Real Estate Blog - Weird or What?? Edible Landscaping is Smart!!

Home : Blogs : Bonnie & Terry Westbrook Grand Rapids MI Real Estate : We Love Grand Rapids Homes Blog

Weird or What?? Edible Landscaping is Smart!!

No, these are not aliens from another world or a close up of some weird plant life - if any of you are

gardeners or farmers you will probably recognize that the shoots coming out of the ground with this

fantastic red color are rhubarb. Michigan is one of the largest producers of rhubarb and it is

even forced in greenhouses here for winter harvesting. Some say that Michigan and

Canadian rhubarb tastes the best.

rhubarb

The rhubarb plant or "pie plant" as it is also known, can be harvested all summer lightly or take a

heavy early summer and late summer harvest.

The plant is originally from Asia, a relative of the buckwheat family and is loved by Japanese beetles

who will literally strip the leaves bare, if allowed to feast. Ironically, the leaves are poisonous to humans,

so be sure to just eat the stalks.

The rhubarb plant is also a heavy feeder and will thrive with lots of compost or cow manure dressing

in the spring and fall. The flower stalks should be removed if you plan on harvesting.

We love rhubarb pie, warm rhubarb sauce, rhubarb bars, and it also makes a great quick

bread for breakfast. It is a snap to freeze [just wash, cut up and put it into freezer bags]. The recipes

to use rhubarb are many and varied including jam, wine, drinks, salads. The most common companion

in cooking is the strawberry. Rhubarb is loaded with vitamin C and fiber. It is so popular that there are

10 Rhubarb Festivals around the world according to the Rhubarb Compendium.

rhubarb pie

And Wikipedia toasts rhubarb pie in our culture:

"Bebop-a-reebop Rhubarb Pie and Bebop-a-reebop Frozen Rhubarb

Pie Filling are frequent fictional sponsors of A Prairie Home

Companion.

Children's song artist Laurie Berkner sings about the dessert in

"Rhubarb Pie (Hot Commodity)".

In the "Weird Al" Yankovic song, "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota," "Mama's homemade rhubarb

pie" is one of the things the family takes with them on their trip."

Since rhubarb is a large perennial, it can be used in the landscape as a decorative plant. Landscape

plants that double as food are green sustainability at its best.

Yum-yum, rhubarb will be on the menu here in Grand Rapids soon.

rhubarb plant parts

Search Grand Rapids Homes for Sale

Featured Grand Rapids Homes

Greater Grand Rapids Area Information

Copyright by Bonnie Westbrook 2008

Contact: 1-888-240-1968 x 0 toll free

Website url: Terry Westbrook.com

Email: bonnie@terrywestbrook.com

photo by Bonnie Westbrook rhubarb parts from Rhubarbinfo.com rhubarb pie photo from wikipedia

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Search the Grand Rapids MLS

Posted by Bonnie & Terry Westbrook Grand Rapids MI Real Estate on 04/15/2008 09:52 AM

Comments (34)

green sustainability, edible landscaping, grand rapids mi real estate, ada mi real estate, cascade mi real estate, active rain

This post has been included in Michigan Information Kent County, MI Information Grand Rapids, MI Information
Post is included in group: ECO-All-Stars~ GREEN Resources, Trends & Friends
Post is included in group: Posts to Localism
Post is included in group: Greater GRAND RAPIDS, MI Real Estate
Post is included in group: Kent County MI Real Estate
Post is included in group: West Michigan Real Estate

34 Comments on Weird or What?? Edible Landscaping is Smart!!

APR

2008

Great information, Bonnie. I have to admit, I don't think I've ever eaten rhubarb pie. I'll have to give it a go! Is it just a sweet or do you use it in other ways as well?

Chris:

Rhubarb itself is quite sour - you need to add sugar so you get the sweet-tart taste. The recipes in the post above all look really good. Just about everyone here in Michigan has a favorite rhubarb pie recipe.

I 'm ready for PIE. It is one of the best pies in you bakery. Spring is a wonderful time.

LIKE THE NEW PICTURE!!! Not certain I've ever had Rhubarb. Does it grow exclusively in your little corner???

But then - you've probably never had Collards either! (I make Steve cook those outside!) For some reason I thought Rhubarb's were stinky too!

Hi Bonnie, I'm with Terry! Rhubard pie is one of my favorites too. I recently read a story about edible landscaping, so I was intrigued by your blog post. Love the picture too.

Eleanor:

Thanks, I spent about 2 hours fooling around with picnik and getting my blog all gussied up for spring, so I figured I might as well do a new pic, too!

I believe it will grow all over but it does tolerate the winter well. I have never had collards but I do like greens. Rhubarb is not stinky when cooked but it is memorable. Some people don't like it. It looks messy when cooked but it tastes good to me!

Terry: We will have rhubarb, lots of rhubarb this year. I split my clumps up and have about 8 plants. Get ready for PIE!

Bonnie, I love your picture, it looks wonderful! I don't believe I've ever had rhubarb pie but if I see it, I'll have to give it a try (I always get something chocolate :(

APR

2008

Lola: I have to agree- rhubarb pie is one of the best things about spring!! Thanks for your kind words.

Wow, Bonnie. Who knew there are so many rhubarb virgins? You're right about everyone having their favorite rhubarb pie recipe. I've got several.

Carole: Thanks, a new picture seemed right for spring - a chance to start fresh. Do try the rhubarb pie if you get a chance - I know what you mean about chocolate - it is my diet downfall.

APR

2008

Karen: I had no idea it wasn't popular all over the country - must be a northern climate treat! Or just familiar to farmers. They just don't know what they are missing!

APR

2008

Rhubarb is wonderful! If you want to grow it in the south, plant it in August and let it overwinter, then harvest in the spring.

Cindy: Thanks for the southern growing update on rhubarb - I'm ready for my first batch of sauce!

Bonnie~

I have to tell you about Animal, Vegetable, Miracle... Barbara Kingsolver's amazing book! If you are interested in unusual (even magical) "landscaping" that our clients can EAT...you'll have to get this book! Here ins Asheville, Warren Wilson College dorms have edible gardens. The students plant 'em and enjoy them so much.

janeAnne: Nice to hear from you. I have read Barbara's book 2 years ago. I have most of her books as she is one of my favorite authors. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is a book well worth reading AND emulating - even in a small way.

Rhubarb pie is wonderful. We have a nice patch of rhubarb here, and I can see it peeking out of the earth. We are looking forward to rhubarb pie and rhubarb dream bars soon.

Bonnie, to cool. I like the back ground of your blog page as well, nice job!

APR

2008

Brenda: I have never had rhubarb dream bars - they sound nummy. Thanks for joining the rhubarb gang!

Hi Bonnie - What a fun post and clever title! You are right! Rhubarb is a favorite all over Michigan!

Mary: Thanks, looks like you are a rhubarb fan, too.

APR

2008

Great post Bonnie! Michigan rhubarb is great, my mother used to make strawberry rhubarb pie. The recipe with her homemade crust was incredible.

Bruce: Strawberry rhubarb is one of the best pies! And nothing beats a homemade pie. Thanks for the comment.

APR

2008

Bonnie, Thanks for sharing. Edible landscaping is definitely the best!. We sometimes struggle with growing edible plants here in the Arizona desert, but with the right planning and enough patience you can enjoy the fruits of your labors. I have recently been enjoying fresh apple mint iced tea from my herb garden. It's a refreshing way to cool down on a warm desert day.

Bonny: Thanks for the comment, the ice tea sounds wonderful. I remember visting Arizona and it was so different from here. Very beautiful, but very different.

I grew up in Ohio and my grandma used to grow and make the best Rhubarb pie. The plant is not very popular out west and I miss it! I never knew it had so much potential to help other plants thrive! Thanks for the great post on Rhubarb! P.S. I found this post thru Bonnie's earth day post today!

APR

2008

Terrie: Thanks for the comment and your rhubarb pie memories. It canbe used as a filler here in many other fruit pies, too. There is one at our favorite store called Bumbleberry Pie which has rhubarb mixed in with all kinds of berries. I have seen rhubarb here in the fresh produce section, I wonder if it is offered elsewhere, too?

APR

2008

Hi Bonnie. Strawberry rhubarb pie is my favorite. I usually don't eat pie because of all the calories but I can't pass up strawberry rhubarb!! I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

APR

2008

Heidi: I know what you mean, I'm watching my rhubarb plants closely - they just aren't big enough to pick any stalks yet!! Darn, I can just taste that pie!

MAY

2008

My favorite pie is Strawberry-Rhubarb and there is nothing better! I could eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner with ice cream if my wife would let me!

Aloha Bonnie,

Mmmmm Rhubarb pie! When I lived in Maine our neighbor made the best rhubarb pie from our garden. We would also make stewed rhubarb(minus the pie crust) and serve it hot with homemade vanilla ice cream, delish! Oh, don't forget rhubarb sorbet. Thanks for the post.

Peace,

MAY

2008

I agree Todd, let's go get some pie!!

Kimo, I love warm stewed rhubarb and the rhubarb sorbet sounds wonderful-- I'll have to try that!! Thanks for the suggestions.

This blog does not allow anonymous comments