Cultivating curiosity and wellbeing in Mexico
.Gardening, permaculture, and the sustainability of our lifestyles in our environment. The health of our world.
Tropical vegetables in containers It has been some time since I did a general update on my tropical vegetables container garden here in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. This year, lacking time to dedicate to the garden and general experimentation, I scaled back and stuck to a few of the tried and true greens Continue Reading →
Several years ago we came upon a green seed encased in a bewitchingly beautiful seed pod formed by a net of delicate, dried fibers. Fascinated by its intricacy, I did a bit of a photo study against various backgrounds, trying to bring out different aspects of the structure (however, I am no Continue Reading →
The Internet Archive at Archive.org features an old book, The Chayote: A Tropical Vegetable, that details the characteristics and properties of the tropical vine and squash native to Mexico and the Caribbean, citing documentation by Australians, Spaniards, and other Europeans who arrived in the New World during the early colonial Continue Reading →
Sarsaparilla: an old-fashioned beverage made from the root of a tropical vine. Sarsaparilla is a climbing plant native to tropical America; Mexico, Honduras, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Jamaica are important sarsaparilla-producing countries. According to Medicinal Plants of Tropical and Subtropical Regions, a book that is found on-line in the Continue Reading →
Heliconias are strange. When we first saw them, before we knew what they were, we called them “alien plants” because they looked like they might have popped out of unlikely places at strange times and perhaps be a bit aggressive. They do look as though they could catch a stray Continue Reading →
A few weeks ago, I posted an article about organic gardening resources in Mexico. Since initially researching those products and websites, I’ve had the chance to delve–or dig, if you would–more deeply into the Las Cañadas Cooperative website in particular at http://www.bosquedeniebla.com.mx. I discovered veritable treasure trove of useful information Continue Reading →
Now that the hot, hot weather has set in here in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, the intense sun quickly dries out the soil in the garden even while the humidity in the air increases as we move toward the rainy season. Many of the garden greens and other veggies are past their Continue Reading →
Amaranth is awesome! Tropical gardeners, if you want greens (and nutritionally rich seeds) and don’t want to pull your hair out trying to cultivate spinach and lettuce and other more delicate greens in the heat, then try amaranth in any of its seed or vegetable varieties. Amaranth loves the heat Continue Reading →
Gardening has been somewhat difficult this year in Zihuatanejo. The heavy and late rains of November and December, when we usually have little or no rain at all, flooded out my seedlings, and I had to replant more than once. It was a little discouraging to watch the tender plants Continue Reading →
For the third year, I am continuing my tropical garden experiment, trying to determine what are the best vegetables for our area (Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico, on the Pacific coast). Here we’re most definitely in what is called climate Zone 11, the hottest zone in the North American classification, which means Continue Reading →
My tropical garden right now is at what must be the height of lushness for the season. Most of the plants are fully grown and providing me with wonderful organic fresh produce. I harvest splendid bunches of greens daily, enough for my smoothies and salads and soups, but not so Continue Reading →
This week, my Bedouin tomatoes began ripening on the vine so I’ve finally been able to give them a taste. I had started the plants from seed in individual pots on October 4 and transplanted them into their permanent home around the middle of November, some five weeks after planting. Continue Reading →
When in the Patzcuaro area of Michoacan, Mexico, with my cousins last month, we visited the lakeside town of Tzintzuntzan with its old churches set in an ancient olive grove and its crafts market replete with straw Christmas decorations, baskets, painted pottery, and miscellanea. Outside the gates of the church Continue Reading →
Last summer, I was looking for vegetable seeds suitable for cultivation in the tropics: things that would accept (and hopefully thrive) in a climate of hot, damp, and salty. One summer’s day while garden shopping, I was inspired by a friend of mine (thanks, Kat!) to pick up a packet Continue Reading →