Dear Yogis (got your attention?)

I didn’t think you would be interested in SOX….

Thank you to the universe…  For the last few years I have been sharing the few “domestic art” skills I have and encouraging others to do the same as part of a barter network.  It seemed ridiculous to some, but goodness me, it has turned into something wonderful.  Today I had a delivery of SOX TO DARN that I know will turn into HARE when the job is done or when a hare is caught.  Please please, start doing this with neighbours and friends.  Note to self:  Make sure you have taken every precaution with the things you leave on their front step.  Thoroughly launder.. etc etc.

SOX IN WAITING…

In this time of living at a distance, I love these doorstop deliveries – THANK YOU GANG for remembering that although there are no yoga classes, (and no ZOOM – although we already have 100 videos you can access.  Yes there is a charge, but it is secure, which we now know Zoom is not.) and I am still holding the space.

Today,  Sox! A million thank yous’.  I love these “secret” visits and finding unexpected things on the front step.  Even my raven is leaving gifts (his leftovers) on the step – the odd crumpet, piece of toast, and he always says “Hi” and stays close by when I go out to garden..

Why do I like to barter?  I get to sit watching the TV at night giving Sox and sweaters a second life, feeling that I am doing something very useful for myself and for the planet, with the advantage that I will have a supply of meat which will last me a long time.  Hare stew, pulled hare, potted hare, Mexican hare casserole, Bengali stew. A win-win situation for both me and the cat who has developed a deep desire for this particular (no fat) meat.  She is not interested in chicken, fussy about fish,  but hare?  She would scream the roof down if I didn’t give her a portion. Those who can’t give meat, swap with other things I need, there is a certain amount of negotiation involved, and that is what text and the email are for.  Who knew that mending and darning would be such a valuable skill?

From the domestic to the planetary..

Published yesterday by the Commission for the Human Future, which has isolated 10 potentially catastrophic threats to human survival.

Not prioritised over one another, these risks are:

1. decline of natural resources, particularly water
2. collapse of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity
3. human population growth beyond earth’s carrying capacity
4. global warming and human-induced climate change
5. chemical pollution of the earth system, including the atmosphere and oceans
6. rising food insecurity and failing nutritional quality
7. nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction
8. pandemics of new and untreatable disease
9. the advent of powerful, uncontrolled new technology
10. national and global failure to understand and act preventatively on these risks.

Put the list on your fridge – Just so we keep things worldwide, instead of looking at our own backyard, today.

STAY WELL AND STAY WARM – NAMASTE  JAHNE

 

Hi there Yogis,

Here I am again.  I know you are probably sick of me telling you this BUT, in these unusual times, to save money,  get the most out of the day and most out of meal times I recommend something you may not have done in an age.  MEAL PLANNING!  Meal planning. Yes, For me, as you know, planning is a way of life. I meal plan even though my kids have flown the coop,  and I work from home.  I am not the person (or the mum) who went shopping every day.

How I work fits well with what is happening around us.  We are supposed only to go out for essential things and this requires more thought.  And that taken to its appropriate conclusion has moved me to a more relaxed, smarter way of cooking. As you have seen from my blog, I definitely have a THRIFTY KITCHEN.   Here’s what I have learned…

I cook every day, often twice because I am at home, have the time, and use it as a break between other things (I am even considering a dish washer). We can’t pop out to a cafe for coffee and a snack.  Now, lunch is where I get rid of left overs.

Friday is the day I plan, and Saturday the day I shop. I am still foraging and developing  still developing recipes for the blog site as usual, so I plan on working through one or two new dishes each week. If everything goes according to plan I don’t have to remake them – but that is the challenge of the blog.

How do I plan? I look at the weather — gloomy means stew or something from the freezer, sunny means salad and foraged greens — the season, what vegetables are likely to be good right now, what herbs and vegetables I have ready in my garden (lots of celery and celery greens, parsley, chives, radish tops, sorrel, horseradish, and so on and I noticed my garlic poking its head through the mulch).  Plus what I can forage.  Do I have any cooked proteins in the freezer? Which grains and beans should I cook this time?

All that goes into the plan. It is surprisingly fun.

One of my favourites, and a favourite of my children was GARBAGE SOUP.  To make it you use the odds and ends of starchy vegetables, bits of stew,  left overs.  If you don’t have any stock in the freezer or can’t jazz up something, a packet of soup is a good standby – for children, alphabet soup helps.  You wouldn’t eat it on its own, but as background noise, it is terrific. Throw in greens, stems and peelings of vegetables you have in the freezer you have kept, onions including the skins for colour.  I like putting in a scoop of peanut butter.  Don’t forget hemp oil, seeds and meal.  All add to the omega 3 and protein.   If you have more soup than you can use, use it the next day for lunch with curry or chilli. Float a piece of toast on the top sprinkle with cheese and pop under the griller before you serve.  By the way add eggs in their shells into the soup and whilst it is cooking you will have hard boiled the eggs – another meal solved.

Keep watching the blog, www.wildnweedy.blogspot.com        I have doubled my efforts to make it look beautiful for you. Today I made SPICED LIME VODKA, and I have to say, it was wonderful….and it is not even matured yet. It’s on the blog.

Namaste.  Keep well and keep warm.  JAHNE

Dear Yogis,

On Monday, yesterday, I had a garden afternoon.   I have discovered over time that Chocolate Mint, Thai Mint, Mugwort, Lebanese Cress and of course Watercress can all provide a really good water crop.  So I planted each of them, again.  I did have a wonderful crop of watercress, but the tadpoles, (and there were many), decided that they like watercress, and they cleared the whole pond of it, so I have had to replant.  The roots are wonderful and keep the water clean and clear, and add a few fish to keep the mozzies down, and you have a balanced system (minus taddies).    Gardening is not a meditation for me, it is work – and in this time of no yoga classes, work is welcome.

These are photos of the pond.  Looks a bit wild and woolley, but that’s how it is…  I inserted two larger gold type fish who were (when I last looked) exceeding happy.  If the heron swoops in it will be unfortunate and underline why I should have stuck with pygmy perch – they are fast and you can’t see them.   If the sun comes out this afternoon it will be gumboot time – I can see changes I want to make.

A friend of mine in Central Victoria is growing Salt Bush, so my next summer I will have a tincture for the cat’s nose.  I am not sure the bush will grow the same with the same properties as the one I use … but I am happy to have the foliage and try.  I can make the tincture.  No-one has spoken to me about their supplementation.  I take lots, and my acupuncturist approved (surprisingly).  I make Olive Leaf Extract (I also make gin, but that is for another time), I take mega C and so should you – eating oranges is not enough. I also take big zinc, creatine, and turmeric (“hemp” boosted) milk.  What are you relying on?  I am getting younger by the day.  My skin is great, my poop is fantastic, and everything is clean and clear.  WHAT ABOUT YOU? If you need essences, hemp super turmeric…whatever.  I am here.  just ask.  yogafirst2@bigpond.com

I have tarted up my blog – it took some time, but I think it looks better, and gives you some options..  Please go to www.wildnweedy.blogspot.com     and let me know what you think.

On Tuesday and Wednesday  am going to focus on making masks.  I have been dancing around the fabric. i.e. not wanting to cut.  The fabric is so beautiful it seems a pity to make a mask out of it – but we may be wearing masks for a long time… we might as well have beautiful masks, not just one, lots.  One for every day – different colours, different fabrics.

Stay well, stay warm.  NAMASTE – JAHNE