Gardens in American Suburbs

[peacetraveler22]

Can you guess what's growing in the bright, green leaves? :) I think one of the biggest misperceptions about Americans is that we all stuff our faces with fast food and pizza every day. This may be true for some people, but not the majority. I once read a report from a well-known blogger who wrote that gardens are common "only in American ghettos." Such characterization is very strange, because it's ordinary for Americans to grow fruits and vegetables in their yards, and not only in rural areas. This photo is taken from my sister's house, right in the middle of suburbia. Each year, she attempts to grow various fruits and vegetables during the summer in her tiny yard. Hidden behind these leaves is a fruit that most Russians know very well and consume on a regular basis...

1. Cucumbers! This is my nephew's favorite thing to eat, and the fruit is easy to grow. Actually, I thought cucumbers were vegetables but my sister informed me over the weekend that the proper classification of this food is "fruit."



2. Cucumbers to me are tasty only if eaten raw, and I definitely don't like the pickled variety!! Pickles to me are the worst food on the planet, and the mere smell nauseates me. Usually, I simply slice and eat them on a plate with onions. The ones from my sister's yard are completely organic, she uses no fertilizers or special chemicals to help them grow, and most come out huge (though not perfectly shaped!).



3. One of my favorite homemade salads, we eat it during summer barbecues and other family gatherings. Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and avocados, all mixed with light olive oil and various spices.



4.  I stopped drinking sodas almost twenty years ago, and consumer only water and herbal tea on most days. During the hot and humid summer months, I also use cucumbers to create tasty alternatives to plain water. It's very simple, yet the taste is somewhat exotic and refreshing. The best combination is to place water, ice cubes, limes, cucumbers and mint leaves in a jar or pitcher and let it sit overnight. Delicious! You can find the recipe here. In fact, you can use any type of fruit to add a spark to otherwise dull water (like oranges, tangerines, melons, etc.).



5. This year, we tried to grow strawberries but it was a complete fail! :( Japanese beetles infested the crops and completely destroyed them.



6. I recently left my nice apartment near the city to save money on rent. Now, I'm far away, sitting in huge traffic jams each day on my commute to work. It's horrible, but necessary if I wish to pursue my passion of travel. To pay over $2,000 a month for a 1 bedroom apartment - insanity!! When I was searching for places to live, I was surprised to learn that some complexes now have "resident gardens," making it possible for even apartment dwellers to have a garden. It's great! Here's an example from one of the properties I viewed. Almost all of the dirt plots are occupied and being used by residents in the high rise building. How about in Moscow or Peter? Have you ever seen an owner create such nice garden plots for residents of an apartment building to use?



7.  Now, I have tons of cucumbers sitting at home! In all shapes and sizes. Diversity is good. :) What else can I do with them? If you have good cucumber recipes or cooking ideas, share them in comments. I will be grateful.



Please don't believe all the stereotypes about what Americans eat. There's a wide-variety of food available, and as I've written before you can find organic products in almost every market, from expensive gourmet shops to cheap stores like Walmart. Yes, you pay more for such products but if you're anal about what you eat, or some type of health food fanatic, you can easily survive in the USA. It will just cost you more to eat. And it's possible to have a garden not only at your dacha, but also in suburbia and occasionally an apartment. How about you? Do you grow any vegetables or fruits, or do you buy such products at the supermarket?

Comments

[green-eegs.livejournal.com]

I find that cucumbers make excellent additions to stir-fried oriental dishes.

also - cucumber raitah, sort of a youghurt soup with grated cukes and green onions, a nice summer fisrt cours eor salad sauce or to go with saffron rice.

also - cucumber-beet-sour cream salad, a classic jeiwsh dish.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I've never tried to stir-fry or saute a cucumber! :) I thought that it would get too soggy and soft because of the seeds and high water concentration of the fruit. The second option sounds good because I love yogurt! Thanks. :)

[andrejefremov.livejournal.com]

Do you know dzadziki? This is a greek speciality made from cucumbers, yoghurt and garlik. This is very delicious! I promise you:)
https://ru.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Дзадзики

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

No, but it looks delicious. I will try to make it! I have never been to either Turkey or Greece to indulge in the local delicacies.

[sectopod.livejournal.com]

I'm not grown my own food many years but I prefer to help my relatives on dacha or buy it from my friends.
Vegetables in supermarkets are very bad and worse than food from usual market or your own.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Why are vegetables in supermarkets bad? I visited Russian supermarkets several times, and the only thing I noticed is that Russian carrots are huge!! This is my favorite vegetable. :) Also, you weigh vegetables and fruits on your own there. In the U.S., the cashier in the store weighs the products when you pay for them at checkout.

[dorli87.livejournal.com]

It is really unexpected. You ruined my stereotypes about american home food.))
If you think that cucumber is a fruit, that is understandable you don't like pickles.
I am so pity of strawberries - my favorite berries.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I want to ruin another stereotype - that American women don't cook! We do! :))

[moskitow.livejournal.com]

All my american friends growing some veggies in their backyards :) The best part is that tomatoes here in America can actually ripen right on the bush (back in Ufa it's an "evergreen" vegetable :))
I love cucumber water. Tried it once at some asian restaurant and was very surprised how good it was!
I make tzatziki from my own greek yogurt - very tasty.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

A lot of hotels now have this cucumber and fruit-infused water in their lobbies for everyone to drink. This is where I first tasted it, and I've been hooked every since. :) We also grow tomatoes every summer, but this year I didn't take good care of the plant and nothing bloomed.

[asharky.livejournal.com]

«…One of my favorite homemade salads, we eat it during summer barbecues and other family gatherings. Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and avocados, all mixed with light olive oil and various spices…»

Good choice!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes! If you come to Virginia, I will be pleased to invite you to one of our cookouts. :)

[creaze.livejournal.com]

> Please don't believe all the stereotypes about what Americans eat.

Since i'm a fan of a joyful meal, i was wondering what american's cuisine would look like in real life. Before i went there, i mean. I too was aware of the stereotype that americans are rather fat, because they eat in McDonalds a lot. That sounded a bit odd, cause i like McDuck myself, and i've seen plenty of food that's way less healthy; but still, what people won't do to ruin themselves.

Anyway, what i found is that americans are indeed rather fat, but that's not because, but in spite of McDuck: most of them don't even make it there for the lunch. Most eat as they go (i thought that's an exaggeration) i.e. sit on their working desks, and that's chips with soda, cheap buns, sometimes a cold sandwich and worst of all, noodles. You know, the kind that you pour hot water in. We call them 'doshirak', and the other nickname, 'bomzh-packet' will give you an idea, why it's not considered proper food by russians.

This was really stereotype breaking.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I don't even eat lunch, but yes it's true most of the lawyers at my work eat at their desk. But I don't see them gorging on chips and sodas on a regular basis. Maybe I just hang around healthy people, not sure. Of course, we all eat these foods on occasion. I ate them all the time during my university days, and lived on Ramen noodles at times. :) But, now that I'm older, I would weigh 500 lbs if I ate like that now. I think Americans are fatter than other countries because we don't move as much, and our restaurant portions are huge. Almost every American has a car, parking is always available (with rare exceptions), we have escalators/elevators almost everywhere... So, we don't walk or climb as much, even though plenty of Americans still go to the gym regularly.

[creaze.livejournal.com]

This:



Short of the avocadoes, was exactly the salad, that my dad served me at his chalet the day before yesterday. Even the onion pieces were the same. And unfiltered ukrainian sunflower oil instead of olive.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You can also easily find sunflower oil here, but I prefer olive oil. It's nice to be fed by your parents. :)

[lolagetty.livejournal.com]

I live in California and while fresh fruit and veggies are available I wouldn't call it a popular choice among most of my American friends. I never thought of chips a side dish until I moved to the states. A staple snack at any American party is what I call "plastic food" - pretzels, chips, cheese puffs. I remember the most ridiculous TV ad showing "the best mom who cares" because she served cheese-its and pretzels at her kids birthday party. A typical breakfast? A bowl of cereal, which is basically a processed, sugar coated, fake food. If you come to any Russian house to play with you friends and it's dinner time, you will get real food - soup, salad or anything else that was actually cooked at home.
Americans just eat more synthetic, "fake" stuff compared to Russians. Therefore while there are many Russians who get fat from eating too much, Americans are actually obese because they eat food that human body is unable to process properly.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Kids at Russian birthday parties are eating vegetables and not cake or chips? I find this hard to believe. :) Yes, at American parties chips/dips are commonly served and even at summer cookouts. However, in Russia, I frequently see people eating a lot of salads covered in tons of fattening mayo, so you simply pick your poison. :) If you want to be a healthy and disciplined eater, it's possible in almost any country. What people put in their mouth is their own choice. My whole life I struggled with weight. When I want to indulge and eat cakes, sweets and delicious foods more often, I'm fatter. When I'm more disciplined, I'm thinner. :)

[yarowind.livejournal.com]

>>In all shapes and sizes.

Second from thе left side - the best!:)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It's the most normally shaped. The rest at "American-sized" - big and round. :)))

[fesma94.livejournal.com]

OMG !!! "ice cubes, limes, cucumbers and mint leaves in a jar " !!! You, Americans, so freaky ))) I understood it after steward had added ice to my tomato juice during my flight from Dallas to Philadelphia )))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It's delicious! Try to make it. Without ice, if you want. :) It will be a very refreshing drink in the Israeli heat!

[vitsky.livejournal.com]

I like to grow vegtables at my dacha. )

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

What kind? Seems to me that cucumbers and tomatoes are the easiest ones to grow.

[imur.livejournal.com]

I grow tomatoes on the deck of my townhouse in DC suburbia, cucumbers on a back yard (yesterday picked up the first 2 of them:))), parsley in a pot on the deck as well and flowers on the front yard. It's so nice to watch plants grow (my son loves "helping" me), water them and then enjoy the fruits. I think it's good for your health and for your spirit as well :)))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Cool! :) My nephew also loves the garden, and watching things grow. For him, it's like a contest or competition to see who can create the biggest cucumber. :) I've always had a "green thumb," with lots of real plants in my apartment. I agree it brightens the mood, when you're confined to city life or small spaces.

[Макс (from livejournal.com)]

I always thought growing vegetables is forbidden in the US. You can even go to the jail if they catch you at it. At least you have to get the license if you want doing it legally.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

What? :)) No, this is not true!

[k-netalie.livejournal.com]

the most tasty fruits and vegetables are from your own garden))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I remember you told me before that you spend a lot of time taking care of gardens and planting things. :)

[elena tobias (from livejournal.com)]

1kilo of cucumbers
3-4 clowes of garlic
A sprig of dill
1 teaspoon of salt
Cut cucumber ends on both sides, cut the garlic and dill, put all together into plastic bag (better 2-3) and leave in the frige for 2-3-4 hours. "Malosol'nie ogurci" without conservation are ready!;)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a culinary delight! :) I don't like dill, but I suppose any type of green herb will suffice (parsley or oregano maybe?).

[zhang-fei.livejournal.com]

I like gardens almost as much as black people like cops. In the nineties, my grandparents had dacha, so every summer I had to go there to pick up fruit. We had a lot of cherry trees, some apple trees, apricot trees, strawberry, black berry, raspberry bushes, and even though I didn't mind eating fruit, man, I hated to pick them and then go home with heavy buckets and baskets in a bus full of old, smelly, miserable people. We didn't bother with growing veggies, because that was too much work for a very little benefit, while growing fruit made us stocked with apple juice, various kinds of jam and frosen fruit (that could be used to decorate cakes and such) fo the rest of the year. As for cucumbers, we used to buy them and then my mon and grandma would make pickled cucumbers and tomatoes, which were great later in winter with fried potatoes.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Wow, sounds horrible. :) And why do you think cops hate black people?

[theodorexxx.livejournal.com]

Please, someone, take her to дача!
I think most russians know how cucumbers grow because of дача
Of course in moscow and peter there are no gardens, but many city dwellers have дача where they grow or used to grow friuts and vegetables. My family used to grow potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, onion as well as apples, currant and honeysuckle.
But this year we don't have enough time to grow something. But the lust of growing something is was too intense so we planted some onion. God help it!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I love onions! :) My family has its own dacha, in the wilderness of Virginia. But I've never been to a Russian dacha in the countryside.

[mila-xm.livejournal.com]

"Most come out huge" - because they are overgrown (the ones, which are almost white on your photos are very old by standards of Russian villagers or dacha-owners). The ones which are on the first photo still on the plant - they are ready to be picked up. If they stay one or 2 days longer on the plant - they start losing water, become harder, seeds become bigger and you lose the central part of the cucumber, because seeds part starts to taste worse . If more than 2 days - it would be time to throw them away or at best use for pickling (salt destroys nuances of taste).

I make salad like yours too! In Russia people make it without avocado. But avocado makes it even better!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

My sister is very busy! So, she doesn't have time to check the cucumbers every day. That's why they get overgrown. :) She works full time and is constantly running around with my nephew in the evenings for school/sports activities. I get exhausted just thinking about it. :)

[kremlin-curant.livejournal.com]

One of the favorite theme of the Russian blogosphere - it's a ban in U.S. to grow fruits and vegetables in your garden or backyard. Usually some LenkaOlenka from Houston or Chicago starts the topic and nobody can prove it's a nonsense.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I've read lots of lies about America on LJ, but I've never seen this nonsense that you can't grow fruits or vegetables! That's why I'm here. To show Russians how ordinary Americans really live. :)

[vasilowski.livejournal.com]

1. When I worked in Iran (yet as a Russian), our hosts supplied us every day with a dish full of oranges, apples, cherry etc... and cucumbers. It was hilarious!
:)
2. I bet when you got pregnant, you would kill for a pickled cucumber.
:)
6. The garden is nice looking, but non-efficient. In Russia they would grow 5 pails of tomatoes and 10 sacks of potatoes on such area, excluding greenery.
:)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

This is a very, very small yard. I don't think even a Russian could grow 10 sacks of potatoes there. :) How was life in Iran? It's really a mysterious place for me. How would an American walking the streets be perceived by the locals?

[rider3099.livejournal.com]

These cucumbers look delicious !

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

My aunt in California has so many fruit trees and vegetables growing! I think it's the ideal climate for gardeners, at least where she is in Southern California.

[vasha-masha.livejournal.com]

Спасибо за рецепт напитка, выглядит свежо и вкусно , обязательно попробую.
А огурцы на фото слишком перезрелые, абсолютно не вызывают желания их съесть. Огурчик в салат должен выглядеть несколько иначе, примерно вот такой степени зрелости и колючести:

У меня на подоконнике тоже растут огурцы, высадили ради баловства, уже 8 штук съели.
Аредиску в салат вы любите использовать?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I hope you will like this tasty water! Your cucumbers look better than ours! But we don't have much time to take care of the garden, that's why the vegetables become too ripe.

[mitya-laddyggin.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the interesting text. Аt the end of the reading I was a bit surprised because of the "but if you're anal about what you eat". Never met such funny slang before. :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! "Anal" - this is just another word for "obsessive" or being overly particular about something. :) Sometimes I forget that I'm communicating with readers who are not native English speakers, and I use confusing or unusual words. Sorry.

[mystery-86.livejournal.com]

1. Never thought that cucumber is a fruit!
2. Thanks for the recipe of a refreshing drink - great idea, I will try it at home =)
3. Vegetables and fruit at the supermarkets are mostly tasteless. As for me, I usually buy them on the market - the quality is better and they have taste (I am not talking about winter - in wintertime it is impossible to find any tasty vegetable or fruit even at the expensive supermarkets). But of course it is much better to grow them in one`s own garden. My mom has a garden and grows everything there. And it is a pity that we cannot grow and eat vegetables, fruit and berries all the year round!..

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I never thought of cucumber as a fruit either! I also read online that squash is a fruit, this is very strange! :)) I used to be able to walk to a farmer's market each weekend from my old apartment in the city, it was great. There, I would gather fresh vegetables for the week.