This is the first of a monthly series starting on RCR. Each month we'll pick some of our favourite 4Ps resources and share them with you! Books, websites, videos, and more. Check back each month to start collecting your own library of the 4Ps. This month we're starting up with a book on each of the 4Ps.
Planting
Ask Ross Traverse About Gardening: Advice for Gardeners in a Cool Climate, by Ross Traverse
Buy it from Traverse Gardens or borrow it from NL Public Libraries.
RCR commentary: This book is a must-have for NL gardeners regardless of whether you're growing vegetables, flowers, or a lawn. Find out if mysterious insects are friends or foes, turn NL soil into black gold, and make your community garden the talk of the town with these tips. We use this book a lot here and think Ross is the coolest.
From the publishers: "Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies in Newfoundland and Labrador. Our province has a very unique climate within North America and, recognizing the need for practical advice, Ross Traverse has written and published this book about gardening in cool climates.
'For forty years I have been answering questions about gardening in Newfoundland and Labrador. Now many of these questions and answers are presented in a reference book. You will also find consumer tips, landscape ideas, humourous illustrations, and anecdotes,' says Mr. Traverse.
Dr. Wilf Nicholls, director of Memorial University Botanical Garden, in his foreword to the book writes, 'Ross’s advice comes from decades of experience working with growers and growing plants himself. The oft-used cliche of ‘those that can, do; and those that can’t, teach’ doesn’t apply to Ross for Mr. Traverse has done it all and knows of what he speaks.'"
Picking
Edible Plants of Newfoundland and Labrador, by Peter J. Scott
Buy it from Boulder Publications or borrow it from NL Public Libraries.
RCR commentary: First off, how clever is it that this book has a waterproof cover? Because you're going to want to throw it in your pack and take it on the trail this summer. Alongside the Taste of Wild Side series on RCR, you've got two great resources to start foraging. Follow Scott's practical advice, stay safe, and preserve some of your harvest for the long winter like the small mammals do.
From the publishers: "In an era before supermarkets became our main source of food, most people knew which wild plants were edible and how to create delicious meals with them. The woods, clearings, heaths, and seashores of Newfoundland and Labrador are home to a wide selection of edible plants.
In this guide to over five dozen edible plant species that grow in our North Atlantic climate, biologist Peter J. Scott provides a wealth of information about each of them. His easy-to-use guide includes the habitats in which each can be found, basic recipes, a glossary, and references so that you, too, can enjoy the bounty that exists outside our doors."
Preparing
Dietitians of Canada Cook! 275 recipes celebrate food from field to table, by Mary Sue Waisman, MSc, RD
Buy it at local bookstores and online or keep an eye out for it through the NL Public Libraries because they have copies on order or you can request it through your local branch.
RCR Commentary: When it comes to healthy recipes, Dietitians of Canada knows where it's at. This cookbook connects with their theme for Nutrition Month the past two years, From Field to Table, and it's packed with yummy recipes that are based on local ingredients. Lots of great practical tips and tricks are included and each recipe has nutrition information. You can't go wrong with this cookbook. Your body will thank you.
From the publishers: "Families who prepare and eat meals together have healthier eating habits. Dietitians of Canada realize that it can sometimes be a challenge to find the time to create delicious yet healthy home-cooked meals, but when you do, the rewards are many. With this in mind, they have brought together 275 immensely satisfying recipes that showcase the variety of nutrient-rich foods provided by and available in our wonderful country."
Preserving
Root Cellaring: Natural Cold Storage of Fruits and Vegetables, by Mike and Nancy Bubel
Buy it at local bookstores and online or borrow it from the NL Public Libraries.
RCR Commentary: Okay, clearly we like root cellars. A lot. If you've ever thought about turning part of your basement into a cellar or trying that trick where you bury a barrel in the ground to store food, read this first. Check it out even if you don't plan to build a root cellar but just want to get the most from your seasonal produce in your kitchen. Find out what fruits and veggies ripen faster when kept together and why winter squash likes to hide under the bed.
From the publishers: "Root cellaring, as many people remember but only a few people still practice, is a way of using the earth's naturally cool, stable temperature to store perishable fruits and vegetables. Root cellaring, as Mike and Nancy Bubel explain here, is a no-cost, simple, low-technology, energy-saving way to keep the harvest fresh all year long. In Root Cellaring, the Bubels tell how to successfully use this natural storage approach. It's the first book devoted entirely to the subject, and it covers the subject with a thoroughness that makes it the only book you'll ever need on root cellaring."
