Fasting in January is a good thing

By Su

Fasting in January is a good thing. In addition to learning a great deal, the extra computer time in 2009 resulted in a little extra fluff.  During the summer months I attempted to fast 3x and failed with each try.  This time feels different.  It seems as though the likely human tribal/primal memory of fasting would be this time of year.  In the past I’ve always done the The Master Cleanser by Stanley Burroughs. Read more »

Where the wild things are – Endangered Species

By Su

We didn’t get a chance to grow a garden this year, so we let some of the weeds grow.  We now have 3 gorgeous acres to contend with, and will need to prepare our garden spots in order to be ready for 2010 planting.  The summer is flying by SO fast!!  We managed to do a little bit of container gardening which consists of a few tomato plants obtained from my dad, and several contained perennial flowers.  I still have a slew of  seeds from the spring.  I put together an order through Jasper’s school in California, but they didn’t make it here until early June.  They’re super nice heirloom varieties, so they should be ok for a few more months! I do plan on setting up some pots with soil this week so I can start some herbs that will winter over in the house.  We have a ton of nice house plants now, and they are thriving in our bay window!  Our plants have never looked so nice!  I truly believe that house plants thrive on human presence.  Read more »

Guerilla gardening indoors

By Su

We haven’t really planted much outdoors yet.  Jasper planted the bottoms of two romaine lettuce heads yesterday though!  It will be interesting to see how they grow.  I love re-rooting things like that…leeks, green onions, etc.  The little pepper plants here below are a mixture of habenero and jalepeno from seeds Leaf and I have saved along the way.  I’m so thankful that we have this kindred seed saving vibe together.

There are little clovers and renegade purslane happening in there too!

Click on the image to get a larger view.  If you are viewing this from facebook, check out blog.starsunflower.com to get the full effect.

Kitchen fun

By Su

It’s so wonderful to be on the upswing from the aftermath of all the “shifting” we went through in late 2008, beginning 2009.  I’m very much enjoying our new kitchen, and thrilled to have a great partner who loves my cooking!  We were getting so tired of doing the quick meal deal for way too long.  I’ve been making home made pita bread, felafel, yummy tahini rich hommus drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, pasties and so much more! I would like to dabble with bread making again at some point.  We have a great health food store in Remus called Hometown Health Foods.  The latest kitchen project Leaf and I have had fun with is making home made gomasio with unhulled organic sesame seeds.  Leaf taught me to add a touch of garlic for extra flavor.  We sometimes add fresh minced garlic during the roasting process for extra flavor.  It’s amazing how many dishes taste great with a dash of sessame sprinkles!

You may click on the image to get a closer look at a portion of my cookbook collection.

@ home with seeds & flowers

By Su

I was very surprised to find a sunflower boquet which incorporated Queen Anne’s lace and some sort of coniferous blossoms today.  I’ve been rooting green onion bottoms again too!  It’s neat to be able to utilize something that would go to the compost and watch it grow.  We’ve been saving seeds from various peppers, including habaneros. It would be fun to do a guerrilla gardening project this summer with jasper, and donate “seed bombs“  to people in inner city areas.  If you click on the images below, you can get a better look.