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Posted on 12/01/2025 5:54:31 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
The MONTHLY Gardening Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.
If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.
This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.
It is impossible to hijack the Gardening Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table Recipes, Preserving, Good Living - there is no telling where it will go - and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to/removed from our New & Improved Ping List.
NOTE: This is a once a MONTH Ping List, but we DO post to the thread all throughout the month. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest to Gardeners are welcomed any time.
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Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
18 Natural Christmas Decor Ideas For a Greener Holiday
Branches
Pine Cones
Driftwood
Herbs as Greenery
Grapevine Wreaths
Pretty Stones
Fruit
Painted Branches
Dried Fruit
Natural Wall Art
Floating Candles/Mason Jars
Evergreens
Clam Shells as serving pieces (Condiments)
Jazz up your Home Entryway
Twig Stars
Jazz up a Mirror
Mantle Decorating Ideas
Starfish (Preserved, not Live!)
https://www.thespruce.com/natural-christmas-decorations-4177526
Thanks for the new thread!
In Defense of Iceberg Lettuce
It’s well documented that making a satisfying salad is no easy feat. Between nailing the balance of protein, fiber, fat, and carbs, and making it all taste good in the process, there’s a lot that can go wrong between prepping and plating.
One part that shouldn’t be difficult? Picking a leafy green that will form the base of your dish. The problem is, even that decision can feel impossible when the consensus has long been against the most affordable and reliable option: iceberg lettuce.
The refrain that iceberg lettuce has “no nutrients” is one we hear all the time, but does it hold up as well as said vegetable does to a heavy dressing? Not really, according to registered dietitians. We chatted with them to find out why they think it’s time to bring back the old standby and why the anti-iceberg lettuce wave was flawed from the start.
Why did folks turn on iceberg lettuce?
There are a few reasons why what was once the go-to for salads fell out of favor, and almost all of them have to do with cultural and nutritional perceptions that aren’t really supported by science, Cara Harbstreet, MS, RD, LD, of Street Smart Nutrition, tells SELF.
Iceberg lettuce hate started when love for kale and other dark, leafy greens took off, she says. “When stacked next to dark leafy greens, the nutrition in iceberg lettuce seems to pale in comparison.” And it’s true that iceberg lettuce has fewer nutrients than those trendier alternatives, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be worthwhile in the right context (more on that in a bit).
Diet culture has also had a heavy hand in perpetuating the idea that the veggie is a low- or no-calorie food. This was seen as a benefit for a time, but as the desire for heartier fare grew, so too did the idea that the only real benefit to eating iceberg lettuce was its lack of calories, she explains.
Where iceberg lettuce gets the most use has similarly impacted its image, Wendy Lopez, MS, RD, CDCES, cofounder and COO of Diabetes Digital, tells SELF. “[It’s] commonly associated with fast food, diners, school lunches, and lower-cost meals, and when a food is linked to low-income communities, people often make unfair assumptions about its value,” she explains. It’s no coincidence that the anti-iceberg lettuce sentiment is heavily influenced by the types of people who are less likely or will never need to eat at those types of establishments.
Each factor on its own might not seem like a lot, but their cumulative effect has left many people thinking twice about iceberg lettuce. “There’s a real stigma attached to these scenarios. It shapes not only iceberg lettuce’s reputation, but also what we think of as ‘healthy,’” Harbstreet says.
It’s true that iceberg lettuce isn’t as nutritionally dense as other leafy greens.
There’s no denying that iceberg lettuce is more of a nutritional lightweight than other leafy greens, specifically dark ones, according to the RDs SELF spoke with. Things like kale contain nutrients that aren’t found in iceberg lettuce, like folate, as well as larger concentrations of the ones they have in common—like calcium, potassium, and even protein.
“Other fruits and vegetables with similar water content may offer a better nutritional bang for your buck, depending on your personal nutrition needs,” Harbstreet explains. So maybe it’s not technically your best option if optimizing your nutrient intake is your primary goal, but there are a few good reasons why it shouldn’t be jettisoned either.
Here’s why experts still think it deserves a spot in your rotation.
Iceberg lettuce is mostly water—95% to be exact. Despite this point often being used to disparage the vegetable, it’s actually a good thing, says Lopez. We stay hydrated with what we drink but also from the H2O in what we eat. So it certainly doesn’t hurt that this type of lettuce has a lot of it, she notes.
Iceberg lettuce also has key characteristics that make it ideally suited to building a salad—like a crunchy texture that doesn’t wilt quickly under heavy or highly acidic dressing. Harbstreet adds that it wilts less quickly than greens like spinach and arugula in general, has a longer shelf life, and is therefore that much more likely to actually get used.
Most importantly, there’s no understating the importance of its affordability. “Iceberg lettuce remains one of the most accessible vegetables for many families, and that alone gives it an important place on the plate,” Lopez says. So no, iceberg lettuce isn’t a powerhouse like kale. But in our book, anything that can put a veggie on your plate without breaking the bank will always deserve another shot.
https://www.self.com/story/in-defense-of-iceberg-lettuce
The Frozen Dessert Scam: ‘Ice Cream’ Isn’t Actually Ice Cream Anymore
Cypher News ^ | December 01,2025 | Grant Mercer
Posted on 12/1/2025, 6:05:48 AM by Red Badger
Companies didn’t improve the recipe — they cheapened it.
The scam is simple: charge the same, deliver less. The label tells what the ad won’t. snip
Have a crazy question: I don’t recall if it was you, or maybe other FReepers on this thread, but someone posted within the past year about sowing seeds indoors, to get a jump-start on spring planting. IIRC, the post wasn’t about actually starting plants indoors, but rather putting the seeds in a dry growing medium and just leaving them there over the winter. Does that ring any bells? If so, can you (or whoever) re-post the “how-to”?
Many thanks in advance — AFB-XYZ
P.S. Cute doggy! "Do you want your cookie licked or not licked? LOL! They're ALL licked!"
Doggie licks ‘em all, just to make sure they taste good enough for all his FRiends!
I rarely buy ice cream. A fruit Sorbet is more to my liking and VERY easy to make at home. Any frozen berries work fine.
https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/how-to-make-sorbet-recipe/#RecipeCard
I am in southern Ohio and I still have some things living in the garden: rutabagas and some Chinese greens. I’m going to pile some leaves on them for a 22 degree night coming up.
Haggendaas is pretty good in my opinion. Expensive 5hough. Not sure if its “real icecream” or not but 8 like it. Second to homemade
Long ago, one of my brothers had a roommate who liked what he called “sink salad”. He’d take half a head of iceberg lettuce, pour a lot of salad dressing onto it, and eat it standing over the kitchen sink. Then a quick wash of hands and face, and no dishes to do.
Just put another 6 yards of Gwen’s Mix into the dimensional 12” Alaskan Yellow Cedar raised beds:
https://www.thewormfarmportland.com/gwens-mix
Häagen-Dazs ice cream is g-o-o-d......made with a base of cream, milk, sugar, and egg yolks.
The specific ingredients and proportions vary by flavor, but the base remains consistent.
Additional ingredients are added, such as Madagascar vanilla extract, cocoa powder, or fruits.
Some regional products may also include ingredients like condensed milk.
Mmmmmm.....sorbet.
Yes, H-D is delicious and has mostly “clean” traditional ingredients. Ditto for Ben & Jerry’s. (Are we allowed to mention B&J?) But any of the less expensive ice creams are no longer fit for human consumption, full of chemicals — including propylene glycol, aka antifreeze — and gums and thickening agents.
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