Melissa Raupach - Regrow your Veggies: Growing Vegetables from Roots, Cuttings, and Scraps

Regrow Your Veggies

CompanionHouse Books is an imprint of Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd.

Project Team

Editor: Chris Cavanaugh

Copyeditor: Katie Ocasio

Design: Mary Ann Kahn

Index: Elizabeth Walker

Translator: Ian Kahn

Copyright 2020 by Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd.

Originally Published in German as Regrow Your Veggies 2018 by Eugen Ulmer KG, Stuttgart, Germany

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Fox Chapel Publishers, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

Print book ISBN 978-1-62008-368-0

eBook ISBN 978-1-62008-369-7

The Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the Library of Congress.

This book has been published with the intent to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter within. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the author and publisher expressly disclaim any responsibility for any errors, omissions, or adverse effects arising from the use or application of the information contained herein.

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Contents

Fresh air and regional vegetableswhat more could you want?

Foreword

The good old saying nothing lasts forever is especially true when it comes to eating and drinking the things we enjoy. In the stages between childhood and adulthood, our taste buds seem to readjust themselves quite often. People in this stage begin to focus not only on enjoyment, but also health and nutrition.

For me, it was a mix both of all these factors. As a child, my favorite foods varied from spaghetti with store-bought tomato sauce (my parents just couldnt get me to like their homemade version), to pepperoni pizza, and hot dogs from a certain well-known Swedish furniture store. Today, my diet looks a little different. I no longer eat some of my previously beloved foods, like meat, fish, dairy, and eggs. Thats rightIm vegan.

About four years ago, I started becoming more and more interested in nutrition. In my research, I came across, among other things, vegan blogs with incredibly delicious-looking dishes. My love for vegetables used to be limited, so many of these recipes seemed quite exotic at first. But since Curiosity is my middle name, so I cooked and experimented with everything I saw. Eventually, I came to face my biggest opponent: broccoli.

On a list of my least favorite vegetables, broccoli was the undisputed leader. Its smell and green color repelled my inner child. This totally unfounded aversion toward broccoli when I was young resulted in me never even trying ituntil four years ago. This story is probably hard to believe now, being the big broccoli fan that I am today. And the moral of the story? Old assumptions (no matter if theyre about yourself or somebody else) should always be revisited. You might surprise yourself with what you discover.

Not only have the traditional aspects of eating habits (Ive never liked the XY diet!) influenced my culinary journey, but also learning to understand food and ingredients have turned a young vegetable hater into an adult veggie fan.

Fruits and vegetables are essential for a balanced and healthy diet.

After I switched my diet more and more toward plant-based foods, I slowly became interested in growing my own. My role model in this adventure was my grandmother. One of my earliest memories is of her small garden, where she grew the most delicious tomatoes in the world (Im probably biased, but they truly were not even close to the kind you would find in a supermarket). I longed to have a garden as glorious as hers, but if you live in the middle of a big city like I do and cant have your own garden, you have to find an alternative solution. Aromatic herbs had become regulars on my shopping list, so my green thumb initially began from simply growing my own herbs. The disposable pots from the supermarket only last for very short time and then wind up in the garbage. Sustainability? Yeah, right! With tasty basil, mint, and rosemary, my regrow project began to blossom. Over time, home-grown lettuce and other vegetables like tomatoes and radishes found a home on my little balcony.

Self-cultivation, plant diversity, etc. fascinated me, and in 2013, I became aware of the trend of regrowing via social media videos and blog posts. Equally skeptical and intrigued (How could this possibly work?), I began my first attempt at regrowing vegetables on the windowsill in my home. My initial skepticism evaporated when I noticed the results of my little flower pot: it worked!

Ever since then I have been fascinated in regrowing. In this book, I would like to share my knowledge, my personal experiences, as well as tips and suggestions. What motivates me?

Producing your own food: Contrary to popular belief, you dont actually need a whole garden to grow your own vegetables. All you need is a small flower pot to make your regrow dreams a reality! This is not only great news for adult city dwellers like myself, but also for kids to experience growing healthy food firsthand.

2Note: Whether in cookbooks or in online recipes, exotic plants from all over the world seem to suppress local cuisine, but try to keep your garden simple. There are so many types of vegetables and fruits that grow locally, taste delicious, and can be integrated into many different recipes (even fancy ones). Regrowing vegetables shouldnt be complicated.

Sustainability and r ecycling: These things are very important in our modern garbage-producing societies. We have a responsibility to take care of our planet and preserve its beauty for future generations. This can only happen if the world comes together to do something about our waste problem. Each and every person can contribute to achieving this goal.

Fun and curiosity: Last but not least, regrowing should be fun! After all, whats better than watching plants grow (literally) and getting to taste the results? Regrowing is not only a special treat for children, but it also teaches them an important lesson: that food doesnt just come from a grocery store.

The following chapter is dedicated entirely to sustainability because this aspect of regrowing is the closest to my heart.

After that, well dive into helpful care tips and detailed regrow instructions for delicious fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Finally, youll learn what to do if problems arise so that your regrow projects can be a tasty success.