Feeding People

Issue 68-2-1
I am still savoring the Southern Food Issue of Oxford American. It's so good I'm afraid if I gobble it up, there'll be no more.  I mean where else are you going to read an article about eating dirt? Yes, you heard me, dirt? Beth Ann Fennelly's story about Geophagy is fascinating.

Beans 

beans and squash will be ready to pick soon.

Squash

Rainbow chard
Rainbow Chard

Romaine
Romaine Lettuce


Spinach
 
Spinach

Wash
Since I don't use pesticides… I must be sure to wash off all spiders and dirt.

Harvest

Yesterday I delivered a donation from an other home gardener along with
spinach, chard & lettuce from my own garden, to the Community
Cupboard. I was lucky enough to be working from home and was able to visit with the volunteers for while and watch as the two arm loads of home-grown produce went home with happy recipients.

Ruth 

Ruth, a longtime volunteer helps bag the groceries for clients

Venison
Venison donated by hunters

Tortillas
 Eggs and tortillas…this is Texas after all

A few weeks ago I cooked up and idea, not an original idea, but a good one none the less. I wanted to encourage local residents to simply plant a little extra in their gardens and donate the food to the Community Cupboard. I've called this A Row to Share and have started a blog about the program. I have a couple contributors now, but hope it grows into a larger project that I can let someone else take over. I inquired at the high school to see if any of the agriculture science classes would be interested in planting a garden and donate the harvest. Becky Maass's 4th period Horticulture class was game. They planted their garden with okra, peppers, strawberries, tomatoes and corn. I had the pleasure of visiting them yesterday. See their peppers below.

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Flora & Fauna

DSC00453
Oregon Grape Mahonia aquifolium
There is no good reason why this plant is loving life in my Central Texas courtyard, being that it is the state flower of freaking Oregon, but it is.

DSC00452
Blackfoot Daisy Melampodium leucanthum
Drought & heat tolerant… attracts butterflies

DSC00433
Bloodgood Japanese Maple Acer palmatum
Loved this so much we went back to the nursery the following day to buy another one of these

DSC00444 Maisy Blue Canis lupis familiaris
Needs lots of water & kisses

Vita-Mix or Vita-Nix?

Vita_mix_5200_blenders-400-400

I have been dreaming of buying one of these babies lately. Now, how to justify the whopping price tag…

Justification #1 I have outgrown my food processor I received as a wedding gift over 11 years ago. I want desperately to make dough for two pies at once, not one. I'm sure I do not to explain why this is better, do I?

Justification #2 The blender I received as gift for the above mentioned wedding whirs a lot more than it blends these days.

Justification #3 the combined price of a bigger better food processor and decent blender comes close (this may be a stretch) to cost of Vita-Mix Super 5200 with both dry and wet blade containers.

Justification #4 the 7-year warranty

Justification #5 Counter space, Counter space, Counter space