The Clueless Gardeners - A Garden Blog: Poison Ivy Removal

The Clueless Gardeners - A Garden Blog: Poison Ivy Removal

Miller's Wheel at Dorothy's on April 13th

When push comes to shove, it seems the direct approach is best in marketing oneself as a musician.  The deeper you sink into grant-writing schemes or larger plans for eventual gain, the cost/benefit ratio is exceeded by the time you are half way into the research phase.

It boils down to how you want to market (read "sell") yourself.  If I can make the fiddle sing, and if I can hit the zone with my band mates, people will want to see us.  One-site marketing via Wordpress will cover a lot of ground by providing video and audio links to potential venues.  I'm working on it and it should be up for you all to see soon.

I want to put the energy into the music and connecting with people, and I need to make a living at it.  Come out and see us - and be generous.  We are playing for dinner and tips.

Miller's Wheel at Dorothy's Music Room - Trumansburg - April 13 - 7:00 p.m.

 

More anon,

 

Kit

My Favorite Cheap Eats

One gets tired of beans and greens after awhile.  There are actually a lot of tastier ways to stretch a $50/week Food Stamp budget, and I'd like to share some of my favorites.  This is just a sampling of ideas.

Note:  If you buy these at your local Mennonite store (doesn't everyone have one of these?) you will get a huge lot of bang for your EBT buck:

• Mushrooms - fresh mushrooms, primarily white but sometime portobello or shiitake, are available at amazingly cheap prices if you hit your Mennonite store on the right day.  I wash, slice, and freeze these in saved bread bags.  Then they are available to be sautéed up with your onions and peppers for omelets, vegie (or other) burgers, stroganoff, sandwiches....
• Cashews - raw, unsalted cashews are very versatile.  They add character to chili and stir fries, and are great for snacking. 
• Sliced almonds - I have found  sliced almonds to cost less than the same weight of whole, raw, unsalted almonds.  And they save you so much work!  Toss them into your green salads, morning cereal, yogurt & fruit (of course, use plain, organic yogurt and your own canned fruit), and homemade banana bread and granola
• Raisins and sweetened dried cranberries - these are my personal favorites in the dried fruit line.   You can get the large restaurant bags of bran, cornflakes or a generic version of Grape Nuts (in our Wegmans they call it "Wheat Crunch."  Someone in marketing lacked imagination)  and dress them up with a combination of dried fruit and nuts and have a much more flavorful and healthy breakfast. 
• 5 lb. bag of quality pancake mix - ah...the joy of Sunday mornings with a big stack of homemade pancakes and the real article syrup (see below).  I always make more than required for the meal and then use the leftovers for snack roll-ups for later with jam, peanut butter, bananas, etc. 
• 5 lb. bag of quality shortcake mix - this is another Mennonite grocery special.  Just spread a layer of home-canned fruit and a little sweetener and spice in a baking pan, blend some  shortcake mix with water/mile and a little melted butter, spread it over the top and bake and, voila, you have fruit cobbler. 
• Bread from your local discount outlet - the really good, whole grain, no high-fructose corn syrup varieties are frequently on "Manager's Special" for $1.00/loaf.  If you say you want their discard lots for chicken feed, you can get it for even less.  Just tell them you won't  eat it yourself.  Save the bags for food storage.  After you re-use and wash them a couple of times, recycle.
• Fresh ginger root - grate this generously into your stir fry.  The aroma and taste are heavenly.
• Red curry paste - when you want a real kick to your vegetable dish - a teaspoonful goes a long way.
• Club pack tilapia or other low-priced fish - wrap each piece individually in plastic wrap and freeze (in a used bread bag).  Eating fish every third day, I stretch $15 worth of fish for two weeks, and even shared with company!
• 1/2 gallon of genuine maple syrup - dole it out sparingly and you'll feel rich.

More anon.

What Were They Thinking? New Ideas From an Old Book

The first years of a new century tend to be rife with encomiums about recent progress and glowing or doomsaying prognostications for the future. The verbiage I just used reflects my recent skimming of a book with the modest title The American Home Educator and Book of Universal Knowledge. Published in 1904 as a sort of one-stop snapshot of the current world, it purported itself to be a 738 page summary of every important occurrence and development in all aspects of life on earth and beyond! The Wikipedia of its day.

I found this while scavenging for books for re-sale on clear-out day after the local library's annual fund-raiser. This gem was not even in the stacks – but tossed in a forlorn corner labeled “recycle.” Its cover features a Gibson-styled working class husband and wife at a table happily engaged in self-education, which of course would have been squeezed in after their 12 hr. workday.

In the pursuit of knowledge of history and the human condition, I have long sought an outlet for sharing ideas with others on the evolution of our culture and mindsets. We are being swept out of our depth by the speed of social, political, scientific, and economic changes in the world. By gleaning insights from our lost past, and finding patterns, I believe we can gain a longer-view perspective to better understand the present and our place and purpose in it.

In this blog I will start by introducing unedited sections of “...Universal Knowledge,” and ask you to comment under these topic headings:

1. ANYTHING UNEXPECTED HERE – THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE?
2. WHAT IS THE AUTHOR'S POINT OF VIEW? (HIS/HER VIEW OF THE WORLD)
3. WERE THE IDEAS RIGHT OR WRONG?
   (FROM HIS/HER PERSPECTIVE)
   (FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE)
4. THE RESULT OF THESE IDEAS IN TODAY'S WORLD
5. HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR OPINIONS HERE MIGHT BE INTERPRETED IN 2113?

The first topic I chose because of the chapter's paradoxical title. Read and respond, and I hope this goes viral.

The White Man's Greed for the Land of the Blacks – Civilization in Africa.

The scramble for land in Africa by the nations of Europe is of comparatively recent date. Earliest explorations were begun in 1553, and while the continent has held more of romance and danger for the explorer than possibly any other, it has been a hard task to colonize it. France and England, as in other things, have been constant rivals here, with England in the lead. Country after country has pushed into the interior at different points along the coast, and gained control of the native chiefs. Generally the partition went on gradually and peacefully (Note: peaceful among the conquerors!), and it was not till after the Brussels Conference in 1878 that the unrestrained scramble began that has since resulted in the division of the whole continent among the great powers. In 1876, while Great Britain, France, Spain and Portugal had located colonies on the coast, the interior was largely held by wild tribes, but since then the work of division has been so energetic, that in 1890, of the 11,900,000 square miles of territory on the continent, only some 1,500,000 remained open for further conquest. Conflicting claims have existed all along between the powers, and it was through these mainly that France had trouble with England at Fashoda, in which the latter country came out victorious, and which keeps England's army in the Soudan (sic). The recent trouble with the Boers in South Africa will very likely add to the possessions of Great Britain, while France is daily getting a stronger hold on Madagascar. The following is the area as controlled by the different powers, omitting such as has over it only a protectorate government: Great Britain, 2,250,000 square miles; France, 3,500,000; Germany, 890,000; Portugal, 900,000; Italy, 600,000; and Spain, 250,000. Besides these possessions there, the Congo Free State controls 850,000 square miles; Liberia, 37,000; the Boer republics, 162,640 and unappropriated territory, 1,500,000.

Comments

1. I have no knowledge of the Brussels Conference of 1878 and what it was about. Also, I learned very little about African colonization in school or college. I remember the independence movements of the 1950's and 60's that de-colonized Africa, but still know nothing about how it all came about and very little about what life was like for Africans under colonial rule or afterward. This is my own parochial American ignorance (see #3 below) and I think most in our country share it.
2. The author's point of view indicates that the peoples of Africa and their rights to sovereignty were not recognized in any way by the European powers and, in extension, by America. It was as though African nationals had no existence beyond being impediments to conquest of territory. There is no acknowledgment of anything but the (perceived) reality of partition, power, and which countries were ahead in the race. “Civilizing” Africa appeared to be the Manifest Destiny of Europe.
3. a. The underlying motivations of the conquest are not apparent in this short article. It seems that, like climbing Mt. Everest, Africa was an open hunting ground simply because it was there. Western norms were the only valid ones in the limited experience and consciousness of parochial Americans that neither knew of nor respected anything outside their own experience. From that perspective, and the missionary spirit that prevailed at the time (convert and civilize the heathen, give them Christian morals), it could have been perceived as not only right, but a duty.
   b. I view any exploitation of a country or forced change of a culture as immoral. But, in a way, I am also conflicted by my perceptions of what an open and just society should be, and many cultures in African nations support unjust policies towards individuals and sub-cultures. Though the “rule of law” is not practiced anywhere as it is preached, I still feel as morally driven to support initiatives for universal human rights as 19^th century churches felt compelled to set up foreign missions
4. Inexplicable chaos. That is, because of my ignorance – this is what it looks like to me.
5. A hundred years from now I fear we will be fully engaged in reaping what was sown in the power struggles of the past 100 years. Technology is already providing us with an open window on all parts of the world and, with any common sense at all, people will have broken from tribalism and conflict by the need to work together to steward the world's resources and reduce the harm already caused. I think they would look at my ignorance, but also at my available Internet resources and say, “How could she not know these things? It was all right there.”

Fun With Foodstamps #1

This is supposed to be an ironic title - because as I approach my 57th birthday, I am now using Food Stamps for the first time in my life.  However, as one who has always aspired to make lemonade of life's lemons, I will attempt in this blog to make the most the experience by sharing creative ideas on the best usage of the EBT.

I got through a couple of months mostly on beans, rice, oatmeal, and the gradual emptying of my pantry shelves and freezer before the paperwork finally cleared and my card and PIN number arrived in the mail.  Interestingly, the PIN number arrived first, torturing me with anticipation for a full week before I was able actually to access the benefit and get to the store.  The first thing I did was to run to Wegmans and pick up some vegetarian proteins that were not beans!  I also splurged on a half gallon of orange juice, some peanut butter and jam, and 5 lbs. of additional rice (as I had run out).  I think the whole draw on the account was $12.00 when I checked out.  I need to point out that I am self-employed, my children are grown and out on their own, and the only one who needs to be fed in my household is me.  And my two cats.  The issue of pets will be the topic of a later blog.

It is high harvest season now in the Finger Lakes.  Farmers' Markets, farmstands, specialty dealers such as Red Jacket Orchards, are overflowing with healthful fruit and produce at reasonable prices, and in bulk quantities suitable for canning and freezing for later use.  Unfortunately, most of these outlets do not accept the EBT card.  Also, I experienced for the first time the mortification of offering the card at one such venue and the owner not even knowing what it was, much less being able to honor it.  There is shame in this, even in necessity.

The only sources of bulk produce I have found that do accept Food Stamps are the Mennonite grocery stores, primarily Sauder's in Seneca Falls.  From these outlets I have, to date, purchased and canned bushels of peaches (sliced, and as jam), tomatoes (as puree and prepared sauce), and green beans.   Total cost so far has been only 1/4 of my monthly benefit.  I borrowed a pressure cooker to process the low-acid vegetables and sauce.  Everything else was open kettle.  I anticipate that one months EBT benefit would supply me with enough raw products to process as would feed me for several months.  Many other staples such as dried beans, cheese, flour, spices (incredibly cheap!) and other baking supplies, can be purchased in bulk at the Mennonite stores.

I have just finished processing 7 qts. of tomato sauce in the pressure cooker; which basically was 2 1/2 hours of work:  1 hour to cut up and put 1/2 bushel of tomatoes through the Victorio strainer, chop onions, garlic, and peppers, and start the sauce cooking down.  Another hour to prep the canning jars and lids, and set up and load the pressure cooker, plus 1/2 hour listening to the jiggling of the 10 lb. pressure weight, making sure the temperature was neither too high nor too low, while I wrote this blog.

My EBT card renews in two weeks.  I've used less than half, both meeting my current needs and laying up healthful food supplies for the cold winter months.  This is all still new to me; so I am sure others may have useful ideas.  Feel free to post them here.

Feng Sui of the Home Workplace

The beginning of a new year is a good time to clean house, both physically and metaphorically.  When you work for yourself, your environment is very important.  Old habits, inconveniences long ignored, clutter and material obsolescence, all need periodically to be shaken out in the light of day.

Sometimes the simplest changes can have the most profound effects.  In recent months I have had difficulty in connecting with my partner, only achieving good business communication over extended breakfast or lunch dates - not very cost effective if you are living on a shoestring!  Today I took a good look at my home office space (which also doubles as my absent college son's room and the TV and computer media center).  When my partner returns from his "day job," his tendency is to switch on "Two-and-a-Half Men" and zone out for the rest of the evening.  The TV was the focus of the room layout; we had to twist awkwardly to converse and it was impossible to maintain eye contact.

So, today I took the whole room apart, stuffed the TV in a corner and set up the two armchairs at a 90 degree angle to each other in the bay window, with a table between them.  This positioning automatically draws the eyes to the other person.  Also, the tables at the right of each chair allow us to have our computers/note pads handy.  We're also close enough to rub each others' feet!

Making a virtue of necessity, I will probably retire the TV anyway.  The cable rates are going up and it will be better for the budget to rely on my Internet service provider both for work and entertainment.

More anon. 



 

Dusting

A couple of months ago I decided to do my part to help the environment by no longer buying paper towels.  Being well supplied with rags and old linens, I figured that this would be an easy switch.  I found out, though, that there are some cultural norms that it is hard to psychologically escape.  Drying lettuce with a dish towel, after washing off the dirt, seems somehow unsanitary.  And, I'm sorry, when the cats york up on the floor, I am not going to use and wash a rag (digging through the recycling, I found some old newspaper to deal with that).  I started wondering how clean rags and towels actually get in the wash - are the germs and filth just recirculating and somehow ending up back in the household food chain?  I stopped using bleach quite awhile ago, so no back-door sanitation can be achieved that way.  Yet what sort of toxins exist in paper towels?  They just look clean!  I have always believed in the "five second" rule, anyway. 

Interestingly, I have had no health problems of any kind that relate to an unclean environment.  We all have been brainwashed to buy products to secure the illusion of protection from ....what?  Our bodies are adapted to the world around us.  Some people believe that allergies and other autoimmune symptoms are directly related to over-exposure to cleaning agents and household chemicals.

Dusting is one of those "quarterly" chores that I get to only when extreme boredom sets in.  Cleaning the bathroom is another general area of neglect in my life.  I get down to bedrock only when I expect students in the house or when I am hosting band practice.  Lately, though, I have discovered a couple of quick fixes to keep me ahead of the game.

Dust with your dirty laundry.  When in transit with your loaded laundry basket to your washing machine, grab whatever item is on top and use it to dust the stair rods, bookshelves, piano, and whatever else you encounter in passing.  Then just throw it in the wash!

After you shower, use your wet, soapy washrag to clean the sink and toilet.  Yes, I know this sounds gross, but after all, you just throw it in the wash afterward.  And your bathroom will be clean (or at least look clean) all the time!

It's all a matter of perception.

More anon.