Cats-play

Freecycle does not just clog up my inbox - today I picked up a bagful of fresh catnip I otherwise would not have gotten my hands on. What should I do with it? Make a bunch of tea and fall asleep? Try and lure cats to my backdoor?

There are several videos of cats getting stoned on youtube after taking catnip. I guess that's not surprising.

The Herb Companion says I can keep it around in case I cut myself while gardening (without gloves) - just tear off a leaf and milk the scrapes until I get back in the house for first aid. Except I have a bag full, not a catnip plant. The house I'm moving into has catnip in the garden. So I didn't even need to bother getting this stuff. I think I will just pass it along to my mom's kitty and my step mom's kitty.

Fermenting A New Move

It's weird to think in one month I will no longer visit this garden space in North Beach. But I always knew this time was coming. In the meantime I am trying to harvest what I can, give the plants some love, weed, and water my good byes. Thanks garden, it's been fun.

Today I have to return my library book Wild Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz. Although live-culture foods intimidate me because I haven't worked with them enough and therefore haven't had great experiences with them (and even some rotten ones - go figure) - I still haven't turned my back. But the ironic thing is I can't actually make most of these recipes within a week. That's not how fermentation works. It's a slow breaking down to enhance digestion.

This book became nothing more than a metaphor. As I reflect on the work I did, what I am actually leaving behind. And what has brought better or worse health. I just started soaking the grains. Bread on the way.

Roses & Strawberries, Happy Companions?

I needed somewhere to transplant the strawberries I'd removed to plant peas. They sat in a flat first near the garden, then near the recycling bin. I weeded around the roses and thought, why not? Strawberries may be shade-tolerant, and if nothing else provide a shallow mat.This is before I did any research.

The soil below the roses is very loose. Partially because they are planted on the top edge of a hill and the soil is sliding down.

I asked google if you can plant strawberries and roses together? Gardenweb forum says strawberries like slightly acidic soil and partial shade - which the 20-year old rose plants can provide. And strawberries are aggressive rooters - which the old rose plants will be able to handle with no effort. Yet Gardening Channel says strawberries require 6-10 hours of direct sun. They also say not to grow strawberries where roses once were (along with nightshades and raspberries) to avoid sharing diseases. They don't specify what those diseases are.

Well, the deed has been done. Now I will watch the plants develop. See if the flowers become berries. See if the leaves turn yellow or mottled brown. Fun & games.

Towards Toothpaste

So I am running out of toothpaste again. But before I hurry out and go find some at the co-op, I'm researching online whether it's cost-effective or just purely worth making some for the heck of it. Check out these links:

OraMedia Site for Dental Self-Sufficiency - 7 ways to please yourself, and therefore please your dentist
Make your toothpaste flouride-free - in a balance of coconut oil and baking soda
Listen to Your Mother - the essential oils are what will make your blend special

Why make your own?

*You can say you make your own toothpaste
*You can design a paste to perfectly fit your mouth's needs
*Experimentation is fun

Of course the most important aspect to dental health is good diet. I have occasionally been drinking spearmint/spilanthes tea to supplement a happy, refreshed mouth. Though coconut and essential oils are not cheap, I'm going for it anyway. Since I already have tea tree oil, I will purchase peppermint and coconut oil, and blend in clove spice - combining a little of all of Mother's suggestions.

Spice in Seattle

I just read this article about how cardamon cultivation can be blamed for some deforestation. I believe that I use cardamon and cinnamon more than I should.

Just like with coffee and tea there are fairly traded spices. Check out more information at Fair Trade International. I really like what Mountain Rose Herbs - based out of Eugene, OR - is doing with their "Fair Trade For Life" products. (They've got cardamon covered!)

Or you can grow what you can grow in your own backyard. And which exactly are those spices? I found an article by Oregon State University regarding herbs and spices that may be produced in these parts. Coriander comes from Cilantro. Others include Anise, Caraway, and Cumin.

In one Seed Savers Exchange online forum, the difference between herbs and spices is discussed. The herb is the leafy part of a plant and spice is derived from the other parts, such as seed or root. Cardamon is actually in the ginger family, and I guess that's a spice, and can be grown here. So it just depends on how your stretch the definition of a spice.

I just read about a spice farm in Pt Townsend! Run by Charlie Bodony. I need to start asking gardeners about what spices they love and grow.

Rhubarb rhubarb

The first pie I ever made was strawberry rhubarb. Saturday at the Barter Fair, a lady traded me a salve for some of her immature rhubarb. Now I am wondering what to do with this rhubarb. Another pie if all else fails. Reading about it on wikipedia, it's only really used for desserts - or pickled. Neither of which I spend much time doing. Therefore I have never felt a strong inclination to grow this vegetable - though they are a beautiful crimson red. Now that I have come to learn Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses rhubarb as a strong laxative - I am not any more convinced to grow the stuff. If I had canning supplies I might be more open to the pie plant.

Yet there are recipes I am curious to try:

Rhubarb Sweet & Sour Sauce (Rhubarb-Central! There are so many recipes!)

Plum & Rhubarb Jam (have a bunch of frozen plums) - the Apple & Spice blog is dedicated to vegetarian and gluten-free baking. Sweet.

Mammoth Resilience

At first I put off turning in the cover crop because it was a low priority. I'd turned in a quarter of it to plant garlic and still had all these empty beds to concern myself with. As the crop grew taller I stabbed at it occasionally, until it became too dense to turn back under the soil. Then when the clover flowers started appearing I had to leave the crop alone. Now I get to watch a beautiful display of Mammoth red clover flowers arising to maturity. Before I move out of here I will harvest a bunch.

Why bother? Years ago I harvested some flower heads understanding it to be a liver cleanser. Looking into research a bit more now I see red clover acts as a diuretic - blood cleanser/thinner - and expectorant - releasing mucous - so is useful for respiratory and skin issues. It is a source for calcium, potassium and vitamin C - as well as isoflavons (estrogen-like compounds). Traditionally red clover was used to aid menopause and treat osteoporosis. A flower for the ladies.

In HerbDigest over the last 24 hours I've seen posts about treating cancer with red clover. Could it be true? Not according to the American Cancer Society. They published an article clearly pointing out there is mixed scientific evidence regarding the benefits of women regularly consuming phytoestrogens. Regardless I do wonder exactly I would put these flower heads to use given I'm not deadling with these health problems personally. Probably won't for some time either.

Read more: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/red-clover-000270.htm#ixzz1uRrS9NZj

Dreamin'

The more organized I become, the more I find that securing a bit of land for myself is not so outlandish. Now that I am following groups like the National Young Farmer's Coalition I may constantly consider how to beat out bureaucratic and/or political hurdles. These are my peers, organizing around food policy, and I need to stick with them. They will help me learn about opportunities like the EQIP Organic Initiative - an USDA program that provides technical/financial assistance to farmers with conservation dreams (deadline June 1). But I am getting ahead of myself. I don't even have land to work with yet.

In a recent article I learned about the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) and Opportunity Act. Here, the US Dept. of Agriculture issues grants for education, training, outreach and mentoring programs for young farmers. The 2008 Food, Conservation, and Energy Act appropriated $75 million for FY 2009-12 toward this end. The application deadline for FY 2012 is November 22! Last year 35% of the applications received were awarded funding.

There are many resources online about submitting strong applications. Now I just need to hone in my vision. http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/electronic.html I'd be willing to do all the prep work even if it meant no grant funding. Everything I will learn in this process will set me up for something good, I know it.

Insect First Aid

It's not the height of insect season yet but I might as well start preparing. Previously I have relied on the powers of mind to not be bugged by bugs. But since I recently posted a link to "Creating Your Own Herbal First Aid Kit" on facebook, I was introduced to the idea of "natural insect repellant". I am now very curious about homemade insect repellants I can make now for this summer. Here are at least three resources:

How to repel mosquitos - the best thing about this article is that it recommends growing herbs: rosemary, marigolds, citronella, Horse Mint, basil, lemongrass, catnip, garlic, tansies, and Mosquito Plant (mmm garlic)

Methods for in home and on body - the general recommendation here is to keep clean and grow herbs! It also recommends steeping mint, rosemary, or basil for a spray

The Ecologist published an article on this topic! - this article is more concerned with preventing pests in the garden but anyway, echoes the idea of growing herbs: sage, peppermint, tansy, catnip and pennyroyal

The obvious next step for me will be to make a spray, relying on essential oils. There are some recipes posted here: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/natural-insect-repellents-460608#fbIndex1 I do wonder how fresh the herb or spray needs to be? Or I can make soap, with herbs like lemon balm (citronella), pennyroyal, lavender, and rose geranium. In addition I should do my best to remember to consume apple cider vinegar, garlic, and Vitamin B1.