Ch..Ch...Ch....Ch....Changes....Autumn is Here

Yes – it’s that time of year again when I get to quote one of my favorite David Bowie songs......The leaves are flying from the trees as the colors are intensifying daily, the evening light is amazing, the sunsets intensely fiery, the apples abundant & crisp bright orange & yellow squashes are all ready to carve & eat, and although the sun still feels warm when present, the air has that oh so familiar chill…..

In the garden still plenty of, tomatoes, basil, chives, oregano, rosemary, thyme, parsley, red amaranth, cabbage, carrots, swiss chard, some corn but loads of collards & kale – which by the way gets sweeter after the first frost…which fortunately we haven’t had yet…..close but no real damage……Flowers are still blooming….. nasturtiums (really), calendula, zinnias, cosmos, and now mums.

Lots of tomato, basil & parsley freezing (I don’t can), sauerkraut/kimchee, elderberry tonic making; and green herbs drying.  Today I’m dehydrating parsley, mint, & nettle seeds and some non-seeded nettle leaves.  Tomorrow I will use the rest of the zucchinis, onions & some carrots to make confetti crackers.  I’ve also saved some sumac seeds to experiment with over the winter.

The elderberries are gone; either picked by me or eaten by the birds; edible stinging nettle leaves are still to be found in new & old places and the seeds are still plenty.  The leaves, seeds & roots of a variety of yummy wild edibles are still available for harvesting such as dandelion, yellow dock, burdock, & amaranth.…Oh and mushrooms, which I will hopefully be learning more about on a walk coming up at the end of the month.

 

My cats are still killing birds, voles, & mice, but I’ve noticed less frogs (thank you) and the chickens are still having fun finding all the goodies in the still soft ground.  Most birds are still around – I saw 2 Blue Jays in the apple trees this morning.  Bees always seem neurotic this time of year – I’m sure they are also  preparing for the cold gray winter which will soon be here…….

Yes,  I will miss my garden, the singing of the birds and buzzing of the bees, watching my little guy run, jump & climb outdoors, warm breezes, eating meals and setting up my office outdoors, and my crazy schedule (well maybe not so much).   That being said, there will still be food from the yard & garden to eat, and time to focus on indoor activities.  I will have time to order seeds & dream about next years garden, experiment with some new recipes (see one below), while working on my book, revamp my website, and get my studio active again. 

But what about the SUN????    I’ve always been a sun worshipper -  I crave the sun like food and will take it in whenever I can (without toxic sunscreen – TYVM).  This all makes sense as I found out I am severely deficient in Vitamin D.  So what’s the solution besides taking a supplement and sitting under a sun lamp (sorry - just doesn’t cut it for me)???  Well....I will stay busy doing the above mentioned tasks and then escape to a warm tropical paradise. 

This year I am planning on coordinating some learning retreats in faraway warm & sunny places. 

Think vegan & raw food, wild edibles, art, exclusive tours, sun, sand, sea, REJUVINATION, making new friends and loads of fun……….I’ll keep you posted.  

In the mean time, I will be present and enjoy one of the most beautiful, miraculous, times of the year......autumn…Hope you will too! 

And since this year has been one of the most abundant for apples, (our branches are literally weighed down with apples) I will leave you with this delicious apple cobbler recipe...........enjoy :)

Better than Baked Apple Cobbler        

6-8 apples

1/2 cup soaked raisins

1-2 T sweetner of your choice  (coconut nectar, raw honey, agave) adjust according to your preference & sweetness of your apples..

juice of 1/2 lemon

1/2 tsp cinammon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp sea salt

Chop and peel 1 apple and puree with remaining ingredients. 

Cut up remaining apples (peeling is optional) place in large bowl and mix with puree. 

Topping Crumble:
1 cup nuts - Pecans or Walnuts or both
1/2 cup dates
1/2 tsp sea salt

In a food processor, pulse/chop walnuts, add chopped dates, sea salt & vanilla pulse again  (should be crumbly).  Top bowl of apples with crumble.  Dehydrate for 4-5 hours or until apples are soft.

Icing - (optional but highly recommended)
1 thai coconut (meat only - save water and drink to rehydrate yourself or freeze into ice cubes)
2 T coconut nectar (or sweetner of your choice)
dash vanilla
pinch sea salt
Blend all ingredients together and drizzle over warm cobbler. 
 

If you are interested in scheduling classes, workshops, or a mini-metreat at Turquoise Barn or if you would like to attend the wild edible walk with Marguerite Bower at the end of this month, please contact me via email or phone.  After the walk, in addition to a demo, I will  be talking a bit about detoxing and Chris Rosenthal, will be speaking about emotional & mental health. 

 My Love Affair with STINGING NETTLES

 What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nettles……..Stinging Nettles…….Oh how I love thee…..let me count the ways and share them with you….

 Although I’ve known about this plant for many years, my love affair with Stinging Nettles began just a few years ago.   It was actually one of the first “weeds” I discovered over 10 years ago when I first moved onto my property.  Before I knew better, Nettles was a just a scary weed that I would avoid brushing against or weeding without gloves, lest I’d feel the sting and breakout in a rash.

My very first encounter with Nettles was casual.  About 25 years ago I was diagnosed with anemia and a friend recommended I try Nettles tea to bring up my iron levels.  So I bought some from the health food store and began drinking as a tea.   It wasn’t long before I had forgotten all about the Nettles of my past -  until I became pregnant. 

 I had read that nettles was a good tonic for pregnancy so I decided to buy some from the health food store and get back to drinking it again.  I also drank red raspberry leaf tea, another tonic recommended for pregnant women.  I was excited to discover that I had red raspberry leaves on my property and decided to try and harvest the raspberry leaves myself to make a tea.   However, it was inconceivable to me to even think of harvesting stinging nettles – ouch! 

For a long while I had read & heard of stories of individuals actually harvesting & eating wild nettles not just for medicinal purposes but for food.  Really?  I was intrigued. Well, it took me awhile but a couple of years ago I decided to FINALLY give it a try.  It had been on my “list of things to do” for a long time.
 

Honestly, I really wasn’t interested in sautéing or cooking with them since I prefer to eat a diet of mostly raw foods, especially when it comes to greens.  I had heard of people using them raw in smoothies.  Since I was already drinking green smoothies everyday, sometimes 2x a day, this just seemed like the most logical place for me to start.  And needless to say, stinging nettles & I have become good friends........that's how my love affair began. 

Yes, nettles and I have progressed - our “relationship” has evolved - in fact, I love nettles so much that I no longer need to wear gloves to harvest.  Just like any relationship, if you are gentle, respectful & kind, you will be repaid with gentleness, respect, and kindness (and in the case of nettles lots of health benefits too) – if not – look out – your gonna get stung!   

  

"Yard Crackers" - Nettles& yellowdock,
& numerous other seeds - "Garden Herb Cheeze Spread"
Nut Based w/Wild garlic Mustard & Chives

Other ways I love my nettles include incorporating them into my crackers, dips & desserts to add a unique flavor and lots of nutrition or dehydrated and used as a tea.   I love the smell and taste of nettles – for some reason it reminds me of green tea but without the caffeine side effects.   

Here’s a recipe for one of my favorite Nettles Smoothies

Wild Edible Green Smoothie

We serve this whenever in season at the B&B and during our retreats – besides being high in protein, loaded with vitamins & minerals; it’s also great for cleansing.  Wild edibles are much more nutrient dense than cultivated greens;  you may actually feel a “buzz” of energy after you drink this.  But what about the “stinging” of the nettles?  You can wear gloves to harvest – once blended, the sting will be gone.  And……you may also be wondering about taste…..absolutely wonderful….I refuse to eat or drink anything JUST because it’s “good for you” – no nose holding going on here. 

1-2  cups stinging nettle leaves

½ lambsquarters

1/2 cup kale

2 frozen bananas

1 cup strawberries or 1 cup papaya
1 cup pineapple (optional - for extra sweetness)

½ cup spring water

Blend all ingredients together in a *high speed blender pour and top w/bee **pollen (optional)

Note:  When harvesting Nettles, use just the leaves and only harvest BEFORE they begin going to seed.

 If you do not have access to any of these greens – you can substitute spinach, swiss chard, kale, or collards.

*You can make this in a regular blender, although I prefer using a Vita-Mix - (for more info on vita-mix please visit my website)

**Besides being loaded with nutrients, bee pollen is great for allergies & ENERGY - be sure to know EXACTLY where your bee pollen is coming from – how & where it is harvested is of the utmost importance.   I use local New York pollen gathered by hand from a small apiary which is eco-conscious and really loves their bees.  You can purchase this on my website or in my Etsy store if interested.  

Caution:  Do not harvest or eat nettles when they begin flowering or going to seed – can cause irritation to the urinary tract.   I am not giving advice or recommending anyone to eat nettles or any other wild edible.  Please be sure to get proper training or consult with an expert (which I am not). 

 

My Hands are Dirty - Real Dirty - With Real Dirt...

It's finally feeling like spring!  I've really been enjoying the sounds of the birds in the morning & the peeps at night, the smell of fresh rain,  feeling the warmth & energy of the somewhat elusive and oh so beautiful SUN, watching the unfolding of new life all around, and exploring the land to discover new species of nutritious & delicious edibles. 

Yesterday was a deliciously warm & sunny day - almost balmy.  And......according to the Biodynamic Calendar, it was a ROOT day.  So....I finally made it out to my garden to begin planting.  Into the ground went really red, red & white striped, & golden yellow beets; purple pink & scarlet radish, purple kohlrabi & pretty pink turnips.  But before all these lovelies get into the dirt there is work to be done.  It involves "weeding", compost, a fork and some stamina.  

Contrary to most, one of my most favorite aspects of gardening is weeding.  One of the things I  like about it is that I see  results - kind of like vacuuming the house - it makes things feel more organized and "right".  I also find weeding to be very meditative and relaxing.  But mostly what I really, really, enjoy is getting dirty, with real dirt.  I like the smell & feel of it - i even like the turning in the compost (when it's veggie) and playing with the slimy worms. And believe me, I am one of those people who gets squeamish & starts gagging at anything resembling "gross".  (although I'm not as bad as my son who gags at our kitchen compost)

Years ago before I had my own garden, I use to try and find ways to incorporate dirt into my sculptures.  I was sometimes successful & sometimes not.  It's somewhat of a contrast because I strive to keep things neat, clean & orderly but when it comes to dirt....well - it just doesn't bother me. I can be covered in it and I just don't care.   I just love the feeling of working with it; whether I'm in the garden or in the studio - it feels sacred, magical, like an elixer- and it always leaves me with a sense of peace, calm and yes.....dirty.  

Well I can go on forever about dirt, weeds, and gardening but what I wanted to do was to share a recipe with which you can use some wild edibles from your own backyard.  And the sun is coming out! So here it is. 

Wild Edible Salad:
Dandellion, lambsquarters, red & green amaranth, kale, collards, parsley, garlic scapes, sorrel, pansies

Fresh Garden Green Salad
I love to grow & harvest greens, herbs & flowers.  This recipe has so many variations; here are the basics,
then just experiment with different types of greens both wild & cultivated, season with fresh herbs & decorate with lovely edible flowers. 
2-3  bunches of kale
1 bunch collards
1 bunch dandelion leaves
½ cup parsley
¼ cup olive oil
few dashes of pink Himalayan sea salt (to taste)
juice of 1 fresh lemon
De-vein greens - hold stem and pull until leaf comes off.  You don't really have to do this for the smaller leaves or the dandelion, although doing so will make it less bitter.  Chiffonade or (if you’re in a hurry) tear into bite size pieces, add to large mixing bowl.  Drizzle with enough olive oil to coat, few dashes of sea salt and lemon juice.  Massage mixture into the leaves. The greens will shrink a bit so I always use as many greens as possible. 
You can also massage in 1/2 a really ripe avocado, add in some shredded carrots, diced red bell pepper, fresh herbs & seasonings -  the possibilities are endless.  I just use what’s fresh in my garden, what I have on hand, or have a taste for. 
*Note – if harvesting dandelions – they are most tender and the least bitter before flowering.
We will be hosting wild edible weed walks throughout the spring & summer at Turquoise Barn - contact us for more details or check our website http://www.turquoisebarn.com/

Next time we'll talk about my favorite wild edible "Stinging Nettles" - eat if you dare........

"Everything I Need is Right Here" and The Nature of Books

My intention for this next entry was to show you lovely pictures of some nutritious & tasty dishes I've created using the amazing wild wonders that I've foraged this week; the scrumptious ramps, the delicious dandelion buds & leaves, watercress, & lambsquarters.  Well.....it's been non-stop rain, wind, & cold for the past week.  A few days ago on FB I was accused of being a "sissy" for not getting out there and planting my peas.  Yes - it's true...I'm a big "sissy" when it comes to cold weather - I don't mind the rain - but rain + cold = big fat sissy.  So the wild edibles, garden gossip, and pretty food pictures will have to wait until next time. 

Instead, what I did this morning felt like a preparation for getting out into nature again after this loooooooong winter.  Like many people, I have a lot of different interests and sometimes this can feel quite overwhelming.  However, I find that they are all relative to each other and someday I'll figure out how to incorporate them all together in a manner that will feel a bit more cohesive.  Well this morning - I felt that perhaps I was a bit closer than the usual just on my way to discovery path.    

It began last night when i went upstairs into my "studio".  A neglected space full of half finished projects, interesting gemstones, beads, metals, tools, wire, boxes, found materials, books, and photos -  all of my favorite "things" that I will someday get back to again.  The reason I went up there in the first place was not to start or finish a project, but to find some of my gemstones. 

I recently had a guest at the B&B who is what I like to refer to as an intuitive - someone who picks up on the energy of people, places, & things.  Well one of the "things" she told me was that everything I need is right here and also that I should bring more of the outside inside.  Since then i kept thinking about these gemstones I have and their healing properties and I just wanted to put them in some little bowls of water and place them all around my house with candles, rocks, & flowers. 

After I found them, I was then reminded of the time when I was studying gemology.  I so excited to discover the amazing beauty and miraculous way stones are created.  The precise conditions that must be present to create each individual stone and their characteristics & properties (just like plants & people!).  I loved looking through the microscope at all the "imperfections".  To me the more "imperfect" a stone was, the more interesting & beautiful.   Although beautiful in their own way,  I was never really interested in the "flawless" diamonds who's claimed "rarity" makes them cultishly desirable.  In my opinion, there were so many other amazing and much more unique stones with much more to offer in the way of character & beauty.  


Before I even began placing the stones around the house, I became sidetracked and jumped on the computer to begin searching for some info to help jog my memory about the history & lore of gemstones.  As usual, I ended up spending a great deal of time researching, reading, getting even more sidetracked and then wondering if i should enroll in the home study crystal healing on-line courses I accidentally found. 

Ok it's true, and I have been accused of having too many interests, not focusing on one thing; so in my mind I kept trying to justify further exploration or I should say re-exploring this topic.  How would/could this relate to what i'm currently doing with food?    

Then this morning, since it was STILL raining, I decided to try and do some searching in another neglected space in my house - my bookshelves.  What happened was I came across all of these books about gem lore, magic, nature, religion, spirituality, meditation, food, herbs, healing & art.  I pulled out some of my favorites and cleared a shelf especially for them along with some of my special "things" including the gemstones in water.  As I began choosing and arranging these books,  I realized that they were such a huge part of who I was years ago when I actually had time to sit, read, write, & create.  Well, realistically, it probably won't be any time soon that I will be able to actually read them all again, in fact there are some that I still have never even read.  But.....just rediscovering and perusing through them was truly inspirational. 

I read a page by Gary Snyder in 'The Earth Speaks" and found a couple of my edible wild plant ID books which made me realized how fortunate I am to be living in a place abundant with water, trees, plants, & flowers.  I found Andy Goldsworthy & Eva Hess books, two of my favorite artists, and felt inspired to start creating art again.  Books about organic gardening, flower fairies, spiral dances, fortune telling, Hopi & Zen meditations, architecture, alchemy, symbols, language, the earth, the sky, faraway places, and the secret life of inanimate objects - all tying together the connection between the earth, nature, healing, living, conditioning, humanity, & art - and all right here on my bookshelves.  Crazy as it may sound, rediscovering these literary treasures helped me to realized that everything I need really is right here.  BUT.......I'm not giving up on my dreams for sunny warm weather and lots of fascinating travel.

And I promise next time...food & wild edibles will be the topic...along with some pretty pictures. 

A Bit Behind the Times....My First Blog

So this is my first blog – yes, I realize i’m light years behind but it’s something that has been on my “to-do list” forever.  So why have I decided to start blogging?

I’ve been told by many that I “think out loud”  - this  can be both a blessing and a curse.  I also have extreme sensitivities to all of the senses…not to the point of being labeled as having severe sensory “issues”…but again….being both a blessing & a curse.  I’m also a Virgo and like structure & to stay organized.  Virgos are also known to be perfectionists and hyper-critical –  I like to tie this in with the sensitivity ”issues”.   Where am I going with this?  Well, I guess what I’m trying to say in a roundabout way is that I think I’m really going to enjoy blogging.  I can critique & “think out loud” about what I see, taste, touch, feel, & smell AND I’ll have it all documented in a nice neat orderly structure on-line. 

As a woman, artist, gardener, mother, raw & living food chef, educator, business owner, and wannabe again traveler, I’ll probably be blogging about all of the above.  Well....I’m going to post this so I can get on with some more interesting topics….like food, gardening, foraging for wild edibles, & art - which right now are at the top of my list.