This was a great garden rescue. This house had a pre-existing garden and greenhouse but all the beds had been neglected. The owners knew they wanted to grow vegetable for themselves and their new twins but weren’t sure where to start. Bohemian Bounty was recommended by another happy customer. We came in, clean the beds, tilled the soil adding compost and organic amendments, and planted a variety of spring and summer plants.
As summer movies are the thing to do while the heat rises Bohemian Bounty has a recommendation. Killer at Large: Why Obesity is America’s Greatest Threat (2008) is one of the better docudramas that relates the stories of obesity and potential impact of organic farming. 
Killer at Large begins with a local obesity story from Austin (which made national headlines) and transitions into the epidemic of obesity in the U.S. In turn, the film makes you feel frustrated, worried, helpless and occasionally inspired. The combined forces of industrial agriculture, fast food, marketing, advertising, politics, urban planning, transportation planning, poverty, parenting, health care, sick care, big government and big business all play a hand to create and maintain a system which promotes and maintains unhealthy eating choices. Killer at Large weaves these many strands together to create a big picture which neither over-simplifies nor ignores the reality of every day life.
Human determination is the message we left with – knowing that it is our children (and ourselves) that are the victims, yet we are stronger than we give ourselves credit for. If you grow your own food, are thinking of growing your own food, use farmer’s markets, buy organic or natural, cook your own meals or talk to others about organic and natural food then you are already part of the solution. If you have never considered any of the above, please watch Killer at Large and it will help will bring the obesity problem in to focus.
Years ago I attended a Center for Disease Control presentation on obesity at a trails conference held in Austin. The doctor presenting used a chart that is featured in this movie – a color-coded, time-lapse map of US states and our increasing obesity rates. It shocked me then, but in combination with the images of children suffering from obesity in Killer at Large, it angers me now.
Bohemian Bounty works with low income families through different projects – the Hays County Area Food Bank Garden, San Marcos Housing Authority, and Urban Roots. We see children who are clearly being fed sodas, chips, box cakes, and fast food – cheap and addictive. We hope that if we teach even a few children to appreciate natural foods, eat vegetables, and understand where food comes from that we can give them a chance against the onslaught of toxic food marketing they will face throughout their lives. Pizza, ice cream and sodas – should be a treat, not a staple of every day living.
I hope one day to see cafeterias serving healthy and tasty food to children. I hope one day to see every school teach a course on healthy living and gardening. I hope to see the removal of vending machines packed only with junk food from schools. Most of all, I hope that our gardens continue to nurture our community toward a happier and healthier lifestyle.
This year we created a separate plot for a type of garlic called, Elephant Garlic. James received the seeds from his 94 year old, Czech grandmother. Grandma has been growing them for years and considers it a weed now that it has covered her gardens around the house. This variety is an heirloom and easy to grow. It is a mild flavor that will not permeate your body like other garlic.
Green elephant garlic is also a cash crop for many farms due to its culinary uses.
Steps in growing are:
Attain seeds, Plant around November, Water and Watch it Grow, Cut off any flowers in April-March (makes the bulbs in the ground grow large), Harvest at the beginning of June, Cut off tops, Let them “cure” in a cool, dark dry place and use as needed…
