These kale plants might look a bit ragged, but it’s great to have flowers for the bees. It’s easy to grow, lasts all winter, and feeds the bees in the spring. Kale is full of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cancer prevention qualities. It tastes good too. One of my favorite soups is this one my daughter sent to me from The Dragons Kitchen.
AFRICAN SWEET POTATO STEW
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon peppercorns, crushed
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 15 oz can of stewed tomatoes
1 large sweet potato, peeled & chopped into large chunks
1 bunch of kale, deveined and shredded
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
4 cups vegetable stock
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
1 inch piece of ginger, grated
salt to taste
Directions:
1. Heat the olive oil in a large heavy bottomed pot with a tight fitting lid. Add the onions and cook on medium-low until they begin to caramelize.
2. Add the garlic, cumin, peppercorns, red pepper flakes, mustard and cloves to the oil and onions. Cook for 1 minute.
3. Add the stewed tomatoes, sweet potato, kale and carrots. Cook for 2 minutes.
4. Add the vegetable stock, peanut butter and ginger. Bring to a rolling boil. Turn down heat and cover. Cook for 30 minutes or until sweet potatoes and carrots are cooked. Check the seasoning after 15 minutes and add salt as needed.
Adventures in Natural Beekeeping 
Thanks for the great recipe.
The Scots grew Kale on their Islands. The wind was so strong they
built stone enclosures called planticru to protect the Kale.
I’ve got two pictures;
Planticru along Kellister.
Planticrue along St Kilda and the Burn of Skaw
But I don’t know how to paste them on here.
Planticru on Google Images will bring up these tough gardening scenes.
I had no idea kale went back so far. We’ve been growing it for years knowing it was good for our health, but not realizing it’s like a ‘super food.’ it’s got so many health benefits and it’s so easy to grow, much easier than spinach.
Why don’t you try pasting in the url address in your comments for the images you’re referring to. I’d love to see them.
Farm at Fladdabister, Shetland. (the home of coarse Kale)
Planticru along the Burn Of Skaw (Two planticrus almost ready for Kale.)
Planticru along St Kilda
Shetland Crub
If you search google images under these titles ( minus my parenthetical comments) You should find some Planticrus, Crubs, and a farmhouse.
Starkly beautiful comes to mind with the emphasis on the ‘Stark’ part of it. The wind must really blow hard there and obviously they value their kale.