Shows from another interesting and informational season of "Martha Cooks" are now available exclusively on The Roku Channel. Be sure to stream the free episodes!
On one show, I am joined by Hannah Heimbuch, a lifelong Alaskan and third-generation commercial fisherman. Hannah owns and operates a small fishing vessel and set net site that harvests wild Alaska salmon in the North Pacific. Being a commercial fisherman is a physically demanding and challenging job, with long hours in unpredictable weather conditions. Hannah is extremely knowledgeable and very passionate about fishing, and when not on her boat, she spends time as a fisheries advocate supporting the sustainable fishing practices in the state.
Here are some photos of Hannah at work. Please visit Alaska Seafood for more information. And don't forget to stream the newest season of "Martha Cooks" - it's a culinary world tour!
Alaska is the nation’s premier source for seafood. More than 60-percent of all wild seafood and 99-percent of wild salmon harvested in the United States comes from Alaska. All seafood from Alaska is wild caught and sustainable. Sustainable seafood is fundamentally important to Alaska; it’s been the law since statehood in 1959 when it was written into the state constitution. In fact, Alaska is the only state with sustainability written into its founding laws. (Photo from Alaska Seafood)
Kodiak is the transportation hub for southwest Alaska. Kodiak’s fishing port is the largest in the state and ranks among the top in the country. (Photo from Alaska Seafood)
Peak season for fishing runs from May through September, with several major fish species spread across the season – Alaskan halibut, King salmon, Silver salmon, Red salmon, Pink salmon, and Chum salmon. (Photo from Alaska Seafood)
Hannah and her partner, Michelle, spend three months of every year fishing for salmon. The daily schedule of a commercial fisherman can be intense. It often starts early before the sun is up. Hannah is out working the nets throughout the day from about 5am until 11pm. (Photo from Alaska Seafood)
Here is Hannah on the beach with the giant net used for harvesting fish at the set net site. She often lays out the entire net, checks it, and does any mending if necessary. (Photo courtesy of Hannah Heimbuch)
The nets are anchored in place out in the bay. One end is on a reef rock close to shore, the other reaching out into deeper waters. Hannah stays close to land, but she is still at the edge of the open ocean. There’s basically nothing between her boat and Hawaii. Hannah fishes with the tide, and the weather. This means timing is crucial. She keeps track of when the fish are coming in, and when she is less likely to get into bad elements – good planning and safety are everything.
(Photo courtesy of Hannah Heimbuch)
Here she is picking fish while driving along the set net site. She and Michelle do this every day. They go out to the nets located on open skiffs and check for fish. (Photo courtesy of Hannah Heimbuch)
This large salmon is an Alaska coho salmon weighing about 15-pounds. As an Alaska fisherman, Hannah understands the importance of knowing where the seafood comes from. She dedicates her time to ensuring wild caught seafood is available for future generations. (Photo courtesy of Hannah Heimbuch)
Here is Hannah with a smaller fish. Alaska’s cold and natural environment produces seafood that has lean flesh, rich flavor, and natural nutrients. Each species has a versatile flavor profile and is a source of protein, Omega-3s, Vitamin D and other health benefits.
(Photo courtesy of Hannah Heimbuch)
Do you know… Alaska’s abundant fisheries catch and process enough seafood each year to feed everybody in the world at least one serving of Alaska seafood, or one serving for every American for more than a month? (Photo from Alaska Seafood)
Here is Hannah with Alaska Dungeness crabs. Watch this episode of “Martha Cooks” to learn how to properly crack Alaska Dungeness crabs. (Photo courtesy of Hannah Heimbuch)
And here she is with side stripe Alaska shrimp. These shrimp are slender, pinkish-orange in color, with white stripes running lengthwise on the body. They can reach about eight-inches in length. They have a firm texture and a naturally sweet, succulent flavor. (Photo courtesy of Hannah Heimbuch)
Hannah and all the commercial fishermen in Alaska’s industry are committed to the future health and resiliency of fish populations and the surrounding marine ecosystem. They practice careful, science-based and strict resource management. And each season, scientists reassess and determine the optimal harvest levels for the health of individual species and the entire ecosystem. Hannah also eats Alaskan seafood all year long – fresh, frozen, canned, and smoked seafood about three to five times a week. (Photo courtesy of Hannah Heimbuch)
For “Martha Cooks,” Hannah provides a glossary of different wild caught Alaskan fish. There is a wide variety of seafood options. Aside from salmon and halibut, there are also multiple varieties of whitefish and numerous types of crab and shellfish.
Here is Hannah showing me how to filet a whole wild Alaska sockeye salmon.
On the same show, renowned Chef Marcus Samuelson, shows us one of his favorite salmon recipes. Here we are for a quick group photo. Go to The Roku Channel and start streaming our Season-3 shows. It’s free! The entire season is filled with foods from around the world – from fresh Alaskan seafood to a lesson in classic Indian spices to picture-perfect pinwheel lasagna. I’m joined by friends and world renowned chefs who share all the techniques and recipes to recreate incredible dishes right at home. It’s a fantastic selection of shows I know you’ll enjoy.
This time of year, my grove of Japanese maple trees is aglow with autumn color - bright yellows, oranges, and reds.
Many of my Japanese maples are varieties of Acer palmatum - trees that have been cultivated in Japanese gardens for centuries. Over the last several years, I’ve planted many of these trees in one section of a shade garden not far from my chicken coops and tropical hoop houses. They were planted in honor of my late sister, Laura Plimpton, who adored Japanese maples. I always look forward to their gorgeous display every fall. These specimens provide countless variations in size, leaf shape, and color, creating a landscape of beauty and texture that gets better and better every year.
Enjoy these photos. And on this Veterans Day, we honor all the men and women military veterans of the United States Armed Forces who have served and sacrificed to defend our country. Thank you.
Few trees are as beautiful as the Japanese maple. With more than a thousand varieties and cultivars including hybrids, the iconic Japanese maple tree is among the most versatile small trees for use in the landscape. Every year, all of us here at the farm wait for this woodland to burst with color.
Japanese maples are native to areas of Japan, Korea, China, and Russia. In Japan, the maple is called the “autumn welcoming tree” and is planted in the western portion of gardens – the direction from which fall arrives there.
I love the contrast between the bright reds, oranges, yellows, and greens in this grove. The heavy leaf cover on the ground also enriches the soil and adds even more fall color.
But those brilliant fall colors aren’t a guarantee. The colors are a result of climate, weather, and environmental conditions. Here in the Northeast, fall weather usually arrives in September, with temperatures cooling off rapidly at night even when the days are still warm. These cool nighttime temperatures trigger the leaf-changing process. Unusually warm early fall weather may even prevent the leaves from turning red. This is because the color changes occur with gradually cooling temperatures – not cold snaps.
Leaf color best develops when nighttime temperatures remain above freezing but below 45-degrees Fahrenheit. A sudden cold snap could turn the leaves more plum-brown seemingly overnight, skipping the vibrantly red stage altogether.
Here, one can see the leaves transforming from green to dark burgundy.
Red leafed cultivars are the most popular, followed by green shrubs with deeply dissected leaves. The leaves in the Palmatum Group are most typical of the wild species. The leaf lobes are more divided, nearly to the leaf base.
I also have more rare varieties. These leaves are deeply divided, but each lobe is also dissected, giving them a lacy effect. These are from the Dissectum Group.
Japanese maple forms can be weeping, rounded, dwarf, mounding, upright, or cascading.
Japanese maples typically grow about one-foot per year for the first 50-years, but they can live to be more than a hundred.
Any heavy pruning should be done in late winter before leaf buds begin to open. Cut out scraggly interior twigs and branches, but leave the structural branches alone. Small, corrective cuts can be made any time of year. If I can, I like to prune and groom these Japanese maples myself.
Japanese maple trees are particularly suitable for borders and ornamental paths because their root systems are compact and not invasive. Through this woodland grove, they line both sides of the carriage road.
Young trees should be kept moist to prevent their shallow root structures from drying out and weakening, particularly during the hot summer months.
These trees do best in hardiness zones 5 through 8. If you are not familiar with these zones, the United States is divided into hardiness zones based on each region’s weather patterns. There are 13 hardiness zones across the country. The lower the number, the colder the winter. My farm is in zone 6b.
They can withstand very cold temperatures, but in summer, water deeply during dry spells and cut back on the amount of water in late summer to intensify the autumn color.
As young trees grow, their colors become even more vibrant. I love seeing how they develop through the seasons – many have such interesting growth habits.
With the right conditions, the fall colors of the Japanese maple may last for several weeks. Unfortunately, as it gets colder, the colors begin to dull. We are expecting lower temperatures this week.
The best location is a sunny spot with afternoon shade. Red and variegated leaves need relief from hot afternoon sun in summer but need the light to attain full color.
When growing in containers in colder zones, allow the plants to go fully dormant outside and then bring them into an unheated garage or other sheltered, cool area. In warmer zones, place them in a shaded location where they can be protected from drying winds.
I purposely planted my Japanese maples beneath larger trees. The varying heights of these trees also add a nice texture to the grove. I love this grove and continue to add more and more gorgeous Japanese maples to this collection. How are the Japanese maples doing where you live? Stop and enjoy their magnificent color this weekend.
I love container plants, and whenever I am home I always like to keep a collection of interesting specimens on my enclosed porch or in my kitchen where I can see them every day. Most of my potted plants are kept in the greenhouse, so they can be maintained and carefully monitored. This week, my head gardener, Ryan McCallister, brought in a small selection of potted bird's nest ferns, Peperomia, Chinese money plants, Alocasia, orchids, and two unique and eye-catching Anthuriums.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
Not only do houseplants enhance the overall appearance of a space, but they’ve also been known to increase creativity, reduce stress, and eliminate air pollutants. I always keep a small selection of potted plants in my home. They are brought over from my main greenhouse where they spend most of the time.
Before moving them to the Winter House, I wanted several of the plants repotted. Here is Ryan repotting a beautiful Anthurium. Anthurium is a genus of about 1,000 species of flowering plants, the largest genus of the arum family, Araceae. Other common names include tailflower, flamingo flower, and laceleaf.
Here he is potting up another Anthurium. The leaves of these plants are long, so taller, narrow pots are good to use. These pots are made by master potter, Guy Wolff. He says I have the largest single collection of his handmade clay vessels. All my plants look so wonderful displayed in the historical shapes that Guy and his son, Ben, create.
When potting, always place a clay shard over the hole in the bottom of the pot to help drainage. Doing this also keeps the potting soil from falling out.
Ryan adds a handful of gravel to the Anthurium pots in order to increase drainage.
I am a big believer in feeding all plants life – if you eat, so should your plants. My houseplants are given Osmocote. Each granule is covered with an organic resin that regulates the daily release of nutrients.
Ryan sprinkles the fertilizer over the soil after it is repotted.
All the plants are groomed and transported to my Winter House porch. Ryan selects those specimens that are blooming or looking especially lush.
He also selects where they will be placed depending on size, light needs, and how many of each variety he brings in.
Spider plants produce a rosette of long, thin, arched foliage that is solid green or variegated with white. These plants prefer bright to moderate indirect sunlight.
Alocasia is a genus of broad-leaved, rhizomatous, or tuberous perennial flowering plants from the family Araceae. There are more than 95 species native to tropical and subtropical Asia and Eastern Australia. Alocasias have large, arrowhead-shaped leaves with flat or wavy edges on slender stems.
This is a bird’s nest fern. Bird’s nest fern is a common name applied to several related species of epiphytic ferns in the genus Asplenium. It’s identified by the flat, wavy or crinkly fronds. These plants make excellent low light houseplants.
Guests always admire my Chinese money plants, Pilea peperomioides. The Pilea peperomioides has attractive coin-shaped foliage. This perennial is native to southern China, growing naturally along the base of the Himalayan mountains. It is also known as coin plant, pancake plant, and UFO plant.
Peperomia caperata ‘Ripple Red’ has iridescent purple-red leaves with very distinct ripples. The small heart-shaped leaves grow into an attractive mounding habit. Peperomia are great succulent lower light houseplants.
And next to the Peperomia is Calathea – a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Marantaceae. They are commonly called calatheas or prayer plants. These plants do very well in bright, indirect light. This corner of my porch is perfect, and well protected from any drafts.
Just inside from the porch, on this faux boix table in my foyer, are the two Anthurium plants. These two varieties of Anthurium feature large-leaved, deeply veined foliage. All Anthurium like high humidity and warmth. These delicate specimens will return to the greenhouse in a few weeks.
Here is a closer look at the narrow leaves of Anthurium warocqueanum, which can grow to a height of up to two or three feet or more under optimal conditions. Mine is doing so excellently.
And this variety is called Anthurium tamiami. Its leaves are slightly smaller than those of the Anthurium warocqueanum, but more textured and lighter in color.
Caring for orchids can be daunting, but understanding their basic and unique needs, these beautiful plants can thrive in nearly any home. Paphiopedilum orchids are often called ‘slipper orchids’ because of their unique pouch-like flowers. These specimens are easily grown as houseplants, and look wonderful with their striking green leaves. Ryan places this on a table in my sitting room.
In between my kitchen and sitting room is my servery, a room from which meals are served. I often prepare and serve cocktails and other drinks from this space. The center island is often used for displaying plants such as this Brassolaeliocattleya orchid. Brassolaeliocattleya hybrids are a cross of three orchid genera: Brassavola, Cattleya, and Laelia. This one is Blc. Pink Empress ‘Bright Sun’ with its large pink blooms, purple lip, and bright orange throat. I feel so fortunate to have such an amazing collection of extraordinary plants to share with my guests and to enjoy myself.
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