Already, the daffodils and hyacinths have blessed us with their cheerful faces. Soon, our yard will release it's wonders of roses and peonies, herbs and flowering plants whose names I've forgotten. The leaves will sprout forth with their tiny red and green buds...some unfurling into spring-green, (my most favorite color in the whole wide world), lacey leaves. The pond will need cleaning so the fish emerging from winter semi-hibernation can enjoy themselves, and the air will take on that balmy feel and smell one only finds when living near the sea in springtime. Oh...I can hardly wait!
Yesterday, Sr. Chief and I turned an entire section of our back yard into what is going to be a "Back-to-Eden" garden. (Scroll down to see the inspiring video!) In-between jobs, I raked (and raked and raked) gumballs from our infamous Sweet Gum a.k.a."gumball" tree...Well, it's really ours AND our neighbors. We all hate it. Yes, I did use the strong word 'hate' there. But really, I've tried for ten years to figure out why God made gumballs and the answer is yet to come. I have satisfied myself with the fact that He's concerned about my health and therefore blows them off the tree into my yard so I'll get a jumpstart on my spring exercise. Yes, that's a bit over the edge in 'it's all about me' thinking, but... If that was His plan, it worked.
But back to the Back-to-Eden garden...the whole concept is almost more exciting than than the approach of warmer weather. Almost. So, following the advice given in the video, we scouted out a place to get mulch and compost and FOUND a state facility within a half hour's ride! The mulch there is certified clean, comes in a variety of sizes and even non-toxic colors, and the operation is impressively and efficiently run...at a third of the cost of local nurseries. Yes. We were greatly impressed.
Now, you want to know about how God works sometimes? We have two vehicles, neither of which is a truck. (We NEED a TRUCK!...) ...but Sr. Chief was training out of town Friday and on his way back through Richmond, he thought to ask his brother if we could borrow his trailer...our van does have a hitch for our camper. So, he came home surprising me with a trailer full of compost that he also picked up on the way home!
Who knew a lady could get so excited about dirt? (But I still carry lipgloss in my pocket, girlies!)
We drove to pick up the mulch early yesterday, came home and laid newspaper where needed, added about 2 inches of compost and 3-4 inches of fine mulch over that. We agree that in order to do as the experts say to do, we'll need to get at least an inch of regular mulch to cover that just because the mulch we got is so beautifully fine it will compost pretty fast...The weather can turn hot and humid here in an instant and the larger mulch will be needed to hold in water and keep those roots cool once the plants get started. But for now, I know we're safe.
Because today, here in the southeastern corner of Virginia, after raining coldly most of the day, the rain turned to sleet and then...it snowed. Oh, yes, it did.
I'm trying to keep my chin up and regard it as a nice, cozy blanket for the garden...Just a little something to help it out, and truth be told, I'm probably right. Still, I'm not really too happy about it.
But I did have a paper to edit.
And I was tired from gardening yesterday, three hours of music rehearsal yesterday afternoon, church yesterday evening, (our church meets on Saturdays and no we're not in a Jewish congregation, although I love God's chosen), and PORT* yesterday evening-evening.
And Senior needed to work on his school paperwork today, too. (Yes, people do think and study and even go to school after 50!)
And I still need to at least vacuum as dog hair is gathering in the carpet...I'll do that in the morning.
The point is, I'm excited, but I am a habitual over-doer so even though I know the snow's not really all about me, I think there's a chance that it could be some about me. Because if God knows the number of hairs on my head, (and He does), and if His thoughts of me are greater than the grains of sand on the beaches, (and they are), and if He is serious about coming unto Him all us who are weary, (and He is)....then there's no doubt that this nasty weather had something to do with keeping me indoors, resting by the fireplace and only taxing myself enough to drink tea while editing a paper.
I even settled back for a 'Facebook Session'.
Honestly, this type of garden does need to sit a bit before planting...We are creating ours along the format of the family in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania...Their climate is more similar to ours than those across the country.
And we haven't even decided which seeds to plant yet...although I'm getting a very good idea.
But I sure did like the smell of that dirt and mulch yesterday...
We rode by several weeks ago. That's the first time I spied the banner...peripherally. I turned my head just in time to see something about 'Fresh and Local'. We were on our way somewhere else and couldn't stop, so I stored it in my, "Better Check That One Out" memory bank.
About a week later, I saw it again...something else on the sign about, "The Next Generation". I put a red star by the former reference in my memory bank.
A few days later, I mentioned it in the company of one of my adult kids. SHE had already been there...without mentioning it to her mother whom she knows salivates over such news as this...and said she loved it. I forgave her, and made a mental note to be sure that the next time I went out to dinner, that would be my choice.
So, what is this marvelous place? It's The Silver Diner. Yes, you read me rightly, The Silver Diner, that place we know for their warm and fuzzy feel-good food that pounded on the pounds, made us sleepy, and probably contained a whole lot more bad-for-me foods than even I care to investigate. Those of us who partook loved it for its comfort foods, cleanliness and retro atmosphere. Oh...and...milkshakes. But I stopped going after I changed my eating habits.
Now, I can't wait to go back.
If you live in the Hampton Roads area, you'll be happy to know there is a Silver Diner...The Next Generation, as close as Newport News. And if you shop Trader Joe's or Fresh Market along that same Jefferson strip, or maybe visit Starbucks, you'll be happy to know it's right there in that same vicinity.
I am sorry to say, this is currently a Mid-Atlantic destination. The rest of you will have to take a little trip to give it a whirl...But if you're in the region, keep your eyes open because you really don't want to miss it. Currently, Silver Diner has one location in New Jersey, five locations in Maryland, and a whopping ten locations in Virginia, seven of which are in Northern VA and three in the Tidewater area...and since I'm in the Tidewater area, I'll be a bit more specific here: Innsbrook-Richmond, Newport News, and Virginia Beach.
So, what's the big deal? Well, literally big is the bison. Yep, hormone- and steroid-free, grain-finished bison is on their extensive, revised menu. And it's raised locally on New Frontier Farms in Virginia. But to me, better yet is their GRASS-FED, antibiotic-free, Angus beef, from Creekstone. Their chicken tenders are without hormones and antibiotics, their bacon sans nitrates, their eggs hormone- and antibiotic-free from Martin Farms in PA. ...local again, and if the buzz-word, 'Amish' turns you on, that's in there, too. Heck, even their tortillas are organic and local, coming to us from Manassas, VA. Bread? Try sourdough, (best for digestion), or rye and other multi-grain and artisan offerings...even their white breads are, (at least), made with unbleached flour. Okay, they're not soaking their grains, except for maybe marginally, the sourdough, but one has to admit, these folks are on the right path.
Other than my objections to agave as a sweetener, (see link a few paragraphs below), the only other actual product I am sure I would not intentionally eat is the edamame, (a fancy name for soybeans). Already suffering from radio-active iodine induced hypothyroidism, my health cannot manage soy, which is a huge inhibitor to the thyroid gland. For this reason, I wouldn't recommend non-traditionally treated soy in any form to even the healthiest individual. Read more in my archives: Soy & Sex: What Next? and Soy, Babies and Beyond.
Silver Diner's menu now offers 'Dinner Lite Bites' scoring 600 calories or less and giving run-downs on fats, cholesterol and fiber, for those wanting to see that stuff just before eating. Other offerings include several choices for low-fat and more surprising, gluten-free foods. And if your meal comes with fries and biscuit, you can substitute strawberries or sweet potato fries for a bit more cash.
The Diner's menu change doesn't stop with the food but overlaps into the beverage section with choices including organic tea and locally roasted coffee. Milk comes from Kreider Farms in PA, and while not from grass-fed cows, they do seem to treat their dairy cattle humanely, feed them special diets, and leave out a lot of additives that others have deemed 'necessary' for their feedlot cows. The Diner does still offer shakes and malts, and for those still buying into fat-free there are low-fat choices in that department. I'm not a fan of agave, but I know many sugar-converts are, so those in the latter group will be happy to know agave is used in the fruit toppings of their desserts and shakes.
Silver Diner's current menu is their 'Spring + Summer 2011' menu, indicating that it will change with the seasons, which makes a whole lot of sense since the idea is to give us in-season produce as much and as often as possible. Chef Ype highlights a seasonal specials menu that has only fresh and local seasonal selections.
This is cutting-edge eating and we 'WAPF-ers' can only hope it continues to get even better.
Don't get me wrong, I am obviously thrilled with this place. But it wouldn't be a service to you to promote foods this site preaches against. At the same time, I know there will be some visiting here that don't think or believe as I do, so for you...do as you see fit for yourself. As for me, I see the buzz-words...like "natural", which is largely unregulated so there are a whole lot of items that can come under that term that are not truly natural...and the word, "Amish", which speaks to us of a simpler way of life, but not necessarily nutrient-dense foods. Then there's the so much over-used term, "low-fat" which means the part of the food meant to help us assimilate the nutrients within that food is missing. And of course, we can't leave out "farm", which paints a pretty mind-picture, but some of the biggest corporations on earth tack the word, 'farm' somewhere in the name to paint a fact-distracting picture in our minds. Then there's the popular, "agave", which to some is the epitome of good sweetness, but...Well, read the link a few paragraphs back if you want to know more. Then, there's "nitrate-, hormone-, and steroid-free", and while these are wonderful, let me reiterate wonderful, they are nevertheless, not also grass-fed unless the billing says they are grass-fed...such as Silver Diner's Angus beef. Lastly, the word, "local" , while meaning it's helpful to local economy, does not meat it is necessarily organic, grass-fed or nutrient-dense.
Okay, I know they don't conform to everything Weston A. Price-ish!" No, they don't, but my heavens, click on the link and take a look at how hard they are trying! (My short rendition of their bounty is just that...short.) Pricers, it's important to remember that the vast majority of clean-food eaters haven't even yet heard of eating according to the 'Nourishing Traditions Way'. And while the Weston A. Price Foundationhas been instrumental in revealing the goodness of grass-fed and the wrongness of so much else, I feel we have to be more than grateful when we find places such as this that are making an honest effort to provide us with better nutrition while away from our own kitchens.
That said, let's move on...What about those who may go along for your ride when you visit Silver Diner? If they're not on your nutrient-dense wagon, it won't matter because first of all, it's all delicious. We loved our dishes, and everyone we've spoken to about it, has loved theirs as well, whether or not they were seeking nutrient-dense food. The kids' menu gives good choices, too. Silver Diner has done a wonderful job in the extremely difficult job of trying to please the taste buds of just about everyone.
In closing, I have to say a little something about costs. It costs more. Once again, we go back to the why's of greater costs for food that's better for us. It is one reason why nutrient-dense eaters eat out less...Everyone knows that no matter how you shape it, cooking your own food in your own home costs less. But the other reason we eat out less is because when we do, we suffer the consequences of processed and improperly prepared foods, not to mention pesticides. The sad truth is that those who offer the best have to jump through the most costly hoops to get their best to our plates. I would strongly recommend that anyone having trouble with the cost of good food check out this video where it is well-explained by Joel Salatin.
If that's not enough, check out this one:
As for Silver Diner, this small chain offers me some very good choices. I offer them my applause.
One way to be sure it's pesticide-free?
Grow your own!
This is "Joi choy".
You don't really mind if I go a bit out of the box today, do you? I know I have been reserving Tuesday for book reviews, and there is one I am reviewing now to share with you...but today, I'd really like to pass on some information you most likely will need right now, before diving into U-Pick Farms and the delectable aisles of spring and summer produce at the grocery store.
I have good news, bad news, and great news. I'll start with the great news: You don't always have to buy organic to be pesticide-safe. Did I just hear your bank account breathe a sigh of relief?
We have all lived with pesticides for so long that some roll their eyes as if to say, "Not THAT subject again!" But the truth is, pesticides have become stronger due to resistant pests and some of the foods we eat are even genetically modified, using pesticides, in greater and greater amounts for the same reason. (America's two greatest crops that are genetically modified are soybeans and corn.) We will tackle the extensive subject of GMO's at a later date, but if you're curious, check out the "Fresh, Inc." tab at the top of this page. Then, get the video and watch it. This documentary has been described as 'dark' because the information held within is not totally happy information. I would prefer to describe it as 'light' because of the revelation knowledge it shares regarding American food sources. It is valuable information that will spur the most reluctant among us into action, even if only within our own household.
We have people working for consumer safety and the Environmental Working Group is one of our strongest advocates. For eight years, the EWG gathered information from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, (nearly 89,000 tests), pertaining to pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables. Their full list of 49 fruits and vegetables tested, as well as further details, can be found here.
Don't be lured into a sense of false security by the word 'residue'. Just because it's residual doesn't mean it's not dangerous. Today's scientists agree that infants, children, and fetuses are especially harmed by pesticide/chemical residue. The damage can be permanent. Therefore, they advise we downsize pesticide consumption. I'm good with that. How about you?
Unfortunately, as innocents push to fortify health via the route of five fruits and veggies each day, they may be consuming more harm than good. The EWG has determined that if this consumption comes from the foods on the "Dirty Dozen" (most contaminated), list, we are including on average, 10 pesticides each day. Everything on the "Dirty Dozen" list tested positively for at least 47 chemicals, and at most 67 chemicals. Some have dubbed eating non-organic foods from this list as consuming a 'chemical cocktail'. Good analogy. However, if we consume foods, (they don't have to be organic), from the "Clean Fifteen" (least contaminated) list, we eat less than 2 pesticides each day, or reduce pesticide intake over the chemically charged varieties by up to 80 percent.
You may be, as I am, using a special rinse for your veggies, and that's not bad. But unfortunately, rinsing doesn't get rid of all the pesticides. Many of us already realize that pesticides reside mostly on the skins of our fruits and veggies, and so we peel what we can to eliminate that problem. Unfortunately, as we skim the skin, we skim nutrient-density as well, and finances spent on feeding our family well land in the trash along with our peelings. (The information gathered by the EWG was gathered from produce after it was either washed, rinsed or peeled.)
If you can't buy organic, but must have that food on the 'dirty' list, then by all means, wash, rinse or peel it in order to reduce pesticide intake. Every little thing we do helps our health. Because organics cost more, downsize the price by buying in season and locally. You'll help your budget and the local economy.
The Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen Lists for 2011
Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Domestic blueberries
Nectarines
Sweet bell peppers
Spinach, kale and collard greens
Cherries
Potatoes
Imported grapes
Lettuce
The Clean Fifteen
Onions
Avocados
Sweet corn
Pineapples
Mango
Sweet peas
Asparagus
Kiwi fruit
Cabbage
Eggplant
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Sweet potatoes
Sweet onions
Idea:
Copy or print the list and carry it in your wallet for easy grocery reference.
It's the time of year when we love to go to U-pick farms. A word of caution. Ask before you pick. Unfortunately, berries are defenseless when it comes to pesticides. To my current knowledge, Cullipher Farm in Pungo, VA is the only Virginia strawberry-picking farm offering pesticide-free strawberries. That doesn't mean other farms in VA are all laced with pesticides, however. ASK.
There is a growing resistance among small farmers in regard to being 'certified organic'. These farmers have opted out of government certification for organically produced foods, not because they are non-organic, (most have higher standards than the government when it comes to pure food), but because the process of becoming certified organic through our government is lengthy, costly (and that cost is passed on to the consumer), and the government regulates so many of the ins and outs of their business. Farmers I know and have spoken with at length who have 'opted out' have open-farm policies, allowing anyone to visit and watch how they conduct business. They use compost teas for fertilization and organic means of pesticide riddance. They are innovative and passionate about cleaning up our food. They often use creative approaches that would be fraught with red-tape hassles if they had to wait for government approval. And none of those approaches bring harm to the consumer.
On the other hand, when seeking organics in the supermarket, the organic certification label is of prime importance.
Ahh...SPRING...??
Now, you want to know about how God works sometimes? We have two vehicles, neither of which is a truck. (We NEED a TRUCK!...)
Honestly, this type of garden does need to sit a bit before planting...We are creating ours along the format of the family in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania...Their climate is more similar to ours than those across the country.
