Garlic

We planted our garlic in November 2013 and it is looking great! Garlic is one of those things that we love to grow because we LOVE to eat it. Whether it is minced, chopped, or roasted whole, we have approximately a thousand recipes for it. In fact, we just used 4 tablespoons of chopped garlic in a vegetable lasagna we made this afternoon.

Did you know that garlic has been used as both food and medicine for thousands of years, dating back to when the Egyptian pyramids were built?  In early 18th-century France, gravediggers drank crushed garlic in wine believing it would protect them from the plague. During both World Wars I and II, soldiers were given garlic to prevent gangrene. It was also used as an antiseptic, applied to wounds to prevent infection.

Today garlic is used to help prevent heart disease, including atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries (plaque buildup in the arteries that can block the flow of blood and may lead to heart attack or stroke), high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and to boost the immune system. Eating garlic regularly may also help protect against cancer.

Garlic is rich in antioxidants. In your body, harmful particles called free radicals build up as you age, and may contribute to heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. Antioxidants like those found in garlic fight off free radicals, and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage caused over time.

Besides all the history and wonderful antioxidant properties, we look forward to sharing and selling our garlic at the St. Louis Garlic Fest in Carondelet Park this June 2, 2014. Come join us of you can.