Thinking About Slow Food...

One of my favorite places for growing herbs. It is protected from the wind by the side of the house and faces south. Herbs love it here. This is my very favorite rosemary plant that I have been able to winter through one year. I'll have to see about this year... I have it covered and protected as much as possible.

It's time to get serious about ordering seeds. This year I would like to try my hand at some heirloom varieties. There are many excellent blogs to peruse on the subject of seeds. In the meantime, I become more and more interested in Slow Food. The first time I heard this term I could not understand what it meant, (I thought it was food that takes a long time to cook?) and I still don't have a real hold on it, but am beginning to think that it has a lot to do with what I have already been doing.

I have always cooked a lot from "scratch" and with lots of fresh foods. I try to eat as few processed foods as possible but I'm afraid if truth be told I still have a ways to go. I'm not an "activist" but do try to live my life in a responsible way, thinking of the environment and my impact on the earth. Again, I have a long way to go here too, especially when I read what others are doing. Boy, do I feel guilty sometimes. However, the best I can do is to be me and do as much as I can in my own small ways. One thing that I'm proud of is that I changed to using biodegradable kitty litter instead of the heavy old clay stuff. Anyway, getting back to my point... thanks to a book about Alice Waters and Chez Panisse Restaurant, I found the Slow Food USA site. I especially was drawn to this way of thinking:

"Slow Food is also simply about taking the time to slow down and to enjoy life with family and friends. Every day can be enriched by doing something slow - making pasta from scratch one night, seductively squeezing your own orange juice from the fresh fruit, lingering over a glass of wine and a slice of cheese...") particularly the part about lingering over a glass of wine, and how I do love cheese! All this has made me excited to choose which veggies I will plant this year.

As to the book about Alice Waters, I found it VERY enjoyable reading, and quite interesting about her life and restaurant. It did, however, make me exhausted just reading about all she does and continues to do. Not to be funny, but she does have a LOT on her plate (all good, slow food, of course). She has inspired me. I plan to read her new book about simple, Slow Food and how to live that way of life. Hopefully something will rub off on me! For anyone who enjoys reading about food and interesting people I highly recommend this book.

My Veggies

My husband built these raised beds (good job!) I buy cheap umbrellas from a discount store to use as shade for my lettuce and other tenders. They work well because I can put them up and down as needed. Squash and Zucchini are behind vines at far end. Fence trellis and potted willows are an experiment to hide view of horrible neighbors and their big trampoline, dog poop, dead grass, weeds and a zillion screaming kids. The remainder of our backyard is in shade.

Herbs do well along south exposure and brick wall (very hot!) That's where I was able to overwinter Rosemary. Morning glories will one day (I'm waiting...) climb on trellis.

With everyone showing such beautiful photos of their veggie bounty, I thought I'd better get on the bandwagon. Not that I have much of a bounty yet. But we are enjoying a nice variety of greens on a salad every evening. Other veggies that we have:

Peppers (my husband loves these). Tomato plants - 2: Actually have a couple of blossoms. Who knows, may have a tomato by labor day! Cucumbers, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Spinach - not doing well. Also Cilantro, Parsley, Basil, Onions, Oregano, Rosemary, different Thymes (especially lemon!) Culinary sage and Dill.

Guess that covers most of it. My husband built these beautiful raised beds. I think he did a great job and I sure do enjoy them.