Saturday, May 17, 2008
Just a reminder...
Don't Forget, Broad Appetit is tomorrow! Get hungry and join us for fun and FOOD! Joel Salatin will be speaking on the main stage starting at 2:00 pm. There will also be a locavore's market featuring many of Richmond's favorite vendors, as well as prepared food by several local restaurants. See you there!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Silence
In an attempt to gain perspective on the world and my place in it, I attended a retreat last weekend where the focus was on contemplation and inward reflection. Both of those acts take a lot of quiet to achieve, so much of our time together was spent in silence. This included our mealtimes, spent together but in total silence. Now, what I want to tell you is that it was amazing to eat this way- that all of my other senses were heightened, and that I had some deep epiphanies that only come when one takes herself out of a situation has time and space to reflect.
But, it was awkward.
I know this is only MY experience. The monk leading the retreat was clearly fine, having done this three meals a day, seven days a week for goodness knows how long. It was the rest of us who were trying to get there, and probably only me who was fidgety in the process. I felt that the food went unappreciated, like it was there for the nourishment of our bodies only and not really for our enjoyment. How can we enjoy something fully without the ability to share it?
What was funny, too, was that the normal cues for ending a meal were lost. One had to just get up from the table and leave. I felt like I left the table in a snit, got up, turned around and stomped off without a word.
Clearly, I need more practice.
But, it was awkward.
I know this is only MY experience. The monk leading the retreat was clearly fine, having done this three meals a day, seven days a week for goodness knows how long. It was the rest of us who were trying to get there, and probably only me who was fidgety in the process. I felt that the food went unappreciated, like it was there for the nourishment of our bodies only and not really for our enjoyment. How can we enjoy something fully without the ability to share it?
What was funny, too, was that the normal cues for ending a meal were lost. One had to just get up from the table and leave. I felt like I left the table in a snit, got up, turned around and stomped off without a word.
Clearly, I need more practice.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Heritage Harvest Festival
Just passing along a reminder and link for those who would like to plan for the Heritage Harvest Festival in the Charlottesville area. I went last fall and had a nice day of food sampling, and learning about organic pest control, new and old plant, preserving and planting endangered local plant species, and a great lecture on the use of medicinal plants.
Here is link for those who are interested http://www.heritageharvestfestival.com/
Here is link for those who are interested http://www.heritageharvestfestival.com/
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Excitement in the Air!
This week has been a great week for local food in the Richmond area. With so much going on, it is hard to keep up. Farms for berry picking, great lectures, new markets and much more are on the horizon.
We at RFC decided we wanted to celebrate the bounty of the spring with a potluck. The idea was for everyone to visit their local farmers market, see what wonderful treats they could find, and turn them into great dish to share.
The result? So many delicious new dishes to try and a wonderful group of people who could all share stories about their market's opening day or what their market had this week. Backyard croquet, bocce ball, good people and good food. I think we all had a great time and some people were encouraged by the event to try the market for the first time. Not everyone you know and care about will be in the same place you are when it comes to exploring and supporting local foods, but in the spirit of a great day with good friends you may be surprised by how many people will want to participate! I think a potluck that celebrates the best of the season is a great way to spend time with friends while encouraging greater knowledge and appreciation of your larger community.
Oh yeah, the pumpkin in the photograph is a leftover from this past fall, still in perfect condition. It was valuable addition used for holding down the flyaway napkins.
Why Bother? -- Michael Pollan Article
We love Michael Pollan at the RFC, and his book The Omnivore's Dilemma was one of the motivating forces in my decision to start eating local and organic. Pollan came out recently with an article discussing climate change. Thanks to the Tricycle Gardens blog for the tip-off on this article:
Why bother? That really is the big question facing us as individuals hoping to do something about climate change, and it's not an easy one to answer. I don't know about you, but for me the most upsetting moment in "An Inconvenient Truth" came long after Al Gore scared the hell out of me, constructing an utterly convincing case that the very survival of life on earth as we know it is threatened by climate change. No, the really dark moment came during the closing credits, when we are asked to . . . change our light bulbs. That's when it got really depressing. The immense disproportion between the magnitude of the problem Gore had described and the puniness of what he was asking us to do about it was enough to sink your heart.
You can read the full article here.
Later on in the piece, Pollan notes,
But the act I want to talk about is growing some--even just a little--of your own food. Rip out your lawn, if you have one, and if you don't--if you live in a high-rise, or have a yard shrouded in shade--look into getting a plot in a community garden. Measured against the Problem We Face, planting a garden sounds pretty benign, I know, but in fact it's one of the most powerful things an individual can do--to reduce your carbon footprint, sure, but more important, to reduce your sense of dependence and dividedness: to change the cheap-energy mind.
This makes me feel great about the garden I just planted yesterday.
Why bother? That really is the big question facing us as individuals hoping to do something about climate change, and it's not an easy one to answer. I don't know about you, but for me the most upsetting moment in "An Inconvenient Truth" came long after Al Gore scared the hell out of me, constructing an utterly convincing case that the very survival of life on earth as we know it is threatened by climate change. No, the really dark moment came during the closing credits, when we are asked to . . . change our light bulbs. That's when it got really depressing. The immense disproportion between the magnitude of the problem Gore had described and the puniness of what he was asking us to do about it was enough to sink your heart.
You can read the full article here.
Later on in the piece, Pollan notes,
But the act I want to talk about is growing some--even just a little--of your own food. Rip out your lawn, if you have one, and if you don't--if you live in a high-rise, or have a yard shrouded in shade--look into getting a plot in a community garden. Measured against the Problem We Face, planting a garden sounds pretty benign, I know, but in fact it's one of the most powerful things an individual can do--to reduce your carbon footprint, sure, but more important, to reduce your sense of dependence and dividedness: to change the cheap-energy mind.
This makes me feel great about the garden I just planted yesterday.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The Perfect Strawberry
Hello again from Hannah, RFC correspondent and self appointed blogger in search of the perfect strawberry. As soon as the calendar hits May I'm ready for a taste of red and pure sunshine in a ripe, seed studded body. As I child, I grew up filling my own green cardboard quarts with Sweet Charlies and Early Glows. Now I can't stand to pass a farm with a sign marked "U-Pick." If I haven't picked a flat and gotten a farmer's tan by at least Mother's Day, I'll be eager to hit the field.
Still, this year my search began in Mechanicsville, at Pole Green Produce off of Pole Green Road. This highly evolved farmer's stand offers local produce in addition to items shipped from (gasp) out of state. There are flowers and melons, jams and Montana Gold Bread products in addition to the local salad greens and onions. But I walked past it all for the green quarts of berries, still encrusted with local VA dirt, and not a bad price. I ate half for breakfast.
But I wasn't satisfied. Not until my knees bear red marks from an hour leaning over a row of berry plants (and on a few squished berry guts) will my quest end. I perused that excellent publication: Virginia Grown Guide to Pick-Your-Own and Select-Your-Own Farm Products. Hanover has some prospects, which I soon hope to review. Also listed is Mount Olympus Berry farm, out on US 1 (or I-95 North) in Carmel Church, past King's Dominion.
The sun was out the day my sister and I trekked up to the home of the gods. It had been sunny all weekend-- which is great for the berries. The more sunlight, the more flavor packed into each juicy bit. The smaller berries are often my favorite, for the flavor is more concentrated. Mount Olympus offers Sweet Charlies as an early variety and Chandler for a later one. The season, I'm told, can last six weeks, depending on heat or rain. Strawberries dislike both.
The Charlies at Mount Olympus were very happy berries. We picked two flats, enough to make jam. While we were there, we looked around the extensive market offerings: vegetables, herbs, potted plants, flats of flowers and landscaping shrubs. There's a green house on site, as well as a field of blueberries, a row of blackberries, and three ponds (no fishing allowed).
In addition to strawberries, an avid picker can stock up on berries of other shades (blue, black), corn and melons, or vegetables like heirloom tomatoes and twenty varieties of pepper. I was told that folks are welcome to pick their own vegetables, but this has never been a popular option. The farm also supplies an impressive list of farmer's markets around Virginia, if working in the fields is not your style.
I hope you will try to at least visit some local farms. If you can be tempted, go ahead and fill a quart with nothing but the reddest fruit you can find. You'll be sure each one is the perfect strawberry.
Information for Mount Olympus Berry Farm is available at www.mtolympusfarm.com. Or call 804-448-0395.
Still, this year my search began in Mechanicsville, at Pole Green Produce off of Pole Green Road. This highly evolved farmer's stand offers local produce in addition to items shipped from (gasp) out of state. There are flowers and melons, jams and Montana Gold Bread products in addition to the local salad greens and onions. But I walked past it all for the green quarts of berries, still encrusted with local VA dirt, and not a bad price. I ate half for breakfast.
But I wasn't satisfied. Not until my knees bear red marks from an hour leaning over a row of berry plants (and on a few squished berry guts) will my quest end. I perused that excellent publication: Virginia Grown Guide to Pick-Your-Own and Select-Your-Own Farm Products. Hanover has some prospects, which I soon hope to review. Also listed is Mount Olympus Berry farm, out on US 1 (or I-95 North) in Carmel Church, past King's Dominion.
The sun was out the day my sister and I trekked up to the home of the gods. It had been sunny all weekend-- which is great for the berries. The more sunlight, the more flavor packed into each juicy bit. The smaller berries are often my favorite, for the flavor is more concentrated. Mount Olympus offers Sweet Charlies as an early variety and Chandler for a later one. The season, I'm told, can last six weeks, depending on heat or rain. Strawberries dislike both.
The Charlies at Mount Olympus were very happy berries. We picked two flats, enough to make jam. While we were there, we looked around the extensive market offerings: vegetables, herbs, potted plants, flats of flowers and landscaping shrubs. There's a green house on site, as well as a field of blueberries, a row of blackberries, and three ponds (no fishing allowed).
In addition to strawberries, an avid picker can stock up on berries of other shades (blue, black), corn and melons, or vegetables like heirloom tomatoes and twenty varieties of pepper. I was told that folks are welcome to pick their own vegetables, but this has never been a popular option. The farm also supplies an impressive list of farmer's markets around Virginia, if working in the fields is not your style.
I hope you will try to at least visit some local farms. If you can be tempted, go ahead and fill a quart with nothing but the reddest fruit you can find. You'll be sure each one is the perfect strawberry.
Information for Mount Olympus Berry Farm is available at www.mtolympusfarm.com. Or call 804-448-0395.
Arugula Walnut Pesto
I'm not sure if I've mentioned yet that I am (jointly, with my parents) a member of Victory Farms' CSA this year. Since the markets are open and Victory's CSA has begun, it's officially the season for...are you ready for it? Yes: solutions to your bulk produce problems!
This week?
On my first trip to the market, I picked up a massive bunch of arugula from Victory's table. I thought I'd just use it in my salads for the next few days, but it turned out to be WAY more arugula than I had anticipated. Even using a LOT on my salad every day at lunch, I realized most of the bunch would go bad before I could eat it. And, come on -- you can only eat so much arugula in one day.
Solution? Arugula Walnut Pesto!
Pesto doesn't have to be confined to basil -- you can use any fragrant green as a base. There are plenty of recipes online for pestos made from arugula, mint and cilantro. I found this recipe on RecipeZaar and doubled it; the result was wonderful, a spicy, garlicky spread with a variety of potential uses. One idea is to make toast and use the pesto as a spread; pesto pizza is an option, and then there's always pasta. Pesto is a great way of preserving greens that wilt and go bad quickly -- I highly recommend making arugula pesto if you have extra.
This week?
On my first trip to the market, I picked up a massive bunch of arugula from Victory's table. I thought I'd just use it in my salads for the next few days, but it turned out to be WAY more arugula than I had anticipated. Even using a LOT on my salad every day at lunch, I realized most of the bunch would go bad before I could eat it. And, come on -- you can only eat so much arugula in one day.
Solution? Arugula Walnut Pesto!
Pesto doesn't have to be confined to basil -- you can use any fragrant green as a base. There are plenty of recipes online for pestos made from arugula, mint and cilantro. I found this recipe on RecipeZaar and doubled it; the result was wonderful, a spicy, garlicky spread with a variety of potential uses. One idea is to make toast and use the pesto as a spread; pesto pizza is an option, and then there's always pasta. Pesto is a great way of preserving greens that wilt and go bad quickly -- I highly recommend making arugula pesto if you have extra.
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