Preparing dishes from around the world does not mean the ingredients have to come from far away. In her talk, Nadia Hassani will explore how the Pennsylvania climate makes it possible to grow a wide range of vegetables, from sun-loving hot-climate produce to perennial crops that require cold subzero winters, for a wide range of cuisines: Mediterranean and Middle Eastern, Central and East European, Latin American, and Asian. Some of the produce, such as tomatoes, basil, Italian oregano, cilantro, and Thai Mint are growing right on the premises in the Friends’ Garden at Arch Street Meeting House!
Growing vegetables does not require a large back yard, some can even be grown in containers. Nadia will also go over some vegetable gardening basics and identify which vegetables are especially suitable for beginning gardeners or families who would like to introduce their children to the wondrous experience of growing their own food.
Nadia Hassani has gardened on a rural hilltop north of the Lehigh Valley since 2004 and became a Master Gardener in 2006. She works as a writer, editor, and translator and her favorite topics are food and gardening. She wrote a cookbook about the regional cuisines of her native Germany entitled Spoonfuls of Germany and contributes gardening articles to The Spruce and Food52.
Even after more than 20 years in the United States, Nadia still marvels about the fact that the Pennsylvania climate with its subzero winters and hot summers makes it possible to grow such a wide range of fruits and vegetables. She loves to explore world cuisines and as a committed locavore finds that there is often no need to reach for ingredients shipped from far away—you can very well cook global and grow local.
This project was made possible with support from the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia.
Supported by the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, this project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [CAGML-248024-OMLS-20].
