JAYNE WALTHER
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Garden Awareness: Native Plants Are Your Friends

2/4/2014

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Why? Native plants are an essential part of the ecosystem.  Insects prefer natives over exotic imported plants.  Of course, if insects can't find food, then the birds can't find insects, and well you get the picture!

A good book written on this topic: 
“Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife With Native Plants” by Douglas Tallamy, Professor of entomology and wildlife at University of Delaware.

What’s in it for me?  Native plants know their way around town.  They can grow without much of your help.  They don’t demand hefty amounts of water/fertilizer. 

So, when you are getting ready to stick your fingers back into the dirt this year, consider natives.  There are many resources available to check out while you wait for the ground to thaw.  

We happen to have a wonderful local resource.  Dale Batchelor owns Gardener By Nature, and along with her husband John Thomas, created a wonderful teaching garden, Swiftbrook, in Southwest Raleigh.  

Both are retired teachers following their passion.  They are dedicated to the protection and propagation of native plants. In addition to helping people design sustainable gardens, they spend countless hours volunteering.  This sometimes involves rescuing plants from construction sites.  

They were gracious enough to let me photograph their beautiful garden this past summer/fall.  
Please enjoy the brief slideshow video of Swiftbrook Gardens…may it provide inspiration!

Also, visit www.gardenerbynature.com where you’ll find loads of resources.  Dale also leads workshops that can get you on your way to having a more environmentally friendly, sustainable garden.

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Impermanence Lesson Taught With Colorful Sand

11/4/2013

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Sunday Nov 3 at the Kadampa Center in Raleigh, NC.  Over the course of a few days the monks created an elaborate sand mandala.   Then, after a ceremony they destroyed their work demonstrating that nothing in the world is permanent.  The monks will create another mandala Nov 7-10 at the Unity Church of the Triangle in downtown Raleigh.  
Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/11/02/3334931/finding-peace-transience-in-grains.html#storylink=cpy
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Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Teaching Farm "Chicks"

10/30/2013

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From Alien to Eggplant

10/22/2013

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Finally, the day arrived to pick the eggplant babies!  


Easy Healthy Baked Eggplant Parmesan   
4 small eggplants - one 15.5 oz jar of sauce, panko bread crumbs, mozzarella & parmesan cheeses, fresh basil.

1. Place sliced eggplant on a cookie sheet that has a thin coating of olive oil.  Rub a small amount of olive oil on top of the eggplant, sprinkle with salt & pepper.
2. Bake @ 375 for about 20 minutes and turn over the slices.  Then, continue to bake for about another 20 minutes.  Slices should be browning and soft.
3. Make your own tomatoes sauce or buy ready made sauce (try to avoid sauces with added sugar or lots of added sodium).  Add a layer of sauce to a baking dish, then add a layer of eggplant slices, add mozzarella cheese if you like.  Then, repeat until all slices have been used.
4. Top with a thin layer of panko bread crumbs that have been mixed with olive oil - Then top with mozzarella and parmesan cheese and bake at 375 for about 45 minutes or until the cheese is light brown. Top with fresh basil.

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    Jayne's blog is a collection of photo essays capturing mindful living. 

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I am a catcher of moments, a maker of shapes. Exploring connections, and the unseen energy within the vastness of the universe.

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