Oh, I almost forgot to post about the free tacos! On the way home from my sister's Kumon centre, we spied a sign for free tacos. At first, the other occupants in the car were skeptical because it was a sign made out of cardboard and they probably thought it was some kind of trap. I get that. You could trick a lot of people to Pickton farms that way. BUT, there was another sign and I refused to let it go. The last time I 'let it go' and now we don't have a canoe. That's right, my sister refused to stop to pick up a perfectly good canoe from a dumpster.
Anyway, despite the home-made signs, it was free taco day at Taco Del Mar establishment in Clayton Heights (some kind of anniversary). There was barely a line. I guess other people were put off by the less-than-legit-looking signs and that worked to our advantage. Like most things, tacos taste so much better free :-)
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Friday, 30 September 2011
Day 24 - Korean Dogwood
One of my favourite Devendra Banhart songs is now one of my favourite foraged fruits.
Known as a 'Kousa Dogwood', 'Korean Dogwood', 'Chinese Dogwood', or 'Japanese Dogwood', this tree produces edible fruit.
Known as a 'Kousa Dogwood', 'Korean Dogwood', 'Chinese Dogwood', or 'Japanese Dogwood', this tree produces edible fruit.
Day 23 - What is this?
I found this berry near the complex where I live and I don't know what it is, but it looks like a yoshi-berry and it is delicious.
The middle is sweet and has a texture like the inside of a peach. There are 3 little pits inside.
The middle is sweet and has a texture like the inside of a peach. There are 3 little pits inside.
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Day 22 - I See Plants and Animals!
Today I woke up wondering if the chestnuts lining city streets are ready for picking. Then I went to query google, only to realize what I need to do is take a walk :-)
Since I've been actively looking for food from trees and shrubs, I've become more aware of non-human life. As I pass by trees, I try to identify if they might be oaks with acorns and if so, how long until the acorns turn from green to brown. If I see a red berry, I might take a bite, study the leaves and the stalks and return home to figure out the name. It's like seeing individual faces and shaking hands instead of passively looking through a crowd of blurry people.
I am sure there are many wonderful books out there that expound this exact point: that by relying on stores for food we have become less dependent on nature and lost our connection to plant and animal life and the rhythms of seasons. When we don't need nature, it's easy to be cavalier with the well-being of these friends; it's easier to say, 'there's an empty lot, lets dump stuff in it', rather than 'let's plant a garden'.
Since I've been actively looking for food from trees and shrubs, I've become more aware of non-human life. As I pass by trees, I try to identify if they might be oaks with acorns and if so, how long until the acorns turn from green to brown. If I see a red berry, I might take a bite, study the leaves and the stalks and return home to figure out the name. It's like seeing individual faces and shaking hands instead of passively looking through a crowd of blurry people.
I am sure there are many wonderful books out there that expound this exact point: that by relying on stores for food we have become less dependent on nature and lost our connection to plant and animal life and the rhythms of seasons. When we don't need nature, it's easy to be cavalier with the well-being of these friends; it's easier to say, 'there's an empty lot, lets dump stuff in it', rather than 'let's plant a garden'.
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Days 18 & 19 - Birthday Potluck
This weekend I celebrated the birthdays of my sister's fiance and my mom. I made a delicious rhubarb, blackberry crumble with an apple I found while picking the blackberries. This is the end of blackberry season, for sure. There were bugs making blackberry hives and bees sucking nectar and giant spiders spinning webs between the brambles. I was glad to make this last foray and excited to find a tree with little green apples on it!
I think potluck dinners are the wave of the post-apocalyptic future. The community sharing aspect is in direct alignment with abundance. There was more than enough food and there was a wonderful variety!
I even foraged a bit in my parent's backyard and came away with: lettuce, grapes, apples, and a zucchini!
I found choke cherries near my condo, that while edible, are a little tart. I'm not sure what I will do once I collect the rest. Looking forward to chestnuts and acorns.
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| Wild Birthday Crumble |
I think potluck dinners are the wave of the post-apocalyptic future. The community sharing aspect is in direct alignment with abundance. There was more than enough food and there was a wonderful variety!
I even foraged a bit in my parent's backyard and came away with: lettuce, grapes, apples, and a zucchini!
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| Lettuce, Apples, Zucchini, also Lavender |
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| Grapes from my parent's yard |
I found choke cherries near my condo, that while edible, are a little tart. I'm not sure what I will do once I collect the rest. Looking forward to chestnuts and acorns.
Friday, 23 September 2011
Day 17 - Moon Time
I started my period and while this may seem like a total overshare, I assure you, it is not. This is confirmation that yesterday's episode was a result of hormonal fluctuations. Keeping in mind the blood test results, during this time I have resolved to take special care to eat meals loaded with iron and b-vitamins. Today, for example, I had raw dandelion greens on squash and couscous with kombucha tea!
Also note that I would commit a number of illicit acts for chocolate-covered pretzels. The concept of craving what I don't have is interesting to observe. More so during this time, I see the tendency to think negatively and self-indulgently, to be less present. I find the best thing to do is to relax (lie down, do gentle yoga, minimize noise). When I don't feel as much physical tension, this want softens and I am content with tea. Who is this negative and self-indulgent being anyways? I don't know, but it is fiendishly thinking about melting down unsweetened Baker's chocolate squares with sugar packets from Starbucks.
Also note that I would commit a number of illicit acts for chocolate-covered pretzels. The concept of craving what I don't have is interesting to observe. More so during this time, I see the tendency to think negatively and self-indulgently, to be less present. I find the best thing to do is to relax (lie down, do gentle yoga, minimize noise). When I don't feel as much physical tension, this want softens and I am content with tea. Who is this negative and self-indulgent being anyways? I don't know, but it is fiendishly thinking about melting down unsweetened Baker's chocolate squares with sugar packets from Starbucks.
Day 16 - Taking Stock
Woke up this morning violently ill with a fever, chills, and excruciating abdominal pain, thinking I was dying from improper food preparation. It's funny now because I feel fine and because I am actually Food Safe Certified. When in pain, the mind likes to play out the most dramatic scenarios and prey on our deepest pits of fear. Inhale. Exhale. Feel the pain and be with it. Then wonder why you don't have any drugs in the house. Just kidding.
Confession time: I worked at my sister's Kumon centre today and ate pizza that wasn't foraged. However, it was in exchange for labour and I had a terrible morning; I'm going to justify this minor infraction of the rules, and suppose a really high coefficient of friction on this slippery slope.
Threw out the sprouts because it has been more than 6 days and they smell like feces. Dehydrated some lavender for tea. When I find a moment, I will take the flowers off the stalks and store them in a pretty jar. I also made orange juice from 3 oranges. It was amazing...like my home is some kind of Orange Julius stand with bendy straws and foamy orange juice!
Confession time: I worked at my sister's Kumon centre today and ate pizza that wasn't foraged. However, it was in exchange for labour and I had a terrible morning; I'm going to justify this minor infraction of the rules, and suppose a really high coefficient of friction on this slippery slope.
Threw out the sprouts because it has been more than 6 days and they smell like feces. Dehydrated some lavender for tea. When I find a moment, I will take the flowers off the stalks and store them in a pretty jar. I also made orange juice from 3 oranges. It was amazing...like my home is some kind of Orange Julius stand with bendy straws and foamy orange juice!
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