Greens and Their Reward

The bounty from today's quick trip to the Matthews Farmers Market. All these greens are from Sammy Koenigsberg's (certified organic) Newtown Farms in Waxhaw, NC: two kinds of beets, greenleaf lettuce, chard, broccoli, two kinds of spinach, and mesclun salad mix. What a pleasure to have all this available only a few hours after it was picked.



And here's the reward for eating my greens like a good boy: Strawberry Cream Parfait. A vegan delight, the recipe is from Rhonda Malkmus of Hallelujah Acres, from the HA email newsletter earlier this week. I made this first as a desert for the guys who came over for supper Tuesday night, expanding the recipe to make enough for four. I made it again this afternoon to see how many servings the recipe (below) will make:





Here's the recipe:

This recipe made three of the parfaits shown above in the picture. The third had been, ahem, consumed prior to the pictures:

1. Strawberries
4 cups of organic strawberries, quartered. (Set aside in bowl) (n.b. These are the chunks of berries that will be layered with the cream filling. I had about a cup of quartered berries left, so I'm thinking 3+ cups might be enough.)

2. Cream filling
•2 cups organic strawberries
•6 organic Medjool dates, pitted and soaked 4-6 hours (save soaking water)
•1/2 cup pecans OR almonds (preferably soaked over night, then drained) (n.b. I didn't have pecans so used 1/4 cup almonds and 1/4 cup walnuts, soaked.)
•Sweetener to taste: Agave Nectar OR Maple Syrup OR Date Sugar OR Stevia (pick one)
•1 teaspoon pure vanilla (I used 1 Tbspoon -- love vanilla!)
•One banana (This ingredient isn't part of the original recipe. I added it because of its compatibility with the other ingredients and to give the "Cream" more body and volume. You can add it or leave it out. Having made the recipe with and without it, I like it better with the banana added.)

Place all the "Cream" ingredients in a blender (I tried food processor and it didn't process the nuts fine enough, so blender is better) and blend until creamy, adding the date soaking water if needed for thinning. Taste and add more sweetener as needed.

Fill parfait glasses with alternating layers of "Cream" and strawberry chunks, starting with cream on the bottom and ending with cream on the top. Top with a single strawberry or chunks.

Chill before serving.

Bug's-eye View

I sat outside for 15 minutes today to soak up some vitamin D. I was sitting in a folding chair on my sidewalk and was struck by the variegated beauty by which I was surrounded. Having the camera nearby, I took some close-ups of the (mostly) decorative shrubs that were all around. The close-ups show off the colors and shapes so beautifully -- sort of a bug's eye view, I guess. Hope you enjoy these manifestations of God's creation as much I did:

















Spotted one of my friendly Guard-Lizards about 15 feet off the ground keeping watch over the driveway. Job well done, Liz -- there were no attacks during my 15 minutes in the yard:

Pity Party

Another great column today by Peggy Noonan, writing for the Wall Street Journal online edition.

Life on the Farm

The animal life in my suburban domain is limited to the annual expansion of the Canada goose population and daily lizard sitings (not to mention the ubiquitous squirrels and lovely birds). We take what we can get.

This goose family (at least, they look like the same goose family -- but looks can be deceiving when it comes to Canada geese) lives a hundred yards or so from my house around a small pond. They produce a brood of goslings every year. I took these pictures out of an upstairs window on the backside of my house. (The nearly one-acre field they are eating grass from would make an amazing neighborhood garden but the owner wasn't interested. He uses it to turn his semi-truck around.)





The parents are amazingly alert. Just raising the blinds at the window to take these pictures sent them immediately on their way, getting the young 'uns out of danger. ("Beware the humans with cameras!")



I love watching the lizards around the front garden beds. Sometimes when I sit in the sun around noon to read for a few minutes, they come out on the front porch. This one was sunning on a warm brick when I returned from a bike ride:



Not sure what happened to the color/clarity of the top two geese pictures. They were taken with the (supposedly) better of my two cameras. Maybe it's not the better?

New YardFarm Videos

Posted some new videos demonstrating yard farms at the YardFarms blog. (I especially liked the one titled "Backyard Bonanza" if you only have time to watch one.)

For What It's Worth

Relocate-America.com has published its new list of the best places to live in America. Number one this year is Charlotte, dethroning last year's winner, Asheville, NC (#7 this year). Charlotte was selected out of a list of 2,000 cities that were nominated. Another news article a few weeks ago ranked Charlotte #1 in the nation for maintaining home values in the midst of the current real estate decline.

Crazy for God

I'm reading Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back by Frank Schaeffer, son of L'Abri (Fr. "the shelter") founders Francis (1912-1984) and Edith (1914 - ) Schaeffer. Though still active today in several locations around the world, the original L'Abri in Switzerland reached its zenith in the 'Sixties and 'Seventies (founded in 1955) as a study center where spiritual seekers came from around the world in search of God and truth. Francis Schaeffer was a philosopher-theologian-apologist who would patiently listen to the questions of young people and provide answers that were both rational and biblical.

In his book, Frank Schaeffer speaks admiringly of his father's compassion with people (note the comment by Timothy Leary):

"Above all, Dad's sensitivity was disarming. Bishop Pike, the famous self-proclaimed [Episcopal] liberal minister and writer, told me that my father was one of the most compassionate men he ever debated. And after Timothy Leary had several long discussions with Dad, he said, 'If I though your father is typical of other Christians, I'd reconsider my position'" (pp. 78-79).

What an indictment. Here's another:

"My parents were always talking about this or that student who wrote back [to the Schaeffers at L'Abri] saying they couldn't find a 'good church.' Dad warned converts: 'Look for a good church. But I'm afraid you'll have a hard time finding one. There aren't many'" (p. 80).

Cool Tools: Slow Cooker

I researched slow cookers for several weeks before settling on the Versaware Pro made by Rival, the original "crock pot" company.

Though I'm definitely an "eat-as-much-raw-as-you-can" vegan, there are times when heating food, like beans, is required. Plus the "slow" aspect of leaving a soup or stew unattended for a few hours is a great benefit.

I discovered that two-piece slow cookers have this advantage: the interior "crock" comes out of the base and can be used for sautéing on the stove stop. It is then set back in the base, other ingredients are added, and the timer set for the slow cooking process. I could only find two slow cookers with the two-piece advantage. One is an All-Clad model that sells for $249 exclusively at Williams-Sonoma. The other is the one I bought -- the Versaware Pro which I got at Amazon.com for $69.95 (the lowest price I could find; and if you're an Amazon Prime member you get it in two days with free shipping). The All-Clad model is great, of course, All-Clad being a high-end line of kitchen cookware. The only visible advantage I could see when I looked at the All-Clad at Williams-Sonoma is the crock being slightly larger. I couldn't see that being worth an additional $170.

The advantage of the two-piece cooker is not having to sauté in a separate skillet, then transfer those items to the crock at the start of cooking. Sautéing releases the flavor of garlic, onions, peppers, etc., so it helps to cook those over higher heat than the slow cooker will generate. You can then add the rest of the items directly to the sautéed items without losing any flavor in a separate skillet.

Here's the Versaware Pro cooker:



The controls are simple: Low, High, and Warm temp controls. The timer can be set for up to 20+ hours. The digital display counts down so you always know how much time remains. When it gets to zero the temp automatically shifts to Warm for four hours before shutting off.



I had some guys over for supper last night and use the Versaware cooker in the following manner:

I sautéed garlic, green onions, eggplant, and tempeh in the crock directly over a low-medium gas flame. The cooker comes with a small heat diffuser to use with electric ranges which lifts the cooker about an inch above the electric range eye.





I had cooked pasta in a separate pot, and when the sautéing was finished added the pasta, pesto, tomatoes, and broccoli (picture taken before tomatoes and broccoli were added) directly to the still-warm crock, mixed everything, put the crock into the base of the cooker, and set the cooker to Warm just to keep everything warm until it was time to serve. Worked great! Four guys almost emptied the crock (after already having big salads), so I gathered it tasted okay, too. :-) We finished off with (vegan) strawberry cream parfaits, which I'm going to post pictures of soon. Some kinda good.



I've only used this cooker one other time so far, to slow-cook bean soup for freezing in containers in the freezer. Worked fine for that application. I gave my daughter-in-law, Jen, one of these for her birthday and plan to compare notes with her on how she likes it. I recommend you read the reviews at Amazon (it gets 4 of 5 stars from 40+ reviews) and see what you think. For me, it seems like a good purchase.

Encouraging Trend

This post should really go on my nascent YardFarms blog, but since I don't have the nuts and bolts of that blog worked out, I'll put it here -- it needs to be read:

Rob Johnston is the founder and chairman of (the employee-owned) Johnny's Selected Seeds in Winslow, Maine, and is one of the patriarchs of the organic/sustainable farming movement. Here is an excerpt from his latest email update -- a folksy, newsy epistle he sends out regularly. Rather than explain why I'm posting it I'll put the salient points in bold, red type. Attention scribes: There's even a chance to win a few dollars in a small gardening-related writing contest Rob is announcing, so sharpen your quills!

Vegetable Gardening Like It's the 1970's Again

1973 was a favorable time for me to start a seed company. The back-to-the-land movement was well under way in the US late in 1973 when the Arab Oil Embargo resulted in rapidly escalating gasoline prices and shortages. Americans adopted a kind of vocational motivation to plant a food-producing garden, a combination of cultural and economic security interests. "Maybe I'm going to have to know how to do this someday."

Coincidental with Reagan administration, the back-to-the-office movement began about 1981 and was well established by 1982. A decline in home vegetable gardening began then, and it continued through the 1990s. During the 2000s it hasn't seemed to be declining, but it hasn't been growing either. Through those 2 ½ decades our business with commercial growers grew to the lion's share of our total. But then last year we experienced a very small, but we thought real, turnaround in our home garden business, enough to make us think, Hey, maybe something is changing.

We had enough optimism from 2007 to plan for a modest growth in HG for 2008. Instead the HG volume so far this year has been substantially above last year. Other seed companies are doing well, too. Vegetables and tools and equipment are the biggest movers, suggesting that this is about growing food. It's also happening in Europe. I don't know yet about other places.

People have been asking me, How come? I think it's a convergence of a number of things including a strong interest in more local supply of food. For as long as I know we have been set on making the world a smaller place, but now - and it's a healing urge - many of us would rather make it become a bigger place again.

The increase in home vegetable gardening is being well publicized this spring, and normally the reason given is economic, like high gasoline prices and sticker shock at the supermarket. I think that these economics are a factor, but not the main factor. Home vegetable gardening was in decline or was static in the US, and I think in the whole "first world," throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and 2000s up through 2006. During those 25 years there were several bad periods economically, but there was no vegetable gardening increase in response to any of them. I think that the main motivation is quality of life, and a regaining of meaningful culture.

A small contest. In 500 words or less, where do you see this increase in home vegetable gardening going? Why? If we find your answer to be the most helpful or enlightening of all that we receive by May 16, we'll give you a credit for $200 that you can spend this year or next. Second place $100. Third place $50. Email me. I'll publish the winners next month. Thanks.

(Don't) Hold the Phone

From the April 2008 issue of Acres U.S.A. magazine, 79: (n.b.* -- The Cleveland Clinic is ranked right up there with Mayo, Johns Hopkins, and other leading medical instiutions.)

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic, after studying 361 men, found that the more hours the men spent on their cell phones, the lower their sperm count and the greater their percentage of abnormal sperm. Although no direct correlation is yet confirmed, the study does add to the concern about the effect of electromagnetic energy on body tissue, especially on DNA. The clinic is now planning to assess a larger group of men, adding other factors into the equation, such as lifestyle and occupational habits.

Sporadic reports on the deleterious effects of cell phones have surfaced in recent years. I'm taking them in the "where there's smoke, there's fire" sense. I don't have a cell phone, but if/when I do succumb and get one I'll probably also apply one of the devices that are now offered that supposedly help negate some of the electromagnetic effects. (Note: I'm not recommending the device in the previous link. I only cite it as an example of the activity taking place in this arena.) At my age, it's not sperm count I'm trying to protect, but overall negative effects in general. (This also goes for computer monitors, in front of which I spend lots of hours daily, as well as televisions and other electromagnetic devices.)

Modern societies (humanity in general) are taking the "if it's possible, it's good" approach to technology. The apostle Paul suggested a different view centuries ago: “'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is constructive" (1 Corinthians 10:23). There are lots of things in life, like cell phones, that are possible -- but not all of them may be beneficial, constructive, or healthful. Time will tell.

*n.b. Abbreviation for Latin nota bene -- "Used to direct attention to something particularly important." (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed.) Let's keep learning!

Why Great Writing Matters

Here's the opening line in the Introduction to Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto:

"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

That is the most succinct summary of intelligence about eating I've ever read (even if I don't agree 100 percent -- see below):

Eat food instead of the chemical products in grocery stores masquerading as food.
Not too much refers to the accepted wisdom that reducing caloric intake is the single simplest strategy for longevity.
Mostly plants is support for the gaining-ground idea that a plant-based lifestyle is best. I would substitute "all" for "mostly." But Michael Pollan is moving in the right direction. This latest book of his offers more support for a plant-based lifestyle than either of his two previous books about food.

It's refreshing and encouraging to see wise words chosen so carefully.

Refrigerator Research Update

Haven't had/taken time to research Priscilla's comment/suggestion about adding more crisper bins to my existing 'fridge. "Anonymous" left a comment (and link) this morning suggesting a particular Sub-Zero model (Pro 48). Thanks, Anonymous! A quick look at that model makes it hard to tell exactly how many of the two non-freezer bins at the bottom are crispers. Of the four large bins, two are freezers -- and not sure about the other two, though at least one, and probably both, is no-doubt temp/humidity controlled. Visually speaking, this model follows the traditional layout which provides far more freezer space, at the expense of crisper space, than a raw-food vegetarian would need. But I'm going to look more closely. Thanks again for the lead! (Tried to download a 3-D file on the unit hoping for more detail and it is, alas, Windoze-only. How can a company like Sub-zero exclude the part of the buying public that uses Macs?!)

Unfortunately, Sub-Zero appliances are beyond the price range of most consumers. They're great products, but prohibitively expensive for most. I'm just looking for a basic consumer-grade appliance that is affordable and provides more fruit/veggie storage space. But thanks for the input so far. I'll report back (hopefully tonight/tomorrow) on what I find out from my Maytag owner's guide.

Weekend Visitors

Received nice visits from Daniel (and fam) and David this weekend. Dave (lives in Philadelphia) called late Friday afternoon while en route to Charlotte for Mother's Day and spent the night at my house Friday night. He was on his way Saturday morning but we had a good visit. Alas, even though he and I talked extensively about blogs and documenting our movements with digital cameras, neither he nor I pulled out our cameras to take pictures. So once again Dave comes and goes without me getting a snap.

Monday 5-12-8 update! Jen to the rescue -- she sent me one of her pix that has David in it. Thanks, Jen!



Daniel, Jennifer, Ellen, and Arianna came up from Columbia, SC, to see Dave while he was in town and came by before heading back to Columbia. Did manage to get a few snaps while they were at the house.

We went through a bunch of packs of seeds I had saved that they might use for their garden -- including some seeds from trees/fruit trees that I had saved from the house I grew up in in Alabama. I gathered those seeds as we were getting the house ready to sell after my mother passed away. This picture taken by ARIANNA!



Two more pictures of the seed-sorting process (note the clover necklaces on mom and the girls -- clover flowers aplenty from Granddaddy's yard that desperately needed mowing):





Then Dave Matthews came by to play a couple of hits on my 1969 Martin D-18. (He wasn't just posing; actually playing!)





Then a couple of members of the 2020 United States Olympic Scooter Team gave us a little demo:

Thanks, Dave and Marilyn!

For the last 7-8 years on Sunday mornings, I have gone to the church of which I am a member and sat by myself during the worship service. But today, something different happened. Walking into church from the parking lot I met my friend, Dave Frucella, who is in the small group of guys I meet with twice a month. He said, "Come sit with Marilyn and me." So I did -- and to top it off, they invited me out to lunch afterwards!

To the best of my memory, this is the first time I've sat with friends at church during the 7-8 years I've been attending. (Okay, for argument's sake, let's assume it's happened once or twice before that I don't remember.) It's been a strange journey. Granted, it's a large church and not that easy to make friends, especially when you're single and my age. But I've been surprised after eight years that I can count on one hand the people there that I know.

We had a great lunch (their treat -- thanks again!) -- lots of talk about health, food, organic gardening (Dave and Marilyn have been organic gardeners before), and the state of the world. Forgot to grab my camera on the way out the door this morning so don't have a picture to share of the lovely Dave and Marilyn. But I'm very grateful for their friendly hospitality. It seemed awfully Christian of them. :-)

And Yes, I Still Love You

There will be many meaningful words about mothers spoken and posted around the Western world today and, for the record, I concur with them all. To provide a moment of relief from all the deep and serious reflections about Moms both present and departed, I offer this note posted by a mother on the outside of the bathroom door -- her effort to secure for herself a few moments of peace and quiet:

Dear Child,

The bathroom door is closed!

Please do not stand here and talk, whine, or ask questions.

Wait until I get out.

Yes, it is locked. I want it that way. It is not broken and I am not trapped.
I know I have left it unlocked, and even open at times, since you were born, because I was afraid some horrible tragedy might occur while I was in here, but it's been ten years and I want some PRIVACY.

Do not ask me how long I will be. I will come out when I am done.

Do not bring the phone to the bathroom door.

Do not go running back to the phone yelling, "She's on the toilet!"

Do not stick your little fingers under the door and wiggle them. This was funny when you were two.

Do not slide pennies, Legos, or notes under the door.

If you have followed me down the hall talking, and are still talking as you face this closed door, please turn around, walk away, and wait for me in another room. I will be glad to listen to you when I am done.

And yes, I still love you,

Mom

(From A Barrel of Fun by J. John Stibbe and Mark Stibbe. Grand Rapids, MI: Monarch Books, 2003. P. 146)