Habits,Novelties, and the history of Food Consumption

Growing cherry tomatoes in insulated blankets on the Oregon Coast, Summer 2014.

Throughout our evolution we kept trying to find  new things to eat, in part because we were always hungry, and in part because as our brain grew larger we needed more fuel. I can personally vouch for the need to fuel the brain because after a meeting, even today in my retirement years, just listening to a bunch of facts and figures, not even trying to be attentive and active participant, I'm beat and famished and can't say no to anything put in front of me.

Someone must be using that little fact to present us with food at such meetings that we might reject at other times, sweets, sugary drinks, indulgences of all sorts.

As in potato chips and ice-cream, both invented for fried brains. No wonder that in prime time the advertising on television is mostly about food products none of us really need, but want after a little teasing jingle has wet our appetite.

How could it be that an evolved civilization could be so insensitive and yes, stupid even, as to stuff itself with non-food and feel good about it?

During my working years, the last thing I wanted to think about was preparing a meal from scratch, as in home-made soup or stews at the end of the day after a long day and a long commute, to a waiting family that might need not just food, but supplies to rush and pick up at the store for tomorrow's presentation in one of the classes the children attended, or an activity like soccer or ballet, or...

 Well, someone came up with canned and frozen products that almost made the working mom feel good; why the advertising said, "Uhh, uhh, Good!!!" What we never knew was that food chemists were working double time to come up with "invented" taste, adding extra vitamins on the label to reassure the housewife that the product they took home to feed their family was as good as home-made.

Now that I have the time to truly read the labels, to truly shop carefully for food, I'd rather go back a thousand years in history, (in my own family, we go back just one generation), and grow my own food, then freeze the excess for those winter days when a bag of frozen peas can be added to that risotto and make spring reappear on the dinner table. Nothing beats the taste of that tiny tomato you grow, sweating over it as if it were your own baby growing under that insulating blanket. And months later, roasted, herbed and frozen tomatoes will have nothing of the "tin" taste of canned tomatoes.

Isn't it ironic?

An Update and a preview...

This summer is a mixed bag. My garden has been delayed by weather and other circumstances beyond my control. By now, I should be harvesting favas, peas, onions, broccoli... I blame the wet and cool weather as well as the many crows that are now making their nests in these trees.  Last year, bluejays invaded this space, the year before, moles and rabbits.  Everyone comes to the water in the summer.

Two of our big machines, the tractor and the weed whacker broke down. Two of our bathrooms were upgraded, taking months, with people in and out of the house.  My daughter  had surgery and I was gone to her place to provide assistance.  My husband needed emergency dental care that pushed everything else aside, including the mowing and weed whacking with the new machines we purchased.  Plus, we had company!  And we are expecting more.

No wonder my head is spinning and I'm taking refuge in my new blog. Real Food
There, I can stay positive and calm . Cooking relaxes me.

This is really typical summer stuff here.
All winter and spring we live predictable lives.
Then, the rain stops, weeds take over, fences need mending and we are outdoors getting hurt and tired.
Ah, the fun of summer.
The expenses of summer.
The excitement will last us for the next nine months.
I'll keep you posted so you can send your sympathy cards this way. I should be feeling sorry for you in sweltering mid western heat.
 I do. Hope your weather improves.

Back in France...

When we visited France last year, I learned a few things about kitchen gardens. In this photo, we are posed attentively to listen to our guide tell us how everything that was on the menu that day was grown in kitchen gardens right down the hill.

After that trip, I have become obsessed by the idea of cultivating a proper kitchen garden.

So my plan began: the lawn in the deer-proof fenced area was dug up, amended and prepped for major food production.


The plan was to have three areas, a spring - summer, a fall-winter, and a fallow area with cover crops. By rotating each area, I could enrich the soil naturally and not spend a fortune in amendments. On the first go, I bought seeds from Territorial, an organic seed producer right here in Oregon. In the following seasons, I will collect and use my own seeds.

I am the attentive short lady in the middle of the picture. My husband shot this photo to emphasize my compulsive attitude with lectures. I listen well, take notes, put plans into action. He, on the other hand, can surmise the entire talk in two seconds, can walk away and do other things, then return and summarize what he hasn't heard. Frustrating.

He did visit the kitchen gardens and knows what it is that I'm after.
Stay tuned to the next stage.

Now, as a side note, I took off the list of blogs I follow because it was not updated regularly and automatically. I will post about other blogs that pop up and inspire me. There is much goodwill and talent out there.

This week, please visit Angela Regada at http://www.amazingmotherearth.blogspot.com/