How to Save Sunflower Seeds

Ask me what snack tastes most like summer to me and I’ll say tomatoes, but sunflower seeds come in as a close second. Crunchy, salty, natural and good for you - who could ask for more in a snack?

Health Benefits of Sunflower Seeds

If you’re wondering if sunflower seeds are good for you, here’s what you need to know: a quarter cup of shelled sunflower seeds has almost 6 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber, and the seeds are packed with nutrition, providing a variety of vitamins, iron, copper, calcium, selenium, zinc, potassium, and manganese. Sunflower seeds are helpful to our bodies in many ways, from decreasing risk of heart disease to boosting our immune systems.

Health benefits of sunflower seeds include:

• Anti-inflammatory Properties: The vitamin E , selenium, and flavonoids in sunflower seeds can reduce inflammation.

• Healthy fats: A 1/4 cup serving of sunflower seeds contains about 14 grams of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. These fats are linked to lower rates of heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. 

• A boost for the immune system: The zinc and selenium in sunflower seeds can boost your body’s ability to fight off viruses. Zinc is vital to helping your body develop and maintain immune cells, while selenium helps fight infection.

• Energy: Sunflower seeds are rich in protein, which directly contributes to your energy levels, but other nutrients in the seeds also contribute to keeping you active. Vitamin B1 (thiamin) helps your body convert food to energy, while vitamin B helps maintain that energy. The same selenium which helps your body fight infections also increases your blood flow, delivering more oxygen to your body, resulting in more energy.

How to Plant Sunflower Seeds

Sunflowers grow easily from seed and can be sown directly into the ground. They are not particular about soil conditions, and will be happy as long as they are planted in full sun.

Sunflower seeds do not like cold, and should be planted two to three weeks after the last average frost date, when the temperature of the soil is consistently warmed.

This will generally be somewhere between mid-April and mid-June. The timing of the planting can be individual to the variety, so check your seed packet.

From that point on you can succession sow, planting seeds every couple of weeks to extend your season.

Most sunflower seeds are planted 1-2” deep, but follow the directions for spacing printed on your seed packet. If you would like to produce smaller flowers, plant your seeds a bit closer than recommended.

Keep your seeds consistently moist until the plants’ root systems have had a chance to establish themselves.

Sunflower seeds are a favorite among the animals and birds we typically share the land with, so it’s best to protect the seeds through germination. This can be done by placing a mason jar upside-down on top of the soil above each seed. This will not only prevent thieving critters from stealing your seed, it will create a warm and moist environment for germination.

Once your plants emerge, remove the jars and thin the plants to provide proper spacing.

What Kinds of Sunflowers Should I Plant to Eat?

Some sunflowers are grown for cutting, and produce little to no pollen, without which they cannot produce seed. Others are grown particularly for their ability to produce delicious seed.

Varieties grown for edible seeds are sometimes called ‘confection’ types. Taller sunflowers produce the biggest crop of seeds, but there are shorter cultivars available which are bred to produce plump, delicious seeds.

What edible sunflower seeds should you buy?

It’s worth nothing that not only are the seeds edible, but the small buds of many varieties can also be grilled, marinated, or sauteed for an unusual appetizer or side dish.

Shock-O-Lat Sunflower

With yellow-tipped, bronze-red petals, 'Shock-O-Lat' is sure to draw attention. Contrasting purple-tinged stems are well-branched, offering a multitude of pollenless blooms for bouquets. Sunflowers are edible, with a bittersweet flavor. The petals add a pretty pop of color ion salads and desserts. The young, sunflower buds are edible, with a flavor similar to artichoke hearts. They can be grilled, marinated, or sauteed for an unusual appetizer or side dish. The 6" flowers can be tamed down to 3" by spacing plants closely (10" apart). Tap to shop.

Mongolian Giant Sunflower

Each 'Mongolian Giant' plant produces a single yellow flower up to 18" across that will provide extra-large seeds filled with tasty, hearty kernels. These single-stem sunflowers attract pollinators and are very easy to grow in almost any sunny garden, although a sunflower's size is dependent on the growing conditions. They also are drought tolerant and fast growing; you can almost watch them gain an inch or more a day! Inside this packet, we've included tips on how to protect your ripening seeds from squirrels and birds, and a recipe for roasting seeds. Edible, bittersweet petals make a sunny garnish on salads and appetizer plates. Tap to shop

Mammoth Sunflower

This giant among sunflowers is a fast grower whose single stalk can reach 12' tall and produces one 10"-12" flower! Not fussy about soil, it's very easy to grow and drought tolerant. Grow in a tight row to make an attractive screen. Sow monthly for continual bloom. Tap to shop

Teddy Bear Sunflower

A unique addition to your flower bed, these bright yellow puffball blossoms will give you a warm, fuzzy feeling! 'Teddy Bear' produces many 3"-5" flowers on a 24"-36" tall, multi-branching plant; beautiful as a short hedge and makes a fabulous cut flower. Sunflowers are edible, with a bittersweet flavor. The petals add a pretty pop of color ion salads and desserts. The young, sunflower buds are edible, with a flavor similar to artichoke hearts. They can be grilled, marinated, or sauteed for an unusual appetizer or side dish. Great for kids to grow due to the large seed and fast growth. Drought-tolerant once established, and attracts pollinators. Non-fussy plant blooms until fall. Tap to shop

When to Harvest Sunflower Seeds for Eating

You will want to wait to harvest when the sunflower has lost petals, and the back of the flower is yellow with some brown spots. Any flower on which seeds feel a bit like wiggly teeth should be harvested immediately.

If it’s almost time to harvest and you’re concerned about wildlife getting to the seeds before you do, as soon as petals start falling, tie a brown paper bag or some cheesecloth around the flower right out in the garden and leave it until the seeds are mature.

How to Harvest Sunflowers

Once the flowers are ready for harvesting cut them off the stem an inch or so behind the flower. Remove the leaves and the loose petals around the edge of the flower.

Sunflower seeds form beneath tiny flowers (florets). At this point, the florets will be dry, and you can use your hand to wipe them off and reveal the seeds.

Harvesting Sunflower Seeds to Eat

• Some flowers will have seeds you can easily coax out with your fingers or by rubbing two sunflowers together.

• For tighter groupings of seeds, you have a few options:

• Cutting the flower will expose edges, making it easier to get in under the seeds.

• A spoon will allow you to dig in a bit to get things started.

• A knife accomplishes the same thing as a spoon, with a bit more danger for thrill-seekers.

• If the seeds are extremely tight, allow them to dry longer on the flower head before harvesting.

roasted sunflower seeds

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Author: The Cottage Peach

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Roasted sunflower seeds

Some people skip brining sunflower seeds and just roast them on cookie sheet at 300 degrees for 15 minutes, but salting and roasting improves their flavor and extends their shelf life. Fresher seeds will have a better flavor after roasting than older seeds would so it’s best to do this soon after harvesting your seeds.

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 30 MinInactive time: 24 HourTotal time: 24 H & 35 M

Ingredients

• 8 cups warm water
• ½ cup table salt

Instructions

1. Dissolve the salt in the warm water and stir in your sunflower seeds, making sure that the seeds are completely covered with liquid. The sunflower seeds will want to float so you can put a plate on top to weigh them down and keep them submerged in the brine.
2. Allow the sunflower seeds to soak for 12-24 hours. The salt will stick to the seeds. Stir well and drain, transferring the seeds to a baking sheet. Spread the sunflower seeds in a single layer.
3. Preheat the oven to 325°F and bake the sunflower seeds for 25-30 minutes to completely dry. Store in an airtight container.
4. Don’t have time to soak your sunflower seeds overnight? You can bring a pot of salted water to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer your sunflower seeds for 1-1.5 hours and then roast.

Notes

Once roasted, you can eat the seeds as they are or with a bit of oil and a sprinkle of spices. 

You can also use them wherever you want to add a salty, crunchy ingredient. They’re delicious in trail mix with dried fruit and chocolate chips, and make a nice addition to salads. They can be used as nuts for cookies or cakes, stirred into oatmeal, or added to a stir fry. 

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What To Avoid Doing When Drying Sunflower Seeds

Some people recommend rinsing your seeds before beginning to dry them. I don’t find this to be necessary, and don’t recommend adding any moisture when the goal is to get the seeds completely dried out.

Roasting Sunflower Seeds

Some people skip brining sunflower seeds and just roast them on cookie sheet at 300 degrees for 15 minutes, but salting and roasting improves their flavor and extends their shelf life. Fresher seeds will have a better flavor after roasting than older seeds would so it’s best to do this soon after harvesting your seeds.

Roasted Sunflower Seeds Recipe

Once you’ve removed the seeds from the flower, pour them into a bowl and skim through with your fingers, removing any leaves or flower debris. 

Ingredients:

• 8 cups warm water

• ½ cup table salt

Dissolve the salt in the warm water and stir in your sunflower seeds, making sure that the seeds are completely covered with liquid. The sunflower seeds will want to float so you can put a plate on top to weigh them down and keep them submerged in the brine.

Allow the sunflower seeds to soak for 12-24 hours. The salt will stick to the seeds. Stir well and drain, transferring the seeds to a baking sheet. Spread the sunflower seeds in a single layer.

Preheat the oven to 325 and bake the sunflower seeds for 25-30 minutes to completely dry. Store in an airtight container.

Don’t have time to soak your sunflower seeds overnight? You can bring a pot of salted water to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer your sunflower seeds for 1-1.5 hours and then roast.

Ways to Eat Sunflower Seeds

Once roasted, you can eat the seeds as they are or with a bit of oil and a sprinkle of spices. 

You can also use them wherever you want to add a salty, crunchy ingredient. They’re delicious in trail mix with dried fruit and chocolate chips, and make a nice addition to salads. They can be used as nuts for cookies or cakes, stirred into oatmeal, or added to a stir fry. 

Saving Sunflower Seeds For Planting:

Sunflowers are an annual plant, meaning they fulfill their life cycle in one season: planted in the spring, setting seed in the fall, then dying back all together. Because of this, new seeds must be planted each year.

Saving seed from sunflowers you have grown is simple and will help you save money on buying new seeds!

When to harvest sunflower seeds for planting

As the seeds grow in size, the flower will begin to bend over from the weight. Eventually, outer petals will become dry and begin to drop. When the back of the sunflower goes from green to yellow and brown spots appear, the flower is ready for harvesting.

How to harvest sunflower seeds for planting

When the flower is ready, cut it with a 12” stem. Unlike with sunflower seeds you intend to eat, seeds for planting must dry on the flower itself. Tie a brown paper bag around the flower head and hang it upside down indoors for two weeks.

At that point, the seeds are ready to be taken off the flower. Remove them, spread them out, and allow them to dry out for another week or so. 

When the seeds will crack if you try to bend them, they are completely dry and ready for storage. 

How to store sunflower seeds for planting

Choose the biggest seeds to save. (The rest can be roasted) Put the dried seeds in an airtight container and label with the variety and date. 

Sunflower seeds stored in a mason jar will stay viable for about five years. They can also be stored in a Ziploc bag or paper envelope but won’t retain viability for as long. If you don’t have a jar available, a Ziploc is a better choice than an envelope, giving your seeds another year or so of use. Keeping the seeds in the refrigerator is another way to extend their usefulness.

Can you harvest seeds for planting from cut flowers you buy? 

The short answer is no. Sellers harvest cut sunflowers before their seeds fully develop, or sometimes before they set at all. Even if the seller is a little late in the cutting and seeds have begun to set, they will not reach maturity on a cut flower.

Benefits of Lavender and How to Grow Your Own

The Cottage Peach is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own.

Since we grow more lavender than any one family needs, we’ve found just about every way possible to enjoy dried lavender around here. Recipes and gift ideas are below, but first let's talk a little about why I love lavender so much!

What are the benefits of lavender?

Lavender is beautiful, but that’s only one of its many benefits. Its soothing scent makes it a much-loved ingredient in soaps, sachets, lotions, eye pillows, and shampoos.

The aroma itself comes from oil in the small flowers, which grow together on long stems above the silver-green foliage. Lavender essential oil has been studied for a variety of potential medicinal uses, including preventing hair loss and reducing agitation in people with dementia. Its antiviral and antibacterial uses are also being studied.

Lavender has traditionally been used medicinally for insomnia and anxiety due to the sedative effects of its aroma. It is frequently used to fill pillows in order to encourage sleepiness, and strewn in water to make a hot bath even more relaxing.

I've been using lavender to soothe my anxiety since I first sprayed a lavender scented room spray on my pillow as a teenager. Now I like to put a few drops of oil on my hair scrunchie when I'm feeling stressed, and keep a bundle on the windowsill beside my bed for sweet dreams.

How to Use Lavender for Aromatherapy

Want to know the secret to a soothing shower? I bet you won’t be surprised when I say lavender. Simply bundle some stems of dried lavender and tie them together with a length of twine. Make a loop with the end of the twine, which you can drape over your showerhead. 

This simple, beautiful, natural decor item will bring a sense of peace to your home. Bring your lavender in the shower with you - I promise you won’t regret it!

Alternatively, dried lavender can be mixed with Epsom salts in a bath. 

Lavender will make your bathroom a retreat in which to relax, calm, and soothe not only your mind but your skin as well.

Lavender-Infused Sugar Recipe

Add a handful of dried lavender buds to a cup of sugar. Store it in a cabinet or on the counter in a pretty mason jar - I love these wooden lids you can put on Ball mason jars. Lavender-infused sugar is a delicious addition to tea, cookies, or pound cake.

Lavender Simple Syrup Recipe

My favorite thing to do with our homegrown lavender by far is to infuse it into a simple syrup. This syrup can then be used to make mocktails (see recipe below), popsicles and many other desserts. You can make your own lavender simple syrup for drinks and desserts at home in just a few minutes!

Ingredients and supplies:

• 1 Tablespoon lavender buds

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup water

• A sieve or cheesecloth

• A leak-proof jar

Directions:

In a small pot combine the lavender, sugar, and water.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then let it boil for one minute.

Remove the pan from the heat and steep the syrup for one hour before straining.

Strain with the sieve or cheesecloth.

Pour into an airtight jar and store in the refrigerator. 

This simple syrup keeps well in the fridge for about 3 weeks, but don’t worry - you’ll finish it long before it has a chance to go bad!

Lavender Lemonade Summer Mocktail Recipe

Summertime drinks are just more refreshing when fresh fruit, herbs, and flowers are added. This Lavender Lemonade Mocktail recipe is a favorite. Just don’t ask me how many glasses of this I’ve enjoyed over the past summer - it’s more than I care to admit!

Ingredients:

• 1 oz lavender simple syrup (see recipe above)

• 1 oz lemon juice (fresh-squeezed is a must!)

• 1 oz sparkling water or seltzer (tequila would work too)

• A slice of lemon

• 2 small sprigs of lavender 

Directions:

Combine simple syrup, lemon juice, and sparkling water in a glass with plenty of ice. Top with a slice of lemon and the lavender sprigs and enjoy!

DIY Lavender Sachets

Lavender sachets are super useful in drawers and cupboards where clothes are kept, as they will both keep your clothes smelling fresh and deter moths. Consider placing one between each of your wool sweaters for extra protection.

Supplies:

• Fabric scraps (Thinner fabric is best, to allow the scent to easily diffuse. Quilter’s cotton works well.)

• Needle

• Thread

• Dried Lavender buds

Directions:

Sew fabric scraps into small squares or rectangles, with the fronts of the fabric facing each other. Leave one side open. Turn right-side out and stuff with dried lavender flowers, then finish sewing it closed. Alternatively you can use hem tape for a no-sew version.

How to Grow Your Own Lavender

Of course, these five ideas for using lavender are even more fun if you grow your own! Lavender is native to the Mediterranean, so it prefers a hot, dry spot. It isn’t picky as to soil type, and will grow just fine in a rocky or sandy area. 

Lavender plants are quite easy to care for, and don’t need fertilizer or supplemental watering. To make the treats above, be sure to plant an edible variety. 

We like to grow Hicote and Munstead lavenders, both of which are English varieties. Hidcote has dark purple flowers which form tightly, while Munstead has lighter flowers that are more loose and open. Our favorites are the Hidcote, as the color is deep and doesn’t fade much, if at all, when it is dried, but combining the two makes for a beautiful garden bed and bouquets.

How to Prune Lavender

Lavender wants to grow into a woody and not very attractive plant, so it’s important to trim it twice a year, once when the first flush of flowers is ready for harvest, and again in the fall to prepare them for winter. After the first pruning of the year, they will bloom again, although the harvest won’t be as thick or showy. 

I think of this pruning as giving the plants a haircut. You don’t want to give them a buzz cut, removing all of the green leaves. Instead, leave two or three inches of green growth on each stem. 

Keeping up on this pruning twice a year will ensure your plants maintain a pleasing shape and prevent the stems from hardening. Once a lavender plant becomes woody, it won’t produce well and you’ll likely want to replace it.

How to Harvest and Cure Lavender

The key to long-lasting dried lavender is the timing of the harvest. Through years of research, trial + error, I’ve learned the optimal time to pick each bloom so the dried flowers are less likely to fall from the stems, and the scent will not quickly fade away. It’s best to harvest lavender early in the day, while it’s cool but the sun has been out long enough to dry any remaining dew, and just before the flowers have completely opened.

I count down the minutes until I can pluck each stem from its plant and bring it into our home. For weeks after the lavender harvest, our whole house smells like sweet lavender, and peace prevails.

When the time came for our latest harvest, I made my way outside as the sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, and I experienced a really beautiful moment. I looked up and the moon was still high overhead, and at the same time the morning sun warmed my face. Having both the sun + moon to keep me company was more than enough, but then I heard a rustle beside me and when I turned, I saw the most peaceful bunny eating breakfast. We coexisted together while I finished my work and then went our separate ways.

You will find that a lavender bed is full of bumble bees just about any time you look at it. Sometimes they try to hitch a ride on the cut flowers! Lavender attracts all sorts of beneficial insects.

To harvest, I gather bunches of stems with one hand, and cut each bunch all together, being careful to keep the stems as long as possible. I find Felcos to be the best tool for the job. A Hori Hori garden knife is also effective, but tends to leave the plants looking a tiny bit shaggier and not as neatly clipped.

While still outside, I separate the harvest into bouquets which I bind with a strong elastic to dry. The elastic works best for drying because the bundles will shrink as the moisture evaporates making twine too loose.

Curing locks in the unmistakable scent we all know and love so well. Our bouquets hold their scent for more than a year - you can re-activate it by giving the bouquet a gentle squeeze to release more essential oils! Just do this over a sink as some buds will fall off.

This curing process is essential to your bouquet carrying the smell of lavender through your home for many months to come. Over weeks we watch the buds pulling closer together and feel the stems turning crisp under our fingers. It can be done very simply by hanging the bundles by loops in their twine on a folding laundry rack or even your curtain rods. 

One fully dried, a flurry of commotion results at my kitchen table as bundles are wrapped with twine. Now our bouquets are fair game for all of the above uses and more.

What is your favorite way to use lavender?

Slow Living in the Garden with Chronic Illness

Winter

Last winter my Psoriatic Arthritis flared the worst it ever has, and I found myself wondering if there would be any bit of me that was able to enjoy summer. It hurts my heart to even think about the place I was in mentally. How stuck I was. When you don't have the choice to do the things you love, it can feel like your identity is slipping away.

On a particularly bad day, I thought of geese.

Being the lead goose in a formation is hard.⁠ Research has shown that the passage of the leading bird through the air provides an aerodynamic increase in the lift to the bird following behind. This is why geese fly in a V formation.⁠ 

How do geese decide who will lead their journey? Is it the strongest bird? The one with the largest wings?⁠

The truth is much more humbling.⁠

Each goose is equally responsible for leading, at different times.⁠ They take turns.⁠ They share the burden.⁠ 

I see similar patterns in my own life in this season. We cannot always lead our flock. Sometimes our flock needs to lend a wing, and increase our own lift in turn.⁠

Struggling under the weight of extreme fatigue, pain, and inflammation, I had to accept help more than I’m comfortable with. I had to take on a role of rest and recuperation, and put aside responsibilities. 

I learned to be comfortable in the physical and mental discomfort and believe that the people around me want to help me to shoulder that burden. 

This vulnerability grounds me. It makes me strong.

Spring

With spring came new growth and new medication. I've struggled to write about my chronic illness since finding a treatment that helps, because not everyone gets to come out of that place I was in. I'm also waiting for the other shoe to drop, feeling like I am on borrowed time. 

The weight of that knowledge is heavy on my mind any time I celebrate how far I've come or I realize I was able to do more than I could have before my medication change. It also feels like things were so bad, any improvement is seen from the outside as me being 100% "better" by comparison - which is just never going to happen. It's difficult for me to just appreciate the positive changes without that tinge of uncertainty. Autoimmune disease is like that. When so little is understood you are forced to reckon with an ever changing emotional and physical reality and accept the unknown. Otherwise you miss out on enjoying the good times.

It was a long winter, and spring has been full of hope and realized dreams. But we don't have to find the silver lining in everything all of the time. Sometimes there really isn’t one until you look back later and realize how much you’ve grown through what you’ve gone through.

I know in my heart that these struggles have always made me stronger and more empathetic. I hope sharing my struggles can help someone else feel less alone. 

These really hard days don't last. Even when they feel like they will never end, there is always some type of pause and laughter and forgetting of what you’ve gone through, what you’re going through.

I watch what a seed must accomplish before it can become a harvestable, mature plant and wonder if I too am like the seed. Maybe, just maybe, I will form roots and strength where pain and loneliness once was.

This spring I feel tightly encased in my hardened shell, but ready to burst forth and see the sunshine again. But I worry - I know that my love of gardening will test my physical limits, and I need a plan to modify the garden to fit my limitations.

The work of preparing the garden this spring has been harder than ever before, but it wasn't because I planted more - I planted less. It was harder because of my arthritis.

Anyone with chronic illness will tell you that the energy we have is limited. Even medicated and feeling so much better than I did all winter it's still hard to do the things I used to do. 

I cried in frustration multiple times. I almost gave up. I have had to let others help me do the things I was so looking forward to doing.

I can’t say, "I got it done anyway" because that's not how chronic illness works - I didn't finish all my tasks. I felt disappointed and so very angry with my body. Something I love to do has been changed in a way I don't know if I'll ever get back and it's okay if that's an adjustment and it's ok if I spend half my time enjoying it and the other half with tear stained dirt streaks running down my face. 

Two things can be true. Life isn't a straight line path we get to walk down, even on a moment to moment basis there will be ups and downs.

Accessible Garden Planning

I have the luxury of space, of sprawling land to wander and call home. I have the luxury of time, to spend planning what I'll grow where, to dig in the earth. I have the luxury of knowledge, gathered through my failures. 

I can grow my food and watch it from the comfort of this space, this sanctuary I am creating on our land.

These things are not afforded to everyone. Accessible sustainability should be the norm, but it is not.

This season, I took a few steps in order to make it possible for me to garden WITH my chronic illness, not despite it. The first was to accept that I wouldn’t grow as much as I have previously. The second was to set up elevated garden beds.

Since gardening involves a fair amount of kneeling, I knew I had to find a way around that, and elevated beds seemed to be the way to go. I began to research elevated beds, looking for a solution that would work for me.

It turned out that solution was staring me right in the face.

As we began a deep spring clean of our basement my eyes landed on two raised wooden retail tables from a store closing sale that have been sitting in storage for years. We didn’t have to buy anything, we didn’t even have to BUILD anything.

I dragged them outside and got them into position, then I wiped them down and drilled drainage holes into the plywood “floor” of the bed. A layer of weed barrier, then small sticks and top soil blended with last season’s compost, and I had two elevated beds. Our food waste would feed our plants, and our plants would feed us.

I also installed olla watering pots in our garden beds.

Ollas keep your plants watered through a process called soil moisture tension. When the soil around the olla is dry, the water is pulled out through the pot’s “pores”, or microscopic holes in the unglazed clay, and makes its way to your thirsty plants. If the soil is already moist, the water stays in the pot.

With the ollas installed, I would only need to water the gardens every 3-5 days, and instead of standing there holding a hose for what felt like hours I could simply fill the olla pot with water and call it done.

The last thing I did was to get ahead of the weeding. We still had one main in-ground garden bed for larger plants like our corn and squash, and I knew that bending and kneeling to battle the weeds would not be an option any more. I combated this by spreading a very thick layer of straw over the entire bed before I planted anything.

Summer

My accessible garden plan is working. We’ve pulled a spare table out to give me a spot to sit and rest by the sunflowers. It has become a sanctuary for me. I am frustrated at times with how little I have been able to grow in comparison to years past, but I appreciate that I do not have to spent hours tending the garden every week if I’m not able to. The garden will be just fine without me for a bit. I let go and let nature take over.

In August, the garden becomes a jungle dense with life, the most self-sufficient it will be as established plants require less and less of my daily attention.

I do not take for granted that the systems I labored to put in place all year long have finally paid off, the dividends materializing in the form of bell peppers, beans, squash, broccoli, chard and more. But I still like to think I am needed in this season, if only to fend off errant pests and the occasional drought. Feeling needed in the garden is one of the most fulfilling pieces of working with the land.

I’m still processing some disappointment as I've watched other gardeners with their huge lush garden beds, and it's felt like another form of grieving my life before chronic illness. I was able to do that once, and now I can't.

Yes, I am making the most of my circumstance, and yes - my medications have allowed me to return to the activities that make me "me" to some degree. But unless you have chronic illness, you can't understand how hard it is to know things will never be exactly the same as they were when you were healthy.

I am proud of what I have accomplished - I may not have grown the usual quantity of plants, but I have learned to appreciate what I have, accept and support my body, and dedicate time to things that make me happy.

I could go on forever about how chronic illness forces you to put things in perspective in a way that gives as much as it takes, but I'll leave it at that. I went from hating getting up early to go to work at my office job in a call center to making excuses to get up early to tend to the garden, grow our own food and flowers, create art and just enjoy nature. At it’s root, no matter how much or how little I grow - this is what matters.

Your dream life is just one decision away from becoming reality - what small steps can you take today to bring yourself closer to your dreams?

Sustainable Swaps For Your Home

The Cottage Peach is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own.

Sustainable swaps can be a fun way to incorporate more eco-friendly practices into your slow living journey. Just a couple of important notes:

First of all, it is better to use up what you already have even if it is a disposable product before making your swap.

And second, many  ‘effortless’ swaps are not effortless unless you come from a place of privilege. There are many who cannot make these swaps due to lack of resources or varying health conditions. So, while these changes can be a fun way to feel more connected to the earth and our environment, real change happens on a global and national level with our leadership. We must enact policies that protect our planet and regulate the huge corporations that are currently leaving us, the consumers, to clean up the pieces of their dirty work.

That said, here are some ideas for what you can swap out to save money and, at least slightly, limit your personal impact on the planet.

Windex 🡪 Vinegar

The benefit to opting out of chemical cleaners is two-fold: less plastic AND fewer toxic chemicals. The truth is there’s no one really policing the labeling of ‘toxic-free’ cleaners, so these labels can’t be trusted.

Vinegar works as a disinfectant to some degree; it will kill E-coli and Salmonella. It is not as powerful as bleach, but is very effective as a general household cleaner. 

We use it on mirrors, windows, sinks, shower walls…the list goes on and on!

Because of its acidic nature, vinegar should not be used to clean stone (including granite, marble, and quartz) or hardwood flooring.

How to Make Vinegar House Cleaner

This cleaner requires only two ingredients: vinegar and water.

We generally eyeball the ratio of vinegar to water, but a good general rule is 3 Tablespoons of vinegar to 1 cup of water.

Fast Fashion 🡪 Secondhand Clothes

Did you know the production of cotton for fast fashion is second only to oil mining as the worst industry in the world for harming the planet? The impact of the growth of genetically-modified cotton seeds and the use of toxic pesticides has resulted in entire villages being poisoned by their water supply. Buying secondhand eliminates this aspect from the supply chain, and it’s fun!

Tips For Shopping Secondhand:

• Make a list of items you are looking for, so if you run across something you want you can double check whether it’s something you need.

• Look often and be patient! The stock of secondhand stores, online and in person, changes daily.

• Know your measurements. Buy a flexible tape measure and write down your chest, waist, hip, and inseam so you can quickly reference it while shopping.

My Favorite Places to Shop Secondhand: 

• Poshmark has a huge variety. One feature I particularly like is that your payment isn’t released to the seller until your item has arrived and you’ve approved it.

• Etsy sellers list thousands and thousands of vintage clothing items.

• Local thrift stores are the most fun in terms of feeling as though you’re on a treasure hunt. Skip the chains if you can in favor of smaller stores.

Disposable Plastic Water Bottle 🡪 Glass or Metal Water Bottle

Did you know roughly 2,480,000 tons of plastic bottles and other containers are tossed out (not recycled) every year. Plastic bottles make up a significant portion of this waste. They are also one of the main sources of pollution and pose a serious threat to our environment and the animals we share it with. There are so many reusable water bottles available. In a pinch, a mason jar or old sauce jar will do just fine. 

I love these metal water bottles from Package Free Shop

Disposable Plastic Containers 🡪 Glass Storage

Mason jars can hold anything a plastic baggie can, and are also useful pantry containers. We use them all over our home to hold leftovers, beans, soups, flowers, overnight oats, and even as soap dispensers.

A variety of tops are available for storage, smoothies, oil dispensing, and sipping, and cozies available to keep your coffee or tea warm.

If fitting mason jars in your fridge is not the best option for you, Package Free Shop has these great glass food storage containers with bamboo lids which stack and allow for an organized refrigerator. 

Here’s my top choices for mason jar accessories:

Plastic Straws 🡪 Glass, Metal, or Bamboo Straws*

*Note that doing away with plastic straws altogether is not an option, as many people need access to bendable straws to eat or drink.

In the US alone, people discard 500 million straws every day, or more than 180 billion a year. That’s about 1.4 million kilograms of plastic sent to landfills (and the ocean) every day!

Here’s my top choices for reusable straws:

Plastic Shopping Bags 🡪 Reusable Bags

Hopefully you’ve already jumped on this bandwagon, but if not, here’s a reason you should: Plastic bags are used for only 20 minutes on average, but take hundreds of year to decompose, and in that time can poison or kill countless wildlife. 

Any tote bag will do, and they can often be found cheap or free. Or you can grab these reusable string netted market bags from Package Free Shop by clicking here.

Prepackaged Tea Bags 🡪 Loose Leaf Tea and Strainer

‘Paper’ tea bags almost always contain some plastic, and can be full of pesticides, toxins, and dioxins. Epichlorhydrine is the pesticide most often found in tea bags. It’s known to cause cancer in animals exposed to it.

As a bonus, using leaf tea means a wider choice of options and the possibility to mix your own varieties.

Tea strainers are available in practical, pretty, and humorous options. Some are more durable than others, so take a look at the construction before purchasing.

Here’s a few of my top choices for reusable loose leaf tea strainers:

Dryer Sheets 🡪 Wool Dryer Balls

Wool dryer balls are a better option all around than toxin laden fabric softener and wasteful, one-time-use dryer sheets. Not only are these products bad for the environment, their contents are also absorbed by your clothing, towels, and bedding, and then transferred to your skin.

Wool dryer balls are fun to make, or you can grab this set of three from Package Free Shop by clicking here.

Paper Towels 🡪 Rags

Although convenient and sometimes necessary for really gross messes, single use paper towels are not the best option because they create a significant waste problem. 254 tons a year in the US, to be specific!

Rags are an easy substitute. Most everyone has clothes or towels or sheets they’ve worn out, or relatives who do. Cut to shape with pinking shears, those items make very effective cleaning towels.

We like to cut our rags into a few standard sizes for use in different situations, but the truth is you could simply rip a cotton sheet up with your hands and be good to go.

If rags are not your style, Swedish dishcloths are a great option. One Swedish dish cloth can replace 17 rolls of paper towels. 

I use Package Free Shop Swedish dishcloths, which are made of 70% cellulose and 30% organic cotton. They are 100% natural, biodegradable, and they’re much cheaper than paper towels! Click here to shop at Package Free.

Paper Napkins 🡪 Cloth Napkins

Cloth napkins make even a pb&j feel a bit fancy. I like to look for vintage ones whenever I go thrifting or antiquing. I’ve also been given some by older relatives who were delighted I was being old-fashioned.

People worry that using rags or cloth napkins will hugely increase their laundry loads, but we have not found that to be true. Only the dirtiest of rags need to be washed separately, and the great majority of the time the rags we use can go straight in with our towels.

Paper Tissues 🡪 Cloth Hankies

Stay with me here – I know this is a polarizing idea! Plenty of people will say it’s just gross, and fair enough, but for me the thought of blowing my nose with a bit of fabric and then putting the fabric in the laundry is not an issue. Package Free Shop has the last tissue box you’ll ever need - click here to grab it.

Washing Your Hair Every Day 🡪 Dry Shampoo

Dry shampoo allows you to wash your hair less frequently, lowering water consumption in the shower and allowing you to use less shampoo overall. Spending just 3 minutes less in the shower can help save over 6 gallons of water.

If you buy a dry shampoo, look for one that does not come as an aerosol spray, like this one. Better yet, you can make your own. Arrowroot or cornstarch make effective dry shampoos and are perfect for light blonde hair, but you can also add various ingredients depending on your hair color.

How to Make Dry Shampoo

• Mix 2 Tablespoons of arrowroot or cornstarch with 2 Tablespoons of coloring powder:  

• For darker blonde or medium-brown hair, add cocoa powder.

• For black hair, add cocoa powder and activated charcoal.

• For red hair, add cinnamon.

Disposable Wipes 🡪 Washable Cotton Facecloths

Somewhere around 20 million pounds of disposable wipes are thrown away every DAY in the US. Most end up in landfills, and despite claims to the contrary, most are not biodegradable and do not rapidly break down. Any cotton facecloth will do. I love to use old flannel PJs for this. Or you can buy these wipes from Marley’s Monsters.

Swiffer Mops 🡪 Reusable Mops and Cleaning Pads

Swiffer mops are convenient and user-friendly, but have you ever thought about how much trash those single use pads generate? Not to mention the chemicals in the cleaning solutions or the plastic bottles that contain those solutions.

Disposable Swiffer pads are made from polyester, which is derived from fossil fuels, which are, of course, contributing to the degradation of our ecosystems and wildlife. 

A simple solution is to hang on to your dry Swiffer stick if you already have one, but replace those disposable pads with terry cloth. You can often find terry cloth in the scrap bin at your local fabric store. Or, cut up an old towel instead.

Cut the terrycloth a little bigger than the disposable Swiffer pads to allow for any shrinkage.

For the Wet-Jet mops, a great replacement is a steam mop - click here for the one we use. I find them so much easier to use: just add water and you’re good to go. Steam removes dirt and bacteria, and leaves my floors looking and feeling much cleaner.

Wrapping Paper 🡪 Reusable Bags or Alternative Wrapping

Every year Americans use 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper. A good bit of that ends up in a landfill. Wrapping paper with glitter, foil, plastic, texture, bows, tape, or sticky tags on it cannot be recycled.

What To Use Instead of Wrapping Paper

• It used to be common to use the comics from newspapers, and that’s still a fun option. Any part of the newspaper will do, really. 

• Save the brown paper that comes in the cardboard boxes shipped to your house. Everyone loves a brown paper package tied up with string! Brown shopping bags are also perfect for this look.

• Sheet music, book pages, posters, and magazines can all make pretty wrapping.

• Using fabric as wrapping is a fun option.

• A pretty tin is a great way to package a present. You can often find them at thrift stores.

• If you do use disposable wrapping paper, be sure it’s paper only. Use paper bows and tape and don’t forget to recycle!

Plastic Wrap 🡪 Beeswax Wraps

You can make beeswax wraps at home using fabric, beeswax, resin, and jojoba oil, but in my experience it’s a bit of a messy and time consuming project. Regardless of whether you shop or make, they are great for wrapping sandwiches or snacks and cover bowls.  They should last for about a year, and most are compostable. Here’s some you can buy from Package Free Shop.

What is your favorite sustainable swap? Let me know in the comments!

How to Grow, Care for and Arrange Hydrangea Flowers

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I’ve been somewhat frantically snipping blooms for the kitchen, because the shift of seasons is in the air and I’m determined to make the most of every summer moment before it’s too late. 

Slow living is all about letting go of worries about the future and living in the moment so we can fully enjoy the present. When I smell fall in the air and feel a moment of panic that a long, cold winter is on its way, that’s my cue to take a deep breath and make an effort to notice and enjoy what’s happening around me. One of the first places I’m likely to turn in order to reground myself is my garden.

Flowers That Bloom in August and September

The biggest show going on outside my window (in zone 6) at this time of year is being hosted by my Endless Summer Hydrangea bushes. Hydrangea bushes are at their happiest after the worst of the summer heat has passed. In July, they can look almost as though they are dying, with drooping leaves and flowers that look a bit pinched and dehydrated, even with consistent supplemental watering.

In August and September the bushes grow taller and more hardy-looking, and absolutely overflow with flowers. Hydrangea blooms are so large, just one stem in a small vase or jar can be a striking moment on a counter or bedside table. I’m lucky to have more than a few bushes, though, with a seemingly unlimited supply of flowers, so I decided to use quite a few stems in a larger vessel.

Choosing a Container for Flower Arrangements

Vases are great, but just about anything that will hold water can be used for a flower arrangement, whether a small one or one as large as I wanted to put together. Many things we have at home can easily be repurposed, including bottles, cans, and drinking glasses. In the case of a large arrangement, the choices are endless.

There are also all sorts of options available to purchase which are not intended to be used for cut flowers, but would make for an interesting and unusual arrangement. For example, any of these items would make for a beautiful arrangement:

• Clay planter

• Galvanized metal milk pail

• Stoneware fermenting crock

• Ceramic pitcher

• Metal watering can

• Large bowl planter

In this case, I chose to use a large Ohio stoneware fermenting crock for my hydrangea bouquet. In the past I have used it for making sauerkraut and storing utensils. I make intentional purchases by prioritizing owning things which can be used for multiple purposes. That way, in the end, I need to buy, store and clean fewer things, which is better for me, my budget, and the environment.

Here’s a few options if you’re looking to purchase something new for flower arranging that would be multi-purpose:

How to Arrange Flowers in a Large Container

As I started placing the hydrangea flowers into my fermenting crock, I found the flower stems were flopping all over the place, making it difficult to form them into any sort of pleasing arrangement. I also realized getting new, clean water into the crock to keep the flowers fresh was going to be a bit of a pain. I was able to solve both of these problems with one simple solution: I put a smaller Ball mason jar inside the crock to hold the stems upright.

I can’t believe it took me this long to think of it! It was really effective in keeping the stems upright and allowing me to arrange them in a way that looked purposeful and pretty. A bonus is that using a smaller container inside of a larger one reduces water waste, as there’s no need to fill that larger container with water. That’s less water wasted when I change it out, and less water I have to pay for.

How to pick Hydrangea Flowers

Like most flowers, hydrangeas appreciate being treated with a bit of care when they are picked. Here’s what you’ll need to cut your Hydrangea:

-A pair of flower snips. I use Felcos for pruning and love them, so I tend to use those when cutting flowers as well since I always have them handy. There are less expensive options available, though, if your tool will only be used for cutting flowers, such as these flower snips from Terrain.

 -A bucket with a bit of water. While the ‘hydra’ in hydrangea does not, in fact, derive from the word for water, but rather from the fact that the person who named them thought their shape was reminiscent of a water pitcher, hydrangeas are water-hungry plants that produce water-hungry flowers. Putting the stems directly into water after cutting will prolong their vase life and prevent them from drooping while you finish gathering the rest of your flowers.

Place your bucket in a shady spot. Using your snips, cut at the desired length, just above a set of leaves. Strip the leaves from at least the bottom few inches of your stem, and all the way up if you prefer that look. Doing this outside makes for less of a mess to clean up indoors.

How to Make Cut Flowers Last 

For best results, cut-flower food should be added to the water in your vessel. There are many ready-made options for sale, but you can also mix up your own from ingredients you likely have in the house. 

Here’s a recipe for flower food: 

• 1 Quart of water

• 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice

• 1 Tablespoon of sugar

• ½ Teaspoon of bleach (The bleach is not food, but rather a way to inhibit fungal and bacterial growth.)

One thing that will help hydrangeas in particular last longer in a vessel is to dunk them in cold water when you get back into the house. That water can then be used to water other plants, so it doesn’t go to waste. Alternatively, cold water can be run from the faucet over the blooms. Give them a gentle shake, and they’re ready for arranging.

The next important step before you start arranging is to make sure that if you’ve left any leaves on the stems, they will not make contact with the water in the vessel. Rotting leaves will spread bacteria, which is not only bad for the flowers themselves, but creates an unpleasant look and smell.

Finally, the water in the vessel should be changed often – every two days or so. When changing the water, each stem should be cut slightly shorter, to provide a fresh area through which the flower can take in the water.

If you follow the steps above, your flowers should look fresh and healthy for a week or more longer than they would otherwise have.

What Kind of Hydrangea to Grow

Winter is coming, there’s no denying it. Before it’s too late, take a look around at the bits of summer still remaining, and find a way to make the most of them, whether that’s going out for ice cream, walking on the beach, or cutting flowers to bring a bit of that summer inside with you. And if, like me, you don’t look forward to long, dark days, you can skip right over them and take a peek into the future, too, dreaming about what you might like to plant when the light returns.

If you’d like to grow hydrangeas yourself, there are two things to consider: do you have a sunny or a shady spot in mind, and which variety looks most attractive to you? There is a hydrangea variety for just about every garden spot. Some, in particular the Panicled or Paniculata varieties, want full sun, with a bit of afternoon shade in very hot gardening zones. Big leaf hydrangea, on the other hand, do well in shade or partial shade. I have stretched that a bit and have some in both sunny and shady spots, and while the ones in the shade definitely suffer less in the high heat of summer, I haven’t lost any bushes to the sun.

How to take care of Hydrangea plants

All hydrangea varieties are easy to care for, requiring only a bit of cleanup once a year to remove dead wood. Pruning for shape can also be done once a year, but is not strictly necessary. It’s important to note whether your variety blooms on new or old wood, and to time your pruning accordingly.

All varieties of hydrangea love water, and will do best if it’s provided consistently. Those in the shade can go without supplemental watering for the most part after the first year or two, while those in the sun will thank you for regular attention throughout the years.

On any variety of hydrangea, deadheading the bushes once or twice a summer will extend your bloom time and keep the bushes looking fresh.

How to change the color of hydrangea flowers

There are a few reasons the Endless Summer variety is my favorite, and what I grow so many of. I love the way they look, and that the bushes bloom from the end of May through to the first frost. But I also love that I can adjust the soil to encourage either blue or pink flowers. 

Each spring, I add Holly-tone fertilizer to my soil. This increases its acidity, which results in blooms in beautiful shades of blue and violet. Without that acidity the blooms will grow in shades of pink, which are also gorgeous. Because I can switch it back and forth as I’d like, it’s as if I have two plants in one spot.

I’d love to hear from you in the comments. What’s beautiful in your life today?

Garden-to-Plate Vegan Chickpea Salad: A Refreshing Summer Salad [Recipe]

Eating is an agricultural act. And so I believe we can’t talk about gardening without covering what to do with all the food your grow. Often times when we grow our own food, we are at the mercy of the garden and what it produces each week. This can make meal planning a challenge, so I often resort to everything but the kitchen sink recipes where you can start from a solid base and add whatever is filling your harvest basket that week.

This way of eating seasonally allows you the framework to eliminate yet another decision in your day - the ever present question of “what are we going to eat?” and turn it into a celebration of whatever ingredients are on hand. You might not know what you’ll pick tomorrow - but I can assure you if you follow the framework for this garden salad (chickpeas + the spices and liquids as a constant, some type of nut, some type of dried fruit and two crunchy fresh veggies) it will come out delicious every time.

As the warm summer days approach, there is something magical about harvesting fresh produce from your own garden and transforming it into a delectable dish. Today, I invite you to embark on a culinary adventure with a Garden-to-Plate Vegan Chickpea Salad. This recipe not only celebrates the joy of eating seasonally but also highlights the incredible flavors and health benefits of the ingredients we can grow and harvest right in our own backyard. In this blog post, we will take you on a journey through the garden, delve into the nutritional benefits of chickpeas, almonds, and chives, and guide you through the steps of creating this mouthwatering salad.

Embracing Seasonality and Celebrating Fresh Ingredients

Picture yourself strolling through your lush garden, feeling the sun on your skin, and taking in the fragrant aromas of blooming herbs. There's a sense of anticipation as you carefully pluck vibrant vegetables and herbs from their natural habitat. Eating seasonally is not only a celebration of the flavors nature provides, but it also connects us to the rhythm of the Earth.

By growing our own food, we have the opportunity to appreciate the beauty and diversity of the ingredients that surround us. From the tender greens to the vibrant vegetables, our gardens offer a cornucopia of flavors. Incorporating these freshly harvested treasures into our meals allows us to savor the true essence of each ingredient while embracing the philosophy of sustainability and self-sufficiency.

Health Benefits of Chickpeas, Almonds, and Chives

In addition to their exquisite taste, the ingredients in this vegan chickpea salad offer a plethora of health benefits that contribute to your overall well-being.

Chickpeas, a staple legume in plant-based diets, are a nutritional powerhouse. Packed with protein and fiber, chickpeas provide a satisfying and nourishing element to any dish. They are also rich in essential vitamins and minerals such as folate, iron, and magnesium. Consuming chickpeas has been linked to improved digestion, reduced cholesterol levels, and better weight management. Their nutty flavor and hearty texture make them a perfect addition to this summer salad.

Almonds, often referred to as "nature's multitaskers," bring a delightful crunch and a wealth of health benefits. These nutrient-dense nuts are an excellent source of healthy fats, protein, and vitamin E. Almonds are known to support heart health and boost brain function. In this salad, their presence adds a satisfying texture and nutty undertones that complement the other ingredients perfectly.

Chives, with their delicate onion-like flavor, provide more than just a pleasant taste. These leafy green herbs are a fantastic source of vitamins A, C, and K. They also offer antioxidants and potential anti-inflammatory properties. Chives not only enhance the flavor profile of the salad but also contribute to its nutritional value.

Making a Garden-to-Plate Vegan Chickpea Salad

Now that we've explored the beauty of seasonality and the health benefits of the ingredients, let's dive into creating this delicious Garden-to-Plate Vegan Chickpea Salad.

Ingredients:

chickpea salad

salad

Yield: 6

Author: The Cottage Peach

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Chickpea Garden Salad

The perfect starting point for your summer garden hauls, infinitely customizable for whatever you are picking that day

Prep time: 10 MinTotal time: 10 Min

Ingredients

• 2 cans (or 3 cups cooked) chickpeas
• 1 cup carrots
• 1 cup green onion/chives
• 1/2 cup craisins, raisins or chopped dates
• 1/2 cup almonds or cashews
• 1/2 cup radishes (optional)
• 1/3 cup hummus or mayo
• 3 tbs lemon juice
• 1 tbs curry powder
• 3/4 tsp garlic powder
• salt + pepper

Instructions

1. Chop any vegetables.
2. Mash the chickpeas until only about 1/3 is unmashed.
3. Add remaining ingredients to the chickpeas and stir.
4. Enjoy on it's own, on a bed of lettuce or with pita.

Notes

Keeps well in the fridge for 3-5 days.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

277.69

Fat

10.57

Sat. Fat

1.01

Carbs

38.26

Fiber

11.08

Net carbs

27.21

Sugar

9.66

Protein

11.84

Sodium

494.22

Cholesterol

0

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• 1 cup carrots

• 2 cans (or 3 cups cooked) chickpeas

• 1 cup green onion/chives

• 1/2 cup craisins, raisins or chopped dates

• 1/2 cup almonds or cashews

• 1/2 cup radishes (optional)

• 1/3 cup hummus or mayo

• 3 tbs lemon juice

• 1 tbs curry powder

• 3/4 tsp garlic powder

• salt + pepper

Instructions:

Chop any vegetables

In a large bowl, mash the chickpeas until about 2/3rds are mashed

Add remaining ingredients and toss gently to ensure everything is evenly coated.

Allow the flavors to meld together for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Enjoy on it's own, in a pita or on a bed of lettuce.

Ways to Enjoy the Garden-to-Plate Vegan Chickpea Salad:

This versatile salad can be savored in various ways, allowing you to explore different culinary possibilities. Here are a few ideas:

Pita Pocket: Fill a warm pita bread with the chickpea salad, adding a dollop of hummus or tahini for extra creaminess. This creates a satisfying and portable meal for picnics or on-the-go lunches.

Bed of Greens: Serve the salad over a bed of fresh salad greens such as spinach or arugula for an extra burst of freshness and added nutrition.

Stuffed Bell Peppers: Hollow out bell peppers and stuff them with the chickpea salad. Bake until the peppers are tender for a delightful, colorful, and healthy main course.

Lettuce Wraps: Wrap the salad in large lettuce leaves, such as romaine or butter lettuce, for a light and refreshing option.

With the Garden-to-Plate Vegan Chickpea Salad, you can embark on a culinary journey that celebrates seasonality, garden-fresh ingredients, and the benefits of a plant-based diet. By savoring this delightful salad, you not only nourish your body with the nutritional goodness of chickpeas, almonds, and chives but also appreciate the joy of growing your own food. So, take advantage of the bountiful flavors of summer, cultivate your own garden-to-plate experience, and delight in the refreshing taste of this vibrant vegan salad recipe.