Tinkering in the kitchen

Steering my life back into the slow lane has given me the opportunity to get back in the kitchen for some play time. I first learned how to bake bread a year ago, after a lifetime of assuming it was too gosh darn difficult for me to figure out, let alone ever master. Let me tell you, never think you can't do something just because you've never tried. 

Within months, I was making some of the tastiest whole wheat bread loaves around, soft and light, just like sandwich bread should be. In fact, my brother was reluctant to believe that I didn't just buy it from the store. The loaves are actually that pretty. But with the craziness of my life over the last few months, as I've been heavily involved in the community, bread baking has been one of the things that fell off the radar. Sure, I was still making all our bread from scratch, but I wasn't trying anything new. 

So when my body finally put a halt to my hectic pace, I knew it was time to get back into the kitchen. There's almost nothing as relaxing and rewarding as making your own breads. So, empowered by past successes, I decided to give a few commercial favorites a shot...

Whole Wheat Crackers - I love nibbling on crackers. Doesn't everyone? But the packaging always leaves me feeling guilty. I hate waste. Can making your own crackers really be that difficult?

Let's see:

• 1 c. whole wheat flour
  
• 1 tsp salt
  
• 6 tbs water
  
• 4 tbs oil
  
• 1 tbs honey

Mix everything together in a bowl and knead for about 3 minutes. Roll it into a bowl and allow it to rest for 15-20 minutes, while you preheat the oven to 350. Spray a cookie sheet with oil and place the dough down. Roll it out to about 1/8 inch thick with a rolling pin. Use cookie cutters, a pizza cutter, whatever to cut the dough into your cracker bites (I just ran a pizza cutter through mine leaving in one large mass to bake). Bake the crackers for 10 minutes. Then turn the cookie sheet 180 degrees and bake for another 10 minutes or until the crackers start to brown. Allow them to cool on the cookie sheet and store in an airtight container. Yum! Feeling creative? Throw in some fresh herbs or try different flours.

My first attempt at wheat crackers was successful, but they didn't have that crunch that you expect out of a cracker. For the subsequent batches, however (and there have been a few of them), I left them in the oven just a little bit longer and they were perfect! Geez! Crackers are the easiest things ever and they taste GREAT when they're homemade! 

Whole Wheat Tortillas - Inspired by one of the bread bakers at the farmers' market (who makes GREAT whole wheat tortillas), I was determined to try tortillas myself. I mean, you can do anything with tortillas, right? Dave could have one with egg and salsa. I could have beans, rice, and sauteed veggies. The possibilities are endless. 

I found a quick and easy recipe on-line and decided to give it a shot. Not having made them before, I followed the recipe to the letter. Making a dough for the first time is tricky, as experience has taught me. Until you know what the dough is supposed to feel like, you never know how the end product will result. The dough felt really dry to me, but what do I know, right? 

I divided out the dough into four balls and let them rest for about 20 minutes before I rolled them out with a rolling pin. It was at the rolling stage that I realized just how helpful it must be to have a tortilla press. Let's just say, mine were not the shapeliest of tortillas. But it's the taste that matters, right?

Well, I suppose it's time to confess. The first two batches of tortillas tasted fabulous, BUT they were hard and I had an awful time rolling anything inside because they would break. They just didn't have that wonderful pliability that you expect with a good tortilla. 

That's when I called in reinforcements - Enter Chile (of Chile Chews) and Rebecca (my tortilla vendor friend at the farmers' market). Both were eager to help and had great ideas on ways I could tinker with ingredients and technique. Having talked to them, I plotted my next tortilla move...

Would you believe the third time (with some help from my tortilla gurus) was the charm? That third batch of tortillas were PERFECT. I'm not kidding - absolutely perfect! 

So allow me to share, my totally awesome, super yummy, whole wheat tortilla recipe:

• 1 c. whole wheat flour
  
• 1 tsp salt
  
• 1/3 cup water (maybe just a touch more, you have to get a feel for it, but it should be workable dough consistency)
  
• vegetable oil
  

Mix the whole wheat flour and salt together, then add the water. Mix it first with a spoon or spatula until it forms a ball in your bowl. Remove the dough from the bowl and knead for a few minutes, adding a touch of water to soften the dough if needed. 

Split the dough into 4 balls, cover with a towel, and set aside for 30 minutes. 

After the dough has rested, pour a little vegetable oil in your hand and roll the dough around to coat the exterior. Then put it down on a rolling mat, sprinkle with flour so it doesn't stick to your pin, and roll out the tortilla very thin. Repeat these steps for each of the four balls.

Heat a griddle or frying pan (I used a cast iron griddle) and place your tortillas down (I can fit 2 at a time on mine). When you see the dough bubble up from underneath, it's time to flip it and brown the other side.

When the tortillas are done, place them in a clean towel and cover while you cook the other tortillas. This keeps the steamy heat in and keeps them soft. Serve and enjoy!

These are wonderfully easy and delicious! I pop mine in the fridge and have been taking one out for breakfast in the morning along side some fresh fruit. For breakfast, you can roll your tortilla with eggs and salsa, eat them plain (like me most of the time) or for a special treat, try a smear of peanut butter and jelly. Of course, for other meals there's beans, rice, avocado, tomatoes, sauteed onions and peppers, salsa... Be creative. It's all good!

-----------

Of course that's just my most recent efforts to tinker around the kitchen with baking. Last year, I also taught myself to make bagels, challah, yogurt sandwich rolls, french bread, and (of course), my whole wheat sandwich bread and rolls. What's next? Well, you'll just have to stick around and find out.

CommUnity Conversations - TAMU Department of Multicultural Services

I'm taking SGF back out into the community next week. The Texas A&M University Department of Multicultural Services has asked me to speak at their April 6th CommUnity Conversation Luncheon about my locavore adventures (11:30-1:00 in MSC 027).

Faculty, staff, and students of the university are welcome to attend. There is no cost, but you must RSVP so that enough food is available for lunch. Hope to see some of you there!

For more information on the Department of Multicultural Services or about other Community Conversation talks, check out their website.

Local diet update - March 30, 2009

Ok. We have been seriously busy on the local food front here. We still have broccoli, potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms in the produce drawer of the fridge. Then, as you can see in the photo, I did some major harvesting from my garden over the last few days: that's a cabbage head and the surrounding leaves at the top of the picture, the remains of my broccoli plant (including some florets) in the middle, and a big stack of hearty green onions towards the bottom. The bugs were after my last cabbage and the other plants were starting to flower, so it was definitely time to harvest. Now, it's time to eat!

Then, my dad stopped by with some goodies from a produce market south of town. Not all of it is local, but he said the watermelon is from Texas. It all eats the same, local or not, so I'll be sure to enjoy this generous gift. That's a spaghetti squash (my dad knows what I like!), 5 summer squash, an acorn squash, and a behemoth of a watermelon. It all sounds mighty tasty right about now...

Then, of course, was my weekly trip to the farmers' market. Saturday brought a bit of a cold front (it was over 80 degrees the other day, Saturday morning it was 36!), but we were prepared and the market turned out beautifully. The usual suspects (both vendors and goodies) were there, tables bursting forth with an amazing harvest. This week, between 18 vendors, you could find:  

Peppers, tomatoes, carrots, red onions, yellow onions, green onions, cabbage, red potatoes, white potatoes, broccoli, lettuce, beet greens, collard greens, celery, mustard greens, herbs, radishes, turnips, chives, honey, strawberries, dried apples, pickles, locally roasted coffees, locally roasted peanuts, homemade egg noodles, olive oil, a variety of baked goods: tortillas, yeast breads, sweet breads, cookies, and pies, a variety of salsas, jams and jellies, dry mixes, decorative and vegetable plants, and a wonderful variety of beautiful crafts.

With so much already at home, I kept my list short. I picked up some mint for tea, some whole wheat flour, 2 dozen eggs, honey, 2 small apple pastries, and two humongous bag of bagel bites (the bagel bites and eggs will be turned into a couple dishes for a locavore event later this week). Of course, none of this even touches on the many jars of homemade, local jam in the cabinet, or the all-local homemade, soups and stewed tomatoes lining the pantry shelves. 

We are just swimming in local, here in Bryan, TX and it's never tasted better! Be sure to check into farmers' markets, CSAs, and family farms in your neck of the woods to find out where the freshest, healthiest, tastiest produce can be found. When in doubt, check Local Harvest, and discover the wonderful world of local food. 

Have a great week, everyone. And, as always, Happy (and mindful) eating! Now, what to eat first...

Vegan Adventures - "The Economical Vegan"

For those of you who are following my vegan adventures, check out my new guest post at McDougalling with Chile and Friends. 

Happy (and mindful) eating!

One last cold snap

The farmers' have been telling us for weeks, "There will be one last cold snap right after we get everything planted." In other words, go ahead and plant on schedule, but be prepared to cover everything up in the event of a frost. And if there's anybody I trust at this point, it's a farmer. As foretold, now that my tomato plants are in, and my green beans plants and spaghetti squash have broken the soil line, both Friday and Saturday nights were scheduled to bring us 40 degree weather (or below). Well, shucks!

So Friday afternoon, after the last of the storm clouds had passed, I trudged outside into a very muddy back yard dragging  just about everything I could come up with to cover a plant. A friend told me milk jugs or even newspaper worked great. I ended up with garbage bags, a tarp, a rubbermaid tub, and some empty pots. Beautiful, right? At this point, all I care about is that it works!

Considering all the plants did just fine last time (right after I put the first four tomato plants in we had a full week of 30 and 40 degree weather), I'm hoping they'll do well again this time for a much shorter cold period (it should be warm again by Sunday). 

So here's the deal - I'm new to this whole gardening thing. What are your secrets to protecting your crops from a potential frost?

When every day is a vacation

Early last week, Chile (of Chile Chews) wrote a thought provoking post about how we as individuals in the green/sustainability movement are preparing for the future. A discussion soon followed of not only the changes we've been making in our own lives, but also of the pessimism that can consume us in light of the reality of a finite planet (definitely worth checking out). One particular comment caught my attention. Fellow blogger Organic Needle explained that her family was increasing their travel because of the many opportunities for personal growth and experience that it offers, despite cutting back on just about everything else. 

A world traveller myself, I completely agree with the invaluable experience we can gain by traveling. Having travelled both in Europe on many occasions and once in China, I'm a different, more compassionate person as a result and I hope that every one of us have that opportunity to see the world through the eyes of another culture. 

What struck me, however, is the realization that I no longer feel the travel bug. In my 20's, I travelled to Europe at least twice a year, spending more than a month out of every 12 immersed in a different culture from my own. Now in my mid 30's, somehow the call is no longer there. 

I suppose it could be the decline in my health that has me low on energy and not quite up to the task, but if that were the case, the dreams of travel would still be there, though I might not be able to realize those dreams. 

I truly believe that I have reached a time in my life where every day is a vacation, though I hadn't realized it until I read the comments on Chile's post. In other words, I don't need to leave home, I don't need to escape to find peace and rest, I find it already in each and every day. 

Granted, it took a long time (and a chronic illness) to get to this point, but I can honestly say that my daily life is the best I could imagine for myself. Each morning, I wake up and steep fresh herbs for a cup of hot tea. I lazily ride my bike around town in an effort to take care of our household errands. I pick up around the house, keeping things tidy. I tinker in my garden preparing a future harvest, then pick a few goodies for the day's lunch. Afternoons are dedicated to working on my projects, whether it be the Brazos Locavores, the Friends of the Farmers' Market, or writing blog posts; soon followed by a relaxing walk, time for meditation, and diving into the pages of my latest mystery novel. As the sun goes down and Dave returns home from work, we snuggle on the couch, talk, and maybe watch a TV show on the laptop before falling into a cozy bed for a nice long, restful sleep. 

Perhaps my expectations are low. I don't crave paid employment, validation from a boss, a large house or fancy furniture. I don't want new clothes or jewelry; nor to change the color of my hair or hide the lines around my eyes. I already have more than I could ever want or need, save a few odds and ends for my little garden. 

I wonder. Does it get any better than this - to be content, to find happiness in what I already possess? To want for nothing. To need for nothing. Can life be any sweeter when every day is a new adventure, a sanctuary from a world that passes me by in the hectic rush towards the next destination? I wave as they pass, wish them luck, and smile knowing there's nowhere I'd rather be than where I already am.

Market to Table - March 26, 2009

I was well into this week before I realized that I hadn't been taking pictures of any of my meals. Oops! Thankfully, I recognized this in enough time to get a couple pictures taken. It has definitely been a tasty week so far...

Stir-Fry - With so many different veggies in the fridge, my lunch stir fries has been out of this world - full of color and flavor! As always, they start out with a hungry belly and an open mind - I just start yanking goodies out of the drawer: a little spinach, some mushrooms, a carrot, cabbage, broccoli, maybe some of that basil in the garden, oh, and that onion there looks good...

Next think I know, everything has been washed, chopped, and dumped in a frying pan ready for me to work my magic: a drizzle of olive oil, some medium heat, and a dash of salt. Uh, huh. Looking good! Next, let's add some of that cooked rice in the fridge. Yep. That does the trick... And within 15 minutes, we're ready to eat!

A friend said to me recently that she looked at my photos and "recipes" (if you can call them that) week after week and thought "it just can't be that easy." I'm telling you... it's that easy. If it wasn't, would my lazy butt be eating it day after day? Yeah, that would be a no. So no more drooling. Ok, fine. You can drool. But you can make these stir-fries yourself. Easy, cheesy (ok, no cheese for me, but you get the picture). 

Just start grabbing stuff out of the fridge (anything that sounds good), chop, dump, and saute those veggies until they are nice and soft. Then dig in, post the photos on your blog, and make the rest of the world drool. 

Strawberries and Whole Wheat Crackers - Right. That doesn't even sound appetizing, does it? I'm not exactly a big breakfast eater, but I have to eat or I start doing strange things like getting dizzy, collapsing in parking lots (or wherever I happen to be at the moment)... blood sugar is a funny thing and it's not pretty. So lest I receive a wag of the finger from any one of my many loved ones, I buckle down and make myself eat something. 

For the last few week's that's meant some of the most amazingly sweet berries from a pick-your-own just south of town. I had the foresight enough (and the room on my credit card) to buy enough berries to last until my next trip to the berry farm, so I've been nibbling on these juicy tidbits for weeks. Yum!

Then last week, out of nowhere, I decided I was going to start making my own crackers. What makes me think of these things, I have no idea. But I was set on making my own. Talk about easy (a post on this soon, I promise). 

So every morning, I've eat a cup of beautiful, red berries, and a few crackers - just a little something to get me through until lunch. It may not look like much. Hey, it may even sound a little weird. But it's seriously good eating!

*****

Other stir-fries this week featured chard, green onions from my garden, and lettuce in addition to the other veggies I included in my stir fry above. Never be afraid to throw something in and give it a try. No, it doesn't always work out (it turns out you don't want to eat bay leaves, they are just for flavoring - you can trust me on that one), but more times than not, you'll be rewarded with great food, a photo to drool over, and a very happy tummy.

Have a great day, everyone. And as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

Voluntary Simplicity

Yesterday, I led a break-out session at the 2009 Women's Leadership Forum at Texas A&M.  I had agreed to do it earlier this year; I sent in my title and a blurb about myself; and I sat back and waited for the email saying no one had signed up for my session and it was being cancelled. I guess I'm not quite used to the fact that people actually want to hear what I have to say, because I was shocked when what came was an email saying that I was the second most popular of the four break-out sessions. Really?

So there I was, dressed up as nicely a simple girl like me gets (kakis and a blouse I've never ironed in the 10 years I've had it) in front of an audience that had filled just about every seat in the room. The topic? Voluntary Simplicity.

I won't go into the entire 60 minute talk, but I wanted to hit the highlights.

What is voluntary simplicity?

At least part of this is obvious, right? The life I live is "voluntary." It's a choice. I don't do it because I HAVE to; I do it because I WANT to.

It's the simplicity part that can be misunderstood. Choosing a life of "Voluntary Simplicity" doesn't mean I reject technology or progress. It's not about being poor and denying myself the luxuries that make life worth living. I don't live in a cave and forage for food. In fact, let me say quite emphatically that I HAVEN'T GIVEN ANYTHING UP THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME. Let me say that again: I haven't given anything up that was important to me. 

And that's why I prefer to call the movement "Living Deliberately." Because what Voluntary Simplicity is about is stepping back from the life the world expects of us and doing things because we WANT to do them; not because it's expected of us. It's believing that more is not better; it's simply more. It's about a lighter, less burdensome, effortless life. It's about getting rid of the million and one things that distract us from what makes us truly happy. It's about focus; zeroing in on what is most important in life.

Where do I sign up?

Why don't more people do this? It sounds like the perfect life, right? I truly believe that most people don't live a simple or deliberate life because they've never slowed down long enough to think about what it is they really want out of life. The world has us moving at such a fast pace, who has the time? 

That's why you start your journey of voluntary simplicity by stopping. That's right. You start by stopping. You get out of the flow of traffic so you can identify the big picture. Eleven years ago, when I first started my journey (like all Type A personalities), I made a chart. Literally, I sat down with a pen and a piece of paper and made a chart. The things I enjoyed doing on the left and the things I hated doing on the right. The key is figuring out how to do more of the things I enjoy and less of the things I don't.

This is where the decision making begins.One of the things I hated was cooking (keep in mind this is 11 years ago and my whole family is laughing at me now that I bake my own bread and can my own soups). But at the time, I hated cooking strictly for the fact that it was a "womanly" thing to do and it made me angry that it was expected of me. So I figured out how to eat without actually having to cook - at one point I ate "out" three times a day. I'd order a foot-long sub from Subway (I had limited expenses also, so it had to be cheap) and I'd eat half of it for lunch and the other half for breakfast the next morning. For dinners, I went out with friends and would have a side salad and chow down on the free bread. I kept fruit in the fridge to nibble on and I was good to go.

I also hated driving. So the next time I had a chance to move, I chose a place where I could walk just about anywhere I needed to go (work, post office, bank, grocery, etc). When my car was totaled in a car accident on the one day every couple months I actually drove it, I didn't replace it. Everyone thought I was nuts, but I didn't need it. 

Not needing a car also helped with my reducing my working hours (another thing I disliked). I'd never had a job that fulfilled me as a person. It just paid the bills. So I reduced the bills (including no longer owning a car, eating inexpensive meals, walking everywhere I went instead of joining a gym, getting books and movies from the library instead of buying them, canceling the cable - anything that didn't contribute to that first column of things that made me happy) so I could reduce the amount I had to work. Just before my 30th birthday, I was able to reduce my working hours to only 20 hours a week. That's just 4 hours a day (only 5 days a week) leaving me the other 20 hours a day to do anything I wanted.

An Unending Journey

Today, 11 years later, I don't have paid employment at all. I ended up quitting my job for health reasons. But despite the downturn in the economy and because of all the work I've done over these 11 years to simplify my life so that I could focus on the things that make me happy, I don't HAVE to work. Instead, I'm doing exactly what I love - volunteering in my community, growing a vegetable garden, reading mystery novels, talking long walks, enjoying a hot cup of tea, and snuggling into the arms of my loved ones. That is what matters most in life - to me. 

For you? Well, you have to figure that out on your own. Remember to STOP - get out of the flow of traffic so you can see the big picture. Write down the things you enjoy as well as the things you don't enjoy. Then live deliberately. Make mindful choices in your everyday life that increase the time you spend with the things you enjoy and decrease the time you spend doing the things you don't. 

Most important to remember is that though we continue to work toward goals of a simpler life in the future, happiness is experienced right now; in the moment you slow down and start living deliberately. It's no so much about the light at the end of the tunnel, because the journey doesn't ever end; it just gets better as we grow.

For me, canceling the cable, giving up my job, walking/biking instead of driving... all these things weren't really given up because I didn't enjoy them in the first place. Perhaps you do. The simple life will be different for each of us. Don't do what I do because it worked for me. Discover your own path. Figure out what makes you happy, then make it happen. Before long, you won't be able to imagine life any other way, because you'll begin to see the world a little differently. You'll begin to experience the things that you missed in all these years of rushing from point A to point B - a child's laugh, the brilliant blue of a morning sky, the joy in a loved one's face... When we live simply, deliberately, we open ourselves to discover all the world has to offer us, letting every single day be the beautiful adventure that it was meant to be. 

A special thank you for those of you who came to my talk yesterday! Welcome to Simple-Green-Frugal. May every day be your very own beautiful adventure...

P.S. At the end of my talk, I offered to host one of the Northwest Earth Institute's Discussion Courses on Voluntary Simplicity. To host a course, I need at least 8 people interested. If you're local to the Bryan-College Station area, and would like to join a group to explore more about Voluntary Simplicity, please let me know. They have many more wonderful courses we could explore in the future as well. Discussion guides are $20. I hope you'll join me!

DIY

Anyone who has ever been on a diet, whether it be for general health or weight loss, knows that one of the greatest obstacles is label reading. It's ridiculous, isn't it? Truly, those center isles in your grocery store are a nightmare to say the least. Are you sure you know what's in your salad dressing, your ketchup, the loaf of bread on the counter, or the canned soup in your cupboard? Do you even know what some of those ingredients are, let alone if they mesh with your health goals?

But there is an easy and rewarding way to get past all this label reading - DIY. That's right do-it-yourself. Now, keep in mind this is coming from someone who, up until a couple years ago, was offended by the assumption that I had to cook just because I was a woman and refused to participate in such an outdated concept (needless to say, my family gets a good laugh out of it now). 

To be perfectly honest, I was amazed at not only how wonderful doing-it-yourself can taste, but how rewarding, fulfilling, and down right easy it can be as well. If you told me a few years ago that today I'd be baking my own bread, canning my own tomatoes, making soup from scratch, could make my own butter and yogurt (not that I eat it these days, but I can do it), and most recently, would be growing my own food; I'd have laughed at you then given you a verbal tongue lashing! How dare you!

Yet here I am, doing it myself. No more label reading. No more wondering what cancer causing additive the FDA let slip through THIS time. Nope, I know exactly what's in my food, because I made it myself. 

Now, I know some of you are saying, "Yeah, right, Heather. I could never do that" (whatever THAT is). But in fact, you'd be surprised. Look through the archives of some of your favorite blogs. Most of us started out not knowing how to do any of these things either and trust me, if I can do it, ANYONE can do it. Before long, you'll be wondering why you waited so long to try. 

So quit inspecting those ingredient lists, get out of those center isles in your grocery store, and head for the produce section. Better yet, visit your local farmers' market or hook up with a CSA for fresher, healthier, tastier veggies. Then become a do-it-yourselfer - it'll be tastier; it'll be better for you; and you'll discover the immense satisfaction and confidence that only a DIY'er can know.

For those readers who still aren't convinced, let's gets some comments posted here about the things you DIY'ers thought you could never do and what you're planning on trying next. Come on. Share the love...

News for you iPhone lovers

A fellow locavore just brought to my attention a new application for the iPhone: Locavores. That’s right, there’s a new application for the iPhone that will help you in your quest to be a locavore. Sweet!

I don’t have an iPhone myself, so you iPhone lovers will have to report back and let me know how you like the application, which uses Local Harvest as a resource to discover markets near you, what’s in season (and for how much longer) in your neck of the woods, and what you can expect in the coming months.

For more information, check out a review of the app here.

Go local!

Local diet update - March 23, 2009

Saturday was an absolutely perfect day to be at the farmers' market. With the beautiful weather came the crowds. Seventeen very busy vendors tended to a steady stream of hungry customers with a beautiful March harvest including:

Broccoli, spinach, carrots, cabbage, green onions, red onions, yellow onions, red potatoes, white potatoes, collards, lettuce, swiss chard, kohlrabi, tomatoes, strawberries, dried fruits, eggs, locally roasted coffees, a variety of vegetable and herb plants ready for your home garden, turnips, jams and jellies, a variety of salsas, canned okra, pickles, yeast breads, corn bread, sweet breads, pies, decorative plants, herbs, locally roasted peanuts, whole wheat flour, cornbread mix, cornmeal, olive oil, and lots of craft items. What a list!

Despite the cabbage and onion waiting to be picked in the garden and a pantry full of home-canned, local tomatoes and soups, I couldn't resist the beautiful array of fresh fruits and veggies that call for me to be taken home. This week, I came home with a beautiful variety of greens (spinach, chard, and lettuce), as well as red onions, yellow onions, red potatoes, white potatoes, broccoli (2 bags full of clippings and a large head), carrots, and mint.

Here we are, almost April, coming up on spring and summer harvest. Gone will be the cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower; opening up spots on vendor tables for green beans, cucumbers, and squash. You know, eating locally is truly a beautiful lesson in nature. A lesson that tastes pretty darn fabulous. So, who's gonna help me eat all this?

Have a great week, everyone! And, as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

International Vegetarian Soul Food (IVS)

Between my work with the Brazos Locavores, the local farmers' market, and reaching people through this blog, I'm repeatedly asked if I've connected with different farms in the area. Often, I can say that yes, I've heard of the farm, sometimes having visited it personally. It's always exciting though, when I find out about farms that I haven't heard of before - especially when I hear their strong and vibrant. 

IVS (International Vegetarian Soul Food) was one of those farms. Serving the community as a whole, I actually first heard about IVS through an international PhD student at Texas A&M who came to me for help with her research project on tourism and marketing of small organic farms. It turns out, IVS is a big hit among the international students at TAMU who come here from around the world and find our supermarket fare less than thrilling.

Although I hope to meet owners Lavell and Andrea in person, our crazy schedules have thus far kept us from this pleasure. In the meantime, I wanted to get the word out to all you locals on another great food resource here in the Brazos Valley. Here's an email interview I did with Lavell and Andrea earlier this month:

SGF: Tell me a little about the history of your farm?

IVS: We've been growing organic vegetables for over 15 years. Andrea grew vegetables on fruit farms in Northern Michigan. Lavell started growing vegetables as a child with his grandfather in the Washington DC area. Before moving to this area, we both worked on community based food and garden projects. Our gardening in Texas started the moment we moved here and we've been successful in producing healthy organically grown veggies here for four years.

SGF: Is IVS a CSA? Are you customers exclusively from the university community?

IVS: No, we use an on-line ordering system, selling to restaurants and individuals. We have an equal number of University and non-affiliated University community members.

SGF: What products do you sell and how can they be ordered?

IVS: [We produce] organically grown seasonal produce and healthy prepared meals. [They can be ordered] online through a weekly email.

SGF: Tell me more about the healthy prepared meals.

IVS: I started offering prepared vegetarian meals and a catering service a year ago. Our ever changing menu is based on the seasonal allowances from the farm. We sell meals to families as a private chef service and cater lunches, parties, and full formal dinners, all based on the vegetables we grow.

SGF: What restaurants include your local foods in their menu?

IVS: Maddens, The Village Cafe, Sbissa Dining Hall at TAMU, Marimont Country Club, and Southern Comfort Cafe.

SGF: How can interested individuals get in touch with you?

IVS: Folks that are interested in ordering veggies through us can send us an email and we will add them to the list.

I thought perhaps I'd not had the pleasure of enjoying produce from IVS just yet, but since I eat at the Village Cafe, I'm sure that in fact I have! But looking at those photos... I mean, how can you resist the food? It's gorgeous! 

As you can see, there's yet another great source of fresh, local, organic veggies here in the Brazos Valley. I've added IVS to the BCS Buy it Local post. Be sure to keep an eye on this page as I add new producers all the time. 

In the meantime, for more information about IVS, be sure to email the farm at dragonsfly@verizon.net. I'm off to discover more information about some of those restaurants serving local food. Eating local - it's spreading!

Happy (and mindful) eating!

Simple Living Network

It occurred to me recently, as I was reading the lastest version of my favorite on-line periodical, that many of you might not know about it. 

The Simple Living Network is a must read for anyone pursuing a life of voluntary simplicity (or as I like to call it, "living simply and deliberately"). 

I first started reading their newsletter a few years ago for the fabulous articles and inspiring stories about simplifying life, becoming more frugal, and the pressures of living outside the cultural norm.

The Simple Living Network has a wealth of on-line resources, a wonderful list of books on Voluntary Simplicity, and of course, the bi-monthly newsletter. Check out the March/April 2009 edition for some great tips, inspiring stories, and encouragement for your daily adventure into simple living. 

Market to Table - March 19, 2009

It's been another fabulous week in food! My fridge has been overflowing with veggies, not to mention the ones that need to be picked from my backyard garden, so I had a wide variety of wonderful veggies to choose from. Not pictured or discussed below have been the strawberries I eat just about every morning for breakfast from the pick-your-own farm I visited a few weeks ago. Talk about starting the day off right! As for the rest of my meals? Well, let's just see...

Stir Fry - You know you can't get through a week without a picture of my latest stir-fry concoction, right? This was my favorite stir fry this week, mostly because it was so incredibly colorful! I sauteed yellow onion, carrots, kohlrabi, spinach, and mushrooms (all local) in some olive oil from our farmers' market and just a pinch of salt. Then I tossed in some tomato peels (from when I canned all those stewed tomatoes) and a cup of local rice (RiceSelect). Not only was it a gorgeous dish, it was absolutely delicious! Stir fry has to be the easiest thing ever (otherwise I wouldn't make so much of it), and it ALWAYS tastes divine!

Baked Red Potatoes with Stewed Tomatoes - I had a few red potatoes that have been lurking in the bottom on my veggie drawer just begging to be eaten when I came up with this super easy meal. Fresh in my mind was the stewed tomatoes I'd just canned. I had enough for 14 pint jars plus a little left over for the fridge ready to be eaten. Individually, local red potatoes and my home-canned, local stewed tomatoes are great - together, they were beyond fabulous. I suppose they don't make for a great photo (sorry, this is the best Canon and I could do), but it did make for a warm, hearty meal on a cold, rainy day. And it took all of 5 minutes to nuke those 'taters in the microwave. It doesn't get any easier (or more local) than that!

Chilled Veggie and Wheat Berry Salad - Ok. I totally made this one up, but it was REALLY good! I eyed the boiled wheat berries (grown about 30 miles away in Rosebud TX) in the fridge and decided I wanted to try a little something new. I pulled them out along with a carrot, a small red onion, some broccoli, and the rest of the leftover stewed tomatoes (all from the farmers' market). I chopped all the veggies, mixed them in a bowl with 1 cup of cooked wheat berries then set it aside while I made the dressing. All the dressing consists of is equal parts olive oil (farmers' market) and apple cidar vinegar (not local) with just a dash of salt and pepper. I whipped the dressing together, poured it over top of the salad, and mixed it all together. Voila! A super yummy, totally easy chilled salad with an absolutely fabulous blend of textures (chewy and crunchy) and flavors (dressing and veggies and wheat, oh my)! Chilled veggie and wheat berry salad was a definite winner in my local diet this week!

There were quite a few other stir-fries with both rice and wheat berries; homemade whole wheat toast with homemade peach jam (the peaches were local); and of course, those wonderful plump strawberries. It occurred to me recently just how colorfully vibrant the food I'm eating is, now that I'm eating locally. But how can you not? It's not only beautiful - eating fresh and local means every bite is a delightful medley of flavors sure to engage anyone who loves good food. And don't we all?

Be well. Be mindful. Go local!

Brazos Locavores- April Field Trip Announcement

Be sure to check out the Brazos Locavores site for details on the April field trip announcement. 

We'll be heading out to Kings Orchard in Plantersville, TX where we'll enjoy a picnic under the canopy of the trees, hear a brief history of the orchard, then roam the grounds picking strawberries, flowers, and a variety of spring veggies. 

Don't miss this opportunity. RSVP for the field trip today!

Canning tomatoes in March - Wait, what?

Last month, during a field trip to Millican Produce, our tour guide and local farmers' market vendor Tanya Miller mentioned tossing large quantities of her beautiful green house tomatoes to the chickens because of blemishes barring them from sale at the local grocery stores and farmers' market. Of course, my first thought was canning. But with so much time spent in the green house and field, Tanya had little time to spare for canning, nor did a nearby friend to whom she would normally give the tomatoes. 

I immediately offered my canning services saying that should she again have a bag of imperfect tomatoes, I'd be happy to can them and either pay her for them or give a percentage of the canned tomatoes in return.

Then last week as we were closing up our mid-week farmers' market, Tanya came to my booth with a grocery bag just bursting with tomatoes! I asked if she rather I pay for them or give her a percentage of the jars back. "Neither," she said. "They're all yours!" So, can anyone guess what I've been up to?

Thankfully the next day was a rainy one I was able to spend the day in the kitchen - peeling, coring, cutting, cooking, and canning stewed tomatoes. Fourteen pint jars worth, to be exact! Mmmm, mmm! Aren't they gorgeous?

I had read that you don't have to use a pressure canner when you're canning tomatoes because of the high acidity, but that it creates a better end product. Well, we'll just wait and see because I canned half of them in the water bath and the other in the pressure canner. You can be sure I'll have a post one of these days comparing the two methods. 

In the meantime, some of those peels were saved and added to a stir fry at lunch (there's gotta be some healthy lycopene in there right?) and the remainder rest on my pantry shelf just waiting for a little rice, a pot of soup, or just about anything else my little heart desires. 

Thanks Tanya!

Leaning Tree Farm - A Brazos Locavore Field Trip

The Brazos Locavore field trip to Leaning Tree Farm was a very special treat to those of us who frequent our local farmers' market as owners Lois and Garlin Vaughn offer by far the greatest variety of produce available at the market. And it was a particularly special trip for me because it was the Vaughn's produce that very literally enabled me to eat through my first winter as a locavore. Well, that, and the fact that in my 17 months of being a locavore, Lois and Garlin have become dear friends. So the opportunity to visit the farm and share the experience with my fellow locavores was a delight. 

Long before it was known as Leaning Tree Farm, the land, situated just south of Bryan-College Station, was first purchased by Garlin's father in 1938. The Vaughns inherited the land later and made it their home and the truly amazing farm it is today with year-round vegetables gardens and a beautiful orchard blooming in preparation for peaches, pears, plums, grapes, and berries later this year. 

As we walked through the gardens, through the orchard, and around the greenhouse, the Vaughns taught us to identify the blossoms on the peach trees that would produce fruit and showed the little ones how to pick their own carrots - the kids were a little unsure about this at first, but once they saw that gorgeous orange prize, their eyes lit up in excitement. Garlin shared his favorite growing tips, while Lois reminisced that the dates, early in their relationship, had been on this farm rather than the movies that their peers attended. Leaning Tree Farm, even before they made it their home, had always been their dream and now married 45 years, that dream is a beautiful way of life.

With the economy and the food infrastructure in disarray, the demand for local produce is on the rise and the Vaughns are meeting that need. Vendors at the farmers' market for 3-1/2 years now, they have no intention of slowing down any time soon. Current beds are being expanded; a grain mill just inside the house sits ready to grind more corn and wheat into the flours that decorate the market table each week; and just beyond the orchard, plans are being made to clear the brush to make rooms for more fruit trees (including apples, nectarines, pomegranates, persimmons, and more plums, peaches and blackberries) as well as more rows of vegetables.

Wrapping up the afternoon, we enjoyed Lois' fresh lemonade, made from the lemons picked just outside the Vaughn's front door. I have to say, it's the best lemonade I've ever tasted in my life. Whether that is due to the freshness of the fruit or the love that made it, I have yet to discover - maybe just one more glass...

I hope all our visitors enjoyed the trip to Leaning Tree Farm. For those of you who weren't able to make it, we've been invited back to share another tour in the future, so stay tuned for future field trip updates. 

In the meantime, be sure to visit the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market where you can find the freshest produce in town, straight from the Vaughn's farm. And, as always...

Happy (and mindful) eating!

Local diet update - March 16, 2009

As much as I enjoyed two days of rain (the first measurable rain for 8 long, dry months), I'm pleased to report that not a drop fell on Saturday morning's farmers' market. Granted it was cold and more often than not, you could find us on rotating shifts huddled around the propane heater that one of the vendors brought. It's purely coincidence that my chair just happened to placed right next to the heater...

Despite the cold and original threat of rain, we had a wonderful vendor turnout. Fifteen vendors lined the parking lot of the health department, long-time home of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market. Customer turnout, however, was slow during the early hours of the market, but picked up slightly after 10AM. Of course, we were prepared with a full harvest: broccoli, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, spinach, beets, turnips, yellow onions, red onions, green onions, lettuce, cayenne peppers, eggs, honey, a variety of salsas, canned veggies, pickles, sweets, a variety of yeast breads, quick breads, cornbreads, cornbread mix, whole wheat flour, corn flour, jellies and jams, dried fruit, and lots and lots of beautiful crafts!

My fridge is still bursting with veggies, some of which I picked up at the mid-week market last week (see photo at the top of tomatoes, broccoli, spinach and green onions). So already stocked with a few potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, spinach, and broccoli, on top of the cabbage and green onions ready to pick out of my personal garden, on top of about 20 pints of home-canned stewed tomatoes and soups, on top of the 15 pounds of strawberries in the freezer... I didn't need much. Ok, fine. I didn't need anything, but with all that good food staring me down from vendor stalls across the parking lot, is it even possible to resist? 

As you can see, I ended up with a mix of red and yellow onions, a few more carrots, a dozen eggs (I'll be doing a little baking for Dave this week), a new wallet (handmade by one of the craft vendors), and an american flag t-shirt for my mom (Shh - don't tell). 

I also had the opportunity to talk to several people about eating locally, handed out two new vendor applications, and had a fabulous time visiting with the other vendors at the market. Sure, it was chilly, but in all honesty there's just no place I'd rather be. Great food, great friends - it just doesn't get any better. 

Stay tuned for Thursday's "Market to Table" post and discover what I made from all these local goodies. In the meantime, have a great week. And as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

In the News - Brazos Locavores in TMN Newsletter

The Brazos Locavores are in the news! 

Check out page 6 of the latest edition (Vol 3, No 1) of the Texas Master Naturalists: Brazos Valley Chapter for an interview I did recently with local master naturalist Kate Kelly. 

Slowing down

While I lay curled in a ball on the bed, Dave brushed a strand of hair back across my cheek and away from my face. Frustrated and in pain, I realized how quickly I had forgotten the severity of my illness and the physical limitations my body has imposed on me.

Having started feeling better in late November, I have eagerly accepted more responsibility over the last few months. I have taken on these roles with enthusiasm and passion, having found a place in my community from which I derive great satisfaction, happiness, and where I feel I have much to offer - Coordinating the Brazos Locavores, writing this blog and contributing to others, founding the Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers Market and all the special event coordination, fundraising efforts, networking, and proselytizing that is part of the start-up of any new organization. But it was too much, too soon and for the last few weeks, I've found myself in excruciating amounts of pain, day after day, back peddling slowly towards the long months when I was practically bedridden.

Reminded of my vow of voluntary simplicity, I just stopped. Week day meetings in the downtown cafe I love became email or phone meetings giving me more time to rest. Long bike rides became shorter, less demanding walks. I again started turning down wonderful opportunities for lunches, dinners, and community events for the sake of my health and the ability to focus on what I am currently doing - helping people discover the wonderful world of local food. Everything I was doing was good, but I needed to slow down, find my focus, find clarity, and reevaluate my goals.

In stopping, in stepping back from my newly energized schedule, I have been able to refocus on one of the things that matter most - my health. Sure. I may one day be able to fill my days with other meaningful things, my body able to take on the challenge. But not today. Today, I need that clear, refreshing openness to my day that gives me good health and healing. 

To be honest, I guess I feel a little selfish. I feel guilty saying "no" to things I would love to do, projects I believe in, time with friends, family, and a wonderful community.  It's frustrating to be so limited by my health, knowing I just can't do what others can do. But focusing on my health, on my husband, and on my current projects (though on a lighter scale) is all I can do right now. And (here's the most difficult part) that's ok. It has to be. Because I truly believe it's the way life was meant to be led - slowly, mindfully, deliberately. For it is only when we can slow the pace of our life, take in the world around us, and make mindful, deliberate choices that we have the opportunity to share our hearts with a world that sorely needs us. 

Slow down. Find peace. Be well.

Village Foods - Making it easy to eat better in the Brazos Valley

Wednesday marked the grand opening for the new Village Foods. Owner, Jim Lewis took over the store (which was once an Appletree Market) earlier this year. He talked in length with Whole Foods, but after discovering the incredible investment needed to make the store a Whole Foods Market, he decided to take a more mindful approach (see an email exchange we had here). 

Long story short, you get the brand new (and wonderfully fabulous) Village Foods which will be stocking more local and organic products than your typical grocery store. Included in the grand opening was local coffee roaster John Flynn, local salsa maker and bread baker Donna Burton, and the entire Brazos Valley Farmers' Market. And it doesn't end there. Village Foods will continue to incorporate more products as they grow. It was truly a joyous event, especially when you have a chance to see the isles that now line the store. 

A huge bulk isle has been added including anything from grains to spices to snacks; all the freezers have been replaced with more energy efficient versions; the bath and body products isle is FABULOUS and includes local producer TLC Farms; the cash registers print on both sides of the paper (cool, huh?); and the dairy isle is oh la la (carrying more than the Horizon Organic brand which has been criticized for feed lotting - but Village Foods also carries Promised Land milk as well as Organic Valley which is highly rated). Then there's the isle dedicated to people with gluten intolerances, the fact that the Village Foods is locally owned, and of course the fact that the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market will be hosting a weekly Monday market right there in the Village Foods shopping center... 

Needless to say, for those items I still buy in a grocery (a few food items for Dave, meds for the animals, TLC brand soaps, etc), I have a second source (the first being Brazos Natural Foods) that I can feel good about supporting. Village Foods is truly making it easy to eat better in the Brazos Valley. Congratulations, Jim. Here's to many years of good food in a wonderful community!

Market to Table - March 12, 2009

Most of this week's local meals have consisted of menu repeats from the last few weeks: cabbage soup, cabbage stir-fry, those yummy strawberries, and the last few oranges of the season. 

Instead of rehashing all the oldies (albeit goodies), let's talk about what's new this week...

Pecans - At our local natural food store, I found a bag of local pecans (I love pecans). I don't often eat nuts mostly because of impulse control, but they are so good and so wonderfully good for you. I've been (mindfully) enjoying a handful each morning for breakfast along with a bowl of those beautiful strawberries we got picked at Kings Orchard last week. Local tastes SO good!

Wheat Berries - Now, here's what's REALLY exciting and a completely new experience for me. A couple weeks ago, I was invited to a luncheon to talk to a half dozen people about eating locally. One of the things we discussed was the fact that I'd not yet found a local wheat producer so I was eating mostly local rice and potatoes. The next thing I know, I have an email from the grandson of a local wheat producer and 2 pounds of wheat berries to try. Networking is everything!

Before I delivered the wheat berries to one of the vendors at our market (who just happens to have a grain mill), I extracted a cup of wheat berries to see what cool and interesting things I could do with them. Boiling them like rice seems to be the most popular.

I placed 1 cup of wheat berries in a saucepan with 3-1/2 cups of water, brought it to a boil, reduced the heat, covered the pot, and allow it to simmer for 60 minutes. Once cooked, I drained them (saving the extra liquid - there has to be nutrients in there that I can use later, right?), and nibbled away. The texture is similar to brown rice, but with a completely different flavor that I just love. Mmmm, wheat berries! Who knew?

So wheat berries are fabulous all by themselves, or you can jazz them up with some of your favorite veggies. Pictured here is 1 cup (cooked) wheat berries, mixed in with sauteed onion, carrot, broccoli, kohlrabi, cabbage, and mushroom. Let me tell you, there's not a better all-local meal around! 

Next step? Getting that flour back from the mill to see just how good fresh whole wheat flour makes my homemade bread. Stay tuned, 'cause local wheat could change everything! Ok. Maybe not everything, but it's pretty darn cool!

That's all for this week's "Market to Table" post. Have a great Thursday, everyone. And as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

Living green and off the grid

"New York Times' Adam B. Ellick visits a former college professor who now owns and works on an organic farm that produces its own power and, for the most part, avoids the whims of the wider economy."

Awesome video - check it out!

SRPH Fun Run

It's springtime here in the Brazos Valley. That means it's time for the Second Annual SRPH (School of Rural Public Health) Fun Run!

In celebration of my friend Sharli's birthday, I'm signing both of us up for the 5K event, but there's room for more. So, who would like to join us?

Be warned, I'm a total wimp and will be walking the entire thing - but then my version of walking came close to beating one of the runners last year, so runners beware... I'm right behind you!

For more information, or to sign up for the event, visit the Fun Run Website. See you there!

Garden therapy - A backyard garden update (March)

Well, it's springtime here in Texas and early planting has begun. Thankfully, I have a trusty guide to follow designed for my county and if ever in question, I just ask my farming guru (Lois from the farmers' market) for the lowdown.

As you can see in the photo up top, I'm still harvesting from my winter garden. The broccoli didn't do so well, though we did get a small head from them. I'm letting them sit to see if they make another head, then will chop the stalk up in some stir fry. Let nothing be wasted!  

The cabbage (towards the back) has been whittled down to 2 heads (there were 5 to start). It seemed like too many for one person, but I have to say, I'm loving every single meal I've cooked and certainly haven't tired of it yet. 

I'm picking those green onions daily (onions are good in just about anything) and they have continued to multiply, so long as I don't pick them too quickly. I'll definitely do more of these next year. I also have some 1014's in. This bed is a little shallow for bulb onions, but we'll see how they do. 

The kale and spinach (you can't really tell from the photo, but they're there), are doing well and growing a little each week. I'm really looking forward to harvesting those. I do love my greens!

Now here's one of the newest editions to the garden. My dad stopped by with two of these topsy turvy planters. Yes, you are seeing that right. We planted the tomatoes upside down (the dirt is in the bag, the plant comes out below). Dave installed a bird feeder stand so that we could hang them in full sunlight and so far so good. The nice thing is that if we do get a brief cold snap, I can whisk these babies indoors where they can stay warm (that's if I can lift them - they're a bit heavy).

And because one square foot garden is never enough, we've added a second bed. This one is twice the size of the first measuring in at 8' x 4'. The bricks are there as a square foot guide. Once the plants are in, it's easy to ID individual squares for rotating crops, but the first planting is hard if you don't have a guide. You can't really tell, but I have four tomato plants already in the bed. Eight more to go. There are a few other potted plants in the bed as well. They are the plants I had brought indoors for the winter, but the days are too nice to keep them cooped up any longer and they await transplant.

Last but certainly not least, is the indoor garden. That's an AeroGarden that I received for Christmas. The basil I have to cut on every few days - it's growing like a weed! The rest of the herbs (including the sage and second basil I have set to the side) are growing nicely as well. In the front-middle are 10 sets of seeds in potting soil (sage, basil, and mint). The AeroGarden makes a pretty good light source, so I'm using it as a mini greenhouse (thanks Jennifer for the inspiration).

I have a delivery of compost and top soil coming (sure to fill up our driveway) so we'll be building more beds soon. And later this month, I'll be planting beans, cucumber, and spaghetti squash. Peppers will go in next month. 

That's all there is to report here in Garden Therapy, but stay tuned for next month when more of that second bed will be filled in (and hopefully, lots of little seedlings to be seen). Have a great day everyone!

The simple things - My watering can

As many of you know, I like to keep life simple. It's rare that I buy anything other than food because I hate the accumulated clutter than routine purchases can create. As a result, I try to create my own do-hickies or at the least, I try to be creative with the things I already have. 

A great example is that 6 months ago, when I first built my winter garden, I realized I needed a way to sprinkle the garden. And for 5 of those months, I used a quart yogurt container. That's right. I took one of those large, used yogurt containers from eons ago before I was making my own yogurt, poked a bunch of holes in the lid with a pair of scissors, and sprinkled away.

For the most part, it worked well. I'd take our shower bucket (we save the shower water from our showers) outside, scoop some water up with the yogurt container, put the lid on, and sprinkle my veggies with water. Fabulous and free!!!!

Then a few weeks ago, while we were shopping for more garden supplies at the hardware store, Dave brought my attention to the watering cans. Honestly, I didn't really think I needed one, but he said he wanted to get me a watering can as a late Valentines Day gift (I'm a practical kind of girl). I went with it and we bought the watering can. Well, whatever, right?

Oh for the love of all that is good in the world! That watering can is the best thing we've bought in ages. It sprinkles the garden so uniformly, smoothly, and quickly (and it holds an entire bucket of shower water at once)! It's beautiful! I love my can... I love my can... I love my can!

Silly, perhaps. But isn't it refreshing that in a world with so much STUFF, we can find the most joy and contentment in the simplest of them all.

FBVFM Special Event - Messina Hof Birthday Bash

The "Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market" (the volunteer/non-profit group I'm founding) just had their first organized special event: A birthday bash at our local winery. Check it out!

Local diet update - March 9, 2009

Twenty vendors. Yep, that's right. Saturday marked an all time record for our winter market. We had twenty vendors lined up in the health department parking lot. It was absolutely amazing! And if you need tomato plants, let me tell you - The Brazos Valley Farmers' Market is the place to get them. We had three vendors selling tomato plants. Can't wait that long for fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes? Well, scoot across the isle and get some of Tanya's tomatoes, grown right outside of town (year-round) in her greenhouse. It just doesn't get any better than that. 

Ok. Actually, it does. This week's farmers' market featured all your favorite winter veggies and lots more: cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, yellow onions, purple onions, green onions, spinach, leaf lettuce, mustard greens, turnip greens, kohlrabi, beets, tomatoes, red potatoes, white potatoes, yeast breads, sweet breads, cornbread, pastries, dried fruits, tamales, canned okra, pickles, jams and jellies, relishes, a variety of salsa, corn flour, whole wheat flour, grits, locally roasted peanuts, locally roasted coffees, both decorative and vegetables plants, herbs, crafts (pot holders, aprons, scarves and hats, easter baskets, crochet dolls, hand sewn dolls, puzzles, journals, change purses) and much more. 

Of course, my shopping for the day was a bit less grand. But as you can tell from the photo, I picked up lots of carrots, broccoli, onions, kohlrabi, and mint. I still have red potatoes, mushrooms, eggs, cabbage and LOTS of cabbage soup in the fridge. I'm stocked up with plenty of rice, home-canned soups, and home-canned tomatoes in the pantry. AND (check this out), I may have finally found a source for local wheat! That's right! I handed over two gallon sized bags to one of the market vendors who has a grain mill so we can test out some local wheat (of course, I handed over the 2 gallons after I took a couple cups of wheat berries out to try them boiled - more on that Thursday). Local wheat. Local wheat. Local wheat. You can't tell I'm excited about this, can you? We still have some questions to ask the supplier, but if this works out it will be fabulous! Woohoo!

You guys keep reminding me, but I already know it's true. I'm incredibly fortunately to live in a place that has such an amazing harvest year round. Of course, that means we have to brave long, 100 degree summers, but it's SO worth it. Anyone want to move to Texas? Local tastes mighty good here!

Have a great week, everyone. And as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

The Green Year - And the winner is...

After running the numbers through a handy-dandy random number generator...

The winner of "The Green Year" book giveaway is Karen!

Congratulations, Karen! Email me your address and I'll get this right out to you!

A big thanks to everyone who participated! You are making some amazing changes in your quest to live a green life. Go green!

Making friends and napkins - Supporting the Village Cafe

Right after the Village Cafe opened last November, their cloth napkins went poof! The best guess is that the napkins were all placed in a garbage bag to take home for washing when someone mistakenly tossed them. Oops! They've since offered paper napkins made out of recycled materials, at least until they could splurge for another round of cloth napkins (those things can be pricey!). 

Being a cloth napkin kinda girl, I just did what I do when I go to any restaurant - I bring my own. But then in occurred to me: maybe there is something I can do to help! I mean, Kylie, the Village Cafe's owner (and one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet) is a huge supporter of both the farmers' market and the local food movement, she always takes really good care of me at the cafe (sometimes I even get stuff off the menu - shhhh!), and the woman makes a mighty fine meal. There must be something I can do to return her kindnesses and support. 

So, 2 months ago I went on a mission to solve the napkin crisis (cue Mission Impossible theme music). I tried several thrift stores (nobody carries them) and kept my eye on all the clearance isles (still too expensive per piece - good gravy!) until I had all but given up. It was then that I realized I had some extra fabric sitting around. Now, I don't sew or anything, but the wheels started cranking. The next thing I knew, one very unsuspecting vendor at the farmers' market offered me a cloth cover for my info booth. "You sew?" I inquired. The rest was history.

Helen, who sells eggs and seasonal veggies with her husband at our farmers' market, lugged her 1930's sewing machine, supplies, and yard after yard of fabric and settled at my kitchen table for a sewing party - not once, but twice! Not having touched a machine since 1987 (oh, my!), I did the cutting while Helen manned the machine.

The first night of sewing, I made brownies (to keep our strength up, of course); the second I made homemade pizza and chocolate cake. We laughed, shared stories, exchanged ideas for making the market even better, and made the best gosh-darn cloth napkins ever! We put in quite a few hours of work (especially Helen - that's a lot of sewing!), but in the end, we have been able to provide the Village Cafe with about 175 cloth napkins (and in the process, I made a dear friend). Oh, and the leftover fabric scraps? They'll go to one of the market vendors who'll use them to make the most beautiful dolls and journals I've even seen (you might remember, I bought some of the dolls a couple weeks ago). 

Well, I do believe that about does it! Mission Accomplished!