Choice, Diversity

Interesting post by Kiashu/Green With A Gun on the so-called paradox of choice. Thoughtful and thought-provoking.

And from Greenpa/Little Blog In The Big Woods, a good post on biodiversity. (Why it's a good thing -- read about those ants in Texas yet? Go on, read it, it's a short post.)

Speaking of biodiversity, once I have the Yukon Golds, I'll have three kinds of potatoes...

Peas go in today, and maybe the lettuces as well (5 kinds of leaves, no, maybe 6?). I think I actually have more types of seeds than I have time and space to plant them.... but I should try to plant some of all of the types of parsnip, for instance, because I have no way of knowing which one will fare better up here. Sort of an experiment.

I do a lot of experimenting on a small scale, because sometimes something sounds good in theory, but doesn't work in practice -- or at least not in that particular place or for a particular person. Some things can be eliminated through research, like that cool pot-in-a-pot cooling system, which only works in a dry climate; others may work better for certain kinds of folks than others -- experience, skills, and personality type can all be factors. Me, I don't like things to involve too many numbers. I'll struggle through and crunch them at the start, but once I think I have things approximately correct, I'm done.

Gardening works the same way for me... I'll do the prep work, plant, water, nurture, mulch, give the plants a decent start. But then they better be able to take care of themselves for the most part, because I may only have a few hours per week to pay attention to them after that. Some weeks I may spend a few hours per day with them, and other weeks I'll only have time for a walk-thru. I have other things that need doing -- reading, research, writing, sewing, artwork, mending, painting, fixing stuff up, cooking, building, meetings, singing, ... you know, life!

Speaking of which, guess it's time for me to go out and finish digging one of my walk paths/ditches...

Independence Days Post

Sharon Astyk was inspired by someone (sorry, mind blank) to do a weekly listing of things she's trying to do each week toward providing for her self, family, community in regards to food. While we all know we can't be 100% self-sufficient (independence is an illusion, really), the more confident one can be about being able to provide for the basics, the more secure one can be. The challenge is to try to do something to do with at least some of the below listed things each week, and I think it's mostly food-oriented. I prefer to add in non-food things too though (for one thing I'm personally more likely to learn new things that aren't food-related), so my posts will likely include stuff like learning to crochet, or whatever -- which could be food-related if I were making shopping bags or bags for holding onions or something, I suppose... A number of folks have taken up the challenge, and report their week, usually over at Sharon's blog (http://www.sharonastyk.com)

I do like reading about what some other folks are doing, even if I haven't done that much myself -- gives me ideas. Like in the first week, when Sharon posted about preserving rhubarb -- useful for making pies in winter-time! Myself, I'm having more than enough to do with cultivating and planting right now... but maybe later, or next year...

Here's the categories:

Planted: obvious

Harvested: ditto

Preserved: canned, frozen, dried, pickled, smoked, etc.

Stored: could be bought stuff as well as homegrown

Prepped: Preparing the ground, hardening plants, soaking seeds, cleaning the kitchen and the canning equipment, etc.

Managed: This is stuff like checking your inventory, seeing what foodstuffs need to be used up soon. Useful to do, to prevent food waste and also so you know what you need before you go shopping (like, actually having a shopping list to take with you -- mine are usually written on the backs of envelopes...). Managing also seems to be things like maintenance, dealing with stuff like moving compost, etc.

Cooked something new: Obvious, but the reason for it is to try to expand the types of foods one is willing to eat, increase appreciation for food, discover new recipes one likes as this brings more interest to the table (filling not just the stomach's needs but the spirit's as well)

Worked on local food systems: contribute or participate in local systems. Could be buying local -- not just CSAs and farmers markets, but some supermarkets carry local produce as well, or you might get into trading fruits and veggies with friends, or help out at the food pantry, or... ?

Reduced waste: packaging, food waste, or maybe this can include things like making fewer trips to shop, or walking/biking to get some things

Learned a new skill: something food-related usually. But even aside from my inclination to include anything new I learn that's a useful skill, I could see including stuff like carpentry or metalworking skills when building a dehydrator or root cellar, or bike repair if that means you can ride to the market instead of driving, etc.

***
So, my past week:

Planted: All the baby onions, plus moved some of the green onions from what's going to be the herb garden. Also shelling peas seeds.

Harvested: one last bunch of dandelion greens. Today, started picking dandelion blossoms for making wine.

Preserved: nada

Stored: nada

Prepped: More garden prep, clearing clods of grass, etc. Soaked the peas last night, which got planted today.

Managed: Most of the canning supplies are now in the back attic.

Cooked something new: Tried making "mac and cheese" last night with rice instead of pasta. A little mushy for some folks I expect, but actually pretty tasty.

Worked on local food systems: Got our usual milk and yogurt over at Sidehill Farm. And of course had lunch a few times this week over at Country Pie Restaurant, and once at Elmer's (Mother's Day breakfast, just L and me). Not sure if those count exactly, but we like to support our local businesses, and these folks run family/locally-owned businesses, not chains or franchises. And the pizza dough is from scratch (yes, it makes a difference).

Reduced waste: Walked to Sidehill Farm. Saving some boxes for folks moving and for the grass-fed beef pick up day next fall.

Learned a new skill: Sort of learned to use a hoe. Yeah, I've gardened for years, but I don't tend to use a lot of different tools. It was okay. I might try using it again.