Its been a while, too long in fact. I have about 5 drafts of things that have sparked my interest, but nothing was ever cogent enough to deserve posting. I did however come across this item in the news. It would seem the GMO version of rice that got some minor press coverage here is back in the news. They want to label it organic. Now bear in mind as I said this particular case is not the more insidous form of GMO but a sort of GMO lite, but its genetic code has been tampered with.
Now here's my take on the situation. All GMO's should be labeled as such, and if we can't get transgenic GMO's banned entirely, then they need to be clearly labeled, including animals that are raised on transgenic feed. Then let people assemble their priorities like we do for local/conventional, local/organic, nonlocal/organic, and so on. Transgenics in my opinion deserve no place in agriculture because of their tendency to pollute other crops, and the fact that they are geared towards making the ecological and economic trap of conventional fertilizers and pesticides more lucrative. It takes the bad situation of conventional ag and makes it worse.
I am not indifferent to starvation but several things need to be made abundantly clear to the growers that these seeds are marketed too. First is that the person selling you the miracle seed is not always as altruistic as they seem. Second, it may not be that much better than what your already have.
I will of course be watching this one closely. Information is power and if we lose the right to know whats in our food, then we are relying on the benevolence of the least deserving to sustain us.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Miss me?
Its been too long, I know, seems like I was away for a while this time last year too, but with all the politics in the news I thought I'd share two items that have made Michelle Obama my favorite first lady of all time
And coming soon to a Kitchen Stadium near you...the secret ingredient is...Local!
Ideally I'd love to have one of these awesome cloches from breadtopia, keeps the loaf moist during the initial baking without having to use a pan full of water in the oven. Or in my case forgetting that it is a really dumb idea to let a glass pyrex pan heat up in the oven and then pouring water in it as I am about to throw the loaf on the stone. No I don't have pictures, you'll have to use your imaginations.
So minus the pyrex pan how do I keep my loaf humid for the first 30 minutes of baking?
with this.
Its not a perfect solution, but the price is right. Just grab an appropriate diameter pot and throw it over the top. (It gets hot so use mitts when removing)
The results? Better than the tray of water I my opinion.
I've also found that the method I use (whereby I make about 4 pounds of dough, and save it in the fridge until I need to use a pound to make a loaf) keeps the dough too cold to adequately rise in the 45 minutes time suggested in the article I pulled it from. 2 hours in a warm spot gets much better results.
And for those of us stricken with late blight this year there is hope. There are currently 3 tomato varieties listed as resistant, one of which "legend" is open pollinated. Buy now, there may be a run on these seeds come spring.
And coming soon to a Kitchen Stadium near you...the secret ingredient is...Local!
Ideally I'd love to have one of these awesome cloches from breadtopia, keeps the loaf moist during the initial baking without having to use a pan full of water in the oven. Or in my case forgetting that it is a really dumb idea to let a glass pyrex pan heat up in the oven and then pouring water in it as I am about to throw the loaf on the stone. No I don't have pictures, you'll have to use your imaginations.
So minus the pyrex pan how do I keep my loaf humid for the first 30 minutes of baking?
with this.
Its not a perfect solution, but the price is right. Just grab an appropriate diameter pot and throw it over the top. (It gets hot so use mitts when removing)
The results? Better than the tray of water I my opinion.
I've also found that the method I use (whereby I make about 4 pounds of dough, and save it in the fridge until I need to use a pound to make a loaf) keeps the dough too cold to adequately rise in the 45 minutes time suggested in the article I pulled it from. 2 hours in a warm spot gets much better results.
And for those of us stricken with late blight this year there is hope. There are currently 3 tomato varieties listed as resistant, one of which "legend" is open pollinated. Buy now, there may be a run on these seeds come spring.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Future challenges
It would seem that the coming climate change will make the dismally wet summers I've notice the last couple years even more pervasive. And while I seem to have gotten a handle on insect issues recently, other forces have taken note and decided to fill the misery void. Namely fungus.
With wetness comes fungal infection, most noteably, the mildew twins (powdery and downy). I also noticed some scab previously on the leaves of my apple tree. Thus I have the following considerations when proceeding with next year's plan.
Physical: The current height of my raised beds is about 6 inches. This puts the garden foliage only minimally higher than the surrounding environment. In an effort to lower the relative humidity I will raise the bed surface another 6 inches. Hopefully this will have a tangible effect on the micro climate of the soil.
Second, any vining plant will be grown vertically. Rampant overlapping foliage proved a haven for fungal infection.
Plant selection: Despite its success at bringing squash pests to a minimal level, nasturtium grows rampantly and contributes to the overfoliated conditions above. In the future I may switch to a dwarf variety or reduce its use.
Best efforts will be made to find open pollinated cultivars with desired resistances. I have noticed that the waltham butternut variety of squash did not succumb to PM despite living in contact with infected delicata squash. Purely anectdotal of course but worth noting.
Human intervention: Despite my desire to create a homeostatic balance and let nature take care of the problem, it may become necessary to spray. I will only explore the use of compounds which can be easily and safely produced at home in keeping with my ethos of limited dependence on external system inputs. I tried a milk spray this year with only limited success, and next year will attempt to more closely follow the proceedures outlined in the study. Humans created the climate crisis and its side effects, so I guess I needn't worry too much that a little human intervention may be required. Attra has a publication about the use of compost tea as a possible deterent of late blight in potatoes. Given the close relation between potatoes and tomatoes I don't see a reason why the resistance might not be effective there as well.
If anyone wants to share their fungal woes please feel free.
With wetness comes fungal infection, most noteably, the mildew twins (powdery and downy). I also noticed some scab previously on the leaves of my apple tree. Thus I have the following considerations when proceeding with next year's plan.
Physical: The current height of my raised beds is about 6 inches. This puts the garden foliage only minimally higher than the surrounding environment. In an effort to lower the relative humidity I will raise the bed surface another 6 inches. Hopefully this will have a tangible effect on the micro climate of the soil.
Second, any vining plant will be grown vertically. Rampant overlapping foliage proved a haven for fungal infection.
Plant selection: Despite its success at bringing squash pests to a minimal level, nasturtium grows rampantly and contributes to the overfoliated conditions above. In the future I may switch to a dwarf variety or reduce its use.
Best efforts will be made to find open pollinated cultivars with desired resistances. I have noticed that the waltham butternut variety of squash did not succumb to PM despite living in contact with infected delicata squash. Purely anectdotal of course but worth noting.
Human intervention: Despite my desire to create a homeostatic balance and let nature take care of the problem, it may become necessary to spray. I will only explore the use of compounds which can be easily and safely produced at home in keeping with my ethos of limited dependence on external system inputs. I tried a milk spray this year with only limited success, and next year will attempt to more closely follow the proceedures outlined in the study. Humans created the climate crisis and its side effects, so I guess I needn't worry too much that a little human intervention may be required. Attra has a publication about the use of compost tea as a possible deterent of late blight in potatoes. Given the close relation between potatoes and tomatoes I don't see a reason why the resistance might not be effective there as well.
If anyone wants to share their fungal woes please feel free.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Too much mint
Mint is great, I put a few seedlings in a 5" pot 3 years ago, stuck the pot in the ground, and then proceeded to ignore it ever since, save for the trip to grab a sprig here and there.
As many of the seed packets will attest to mint from see is not "true" I.E. it wont have the same flavor as the parent. So what I did this fall was to carefully select a leaf from each sprig, if I liked it, the plant was safe, if it was less than spectacular, I pulled the stalk and its rootball up. Hopefully next year I will have a more consistent flavored patch of mint. I also trimmed it back heavily, and spent the afternoon wondering what the heck I am going to do with all this mint.
Well some of it is going to get dried for tea of course but thats a lot of tea, and I usually prefer to blend it rather than go straight mint.
So, I made mint jalapeno jelly. Considering I hadn't made any kind of jam all year I really didn't feel rusty. I did however omit the food coloring, so the jelly looks a bit yellow, but I scraped some out of the bowl when I was done and it is certainly powerful...Its an odd experience. I've only ever had mass produced mint jelly so this was definitely stronger than what I was used to. At first all you taste is the sugar, but after its been in your mouth for a second the mint hits you...and then the heat.
It would be pretty awesome on crackers with some cream cheese. Its usually recommended to be served with lamb but...not gonna happen, so if anyone has any vegetarian ideas for it (other than crackers or toast) fire away.
As many of the seed packets will attest to mint from see is not "true" I.E. it wont have the same flavor as the parent. So what I did this fall was to carefully select a leaf from each sprig, if I liked it, the plant was safe, if it was less than spectacular, I pulled the stalk and its rootball up. Hopefully next year I will have a more consistent flavored patch of mint. I also trimmed it back heavily, and spent the afternoon wondering what the heck I am going to do with all this mint.
Well some of it is going to get dried for tea of course but thats a lot of tea, and I usually prefer to blend it rather than go straight mint.
So, I made mint jalapeno jelly. Considering I hadn't made any kind of jam all year I really didn't feel rusty. I did however omit the food coloring, so the jelly looks a bit yellow, but I scraped some out of the bowl when I was done and it is certainly powerful...Its an odd experience. I've only ever had mass produced mint jelly so this was definitely stronger than what I was used to. At first all you taste is the sugar, but after its been in your mouth for a second the mint hits you...and then the heat.
It would be pretty awesome on crackers with some cream cheese. Its usually recommended to be served with lamb but...not gonna happen, so if anyone has any vegetarian ideas for it (other than crackers or toast) fire away.
Homegrown: a movie review
Today I went down to the wescott community center for a screening of Homegrown, the documentary on the Dervaes family. Expecting just a movie I was pleasantly surprised.
First off, I think my shyness is really becoming a detriment. I can't really say I had no idea there were so many in the area interested in home food production and sustainability. I had a hunch, I just did not have the courage to go looking. Today they found me. More specifically a representative wearing one of the path to freedom "revolution solution" shirts found me, and now I'm on "the list." Ok enough about me, on with the movie.
If you have spent as much time on the path to freedom site as I have, there will not be much in here that will surprise you, no new secrets of farming. It was more than anything else a story about the people, not the farm itself. I give them a lot of credit, I wouldn't want cameras in my home for that long. It humanizes and shows a glimpse of the real challenges they have faced. Without being exploitative it expressed the trials and tribulations that come with the lifestyle they have chosen. It offers a warning for those who might leap without looking, but not to the detriment of its ability to inspire. And that it does in bushels.
If it hasn't come to a theater or community center near you, get together with some people and get a showing near you.
First off, I think my shyness is really becoming a detriment. I can't really say I had no idea there were so many in the area interested in home food production and sustainability. I had a hunch, I just did not have the courage to go looking. Today they found me. More specifically a representative wearing one of the path to freedom "revolution solution" shirts found me, and now I'm on "the list." Ok enough about me, on with the movie.
If you have spent as much time on the path to freedom site as I have, there will not be much in here that will surprise you, no new secrets of farming. It was more than anything else a story about the people, not the farm itself. I give them a lot of credit, I wouldn't want cameras in my home for that long. It humanizes and shows a glimpse of the real challenges they have faced. Without being exploitative it expressed the trials and tribulations that come with the lifestyle they have chosen. It offers a warning for those who might leap without looking, but not to the detriment of its ability to inspire. And that it does in bushels.
If it hasn't come to a theater or community center near you, get together with some people and get a showing near you.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Well deserved nickname
NY has one of the more famous state nicknames out there, and this weekend we were reminded why. We hopped in the car and drove to Beak and Skiff in Lafayette to pick some apples. 22.5 lbs to be exact. about 15-18lbs of Cortlands for pies, apple crisp, baked apples (my fav) and maybe some sauce. 5 lbs or so of Honeycrisp, my new favorite eating apple. I'm a little disappointed now that I bought the 4 on 1 grafted tree. First of all, in terms of shape, this thing is kind of odd for an apple tree, the way the grafts are placed means I have to train it to an open vase shape instead of a central leader, second, I really wish I could just have those two particular varieties. As it develops I might try to get my hands on a cortland tree and graft a honeycrisp whip to it for pollenation/ fresh apples. Who knows, maybe I'll end up loving the variety from the tree I have.
Its pretty amazing to see the massive rows of productive trees being grown on a family owned operation. And while they are not currently organic, neither are they blind to the reality of where things are headed. I got to see their test organic "orchard" growing under high tunnels this year.
Fantastic Apple Fritters too.
By the way, if anyone has a favorite apple recipe, post it here, I'm game for just about anything (vegetarian).
Its pretty amazing to see the massive rows of productive trees being grown on a family owned operation. And while they are not currently organic, neither are they blind to the reality of where things are headed. I got to see their test organic "orchard" growing under high tunnels this year.
Fantastic Apple Fritters too.
By the way, if anyone has a favorite apple recipe, post it here, I'm game for just about anything (vegetarian).
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
disturbing trends
One can only pour gasoline on a fire for so long until a random spark sets the whole pile ablaze.
Create a threat and people prepare
Add tension, make incendiary comments, orchestrate an us vs. them mindset
eventually someone does the unthinkable.
self fulfilling prophesy. God help us all, I pray its the end rather than the beginning.
Create a threat and people prepare
Add tension, make incendiary comments, orchestrate an us vs. them mindset
eventually someone does the unthinkable.
self fulfilling prophesy. God help us all, I pray its the end rather than the beginning.
Random seeds and introversion
Yesterday I came home from work to find about 10 neatly piled sunflower seeds on our front steps. Since they were not chewed all to heck I figure they were not deposited by a squirrel but a fellow gardening neighbor who noticed that absence of sunflowers from our property this year.
I figure its probably one of four other gardeners in the neighborhood, but most likely one of two since I did not see sunflowers anywhere on the other two's yard. Yes, I secretly check out what my neighbors are growing. Not that I sneak in late at night, I just slow down and stare as I pass by. Now I know I could just walk up and talk to them, but if you are wondering why then you clearly don't understand the concept of extreme shyness. I need to get a feel for someone before I just go chitchat, and perhaps someone in a very obtuse or rather ingenious way is doing the same with me. Well, game on, I will plant them.
Well whoever you are...thank you.
This gives me an idea, why not leave a few seeds for some of my favorites in the suspects mailboxes.
I hereby declare today "Give a seed to a stranger day."
I figure its probably one of four other gardeners in the neighborhood, but most likely one of two since I did not see sunflowers anywhere on the other two's yard. Yes, I secretly check out what my neighbors are growing. Not that I sneak in late at night, I just slow down and stare as I pass by. Now I know I could just walk up and talk to them, but if you are wondering why then you clearly don't understand the concept of extreme shyness. I need to get a feel for someone before I just go chitchat, and perhaps someone in a very obtuse or rather ingenious way is doing the same with me. Well, game on, I will plant them.
Well whoever you are...thank you.
This gives me an idea, why not leave a few seeds for some of my favorites in the suspects mailboxes.
I hereby declare today "Give a seed to a stranger day."
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Preservation efforts
This spring I experimented with a variety of black eyed pea that was purported to grow to maturity in northern regions. It goes by the name fagiolino dolico di veneto. I originally got it from Underwood Gardens. Unfortunately I probably did not give them a proper start indoors, and the newly emergent seedlings got by and large decimated by pests. Fortunately a survivng shoot here and there managed to produce a few pods which despite no more than 3 or 4 leaves per plant, managed to mature with ample time to dry on the plant before frost. I ended up with about 20 seeds (peas) which is about the amount that came in the packet.
This variety is apparently only available in the US from the aforementioned supplier, and they appear to be out of stock. Hopefully they are planting a bigger seedcrop this year. Lesson learned. Next year I will start all but a few indoors (perhaps even grow one in the shelter of the sunroom) to increase the chances of survival. Based upon yeild I may offer to trade or give away the seed from subsequent years. Not necessarily on a commercial level, but I think given its potential use to us short season growers, it should be more widespread. Hopefully Underwood Seed will have enough to give this one a comeback, it would be a shame to see more genetic lines disapear.
This variety is apparently only available in the US from the aforementioned supplier, and they appear to be out of stock. Hopefully they are planting a bigger seedcrop this year. Lesson learned. Next year I will start all but a few indoors (perhaps even grow one in the shelter of the sunroom) to increase the chances of survival. Based upon yeild I may offer to trade or give away the seed from subsequent years. Not necessarily on a commercial level, but I think given its potential use to us short season growers, it should be more widespread. Hopefully Underwood Seed will have enough to give this one a comeback, it would be a shame to see more genetic lines disapear.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Blitz
Been busy lately, no shock there, but I have some catch up to do here, so I'll update as my memory allows.
First the tomatoes...oh the tomatoes. Here's a taste of one evenings take.
not sure what my final poundage was for the year as I still have a few out there, racing the weather to ripen. But there was enough to can about 4 quarts of the most delicious garlicy sauce courtesy of my brother from another mother's recipe. Next year there will be twice as many vines.
The last corner of the potato patch got dug up. Thar be monsters!
granted 1 lbs 1.25 oz may be pedestrian by onestraw's standards...but its a record for me. no final tally yet.
Even more significant. I have achieved a benchmark. I have made a succession plan work. Previously I was just shy a few weeks time to have a good crop of beans after potatoes. I am fairly confident I can repeat the results now. We've had a cool gray wet summer, so even with that taken into account, I can fit the two crops in the same spot and avoid the frost. Yeah! This year, the first major harvest day for the green beans planted after potatoes came in at a touch over a pound. This is enough to have a couple good meals at home and give away the rest before they go bad. Not enough to can though (nor do I have a pressure canner). Thankfully...I only planted about a third of what I could have, so next year we should have enough for fresh and putting aside. Here is about one half the take on saturday morning.
Speaking of beans, the vermont craberry shelling beans were sufficiently dry to pick and shell. It was so much fun that my wife insisted on finishing shelling the rest. Pretty productive, I got a good cup and a quarter of shelled dried beans from about a 10 foot row. Next year I'll buy more seed, since I'll likely use up all these beans in cooking, though I could technically save it.
And lastly, the sunflowers did not happen this year. I think my seed saving methods may be at fault. I only saved one head a year, so I'm betting the lack of diversity lead to an inbreeding depression. Spindly little things that couldn't stand on their own. Here's the real surprise. My wife remarked that she missed seeing them around the house. The same wife who in prior years remarked that their presence was a bit hippyish. I just smirked, she insisted that I not read to much into it...yeah right.
First the tomatoes...oh the tomatoes. Here's a taste of one evenings take.
not sure what my final poundage was for the year as I still have a few out there, racing the weather to ripen. But there was enough to can about 4 quarts of the most delicious garlicy sauce courtesy of my brother from another mother's recipe. Next year there will be twice as many vines.
The last corner of the potato patch got dug up. Thar be monsters!
granted 1 lbs 1.25 oz may be pedestrian by onestraw's standards...but its a record for me. no final tally yet.
Even more significant. I have achieved a benchmark. I have made a succession plan work. Previously I was just shy a few weeks time to have a good crop of beans after potatoes. I am fairly confident I can repeat the results now. We've had a cool gray wet summer, so even with that taken into account, I can fit the two crops in the same spot and avoid the frost. Yeah! This year, the first major harvest day for the green beans planted after potatoes came in at a touch over a pound. This is enough to have a couple good meals at home and give away the rest before they go bad. Not enough to can though (nor do I have a pressure canner). Thankfully...I only planted about a third of what I could have, so next year we should have enough for fresh and putting aside. Here is about one half the take on saturday morning.
Speaking of beans, the vermont craberry shelling beans were sufficiently dry to pick and shell. It was so much fun that my wife insisted on finishing shelling the rest. Pretty productive, I got a good cup and a quarter of shelled dried beans from about a 10 foot row. Next year I'll buy more seed, since I'll likely use up all these beans in cooking, though I could technically save it.
And lastly, the sunflowers did not happen this year. I think my seed saving methods may be at fault. I only saved one head a year, so I'm betting the lack of diversity lead to an inbreeding depression. Spindly little things that couldn't stand on their own. Here's the real surprise. My wife remarked that she missed seeing them around the house. The same wife who in prior years remarked that their presence was a bit hippyish. I just smirked, she insisted that I not read to much into it...yeah right.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Bliss
Yesterday I tasted a cherokee purple for the first time. This was the most delicious tomato I have ever eaten. Hands down, end of story.
I picked just under five pounds yesterday of Amish paste, Cherokee, and Brandywine bringing my total tomato harvest a touch under six pounds. I havent weighed the spuds I dug two days ago but I figure its just south of 10 pounds. And the blackberries are slowing up now. 5 and a half cups now and probably another one or two on the canes still. Based on the number of new canes this year I expect almost double the yeild next year (3 large bearing canes to go away this fall, 7 mixed size new canes).
I started seed for the fall about two weeks ago but so far very little has sprouted. Might be the heat. I'll be trying something novel with parsnips. As I understand it, the Japanese grow them in wooden boxes to make for easier harvest. ( guess they are somewhat brittle) I got a wooden ammunition crate from my friend in the marines that would be perfect for this. Pictures to follow.
I picked just under five pounds yesterday of Amish paste, Cherokee, and Brandywine bringing my total tomato harvest a touch under six pounds. I havent weighed the spuds I dug two days ago but I figure its just south of 10 pounds. And the blackberries are slowing up now. 5 and a half cups now and probably another one or two on the canes still. Based on the number of new canes this year I expect almost double the yeild next year (3 large bearing canes to go away this fall, 7 mixed size new canes).
I started seed for the fall about two weeks ago but so far very little has sprouted. Might be the heat. I'll be trying something novel with parsnips. As I understand it, the Japanese grow them in wooden boxes to make for easier harvest. ( guess they are somewhat brittle) I got a wooden ammunition crate from my friend in the marines that would be perfect for this. Pictures to follow.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Winos
I was at a birthday party yesterday for a friend of mine (who will be teaching me how to make mead as soon as I can get my hands on another 5lbs of local honey).
He opened a bottle of rhubarb wine that had finished. I know what you are thinking...rhubarb? Ok, pour me just a small glass. YES, rhubarb. another glass please.
Rhubarb, its not just for pie.
He opened a bottle of rhubarb wine that had finished. I know what you are thinking...rhubarb? Ok, pour me just a small glass. YES, rhubarb. another glass please.
Rhubarb, its not just for pie.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Wow
Jim Cramer, whose prior contribution to society was serving as fodder for the Daily Show appears to think trouble is ahead for Monsanto. Well duh. Anyone in the Justice Dept with half a brain and a shred of ethics is probably eyeballing that beast for antitrust...at least.
I harvested my first tomato yesterday a nice ripe 14 oz brandywine. Cut it up and ate it straight up. Its been almost a year since I have had a real tomato. The pale mealy crap in the stores doesn't even come close. I've got another couple brandywines getting close and a cherokee purple that I think is probably ready too. I cut away all the foliage infected with early blight and so far the last few days have not shown further infection. I can only hope...
The vermont cranberry beans are doing great! Look at those gorgeous pods. My green beans have started flowering now too.
I harvested my first tomato yesterday a nice ripe 14 oz brandywine. Cut it up and ate it straight up. Its been almost a year since I have had a real tomato. The pale mealy crap in the stores doesn't even come close. I've got another couple brandywines getting close and a cherokee purple that I think is probably ready too. I cut away all the foliage infected with early blight and so far the last few days have not shown further infection. I can only hope...
The vermont cranberry beans are doing great! Look at those gorgeous pods. My green beans have started flowering now too.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Something old, something new
First the old, as in old friends. I recently got back in touch with an old college room mate who as fate might have it, has also taken up organic gardening. Coincidence? Something in the wind? I'm glad he's into it, but I can't count him as one of my five, so the score is still at 3/5.
Now the new. The first of the tomatoes are almost ripe. Brandywines. No sign of ripening from the Cherokees or Amish paste, though there are several nice plump specimens of each. I hope they ripen soon, I've spotted early blight...not good. Not good at all. This pattern of horrifically damp summers is not just depressing, it could be a definite problem if it continues long term.
Now the new. The first of the tomatoes are almost ripe. Brandywines. No sign of ripening from the Cherokees or Amish paste, though there are several nice plump specimens of each. I hope they ripen soon, I've spotted early blight...not good. Not good at all. This pattern of horrifically damp summers is not just depressing, it could be a definite problem if it continues long term.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Things I've noticed
Some good, some bad.
First the bad news. Something has infected the apple tree. Is it scab? It resembles scab. Are there any organic treatments for scab?
Thankfully it appears on just a few leaves, though the bottom side of the leaf has developed a wart like growth. Should I just remove the few affected leaves?
Second find: Mushrooms! Not sure what kind, and I'm not about to taste and find out, but I'll be sure to take more pics as they emerge and perhaps get a positive ID on it. I own mycellium running and Growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms by Stamets and you'd think I would have thought to seed all this much we have with spawn and grow some shrooms in the front yard...you'd think that. Sometimes nature has to remind you of the possibilities you should have thought of.
That is a leek in the background...doing quite nicely.
Third find: The first ripe blackberry! Sorry no pics. It went straight into my drooling maw.
First the bad news. Something has infected the apple tree. Is it scab? It resembles scab. Are there any organic treatments for scab?
Thankfully it appears on just a few leaves, though the bottom side of the leaf has developed a wart like growth. Should I just remove the few affected leaves?
Second find: Mushrooms! Not sure what kind, and I'm not about to taste and find out, but I'll be sure to take more pics as they emerge and perhaps get a positive ID on it. I own mycellium running and Growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms by Stamets and you'd think I would have thought to seed all this much we have with spawn and grow some shrooms in the front yard...you'd think that. Sometimes nature has to remind you of the possibilities you should have thought of.
That is a leek in the background...doing quite nicely.
Third find: The first ripe blackberry! Sorry no pics. It went straight into my drooling maw.
Monday, August 3, 2009
seek and ye shall find
The afforementioned garden/farm in northeast chicago. 1038-ish W ainslie st. Go to the larger map and then zoom to the green arrow. For some reason Google map felt the need to make the "A" marker Uptown Chicago.
View Larger Map
View Larger Map
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Oh the places I will grow.
I was away last week, very away...chicago to be precise. My church youth group was shy one male chaperone for a service trip, and yours truly had extra vacation time to use up. A really great trip all around. Our base of operations was a parish/school in the northeast side. Heavy population of immigrants and the mentally ill. Very sobering, but it was very productive and I felt like we really contributed. There was a community garden just around the corner that was about a quarter acre. And this was not some allotment "everybody grows whatever" This was a small scale farm.
Unfortunately I do not have pictures, but I was really impressed with their setup.
When I returned I found some pretty impressive sided tomatoes, a pepper plant in full bloom, kiwi vines getting out of control, our daughter had started to transplant the greenbeans where the potatoes used to be, the bee balm in full bloom, and wormwood that...is easily 6 feet in any given direction and in flower. I also found something totally unexpected.
Thats right, the blueberry bushes I transplanted this year produced 3 fruit. The two tiny ones are from a "chandler" bush, and the big (not yet ripe) one is from a variety called "herbert." Last year you may recall I had a scant few blackberries, and this year I am swimming in them (though not yet ripe). Hopefully the blueberries will prove just as eager next year.
Unfortunately I do not have pictures, but I was really impressed with their setup.
When I returned I found some pretty impressive sided tomatoes, a pepper plant in full bloom, kiwi vines getting out of control, our daughter had started to transplant the greenbeans where the potatoes used to be, the bee balm in full bloom, and wormwood that...is easily 6 feet in any given direction and in flower. I also found something totally unexpected.
Thats right, the blueberry bushes I transplanted this year produced 3 fruit. The two tiny ones are from a "chandler" bush, and the big (not yet ripe) one is from a variety called "herbert." Last year you may recall I had a scant few blackberries, and this year I am swimming in them (though not yet ripe). Hopefully the blueberries will prove just as eager next year.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
its been almost a month? really?
I spend all my winters in anticipation of summer and it disappears before my eyes.
Lets get this out of our system ahead of time. This will not be a spectacular year, it will be another year of lessons.
There is too much of a good thing. that being rain 5 of the last 7 days in july and 17 of 30 days in june. And even when it was only a few drops it has been overcast. Things are moving sllllloooowly. I should really consider adding another row of boards to the raised beds which only sit about 4-6 inches above ground height.
I am willing to try starting peas on st patrick's day again, but only if they are pre-sprouted. It took forever for them to germinate.
I should start my curcurbits in pots first. The soil just does not get warm enough early enough to get them going, I am going to end up with a lot of things just getting in under the wire if at all.
Slugs are a serious issue now. A duck is unfortunately out of the question.
Garlic spray is a great japanese beetle deterrant, I haven't seen them since.
I should have planted trees years ago.
fried beet chips are a reason to get out of bed in the morning!
My frontyard bed definitely needs more organic matter.
I need more grape vines.
The black tips on the kiwi is likely a water issue, too little I think, and with the rain I have not seen any since.
Lets get this out of our system ahead of time. This will not be a spectacular year, it will be another year of lessons.
There is too much of a good thing. that being rain 5 of the last 7 days in july and 17 of 30 days in june. And even when it was only a few drops it has been overcast. Things are moving sllllloooowly. I should really consider adding another row of boards to the raised beds which only sit about 4-6 inches above ground height.
I am willing to try starting peas on st patrick's day again, but only if they are pre-sprouted. It took forever for them to germinate.
I should start my curcurbits in pots first. The soil just does not get warm enough early enough to get them going, I am going to end up with a lot of things just getting in under the wire if at all.
Slugs are a serious issue now. A duck is unfortunately out of the question.
Garlic spray is a great japanese beetle deterrant, I haven't seen them since.
I should have planted trees years ago.
fried beet chips are a reason to get out of bed in the morning!
My frontyard bed definitely needs more organic matter.
I need more grape vines.
The black tips on the kiwi is likely a water issue, too little I think, and with the rain I have not seen any since.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Oh by the way
yep another post on the run. lets get the bad news out of the way.
my garage was broken into by kids...how do I know it was kids? because they took the time to rip the car stereo out and left the thousands of dollars worth of tools sitting in the open.
Germination of the in situ squash and melons has been aggrivatingly poor.
now the good news.
my wife and I celebrated our 7th anniversary this sunday. I cooked her favorite dish. Chicken marsala. Despite being an avowed vegetarian I will handle chicken twice a year. Valentines and our anniversary, with one caveat: It must be free range organic. Pricey but I'd like to think it contributes to the results. And the recipe translates well to mock chicken too. Behold
"Chick'n" "Marsala"
Dredge thawed "quorn naked cutlets" in 1 cup flour 1/2 tsp pepper, 1 tsp oregano, 1/4 tsp salt. (I am approximating the measurements, I have made this so many times I just eyeball it now. Secondly, if the cutlets are slightly damp, it helps the flour stick.)
saute in 1Tblsp olive oil/1Tblsp butter on medium heat until both sides are golden. Throw in a cup of sliced crimini mushrooms, naw go ahead and throw in the rest of the crimini mushrooms because they are just that good. Pour in a cup of Marsala wine (white port also works very well) and cover. Lower heat slightly and Simmer for about ten minutes until the wine reduces and thickens a bit. Flip the cutlets once during cooking. If the sauce has not thickened sufficiently, add a scant teaspoon of flour and stir well with a fork to prevent clumps.
then yesterday I finally got to use the morels I found at the grocery store. Granted the joy pales in comparison to finding them in the wild, but I have never cooked with them. I sliced and boiled them in a cup of water in a saucepan for about 30 minutes, then added whole cream, about half a lemon worth of juice, some minced fresh thyme, a little salt and pepper, then let that reduce again by about a third, and added just a touch of flour. This went over angel hair spaghetti Sadly I was the only one who really liked the results but my enthusiasm more than made up for the lack from the rest of the family. My wife said the look and texture reminded her of the infamous dinner scene from Hannibal. Apparently she does not have the stomach for anything resembling brains. The taste though...was out of this world in my less than humble opinion.
In garden news, the potatoes are flowering! Time to start the green beans in the flats! My lemon tree is making more flower buds! The soup beans appear to be doing well, the black eyed peas...not so much.
Thats it. Gotta go. Take care.
my garage was broken into by kids...how do I know it was kids? because they took the time to rip the car stereo out and left the thousands of dollars worth of tools sitting in the open.
Germination of the in situ squash and melons has been aggrivatingly poor.
now the good news.
my wife and I celebrated our 7th anniversary this sunday. I cooked her favorite dish. Chicken marsala. Despite being an avowed vegetarian I will handle chicken twice a year. Valentines and our anniversary, with one caveat: It must be free range organic. Pricey but I'd like to think it contributes to the results. And the recipe translates well to mock chicken too. Behold
"Chick'n" "Marsala"
Dredge thawed "quorn naked cutlets" in 1 cup flour 1/2 tsp pepper, 1 tsp oregano, 1/4 tsp salt. (I am approximating the measurements, I have made this so many times I just eyeball it now. Secondly, if the cutlets are slightly damp, it helps the flour stick.)
saute in 1Tblsp olive oil/1Tblsp butter on medium heat until both sides are golden. Throw in a cup of sliced crimini mushrooms, naw go ahead and throw in the rest of the crimini mushrooms because they are just that good. Pour in a cup of Marsala wine (white port also works very well) and cover. Lower heat slightly and Simmer for about ten minutes until the wine reduces and thickens a bit. Flip the cutlets once during cooking. If the sauce has not thickened sufficiently, add a scant teaspoon of flour and stir well with a fork to prevent clumps.
then yesterday I finally got to use the morels I found at the grocery store. Granted the joy pales in comparison to finding them in the wild, but I have never cooked with them. I sliced and boiled them in a cup of water in a saucepan for about 30 minutes, then added whole cream, about half a lemon worth of juice, some minced fresh thyme, a little salt and pepper, then let that reduce again by about a third, and added just a touch of flour. This went over angel hair spaghetti Sadly I was the only one who really liked the results but my enthusiasm more than made up for the lack from the rest of the family. My wife said the look and texture reminded her of the infamous dinner scene from Hannibal. Apparently she does not have the stomach for anything resembling brains. The taste though...was out of this world in my less than humble opinion.
In garden news, the potatoes are flowering! Time to start the green beans in the flats! My lemon tree is making more flower buds! The soup beans appear to be doing well, the black eyed peas...not so much.
Thats it. Gotta go. Take care.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Still in the thick of things
Well as can probably be guessed by my extended absence, my work life has eaten my blogging time. But as I have a spare moment right now, I'll try to hit the highlights.
1.)First pound harvested! radishes put me just over the top of 1 pound composed of radishes, lettuce and arugula.
2.) the peas and most of the broccoli are beyond hope. Something ate them, and this time it wasnt the dog. I suspect its the neighborhood cats. They seem to have mowed it to appropriate height. So in went seeds for zucchini, delicata, and waltham squash, as well as french melons, nothing germinated yet.
3.) The situation in the bed out front seems to be improving, though I definitely lost a couple tomato plants, the survivors seem to be bouncing back.
Our daughter had to compose a persuasive paragraph for school on any subject...and completly unprompted she chose:
Gardens vs. Grocery Stores
I think people should have a garden instead of driving to the grocery store. If people make gardens in their backyard they can get their fruits and vegetables from their backyard.
You can buy packets of seeds for 10 cents which would be less expensive than buying produce. Gardens can keep people on a healthy diet. If you have a garden you wouldn't pollute the air as much because you wouldn't put gas in the air. People wouldn't have to pay money for gas. Plants take in carbon dioxide. Gardens look beautiful. When people come over they would be surprised by how much effort you put into it. My dad is growing his garden.
Some of the things I think you should have in your garden are tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, corn, zucchini, and blueberries.
Needless to say I was beaming when I found out.
In other news, The area behind the bench I have dedicated to native species has borne fruit, or rather its inhabitants have been fruitful. More specifically, baby spiders, thousands of them. Go forth my pretties and feast on beetles and cabbage moths.
Speaking of the area behind the bench, I have a lone, but alive nonetheless ginseng plant coming up.
And speaking of the bench, I give you the view from the bench a.k.a. my favorite spot in the yard, overlooking my second favorite spot in the yard.
This picture was taken about ten days ago, since then the fennel (between the wormood and valerian) is taller than the fence, The valerian has exceeded six feet, the pond has cleared slightly from the lilly pads out competing the algae, and the wormwood threatens to take over the universe.
1.)First pound harvested! radishes put me just over the top of 1 pound composed of radishes, lettuce and arugula.
2.) the peas and most of the broccoli are beyond hope. Something ate them, and this time it wasnt the dog. I suspect its the neighborhood cats. They seem to have mowed it to appropriate height. So in went seeds for zucchini, delicata, and waltham squash, as well as french melons, nothing germinated yet.
3.) The situation in the bed out front seems to be improving, though I definitely lost a couple tomato plants, the survivors seem to be bouncing back.
Our daughter had to compose a persuasive paragraph for school on any subject...and completly unprompted she chose:
Gardens vs. Grocery Stores
I think people should have a garden instead of driving to the grocery store. If people make gardens in their backyard they can get their fruits and vegetables from their backyard.
You can buy packets of seeds for 10 cents which would be less expensive than buying produce. Gardens can keep people on a healthy diet. If you have a garden you wouldn't pollute the air as much because you wouldn't put gas in the air. People wouldn't have to pay money for gas. Plants take in carbon dioxide. Gardens look beautiful. When people come over they would be surprised by how much effort you put into it. My dad is growing his garden.
Some of the things I think you should have in your garden are tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, corn, zucchini, and blueberries.
Needless to say I was beaming when I found out.
In other news, The area behind the bench I have dedicated to native species has borne fruit, or rather its inhabitants have been fruitful. More specifically, baby spiders, thousands of them. Go forth my pretties and feast on beetles and cabbage moths.
Speaking of the area behind the bench, I have a lone, but alive nonetheless ginseng plant coming up.
And speaking of the bench, I give you the view from the bench a.k.a. my favorite spot in the yard, overlooking my second favorite spot in the yard.
This picture was taken about ten days ago, since then the fennel (between the wormood and valerian) is taller than the fence, The valerian has exceeded six feet, the pond has cleared slightly from the lilly pads out competing the algae, and the wormwood threatens to take over the universe.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Playing Catch up
Wow...were to start, things went well at work.
On the stead, 100% of the potatoes have pushed through, I found the bed much easier to work this year, though not as nice as the one thats 4 years old. I can reach into that with my bare hand and get to my wrist with little effort, and come up with a fistfull of worms and chunks of various bits of stuff alive and dead.
I made my first "50 foot" salad last weekend. Arugula, butterhead, and oakleaf lettuce. Very good, nice and tender. On memorial day I grabbed some more arugula, picked up a couple pears and a block of parmisan cheese and made this.
On Monday I transplanted some cukes, nasturtiums, and melons into empty spots in the lettuce patch. Looks like the arugula is done for the season. And something has chewed on 5 of the six broccoli almost to the point of defoliation, but thankfully I found good leaves growing back, so I think they'll be ok. But I found that some of these were ready which made my day. Have you ever seen such gorgeous radishes?
I started corn, black eyed peas and shelling beans.
I noticed something a little disconcerting with the female kiwi vine. Black on the edges of some of the new growth, as shown here.
A search has not turned up any plausible results. I had several shoots coming off last years's growth, so I trimmed this one, and have not seen any others succumb to its fate, but I would like to know what is happening, because it killed a male vine last year. (the replacement however is doing just fine.)
I just realized the other pictures are on other cameras, so I'll save for other posts, but I will leave you with this parting shot, the first and likely last real picture of yours truly that will show up here.
Oh did I mention we had 5 yards of stone delivered for the walkway, and 6 yards of much for the ...um mulching? I did a lot of shoveling. And no my hand is not missing, It was a chilly evening.
On the stead, 100% of the potatoes have pushed through, I found the bed much easier to work this year, though not as nice as the one thats 4 years old. I can reach into that with my bare hand and get to my wrist with little effort, and come up with a fistfull of worms and chunks of various bits of stuff alive and dead.
I made my first "50 foot" salad last weekend. Arugula, butterhead, and oakleaf lettuce. Very good, nice and tender. On memorial day I grabbed some more arugula, picked up a couple pears and a block of parmisan cheese and made this.
On Monday I transplanted some cukes, nasturtiums, and melons into empty spots in the lettuce patch. Looks like the arugula is done for the season. And something has chewed on 5 of the six broccoli almost to the point of defoliation, but thankfully I found good leaves growing back, so I think they'll be ok. But I found that some of these were ready which made my day. Have you ever seen such gorgeous radishes?
I started corn, black eyed peas and shelling beans.
I noticed something a little disconcerting with the female kiwi vine. Black on the edges of some of the new growth, as shown here.
A search has not turned up any plausible results. I had several shoots coming off last years's growth, so I trimmed this one, and have not seen any others succumb to its fate, but I would like to know what is happening, because it killed a male vine last year. (the replacement however is doing just fine.)
I just realized the other pictures are on other cameras, so I'll save for other posts, but I will leave you with this parting shot, the first and likely last real picture of yours truly that will show up here.
Oh did I mention we had 5 yards of stone delivered for the walkway, and 6 yards of much for the ...um mulching? I did a lot of shoveling. And no my hand is not missing, It was a chilly evening.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
coming up for air
I've been lax in my posting, especially when you consider all that has happened. The situation may continue until the 27th when my work gets the equivalent of a new president. Lets just say I am going to be beyond busy for the next week and leave it at that.
I do feel the need to say a couple things though. This past sunday (17th) we had a baptism and party for our children. I am, to my core, normally averse to large social gatherings. This was incredible though. So many people came, including my best friend of25 years. (thats 1st grade for those doing the math)...all the way from North Carolina. I have to be honest, I worked my butt off getting everything outside tidy and presentable in the garden for the sole purpose of impressing people, not because of any vanity thing, but because I am so desperate to spread the word as it were. Nate and I wandered outside and walked around, I gave him a quick tour, he nodded a lot and said. "You know, I really want to start a garden back home."
I'm counting that as three!
I also found out his father in law has similar proclivities for diggin in the dirt. Its amazing who you'll connect to sometimes.
I also discovered that another longtime friend also recently adopted. I don't know if my example planted that seed or simply gave it a little fertilizer, but I'd like to think that in some way I was at least a snowflake in the avalanch of the decision.
Melinda at Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op penned this fantastic piece. Its amazing sometimes how things seem to be "in the air." I'd like to think that my own transformation has allowed me, in at least some regard to similarly manifest my true self. It did remind me how far I need to go. During one of our late night chats with friends who were visiting this weekend, I found that I was the sole person in the room who, if given the chance, would not return to school to persue a more advanced degree in my field. I do what I do because it pays the bills, is pleasant, allows me to work for an organization that I can "look at myself in the mirror each day" and barring major events like the one currently going on...lets me go home at 4:30 and leave work at work.
There are drawbacks to this though. There are times when I feel like I am cheating, I find the work easy most of the time. I spend 40 hours a week doing something which I have no passion for, I simply derive enjoyment from interactions with my coworkers, and the sense of "helping out" that I get from fixing their technical difficulties. I have wrestled with ennui for most of my life, which I'm sure is equal parts genetic, chemical, and cognative. My demons flog me with alterating blows of doubt, anxiety and angst and how far from my goals I am. But there are moments, like this weekend, when I my joy can barely contain itself. I don't think I could proclaim that I too am living absolutely true to my inner ethos, but I think each baby step I take brings me that much closer, and sometimes (like this weekend) its nice to stop and realize how far we have come.
that being said I have tons of other things that I will try to get posted, but bear with me. Oh, and I spotted potato plants poking through!
I do feel the need to say a couple things though. This past sunday (17th) we had a baptism and party for our children. I am, to my core, normally averse to large social gatherings. This was incredible though. So many people came, including my best friend of25 years. (thats 1st grade for those doing the math)...all the way from North Carolina. I have to be honest, I worked my butt off getting everything outside tidy and presentable in the garden for the sole purpose of impressing people, not because of any vanity thing, but because I am so desperate to spread the word as it were. Nate and I wandered outside and walked around, I gave him a quick tour, he nodded a lot and said. "You know, I really want to start a garden back home."
I'm counting that as three!
I also found out his father in law has similar proclivities for diggin in the dirt. Its amazing who you'll connect to sometimes.
I also discovered that another longtime friend also recently adopted. I don't know if my example planted that seed or simply gave it a little fertilizer, but I'd like to think that in some way I was at least a snowflake in the avalanch of the decision.
Melinda at Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op penned this fantastic piece. Its amazing sometimes how things seem to be "in the air." I'd like to think that my own transformation has allowed me, in at least some regard to similarly manifest my true self. It did remind me how far I need to go. During one of our late night chats with friends who were visiting this weekend, I found that I was the sole person in the room who, if given the chance, would not return to school to persue a more advanced degree in my field. I do what I do because it pays the bills, is pleasant, allows me to work for an organization that I can "look at myself in the mirror each day" and barring major events like the one currently going on...lets me go home at 4:30 and leave work at work.
There are drawbacks to this though. There are times when I feel like I am cheating, I find the work easy most of the time. I spend 40 hours a week doing something which I have no passion for, I simply derive enjoyment from interactions with my coworkers, and the sense of "helping out" that I get from fixing their technical difficulties. I have wrestled with ennui for most of my life, which I'm sure is equal parts genetic, chemical, and cognative. My demons flog me with alterating blows of doubt, anxiety and angst and how far from my goals I am. But there are moments, like this weekend, when I my joy can barely contain itself. I don't think I could proclaim that I too am living absolutely true to my inner ethos, but I think each baby step I take brings me that much closer, and sometimes (like this weekend) its nice to stop and realize how far we have come.
that being said I have tons of other things that I will try to get posted, but bear with me. Oh, and I spotted potato plants poking through!
Monday, May 4, 2009
the good, the bad and the downright awful
Busy weekend at home! But I think thats safe to say about most weekends. I got all of the stone in place for the walkways...and I have no pics or background to go with that...so I shall endeavor to update you all on this monumental project (and sizable subtraction to the size of the mowed area). Regardless, I'm a bit sore right now.
The trees look like they are doing well. The last of the pears to bud has a few green spikes now and the nectarine (despite some definite dieback) appears to be leafing out now.
I put in the marigolds in the potato bed, most of the pea sprouts are up. If I had planted lettuce more densely I'd have a salad by now. Lesson learned. Plant leaf lettuce tighter and harvest sooner and more often. I did snatch a few leaves of thai oak leaf that were awesome, and the arugula is really good. In a week or two when I have more I am definitely grabbing a couple pears and maybe a little parmesan cheese for a salad.
Transplanted a lot of flowers (mostly petunias, but some cosmos and hollyhock) and put the chamomile in its spot. The lemon balm, bee balm, and stjohn's wort are making a strong showing only a year after transplant and the wormwood and valerian are almost two feet high already.
Now for the awful news. As regular readers might remember, I ordered 3 citrus trees on feb 15th. After a long spell of no news and no trees I contacted the seller and was told "two weeks" Several unreturned phone calls, several unreplied emails. Still no trees. Sorry chumps...no money for you. I didn't bother to call to ask for a refund since they apparently have failed to conduct themselves in any measurable way decent. The business may have changed hands but their failure to respond to such a backlog of customers means I'm not likely to see results for a while. I called my bank and had them dispute the charges, in my experience its faster than getting obstinant deadbeat vendors to take satisfactory action. So this time, a little wiser I combed review sites looking for a reputable dealer and found good reviews for Four winds nursery. They appear to have been around for a while and their customers hold them in fairly good regard. Lesson Learned. Hopefully my trees will be here this weekend.
The old vendor by the way is growquest, they now operate under the name olivetrees.net. And without some kind of acknowledgement from the new owners of changes to the business practices, I wouldn't trust them any farther than I could throw a deeply rooted, 1,000 year old olive tree (which I hear are quite heavy).
The trees look like they are doing well. The last of the pears to bud has a few green spikes now and the nectarine (despite some definite dieback) appears to be leafing out now.
I put in the marigolds in the potato bed, most of the pea sprouts are up. If I had planted lettuce more densely I'd have a salad by now. Lesson learned. Plant leaf lettuce tighter and harvest sooner and more often. I did snatch a few leaves of thai oak leaf that were awesome, and the arugula is really good. In a week or two when I have more I am definitely grabbing a couple pears and maybe a little parmesan cheese for a salad.
Transplanted a lot of flowers (mostly petunias, but some cosmos and hollyhock) and put the chamomile in its spot. The lemon balm, bee balm, and stjohn's wort are making a strong showing only a year after transplant and the wormwood and valerian are almost two feet high already.
Now for the awful news. As regular readers might remember, I ordered 3 citrus trees on feb 15th. After a long spell of no news and no trees I contacted the seller and was told "two weeks" Several unreturned phone calls, several unreplied emails. Still no trees. Sorry chumps...no money for you. I didn't bother to call to ask for a refund since they apparently have failed to conduct themselves in any measurable way decent. The business may have changed hands but their failure to respond to such a backlog of customers means I'm not likely to see results for a while. I called my bank and had them dispute the charges, in my experience its faster than getting obstinant deadbeat vendors to take satisfactory action. So this time, a little wiser I combed review sites looking for a reputable dealer and found good reviews for Four winds nursery. They appear to have been around for a while and their customers hold them in fairly good regard. Lesson Learned. Hopefully my trees will be here this weekend.
The old vendor by the way is growquest, they now operate under the name olivetrees.net. And without some kind of acknowledgement from the new owners of changes to the business practices, I wouldn't trust them any farther than I could throw a deeply rooted, 1,000 year old olive tree (which I hear are quite heavy).
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
True Confessions
A post over at Path to Freedom got me thinking. My gardening has honestly not "saved" us any money in a strict sense of the word. (I refuse to equate the word saving as it applies to "look how much we saved" when it comes to buying things we would not otherwise buy.)
Gardening has not reduced the cost of eating fresh (or home preserved) organic produce one iota. Gardening forced us to eat fresh (or home preserved) organic produce. Society may give lip service to living "green" but if you follow the money, its not where our priorities lay. For mainstream america, living lightly is an expensive proposition. I simply pulled price out of the equation.
I suspect I am not alone in the sense that I do not depend on my garden for economic survival, but for spiritual, healthful, and global survival. We must be prepared to accept the fact that many, in fact much of society views our arcane gardening practice as a luxury. Primarily one of time. The most common response I get (and I'm sure I'm not the exception) is "I wish I had the time for that."
Second confession. I don't have the time. By sunset I have been pulled in 50 different different directions trying to get all the little projects, appointments, and routine this and that done. But I make the time, because in a life where so many things are beyond your control, its nice to have a moment when your time is your own. So for us the cost of eating organic is time.
Gardening has not reduced the cost of eating fresh (or home preserved) organic produce one iota. Gardening forced us to eat fresh (or home preserved) organic produce. Society may give lip service to living "green" but if you follow the money, its not where our priorities lay. For mainstream america, living lightly is an expensive proposition. I simply pulled price out of the equation.
I suspect I am not alone in the sense that I do not depend on my garden for economic survival, but for spiritual, healthful, and global survival. We must be prepared to accept the fact that many, in fact much of society views our arcane gardening practice as a luxury. Primarily one of time. The most common response I get (and I'm sure I'm not the exception) is "I wish I had the time for that."
Second confession. I don't have the time. By sunset I have been pulled in 50 different different directions trying to get all the little projects, appointments, and routine this and that done. But I make the time, because in a life where so many things are beyond your control, its nice to have a moment when your time is your own. So for us the cost of eating organic is time.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Book Review: Smale Scale Grain Raising
I searched high and low for this text which has become somewhat of a legend. I was not alone in my pursuit. The original print goes for around$60 used. As luck, or perhaps a change in the direction of the winds of change. A second edition was printed. I found myself on a waitlist 2 months ago and yesterday, my copy arrived.
Small Scale Grain Raising by Gene Logsdon was well worth the wait, and every ounce what it is hyped as. The content is arranged by crop and follows a clear pattern of how to prepare a field for X, planting, common problems, harvesting, storing, and a few recipes along the way.
The true value (not that the content itself should be taken lightly) is Mr. Logsdon's shall we say, wit and wisdom. Having read The Gardeners Guide to Better Soil, and Successful Berry Growing, I was accustomed to his style. He is folksy and casual without being cliche or anti-intellectual. Small Scale Grain raising is no black sheep in that regard. In fact it was a puzzlement to my wife how a book about grain could make me chuckle every few minutes.
Mr. Logsdon speaks as one who understands the science of the task at hand, and does not withhold what the "specifications" for use of say certain fertilizers for certain crops, but also has a wealth of practical experience to reassure the neophyte that in some regards, close enough is ok too.
There are brief peeks into a subject I suspect the author may elaborate on elsewhere and that is his opinion on the state of modern farming. While I have suspicions, he probably has evidence. Its one thing to hear about how a farmer has to constently get bigger or get out, its entirely another to see the numbers in front of you. There are moments that made me a tad uncomfortable, as I am perfectly content to point the finger at subsidies and giants like monsanto, Logsdon feels that farmers who have been "duped" into believing that bigger is better, take out a loan and buy more land and a bigger combine...are as much to blame. Perhaps the availability of easy credit, the cult of more more more, the dependence on technology and cheap oil have not just affected the dregs of consumers but the noblest of professions as well. Perhaps rather than look at it as just another industry, we should look at the state of food production as the true litmus test of not only the health, but the mindset of society.
I must say in closing that I have only one disappointment, the immutable laws of nature. I was hoping to incorporate a grain crop as a bed rotation. As it takes roughly 1090 square feet to make one bushel of wheat, and a healthy bushel of wheat weighs on average, 60 pounds, a single garden bed in my yard (50') will only produce about 2.5 lbs. or around 10 loaves of no-knead bread if my math is right. At 5 lbs I might consider it, but it doesn't seem likely...yet. Who knows, as the size of the mowable part in the yard shrinks. At what point do we decide its not worth keeping a mower, and if we decide its not worth keeping a mower, when do we finally commit the rest of the lawn to more productive use?
Small Scale Grain Raising by Gene Logsdon was well worth the wait, and every ounce what it is hyped as. The content is arranged by crop and follows a clear pattern of how to prepare a field for X, planting, common problems, harvesting, storing, and a few recipes along the way.
The true value (not that the content itself should be taken lightly) is Mr. Logsdon's shall we say, wit and wisdom. Having read The Gardeners Guide to Better Soil, and Successful Berry Growing, I was accustomed to his style. He is folksy and casual without being cliche or anti-intellectual. Small Scale Grain raising is no black sheep in that regard. In fact it was a puzzlement to my wife how a book about grain could make me chuckle every few minutes.
Mr. Logsdon speaks as one who understands the science of the task at hand, and does not withhold what the "specifications" for use of say certain fertilizers for certain crops, but also has a wealth of practical experience to reassure the neophyte that in some regards, close enough is ok too.
There are brief peeks into a subject I suspect the author may elaborate on elsewhere and that is his opinion on the state of modern farming. While I have suspicions, he probably has evidence. Its one thing to hear about how a farmer has to constently get bigger or get out, its entirely another to see the numbers in front of you. There are moments that made me a tad uncomfortable, as I am perfectly content to point the finger at subsidies and giants like monsanto, Logsdon feels that farmers who have been "duped" into believing that bigger is better, take out a loan and buy more land and a bigger combine...are as much to blame. Perhaps the availability of easy credit, the cult of more more more, the dependence on technology and cheap oil have not just affected the dregs of consumers but the noblest of professions as well. Perhaps rather than look at it as just another industry, we should look at the state of food production as the true litmus test of not only the health, but the mindset of society.
I must say in closing that I have only one disappointment, the immutable laws of nature. I was hoping to incorporate a grain crop as a bed rotation. As it takes roughly 1090 square feet to make one bushel of wheat, and a healthy bushel of wheat weighs on average, 60 pounds, a single garden bed in my yard (50') will only produce about 2.5 lbs. or around 10 loaves of no-knead bread if my math is right. At 5 lbs I might consider it, but it doesn't seem likely...yet. Who knows, as the size of the mowable part in the yard shrinks. At what point do we decide its not worth keeping a mower, and if we decide its not worth keeping a mower, when do we finally commit the rest of the lawn to more productive use?
I could never run a tv station
I have no clue what people are interested in. Here I was thinking the outdoor shower was just some crazy idea. But apparently I'm not the only one with a desire to bathe outdoors. I'll have to chronicle this one more closely. I'll take some pictures tonight, but for now a little background on the project.
1. This did not come about without a good deal of bargaining and pleading on my part, as I am the only one in the house who does not look at the idea as insanity, and as such it is one of those things I get to work on in my "spare time." Of which I have little to none. Due to the aforementioned official adoption, we are having a baptism/adoption party on May 17th. Spring, as most gardening/landscaping folks will tell you is always a busy time. This creates the perfect storm of work for the next 3 weeks. Therefore, construction will largely be a board nailed in here and there when no one is looking...Thats right. This one is being built ninja style.
2. As for design... It will draw water in from the hose spigot right around the corner (like I said. Perfect spot). You're probably thinking "Holy H311! thats a cold shower." Watch your mouth please, this is a family friendly site. I plan on running a coil of black hose up to the roof before it gets to the shower nozzle. But which side of the roof, since the peak of the house runs north-south. Morning or night. I got to thinking. When am I most likely to use an outdoor shower...likely after working outdoors...meaning evening. The spot for the shower sits on the evening side of the house. Like I said...perfect. What about the wastewater? Well that part I havent got totally ironed out. And by that I mean I have a workable solution for now. I have some leftover pvc pipe that should work well enough to divert the water over to a 1'x20' strip of stone we laid down as a divider between the yard and the herb sanctuary/pond. It should be deep enough to to take a gallon at a time without flooding. In the future I'd love to see a reedbed there with a higher capacity...being used by the graywater from the house. But baby steps...first I have to get certain factions to accept and enjoy the outdoor shower first.
1. This did not come about without a good deal of bargaining and pleading on my part, as I am the only one in the house who does not look at the idea as insanity, and as such it is one of those things I get to work on in my "spare time." Of which I have little to none. Due to the aforementioned official adoption, we are having a baptism/adoption party on May 17th. Spring, as most gardening/landscaping folks will tell you is always a busy time. This creates the perfect storm of work for the next 3 weeks. Therefore, construction will largely be a board nailed in here and there when no one is looking...Thats right. This one is being built ninja style.
2. As for design... It will draw water in from the hose spigot right around the corner (like I said. Perfect spot). You're probably thinking "Holy H311! thats a cold shower." Watch your mouth please, this is a family friendly site. I plan on running a coil of black hose up to the roof before it gets to the shower nozzle. But which side of the roof, since the peak of the house runs north-south. Morning or night. I got to thinking. When am I most likely to use an outdoor shower...likely after working outdoors...meaning evening. The spot for the shower sits on the evening side of the house. Like I said...perfect. What about the wastewater? Well that part I havent got totally ironed out. And by that I mean I have a workable solution for now. I have some leftover pvc pipe that should work well enough to divert the water over to a 1'x20' strip of stone we laid down as a divider between the yard and the herb sanctuary/pond. It should be deep enough to to take a gallon at a time without flooding. In the future I'd love to see a reedbed there with a higher capacity...being used by the graywater from the house. But baby steps...first I have to get certain factions to accept and enjoy the outdoor shower first.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sore back
I did so much work outside this weekend that it all seems like a blur, I couldn't tell you what I got accomplished, but I do remember a few highlights.
1. The outdoor shower is definitely happening. I have 4 posts in the ground and the spot is perfect. Its an otherwise unusable corner of our plot that would get wasted. I just need to scrounge up some pipe and find a basin so I can redirect the wastewater someplace useful.
2. I have baby carrots! Two years ago I droped a 3'x2' box in a corner that I thought would get enough light. Its tucked between the gazebo and the garden wall, but its never been very productive. Last fall on a whim I direct seeded a few things like beets, some chard, arugula and carrots. Nothing really got off the ground so to speak. By snowfall I had a few feathery carrot leaves and a couple baby beet greens. I have for the most part ignored it this season, though I am going to try some podding radishes there. Well oddly enough I found half inch round, 2 inch long carrots growing. Not the (we're really done growing, we just keep well in the soil over the winter...I found one of those in another bed) These all have good live foliage. I'll let them mature where they are (despite the sample being tasty). Hopefully they don't bolt on me. they are cosmic purples by the way. Who'd have thought they could survive a zone 5 winter. On the other hand, if these do by chance have some genetic predisposition to survivng the cold perhaps I should let them bolt and save the seed.
1. The outdoor shower is definitely happening. I have 4 posts in the ground and the spot is perfect. Its an otherwise unusable corner of our plot that would get wasted. I just need to scrounge up some pipe and find a basin so I can redirect the wastewater someplace useful.
2. I have baby carrots! Two years ago I droped a 3'x2' box in a corner that I thought would get enough light. Its tucked between the gazebo and the garden wall, but its never been very productive. Last fall on a whim I direct seeded a few things like beets, some chard, arugula and carrots. Nothing really got off the ground so to speak. By snowfall I had a few feathery carrot leaves and a couple baby beet greens. I have for the most part ignored it this season, though I am going to try some podding radishes there. Well oddly enough I found half inch round, 2 inch long carrots growing. Not the (we're really done growing, we just keep well in the soil over the winter...I found one of those in another bed) These all have good live foliage. I'll let them mature where they are (despite the sample being tasty). Hopefully they don't bolt on me. they are cosmic purples by the way. Who'd have thought they could survive a zone 5 winter. On the other hand, if these do by chance have some genetic predisposition to survivng the cold perhaps I should let them bolt and save the seed.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Spuds down
well despite an earnest desire to start them on the 15th, my potatoes did not go into the ground until yesterday the 23rd. Hopefully we get a late frost and I can get a full bean crop in. Hopefully.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Whoo hoo!
The gardening class went great! My original draft was an 1.5 hours, I did another test run with my wife which went 1:15. I paired down a few more slides and got it at 50 minutes flat despite the occasional digression. There were 9 people (not including me) who all said that they learned a lot. One who had never done any gardening...so I'm counting her as convert #2 for the year. I sent them home with some charts about companion planting, a few home remedies (like milk spray for powdery mildew, and garlic spray for Japanese beetles) and some packets of seed for my favorite perennials. (Fennel, lemon balm, bee balm, chives, hyssop, borage and swiss chard) ok the last two aren't perennials but the result vs. effort margin is very high and I had a ton of seed for them.
I already have requests to do a follow up class later in the year.
I'm reminded that it is one thing to know how to do something, but entirely another to teach it.
I already have requests to do a follow up class later in the year.
I'm reminded that it is one thing to know how to do something, but entirely another to teach it.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
What a weekend!
Friday was time to cut the potatoes into chunks for planting. I ordered a variety called purple viking, which is notorious for its yield, but I didn't take into consideration that the seed potatoes would be massive. Many of them hand the eyes concentrated on the crown area, leaving a lot of wasted spud. Anyway...the results.
Saturday was considerably busier. My father came to pick my wife and I up in his truck and we made a trip to Miller Nurseries in Canandaigua. I was very impressed. Their selection was great, staff was helpful, and the facilities were very nice. We came home with:
1 apple: "4-in-1 grafted modern varieties"
3 pear: "Bartlett, Beurre Bosc, and D'anjou"
1 nectarine: "Mericrest"
1 Apricot: "Chinese dwarf super hardy"
1 sweet cherry: "Stella compact"
1 grape: Golden Muscat
1 male kiwi (repaced by M.N. after the original failed last year)
4 blueberry bushes: 2"chandler" 2 "herbert"
Dad came home with 6 raspberry canes as well.
The trees are all on dwarfing rootstocks. I spent the remainder of the
day digging holes. Thankfully I had a little help, about 23 pounds of help to be precise.
I sprinkled in some mycorhizal spores I got from Fungi Perfecti, put the trees in, and then went through the nerve wracking process of pruning with a little help from "The Backyard Orchardist" which by the way is an excellent guide.
Saturday was considerably busier. My father came to pick my wife and I up in his truck and we made a trip to Miller Nurseries in Canandaigua. I was very impressed. Their selection was great, staff was helpful, and the facilities were very nice. We came home with:
1 apple: "4-in-1 grafted modern varieties"
3 pear: "Bartlett, Beurre Bosc, and D'anjou"
1 nectarine: "Mericrest"
1 Apricot: "Chinese dwarf super hardy"
1 sweet cherry: "Stella compact"
1 grape: Golden Muscat
1 male kiwi (repaced by M.N. after the original failed last year)
4 blueberry bushes: 2"chandler" 2 "herbert"
Dad came home with 6 raspberry canes as well.
The trees are all on dwarfing rootstocks. I spent the remainder of the
day digging holes. Thankfully I had a little help, about 23 pounds of help to be precise.
I sprinkled in some mycorhizal spores I got from Fungi Perfecti, put the trees in, and then went through the nerve wracking process of pruning with a little help from "The Backyard Orchardist" which by the way is an excellent guide.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Very Exited
Yesterday afternoon I came home to a package from Fungi Perfecti. My order of plug spawn, sealing wax, mycorizhal spores, and a copy of Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms arrived. I never realized that the book was as extensive as it is. Its closer to a textbook than one of the usual offerings in the garden section, and just as deep. My inner geek is totally stoked. I'll post a review when I finish reading, but that will take some time, in the meantime, I have logs to seed with spawn. Homegrown reishi and shitake here I come!
Ultimately I'd like to incorporate the growing of mushrooms into the grander scheme of things. It will be years before I have all the bugs worked out of my rotational system, but I know fungus will have a place in it.
Ultimately I'd like to incorporate the growing of mushrooms into the grander scheme of things. It will be years before I have all the bugs worked out of my rotational system, but I know fungus will have a place in it.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
In the ground
Well yesterday evening, the spinach, lettuce, peas, broccoli, radishes and beets went in the ground. And of course there was a light frost this morning, but nothing seemed to be really bothered by it. This evening I'm starting the tomato plants for my dad's house, planting some podding radishes and flax outdoors, cutting the potatoes into smaller chunks, and approaching my wife about a spot I think would be perfect for another garden bed. Its worth a shot right?
Out and about in the yard I noticed lemon balm, bee balm, chives, mint, and wormwood poking up out of the ground. The buds on the ornamental cherry are swelling, the lilacs are getting ready to leaf out. I've got about 4 1-year-old blackberry primocanes that are budding and 3 coming up out of the ground. The berry yield will still be small but much better than the 7 berries I got last year.
Out and about in the yard I noticed lemon balm, bee balm, chives, mint, and wormwood poking up out of the ground. The buds on the ornamental cherry are swelling, the lilacs are getting ready to leaf out. I've got about 4 1-year-old blackberry primocanes that are budding and 3 coming up out of the ground. The berry yield will still be small but much better than the 7 berries I got last year.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
There has to be something to this crazy dream...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kerry-trueman/young-agrarians-digging-t_b_186734.html
The second coming of the brief "back to the land" movement of the 60's or a return to a better way of life?
And wadayaknow, GMO doesn't really improve crop yeilds.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/04/14-6
And finally
The second coming of the brief "back to the land" movement of the 60's or a return to a better way of life?
And wadayaknow, GMO doesn't really improve crop yeilds.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/04/14-6
And finally
Pro-Pesticide Group Criticizes First Lady’s Organic Garden
And First Lady Michelle Obama is coming under criticism from a pro-pesticide industry group for deciding to plant an organic garden at the White House. The Mid America CropLife Association recently wrote to the First Lady to urge her to consider using pesticides, or what they call "crop protection products.” One official with the pro-pesticide group said, “While a garden is a great idea, the thought of it being organic made [us] shudder.” Mid America CropLife represents agribusinesses like Monsanto, Dow AgroSciences and DuPont.
the thought of what your products do to the groundwater makes me shudder.
Go Time!
This morning was frost free. The first one in our backyard. I'm sure there will be more, but intermittent is ok, I've been fine with the occasional frost, peas broccoli, lettuce, spinach, radishes can take it. This afternoon they're going in. I also noticed I have pea shoots peaking out of the soil where I planted them on st. patty's day. I will be interested to see if the month early planting helped or if the cold temps kept them back. Time will tell.
Oh and my potatoes came from Irish Eyes Garden Seed. I have some cutting to do as I got a bunch of lunkers...no big deal. Not surprising since Purple vikings are notorious for their prodigious proportions.
Oh and my potatoes came from Irish Eyes Garden Seed. I have some cutting to do as I got a bunch of lunkers...no big deal. Not surprising since Purple vikings are notorious for their prodigious proportions.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Meal recap
With all the prior excitement I totally left out the dishes I prepared for easter dinner.
A little background. I love to cook. Since becoming vegetarian (can't believe its been 10 years) I discovered the wonder of not only eating fresh, made from scratch meals, but also preparing them as well...In fact sometimes the preparation is more fun. Anyhow, usually I am the sole lettucehead at any given meal. And when invited to friends house they usually say: uuuh, salad? when I ask what they would like me to bring. Some of my closer friends (who have probably heard me gripe about it) usually give me a blank check (metaphorically speaking). They'll tell me what the main (usually meat) dish is and I'll come up with something to compliment it. Thats really the way to go...where was I...ah, so usually I feel a lot of pressure to wow the crowd so to speak. I literally cook like I have something to prove, and given my proclivities for perfectionism in the kitchen, I become a bit of a troll at the stove. Thankfully my wife was kind enough to set aside the entire evening prior to easter that I could work on it. So enough with the chitchat on with the show.
As if I did not feel enough pressure, I set a new criteria for myself...In season veggies only. For Central New York it tends to narrow the field.
Since we were doing dinner twice, for the first event
Asparagus soup.
Chop and saute 6 shallots until they become clear.
dice 1 lb asparagus reserving tips
add 1 tblspoon lemon juice, 1 tblspoon all purpose flour and 3 cups vegetable stock. (I am a bit of a stock fanatic, I've tried them all, and most recently found I like the results from a paste based organic stock whose name escapes me right now)
Let this simmer covered for at least an hour. The original recipe says 20 minutes but I extended the cooking time for reasons I will explain momentarily.
Next run it through a food processor until its absolutely liquid. The longer cooking time will break down more of the fibers and make the liquid more flavorful. Pour this through a strainer and mash as well as possible until you have a mostly dry playdough left in the strainer. There will probably be about half a cup. This is mostly asparagus fiber. You could skip this step and probably do well as it obviously has a great amount of dietary fiber sitting there, but if you strain it you will end up with a wonderful consistency. Pour about a cup of milk* through as you are straining to pick up more flavor.
lightly saute the asparagus tips and throw them back in at serving time. Set the tips on a towel to absorb most of the butter or cooking oil. If too much of it ends up back in the soup it can separate and make brown floating dots in that lovely soup you just worked so hard to make.
* Almond milk would probably go nicely too.
This one was a hit. The next one suffered from a modern malaise I refer to as cruciferphobia or the fear of cabbage.
boil 4 outer cabbage leaves for 5 minutes
saute one medium onion, add 1 cup cooked brown rice, 8 oz tomato sauce 1 tsp nutmeg. Heat for a few minutes to thicken, then spoon mix into the center of the cabbage leaves, roll them into packages, and stick a toothpick in to keep them closed. I had leftover rice and sauce that I spooned over them when they went in the pan. Cover with foil and cook at 350 for about a half an hour.
This one had a certain depression era feel to it as I made it that was sadly relevant to modern times. It can literally be made for next to nothing. Those who tried it, liked it, and for my mom (who, due to a medical condition has to have a bland diet) this was perfect. The acidity of the tomato sauce was really not an issue. Personally I thought it was too bland. For me, cabbage takes two modes of entry to my stomach, kraut or kimchee.
these were the original recipe's, I ended up doubling them for the crowds.
Oh and of course I made three loaves of no knead bread (one on a stone, two in loaf pans). There were no leftovers from that. My best batch yet. Sara made sure to tell everyone to "Try the bread, its the best."
So there it is, three accompaniments which could have probably been combined together as a meal if you really wanted to. All in season. The asparagus soup is going in my arsenal as is, the cabbage, like I said, still needs something.
A little background. I love to cook. Since becoming vegetarian (can't believe its been 10 years) I discovered the wonder of not only eating fresh, made from scratch meals, but also preparing them as well...In fact sometimes the preparation is more fun. Anyhow, usually I am the sole lettucehead at any given meal. And when invited to friends house they usually say: uuuh, salad? when I ask what they would like me to bring. Some of my closer friends (who have probably heard me gripe about it) usually give me a blank check (metaphorically speaking). They'll tell me what the main (usually meat) dish is and I'll come up with something to compliment it. Thats really the way to go...where was I...ah, so usually I feel a lot of pressure to wow the crowd so to speak. I literally cook like I have something to prove, and given my proclivities for perfectionism in the kitchen, I become a bit of a troll at the stove. Thankfully my wife was kind enough to set aside the entire evening prior to easter that I could work on it. So enough with the chitchat on with the show.
As if I did not feel enough pressure, I set a new criteria for myself...In season veggies only. For Central New York it tends to narrow the field.
Since we were doing dinner twice, for the first event
Asparagus soup.
Chop and saute 6 shallots until they become clear.
dice 1 lb asparagus reserving tips
add 1 tblspoon lemon juice, 1 tblspoon all purpose flour and 3 cups vegetable stock. (I am a bit of a stock fanatic, I've tried them all, and most recently found I like the results from a paste based organic stock whose name escapes me right now)
Let this simmer covered for at least an hour. The original recipe says 20 minutes but I extended the cooking time for reasons I will explain momentarily.
Next run it through a food processor until its absolutely liquid. The longer cooking time will break down more of the fibers and make the liquid more flavorful. Pour this through a strainer and mash as well as possible until you have a mostly dry playdough left in the strainer. There will probably be about half a cup. This is mostly asparagus fiber. You could skip this step and probably do well as it obviously has a great amount of dietary fiber sitting there, but if you strain it you will end up with a wonderful consistency. Pour about a cup of milk* through as you are straining to pick up more flavor.
lightly saute the asparagus tips and throw them back in at serving time. Set the tips on a towel to absorb most of the butter or cooking oil. If too much of it ends up back in the soup it can separate and make brown floating dots in that lovely soup you just worked so hard to make.
* Almond milk would probably go nicely too.
This one was a hit. The next one suffered from a modern malaise I refer to as cruciferphobia or the fear of cabbage.
boil 4 outer cabbage leaves for 5 minutes
saute one medium onion, add 1 cup cooked brown rice, 8 oz tomato sauce 1 tsp nutmeg. Heat for a few minutes to thicken, then spoon mix into the center of the cabbage leaves, roll them into packages, and stick a toothpick in to keep them closed. I had leftover rice and sauce that I spooned over them when they went in the pan. Cover with foil and cook at 350 for about a half an hour.
This one had a certain depression era feel to it as I made it that was sadly relevant to modern times. It can literally be made for next to nothing. Those who tried it, liked it, and for my mom (who, due to a medical condition has to have a bland diet) this was perfect. The acidity of the tomato sauce was really not an issue. Personally I thought it was too bland. For me, cabbage takes two modes of entry to my stomach, kraut or kimchee.
these were the original recipe's, I ended up doubling them for the crowds.
Oh and of course I made three loaves of no knead bread (one on a stone, two in loaf pans). There were no leftovers from that. My best batch yet. Sara made sure to tell everyone to "Try the bread, its the best."
So there it is, three accompaniments which could have probably been combined together as a meal if you really wanted to. All in season. The asparagus soup is going in my arsenal as is, the cabbage, like I said, still needs something.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Where to begin...
Lets see...
April 9th 2009: Sara and Jonathan are now officially adopted! After 2 nerve wracking years, countless court hearings, social worker visits, its over. In they eyes of the law (better late than never I suppose) they are our children. We are truly the lucky ones. Two different ages, two different backgrounds, two incredible kids.
I can't stress enough how much need there is out there for foster and adoptive parents. I would be richer than walmart if I had a nickel for each person who has come up to me and said "we thought about doing that." Don't think about it. Do it. If you think to long about it you will find reasons to talk yourself out of it. You may have 5 very good reasons why you shouldn't but there are over 500,000 reasons (children) why you should. Never again will you go to bed wondering if you made a difference.
April 10th 2009: My brother came home from Iraq, safe and sound thank God. As his contractual obligation actually ended almost a year ago, there is little chance of recall.
April 13th 2009: Easter. I had a great conversation with a friend of a friend about gardening. He (on the suggestion of my friend) was curious about gardening. Originally from Spain, this fellow lamented the lack of selection, freshness and availability of "good organic vegetables" in his area. He commented how different it is where his extended family lives and a lack of garden is unusual. If only.
the seedlings are getting bigger but the frost shows up every morning.
April 9th 2009: Sara and Jonathan are now officially adopted! After 2 nerve wracking years, countless court hearings, social worker visits, its over. In they eyes of the law (better late than never I suppose) they are our children. We are truly the lucky ones. Two different ages, two different backgrounds, two incredible kids.
I can't stress enough how much need there is out there for foster and adoptive parents. I would be richer than walmart if I had a nickel for each person who has come up to me and said "we thought about doing that." Don't think about it. Do it. If you think to long about it you will find reasons to talk yourself out of it. You may have 5 very good reasons why you shouldn't but there are over 500,000 reasons (children) why you should. Never again will you go to bed wondering if you made a difference.
April 10th 2009: My brother came home from Iraq, safe and sound thank God. As his contractual obligation actually ended almost a year ago, there is little chance of recall.
April 13th 2009: Easter. I had a great conversation with a friend of a friend about gardening. He (on the suggestion of my friend) was curious about gardening. Originally from Spain, this fellow lamented the lack of selection, freshness and availability of "good organic vegetables" in his area. He commented how different it is where his extended family lives and a lack of garden is unusual. If only.
the seedlings are getting bigger but the frost shows up every morning.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
t-15 days
I put together a test presentation to see where I was at with time, I am supposed to be around 45 minutes. I ran and hour and a half...so I will need to cull quite a bit of material or talk faster...which is not a good idea for me.
In other news, our daughter brought home 2 shrub willow cuttings. It seems someone from SUNY ESF paid a visit to her school to talk about some of the projects they are doing, and handed out cuttings from their biomass project. You can read more about it here. I was a little put off by the dependence on herbicide early in the life cycle, but the need seems to disappear in subsequent years. I guess a little upfront for a perennial crop is better than constant application each year. I think I have good spot, and I am curious to see how these grow. I intend to put them in as a visual break in front of the area our dogs roam. That might obscure vision to the street and cut down some of the barking. I'd like to encourage a lot of vegetative growth, and as luck would have it, the spot happens to be adjacent to the compost pile. No doubt these will be able to recapture some of the nutrient runoff. Funny how things work out sometimes.
In other news, our daughter brought home 2 shrub willow cuttings. It seems someone from SUNY ESF paid a visit to her school to talk about some of the projects they are doing, and handed out cuttings from their biomass project. You can read more about it here. I was a little put off by the dependence on herbicide early in the life cycle, but the need seems to disappear in subsequent years. I guess a little upfront for a perennial crop is better than constant application each year. I think I have good spot, and I am curious to see how these grow. I intend to put them in as a visual break in front of the area our dogs roam. That might obscure vision to the street and cut down some of the barking. I'd like to encourage a lot of vegetative growth, and as luck would have it, the spot happens to be adjacent to the compost pile. No doubt these will be able to recapture some of the nutrient runoff. Funny how things work out sometimes.
Friday, April 3, 2009
19 days to prepare
and I get a curveball.
I had been asked/volunteered to teach a gardening class at work. Now that the official invite email went out I'm already getting questions. I'm excited and intimidated. On the first day it was advertised by emailed I got 5 responses, out of a total 75-100 people that ain't too shabby. Plus a couple people (including my boss) who verbally expressed interest.
My first assumption was that people who were going to attend were already interested, and had some experience. That this was going to be a lot of "here's a better way" and some Q&A. Now it seems I'm getting interest from people who have never put trowel to dirt. I need to retool my presentation now. Ugggg.
I had been asked/volunteered to teach a gardening class at work. Now that the official invite email went out I'm already getting questions. I'm excited and intimidated. On the first day it was advertised by emailed I got 5 responses, out of a total 75-100 people that ain't too shabby. Plus a couple people (including my boss) who verbally expressed interest.
My first assumption was that people who were going to attend were already interested, and had some experience. That this was going to be a lot of "here's a better way" and some Q&A. Now it seems I'm getting interest from people who have never put trowel to dirt. I need to retool my presentation now. Ugggg.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The second rule of fight club....
is kind of superfluous. But if everyone followed the rules, fight club wouldn't have grown. Anyway enough about fight club.
The hardest part of "the change" (not that change, the green one) has been the social aspect. I know I need to get out and talk to people, like minded and not. But to be honest, to an introvert you might as well ask me to perform neurosurgery. I'm as likely to do one as the other. I used to wonder why it was that in spite of my near palpitation inducing aversion to the social arts, I always ended up with plenty of friends.
Simple. I, for paradoxical reasons gravitate towards outgoing charismatic people. I realized that I could spot the potential cult leader in any crowd, because I was usually the one next to them. Heh. Okay, maybe not cult leaders but you get the point. More to the crux of the matter, I don't know a lot of people, but the people I know do. (If that makes any sense.)
So here goes, I mentioned my fit of inspiration to recruit 5 friends into the world of gardening. (with the sub rosa hopes that once they start to care about one "crunchy, self relianty, sustainability, homesteadyish "thing, they too will feel compelled to care about more things.)
So then I said to myself: "Self, you and I may be onto something. Everybody knows at least a few people. And wouldn't it be nice to share the joy of gardening without the discomfort of making new friends?"
Am I simply reinforcing a bad habit of isolation or am I adapting in place rather than seeking greener social pastures? Delusion or inspiration...who cares. The point is by the end of the summer, there will be at least 5 more people on the planet who have learned to grow their own.
And I invite you to do the same. I realize that there are plenty of challenges out there. Most of them are great, and I wish I had the time and space to partake in or write about them all. At the risk of throwing yet another pebble on the mountain.... wooosh.
Find 5 people, convince them to grow something edible. It can be vegetables, a fruit tree, herbs, you get the gist. Use whatever means at your disposal, bribery of seedlings, seeds, help digging, a container or two, an offer to share some of your own produce, just get them on board. Better yet get a quote so when you report in, its not just a list of names, but personalities. This is likely going to be the easiest challenge ever. Seed sales are waaay up this year, its not even swimming upstream anymore. Lets turn a 33% increase into a growth on a geometric scale. And your target audience could not be more familiar, if anyone knows how to convince us to do something (even the crazy stuff) its our friends.
Here's how it works. At this point if you really want to do it, comment here. I'd appreciate a link from your own page or blog. I even made a nice icon for your (and my) sidebar. Not necessary, but appreciated. Then about once a month I'll put up an open call to see how people are doing. I'm particularly interested in what tactics or incentives people offer to get their friends started and keep them going.
Have fun with it.
Behold the mighty Icon of homescale horticultural evangelism.
please rightclick and save as rather than linking to the picture itself, the bloghost will probably scream bloody murder if it has to host the image on a bunch of different blogs and use the below for the link part.
http://worryfarm.blogspot.com/2009/04/second-rule-of-fight-club.html
The hardest part of "the change" (not that change, the green one) has been the social aspect. I know I need to get out and talk to people, like minded and not. But to be honest, to an introvert you might as well ask me to perform neurosurgery. I'm as likely to do one as the other. I used to wonder why it was that in spite of my near palpitation inducing aversion to the social arts, I always ended up with plenty of friends.
Simple. I, for paradoxical reasons gravitate towards outgoing charismatic people. I realized that I could spot the potential cult leader in any crowd, because I was usually the one next to them. Heh. Okay, maybe not cult leaders but you get the point. More to the crux of the matter, I don't know a lot of people, but the people I know do. (If that makes any sense.)
So here goes, I mentioned my fit of inspiration to recruit 5 friends into the world of gardening. (with the sub rosa hopes that once they start to care about one "crunchy, self relianty, sustainability, homesteadyish "thing, they too will feel compelled to care about more things.)
So then I said to myself: "Self, you and I may be onto something. Everybody knows at least a few people. And wouldn't it be nice to share the joy of gardening without the discomfort of making new friends?"
Am I simply reinforcing a bad habit of isolation or am I adapting in place rather than seeking greener social pastures? Delusion or inspiration...who cares. The point is by the end of the summer, there will be at least 5 more people on the planet who have learned to grow their own.
And I invite you to do the same. I realize that there are plenty of challenges out there. Most of them are great, and I wish I had the time and space to partake in or write about them all. At the risk of throwing yet another pebble on the mountain.... wooosh.
Find 5 people, convince them to grow something edible. It can be vegetables, a fruit tree, herbs, you get the gist. Use whatever means at your disposal, bribery of seedlings, seeds, help digging, a container or two, an offer to share some of your own produce, just get them on board. Better yet get a quote so when you report in, its not just a list of names, but personalities. This is likely going to be the easiest challenge ever. Seed sales are waaay up this year, its not even swimming upstream anymore. Lets turn a 33% increase into a growth on a geometric scale. And your target audience could not be more familiar, if anyone knows how to convince us to do something (even the crazy stuff) its our friends.
Here's how it works. At this point if you really want to do it, comment here. I'd appreciate a link from your own page or blog. I even made a nice icon for your (and my) sidebar. Not necessary, but appreciated. Then about once a month I'll put up an open call to see how people are doing. I'm particularly interested in what tactics or incentives people offer to get their friends started and keep them going.
Have fun with it.
Behold the mighty Icon of homescale horticultural evangelism.
please rightclick and save as rather than linking to the picture itself, the bloghost will probably scream bloody murder if it has to host the image on a bunch of different blogs and use the below for the link part.
http://worryfarm.blogspot.com/2009/04/second-rule-of-fight-club.html
Monday, March 30, 2009
The first rule of fight club is...
you don't talk about fight club. Good thing gardening is not fight club*. I just "bagged" my first convert yesterday. 1 Down 4 to go per my previous declaration.
Although I seem to remember a scene in the movie where some of the "space monkeys" were tending to a garden.
Although I seem to remember a scene in the movie where some of the "space monkeys" were tending to a garden.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
ho humm
We've had a spat of bitter cold nights (mid teens) that slowed down any progress I might have made outside.
Inside however.
lettuce is up and running, broccoli, beets, spinach, are poking through in greater numbers now, and two of the leeks have come up.
in the flower side, the cosmos are out in force, a couple petunias have sprouted their tiny leaves, the hollyhock is up and some of the globe amaranth are starting to show. Notice the pots are still empty, tree company refuses to ship yet.
I planted a flat of nantes carrots last night, I have terrible luck getting them to grow in situ, the only carrots that have grown with any degree of success were transplanted so, against my promise to myself that I would not do it again this year...
I can fit 4 flats on the table in the front window, I thought that would be sufficient, but by my calculations I probably will need another 4, but where to put them?
Inside however.
lettuce is up and running, broccoli, beets, spinach, are poking through in greater numbers now, and two of the leeks have come up.
in the flower side, the cosmos are out in force, a couple petunias have sprouted their tiny leaves, the hollyhock is up and some of the globe amaranth are starting to show. Notice the pots are still empty, tree company refuses to ship yet.
I planted a flat of nantes carrots last night, I have terrible luck getting them to grow in situ, the only carrots that have grown with any degree of success were transplanted so, against my promise to myself that I would not do it again this year...
I can fit 4 flats on the table in the front window, I thought that would be sufficient, but by my calculations I probably will need another 4, but where to put them?
Friday, March 20, 2009
Everyone has been telling me...
What I already knew...victory gardens are coming back. And despite my best attempt to be cynical, I can't help but jump for joy. Especially when I read this...
...A White House carpenter who is a beekeeper will tend two hives for honey.
...Ladybugs and praying mantises will help control harmful bugs.
“First of all,” Mrs. Obama said, “there’s nothing really cooler than coming to the White House and harvesting some of the vegetables and being in the kitchen with Cris and Sam and Bill, and cutting and cooking and actually experiencing the joys of your work.”
“I wanted to be able to bring what I learned to a broader base of people. And what better way to do it than to plant a vegetable garden in the South Lawn of the White House.”
I couldn't agree more. In fact my new mission for the season is to get 5 friends to start a garden. Also from the looks of the layout that was posted, they are putting in some of my go-to flowers in border areas. Lets hear it for beneficials! Check out the article here. Now to convince the Obamas to join FreedomGardens and start blogging!
and by the way...the first of the lettuce seedlings just popped up to say hi
...A White House carpenter who is a beekeeper will tend two hives for honey.
...Ladybugs and praying mantises will help control harmful bugs.
“First of all,” Mrs. Obama said, “there’s nothing really cooler than coming to the White House and harvesting some of the vegetables and being in the kitchen with Cris and Sam and Bill, and cutting and cooking and actually experiencing the joys of your work.”
“I wanted to be able to bring what I learned to a broader base of people. And what better way to do it than to plant a vegetable garden in the South Lawn of the White House.”
I couldn't agree more. In fact my new mission for the season is to get 5 friends to start a garden. Also from the looks of the layout that was posted, they are putting in some of my go-to flowers in border areas. Lets hear it for beneficials! Check out the article here. Now to convince the Obamas to join FreedomGardens and start blogging!
and by the way...the first of the lettuce seedlings just popped up to say hi
Thursday, March 19, 2009
better late than never
since having lent the cable I use to connect my phone to my computer, I've had to deprive you all of the grainy blurry images that pass for photography around here.
Payback.
mmmm delicious.
I discovered I am capable of working with electricity and neither zapping myself nor burning down the house...go figure.
Anticip...
ation.
Payback.
mmmm delicious.
I discovered I am capable of working with electricity and neither zapping myself nor burning down the house...go figure.
Anticip...
ation.
boooyah!
They're going to do it! Vegetable gardens are coming back to the whitehouse. And from the sounds of it, for all the right reasons.
Michelle Obama: We want to use it as a point of education, to talk about health and how delicious it is to eat fresh food, and how you can take that food and make it part of a healthy diet. You know, the tomato that's from your garden tastes very different from one that isn't. And peas - what is it like to eat peas in season? So we want the White House to be a place of education and awareness. And hopefully kids will be interested because there are kids living here
The unanswered question is, will it be organic? But given the first family's noted predilection for eating organic wherever possible, serving organic wine at official dinners...I think its pretty much a given.
Michelle Obama: We want to use it as a point of education, to talk about health and how delicious it is to eat fresh food, and how you can take that food and make it part of a healthy diet. You know, the tomato that's from your garden tastes very different from one that isn't. And peas - what is it like to eat peas in season? So we want the White House to be a place of education and awareness. And hopefully kids will be interested because there are kids living here
The unanswered question is, will it be organic? But given the first family's noted predilection for eating organic wherever possible, serving organic wine at official dinners...I think its pretty much a given.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Dirt under my nails
something weird happened. On st. Patrick's day (when the weather normally is so cold I question my desire to go to the parade) it was 68 degrees downtown. Beautiful and sunny.
So I took the plunge and planted peas. If my math is right, they are in early enough to come out in mid may, which is corn planting time. Thats the challenge this year, can I grow a spring crop before a successful corn crop. Last year was a failure, but this time the conditions might be right. I'm really wishing I started the rest of the spring crops earlier too, since most of the forecasts have it being mid 40's for at least a week. The spot with peas previously had sunflowers, which did a great job of breaking up the hard soil.
It looks like rain, but if it holds off I might plant a few podding radishes in another warm corner elsewhere, who knows they might take off!
I started cleaning up the winter dieback in the perennial area, I'm already seeing the garlic chives pushing their way up, and the wormwood is starting back up again. In spots that were mulched by fallen leaves (or under a dense mat of its own growth) the creeping thyme is flourishing. In fact, not as much had died back as I had hoped. It was getting pretty rampant near the pathways in some areas.
Anywho, thats about it, still no sight of any seedlings but its early yet.
So I took the plunge and planted peas. If my math is right, they are in early enough to come out in mid may, which is corn planting time. Thats the challenge this year, can I grow a spring crop before a successful corn crop. Last year was a failure, but this time the conditions might be right. I'm really wishing I started the rest of the spring crops earlier too, since most of the forecasts have it being mid 40's for at least a week. The spot with peas previously had sunflowers, which did a great job of breaking up the hard soil.
It looks like rain, but if it holds off I might plant a few podding radishes in another warm corner elsewhere, who knows they might take off!
I started cleaning up the winter dieback in the perennial area, I'm already seeing the garlic chives pushing their way up, and the wormwood is starting back up again. In spots that were mulched by fallen leaves (or under a dense mat of its own growth) the creeping thyme is flourishing. In fact, not as much had died back as I had hoped. It was getting pretty rampant near the pathways in some areas.
Anywho, thats about it, still no sight of any seedlings but its early yet.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
I bleed green
In several (metaphorical) senses of the term.
I thought I would revisit a little "family" history on today's occasion. What does the Irish Diaspora have to do with gardening and sustainability? Turns out, quite a bit. First a little background.
By 1845 most of the tennant holdings (the majority of irish did not actually own the land they worked on) were less than five acres for 24% and less than 15 for 40%. With much of the land devoted to raising crops simply to pay the rent, the farmers and their families had to feed themselves on what little space remained. (Corned beef was out, not enough pasture land.) Potatoes were caloric and nutritionally dense and space efficient. The inherent cruelty was brought about by a taste for beef that was growing next door in England. Quite simply, to make room for English ranchers, the locals were pushed out of the best grazing and farming areas.
The "great famine" was not the first time that potatoes had failed in ireland, in fact, due to other diseases, there were significant crop losses 24 times between, 1728 and 1844. The potato was far from reliable, but when faces with something unreliable, or watching your family starve, well, you roll the dice.
And in 1845 the dice came up snake eyes. Phytophthora infestans or late blight first manifested in the Americas but due to expanding trade, travel, and lax agricultural inspection, found its way into Europe where it also struck in belgium, but in Ireland, wiped out from what reports estimate a third to a half of the potato crops. The following year was even worse, as losses hit 3/4ths of the crop. Losses receded the following year, but because of the devastation, much of the seed potato stock had been eaten, and fewer fields could be planted.
Early efforts to provide relief from the British were successful, but Prime Minister Robert Peel's efforts raised the ire from laissez faire factions. Peel's successor John Russel created then later abandoned a set of unproductive public works efforts, and parliamentary law basically left the starving tenants the responsibility of the landlords, who in turn evicted them. Aid and relief rules dictated that nothing be distributed to families who held more than a quarter acre. So in effect, if you could grow enough to pay the rent, you had to starve. But if you fed yourself with the crops grown on your meager plot, you got the boot.
When the previously mentioned potato failure occurred in the 1780s, Ireland closed her ports to export, and the other crops that had been grown (to pay the rent) were kept on the island. Food prices dropped during this abundance and famine was averted. However, the landlords and merchants, who would have otherwise sold those commodities at a higher profit applied the golden rule: he who has the gold makes the rules. The lobbied parliment to ensure that this sort of thing didn't happen again. Their success meant that during the majority of the 1840's famine, starving families loaded grain onto wagons bound for the eastern shores, and shipped it off to England. The market had decided, and the Irish were expendable.
Once again history teaches that often, famine comes about not because of a lack of available food, but a lack of ability to pay. So lets all learn from this lesson folks, rotate and diversify your seed stocks, and buy only fairly traded imports.
Our modern taste for cheap coffee is a direct analog to the British desire for cheap beef and Irish grains. You do the math.
On another note, I started the spring crops in the greenhouse..er...sunroom sunday evening. more to follow later.
(a special thanks to the hordes of anonymous contributors at wikipedia for helping me track down some dates and statistics I could not immediately recall)
I thought I would revisit a little "family" history on today's occasion. What does the Irish Diaspora have to do with gardening and sustainability? Turns out, quite a bit. First a little background.
By 1845 most of the tennant holdings (the majority of irish did not actually own the land they worked on) were less than five acres for 24% and less than 15 for 40%. With much of the land devoted to raising crops simply to pay the rent, the farmers and their families had to feed themselves on what little space remained. (Corned beef was out, not enough pasture land.) Potatoes were caloric and nutritionally dense and space efficient. The inherent cruelty was brought about by a taste for beef that was growing next door in England. Quite simply, to make room for English ranchers, the locals were pushed out of the best grazing and farming areas.
The "great famine" was not the first time that potatoes had failed in ireland, in fact, due to other diseases, there were significant crop losses 24 times between, 1728 and 1844. The potato was far from reliable, but when faces with something unreliable, or watching your family starve, well, you roll the dice.
And in 1845 the dice came up snake eyes. Phytophthora infestans or late blight first manifested in the Americas but due to expanding trade, travel, and lax agricultural inspection, found its way into Europe where it also struck in belgium, but in Ireland, wiped out from what reports estimate a third to a half of the potato crops. The following year was even worse, as losses hit 3/4ths of the crop. Losses receded the following year, but because of the devastation, much of the seed potato stock had been eaten, and fewer fields could be planted.
Early efforts to provide relief from the British were successful, but Prime Minister Robert Peel's efforts raised the ire from laissez faire factions. Peel's successor John Russel created then later abandoned a set of unproductive public works efforts, and parliamentary law basically left the starving tenants the responsibility of the landlords, who in turn evicted them. Aid and relief rules dictated that nothing be distributed to families who held more than a quarter acre. So in effect, if you could grow enough to pay the rent, you had to starve. But if you fed yourself with the crops grown on your meager plot, you got the boot.
When the previously mentioned potato failure occurred in the 1780s, Ireland closed her ports to export, and the other crops that had been grown (to pay the rent) were kept on the island. Food prices dropped during this abundance and famine was averted. However, the landlords and merchants, who would have otherwise sold those commodities at a higher profit applied the golden rule: he who has the gold makes the rules. The lobbied parliment to ensure that this sort of thing didn't happen again. Their success meant that during the majority of the 1840's famine, starving families loaded grain onto wagons bound for the eastern shores, and shipped it off to England. The market had decided, and the Irish were expendable.
Once again history teaches that often, famine comes about not because of a lack of available food, but a lack of ability to pay. So lets all learn from this lesson folks, rotate and diversify your seed stocks, and buy only fairly traded imports.
Our modern taste for cheap coffee is a direct analog to the British desire for cheap beef and Irish grains. You do the math.
On another note, I started the spring crops in the greenhouse..er...sunroom sunday evening. more to follow later.
(a special thanks to the hordes of anonymous contributors at wikipedia for helping me track down some dates and statistics I could not immediately recall)
Monday, March 16, 2009
I had been waiting since the night I saw it...
to post this. Stephen Colbert draws a line in the sand against the idea creeping into society that as long as we can bootstrap ourselves out of this mess, so can the guy next to us. The best way to root out evil? mockery.
we're in this together, so consider yourselves "on notice"
we're in this together, so consider yourselves "on notice"
powering down: sea change?
powering down: sea change?
I wanted to include this today because "Powering Down" hits the nail right on the head. Growth model economics is what pointed this bus at the cliff. As long as we measure heath in terms of a limited index of gain we ignore the costs.
And the Stewart deserves a Peabody this year.
I wanted to include this today because "Powering Down" hits the nail right on the head. Growth model economics is what pointed this bus at the cliff. As long as we measure heath in terms of a limited index of gain we ignore the costs.
And the Stewart deserves a Peabody this year.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
clinical trials
ok, maybe not that official.
YesterdayI started coming down with the flu. How do I know its the flu? I've been sick enough times with it that I can see it coming from a mile away. The pain the the lower back, achy and sensitive skin, low grade fever, chills...general malaise. You get the picture. Anyway, I absolutely could not have picked a worse time to get sick. Tomorrow I go in for LASIK surgery. Given that the flu is a virus, you pretty much have to let your body do the fighting (not like a bacterial infection where you might actually need antibiotics). I have been rather hesitant to try home remedies or herbals I guess for no other reason other than I am a walking granola stereotype as is, and I just figured that would be the last straw. Granted I had tried echinacea in one case, as a preventative, though its hard to say if it was effective. I didn't get sick, but then again I might not have anyway.
But desperate as I was, I did a little research and found a combination that seemed to be recommended for flu. So after work I stopped by the local "hippie shop" as my wife calls it and picked up a bottle of echinacea extract and a bottle of elder extract. Took a dose of each as soon as I got home, and made myself a cup of chamomile tea (which I didn't realize until reading this morning was also medicinally relevant, I just like the taste). I've been taking additional doses at the recommended intervals and I have to admit, I feel about 70% better in less than 24 hours. Well enough in fact that despite going to bed thinking I was dying, I felt I could go to work today. For me that is unheard of. When I get the flu, I am out for days.
Sure this is entirely anecdotal, but it made a believer out of this guy
YesterdayI started coming down with the flu. How do I know its the flu? I've been sick enough times with it that I can see it coming from a mile away. The pain the the lower back, achy and sensitive skin, low grade fever, chills...general malaise. You get the picture. Anyway, I absolutely could not have picked a worse time to get sick. Tomorrow I go in for LASIK surgery. Given that the flu is a virus, you pretty much have to let your body do the fighting (not like a bacterial infection where you might actually need antibiotics). I have been rather hesitant to try home remedies or herbals I guess for no other reason other than I am a walking granola stereotype as is, and I just figured that would be the last straw. Granted I had tried echinacea in one case, as a preventative, though its hard to say if it was effective. I didn't get sick, but then again I might not have anyway.
But desperate as I was, I did a little research and found a combination that seemed to be recommended for flu. So after work I stopped by the local "hippie shop" as my wife calls it and picked up a bottle of echinacea extract and a bottle of elder extract. Took a dose of each as soon as I got home, and made myself a cup of chamomile tea (which I didn't realize until reading this morning was also medicinally relevant, I just like the taste). I've been taking additional doses at the recommended intervals and I have to admit, I feel about 70% better in less than 24 hours. Well enough in fact that despite going to bed thinking I was dying, I felt I could go to work today. For me that is unheard of. When I get the flu, I am out for days.
Sure this is entirely anecdotal, but it made a believer out of this guy
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
re-use re-use re-use
Well we finally replaced the windows with a nice sliding glass door so I can get into the sunroom without gymnastics. I started the fiasco around 8:00, my dad showed up at about 11: and we finished at 8:00 pm. Needless to say it was a challenging affair. In fact, hanging the door was the easy part. The frame where the two windows used to sit was a mere two inches too narrow, so we had to widen the opening, which meant a new header, into a load bearing wall. A load bearing wall that now also supports the roof of the sunroom. So bracing and replacing was a long tedious affair. I have a tendency to overbuild, but I'd just assume be on the safe side. But its done. Its not insulated around the edges yet and wouldn't you know we are expecting -15F weather tonight, so guess what I will be doing when I get home.
Dad took some great photos with his nikon d-200 but I haven't got any to share yet.
Anywho, we managed to get the old windows out without breaking any glass, which is astonishing if you have seen our past deconstruction efforts. So now I have 4 24"x24" double glazed window sections that I need to make use of. Shortly after setting them gently on the floor my Dad remarked "ya know you could make a nice cold frame out of those." I smirked, my wife rolled her eyes. "Don't encourage him."
Encourage? heck I already had a plan before they even came out.
Dad took some great photos with his nikon d-200 but I haven't got any to share yet.
Anywho, we managed to get the old windows out without breaking any glass, which is astonishing if you have seen our past deconstruction efforts. So now I have 4 24"x24" double glazed window sections that I need to make use of. Shortly after setting them gently on the floor my Dad remarked "ya know you could make a nice cold frame out of those." I smirked, my wife rolled her eyes. "Don't encourage him."
Encourage? heck I already had a plan before they even came out.
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