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In Praise of the Posh Potato
If you remember when potatoes for dinner meant
the same old white tubers - mashed, smashed or boiled, you probably
haven't been to Superstore lately. You have? Yep, it's still pretty
boring.
Very little has changed in the potato islands in the last quarter
century. Oh, sure, the occasional red, white, blue or gold-heaped
veggie bin does warrant a slight
nod.
But for the most part, good old Irish tubers remain a staple in
the northern parts of the globe. We are deeply committed to the
white potato as a staple of our diet. Like rice or noodles in
other parts. Even as close by as the U.S. south, potatoes are
sweet potatoes. If you stop at Louis Diner somewhere in Louisiana
and if you crave creamy mashed potatoes with gravy, ask for "Irish
Potatoes'?
But that's because we in the Northern Hemisphere love our mashed
potatoes, especially with gravy. Never mind the cholesterol. Nothing
is more delicious.
Unless of course you
grow those potatoes yourself. Sans chemicals, organic compost.
Nothing beats the taste.
You can easily grow
your very own gourmet potatoes and wow your palates (not to
mention friends and family)! If
you have a balcony, patio or small bit of flower garden, you can
grow your own posh potatoes from the wide variety now available
online. The satisfaction you will gain from enjoying your own
baked potato on the bbq will be worth it.
TIP:
One rain barrel, garbage bin or a stack of three or four old tires
can yield about 25 lbs of potatoes. Triple that number and you've
provided a winter's supply of potatoes.
Here's
How to Grow Your Own Potatoes from Mike McGroarty
If you are fortunate enough to have a yard, of any size, you can
luxuriate in the knowledge that you have a goldmine just steps
away from the porch. Lucky you. You can grow as many potatoes
as you think you can handle (or trade, sell, etc.) Perhaps you
have a yen to feed your extended family or to barter or sell your
surplus at the local market. Don't forget to save enough to start
your potatoes next year. (Presto,
no more buying seed!
Shhh! Monsanto is listening). 
TIP:
Don't
limit yourself to the same old sprout sprawling paper bags of
white 'seed potatoes' you find at Superstore. Sure,
they're okay, but they're treated with heavens knows what. Go
organic and open up a world of incredible tater choices. Better
yet, go gourmet and choose from the literally hundreds of different
potatoes
that you can order online.
Order Potato Seed
Online
Here are a few of the best online growers/shippers of seed potatoes
in Canada just to get you started, but if you're lucky enough
to live in Prince Edward Island or New Brunswick or Ontario or
Alberta, take a drive out to a local small scale organic potato
farm and buy your own posh potato seed.
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