, cold coarse crumbs.
1 egg Add in egg, vinegar, and ice water and
1 tablespoon white vinegar knead until dough forms.
3-6 tablespoons ice water Divide dough in half, slightly flatten and
chill in a zip lock bag for about 45 minutes.
Pie Filling: The other half can be stored in the freezer
8 ounces cream cheese, softened for later, or used to make a second pie.

1 teaspoon almond extract Flour a clean work surface and roll the
dough out until it is two to three inches
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
wider than your pie plate, and about ¼ inch
½ cup sugar thick. Fit dough into a 9” pie pan.
1 cup cold heavy cream, whipped Using a fork, perforate all over the bottom
2 pints fresh strawberries of the dough. Prepare to blind bake your
(washed, hulled, and dried) crust: set a piece of parchment paper on
top of the dough (it can overhang). Set pie
12 ounces semi-sweet, milk, or
weights (if you have them or dried beans)
dark chocolate chips
on the parchment and bake it at 425 F until
¾ cups white chocolate baking the crust begins to turn golden, 17 to 20
chips minutes. Remove the parchment and pie
2 teaspoons vegetable oil (divided) weights and continue to bake until the pie
crust is evenly browned and looks crisp,
which should take another 5 to 10 minutes.

Dig Into Something New 63

GREENSTALK KITCHEN

Add the filling:

1. Melt and stir the regular
chocolate with one teaspoon
vegetable oil in a microwave at
15 second intervals (stirring after
each interval) until melted. In
another heat-proof bowl, melt the
white chocolate with the remain-
ing teaspoon of vegetable oil.
Spoon a thin layer of melted
regular chocolate on the sides
and bottom of the pie crust until
completely covered. Set the
crust in the fridge to cool while
you finish the filling. Set aside
half of the melted chocolate for
the final touches.

2. In a large bowl, beat the

cream cheese, almond
extract, vanilla extract, and
sugar until smooth. Add the
chilled heavy whipping cream
and beat together until thick-
ened. Next, smooth the filling
over the cooled chocolate on the
pie crust.

3. Set the strawberries

pointed up on the pie filling.
The strawberries should cover
the entire top of the pie.

4. Drizzle the remaining

melted regular chocolate
and white baking chocolate over
the strawberries.
1.
64 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024
2. 3.

4.
Dig Into Something New 65
GREENSTALK KITCHEN

66 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

Amanda’s French Fried Onions:
Made-From-Scratch 2.5 cups buttermilk

Green Bean Casserole 4 cups thinly sliced onions

3 cups all-purpose flour
In June 2023, our staff went 4 cups vegetable oil
head to head to see who had 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
the most scrumptious green
1 teaspoon garlic powder
bean recipe. Amanda came out
on top with her green bean 1 teaspoon onion powder
casserole. This dish is truly a 1 teaspoon salt
labor of love combining fried 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
onions, cream of mushroom
soup, and fresh green beans—all
made from scratch.
Cream of
Mushroom Soup:
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 stick of butter
24 ounces of sliced mushrooms
1 1/2 cups of low-sodium chicken
broth
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and black pepper

Green Beans:
About 5 pounds of fresh green
beans
1/2 stick of butter
2 cups light zesty Italian dressing
Black pepper to taste

Dig into Something New 67

FEATURES

68 GreenStalk Garden Magazine 2024

Make the French fried onions:
Soak onions in buttermilk for at least 10 minutes. The longer, the better!
In a shallow dish, add flour, salt, pepper, and spices; mix well.
Pour vegetable oil into a large pan and heat to 375 F.
Lightly coat buttermilk onions in flour mixture, then carefully add to oil and
fry until golden brown.
When golden brown, remove and let the oil drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Set aside to top the casserole at the end.

Make the cream of mushroom soup:

In a large saucepan melt butter over med-high heat.
Add the mushrooms, onion powder, garlic powder, and chicken broth to the
pan. Bring to a simmer and cook until desired tenderness.
In a small bowl, whisk together flour and milk before pouring the mixture into
the soup until it has thickened—but not too thick. If it gets too thick you can
add a little more milk or water to thin it down.
Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Set aside.

Prepare the green beans:

Wash, trim, and cut green beans to the desired size.
Cook green beans covered in a small amount of boiling salt water until
crisp-tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and drain excess water.
Add butter, italian dressing, and green beans to a large saucepan and cook
on med-high heat until butter and dressing have cooked down and the green
beans are tender.

Assemble the casserole:

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Pour green beans into an 11 x 13 inches (or larger) casserole dish. You can also
use two smaller dishes.
Pour your mushroom soup over the green beans. Cover and bake for 25 min-
utes or until hot.
Remove it from the oven and top with the French fried onions and place it
back in the oven on broil for a few minutes to crisp and brown your onions.
Remove from oven and let stand for a few minutes to cool then enjoy!

Dig Into Something New 69

FEATURES

Susie’s Tips for Growing

Leeks & Potatoes in a GreenStalk
Did you know you can grow leeks and potatoes in
the same planter? Susie, our Lead Gardener, grew
both together in a 5 Tier Original GreenStalk. Here
are her tips for a succesful harvest:
Both crops need lightweight, loose soil. Plant them in the
Original Planter in full sun. They each take about 100 to 120
days to be ready to harvest.
You will need to water your leeks regularly while not over-
watering your potatoes. I recommend watering the leeks
individually in their pockets while maintaining only slightly
moist soil for the potatoes.

Leeks
You can grow the leeks from seeds or starter plants. If you
choose starters, make sure to cover the white part with
soil. Plant one to three leeks per pocket. Water well at
planting and keep the soil moist. Fertilize periodically with
a balanced fertilizer or one higher in nitrogen. I like to use
FoxFarm Grow Big.

Potatoes
Use seed potatoes, or if purchasing from a grocery store,
make sure they are organic. Cut the spouted potatoes into
pieces making sure to include spouts on each section. Let
them dry for two to three days in a moderate temperature
and dry environment.
Plant one piece in every other pocket six to seven inches
down in an Original tier. Use nutrient-rich, loose soil with
compost in it. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer or heavier
in phosphorus and potassium. FoxFarm Tiger Bloom and
bone meal are good choices.

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 Susie’s Leek & Potato Soup
This soup is the perfect recipe to use
your homegrown leeks and potatoes,
and is super easy and forgiving. Feel free
to make it your own—use more leeks, less
butter, or less cream to adapt the recipe to
your own taste. It's also delicious with toppings
like bacon, cheese, chives, and sour cream.

Ingredients: Instructions:
1 stick of salted butter Using only the white and light green
(save 2 tablespoons for portion of the leeks, halve them long
finish) ways and slice them across into about 1/8
2 large or 4 small leeks inch pieces. Wash them thoroughly after
they are sliced because soil tends to hide
4-6 medium size Yukon between the leaves.
Gold potatoes, washed,
peeled, and diced Set aside 2 tablespoons of butter. Melt
the rest in a large pot and sauté the leeks
2 16oz cans chicken along with a small pinch of salt until they
stock (more if needed) have wilted down. Add diced potatoes and
1-2 teaspoons chicken chicken stock. Bring to a boil.
bouillon or salt to taste You can add a little chicken bouillon in
1 cup heavy cream place of more salt, or just add salt to taste.
Salt and pepper to taste Cook until tender and allow the broth to
reduce a small amount.
Use an immersion blender to blend soup
to a creamy consistency. Add cream and 2
tablespoons of butter.
If the soup is too thick, add more stock or
water to your preferred consistency.
Garnish with your desired toppings.

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74 GreenStalk Garden Magazine
Cody’s Lavender Lemonade
I tried lavender lemonade for the first
time years ago with my sister Ashley
at the Lavender Festival in Oak Ridge,
TN. We've been hooked ever since! This
recipe is delicious and refreshing.

Instructions: Ingredients:
Start by combining 2 cups of water with all of the sugar 4 cups of water
and lavender in a small pot. 1 cup lemon juice
On medium heat, stir the ingredients until the sugar is 1 cup of granulated
dissolved and the liquid is hot, but not boiling. sugar
Remove from the heat and let sit for 30 minutes to an 2 tablespoons of dried
hour. Strain the mixture into a large pitcher to remove lavender buds or the
the lavender buds. buds from 6-8 fresh
Add ice, lemon juice, and the remaining 2 cups of water. sprigs of English
Serve and enjoy! Lavender
Ice

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GREENSTALK KITCHEN

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 Ashley’s Garlic & Thyme
Compound Butter
Ingredients:
1 handful fresh thyme
4 fresh garlic cloves, grated
1 cup Kerrygold salted butter
Salt to taste

Instructions:
Allow butter to adjust to room temperature in a
mixing bowl, ideally one with a whisk attachment.
Whip for about 10 minutes on a medium-high speed
until fluffy.
While the butter is whipping up, finely chop the
thyme leaves and grate the garlic cloves.
Once the butter is whipped, change the mixer speed
to low and add the thyme and garlic slowly. Use
a spatula to wipe down the sides as you go until
everything is incorporated.
Lay out about 18 inches in length of parchment
paper or wax paper. Use a spatula and get all
the buttery goodness on the parchment
paper in a long shape.
Cover with parchment, roll and twist
each end like a candy wrapper. Store
in the fridge and add to steaks,
crusty bread, and sautéed
vegetables.

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RESOURCES

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