Embracing Permaculture

Permaculture is not just for gardeners.  Just a little post here on what it's all about...  Pioneered by many, namely David Holmgren and Bill Mollison (Permaculture One, 1978), Permaculture is a set of design principles that mimics the ingenuity, resourcefulness and connectedness of Nature.  It is a list of considerations that are as relevant to planning an edible garden as they are to planning a sustainable house, economy, education and even government system.  I first learned about permaculture when I attended the University of Guelph Annual Organics Conference.  Since then, I've been on a path of deepening my understanding of it.  My first vegetable garden, for example, was very limited in what I grew, in straight rows, and a place where insects were seen as intruders.  I've come some way, now opening the doors to beneficial insects, letting things grow where they may (especially all the volunteer plants from using open pollinated seeds), and looking to build relationships: companion planting, shade and weed reduction, as well as growing foods that my family loves to eat so that we are ultimately connected to it.  Here are the 12 Design Principles of Permaculture:

More more excellent information, visit Holmgren's site: 

http://permacultureprinciples.com/

An excellent resource for the home scale permaculturalist is a book called Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway.

Stella Has Her Groove Back

It's been a bit of an Odyssey.  The looking and all.  So many things have come our way, slipped through our fingers, or have not met that magical compromise of the many needs of family; little hands always pulling us in the most grounded of directions.  And still, we have nowhere.  More than ever, this is the truth.  We have sold our own home with no home waiting for us.  What a vulnerable, yet totally liberating feeling.  You start to realize what does and does not define you. So, as the title of this post goes, I've got my groove back, or something like it.  I'm growing things, cooking, reading, and feeling that yummy summer creative groove.  Wish us luck as we find our new home, now with a deadline!

Let's put this recipe out there as kickstart back to this blog of mine:

Serendipity Salad

I love the way things come together, never how you expect.  It's always the impromptu  that's been the best, food and all.  What was calling out its readiness in the garden this evening?   Kale, broccoli, sugar snap peas, shallots, dill... so here is the salad:

Salad 

1 can of mixed beans 

handful of kale chopped

handful of broccoli heads 

handful of sugar snap peas

one shallot sliced thinly

1 tbsp of capers

1 tbsp of chopped fresh dill

Dressing

2 tbsp of good quality light tasting olive oil

1 tbsp of Balsamic vinegar

1 tsp of Dijon mustard

1 tsp of fresh lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

Makes for two.  Enjoy!

New Year's Resolution

Girl and family looking for land... This "all organic" stand you see was a heartbreak.  We found 4.2 acres of beautiful local land that would have been a dream come true.  Sadly, it did not work out.  I mourn for the lavender farm, peach trees, cultivated veggie patches and farm house that almost became ours.  So the search is back on.  All I know is that it is becoming a true calling.  I think about it everyday.  It was in listening to Barbara Kinsolver's book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" on CD in my car on a very long drive, that I felt affirmed in a way of life that I am seeking for myself and my family.  So follow my journey.  I look at my own garden and wonder if I will be leaving her, not for something better, because this is where I discovered my passion for growing food afterall, my little corner backyard patch.  I do hope for a place to grow on a bigger scale though- I do have dreams of becoming a micro-farmer of sorts, even if that "micro" is really micro.  I see a new energy of environmentalism and celebration of things small and local in my community, and I am inspired to become an active part of it.  So this is my New Year's resolution, as I feel very resolved.  Take me to a land where I can grow food like I've never grown it before!

Fine Fine Herbs

Just a little note on fine herbs.  As a vegetable gardener, most of what we do is of the annual variety.  Many herbs, most actually, are perennials once planted in a garden.  And while basil and cilantro are like fickle friends, rugged thyme and sage were up and producing herbal essences until almost November in my garden. My own mother shook her head when she saw the mint I planted.  It is "invasive" she said.  Don't always listen to your mother... I ripped it out and missed it terribly this past summer when itching for a homemade mojito:)  Will definitely pot some next growing season.  Locally, we have one of the most impressive herb farms you'll find out there. If you ever want to buy plants, or dried herbs, you must go to http://www.forestglenherbfarm.com/main.html out on Old Lakeshore Road.  The owner of this farm and bed and breakfast is so talented and dedicated, and has won several awards.  She also has the best lavender plants anywhere.  Truly worth visiting.

Trying my Hands at Bread

I am no where near the stage of sharing my own recipes for bread, as I am just learning.  A neophyte bread maker...  And for good reason; I resent several things about store bought bread.  For starters, it seems to have quadrupled in price in the last 10 years.  Secondly, it never goes hard or moldy.  That, I know, is not a good thing.  I think it was Michael Pollan in his book on "In Defence of Food" who wrote, "If it doesn't rot, don't eat it!"

So here are some positive thoughts on bread.  1- It takes time; we don't do much anymore that takes time, that has steps and stages, that requires waiting... 2- Kneading dough is just about the best therapy you can take for any feeling that ails you; you can work it out with bread, 3- It makes your house smell absolutely divine in a way that a microwaved dish never will, 4- You can slice it how you like and it makes a killer sandwich.

I'm not talking bread maker, I'm speaking the language of homemade, handmade breads.  Stay tuned for recipes, as I aspire to bake good stuff.

Best Canned Salsa Ever

Roma tomatoes, I read, are the best for making salsa.  So I grew hundreds of them!  We like our salsa.  What makes this canning recipe unique is the flavour that comes from broiling both the tomatoes and the hot peppers- it gives them roasted yumminess.  It's also a great way (over poaching) to get the skin off your veggies, and do you ever pack a lot of veggies into this recipe.

Ingredients:

~7  cups of tomatoes chopped
(slice off top to make flat and place in rows on baking sheet, broil on high until skin starts to peel away)
~5-6 peppers diced broiled peppers (I used Crimson Reds, but you could use Anaheims's or other big ones)
(also broil on baking sheet until blackened, skin will peel away, remove stem, veins and seeds)
~3 Jalapeno peppers
(not broiled, remove stem, veins, seeds and dice)
~1 1/2 cup of diced onion
~3 cloves of minced garlic
~1 cup of apple cider vinegar (the vinegar makes it safe/acidic for canning)
~1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
~1 tsp of cumin
~2 tsp of dried oregano
~2 tsp of salt
~2-3 tsp of sugar

Directions:

Prepare all ingredients and combine in a large pot.  Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Place in sterilized jars (in boiling water for 10 minutes and handled with tongs).  Fill to 1 cm from top and wipe rims with clean cloth.  Prepare covers by sterilizing as with jars.  After lids have been secured, put jars filled with salsa in bath, water covering jars by 1".  Boil for 15 minutes.  When you remove, you should hear the "ping" sound of the canning process working.

Canning truly is not a scary or overly laboursome project.  There are many great websites to walk you through the stages.  Best of all, it allows you to enjoy the harvest of your garden throughout the year.  I love opening a jar of fresh salsa in February.  Happy salsa making!

Bean and Veggie Salad

I am enjoying such a variety of tomatoes finally. I started the six varieties I have from seed but was late transplanting them due to the school business of May/June.  As a result, I've had a gazillion green tomatoes on my hand for the last weeks.  I've had nightmares about being forced into vats of green tomato chow chow.  Finally, with this glorious Indian summer, in has come the purples, yellows, oranges of heirloom tomatoes and the brilliant reds of my beefsteak and Romas.  Stay tuned for salsa canning next weekend.  In the meantime, here's a lovely healthy salad to try.  So easy, so colourful, so healthy!

Ingredients:

~1 can of mix bean medley (strained and rinsed)
~ 2 cups of mixed cherry tomatoes cut in half
~ 1 cup of sugar snap peas
~ 2 tbsp of fresh basil chopped

Dressing:

~ 2 tbsp of light tasting olive oil
~1 tbsp of white wine vinegar
~1 clove of garlic diced finely
~1 tsp of smooth Dijon mustard
~1 tsp of fresh lemon juice
~ pinch of kosher salt and cracked pepper

Here's my little pea picker!