Southern California is in bloom right now and we couldn't be happier. We love that the rains have led to the green coming back to our landscape! And here are Ann's roses in bloom that we wanted to share with you all!
Foraging 101: Q&A with Erica Wohldmann
1. What is foraging?
Foraging is just the act of searching for food--most people think of foraging as searching for wild food, but, technically speaking, I go foraging in my refrigerator every day.
2. Why do you forage?
First, I'd like to say that I've planted many of the edible and medicinal plants that I wild forage in my garden. Living in a city of 10 million people, our presence already has a big impact on the ability of other animals to survive and thrive. When I do wild forage plants and mushrooms, I practice ethical harvesting. That said, I forage because it deepens my connection with nature. The forest is my church, and I like to take communion with the ecological web of life on a regular basis. Plus, who doesn't love free food?
3. Can you forage in Los Angeles?
If yes, where? It depends. State Parks and some of the surrounding hills are totally off limits. Private land is always an option, so long as you have permission from the land owner of course.
4. Can I forage in my neighborhood? Is it safe?
Urban foraging is a great way to connect to the community of plant friends in your neighborhood. That said, safety depends on where you're picking, and what you're picking. Some plants do a terrific job of cleaning up our messes--taking in toxins that we use and spill, like oil that drips from our cars and poisons we spray on our lawns. Generally speaking, if a lawn is full of ""weeds"" it's probably safe to eat the dandelions growing in it. After all, if it was sprayed with a biocide, there would likely be no weeds.
5. Where can I learn more?
Come for a walk with me! You can check out my recent TEDxUCLA talk and a list of upcoming walks and workshops at: www.ericawohldmann.com - You can also learn more about the 5-month Rewilding Immersion Series that I co-teach with Nadine Flowers, a wild woman and practitioner of wilderness therapy and nature-based healing techniques.
Green Living: Composting and Benefits
Photo Credit: Kathleen Blakistone, Moonwater Farm
When you add food scraps and yard waste to soil – it’s what is called compost. Compost is added to soil and works as a natural fertilizer to help plants grow healthy and strong. There are many benefits of composting, one of which: sustainability. Making compost keeps organic waste out of landfills where they release methane and lowers your carbon footprint. It also leads to healthier soil as it helps soil retain moisture and helps suppress plant diseases as well as insects.
To get started- create a compost bin and fill your bin with a balance mix of grass and green yard waste and “brown” materials like leaves and paper as well as food waste. Turn your pile regularly as often as you can- it helps it compost faster. It’s important to NEVER add the following to your compost bin: meat, bones, fish, plastic, oil, fat, any kind of feces, diseased plants, diapers, and cat litter. It is not recommended to add grains, nuts, and cooked food as it takes a long time to break down.
When do you know your compost is ready? You’ll find a layer of good compost at the bottom of the bin, add this to your garden weeks before you plant so the soil can absorb all the nutrients. Let us know how your composting goes!
Carmelized Shallot, Chard & Mushroom Quiche Recipe
Here is a fantastic recipe that highlights one of our favorite vegetables: Chard. Chard which is a leafy green contains high levels nitrates (which been shown to lower blood pressure), vitamin K, and vitamin A. It can be a tricky vegetable to cook but this recipe takes the guessing out of it: by baking it in a quiche!
Recipe From Farm Fresh to You and Image by Ann Braden.
Caramelized Shallot, Chard and Mushroom Quiche
Ingredients:
1 (12 oz) ball of your favorite pie dough for an 8-9 inch pie plate
8 ounces white cheddar cheese
6 eggs
1 pint half & half
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 large shallot, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 bunch (4 cups) chard, washed, destemmed and coarsely chopped
1 (3.5 ounce) package brown beech mushrooms or maitake mushrooms
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
1/8 teaspoon cracked black pepper
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Spray an 8-9 inch pie plate with nonstick spray or coat with butter.
Roll out the pie dough into a 12-inch diameter circle, approximately 1/8-inch thick. Place the dough into your 8 - 9 inch pie plate, making sure to press the dough into the corners and bottom of the pie plate. Fold the excess dough over the top edge, and using your forefinger and thumb, flute the edges. Chill the dough while you prepare the other ingredients.
Grate the cheese, setting aside 1/2 cup to use later.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. Add the shallot and cook until slightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Lower the heat to medium and add the chard. Sauté, stirring frequently, until chard is tender, about 5 minutes. Place the chard mixture into a small bowl and set aside.
In the same sauté pan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until tender and slightly browned, about 5 to 8 minutes. Stir the mushrooms into the chard mixture and let cool a bit.
In a medium bowl, beat the eggs slightly, then whisk in half & half, cheese (except the 1/2 cup), salt and pepper. Whisk in chard/mushroom mixture. Pour the mixture into the prepared pie shell. Bake for 40 minutes, sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bake 5 to 10 more minutes, until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
Serve warm.
Reflections on Love: The Soul Survivor
This is different than our usual posts. But I (Ann here) feel it's important. As a culture, we tend to avoid talking about death, yet it is a reality that no one can escape. This piece was written by my friend Leslie Kazadi after the death of our friend Diana. May it speak to your heart. This is what love looks like...
Here is the link to the poem: http://www.yogapoetica.com/dve/2017/3/1/love-the-soul-survivor
How to Grow Tomatoes
It’s spring season which means the perfect time to plant tomatoes! Tomatoes contain beneficial nutrients and antioxidants. They are also a rich source of vitamins A, C, and folic acid. To grow tomatoes keep in mind that they need at least six to eight hours of sun. They need support so purchase a trellis or stake (larger the better) so your tomato plants have room to grow vertically and be kept off the ground and give each plant plenty of room to grow. It’s good to water your tomato plants by soaking the soil (not leaves) once a week or possibly more frequently when it is very hot. Harvest your tomatoes when they have reached their full size and color! To keep it sustainable and healthy, be sure to grow heirloom or non-GMO tomatoes - seeds will be available at any greenhouse or nursery.
Love After Love
Ann's friend and fellow cancer survivor Stephanie recently posted about the importance of being grateful for what we have. She said our products are like "another way to celebrate life. Like each time you bathe a chance to be grateful and present." Yes, exactly! Which reminded us of this poem"
LOVE AFTER LOVE
The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
-Derek Walcott
Don't be Fooled by Greenwashing!
On this April Fools' Day, don't be fooled by greenwashing! Greenwashing refers to advertising and marketing claims that make a product or company appear more environmentally friendly than it actually is. When a product has a big leaf or a natural-looking label, how can you tell who's really telling the truth?
Check the ingredients! Be on the lookout for creepy stuff like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, formaldehyde, parabens, PEGs and synthetic fragrances. I know, it's a lot. Make it manageable by starting with one product you use regularly.
Check the rating on http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ where specific concerns for each ingredient are listed, i.e. does it contain skin allergens, potential carcinogens or hormone disrupters? Another good resource is https://greenbeautyteam.com/toxic-ingredient-glossary/ Small, sustainable steps add up to a better, healthier future for you, your family and the earth. Start today!
Converted Mall- Shops Are Converted Into 48 Tiny Homes
Conventional malls are having a rough time. This is brilliance! Micro apartments offer affordable, safe, city living and bring life back to an historic building. With micro retail, too! ❤️
Check out the link to read this great article: "Woman Moves Into Old Mall After Shops Are Converted Into 48 Tiny Homes, Could You Live Like This?" http://www.lifeaspire.com/6809/americas-oldest-mall-is-turned-into-gorgeous-tiny-homes/
Spring Clean Your Make Up Bag
Spring is the perfect time to update your makeup bag. Refresh yours using these 4 tips.
1. Lighten up your face! Use a lightweight tinted moisturizer or add a few drops of your usual foundation to your moisturizer for light coverage that enhances but doesnt cover up your own natural beauty.
2. Check expiration dates! Mascara expires in 3-6 months of use. Old mascara can lead to eye infections so if it feels, looks or smells suspect, toss it out!
3. Wash makeup brushes. Swish around in warm soapy water and lay out on the counter to dry. Once they're dry, store in a drawer or closed bag to keep clean.
4. Check ingredients for toxins and allergens. Concerns have been raised around certain ingredients like parabens and phthalates that may disrupt hormones or become toxic with long-term exposure, or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) which is a source of skin allergens. If you're starting to switch over to green beauty products, to do it gradually. To get the most benefit, start with products you use over large areas of your body.
Let us know if we missed any other tips!
Dealing with Daylight Savings: Five Tips on How to Feel Better
The Spring time change, where we lose an hour of sleep, has been associated with grumpiness (according to our in-house study!) as well as an increase in heart attacks, cluster headaches and workplace injuries (be careful with that stapler!) The time change leaves most of us feeling jetlagged for weeks.
Here are our tips on how to better deal with the Daylight Savings changes:
1. Open the Blinds: expose yourself to natural light early! Outdoor light is far more intense than indoor light. Thirty to sixty minutes of outdoor light per day helps reduce the effects of nighttime lighting. Not getting enough natural light means artificial light (lightbulbs, computers, etc) is more likely to keep you up.
2. Resist Napping! This is a pretty self-explanatory tip - taking naps during the day will disrupt your circadian rhythm and generally leads to sleeping problems at night.
3. Stay Hydrated: go easy on the coffee and alcohol and drink plenty of water! This will help you deal with the time change as you won’t feel as sluggish
4. Get Plenty of Rest: go to bed a little earlier each day. This slowly gets you accustomed to sleeping at an earlier time
5. Create an Unwinding Ritual: This might include taking a hot bath with some epsom salts, avoiding your electronics at least 30 mins before bed, listening to something soothing (guided relaxation, nature sounds, music), etc.
We hope these tips help you adjust! Let us know of any tips that help you!
