Swiss Chard Cocktail

Did you go overboard on sowing Swiss chard? Or maybe you're looking for a fast-growing fertilizer source to fill in some empty garden space? You can solve your problems and satisfy your plants' hunger by serving them Swiss chard tea for a quick pick-me-up. Fantastic in salads, stir-fries or just steamed, Swiss chard is great for plants, too. "A happy hour for sad-looking plants" is how Dominique Inge, a self-described "passionate gardener," characterizes her recipe. She uses it regularly on the plants in her organic gardens in Granbury, Texas.

Ingredients and Supplies
2 cups red or green Swiss chard leaves,
coarsely chopped Blender
Cheesecloth or colander

Directions
1. Place the chopped leaves in the blender.
2. Add enough hot water to fill the blender jar and blend thoroughly.
3. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth or a colander and apply the cooked leaves around the base of plants.
4. After the liquid cools, use it as a soil drench around plants.

Yield: About 8 cups of Swiss chard tea
Note: Swiss chard leaves that are longer than 10 inches are best added to the compost pile or used in this tonic tea. You can also use the liquid that's left after cooking Swiss chard in the same way.

Variation: If all of your chard winds up on the dinner table, you can substitute comfrey in this recipe. Its leaves are high in calcium, phosphorus, potassium, trace minerals, and vitamins А, В-12, and C.