Thursday Open Thread 6-15-2017
Cycles in time. Learning the cycles of nature is part of food resilience. It takes the least effort to collect and preserve during the season of surplus.
Identify event cycles and learning when action can be used to maximize the change.
History can be used analysis similar cycles and how they responded to citizen pressure and uprising. It is useful to seek out history presented by different cultures. Their viewpoint is not the American centric view of how the world revolves around the US.
If you don't mind close caption I found this series very interesting.
link https://youtu.be/K9YB-qVofRI?list=PLJ9Xy5D1FVi-bRd7FaPJ7R7ulGTrDyREU
[video:https://youtu.be/K9YB-qVofRI?list=PLJ9Xy5D1FVi-bRd7FaPJ7R7ulGTrDyREU]
Another cultures opinion on Trump's foreign policy goals.
His loyalty seems to be reserved solely for states that produce fossil fuels, while his disdain is largely directed at countries that favor green energy.
How you view the world – which of these visions you embrace – truly matters when it comes to shaping American foreign policy. If you favor a Wilsonian view (as do most American diplomats), your primary objective will be to bolster ties with Great Britain, France, Germany, and other like-minded democracies while seeking to limit the influence of illiberal autocracies like Russia, Turkey, and China.
If you uphold a Huntingtonian outlook (as do many of Trump’s followers, advisors, and appointees), your goal will be to resist the spread of Islamist movements, whether they are backed by Shiite-majority Iran or Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia.
But if, like Trump, your view of the world is largely governed by energy preferences, none of these other considerations matter; instead, you will lend your support to nations that embrace fossil fuels and punish those that favor the alternatives.
Farm Report
One of our interesting weather patterns is cool, rainy weather in June just as the first cutting of hay is ready. The neighbor hit the perfect window of warm days to mow, rake, bale and transport to the barn.
Winter hay in the barn 6 hours before the rain started falling.
Grazers and carnivores have food for this upcoming winter set back.
Food Report
Harvested puffball mushrooms while changing irrigation pipes before breakfast. (It is very important to be able to tell the difference between an edible mushroom and visually similar toxic mushrooms).
Sauteed them with the walking Egyptian onions I originally got a start from my Grandmother in 1988. In my climate they provide green onions sprigs for about 8 months of the year. They are easy to preserve by drying.
The extra spring eggs have been frozen to be available during the chickens fall molting. The fresh milk has been preserved as cheese and ghee butter.
Comments
I learn something from you every time!
You freeze eggs? Wow.
And puffball mushrooms are edible? We find mushrooms that look like that here.
Edited to add . . . That looks delicious!!
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Preservation books prior to our litigation phase
are more likely to contain information on how to avoid potential food poisoning hazards vs referring us to use a commercial product. The book I check first is my 1973 version of Farm Journal Freezing and Canning Cookbook.
The freeze the eggs are frozen in zip-lock bags in amounts common to the recipes I regularly make.
Add 1 cup chilled eggs (about 12) add 1 Tbl sugar (or 1/2 tsp salt) place in zip-lock bag. Use a chop stick to beat, seal and freeze). If the beating faze step is skipped the yolks texture is different than fresh.
I have not tried the methods of storing in wood ash (several months) or submerged in cold water (several months) cold water.
If you are going to collect mushrooms, please learn to identify visually similar toxic varieties.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Chickens molt?
And stop laying? It is 8 am, and you probably have half your work done already.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Natural molt occurs in fall, commercial growers induce
a forced molt to encourage longer egg production from their layers. I have mixed feeling the option is forced molting or butchering as to which is a better practice for the bird. Most of our egg producers in the US use forced molting.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Egyptian walking onions.
I have never heard of them, but your link says they grow to zone 9. I might give them a try in the fall planting. I skimmed your link but bookmarked it and will go back later. Anything that is a perennial, useful, and good, (and fairly easy) gets a high planting-priority from me.
When you say,
I very much agree. Trying to be in tune with the seasons is the best starting point, although we can't anticipate what will happen with certainty, still it helps. It amounts to trying to work with nature instead of struggling against nature. I'm learning that lesson bit by bit.
The puffball mushrooms are very neat. Freezing eggs though?
I'm wishing that the people of the earth would adopt a world view that is all about taking care of this planet earth.
Wild onions
We have wild onions that grow out in the woods. They never get very big, but are great to use in early spring. They seem to disappear when it gets hot though.
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Had them when I was young, need to find again
Thanks for this reminder of these. I am starting a small edible landscape garden in the yard and have several other onions -- but I recall that these were nice when we had them years ago.
I originally got some of the bulbils from one of the interpreters in a garden exhibit at Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts back in 1968 while on a six-week family trip around the country.
They did great at three homes where we lived and were still growing at the last one when I went into the service. Unfortunately, the family moved once more while I was away and didn't think to take any of the plants or bulbils.
Looking around the internet, it looks like there are a number of sources, so I will need to get busy with that!
Small update and advice request . . .
Earlier this week Lookout mentioned she had harvested potatoes and planted sweet potatoes. Any advice? I have never tried to grow sweet potatoes before.
Harvested onions last week, let them dry, then braided them
Planted okra and pumpkins seeds in the former onion bed
Final potato harvest. This is about 1/4 of the total as we have been eating them since April
Put the hay and the soaker hose back on the bed
Trying to sprout sweet potatoes to plant back into the potato bed
Also, again to StudentofEarth . . . I really enjoyed your OT. So much to ponder.
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
@mhagle I'll have to look for
I'll have to look for wild onions next spring.
I really like your onion braid. I took the easy and rather messy way out and just laid all the onions over a wide mesh screen propped up over something, but I like your way better. It looks nice too. Kudos on your potato harvest.
Onion braid is easy . . .
I just watched some YouTube videos to learn how. Of course, if you have a good spot for the screen, that sounds great. A cool place to put potatoes too?
It is handy to just cut an onion off the braid when you need one.
Are you able to get your onions to grow big? Mine are mild and tender, but are never very large.
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
I would say
our onions are about medium size. We get the occasional small and large ones, but not for the most part. Ours are mild as well, not at all harsh like the ones at the grocery store. We haven't grown potatoes in a long time so no storage problem. When we do have excess harvest of other veggies, I usually freeze them.
I really enjoy being taken away, to your farm and the life there
every Thurs.
Thanks soe!
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut
Enjoy reading about your music gigs - played the drums
in band 4th - 8th grade. Then the choice was Ag class with bonus of participating in summer fair or continuing band. Never realized in addition to Ag the curriculum included business practices, economics, parliamentary procedure and leadership skills. Got many of my business and political insight by joining Future Farmers of America. Learned theory and direct application of working within an organization with strong local ties, state and national to effect politics and big business.
Writing this, I just realized how well trained and connected the the Ag folks are by the end of high school. Big business and conservative politicians have used this ground force well to influence policy and stamp out rural socialist tendencies.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Good morning, SOE ~~
Ok, I'm joining the chorus to ask - how do you successfully freeze eggs? I'm getting chickens next year and need to know!
Our garlic scapes are ready and I'll be making lots of scape pesto, yum!
IMHO ~ Herr Drumpf hates green energy because of the wind farm overlooking his golf resort in Scotland. There's one he didn't "win!" Now we all get to live in his petulant vengeance.
Have a beautiful day, folks!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
I saw a recipe
for Scape Vichyssoise and I thought of you. You may already have it but I'll put it here just in case.
1 tbsp butter
2 cups chopped garlic scapes
1 cup sliced leeks
2 cups diced peeled red potatoes
4 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup whipping cream
salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tbsp chopped Italian parsley
Heat butter in pot on medium-high. Add scapes and leeks, saute 2 minutes. Add potatoes, saute until softened slightly, about 2 minutes. Add stock, bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes or until potatoes are cooked. Puree. Add cream and season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes to blend flavours. Stir in parsley. Serves 4
Thanks for the recipe!
Don't have it so I'll give it a whirl!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Hi, RA - I'm still not clear on what a garlic scape is -
any chance you could post a photo or two?
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
I'm computer challenged el, so
here's a web site with pics if them!
https://cedarcirclefarm.org/tips/entry/how-and-when-to-cut-your-garlic-s...
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Want to try a pesto with the onions
What is your recipe for the garlic scape pesto. You have inspired me to plant some garlic this year.
Here is the link to method of freezing eggs.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Thanks, SOE!
Yes, plant some garlic - soooo yummy!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
I love hearing about your garlic farming . . .
but must confess I had never heard of garlic scapes until now! I had to look it up and found this cool article . . . http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/06/the-crisper-whisperer-what-to...
Wow. And Randtntx . . . your recipe sounds so yummy.
RA - have you posted pictures of your garlic?
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Garlic scapes are amazing.
Only learned about them a few years ago, when we belonged to a CSA for the summer.
One of the weekly allotments was garlic scapes. Though we were told by folks there that they could be used to make pesto I inquired with a friend upstate who is my go-to guy for gardening/farming. He confirmed they are excellent for pesto, as well as just sautéing in recipes.
Haven't found them again. But we absolutely loved the pesto we made from them.
Do you get them too, @RaggedyAnn?
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut
We harvested our first cutting today!
I'm going to make tons of pesto and give a few away. They are delicious in scrambled eggs and anything that calls for garlic.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Hi, mh ~ I don't have pics of the garlic because
I would not know how to pist them on my iPad. I've only learned about copying and pasting links, but, hey - that's a start!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Now that the trees have leafed out, here it is now 68
and in Ithaca with concrete it's 77. That is why I do not have air conditioning. But it makes growing things tough, all the shade. I have been unable (hospital, etc) to plant my groundnut. It wants climbing and I am considering using some old lattice upright, I have to figure out the stakes to set that in vertically. And I want to paint the lattice bright blue. Saw that idea somewhere.
While I was in the hospital, received an olive tree, a cranberry bush, and a sedum mat. All on the deck now. The olive is large (3-4') and will winter inside. Growing olives in NY! And cranberries! And groundnut!
Indoors I am growing cherry tomatoes and just started Thai peppers. My mustard plants under light are flowering. The leaves are good. Unfortunately I have to eat pablum for some time. No chewing with a broken jaw. This has truly harshed my gardening. Still wobbly walk, off-balance all the time. Two falls since I broke my face. Slow and steady.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Olives and cranberries - wonderful
Questions . . . what is a groundnut? And are Thai peppers hot?
Glad you have cherry tomatoes and other stuff going despite setbacks!
Well wishes for your recovery Riverlover.
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Cold weather is a garden challenge
It is 60 degrees right now and it was 33 early morning. Understand why you focus indoors and on trees.
Not familiar with groundnuts is this link discussing the same plant you want to get into the ground. I might be able to grow it with irrigation.
On a more serious note I am very concerned about your falls. It is not normal. Know you have been to the doctor and hospital several times, but it does not seem to be improving and you have serious fall related injuries. If you have not seen a geriatric physician or neurologist it might be time to visit one.
At minimum you could print this article on medications for your daughter, in nursing training, to review the meds you are taking. Have her pay particular attention to meds that increase sedation, drowsiness, dizziness and orthostatic hypotention. She needs to check of your blood pressure at three stages lying down, immediately upon sitting and upon standing. Normally there is not a significant difference, but some meds and medical conditions increase the time for blood pressure to adjust gravity. Falls normally happen when first standing or after taking a few steps. If a potential problem is discovered you can have a better conversation with your primary doctor.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
^^^Yes, please^^^^ Very worried about the falls.
You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again you did not know. ~ William Wiberforce
If you can donate, please! POP Money is available for bank-to-bank transfers. Email JtC to make a monthly donation.
Thanks, SOE. The walking onions sound great. Can the topsets be
cooking like regular onions? The article just talks of eating them solo.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Use in any recipie as a relpacement for scallions or leeks.
The little bulbs can be used as pearl onions. It is a little tedious prepping them, but if wanting to impress an audience.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Trading Places
link
unpopular
And Labour's popularity is on the rise now.
Seems old Jeremy struck a responsive chord with a surprising number of Britons.....
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Encouraged by the quick change in England
after living under the May administration for a year. Corbyn has shifted the policy focus in England by voting versus increasing societal violence. It is hard to believe the significance of the event in spite of the on-schedule pre-vote terrorist attack.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.