Changes in my diet...

So, today I wanted to share with you the changes I've made in my diet the last few months. I have been researching (quite by accident!) on going back to a very traditional diet. Basically, if my grandma wouldn't have recognized the food, it's not on the menu. That's not to say I am being anal retentive about it - I let myself have some processed crap once in a while, but I find my body not liking it much when I do.
For dinner tonite (as an example) I had a stir fry with snap peas, zucchini, garlic, potatoes, broccoli (all fresh from my own garden) and pasture raised pork, and mushrooms (from the store.) It was delicious! And oh, so good for me!

Some simple changes I've made to get the process started:

• no more refined sugar. If I need sugar, I now use unrefined cane sugar
• sea salt instead of table salt
• sourdough bread (fermented foods are extremely good for you... and yummy, too!)preferably made with whole grain flour, not white or whole wheat flour
• unpasturized honey (pasturized honey has a glycemic level that is through the roof - the heating process does that. Plus, unpasturized has certain bacterias that are very beneficial to us)
• NO PROCESSED FOODS
• Raw milk. This one is my personal favourite. It is illegal to buy (stupid government) so you have to find a cow share to get into). Raw milk has beneficial bacteria and microbes we all NEED to be healthy, and OMG is it ever good. You have to get your milk from grass-fed, hand milked cows. The grass fed is the healthiest way to keep your cow, and machine milked cows are the scary type... bad bacteria builds up in the machines, and that's why we now need to pasturize our grocery store milk. Think about it - 100 years ago, people drank raw milk every day, and no one died from it. It was only when we industrialized the process that people started to get sick.
• Butter from grass fed cows. NO MORE MARGARINE! I now make my own butter from my milk each week. The stuff from the store is the same old story - made from corn and grain fed cows... NOT healthy for you at all.
• meat - now I only get my meat from grass fed cows, pasture raised chickens and pigs. Also, I raise my own eggs from pasture raised chickens. These eggs and meat have lots of natural omega-3's, and other healthy nutrients we need. Again, it's how we raise the animals that has the most impact on how healthy the products we get from them are. Eggs only became 'bad' when they started raising them on corn and grain (not a natural diet) and keeping them in little cages or cramped in close quarters. Sad.

Slowly, I am adding a new element into my diet, making more of my own foods, growing as much as I can, and trying to buy organic when I can afford it.
Some huge differences I've noticed - the most noticable thing is that I don't get any zits anymore! I have only had one in the last 3 or 4 months. My skin is clearer than it's been since I was a kid. The zit I did get was just about 3 weeks ago. I was all rush, rush, and panicky - didn't have time to make something good, so I went to McDonald's. Within HOURS, I had a brush of pimples all over my chin. Geez! They have since cleared up, and I haven't had another since... I think that's telling me something!
I have more energy - I work 16 hour days, running 2 business', and I'm not totally dragged out all the time. I used to be, even when I wasn't working hard.
I have lost 10 lbs, and I am not even trying to. It is coming off slowly, but surely. It's great!
I still am not getting any major sugar cravings. I didn't realize I used to eat so much sugar - I thought my diet was good. Not. Now, I have a little piece of chocolate each day, and unless I get really stressed out, that seems to be enough.
My teeth seem to be getting healthier. I always have taken good care of my teeth, but have fillings all over the place. I have recently had a few fillings fall out, and can't afford to go to the dentist. BUT, the cavities I have in those places are hurting less and less, and getting less and less sensitive to temperature. Interesting!

So, I'm not telling you this to nag, or say that this is the only way to eat. Just Food For Thought;-) To me, it actually makes sense. This is how people used to eat in the olden days - before cancer was a common word, before everyone was chubby, and before tooth decay was rampant.

If you want to find out more, go to http://nourishedkitchen.com/

Rain....!

Well, I have just been sitting here waiting for a dog to get picked up, looked outside my window, and it's RAINING! I almost cried for joy, I was so excited! This morning, my well ran out of water, so it really couldn't come at a better time. Don't worry, the well replenishes itself, but it does mean I am using too much water to get the gardens done.
Now, everyone, do a rain dance for me.... let's hope the rain continues long enough to actually do some GOOD!!

Heat Wave

Well, it's happened. We are officially in a drought. We haven't had any rain to speak of in over 6 weeks now, and none in the forseeable forcast. All I do is water, water, water. Some in the morning, some in the evening - it's a constant cycle. I do have to say, my hay/mulch plan is working wonderfully, though. Instead of beds drying out in just a few days, they are lasting from 7-9 days without water. I figure, even though I've got double the beds I had last year, I am using about 50% of the water. My veggies are looking fabulous with this heat, though. I harvested my broccoli this morning... it is the nicest looking broccoli I have ever seen in a garden. I have to admit... I am a bit proud of it! I will definitely have to do more next year, since most of it will go into shares this week.

I have ordered my EM and my M. Fungi for my planting next week. I can't wait to try it, see how big a difference it makes. The kale I seeded several weeks ago is ready to go into the garden beds, but I'm not planting it until I get my new stuff!

I have also harvested all my garlic this week, and have it on the front porch to cure. I got some honkin' big garlic... you can never have too much garlic! Peas are almost done... they will be done either this week or next. I've already dug some under, getting ready to plant the kale in the same beds, but I've also started planting more peas in some of the beds that didn't do well. Peas will fix the nitrogen in the soil, and add some quick organic matter, so whatever I plant in there next will be fabulous.

One thing I've noticed this year, is the amount and variation of wildlife I have in my yard this year. I've seen a zillion snakes...all sorts of gorgeous colours - red, yellow, brown and green ones. Each time I see one, I get all excited... SNAKES EAT SLUGS!!! I will encourage these little snakes all I can! I actually really like snakes as a rule - not afraid of them at all. The other thing is birds... way more variety of pretty little songbirds. Bright yellow finches, and some yellow and red birds that I have no idea what they are. I am taking this all as a sign that my yard is healthy and thriving.

Since the heatwave started about a week ago, I've changed my working pattern. I have been getting up between 5 and 6 am, and going out to exercise dogs, and get as much gardening done as I can before it gets too hot. The weird thing is that I am enjoying getting so much done so early in the day. I don't even set my alarm... I just naturally wake up. When I used to work a 'real job', you couldn't drag me out of bed by 8... I would have to press snooze several times. I guess it makes a huge difference when you are doing something you love, and working for yourself. It's awesome.

Cousin comes for a visit...

My favourite cousin, Lorelie came to visit yesterday. She has recently taken a course at the Gaia College up island, and came to share some of her new-found knowledge with me. I learned so much! It was awesome. She brought me some Plant Extract Tea, so we could try it on some of my veggies as a foliar spray, see if we could perk some of my squash and cucumbers up. Not a joke... we just did it yesterday, and already I see a few new green leaves coming up... they have been sickly and not very healthy this year so far, and I'm convinced that it's because I have new soil, and it doesn't have any organic matter in it yet.

To make plant extract tea:
Fill a 5 gallon pail 3/4 full of nettles, comfrey or horsetail.
Fill rest of bucket with clean water (no chlorine in it) Lucky I'm on a well!
cover with a lid, and let ferment for 10-14 days.

At the end, it really stinks, but you mix 1 cup of tea with 10 cups water, and spray it on your plants.

I am also making manure tea - just dumped a bunch of horse poo in a garbage can, filled with water, and am mixing a cup of that with a bunch of water to fill a watering can (not very scientific!) and watering my plants with it - I am trying to start to do that every 10 days or so.

She also told me about adding ocean water to compost - adds all the minerals you need for your garden. I plan on making a trip down to the ocean very, very soon to get some!

EM or Effective Micro organisms

I have heard of this before from another friend, but Lorelie really put it into perspective for me. I am ordering some as soon as I get paid.  You can get it from http://www.gardenerspantry.ca/  He will ship it to wherever you live.

Mycrroizal Fungi.... (am certain I didn't spell that correctly...!)

To use when seeding or transplanting. Combines with roots of plants for a symbiotic relationship.

The amazing thing is you should never, ever use even 'organic' fertilizers in your garden (commercially made stuff that is). What she was taught was to improve and make the soil healthy, then your plants will be healthy, and be better able to fight off fungus and bugs and disease. Makes sense, and I've heard that before, but wasn't sure how to go about it. Now I have the tools. I have already started my Plant Tea Extract, and it will be ready in about 9 days, and can't wait to see how things start to grow, grow, grow!

She told me some tips on making a wormfarm, which I've tried before and failed at. This way makes more sense to me... I think I will try it again soon, so I can get that worm poo growing;-) I won't describe it now... it is getting late, and I am too tired.

It's been threatening rain for a week, but we haven't actually got more than a drop or two. We need it, BAD! Now, I just checked the weather station, and it's supposed to get super hot this coming week. I've been busy all week putting hay and mulch on almost all the beds, and hope to have that finished tomorrow. The less pressure I put on the well, the better. Even if it keeps the moisture locked in the beds for a few extra days between waterings, it will be a great help. I may work on putting an extra layer on, just in case...

Water worries?

Well, same as last year.... it's gone from cool and wet, wet, wet to blazin' hot, and no rain in sight. This is exactly what happened last summer... and we didn't get ANY rain for 3 months. I am dreading that happening again. Especially with all the garden beds I've got going now! I am investing in some hay bales, and covering many of the gardens with it, to help keep the moisture in for longer. Whatever I can do!

Shares are going well. I harvested my first snap peas this last week. OMG, are they delicious! I made a stir fry with them and one of my home-grown chickens last night. Best stir fry EVER;-) Not sure why, but what you grow yourself is so much more satisfying than just buying it in the store. Seems like a bit of a cop-out these days!

It is almost 9:30 at night, and I've just come inside from working in the yard and gardens all day. Watering, planting more tomatoes and peppers. I've also just started my kale and kohlrabi seeds in 6 packs, for transplanting as soon as I get some more garden beds made. I fill them as fast as I make 'em, and I never have enough, it seems.

My meat birds ended up being a disaster. I had ordered Cornish Crosses, which are ready in 8-12 weeks, and had booked them into the processor at 10 weeks. The stupid hatchery sent me 'broilers' which are ready in 6 weeks. They really should have let me know. They started dying on me, they grow TOO fast, and their hearts give out... I tried to make an earlier appointment at the processor, and could only get them in 1 week earlier than planned. The end of the story is that out of 75 birds, I ended up with 21. I had presold 51, and am trying to figure out who gets what. It is so depressing, I am having a hard time dealing with the whole situation, so of course, I am procrastinating. True to form! Now I am trying to find a new, more reliable supplier.

Oh, and on the poultry note... I am getting more turkeys on Tuesday. DON'T ASK ME WHY! I hated the damn things! I have been promised by a friend that she will come over to help clip their wings, so I don't have to worry about them flying all over the neighbourhood this time. This is their last chance! I am not going to sell any... I am just growing them for my own freezer at this point.

Dog boarding is still bloomin' busy. This is by far the longest busy stretch I have had. I am exhausted. I am NOT going to complain... I am finally getting caught up on all my bills! I've also raised my mortgage amount by about $25 a week. Doesn't sound like much, but it will take over 2 full years off my term! Maybe I will be able to retire before I am old and doddering.

Better head to bed... up with the dawn these days!

CSA Again...:-)

I am picking my CSA shares a bit early this week, as I am actually going away! I haven't been away anywhere, in so long, I can't even bear to think about it. Reckless and I are competing in the AAC Agility Regionals in Abbotsford. We are not really ready for regionals yet, they came up way too fast, but it will be good experience for the both of us! I've been going crazy all week, making sure the dogs are all taken care of, the schedule is set, everyone knows what dogs are coming and going, and so on and on and on... takes a lot of work! I'm sure I've forgotten a thing or two, but hopefully I've managed to cover all the major bases. I think I will be just be glad to get home next week and relax.... if there is such a thing! Dog boarding is non stop busy right now (which is wonderful, I can actually pay my bills!) and the gardens need constant tending and planting and slug-controling. We are FINALLY supposed to get some sun starting this weekend, so hopefully things will really start growing out there.

This weeks' shares:

mild mesculin
chives
peppermint
pea shoots (sounds odd, but this is my new favourite veggie... I go out daily and munch on pea shoots... they are delicious!!! Try it sometime!)

First CSA of the season!

Today is the day.... I picked my very first CSA shares! I was considering postphoning it until next week, because the weather has been rain, rain, cold, and more rain, and nothing in the gardens are growing. When I went out to check it all over this morning, I found a few little treasures, and my shares didn't look quite as little as I had feared.

So, I ended up with a good amount of mesculin, radish, parsley, green garlic, and spearmint. If the weather was co-operating, I would have had some snap peas and carrots to go with that. Oh, well! In another couple of weeks, there should be some more. I am already planning for next week... a few different herbs, mesculin will be a staple for the time being, and then we'll see what happens. Hopefully the weather will smarten up.... it was only 5 C last nite... WAY too cold for June!

I am still planting like mad... and will be planting right through August. I have made a few more garden beds, and will keep working on that until everything is in!