When I asked Dr. Antonia Trichopoulou, a Mediterranean diet expert, how I could get the small American city of Albert Lea, Minnesota—famous for meatpacking—to eat more vegetables, I knew I had come to the right person. We were sitting at Thea’s Guesthouse, in front of one of her amazing spreads of Ikarian cuisine. Dr. Trichopoulou paused for a moment and then gestured to the food and said, “Feed them.” I had my marching orders, so I searched for a recipe that people would like. Several months later, I invited the entire city of Albert Lea to dinner. More than 2,200 people showed up as chefs demonstrated how to make this Ikarian stew in two enormous boiling cauldrons. For these people, vegetables were typically the orange flecks you see in Hamburger Helper. I was nervous to serve them a 100 percent plant-based meal. Less than an hour later, the two pots were completely empty and the city had taken its first step to changing its diet for the better. After just one year, participants added an estimated 2.9 years to their average life span, while health care claims for city workers dropped 49 percent. This city experiment was the pilot for what is now Blue Zones Project, which has expanded to 47 communities across the United States. Here’s the exact recipe, which also happens to be one of our reader favorites.
An old fashioned scented variety
Kirsty Wilson is a Gardener who was born in 1991 in Glasgow. Her love for gardening started at the age of 14 when she got her own vegetable patch and the use of a greenhouse. Kirsty Graduated in 2013 from The University of Glasgow in combination with The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh with a first class Degree in Horticulture and Plantmanship. She retuned and studied for a Diploma in Garden Design in 2019. Following her Degree Kirsty went to work on Highgrove Gardens for HRH Charles, Prince of Wales. As part of the International Training Programme Kirsty spent a year at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania America. On her returned she became a Glasshouse Supervisor responsible for 13 glasshouses at St Andrews Botanic Garden. In 2018 she started as Herbaceous Supervisor at The Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. Kirsty joined Beechgrove as a presenter following a revamp after Jim McColl retired. She is joined on the programme by 2 former employees at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh George Anderson and Brian Cunningham. Her other co presenters are Carole Baxter, Chris Beardshaw and Sophie McKilligan. For the new season of Beechgrove 2021 she will be joined by 2 new Presenters Mairi Rattray and Calum Clunie. Amongst Kirsty's many talents for horticulture and garden Design she is also an amazing Photographer and her Instagram is full of her stunning plant photos. Kirsty lives in Edinburgh. 2019 Gardening Scotland Show The Coffee Garden Gold Medal and Peoples Choice award Kirsty Wilson Television Programmes 2019 Beechgrove 2021 Beechgrove 2021 Episode 1: 01 April 2021 Episode 2: 08 April 2021 Episode 3: 15 April 2021 Episode 5: 29 April 2021 Episode 6: 06 May 2021 2022 Beechgrove 2022 Beechgrove Gardens in Winter 2023 Beechgrove Garden 2023 2023 Beechgrove Gardens in Winter 2024 Beechgrove Garden 2024 Kirsty Wilson Website Twitter, Instagram
Easy to grow and great for cutting
Explore Ardra Morse Photography WCTH pics' 4632 photos on Flickr!
