What I'd Like To Eat
I am enrolled in a CSA programme. Like many people, I supplement the bi-weekly grab-bag of organic vegetable goodies that are delivered from “my” farm with additional produce, ideally purchased at one of Montreal’s farmer’s markets.
This past fall I bought two different, and regrettable, bundles of garlic. The first was a big bag: “A Winter’s Worth of Garlic”. It came in a paper bag, and was about $15. The seller said to store it in the fridge to maintain freshness right through the winter. I’m pretty sure this garlic would last a lot longer than that and not require any refrigeration, because it was tasteless, pulpy and disgusting. Yes, no doubt that this was, indeed, irradiated garlic. A huge, useless sack of it.
the offending monstrosity: cute, but inedible
My next mistake was a rope of garlic. It was “Quebec” garlic, and silly me made the assumption that it was, therefore, good garlic. Nope. It might well have been grown in Quebec, but it was still irradiated! I was terribly disappointed and disgusted. It seemed to be sold via a real farmer, it wasn’t hanging in amongst avocados, lemons and pineapples… it was right next to fresh lettuce and peppers and other local delights.
I have learned my lesson. From now on I am buying only organic garlic, as there is no point in eating irradiated garbage. I might as well chow down on a cardboard cutout image of garlic. One little clove of organic has more goodness and flavour than a “Winter’s Worth” bag full.
This year I hope to have a real vegetable garden-plot, and if I do… I will grow my OWN garlic. I’ll be 100% guaranteed organic garlic, with no weirdo things done to it afterwards. I can hardly wait!!!
Natasha Henderson, Montreal
fleurbain 
I was sad to finish the last of my garden’s in a stew the other day…I had it so that garlic just came up everywhere from runaway cloves. When you get into it you find there is a fall planting variety and a spring. “russian ” the best. Also it makes a fantastic companion with tomatoes, basil and shallot all together. If it cooks together it grows together!
One more wonder….when the flower shoots you get the buds…num
Ooooooh num indeed!!! I will look at those varieties, and give the Russian ones a shot if I can find ’em. Thanks for the ideas! Rogue Garlic Ranch (name for my future homestead.)