Permaculture Growers Co-op: Small Farms Feeding Bloomington

I have many varieties of lettuce largely grown from seed that succeeded last year.

Armeria is the botanical name for a genus of flowering plants. These plants are sometimes known as "thrift" or as the "sea pinks". The genus counts over a hundred species, mostly native to the Mediterranean, although Armeria maritima is an exception, being distributed along the coasts of the Northern Hemisphere. The plant often grow in rocky situations, including the sea shore. Some are popular with gardeners as rockery plants.
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Armeria is the botanical name for a genus of flowering plants. These plants are sometimes known as "thrift" or as ... more

Plain, Genovese, cinnamon, purple, anise, holy and other varieties.

Perennial— Blue Indigo, Baptisia australis, for the hot, sunny border. Pea-shaped indigo blue flower spikes appear in spring, displayed nicely above the blue-green foliage. The showy flowers are reminiscent of lupines and are a favorite of bumble bees. In late summer and fall interesting seedpods develop, changing from a soft green to rich black in autumn and persisting into winter. Native Americans called this plant 'Rattle Pod', because of the rattling pods used in dancing ceremonies for children. A tough, durable plant that looks good all season long! 24"-36" tall and hardy to zone 4.
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Perennial— Blue Indigo, Baptisia australis, for the hot, sunny border. Pea-shaped indigo blue flower spikes appear in spring, displayed nicely ... more

Chinese cabbage has been cultivated for over six thousand years in China. Brassica rapa seeds have been found in jars in the excavated New Stone Age settlement of Banpo. They were a common part of the diet in southern China by the 5th century. The Ming Dynasty pharmacologist Li Shizhen studied the Chinese cabbage for its medicinal qualities. Before this time the Chinese cabbage was largely confined to the Yangtze River Delta region. The Chinese cabbage as it is known today is very similar to a variant bred in Zhejiang around the 14th century. During the following centuries, it became popular in northern China and the northern harvest soon exceeded the southern one. Northern cabbages were exported along the Grand Canal to Zhejiang and as far south as Guangdong. They were introduced to Korea, where it became the staple vegetable for making kimchi. In the early 20th century, it was taken to Japan by returning soldiers who had fought in China during the Russo-Japanese War. At present, the Chinese cabbage is quite commonly found in markets throughout the world.
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Chinese cabbage has been cultivated for over six thousand years in China. Brassica rapa seeds have been found in jars ... more

Botany in a Day - The Patterns Method of Plant Identification, Thomas J. Elpel's Herbal Field Guide to Plant Families 5th Edition, 2004, 221pp. Botany in a Day is changing the way people learn about plants! Tom's book has gained a nationwide audience almost exclusively by word-of-mouth. It is now used as a text and recommended by herbal and wilderness schools across North America. Instead of presenting individual plants, Botany in a Day unveils the patterns of identification and uses among related plants, giving readers simple tools to rapidly unlock the mysteries of the new species they encounter throughout the continent. Too often people try to learn plants one-at-a-time, without rhyme or reason. Now you can cut years off the process of learning about plants and their uses. Tom's book helps you beyond the piece-meal approach to botany and herbalism towards a more "whole" approach. Within 1 1/2 hours you can understand the big-picture of botany and herbalism. Learn how related plants have similar features for identification. Discover how they often have similar properties and similar uses.
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Botany in a Day - The Patterns Method of Plant Identification, Thomas J. Elpel's Herbal Field Guide to Plant Families ... more

Columbines are spring-blooming flowers that are delightful for the sunny flower and shrub border or in partial shade. Many flower colors are available, including shades of lavender, pink and cream. Some flowers are quite fancy with long extensions, called spurs, which curl back.
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Columbines are spring-blooming flowers that are delightful for the sunny flower and shrub border or in partial shade. Many flower ... more

The New Creating an Oasis with Greywater: Choosing, Building & Using Greywater Systems (5th edition) by Art Ludwig 2006, 144 pp. Thoroughly revised primer detailing 20 systems that work and how they might fail; parts, design diagrams, operating and maintenance tips. Clear, logical, easy-to-read. The definitive guide.
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The New Creating an Oasis with Greywater: Choosing, Building & Using Greywater Systems (5th edition) by Art Ludwig 2006, 144 ... more

Dark purple blooms with small gold stripe in large petals. Louisiana iris can be planted in or around your pond, as long as you keep the soil wet. They should bloom in early to mid spring. The leaves can reach in height from 24 to 36 inches. Leaves are slender blades.
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Dark purple blooms with small gold stripe in large petals. Louisiana iris can be planted in or around your pond, ... more

Designing and Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally by Robert Kourik; Foreword by Rosalind Creasy First published in 1986, this classic is back in print by popular demand. It is the authoritative text on edible landscaping, featuring a step-by-step guide to designing a productive environment using vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs for a combination of ornamental and culinary purposes. It includes descriptions of plants for all temperate habitats, methods for improving soil, tree pruning styles, and gourmet recipes using low-maintenance plants. There are sections on attracting beneficial insects with companion plants and using planting to shelter your home from erosion, heat, wind, and cold. 1986, $49.00, 45 b&w photographs, 204 illustrations, 382 pp
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Designing and Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally by Robert Kourik; Foreword by Rosalind Creasy First published in 1986, this classic ... more

Earth User's Guide to Permaculture: 2nd Edition by Rosemary Morrow and Rob Allsop 2006. 264pp. Completely revised and expanded, this popular primer tells how to design a garden of any size from balcony bench to country acreage. With chapters on seed saving, Pc at work, integrated pest management, water usage, and design for disaster. The author's experience with women and communities in crisis (Cambodia, Albania, Afghanistan, and Vietnam) ensures a practical approach.
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Earth User's Guide to Permaculture: 2nd Edition by Rosemary Morrow and Rob Allsop 2006. 264pp. Completely revised and expanded, this ... more

Forager's Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants by Samuel Thayer 2005, 368pp A fine, rich guide to wild foods of North America warmly written by a master forager: uses, botany, habitat. Provides detailed instructions and personal experiences of harvesting 332 delicious plants, including butternut, wild rice, ostrich fern, hog peanut, cattail, and more.
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Forager's Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants by Samuel Thayer 2005, 368pp A fine, rich ... more

Mirabilis jalapa (The four o'clock flower or marvel of Peru) is the most commonly grown ornamental species of Mirabilis, and is available in a range of colors. Mirabilis in Latin means wonderful and Jalapa is a town in Mexico. Mirabilis jalapa is said to have been exported from the Peruvian Andes in 1540. A curious aspect of this plant is that flowers of different colors can be found simultaneously on the same plant. Additionally, an individual flower can be splashed with different colors. Another interesting point is a color-changing phenomenon. For example, in the yellow variety, as the plant matures, it can display flowers that gradually change to a dark pink color. Similarly white flowers can change to light violet.
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Mirabilis jalapa (The four o'clock flower or marvel of Peru) is the most commonly grown ornamental species of Mirabilis, and ... more

Four Season Harvest by Eliot Coleman 2nd Edition, 1996, 272 pp. Using simple techniques and good design the author grows and eats abundant fresh food 12 months of the year in Maine. An excellent resource for cold climate gardeners, with crop profiles and a step-by-step illustration of methods.
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Four Season Harvest by Eliot Coleman 2nd Edition, 1996, 272 pp. Using simple techniques and good design the author grows ... more

Rumex scutatus - French sorrel, used in France's kitchens since the beginning of that country's recorded history, is a low-growing perennial about 45 cm (18 inches) tall, although it can be as much as 60 cm (2 feet) wide. Garden sorrel is a native of Europe and Asia; French sorrel is native to the mountains of southern and central Europe and southwest Asia. French sorrel has green, shield-shaped leaves that are more succulent and sharply acidic than those of garden sorrel, and have a pronounced lemon taste.
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Rumex scutatus - French sorrel, used in France's kitchens since the beginning of that country's recorded history, is a low-growing ... more

Rumex scutatus - French sorrel, used in France's kitchens since the beginning of that country's recorded history, is a low-growing perennial about 45 cm (18 inches) tall, although it can be as much as 60 cm (2 feet) wide. Garden sorrel is a native of Europe and Asia; French sorrel is native to the mountains of southern and central Europe and southwest Asia. French sorrel has green, shield-shaped leaves that are more succulent and sharply acidic than those of garden sorrel, and have a pronounced lemon taste.
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Rumex scutatus - French sorrel, used in France's kitchens since the beginning of that country's recorded history, is a low-growing ... more

Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture by Toby Hemenway The first book published in the US in a generation to embrace ecological design of the home landscape, Gaia's Garden is a snapshot of Permaculture in America at the turn of the century. Toby Hemenway is a scientist, trained in genetics, who shares with his readers his rapturous enjoyment of the garden.2001, 238pp
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Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture by Toby Hemenway The first book published in the US in a generation ... more

Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World by Alan Weisman 1984, 240 pp. The eastern savannas of war-ravaged Colombia, known as the llanos, are among the most brutal environments on Earth, an unlikely setting for one of the most hopeful environmental stories ever told. Here, more than twenty-five years ago, an intrepid visionary named Paolo Lugari set out to create a village that could sustain itself agriculturally, economically, and artistically. He reasoned that if a community could survive in the Colombian llanos, it would be possible to live anywhere. The early inhabitants of Gaviotas soon realized that if they wanted even basic necessities, they would need to be very resourceful. So they invented wind turbines that convert mild breezes into energy, super-efficient pumps that tap previously inaccessible sources of water, and solar kettles that sterilize drinking water using the furious heat of the tropical sun. Two million pine trees planted as a renewable crop have unexpectedly allowed the rain forest to re-establish itself. Paolo Lugari and the Gaviotans, in their quest to create a model human habitat, serendipitously renewed an entire ecosystem.
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Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World by Alan Weisman 1984, 240 pp. The eastern savannas of war-ravaged Colombia, known ... more

85 days. Apium graveolens. Plant grows good quality celery. Stalks are thick and heavy, but no strings. One of the best varieties around. A variety from Kenya. Disease Resistant. Plant Height: 30" tall.
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85 days. Apium graveolens. Plant grows good quality celery. Stalks are thick and heavy, but no strings. One of the ... more

Physalis peruviensis. A delectable, sweet fruit with a papery husk, in the tomato family, suitable for deserts or eating out of hand. Fruit is ripe when it falls off the 12 inch plant. Can self-sow in subsequent years.
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Physalis peruviensis. A delectable, sweet fruit with a papery husk, in the tomato family, suitable for deserts or eating out ... more

Oregano or Pot Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) is a species of Origanum, native to Europe, the Mediterranean region and southern and central Asia. It is a perennial herb with opposite leaves. The flowers are purple, produced in erect spikes. The subspecies of oregano Origanum vulgare hirtum is an important culinary herb. It is particularly widely used in Greek and Italian cuisines. It is the leaves that are used in cooking, and the dried herb is often more flavorful than the fresh. Oregano is often used in tomato sauces, fried vegetables and grilled meat. Together with basil, it contributes much to the distinctive character of many Italian dishes. Oregano combines nicely with pickled olives, capers and lovage leaves. Unlike most Italian herbs, oregano works with hot and spicy food, which is popular in southern Italy. Oregano is an indispensable ingredient for Greek cuisine. Oregano adds flavor to Greek salad and is usually used separately or added to the lemon-olive oil sauce that accompanies many fish or meat barbecues and some casseroles. It has an aromatic, warm and slightly bitter taste. It varies in intensity; good quality is so strong that it almost numbs the tongue, but the cultivars adapted to colder climates have often unsatisfactory flavor. The influence of climate, season and soil on the composition of the essential oil is greater than the difference between the various species.
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Oregano or Pot Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) is a species of Origanum, native to Europe, the Mediterranean region and southern and ... more

I don't know the specific variety as I bought them at the local food co-op and planted them last fall.

The Apricot (Prunus armeniaca, "Armenian plum" in Latin, syn. Armeniaca vulgaris, is a species of Prunus, classified with the plum in the subgenus Prunus. The native range is somewhat uncertain due to its extensive prehistoric cultivation, but most likely in northern and western China and Central Asia, possibly also Korea and Japan. An excellent source of beta-carotene (Vitamin A), apricots also provide Vitamin C, iron, potassium, and fiber among other nutrients. Plus, apricots are versatile and mildly sweet, making them a smart choice for adding important vitamins and extra flavor to a healthy diet. Beta-Carotene - Beta-carotene is a member of the anti-oxidant family. Apricots are a premium source of beta-carotene (a member of the antioxidant family) with just three fresh apricots containing about 30 percent of the recommended daily amount. Along with beta-carotene, apricots contain the other powerful anti-oxidants, Vitamin C and lycopene. It is a small tree 8–12 m tall, with a trunk up to 40 cm diameter and a dense, spreading canopy. The leaves are ovate, 5–9 cm long and 4–8 cm wide, with a rounded base, a pointed tip and a finely serrated margin. The flowers are 2–4.5 cm diameter, with five white to pinkish petals; they are produced singly or in pairs in early spring before the leaves. The fruit is a drupe similar to a small peach, 1.5–2.5 cm diameter (larger in some modern cultivars), from yellow to orange, often tinged red on the side most exposed to the sun; its surface is usually pubescent. The single seed is enclosed in a hard stony shell, often called a "stone", smooth except for three ridges running down one side. Seeds were collected near the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute at 6000-7000 ft elevation.
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The Apricot (Prunus armeniaca, "Armenian plum" in Latin, syn. Armeniaca vulgaris, is a species of Prunus, classified with the plum ... more

In Grave Danger of Falling Food with Bill Mollison 56 minutes, 1989, DVD Cartoon cutaways and bizarre sound effects seem no stranger than Bill loping through Aussie suburban sleaze, guerilla planting hazelnuts. A campy period piece, this film tells the permaculture story with verve and imagination.
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In Grave Danger of Falling Food with Bill Mollison 56 minutes, 1989, DVD Cartoon cutaways and bizarre sound effects seem ... more

Keeping Food Fresh: Old World Techniques and Recipes by Authors: Claude Aubert , Centre Terre Vivante 1999, 160pp. The recipes in this book were submitted by French magazine readers, and cover a wide variety of traditional preservation techniques: preserving with vinegar, oil and sugar; preserving with alcohol; preserving by lactic fermentation; and several other techniques. If you're interested in traditional food-preservation techniques, this book is uniformly excellent. The chapter on lactic fermentation of vegetables is fascinating, and the diversity of preservation techniques is remarkable.
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Keeping Food Fresh: Old World Techniques and Recipes by Authors: Claude Aubert , Centre Terre Vivante 1999, 160pp. The recipes ... more