Coffee

SPedigrees

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Mint, it grows wild along the banks of my brook. In summer I'll snip off a couple sprigs and put them in water in a small jar on the kitchen windowsill where it invariably sprouts roots and grows new leaves, even blossoms sometimes. That way I can just pinch off a few leaves for my iced tea without having to go outdoors to find some, plus it's entertaining to watch the root system grow. I'm easily amused.
 

digitS'

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Mint, it grows wild along the banks of my brook
Does watercress also grow along your brook, SPedigrees?

Those plants are common where European Americans lived 100+ years ago, around here. It must have been deliberately planted. I can't bring myself to harvest any because I cannot be sure what goes on higher up, along the creek. Other than I am confident that there is some water draining into the ground around some residences.

I grew it in the big veggie garden once because a leak in the big irrigation line provided the opportunity. With a short piece of pvc pipe, I directed a trickle to a nearby bed after moving about 4" of soil out of an area about 3' x 5'. It worked fine to grow watercress started from the grocery store produce aisle 🎋. The next year the irrigation valve was replaced and so ended my having a small pond of watercress.

Oatmeal and raisins in the bowl, oranges on the side, oolong in the cup ... herbal brewing in the kettle – breakfast!

Steve
 

ducks4you

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Does watercress also grow along your brook, SPedigrees?

Those plants are common where European Americans lived 100+ years ago, around here. It must have been deliberately planted. I can't bring myself to harvest any because I cannot be sure what goes on higher up, along the creek. Other than I am confident that there is some water draining into the ground around some residences.

I grew it in the big veggie garden once because a leak in the big irrigation line provided the opportunity. With a short piece of pvc pipe, I directed a trickle to a nearby bed after moving about 4" of soil out of an area about 3' x 5'. It worked fine to grow watercress started from the grocery store produce aisle 🎋. The next year the irrigation valve was replaced and so ended my having a small pond of watercress.

Oatmeal and raisins in the bowl, oranges on the side, oolong in the cup ... herbal brewing in the kettle – breakfast!

Steve
What about 2nd breakfast?!?!? :eek:
 

digitS'

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What about 2nd breakfast?!?!? :eek:
Okay Okay ... reminds me of my Mom telling me that I was eating like a girl on a diet.

Up at 4 so a second breakfast at 8AM is time. 2nd breakfast, whole wheat English muffin, peanut butter, banananana nana on the side, herbal tea :). Coffee soon!
 

SPedigrees

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Does watercress also grow along your brook, SPedigrees?

Those plants are common where European Americans lived 100+ years ago, around here. It must have been deliberately planted. I can't bring myself to harvest any because I cannot be sure what goes on higher up, along the creek. Other than I am confident that there is some water draining into the ground around some residences.

I grew it in the big veggie garden once because a leak in the big irrigation line provided the opportunity. With a short piece of pvc pipe, I directed a trickle to a nearby bed after moving about 4" of soil out of an area about 3' x 5'. It worked fine to grow watercress started from the grocery store produce aisle 🎋. The next year the irrigation valve was replaced and so ended my having a small pond of watercress.

That's a good question, Steve. I'm not sure I would recognize watercress if I saw it, although I certainly must have eaten it in salads, and it seems likely that it could be growing alongside the mint. A number of aquatic plants are growing in and beside the brook. I like the idea of rooting or planting grocery store watercress. That way I'd know for sure what it was, and be able to compare it to wild/feral plants growing. It's possible I may have grown watercress in with the salad/stir-fry seed mixes I've planted in the past.

I think I remember pictures you posted of the diversion of water from the damaged irrigation line.

Chemicals from houses getting into creek water is certainly a concern. My own brook and the wetland area alongside it are fed directly from a spring that's perhaps 300-500 feet uphill from us. One house is uphill from that and from us, and it is sort of a concern, because they have a collection of junk cars that might be leaking god knows what fluids, but toxins hopefully are filtered out by trees and willow bushes before water it gets here.
 
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