A Word on Fungus Gnats

House plants are an essential addition to the home. They give a room a finished look. A healthy vibrant plant can be the perfect centerpiece or accent to the kitchen, living room, bedroom, or bathroom. It seems simple enough. Just add water - right? if only. The prudent plant owner must regularly inspect his plants for signs of fungus, bacteria, insects, and soil maladies. He must fertilize them regularly. He must know which plants can be fussed with and which one's can't. In short, being a plant owner requires a great deal of research and dedication. A fungus gnat outbreak, however, requires no careful examination. There will be gnats floating in the coffee cup you walked away from. there will be gnats floating in your bedside water leaving you to wonder how many of them you swallowed in the darkness. You will see them hovering around your plants in swarms. The fungus gnat is a close relative of the fruit fly. They feed on fungus in the soil, and they are not an uncommon insect in the great outdoors. Management of them seems easy in theory, but I have come to the conclusion that a plant owner can only hope to keep their population at manageable numbers. At first sight of a fungus gnat, I recommend the use of sticky traps. Tanglefoot is a great brand. sticky traps are pieces of bright yellow cardboard covered with an impossibly sticky substance that imobilizes the gnats immediately. you can trap hundreds of them this way. Spraying the soil with Neem oil, a Pyrethren based insecticide, or an organic fungicide/insecticide will kill the adults. However, such treatments must be repeated every week or so because the eggs in the soil are unaffected. A fungicide can be helpful since fungal matter is the fungus gnats food source. After a few weeks of treatment, sticky traps can be helpful in alerting you to future hatches. The quicker you get to the adults, the less time they will have to reproduce. I understand there is a variety of BT (Bacillus Therengensis) that will attack fungus gnats as well. However, I have yet to find a supplier. (BT is bacteria used in organic gardening to control certain insects.) Good luck. you will need it.

Why grow boring ol' potatoes when you can grow Oca and Yacon?

It's that time of year when the ground is brown where it's not covered with snow, the air is bitter cold, and the plants are sleeping. The only solace for a gardener is the arrival of the seed catalog. Although it is still January, my gardeners heart is already in the garden - perhaps it never left. In my seed shopping, I've come across two root crops of interest. We've all grown potatoes, but have you ever heard of Oca? What about Yacon? Oca (oxalis tuberosa), is native to the Andean region of South America. South American peoples have been cultivating this staple crop since the reign of the Inca empire. It's nutritionally similar to the potato but has a tart, nutty flavor. It's tolerant of different soil conditions and drought. However, growing it here in the Rocky Mountain region may be difficult, if not impossible. The tubers begin forming after the fall equinox (September 21st), at which point they need ample water and frost free weather for at least a month or two. But, those of you with a longer growing season - california, the pacific northwest, southern utah - should give it a shot. Yacon (polymnia sonchifolia) has a little more promise in the mountains. The seedlings or crown pieces can be started indoors a couple of months before the last spring frost and then moved outside. They grow in one huge clump in conditions similar to sunflowers, which is anywhere in full sun, poor soil, and average water; and they have the consistency of jicama or water chestnuts. Interesting. Tubers and crowns for Oca and Yacon are available from seeds of change, an organic seed company we have had good luck with in the past. Check it out! http://www.seedsofchange.com

Unfruitful Pursuit of the Runners High

If you've ever been a distance runner, you are familiar with the term 'runner's high.' For me, the runners high kicked in at about mile 7 when suddenly I felt like I could run forever, my legs felt strong and graceful, my lungs were relaxed, and I had an overwhelming feeling of euphoria that made the previous 6 miles worth it. The runners high is caused by a sudden burst of endorphins; released by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus, they are received by the opiate-receptors in our brains. Simultaneously the pain receptors in our nerves and spinal cord receive information from the brain to "stop hurting," This analgesic effect blocks the pain in a runners lungs and legs. If you've ever experienced it, you know how amazing it is. For those of you who haven't, it can be compared to an orgasm-literally, scientifically speaking the exact same process occurs. I am quite certain there are other ways to achieve this "high," but I have yet to experience it any other way. Perhaps bike racing? After 10 years of running, an injury sentenced me to a life of low-impact exercise. I've paid money to have someone torture me at "boot camp" for 8 weeks-no runners high. I have subjected myself to 90 minutes of yoga in a steamy hot room-nice but no runners high. I've swam laps until I puked-no runners high. body combat, body pump, kick-boxing, weight-lifting, spinning-no runners high. I have recently tested the running waters, one mile, two miles. . that wasn't so bad. 7 years of seeking a replacement has brought me to this impasse. Sigh!

Toilet Paper is still Paper.

Just an odd thought really - toilet paper. It's not something often discussed or considered, yet nearly as essential as oxygen to our survival as civilized animals. I am constantly trying to get around the use of paper towels, which I could surely live without all together. I am obsessive in my recycling efforts of all other paper products. I carefully rinse and crush every carton and place it in the proper bin with a nod of satisfaction. I purchase recycled paper products when possible. I print on both sides of every piece of paper that comes out of my printer and I curse the U. S. Postal system for ignoring my request to stop receiving junk mail. But, what about toilet paper? toilet paper is a bit of an issue in this household as I'm sure it is in every mixed gender household. Man vs. Woman with a chasm of irrationality swimming between them. Woman use more toilet paper than men. I don't need to go into the details but quite simply we use it EVERY time; and sometimes we need two rations. Men use it only once a day, perhaps twice if they are blessed with prolific bowels. Nonetheless, toilet paper is, in fact, paper which as we all know is made from trees. And there is no way around it's use. period. While we could all use a few less squares each time, we can also feel a little less guilty about it's use; you may now purchase toilet paper made from 80% -90% post consumer product. All that junk mail and newspaper you toss in your recycling bin may some day be toilet paper. I recently discovered "Earth Friendly Products" 100% biodegradable, chlorine free, chemical free, 80% post consumer, nothing tested on animals toilet paper. As an added bonus, it's a small family company. May your bumm cheeks rejoice! Check it out. http://www.ecos.com/pages/tissue.html

Canned, Dried and Frozen (Almost)

An unadorned jar of cannellini beans has had a habit of staring out of the cabinet at me, asking me, gently but firmly, why on earth I would choose to ignore it in favor of its neighbors, the zesty veggie crackers, the plump apricots, the tamari almonds. Ever so quietly it would whisper, "You don't even know where they came from. But you know me, man. Remember those long vines, swaying in the afternoon breeze under the weight of my ripe contents? Come on, man -ya canned me yourself, for Pete's sake." After casually pointing out that I merely wanted a snack (handful of almonds or handful of, uh, canned white beans?), the can would simply reply that its constituents were disappointed, but understood. Not no more, they aint. Inspired by the May-like temperatures of Colorado's Front Range, the itching to begin the gardening process gained momentum. As rewarding and recreational as the entire gardening process is, I tend to make a mental jump, true to form, to the harvest part of it all, imagining bushels of produce, man. Bushels! Inevitably these thoughts brought me to the preservation of the harvest, followed by the satisfaction of gazing at a freezer and cabinets full of various types of produce, variously preserved. And the tiny minority of all those cans, the cannellini, came right back to mind. Whether it was the spring-tease over the last week (and its resultant thought process), or in fact the whispering of a can of beans, I can't decide. The bottom line is that I was inspired. Further examination of the freezer and cabinets revealed quite a little bit of other homegrown goodies that somehow, magically, presented themselves in a seemingly winning combination. The jar of beans smiled. And hot diggety it was good. One of those rare occasions that I walked out of the kitchen feeling like I really hit the nail on the head. And it was, almost, all from the canned, dried and frozen goods from the garden! I was able to pull it off with minimal grocery store items, namely olive oil, butter, nuts, polenta and some cheese. Oh yeah - and salt and pepper. Eh, now that I think about it, the items purchased at the store would've provided a meal in and of themselves. So perhaps I too quickly pat myself on the back. At any rate, the addition of the garden stuff made it really good, something more than polenta cooked in oil with cheese. Although whooooeeee! that don't sound bad either - I have yet to get over the holiday craving for fat. Fat and brown sugar. Mmm and crisp bacon... I digress, however. The subject that was to be expounded upon has unfortunately taken a back seat to good eatin', and I have no regrets therein. I will throw in a great discovery, though. Several friends with whom I work have become a co-op of Door to Door Organics, a local produce distribution company. On a weekly basis we all put in a request for a certain amount of produce per member, and then they deliver boxes of goodness right to the office on Mondays. The seventy degree weather notwithstanding, Colorado is still not the kind of place where red peppers are in locally-grown abundance in the winter, so it's clear that much of it comes from far, far yonder. However, it has given us all a chance to support a local company and gain access to some organic produce with which our local organic grocery magnate can't compete. Admittedly, purchasing fresh produce has been a bit of a trial for me, given the bounty that our garden offered. And there are A BUNCH of frozen veggies, dried and canned tomatoes, and canned beans still on hand. But the craving for fresh veggies has been almost overwhelming, so there ya have it. I certainly think this small action on our part has some positive impact. Plus it’s tasty, and not once have any of those vegetables vocalized any of their disagreement like that sassy can of cannellini. Check 'em out: http://doortodoororganics.com/ I will now beg forgiveness for the above ramblings, and can only hope that sharing the following recipe shall amend said actions. The truly dedicated will make their own polenta, perhaps from corn grown by your neighbor. The truly adventurous will make their own parmesan. I didn't do either. It was still good. Cheers! Beans and Greens over Polenta 3 Tbsp. + ½ Tbsp. Olive Oil 2 T Butter 1 C. Onions, finely chopped 6 Large Cloves of garlic, minced 2 C. Kale, Well Chopped 2 Roasted Red Peppers, Chopped, seeds and skin removed 2 Cans of Cannelini beans (Italian Navy Beans) 1 Package of cooked polenta, cut into ½ ‘’ slices Parmesan Cheese ¼ C. Sliced Almonds ¼ C. Pine Nuts ¾ C. Sun-dried Tomatoes, Coarsley Chopped ½ tsp. Garlic Powder 1 Sage Leaf, crushed Dash of Garlic Powder 1 tsp. Oregano Leaf 2 tsp. Lemon Zest Salt and Pepper to Taste 1) In a medium Saucepan, heat 2 Tbsp. Olive oil and butter over medium-low heat. Add garlic and onions and cook for 2 minutes, covered. 2) Add Kale to pan, replace cover, and saute until the kale is tender, about 15 minutes. 3) While kale is cooking, heat the remaining ½ tbsp oil in a frying pan. Add nuts and sprinkle with the sage, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until nuts begin to brown. Remove to a separate bowl, and reserve oil in frying pan. 4) When the kale has become tender, add the roasted red peppers and a dash of salt. Continue cooking over medium low heat another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 5) Add beans to pot, sprinkle with a dash or two of salt, and cook until beans are heated through. 6) Reheat the frying pan used to brown nuts, and add slices of polenta. Cook until browned, flipping the slices after a few minutes. 7) Once beans have heated, stir in lemon zest and oregano and season with salt and pepper to taste. 8) Place browned polenta on serving plates. Spoon bean and veggie mixture over polenta. Top with a generous sprinkle of parmesan, followed by the sundried tomatoes, and finished with the browned nuts. Serve immediately.

My new discovery: Agave Nectar

My weekly trip for coffee essentials is never easy. Sure. The list seems simple enough: Coffee, Cream, Sugar. But once I'm in the coffee aisle, the deliberation begins. Should I buy whole bean or ground? My choices are considerably limited if I choose whole bean-although I prefer it. Should I buy Certified Organic, Fair Trade, or Rain Forest Certified? I have yet to find a coffee brand that can brag all three. Initially I am attracted to the Organic choices. There are usually two or three. But, would I rather support sustainable farming practices, or would I rather support the practice of giving poor farmers a fair price for their product? I ultimately will choose fair trade over organic if there isn't a brand that is both. And finally, do I choose the Organic or Fair Trade product offered by the huge company that also offers 27 other non-organic non-fair trade products? Or, do I choose the company that offers nothing else? I settle on the company that offers nothing but organic or fair trade coffee even though it is always more expensive. Whew. Now, cream. I have settled upon an organic cream produced by a co-op of family farmers. Organic Valley http://www.organicvalley.coop/ is hands down the most delicious, sweet cream on the market. And, bonus, decidedly sustainable. That was easy! On to the baking aisle to consider all of my sweetening options. I have ruled out white baking sugar and artificial sweeteners. I do, however, pause and consider the organic sugar vs. the sugar in the raw. Sugar in the raw is less processed. But, the organic sugar is. . well. . organic. I have two choices: Just like the coffee, a large sugar company that has 10 different products on the market and just happens to have one organic product vs. the much more expensive organic sugar company that makes nothing else. Sigh. But wait! there is another option. Agave nectar, something I just recently discovered, is the perfect choice. http://www.madhavasagave.com Madhavas honey company in Colorado offers an organic, sustainably farmed agave nectar. The agave plant is not harmed in the extraction process, and most of the plants from which the nectar is harvested are growing wild on privately owned lands, so there is no habitat or ecosystem disruption in the farming process. Decidedly sustainable - But a little pricey. Now, to find the perfect coffee. . still searching.

The Seafood Cunundrum

I sat across from my friend and watched her sink her teeth into an ahi sandwich. It was prepared perfectly. .lightly seared, a beautiful shade of pink, at least 4 cm thick. It was drizzled with plum glaze, accented with spring greens and provolone, and nestled perfectly between two slices of toasted ciabatta. My mouth watered. "How is it?' I asked casually. She couldn't respond with actual words. She merely groaned with pleasure, eyes closed, clearly having her own personal reception for the perfect marriage of flavors. I dropped my gaze to the portobello sandwich on my plate. No comparison. With a sigh I took a bite. Meaty and satisfying. Too much balsamic. I really wanted the ahi sandwich. But once again, my stupid ideologies stood between my taste buds and the pleasure they desired. The issue of seafood, has become almost too convoluted to follow. Do we avoid farm raised fish because aquaculture has an enormous environmental impact? Or do we avoid wild caught fish because commercial fishing has an enormous environmental impact? Until recently I was extremely careful not to support aquaculture. In restaurants, large predatory fish like halibut and tuna were always safe bets. In stores if it didn't say 'wild caught' I kept walking. But I have determined that in choosing the lesser of these two evils, there isn't a lesser candidate. I recently heard an interview with renowned oceanographer, Sylvia Earle. She offered a comparison of the ocean at the beginning of her career and the ocean of today. The reality is. . .there is no comparison. The ocean can't afford to give us any more fish. If we take it anyway (which we humans will -take, take, take) the impacts on the ocean ecosystem will be immense and irreversible. Consequently, the ocean affects the ecosystem of the whole planet. I had never given the ocean a great deal of thought (being an inlander and all), but I know that when one species is removed from any ecosystem, every other part of that ecosystem suffers. In this case everything from sharks to microscopic organisms that filter the ocean water will feel the impact. I'm running out of things to eat. perhaps ignorance is, in fact, bliss. To link to the Sylvia Earle interview click the title "The Seafood Conundrum."

Barack Obama-Steward of the Earth?

Today is the first day of "HOPE." Listening to Barack Obama's inauguration speech this morning, particularly his references to energy policy I couldn't help but shed a tear. An entire nation of people have waited for this day-the day when our nation's leadership would address the issue of global warming rather than deny it's existance. The waste in this nation is mind-boggling. And, the air of entitlement to natural resources is sickening. We can all do our part in our own homes. We all have control over our own energy consumption but without the backing of our elected officials, much of our effort serves only to ease our conscious; allows us to look our children in the eye at the end of the day and say, "I'm doing everything I can to make sure there is a planet for you tomorrow." With the unemployment rate nearing that of the 1930's and the earth's inability to give us much more oil it seems logical to develop clean energy alternatives, the infrastructure of which would create millions of jobs. What a relief to hear the President of the United States of America pledge his support to what was formerly a grass roots citizen cause (at least in this country; every other developed nation, has been addressing the issue of global warming for at least a decade.) Will he follow through and will congress support his policies? Here's "HOPING."

I Love my Plants to Death

I feel bad for my houseplants. Most of them aren't really houseplants at all but rather tender perennials from the yard-those I could not bear to part with. In fact the only plants that look healthy are those that really are houseplants. There are exactly 6 of them. The other 24 of them look positively pathetic. I don't have an extremely sunny window anywhere on the south side of the house. The two south facing windows are crowded with plants large and small all reaching in unison in a graceful arc towards the sun. They look depressed but I'm not sure if it's the fact that the current death toll is 11 or if they miss the feeling of the sun on their leaves like I do. This morning I added the 11th pot to the growing pile in the garage representative of my failings as a plant parent. My Dracaena finally croaked despite my efforts to keep it alive. Yes. I managed to kill a Dracaena. Shocking isn't it? Even more shocking is the tale of that little plant's life. That 'spike plant' was planted as a centerpiece in a color pot in the summer of 2007. At the end of the season I dumped all of my annual color pots in the compost pile. In the spring the compost pile was turned and the Dracaena tumbled out and landed on the ground, rooted, and tripled in size over the course of the summer. (Note: tropical plant. grows in places like Florida.) It was not watered. It was never properly planted. It just survived there next to the compost pile all summer. At the end of the summer I determined the Dracaena should be properly potted, brought inside, and adored for the entirety of the winter. I feel awful. Perhaps I should have just tossed it back in the compost pile. Apparently my adoration was a harsher sentence than the frigid winter.

January Broccoli

Winter is the gardeners nemesis. The sky is gray and the ground is. . well, gray. By January I can no longer endure the grayness. My soul longs for the sun on my face and the dirt between my fingers. I dream of sipping mojitos on my patio after a long day of laboring in the garden beds; enjoying the cricket serenade. Just when I was certain I could truly endure it no longer, when I had started looking for real estate in Florida, the earth took pity on me. While on a snow boot clad trek to the compost pile on a rather warm January afternoon, I stopped dead in my tracks. My breath escaped from my chest and my heart began beating wildly! Could it be? Yes, it is! Broccoli! One lone broccoli plant stretched her arms up to the sky and danced under the sun. I knelt in the snow to marvel at this gift from the earth and the broccoli plant handed me a perfect, beautiful sweet floret for my mid-winter enjoyment. I dug around her with my mittens hoping to find a few of her friends. Is my sorrel thriving too? What about the kale? The bok-choy? Nope. I looked up at my broccoli and she looked back. "Shhh. They're sleeping. They will wake soon enough. You must be patient." The broccoli is right. I must be patient, though patience is not one of my strong points. I stood and silently paid tribute to the beautiful garden sleeping beneath the snow before returning to my winter cave to hibernate... for at least a few more weeks.