Community Garden - Our First Harvest!

Hi Saanich South,

We are so excited that our community garden is already producing. We picked our first bunch of Swiss Chard last week. Greg Holloway, a Saanich South Constituent, was at the right place and the right time and took a bunch home.

Chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla), also known by the common names Swiss Chard, Silverbeet, Perpetual Spinach, Spinach Beet, Crab Beet, Seakale Beet and Mangold, is a leafy vegetable and a Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima. Although the leaves are eaten, it is in the same species as the garden beet (beetroot) which is usually grown primarily for its edible roots.

I love swiss chard as a leafy green and use it a lot in my meals. I think chard is a bit of a mystery. What do you do with it? The answer to this question is exciting....EVERYTHING! Add it to pasta sauce, into soup, add it to mashed potatoes, into scrambled eggs, put it in a frittata, or my favorite, saute it with garlic, olive oil and a bit of butter. Delish!

In case you didn't know, our Saanich South Community Garden is open during office hours.

Don't be shy, come on by! We would love to see you!

Lana