The American Heart Association’s annual Festival of Wines: Cocktails and Cuisine is coming up Thursday, Oct. 4, promising a great evening of delicious food and wines at Dickey-Stephens Park.
But enjoying tasty (and healthy!) foods at home or on a night out is something both the American Heart Association and the event’s presenting sponsor, the Arkansas Heart Hospital, are passionate about teaching others.
One way to take steps to be healthy at home is heading into the garden or your local produce section. We caught up with gardener Jon Bierman to find out some of his tips you can use in your own kitchen.
How did you get into gardening?
JB: My first job, at the age of 14, was in a garden at my junior high. We worked for six weeks during the summer. I really enjoyed working with peers and growing food. It was a great experience. We clowned around a lot, but produced some great product. It is so important to get teenagers involved with work (paying jobs) and nature, especially now.
Herbs are a great way to add flavor without adding salt or sodium. What are some of your go-to herbs for meals?
JB: I use thyme all the time. It goes great with soups and vegetables. It is located right outside my door year-round, so that helps. Rosemary is another herb for year-round enjoyment. I probably use ground cumin the most, however.
What are some herbs that a person can easily grow at home?
JB: Know your site. A lot of herbs require well-drained soils. They will not grow well and will die fast if you do not prepare your soils first. Compost and a shovel can get you there. Also, give them full sun. Once established, flavor and vigor are increased with sunny conditions. Given these conditions exist, I recommend parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. (Simon and Garfunkel know what’s up.)
What about plants? What produce items can be easily grown at home and take up limited space?
JB: Plant according to the seasons. Cool weather means lettuce and spinach for me at home. I love going to the garden to pick directly for that meal. Warm weather means peppers, basil and eggplant. They make a landscape so beautiful!
Arkansas is blessed with quite a lot of produce and herbs grown locally. What advice do you have for someone who feels stuck in a rut when it comes to picking out items to add to their plate?
JB: Eat plants. You will feel better and your body is designed for them. Your health will thank you. An easy thing to keep in mind is to add color. Fruits and vegetables are in almost every color of the rainbow. There are several ways to enjoy these foods from steaming, to grilling, roasting or even enjoying them raw!
If you’d like to see how the pros do it firsthand, don’t miss out on Festival of Wines: Cocktails and Cuisine. The event will feature selections from 16 local restaurants, signature cocktails and hundreds of wines. Cindle and Ryan Meyer serve as the 2018 chairs, with Moon and Central Distributors as the wine sponsors. All proceeds from the event benefit the American Heart Association.
The night’s events last from 6-8:30 p.m. and tickets are available now at FestivalOfWines.Heart.org.