(Empty Nester) FAMILY HOME EVENING LESSON:
"Planting a Garden"https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=51e06d0db9&view=att&th=12786c2e847e85ed&attid=0.2&disp=vah&realattid=f_g73i0ks61
FHE: Gardening in Containers (April, 2010)
FHE For Empty Nesters who live in Thanksgiving Village in Lehi, Utah
OPENING SONG: Oh What do you do in the Summertime (Katie’s version typed up on handout.)
OPENING PRAYER:_________________________
SCRIPTURE: __________________________
D &C 6:33 - Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.
Isa. 37:30 - ….. “And in the third year sow ye and reap, and plant vineyards and eat the fruit thereof.
The opening song sort of gave several clues about what we will be talking about. Our scriptures are stretching a bit in the interpretation but in the D & C it says, that if we do good sowing, we will reap our reward, and since many of us are in our third year living here in Thanksgiving Village, I thought that the scripture in Isaiah was particularly inspired when it said tha tin the third year, we should sow and reap and plant and eat the fruit of our gardens.
President Spencer W. Kimball called upon Latter-day Saints everywhere to produce their own food. For several years, he asked each family to have its own garden. He said: “We encourage you to grow all the food that you feasibly can on your own property. Berry bushes, grapevines, fruit trees—plant them if your climate is right for their growth. Grow vegetables and eat them from your own yard. Even those residing in apartments … can generally grow a little food in pots and planters. Study the best methods of providing your own foods. Make your garden … neat and attractive as well as productive. If there are children in your home, involve them in the process with assigned responsibilities” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1976, 170–71; or Ensign, May 1976, 124).
When President Kimball asked each of us to grow a garden, he reminded us of the words of the Lord: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
There are good reasons for this counsel from our prophets. Gardening has many benefits. It expands our appreciation of nature. It teaches the family to work together and gives togetherness time for empty nester couples. When we have a garden that produces well, we are not entirely dependent on others for food. We can select crops we like that provide a nutritious diet. Growing our own food gives us the satisfaction of providing for ourselves. We can also trade produce with our neighbors, save money, and help those in need.
Since we live where there is limited garden space if any, we still can grow some great vegetables just as President Kimball counceled, but just in a different way. You can grow quite a bit of different foods in pots or hanging planters in and around your home, that will even beautify as well as provide fresh fruits and vegetables.
This FHE will help give you some great ideas and teach you how to garden in containers. Did you know you can even plant a garden inside in your home? You can also plant in almost any kind of container. You can even get creative with your containers for planting such as plastic garbage’s, lined baskets, a wagon bed, kitchen canisters, clay pots and even I have seen some really creative planters made out of old boots!. The trick with each of these ideas is to make sure that the bottom of the container has several small drain holes and should be be lined with 2 to 3 inches of small gravel before you put in the topsoil. One other tip is that if you are doing this indoors, make sure that you have some kind of a drip pan, plate, plastic bowl or container underneath or the excess water will come out on your carpet or floor.
If you select bush or dwarf varieties, almost any vegetable can be adapted to growing in a pot. Vegetables that take up little space are carrots, radishes, and lettuce. Others could be tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and green onions. Last year, my main garden was what I called “a summer salad garden”, that was filled with all the things that I love to have in a salad such as different varieties of lettuce, spinach, snap peas, green onions, radishes, and several varieties of tomatoes, all of which can be planted in pots. You will need to place your pots where they will get the most sun, and if it gets too cold before the growing season is over, you can bring them in your house in a sunny window to enjoy your bountiful harvest longer.
I will pass out a chart that show’s you how much dirt you will need in a container to grow some common vegetables. This will give you an idea of what size container you need to use. It also tells you when to plant, days before the harvest begins, and how big the plants will get. These are not the only vegetables that grow well in containers, and you can try almost any kind that is common to our area.
PASS OUT HANDOUTS
Discuss the different pages of the handout.
CONCLUSION: We can show that we love the Lord and trust Him by doing as His prophets have asked us. Each of us will receive blessings if we will plan and prepare our gardens and then care for them so that they will be orderly and produce well. President Kimball counseled: “Keep your lawns and your gardens well-groomed. Whatever your circumstances, let your premises reflect orderliness, beauty, and happiness. Plan well and carry out your plan in an orderly and systematic manner” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1976, 171; or Ensign, May 1976, 125).
CLOSING SONG: “Plant a Garden” by Sally DeFord
Sung by:________________________
Accompanied by:___________________
ACTIVITY:
MEN – Plant an herb garden in a pot ( I purchased pots at Ikea for only 29cents each and a bag of potting soil. I also bought a small bag of pea gravel to add to the bottom of the pot before adding the potting soil. I bought a few packets of herbs, specifically "Chives" to plant. )
WOMEN: Make a seed packet and fill and seal. ( I printed off the template for a seed packet that I had created or one that I found on the internet, on cute and Springy flowered scrapbook paper. The women will cut out the packet and then score along the dotted lines where folds will be with a pen. Then fold and glue or using two sided tape, secure the packet according to the instructions given on the packet. Then they will fill their packets with the seeds that I had collected from the yellow flowers that I had planted in my yard last year. Then they will seal their packet and add a label that I created that has the scriptures from FHE lesson printed on them.)
CLOSING PRAYER:________________________
DESSERT: Brownie Sundae w/ toppings - Bake brownies and slice. Serve with a scoop of Icecream. Toppings include M & M’s Sliced Strawberries, Chocolate topping, Caramel Sauce, Chopped nuts and Crushed Oreo Cookies. OR Flower shaped and Iced Sugar Cookies
HANDOUTS can be printed from the following links:
- Vegetable Gardening in Pots PDF 7 page booklet - http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/publications/guides/E-545_vegetable_gardening_containers.pdf
- Home Vegetable Gardens from Utah State Extension Service Booklet http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/HG_313.pdf
- Utah State University Extension Service http://extension.usu.edu/
- Growing Herbs PDF Booklet http://www.gardening-guides.com/pdf-library/growing-herbs.pdf
Other Family Home Eveing Resources:
OPENING SONG:
" Oh what do you do in the Summertime" version by Katie G. can be found at https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=51e06d0db9&view=att&th=12786c2e847e85ed&attid=0.1&disp=vah&realattid=f_g73hx7bb0This is my version of the song "Oh What do you do in the Summertime". I made up the words to go with all the fun things that me and my neighbors can participate in living where we do, close to Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. You could make up your own version and include the activities that you have available to you in your area.
(Katie’s version)
Verse 1
Oh what do you do in the summertime,
When all the world is green?
Do you fish in our stream?
Eat Thanksgiving Point Ice-cream?
Or walk through the gardens close by?
Is that what you do?
So do I.
Verse 2
Oh what do you do in the Summertime
When all the world is green?
Do you swim in our pool
To keep yourself cool,
Or watch as the train goes by?
Is that what you do?
So do I.
Verse 3
O what do you do in the summertime,
When skies are bright and blue?
Do you golf with some friends,
See a movie and then,
Have a bite to eat somewhere close by?
Is that what you do?
In Lehi.
Verse 4
Oh What do you do in the summertime
When the sun is bright and warm?
Do you plant in a pot
Or a small garden spot
Hang fresh herbs from a string to dry?
Is that what you do?
You can try.
CLOSING SONG:
Sally DeFord Music to: "If I planted a garden" http://www.defordmusic.com/ifiplantedagardenyw.pdf Go to Sally Deford's music website at the link above and you can print a great copy there. While you are there, you should look at all the wonderful music that she has written and has been so gracious to share with so many. If you go to her search area that lets you search her blog, you will find one of my submissions under Easter Cantatas and Christmas Programs. 
This is the Luncheon invitaiton that I made up to email to all the ladies in my neighborhood "Lunch Bunch". Explaination of what we will be doing at the luncheon will be listed below the invitation.
EASTER "EGG" LUNCHEON
Invitation:
Invitation:
I have sent this invitaiton out early so that the ladies can have pleanty of time to think about the pot luck side dish or dessert that they will be bringing. I will be providing the main course. As you can see, the focus is on Eggs, which I thought would be unique and fun since it is Springtime as well as Easter, and Eggs are a sign of this wonderful season of the year. I have asked the women to email me their recipe that they will be bringing so that I can make a recipe booklet to give to them, since everyone always asks each other for their recipes, or I will post all the recipes on our Lunch Bunch Blog that I have set up. The other reason for asking them to send me their recipes is so that I can make sure that everyone doesn't bring their version of the very same dish. I'd hate to get 10 plates of deviled eggs and 15 bowls of potato salad.
I have also told the ladies to contact me if they need to about finding unique recipes that have at least one egg or egg white in the recipe. There are so many and just about every recipe that I can think of, an egg is already in it or could be added without changing the recipe. Here are some ideas of recipes that have eggs in them: Quiche, Potato Salad, Chef Salad, Breakfast casseroles, Oriental fried rice, egg drop or sweet and sour soup, All cookies, cakes, and pudding recipes contain eggs, Home made egg noodles and casseroles or dishes that have noodles in them all have eggs, egg nog, egg salad sandwiches, and on and on. If you google the words "Recipes, eggs" it will take you to lots of recipe sites that you can scroll through the recipes. I also found a great site "The Incredible, Edible Egg at http://www.incredibleegg.org/
Still more findings are:
1. Chef Salad
2. Italian Vegetable Custard http://www.incredibleegg.org/recipes-and-more/recipes/italian-vegetable-custard
4. Noodle crusted quiche http://www.incredibleegg.org/recipes-and-more/recipes/noodlecrusted-denver-quiche
7. Mini frittata crostini http://www.incredibleegg.org/recipes-and-more/recipes/mini-frittata-crostini
8. Hot and sour egg drop soup http://www.incredibleegg.org/recipes-and-more/recipes/hot-sour-egg-drop-soup
9. Caesar Salad Dressing http://www.incredibleegg.org/recipes-and-more/recipes/cooked-creamy-caesarstyle-dressing
10. Hollandaise sauce http://www.incredibleegg.org/recipes-and-more/recipes/hollandaise-sauce
served over eggs, asparagas, salmon
11. Tartar Sauce http://www.incredibleegg.org/recipes-and-more/recipes/tartar-sauce
14. Desserts such as cream puffs, flan, cheesecake, etc. custards, crème brulle http://www.incredibleegg.org/recipes-and-more/recipes/category/desserts
15. Custard puddings, mousse, soufflé, eggnog, egg noodles, crepes, fried rice etc. potato salad,
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