Monday, February 6, 2012

Spring reading and a question for you

Angled luffa gourd - prepare by paring off the rough ridges

So I have some bits of news that I'm pretty excited to report:


  • First, I have an article coming out in a spring issue of Kiki Magazine.  It is THE magazine "for girls with style and substance".  In the article, I show girls how to build a 4x4 garden out of stone.  My teen may be in some of the photos so I'm eager for the issue to come out.  Kiki is a very cool magazine for girls in the...maybe 10-16 range?  In it, you'll see no advertisements, no quizzes about boys or kissing, it's artsy yet wholesome and of high quality.  You can subscribe to this mag or buy single issues at Barnes and Noble.  
  • I also have an article coming out in the spring issue of Heirloom Gardener magazine. This is a short article about the 8 Best Asian Vegetables to Grow.  Along with the (very subjective!) list, is a couple of recipes for readers to try.  This magazine can be found in many stores, including Whole Foods.  
  • Finally, I've been asked to be a presenter at the Maryland Master Gardener Training Day.  I'm kicking around the title "Beyond Bok Choy: How to Grow and Cook Chinese Vegetables".  For my 1.5 hour presentation, I'm planning to do a little powerpoint presentation about the wide variety of Chinese vegetables we can grow in our zone.  I'll focus on ones that most people may not know as well and will skip the more obvious one. Then, I'll do a little cooking demo and show how to prepare some of the veggies that might warrant a demo (like angled gourd, fuzzy melon).  Finally, for the last 15 minutes, we'll stand, walk around and the participants will get to sample some other things that I will bring.  So my question to you is - how can I make this a kick ass presentation?  What have you always wanted to know about Chinese vegetables - either growing or cooking?  What veggies would you be interested to learn more about?  Do you have a better title for the presentation?  Anything else I'm missing?  

16 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your publications! Your presentation sounds like a lot of fun too :)

    If I were attending a Master Gardner Training day the gardener in me would wonder if there are special Asian fertilizers for Asian veggies...I would feel silly asking, but I would think about it. I'd probably like some info on how the climates compare too, and to choose varieties (plant sources would be good). Also I'd like to see how to use the Asian veggies. Recipes to take home would be great, and ways to incorporate veggies I've never heard of in standard 'picky eater' friendly recipes.

    Have fun with your presentation, I can't wait to hear all about it!

    Happy Gardening!

    ~Emily

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  2. Congratulations on all three accomplishments! I'm also glad to know about Kiki magazine. I have a granddaughter that may like it.

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  3. Hia Wendy, I haven't visited in quite a long time. sounds like you are doing well!
    Congratulation on getting into these great magazines. Good for you. also, the presentation sounds very well thought out as it is. Wish I could come. I know so little about these gems. sounds like you will be presenting something that isn't easily available just anywhere so you will wow them I am sure. good luck!

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  4. Hurray! That's fantastic, congratulations!

    I will try to take your session at the Training Day (unless they schedule everything I want to take at once as usual, grr). That sounds like a great presentation - I'd say keep it snappy with plenty of time for questions and eating at the end. There is so much to cover in that area and it's easy to go over time. Stick to the easy-to-grow annuals, maybe?

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  5. Well I would want to know how to cook all those strangely shaped ones at the asian market. I see ladies buying them and I want to go ask them what they do with lemon grass and bumpy looking green things but I am too shy.
    But mostly, I would want to know how to grow them without them bolting!

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  6. Oh, I forgot! Congratulations on your achievements...I always knew you were awesome!

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  7. Superwoman does it again! Your writing is always interesting and personal in a way that draws me right in. I'm not surprised by your success...only by how you manage to fit it into your already full life.

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  8. really really really helpful!!! Thanks so much!!!

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  9. Congratulation! I wish I'm there to join your training day!

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  10. It would be interesting if you can provide nutritional information of the vegie. Is the vegie high in certain nutrients that can help to improve our body? Or any medicinal benefit, for instance, bittergourd juice is consumed by diabetic patient to help lower sugar level. It is practised in India and also here in Malaysia. This will add value to your presentation. All the very best to you, Wendy.

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  11. I agree about the nutritional info. But beyond that, it seems you are about to corner a major writing and speaking niche, Wendy. Go for it.

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  12. Congratulation! A good start of 2012 year for you in your passion in gardening. That is a very lovely photo of angle luffa or if I am not mistaken also known as Chinese okra. Keep up the good work!

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  13. Wendy, congratulations on all your achievements! I am proud of you, so first I'd like to wish you "bu bu gao sheng"!

    My suggestion is to start with something with good nutritional value, simple to cook and appeal to the local taste buds. It looks like you already have it.

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  14. congrats Wendy - I am as always so impressed by your energy and enthusiasm. Just explaining their names and how to grow them and how to use them in recipes would be wonderful and maybe some handouts? Good luck!

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  15. I would love to attend that presentation! Any chance you might post up the highlights here when you are done with the MGs?

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My awesome gardening friends...thanks for leaving a comment! I don't typically repond here, but I love knowing who you are so I can visit your blog as well.

btw - if you're trying to show me nude Miley Cyrus photos, sell me nikes or viagra or antibiotics, or encourage my lovely garden readers to visit your site on solar panel construction, or seo-whatevers, sorry, but I'm not publishing your comment. If you want to moderate my blog - well, I can't keep you too busy, and the pay would be horrible. And lastly, no. I'm not interested in Club Penguin cheat codes. Thanks anyway.

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