Dear Folks,
I am particularly drawn to old fashioned ideas - when they make perfect sense most of the time. There is something comforting to me about terms like 'made over' and 'market town.'
The former (made over) is an old fashioned term for using 'left overs.' Now a days more recent terms referring to left overs are Rachel Ray's "cook once, eat all week." Yesterday I made a rif on an Italian pasta fagioli (bean) soup, using a couple of left overs, to 'make over' into this outstanding soup. (Recipes below.) Made over foods are the ultimate in recycling and if done with creativity, no one has to know you used left overs unless you tell them. Growing up in a financially challenged family, I had a negative 'thing' about anything hand-me-down or leftovers. I have matured in both age and appreciation for making complete use of something, or even planning ahead to consider the other uses for things down the road.
What Is A Market Town?
The phrase has history in both England and other countries in Europe and other areas of the world might call these marketplaces bazaar or souk. Whatever the term it means a central place to come together to sell and buy things.
I like the term 'market town' because to me it means community. While England is known for its market towns operating as a hub to the smaller residential villages and towns surrounding it, the need for market towns was utilized here in the US, although not always under that name. Any rural farming or ranching area had a place where residents "went to town" weekly or monthly to buy or sell supplies, visit and catch up with other residents and then return home with their purchases.
In this day and age the concept of a "market town" for centrally located merchandise sources might be called a "mall" (shudder) but really should be looked as "your neighborhood" community.
The valley does not have the advantage of several centuries of community history like some areas of the east coast. The almost ancient areas there had to forge extensive community reliance in the 16 and 1700s in order to literally survive. That history made it a little easier to form communities where most people knew each other, and share not only commerce, but social interaction.
Here is the valley while there is a rich history of cultural diversity, there is less community because we are soooo spread out.
Where am I going with this? I would like our valley folks to look at their neighborhoods as their community, not just the city at large, although that is certainly a part of it. There are a lot of reasons for choosing to look to neighbors and most it has to do with a kind of survival resource. In a disaster who would you turn to first? What if you can't call or drive or even bike to help? Most of us would either call for help to our neighbors or we would see that our neighbors need help.
This past week's earthquake and then hurricane Irene on the east coast made me contemplate community a lot more - I have extensive family all up and down the eastern seaboard. So far all reports are they are all safe and un-injured. Some may be without power until early September, some can't go to work because the roads are either blocked or the companies themselves shut down. On a side note I am very angry at those who think the hurricane was over-hyped. You can't over-prepare for a hurricane or other potential natural disaster. If you are lucky enough to survive with extra, store it or donate it!
So the community I envision is my neighborhood. If you think, as I do, about what my neighbors do for a living or are good at in retirement, I can think of my neighborhood as a 'market town' and by extension as "my community" where I might get help from a plumber or Deane can help someone start their car, or . . . I help them. I like to share my meals with neighbors, particularly an elder one. One neighbor and I do cookie/candy making at the holidays and deliver trays to those we know. We bring fresh things from our garden to newbies. My neighbor and I going to organize a cookie swap for the holidays. What can you do in your neighborhood that would make it your community? It does not have to be houses. An apartment complex or dormitory is a community. Years ago I lived in a small garden apartment complex and we all routinely got together for parties and holidays, going in and out of apartments like a huge progressive party.
I hope you see what I mean here. Who are your neighbors and what can you and they share?
Besides a 'market town' for buying and selling things, your community can also be your participation with your neighbors in a neighborhood community garden. I have written about this before. A community garden, can certainly be a lot set aside by the City (Mesa Community College also has a community garden), but it can also be several neighbors growing what they are either good at or have space for and then getting together for a good old harvest gathering and sharing. And during that event you can find out what each do, and plan for a cookie or candy swap during the holidays.
More on community gardens.
Here is a new buzz word SPIN -- Small Plot INtensive farming. Deane's son Travis has launched a tour with his gal-friend Morgan highlighting gardeners, small farmers and others with great ideas on permaculture and sustainable agriculture. The SPIN concept is to make use of urban lands either by lending, renting or purchasing them for sustainable farming, to create a small commercial farm in an urban environment. A 'community farm'. The main "Eco-Jaunt" site is here.
The feature on SPIN is here.
Learn more about SPIN here.
While you might not be interested in staring your own commercial farm the ideas in the SPIN concept of utilizing local and urban areas for community are worth learning.
Made Over Recipes.
CATHERINE'S POTATO, PASTA, BEAN & CHICKEN SOUP
Home made chicken broth (sure you can use store bought)
Boiled Dressing (see below for recipe)
1 Left Over Cooked Chicken Breast (see directions)
1 can organic northern white beans or cannellini beans (more power to you if you cook your own from scratch - save about 2 and a half cups worth of cooked with some of the liquid)
1 large potato (I used a very large new red) - I always leave healthy skin on potatoes while cooking
1/4 cup stellinie or pastini pasta (small star type)
1 heaping tablespoon of corn starch
water as needed
Herb blend of choice - I used rosemary, garlic and black pepper
salt to taste (I used a total of about 1/2 teaspoon)
Optional: Other vegetables to add more depth and color - carrots, celery, parsnip, sweet potatoes. The extra veggies should be added at the same time as the potatoes and the liquid increased to completely cover them while cooking.
BOILED DRESSING
A boiled dressing is an old fashioned recipe where you thicken a liquid mixture of flavors to create a sauce which can be used hot like a gravy or cold like a salad dressing. The beauty of this recipe is at your choice there can be no fat at all, it has a lot of flavor depending on what herbs and spices you put in it and the citrus brings out better flavor in most foods. This is an unsweetened lemon or limeade.
2 ounces of fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice
6 ounces of water
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1 heaping tablespoon of corn starch.
Herb/spice mixture - I used about a half teaspoon of a mix of dried rosemary, garlic and black pepper.
Mix juice with water, and place 3/4 of it in a sauce pan with salt and herbs and bring just to a boil, reduce to simmer. Make a slurry of the remaining cold liquid with corn starch and blend well (the easiest way I have found to mix the corn starch slurry is to put in a jar, cap tightly and shake well.)
Slowly poor the slurry in the simmering pot, stirring - simmer for about 2-4 minutes until thickened. At this point you can use while hot or chill and use later for heated gravy/sauces or tossed with salads.
CHICKEN NOW AND LATER
3-4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 recipe of the boiled dressing
1 teaspoon of olive oil
To a hot skillet add oil and then the chicken breasts, cook on medium high heat uncovered. Turn after 1 minute. Cook other side 1 minute, turn once more and add dressing all at once. Add more herbs if you like. Cover and cook on medium turning the chicken every few minutes until done. It usually takes me a total of 20 minutes for this dish.
Save 1 chicken breast and some of the sauce for the soup on another day. Sever dinner tonight with either a salad or a colorful mix of sauted vegetables. You can saute the vegetables in a bit of the sauce to keep the flavor theme going.
SOUP DAY
Dice the raw potato. Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces and set aside. Open the can of beans, but do not drain.
Bring 3 cups of chicken broth to a boil and add the liquid from the beans, setting the beans aside.
Add the potatoes and about a quarter teaspoon of the blend of herbs. Add a shake of or pinch of salt. Cover and cook the potatoes for about 7 minutes on a low boil. A knife or fork should get just a bit of resistance. Add the pasta, stir and continue cooking covered for 6 minutes. Add the beans, chicken and reserved sauce all at once. Cover and cook for 1 minute. Meanwhile to some chicken broth or water, add the corn starch and make a slurry. Slowly add to the pot while stirring. Taste for any additional salt or herbs. Serve with crusty bread. A very hearty and satisfying soup - we had it yesterday and it was delicious - keep the recipe for cool or cold fall / winter meals.
If those of you of Italian heritage are wondering why no tomatoes -- I love tomatoes, tomato sauces and lots of foods cooked with them. I just want some wonderful soups and stews which allow other flavors to come forward.
Hope you can expand your community!
-- Catherine, The Herb Lady
Check out my books at the publisher's site
Showing posts with label sustainability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sustainability. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
USDA Sued Over Deregulation of GMO Alfalfa - and Backyard Gardening Tips
Dear Folks,
This blog is about the lawsuit over the deregulation of GMO alfalfa , demanding choices from the USDA and FDA, and also about getting you more serious about gardening at home.
. . .
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A lawsuit filed in California is challenging the federal government's deregulation of alfalfa that is genetically altered to withstand the popular weed killer Roundup.
Attorneys for the Center for Food Safety and Earthjustice filed the federal lawsuit Friday in San Francisco arguing the U.S. Department of Agriculture's approval of Roundup Ready alfalfa in January was unlawful.
Attorneys for the groups say the USDA failed to provide adequate oversight of biotech alfalfa. They also say genetically altered alfalfa causes significant harm to the environment and conventional crops, and threatens the nation's organic industry.
A federal court barred the planting of Roundup Ready alfalfa in 2007. The U.S. Supreme Court lifted the ban last year.
USDA officials say they are reviewing the lawsuit.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
Read more about the lawsuit and the issues surrounding it at the two links below.
http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/22/new-lawsuit-filed-over-gmo-alfalfa/
Contamination Certain from Unregulation
While the lawsuit proceeds, folks, it is important that we all make our voices heard both with our representatives and also with our chosen food supplies. That at the very least we want labeling to know when the foods we purchase contain GMO components.
Go to my previous posts on the USDA's decision to de-regulate GMO alfalfa without safeguarding organic and natural famers fields.
gmo-choice-voice-open-letter
USDA approves contamination of organic foods?
To summarize -- USDA and FDA requirements for organic certification is tough and complex and requires the producer to guarantee there are no GMO products in their fields or farm production. With the USDA's decision to deregulate GMO alfalfa WITHOUT safeguards many organic food producers will be put out of business because THEY will not be able to guarantee freedom from GMO contamination. The perfect "gotcha" from the USDA and FDA. In conjunction with the refusal of the FDA to require labeling of GMO foods, the consumer loses all the way around. No freedom of choice.
Read up on the First Lady's decision to grow an Organic garden on the lawn of the White House -- the information in this Wikipedia article indicates how Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack embraced the idea (he is now saying the USDA "can" regulate the contamination of GMO-Alfalfa).
"The day Michelle Obama broke ground on the new White House vegetable garden, a letter arrived for her from MACA, Mid-America Croplife Association, urging the Obamas to consider the need for traditional agriculture in America.[14] MACA went on to urge the use pesticides in their garden, to and increase crop yield so they could feed more people. "
White House Vegetable Garden
To help you get in touch with people, I have put a mailing list at the bottom of this blog for your convenience. Writing is more time consuming but more effective - with the internet techno stuff, many political people do not pay any attention to emails or computer generated post cards.
. . .
Your Urban Edible Garden
The problem with statements like - "you can't feed ... with home or organic produce", is just not a fair depiction of home or local gardening. Could you feed your family of say 4 from a backyard garden?
Personally I resent folks like Jeff Stier and Tom Vilsack, "telling" me I can't have a choice by making home gardening, organic or natural gardening, sound out of the capacity and range of the average American. T'ain't so!
About.Com has a nice article on doing some planning for growing some or all of the produce you eat in your backyard. Make sure you consider how to 'put by' some of the harvest for off-season use. In the past I've dried herbs, made them into flavored vinegars and teas, and canned peaches, apricots and apples. I've also put together fruit pie 'kits' in the freezer for enjoyment in the winter. When I had my goats and hens I drank the milk, made yogurt and ate the eggs.
If you have a lawn, then the water used to water that lawn could be used to grow edibles. A few dollars of seed, some elbow grease and family involvement can give you a productive garden. AND here in the desert if you pay attention to the basic rules for success in the desert I'm always writing about, you can be harvesting year-round seasonal bounty.
Don't forget the three sisters/companion planting of corn, beans and squash to maximize protein along with vitamins, minerals and fiber.
BACKYARD BARNYARD
How about adding hens for egg production to your backyard garden? The term "chicken feed" probably does not apply anymore because the cost has gone up substantially. However since you would not be housing your hens in a cage with only what you choose to feed them off the shelf, they can do triple duty for you which goes beyond the basic cost of feed. (And of course like preparing the garden, you have to prepare their quarters for their health and production.)
Chickens will eat many garden weeds, they will help you clean up the end of season garden mess (there are some plants they should not eat because they could be toxic), and they will keep garden bugs under control. And they can be fun and amusing.
You have options in choosing whether to feed your hens organic feed (preferrable) or non-organic. If you are currently purchasing organic eggs from local farmers markets or suppliers, you "may" save some money over what you pay directly, and you have the hens for their other qualities.
If you buy non-organic eggs and decide to raise hens on non-organic feed you may also save a little money. If you want to continue the idea of Non-GMO support then you need to go organic, because like or not you have to presume all non-organic feed may be GMO.
Current prices for Organic Laying Feed for hens is around $29 (including tax) for a 40 or 50 # bag and winds up costing you about $1.16 a week to feed each hen her primary feed (there are other minor expenses AFTER you set up their quarters). Non-Organic feed will cost you about half that. 6 month old to 18 month old hens will give you 5-7 eggs a week, and then start to taper off as they get older.
For a preferred list of supplies go to the Valley Permaculture Alliance keeping chickens page.
I got prices from two organic suppliers:
Noble Beast in Scottsdale
And
Anita's Organic Feed - Prescott
Anita's is about 25% more expensive than Valley prices, but convenient for Prescott (Skull Valley) area residents.
You can consider raising your own meat animals - that is a choice which needs to be carefully considered with all family members, so do some research if this is something you want to consider. Rabbits and chickens are options - not mine personally, but many folks want more control over everything they consume.
Check out the Valley Permaculture Alliance for a really helpful group of nice folks. They are all about urban sustainability and permaculture to enhance your lifestyle. I am a member of their soil builders and micro-livestock groups.
. . .
Write The People Who Have a Say in Your Food Choices:
The Honorable John McCain
United States Senate
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0303
The Honorable Jon Kyl
United States Senate
730 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0304
The Honorable Paul A. Gosar
United States House of Representatives
504 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0301
The Honorable Trent Franks
United States House of Representatives
2435 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0302
The Honorable Benjamin (Ben) Quayle
United States House of Representatives
1419 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0303
The Honorable Ed Pastor
United States House of Representatives
2465 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0304
The Honorable David Schweikert
United States House of Representatives
1205 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0305
The Honorable Jeff Flake
United States House of Representatives
240 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0306
The Honorable Raul M. Grijalva
United States House of Representatives
1511 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0307
The Honorable Gabrielle Giffords
United States House of Representatives
1030 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0308
NOTE: While Representative Giffords is healing (for which we are all grateful) her staff keeps up with everything and therefore you can write and voice your opinion.)
For All Other States Go To:
http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20250
-- Catherine, The Herb Lady
This blog is about the lawsuit over the deregulation of GMO alfalfa , demanding choices from the USDA and FDA, and also about getting you more serious about gardening at home.
. . .
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A lawsuit filed in California is challenging the federal government's deregulation of alfalfa that is genetically altered to withstand the popular weed killer Roundup.
Attorneys for the Center for Food Safety and Earthjustice filed the federal lawsuit Friday in San Francisco arguing the U.S. Department of Agriculture's approval of Roundup Ready alfalfa in January was unlawful.
Attorneys for the groups say the USDA failed to provide adequate oversight of biotech alfalfa. They also say genetically altered alfalfa causes significant harm to the environment and conventional crops, and threatens the nation's organic industry.
A federal court barred the planting of Roundup Ready alfalfa in 2007. The U.S. Supreme Court lifted the ban last year.
USDA officials say they are reviewing the lawsuit.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
Read more about the lawsuit and the issues surrounding it at the two links below.
http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/22/new-lawsuit-filed-over-gmo-alfalfa/
Contamination Certain from Unregulation
While the lawsuit proceeds, folks, it is important that we all make our voices heard both with our representatives and also with our chosen food supplies. That at the very least we want labeling to know when the foods we purchase contain GMO components.
Go to my previous posts on the USDA's decision to de-regulate GMO alfalfa without safeguarding organic and natural famers fields.
gmo-choice-voice-open-letter
USDA approves contamination of organic foods?
To summarize -- USDA and FDA requirements for organic certification is tough and complex and requires the producer to guarantee there are no GMO products in their fields or farm production. With the USDA's decision to deregulate GMO alfalfa WITHOUT safeguards many organic food producers will be put out of business because THEY will not be able to guarantee freedom from GMO contamination. The perfect "gotcha" from the USDA and FDA. In conjunction with the refusal of the FDA to require labeling of GMO foods, the consumer loses all the way around. No freedom of choice.
Read up on the First Lady's decision to grow an Organic garden on the lawn of the White House -- the information in this Wikipedia article indicates how Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack embraced the idea (he is now saying the USDA "can" regulate the contamination of GMO-Alfalfa).
"The day Michelle Obama broke ground on the new White House vegetable garden, a letter arrived for her from MACA, Mid-America Croplife Association, urging the Obamas to consider the need for traditional agriculture in America.[14] MACA went on to urge the use pesticides in their garden, to and increase crop yield so they could feed more people. "
White House Vegetable Garden
To help you get in touch with people, I have put a mailing list at the bottom of this blog for your convenience. Writing is more time consuming but more effective - with the internet techno stuff, many political people do not pay any attention to emails or computer generated post cards.
. . .
Your Urban Edible Garden
The problem with statements like - "you can't feed ... with home or organic produce", is just not a fair depiction of home or local gardening. Could you feed your family of say 4 from a backyard garden?
Personally I resent folks like Jeff Stier and Tom Vilsack, "telling" me I can't have a choice by making home gardening, organic or natural gardening, sound out of the capacity and range of the average American. T'ain't so!
About.Com has a nice article on doing some planning for growing some or all of the produce you eat in your backyard. Make sure you consider how to 'put by' some of the harvest for off-season use. In the past I've dried herbs, made them into flavored vinegars and teas, and canned peaches, apricots and apples. I've also put together fruit pie 'kits' in the freezer for enjoyment in the winter. When I had my goats and hens I drank the milk, made yogurt and ate the eggs.
If you have a lawn, then the water used to water that lawn could be used to grow edibles. A few dollars of seed, some elbow grease and family involvement can give you a productive garden. AND here in the desert if you pay attention to the basic rules for success in the desert I'm always writing about, you can be harvesting year-round seasonal bounty.
Don't forget the three sisters/companion planting of corn, beans and squash to maximize protein along with vitamins, minerals and fiber.
BACKYARD BARNYARD
How about adding hens for egg production to your backyard garden? The term "chicken feed" probably does not apply anymore because the cost has gone up substantially. However since you would not be housing your hens in a cage with only what you choose to feed them off the shelf, they can do triple duty for you which goes beyond the basic cost of feed. (And of course like preparing the garden, you have to prepare their quarters for their health and production.)
Chickens will eat many garden weeds, they will help you clean up the end of season garden mess (there are some plants they should not eat because they could be toxic), and they will keep garden bugs under control. And they can be fun and amusing.
You have options in choosing whether to feed your hens organic feed (preferrable) or non-organic. If you are currently purchasing organic eggs from local farmers markets or suppliers, you "may" save some money over what you pay directly, and you have the hens for their other qualities.
If you buy non-organic eggs and decide to raise hens on non-organic feed you may also save a little money. If you want to continue the idea of Non-GMO support then you need to go organic, because like or not you have to presume all non-organic feed may be GMO.
Current prices for Organic Laying Feed for hens is around $29 (including tax) for a 40 or 50 # bag and winds up costing you about $1.16 a week to feed each hen her primary feed (there are other minor expenses AFTER you set up their quarters). Non-Organic feed will cost you about half that. 6 month old to 18 month old hens will give you 5-7 eggs a week, and then start to taper off as they get older.
For a preferred list of supplies go to the Valley Permaculture Alliance keeping chickens page.
I got prices from two organic suppliers:
Noble Beast in Scottsdale
And
Anita's Organic Feed - Prescott
Anita's is about 25% more expensive than Valley prices, but convenient for Prescott (Skull Valley) area residents.
You can consider raising your own meat animals - that is a choice which needs to be carefully considered with all family members, so do some research if this is something you want to consider. Rabbits and chickens are options - not mine personally, but many folks want more control over everything they consume.
Check out the Valley Permaculture Alliance for a really helpful group of nice folks. They are all about urban sustainability and permaculture to enhance your lifestyle. I am a member of their soil builders and micro-livestock groups.
. . .
Write The People Who Have a Say in Your Food Choices:
The Honorable John McCain
United States Senate
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0303
The Honorable Jon Kyl
United States Senate
730 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0304
The Honorable Paul A. Gosar
United States House of Representatives
504 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0301
The Honorable Trent Franks
United States House of Representatives
2435 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0302
The Honorable Benjamin (Ben) Quayle
United States House of Representatives
1419 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0303
The Honorable Ed Pastor
United States House of Representatives
2465 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0304
The Honorable David Schweikert
United States House of Representatives
1205 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0305
The Honorable Jeff Flake
United States House of Representatives
240 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0306
The Honorable Raul M. Grijalva
United States House of Representatives
1511 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0307
The Honorable Gabrielle Giffords
United States House of Representatives
1030 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0308
NOTE: While Representative Giffords is healing (for which we are all grateful) her staff keeps up with everything and therefore you can write and voice your opinion.)
For All Other States Go To:
http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20250
-- Catherine, The Herb Lady
Friday, December 10, 2010
Free Upcoming Event and Free Shipping Offer - Ends soon!
See the free shipping offer from my publisher below - Ends December 12, 2010.
FREE Lecture January 8, 2011.
The City of Mesa Hosts a monthly series of "Living Green" lectures and I am co-lecturer at the one for January.
Mesa Sustainability site here
Greg Morris and I will be discussing edible landscaping for the backyard gardener.
Greg is a Certified Professional Landscape Designer with a focus on sustainable landscaping, and of course Edible Landscaping is the ultimate sustainable gardening. Click here for Greg's blog.
The lecture is free but it is a good idea to call and let them know you plan to attend (contact info on the City site).
FREE SHIPPING OFFER
If you have been interested in my books but waiting for a good opportunity, you have one now with a free shipping offer -- the offer ENDS December 12, 2010. (SPECIAL NOTE: the free shipping may not guarantee delivery in time for Christmas - I don't want you or your giftee to be disappointed.)
Go to my publisher's page for my books. Enter the following code when prompted at check out -- the offer has a maximum of $45 in free shipping charges -- HOLIDAY305.
Catherine Book Site
The offer is for print copies, of course, but you can order your copy of my two main books as ebooks - with a version available for iPad at the same link.
I will be posting current gardening tips next blog!
Have a wonderful weekend!
-- Catherine, The Herb Lady
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Grass-Fed Burger Recipe
Grass Fed Beef - Good for the animal, us, and the environment!Dear Folks,
If you choose to eat beef - choose wisely. The Mesa Friday Farmers Market is fortunate to have Red Mountain Cattle Company's grass-fed beef. (Red Mountain CC is a division of Tyler Farms, located in North Mesa). For information on Red Mountain click on the link below.
http://www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com/vendorpages/RedMtnCattleCo.htm
DID YOU know that grass fed beef is better for you with higher levels of CLA (Conjugated linoleic acids - a type of ‘isomer' with anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties)? According to sources the grass-fed beef contains 300-500% more CLA than grain-fed beef, and the animal is healthier, the environment is healthier and so are you - in the end.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjugated_linoleic_acid
A little history - before factory farming really got going, all or most livestock was ‘range-fed' meaning they foraged naturally on the range and prairie grass and shrubs. Enter commerce —
specifically the idea that if you basically force fed cattle grains, while keeping them stationary in feed lots, they gain weight rapidly and produced a lot of what we now call marbling — fat running through their meat. This ‘self-basting' fatty meat made for tendered, ‘tastier' beef as opposed to the range fed beef -- like TV dinners and fast food got us addicted to salt, marbled beef got us addicted to fatty meat. There was a serious ‘by-product,' though, of this feed-lot commerce — cattle were not meant to eat a lot of grain, or live (for very long) in too-close quarters - it gives them permanent indigestion, resulting in the need for antibiotics among other chemicals, which lowers their resistance to other diseases — and the domino affect rolls along.
Since most of "that" grain is corn and most of the corn is now genetically modified, choosing grass-fed beef is yet another case of taking something ‘factoried' into a state of almost artificial form and bringing it back full circle to where it started — as close to natural as possible when managed by humans!
Cooking With Grass-Fed Beef (GFB) requires just a bit of re-education - generally you cook grass-fed beef at slightly lower temperatures and with less time. I have found everyone's stove or grill is just a little bit different - so figure on carefully watching the first time you cook with GFB
If you have ever cooked with venison (deer or elk) the cooking guidelines are the same. Marinating steaks is a good way to not only infuse more complimentary flavors but also a way to tenderize it.
Ground GFB is full of great beef flavor, but has almost no fat. Taking a trick from my Deane, the following recipe uses potato to keep the burger moist and "green" garlic to add great flavor. All three ingredients can be found at the Mesa Farmers Market on Fridays or at your local farmers market.
GRASS-FED BURGER
1 package (about 1 to 1 1/4 pounds) of ground grass-fed beef
half of un-peeled potato, shredded (if you shred it ahead of time, cover with cool water to keep from darkening)
1 green garlic, minced or put through garlic press (can substitute 1-2 dried garlic cloves)
Mix beef, potato and garlic to incorporate well, but don't over do it or you will loose the texture. Form into 6 patties, press each one in the center with your thumb (keeps the burger from rising in the center and creating different cooking from edge to center) — I like to use my good old Tupper-ware hamburger press to keep the patties uniform for cooking.
Sear each side on direct heat on the grill. Cook uncovered turning once or twice - total time 4-5 minutes for medium - 6-7 minutes for well done. Serve with a choice of toppings.
The finished picture shows a side of bacon wrapped asparagus - I usually use basil leaves inside the bacon to give these wonderful grill veggie bundles extra flavor — holding 3-5 stalks of asparagus, wrap several good sized basil leaves around them and cover/wrap with bacon. Grill watching carefully, over direct heat, turning until each side has some grill marks and the bacon is cooked through. Even great cold the next day - if you have any left over!
Food choices made with an understanding of all consequences to us, the source, and the environment always equal a win/win/win!
-- Catherine, The Herb Lady
Monday, December 14, 2009
New Year's Day - Plant Potatoes!
Dear Folks,
My New Year's Day tradition is to plant potatoes, below is a collage of how we set this up in a raised bed.
This is the easiest way to plant potatoes for easy harvesting. Some folks have also used chicken wire tubes or old tires. Any of these concepts work okay.
You can try your hand at potato growing with store bought potatoes which are trying to sprout or have 'eyes' projecting out. Cut the potato into sections with 2-3 eyes per section, let dry on the counter for a couple of days and plant on January 1st. (In the picture you are seeing the 'seed potatoes' I save in my crisper drawer from the prior season growing.)
The most important thing to understand is that the growing potatoes must be covered at all times. Solanine is a toxic chemical reaction to sun light turning the skin of potatoes green and it CANNOT be cooked out.
Continue covering the potatoes as they grow to the depth of the raised container. Plan on harvesting in late Spring.
-- Catherine, The Herb Lady
Achieve greater success with edible landscaping in the desert with my reminder subscription service - just $21/year gives you very detailed planting, harvesting and using tips several times a month, including more information about planting potatoes as above and other edibles.
My New Year's Day tradition is to plant potatoes, below is a collage of how we set this up in a raised bed.
This is the easiest way to plant potatoes for easy harvesting. Some folks have also used chicken wire tubes or old tires. Any of these concepts work okay.
You can try your hand at potato growing with store bought potatoes which are trying to sprout or have 'eyes' projecting out. Cut the potato into sections with 2-3 eyes per section, let dry on the counter for a couple of days and plant on January 1st. (In the picture you are seeing the 'seed potatoes' I save in my crisper drawer from the prior season growing.)
The most important thing to understand is that the growing potatoes must be covered at all times. Solanine is a toxic chemical reaction to sun light turning the skin of potatoes green and it CANNOT be cooked out.
Continue covering the potatoes as they grow to the depth of the raised container. Plan on harvesting in late Spring.
-- Catherine, The Herb Lady
Achieve greater success with edible landscaping in the desert with my reminder subscription service - just $21/year gives you very detailed planting, harvesting and using tips several times a month, including more information about planting potatoes as above and other edibles.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Greening - Locavore Sightings for October
Dear Folks,
Can you fall in love with a winery? Well if it is Kief-Joshua Vineyards in Elgin/Sonita area (520.455.5582) - it is perfectly possible. First, it is not enough to h
ave the gorgeous ambiance of the hills of Elgin/Sonita and a building borrowed from Tuscany or Provence, or that the grapes are raised in a holistic manner and tended by hand, or that heritage sheep are used for weed control, nor that natural controls via hawks and owls are us
ed -- the wine has to be outstanding — and it is.
In any wine tasting I've been to - and no, I do not get to many - but I am a huge fan of good wine - there are at least one or two wines which do not ‘grab me.' Not so with the current offerings at Kief-Joshua Vineyards -- each was great in its own way.
Chenin Blanc (good with spicy food, grilled fish or light dessert).
Vognier "vee-on-yea" (fresh fruit, pork, chicken, light salad or Thanksgiving Turkey).
Cabernet Franc (fish, chicken, beef or pork or Thanksgiving Turkey).
Syrah (beef, game, grilled meat or barbecue).
Nebbiolo (red meats, tomato based sauces or heavier chicken dishes)
Cabernet Sauvignon (red meats, tomato based sauces or sharp cheeses)
The Thanksgiving Turkey note above for the Vognier and Cabernet Franc are my own - either of these, a white or a light red, would perfectly compliment the turkey whether roasted, grilled or deep fried. If you are serving tamales - try the Vognier.
I was on a tour with some folks, and had no prior knowledge of Kief-Joshua except that they practiced holistic viticulture (the science and tradition of growing grapes for wine) and used a heritage sheep known as Baby Doll (not to be confused with the dahl sheep variety) as some of the weed control in the vineyard. Well as a current "natural" gardener/farmer and a former owner of miniature goats, I was looking forward to seeing and experiencing the winery/vineyard. (FYI if you are not familiar with the distinction - a winery is where the wines are produced from the grapes and bottled and a vineyard is where they are grown — both are not necessarily at the same location. In the case of Kief-Joshua Vineyard they are both.)
So when we arrived at the beautiful building and vineyard, and the very nice young man who looked to be about 19 and half to these older eyes, proceeded to politely and knowledgeable disburse the samples of the wine, I was surprised and impressed to learn we were speaking to Kief-Joshua. He then gave us the highlights of the wine making area.
I highly recommend a trip to the Kief-Joshua Vineyard, but if you can't make it down just yet, their wines are available at retail locations around the state click here for their website/retail page.
They also have a Sunday Omelet Brunch, and are going to be exhibiting at the Tempe Art and Wine Festival December 4-6, 2009. Open seven days a week from 11 am to 5 p.m. (520.455.5582) Website
. . .
FRESH the movie October 8th at Madcap Theaters in Tempe - $7 presented by Edible Phoenix Magazine -- Celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system.
. . .
Boyce Thompson Arboretum events:
October 9th -- Opening day of the Annual Fall Plant Sale, you find me giving a lecture and Thrillin Grillin food demo from 11 am to about 1:30 p.m. This is a members only sale (for the discounts) — and by the way membership is reasonable and the park is dog-friendly — the lecture and food demo are open to all visitors with admission to the park. The plant sale is open to the public from October 10th through the 25th.
Also at the BTA on October 16th Cedar Flute Musician Joseph Leal provides entertainment for an outdoor evening of enjoyment (4 p.m. to 6 p.m. - bring a picnic or grab some friends and make your own pot-luck).
If you enjoy music at the BTA make sure you check the same link for the upcoming Folk Festival November 14th, which has always been a real treat to listen to a variety of entertainers in different areas of the arboretum.
. . .
Desert Botanical Garden events:
Fall Plant Sale - October 16-18th - To shop the plant sale you do not need to pay to get into the Garden (Friday Oct 16 is members only, though), but you may want to shop then go into the garden for the annual Monarch Butterfly exhibit (an extra fee to the admission price to see the butterflies - well worth it).
. . .
Schnepf Farms annual October Chili - Pumpkin festival 480-987-3100.
. . .
Coming up in November - something to check out and mark your calendars.
Short subject presentations in a new type of forum TEDxPhoenix November 6th at the Mesa Arts Center, $5 tickets. (TED stands for Technolgy, Entertainment, Design) this program is a series of short (18 minutes) presentations by a variety of speakers. Similar to ignite-phoenix , this event includes Greg Peterson, green lifestyle expert from the Urban Farm. with others offering mini lectures on a variety of interesting and/or timely subjects -- it is a way to engage you, the audience, in sharing of ideas and networking. Greg is a regular contributor to Edible Phoenix Magazine.
The magazine is available with a subscription or at one of the sponsoring farmers markets check out http://www.foodconnect.org/ where you can find Arizona farmers markets.
For farmers markets in other areas click here and to find an "Edible" magazine for your community click here .
Support your local businesses!
-- Catherine, The Herb Lady
Can you fall in love with a winery? Well if it is Kief-Joshua Vineyards in Elgin/Sonita area (520.455.5582) - it is perfectly possible. First, it is not enough to h
ave the gorgeous ambiance of the hills of Elgin/Sonita and a building borrowed from Tuscany or Provence, or that the grapes are raised in a holistic manner and tended by hand, or that heritage sheep are used for weed control, nor that natural controls via hawks and owls are us
ed -- the wine has to be outstanding — and it is.In any wine tasting I've been to - and no, I do not get to many - but I am a huge fan of good wine - there are at least one or two wines which do not ‘grab me.' Not so with the current offerings at Kief-Joshua Vineyards -- each was great in its own way.
Chenin Blanc (good with spicy food, grilled fish or light dessert).
Vognier "vee-on-yea" (fresh fruit, pork, chicken, light salad or Thanksgiving Turkey).
Cabernet Franc (fish, chicken, beef or pork or Thanksgiving Turkey).
Syrah (beef, game, grilled meat or barbecue).
Nebbiolo (red meats, tomato based sauces or heavier chicken dishes)
Cabernet Sauvignon (red meats, tomato based sauces or sharp cheeses)
The Thanksgiving Turkey note above for the Vognier and Cabernet Franc are my own - either of these, a white or a light red, would perfectly compliment the turkey whether roasted, grilled or deep fried. If you are serving tamales - try the Vognier.
I was on a tour with some folks, and had no prior knowledge of Kief-Joshua except that they practiced holistic viticulture (the science and tradition of growing grapes for wine) and used a heritage sheep known as Baby Doll (not to be confused with the dahl sheep variety) as some of the weed control in the vineyard. Well as a current "natural" gardener/farmer and a former owner of miniature goats, I was looking forward to seeing and experiencing the winery/vineyard. (FYI if you are not familiar with the distinction - a winery is where the wines are produced from the grapes and bottled and a vineyard is where they are grown — both are not necessarily at the same location. In the case of Kief-Joshua Vineyard they are both.)
So when we arrived at the beautiful building and vineyard, and the very nice young man who looked to be about 19 and half to these older eyes, proceeded to politely and knowledgeable disburse the samples of the wine, I was surprised and impressed to learn we were speaking to Kief-Joshua. He then gave us the highlights of the wine making area.
I highly recommend a trip to the Kief-Joshua Vineyard, but if you can't make it down just yet, their wines are available at retail locations around the state click here for their website/retail page.
They also have a Sunday Omelet Brunch, and are going to be exhibiting at the Tempe Art and Wine Festival December 4-6, 2009. Open seven days a week from 11 am to 5 p.m. (520.455.5582) Website
. . .
FRESH the movie October 8th at Madcap Theaters in Tempe - $7 presented by Edible Phoenix Magazine -- Celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system.
. . .
Boyce Thompson Arboretum events:
October 9th -- Opening day of the Annual Fall Plant Sale, you find me giving a lecture and Thrillin Grillin food demo from 11 am to about 1:30 p.m. This is a members only sale (for the discounts) — and by the way membership is reasonable and the park is dog-friendly — the lecture and food demo are open to all visitors with admission to the park. The plant sale is open to the public from October 10th through the 25th.
Also at the BTA on October 16th Cedar Flute Musician Joseph Leal provides entertainment for an outdoor evening of enjoyment (4 p.m. to 6 p.m. - bring a picnic or grab some friends and make your own pot-luck).
If you enjoy music at the BTA make sure you check the same link for the upcoming Folk Festival November 14th, which has always been a real treat to listen to a variety of entertainers in different areas of the arboretum.
. . .
Desert Botanical Garden events:
Fall Plant Sale - October 16-18th - To shop the plant sale you do not need to pay to get into the Garden (Friday Oct 16 is members only, though), but you may want to shop then go into the garden for the annual Monarch Butterfly exhibit (an extra fee to the admission price to see the butterflies - well worth it).
. . .
Schnepf Farms annual October Chili - Pumpkin festival 480-987-3100.
. . .
Coming up in November - something to check out and mark your calendars.
Short subject presentations in a new type of forum TEDxPhoenix November 6th at the Mesa Arts Center, $5 tickets. (TED stands for Technolgy, Entertainment, Design) this program is a series of short (18 minutes) presentations by a variety of speakers. Similar to ignite-phoenix , this event includes Greg Peterson, green lifestyle expert from the Urban Farm. with others offering mini lectures on a variety of interesting and/or timely subjects -- it is a way to engage you, the audience, in sharing of ideas and networking. Greg is a regular contributor to Edible Phoenix Magazine.
The magazine is available with a subscription or at one of the sponsoring farmers markets check out http://www.foodconnect.org/ where you can find Arizona farmers markets.
For farmers markets in other areas click here and to find an "Edible" magazine for your community click here .
Support your local businesses!
-- Catherine, The Herb Lady
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Greening - Alternative Energy and Your Legacy
Dear Folks,
Some years ago I read for the first time the basis for decisions in the Sioux culture:
"In Sioux culture, no decision would be made without reference to the will of the seven generations previous and in consideration for its effects and consequences for the seven generations following."
I think we all need to stop for more than a moment and consider that belief as a foundation for decisions we make individually and also on a national level with regard to where our energy resources some from and how we use them. (This is certainly true of every nation, too.)
What legacy will you leave for your later years, your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, the families of friends? Some ‘pundits' suggest we have a God-given right to use up any and everything on the earth — I think that is incredibly selfish. My ‘other mom' had a saying for those kinds of people - "eat the whole chicken today, and the feathers and bones tomorrow." Will you be leaving behind more chickens or only the feathers and bones?
At this moment the US Congress is considering legislation which among other things would open up off-shore drilling.
Also T. Boone Pickens has launched a national ad campaign to get the country to refocus on sustainable alternative energy forms, and Al Gore has also launched a challenge — both of them to make and ensure that the US energy usage is both sustainable and self-reliant and not reliant on other countries for non-sustainable sources.
Wheee - lots of words there, but consider these factors:
1) No one - not a person - is indicating that things like off-shore drilling or even opening wild-life areas will produce anything sooner than 5-10 years down the road - in other words this is not a quick fix, folks. (Nor is it as safe as some would like to believe - when humans are involved there will be accidents, errors and just plain stupidity -- on a recent visit to Venice Beach I was saddened to see just how much of the decades old oil contamination is still visible - nasty!)
2) Sustainable - really give that some thought, because with gas, diesel, and jet fuel running at all- time high prices something has got to give.
3) Of the "things" that can ‘give' and not give, the most glaring is that anything which is moved over land has options - anything moving in the air currently has no viable fueling options. We can make electric, solar and hybrid cars, trains, and even boats, but we can't yet make a solar or electric powered airplane — do you understand what that means? If something has to give, it is going to be your car, train or bus or boat ride.
Pickens is making the point that a mix of alternative sustainable energy such as wind, solar and hydro along with ‘some' non-sustainable natural gas exploration, will allow the non-sustainable oil to be diverted to airplane use, period, which would theoretically (yes I used that word) allow for maximum efficient use of depleting oil reserves to be used for planes while all the techno folks get to work on a better fueling system in the future for air travel.
Gore's point is that we have become reliant on outside sources and (my words here) we as a nation need to be come locavores with our energy sources.
The political side effect or benefit, if you will, to having our own sustainable energy sources is to deflect all future discussions about cause and effect of ‘our oil under their soil' decisions by our government. I'm not trying to make a pro or con political statement here, just an observation of every discussion in the last some years over oil and the rest of the world.
If you decide to get solar on your residence or business, then you have made a major decision in taking back some control over where, how and when energy becomes a problem for you personally. If you go further and plug your electric or hybrid car into you solar powered/supported home (or business), you have reduced energy load on the community and increased your control over your life and resources. Make sense?
There is a new company in Arizona which is trying to take the bite out of residential solar purchase decisions, because the big stopping point for most folks is the up-front installation cost.
I cannot recommend them yet, because I have not used them although we plan to get an estimate and consultation with them.
http://www.solarcity.com/
This company consults with you, then builds a system to your property needs, and leases the system to you, for a total of reduced electric company bills, lease payment of an amount less than your average monthly bill. They do this by owning (and therefore they have to maintain) the equipment for a 15 year lease, with options for you at the end. They take the tax credits to make it work for them.
I am not alone in believing Arizona, for example, is so sun drenched that to NOT take advantage of it is just plain wasteful, but the resources to build etc. need to be there. Check out solarcity on your own, don't take my thoughts by themselves.
So what will your legacy be? Will you go for window-dressing quick fixes, which fix nothing, or choose some reasonable, doable options for the here and now, which will have good benefits for the future?
-- Catherine, The Herb Lady
Some years ago I read for the first time the basis for decisions in the Sioux culture:
"In Sioux culture, no decision would be made without reference to the will of the seven generations previous and in consideration for its effects and consequences for the seven generations following."
I think we all need to stop for more than a moment and consider that belief as a foundation for decisions we make individually and also on a national level with regard to where our energy resources some from and how we use them. (This is certainly true of every nation, too.)
What legacy will you leave for your later years, your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, the families of friends? Some ‘pundits' suggest we have a God-given right to use up any and everything on the earth — I think that is incredibly selfish. My ‘other mom' had a saying for those kinds of people - "eat the whole chicken today, and the feathers and bones tomorrow." Will you be leaving behind more chickens or only the feathers and bones?
At this moment the US Congress is considering legislation which among other things would open up off-shore drilling.
Also T. Boone Pickens has launched a national ad campaign to get the country to refocus on sustainable alternative energy forms, and Al Gore has also launched a challenge — both of them to make and ensure that the US energy usage is both sustainable and self-reliant and not reliant on other countries for non-sustainable sources.
Wheee - lots of words there, but consider these factors:
1) No one - not a person - is indicating that things like off-shore drilling or even opening wild-life areas will produce anything sooner than 5-10 years down the road - in other words this is not a quick fix, folks. (Nor is it as safe as some would like to believe - when humans are involved there will be accidents, errors and just plain stupidity -- on a recent visit to Venice Beach I was saddened to see just how much of the decades old oil contamination is still visible - nasty!)
2) Sustainable - really give that some thought, because with gas, diesel, and jet fuel running at all- time high prices something has got to give.
3) Of the "things" that can ‘give' and not give, the most glaring is that anything which is moved over land has options - anything moving in the air currently has no viable fueling options. We can make electric, solar and hybrid cars, trains, and even boats, but we can't yet make a solar or electric powered airplane — do you understand what that means? If something has to give, it is going to be your car, train or bus or boat ride.
Pickens is making the point that a mix of alternative sustainable energy such as wind, solar and hydro along with ‘some' non-sustainable natural gas exploration, will allow the non-sustainable oil to be diverted to airplane use, period, which would theoretically (yes I used that word) allow for maximum efficient use of depleting oil reserves to be used for planes while all the techno folks get to work on a better fueling system in the future for air travel.
Gore's point is that we have become reliant on outside sources and (my words here) we as a nation need to be come locavores with our energy sources.
The political side effect or benefit, if you will, to having our own sustainable energy sources is to deflect all future discussions about cause and effect of ‘our oil under their soil' decisions by our government. I'm not trying to make a pro or con political statement here, just an observation of every discussion in the last some years over oil and the rest of the world.
If you decide to get solar on your residence or business, then you have made a major decision in taking back some control over where, how and when energy becomes a problem for you personally. If you go further and plug your electric or hybrid car into you solar powered/supported home (or business), you have reduced energy load on the community and increased your control over your life and resources. Make sense?
There is a new company in Arizona which is trying to take the bite out of residential solar purchase decisions, because the big stopping point for most folks is the up-front installation cost.
I cannot recommend them yet, because I have not used them although we plan to get an estimate and consultation with them.
http://www.solarcity.com/
This company consults with you, then builds a system to your property needs, and leases the system to you, for a total of reduced electric company bills, lease payment of an amount less than your average monthly bill. They do this by owning (and therefore they have to maintain) the equipment for a 15 year lease, with options for you at the end. They take the tax credits to make it work for them.
I am not alone in believing Arizona, for example, is so sun drenched that to NOT take advantage of it is just plain wasteful, but the resources to build etc. need to be there. Check out solarcity on your own, don't take my thoughts by themselves.
So what will your legacy be? Will you go for window-dressing quick fixes, which fix nothing, or choose some reasonable, doable options for the here and now, which will have good benefits for the future?
-- Catherine, The Herb Lady
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