THE GARDEN STORY

Retail Construction Services, Inc. is dedicated to giving back.

We give back not only to those in need within our community, but also the future generations of this wonderful community. What started out as a great idea has grown exponentially and became an amazing reality. Here at the RCS Giving Garden, school groups, master gardeners, corporate volunteers, and our own employees work together for the common good of teaching children the art of gardening and the importance of healthy eating. Click Here for Full Story.

LOCATION:
Retail Construction Services, Inc.
11343 39th Street N.
Lake Elmo, MN 55042

From HWY 36 - go south on Lake Elmo Ave, turn left onto 39th Street, garden is at corner of 39th and Laverne.
From HWY 5- going west from Stillwater take right onto Laverne (near Fury dealership) garden is on the right at corner of Laverne and 39th street.

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The RCS Giving Garden

The RCS Giving Garden

8/5/13

My idea of Art!

Click any photo to enlarge
I spent an afternoon at the Uptown Art Fair in Minneapolis with my family this past weekend.  Creative souls selling their creative works of art dotted the busy streets. Though I sure do love an earthenware bowl or watercolor landscape painting, to me nothings feels more like "art" than an arrangement of fruit and vegetables!  These photos taken Monday morning in The Giving Garden show nature's hand in color, texture and shape!  Twenty pounds of tomatoes, purple beans, zucchini, cucumbers, swiss chard, pok choi, kale, cabbage and beets were picked and donated...but not until I arranged my idea of art on the ground for a photo opportunity!.

Speaking of beets!  Did you know that beets are a root veggie related to spinach and swiss chard?  They are best grown in loose. loamy soil and harvested when the beet greens are around six inches high and the root is 2-3 inches in size. Beets are a great source of vitamins A and C and are a natural sugar source, often being sweeter than sweet corn or carrots!  I love to roast beets in the oven or on the grill and toss them on a bed of mixed lettuce and beet greens!  The beets for this salad came from the Mill City Farmer's Market in Minneapolis.

            --Beet Salad--
*3 firm beets, scrubbed clean and roasted on the grill or in the oven on 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until easily pierced
*Salad bowl filled with mixed lettuce and beet greens
*Goat cheese, to taste
*1/4 red onion, sliced into thin rings
*Walnuts, a handful, toasted in the oven or in a pan on the stove
*Dressing:  juice of one lemon, splash of favorite vinegar, salt, pepper, fresh herbs, and olive oil whisked in to thicken

Allow roasted beets to cool, then scrape away the skin and cut into bit-sized chunks.  Toss with other ingredients.  Coat with dressing to your liking.  Enjoy!

- Contributed by Master Gardener Kathy Luoma