Review: A Slice of Organic Life

A Slice of Organic Life was generously donated to Parkview Neighbourhood Garden by DK Canada. I'm reviewing it on behalf of PNG. 

The moment I saw this book I knew I wanted to read and review it. It's hard to resist the colourful cover bedecked with bright-eyed chickens! The overall design of the book is appealing, actually, with heavy (although not recycled) paper and plenty of beautiful full-colour photos. 

After a foreword by Alice Waters and an intro by editor-in-chief Sheherazade Goldsmith (fantastic name!), the main part of the book consists of over 80 projects grouped into three sections: 

• No Need for a Yard 
• Roof Terrace, Patio, or Tiny Yard, and;
• Yard, Community Garden, or Field. 

You can find projects to suit your needs in any of the three sections, but obviously some will be more suitable than others. 

I loved the idea of the book being divided this way; unfortunately the execution has some issues. There's too much repetition (e.g. "Start a Worm Composter" in Part 2 and then "Nourish the Soil" in Part 3, with nearly identical information). I think it might have worked better if the categories were more strictly adhered to. But overall it's not bad. 

You should also be aware that the book was apparently first published in the UK, so North Americans might have trouble with a few of the terms. Luckily measurements are offered both in Metric and Imperial. 

I like that each project is kept short--there's nothing more tedious than authors who delve into every minute detail while neglecting the fun side of exploring a new subject. Unfortunately, if you're looking for in-depth instruction you won't find it here. Instead, I suggest you use A Slice of Organic Life as a starting point. Find out what interests you, get a feel for it here, and then round out your knowledge elsewhere. Chances are, once you start projects you'll be hooked and will naturally start learning all you can about the subject anyway. 

The projects are surprisingly inspiring. Somehow I went from being opposed to livestock in the city (if you've ever heard the racket made by roosters, you would be too) to trying to figure out how I can get a pair of geese for my yard. In some cases my enthusiasm for things I used to do and drifted away from (like companion planting) was re-ignited. And best of all, I learned new things (bee-keeping)! 

On the downside, I noticed several inaccuracies, a couple of which are actually dangerous. I was really surprised to read a suggestion of flavouring oil with garlic. I thought it was common knowledge that garlic stored in oil is a formula for botulism. Unless you add some acid (such as vinegar) to the mix, do not store garlic in oil. Another terrible suggestion: making flea collars using essential oils. Although my vet had to search a bit to confirm it, essential oils unfortunately do cause kidney damage to cats. It's fine to diffuse oils in a room with good air circulation, but anything in close quarters will hurt your cat (not to mention that they're extremely sensitive to strong smells). And although not dangerous, the idea that there's a link between aluminum and Alzheimer's has been disproven; no one should still be repeating it. This is another reason why further research is essential (luckily most of the problems seem to be in Part 1 of the book). 

The book also has a few recipes, all of which look tempting indeed. I only tried one: Mushroom Frittata and it's already become a favourite. I'd love the chance to try more (I can see I'll be borrowing this book from PNG again)! 

Here's some of what you'll find in A Slice of Organic Life: 

Part 1: No Need for a Yard 

Growing Pots of Herbs Indoors, Support Local Businesses, Grow Strawberries in a Hanging Basket, Campaign, Go Green in the Playroom, recipes for Mushroom Frittata (p 106) and Wholemeal Bread (p 57)...  

Part 2: Roof, Terrace, Patio, or Tiny Yard 

Keep Urban Honey Bees, Use Eco-Friendly DIY Materials, Make Your Own Barbecue, Grow an Apple Tree in a Pot, recipe for Blueberry Muffins (p 123)...  

Part 3: Yard, Community Garden, or Field 

Make Simple Preserves, Grow Your Own Vegetables, Plant a Fruit Orchard, Keep a Few Geese, Make Organic Drinks, Create a Pond for Wildlife, Keep a Milking Cow, recipes for Pumpkin & Apricot Chutney (p 193) and Damson Wine (p 290)... 

The book ends with a reasonably detailed Directory and Resources section, which includes websites, books, and a few phone numbers, as well as the index. This book is fun to read, inspiring, interesting, and lovely to look at. It's not rocket science, but then, that's kind of the point.  

Quote: "...the small decisions we make can truly change the world."

[Edited to update title and links, and for formatting. Follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com]

 

Hot Muffins: May Edition (Zesty Zucchini Muffins Recipe)

It's that time again--when we all get to enjoy hot Mormon muffins! This month's muffin is Zesty Zion Zucchini, brought to you by Tami, age 35, mom of three, and pretend gardener. 

Click photos to enlarge. 

All the good stuff (the glass jar contains home-grown and -dried basil): 

 

Eggs, milk and oil (we only use free-run eggs): 

 

Sugar-- only a small amount for this savoury muffin: 

 

Parmigiano-Reggiano, ready to be sprinkled on top: 

 

Zucchini grated in about 10 seconds. I love my food processor! 

 

Mixing the batter by hand, making sure not to mix it too well (the "treenware" batter beater was a gift from my lovely friend Bella): 

Zucchini and basil are added last: 

 

Topped with cheese and ready to go into the oven: 

Freshly baked: 

 

Can't wait to get eating: 

Tami's Zesty Zion Zucchini 

[My notes/changes in brackets]

2 eggs 

3/4 cup milk 

2/3 cup vegetable oil [I used safflower] 

2 cups [all-purpose] flour 

1 tbs baking powder 

1 tsp salt 

1/4 cup [granulated] sugar 

2 cups shredded zucchini [I used one small zucchini and didn't actually measure how much I ended up with] 

4 tbs dried basil [This seemed like a lot to me so I only used half. I liked the subtle basil flavour but you could put in the entire 4 tbs and not be overwhelmed] 

6 tbs grated parmesan cheese [Splurge on parmigiano-reggiano--it's worth it] 

Beat eggs in bowl and stir in milk and oil. 

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. 

Mix dry ingredients into egg mixture just until moistened. Batter should be lumpy. Hand mix in zucchini and basil. 

Fill greased muffin cups 3/4 full [I always ignore this. As long as the batter isn't right to the top it should be fine]. Sprinkle each muffin with 1 tsp of cheese. 

Bake at 400F [200C] for 18 to 20 minutes.  

My verdict: I love these muffins! Unfortunately my SO didn't care for them (he's got a particular palate) but I thought the subtle sweetness went perfectly with the aromatic hint of basil and salty cheese. It also had a great texture, dense and chewy but light and airy. These are a perfect snack or "starch" alongside something like a fritatta or grilled chicken. I also think these muffins would be delicious with the addition of about 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts or walnuts (added to the batter at the same time as the zucchini and basil). 

Want more Hot Mormon Muffins? Check out my previous posts:

January: Easy Banana-Praline Muffins

February: Raspberry Muffins

March: Marmalade Muffins 

April: Cinnamon-Nut Streusel Muffins

 

Photos by Whimsy Bower

[Edited to update title, links, and for formatting. Follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com]

Lilac Love

I don't usually like to cut flowers from the garden; I prefer to enjoy them where they are. But when it comes to lilacs, I always have to fill at least one vase with them. The scent alone is worth it--a reminder of spring, and warmth, and (for me) childhood. And sometimes, when so much seems to be wrong with the world, it's nice to have a tangible reminder of what's right. 

Click photos to enlarge.  

All photos by Whimsy Bower

Keep Your Cool (without AC)

Every year as the weather starts getting warmer, the SO and I have the same debate: should we get air conditioning installed or not? We'd have to go with the ductless kind, as our house comes equipped with radiators, but that's not where the quandary lies. 

During the few hot and humid weeks of the year (not that they feel like few when you're suffering through them), there is nothing quite as wonderful as walking into a refrigerated building. But much as I don't like the heat, I'm also not a fan of the artificial cold. Even in the car (where I think AC is an absolute necessity), I have to set it to where it's only a step above warm, otherwise it's uncomfortable. 

But aside from personal preferences, air conditioning is a huge drain on power. It's so bad that our local power company is desperate to get people to sign up for a program where the company can remotely cut your AC when power demands are at their highest (this is to help prevent rolling blackouts). At a time when the world really needs to think about conservation and smart use, do we really want to install an energy hog? 

Luckily, there are ways to keep the house cool and comfortable (but not cold) without resorting to AC. Some of these we already have in place, some we're planning on trying out. Most of these came from Home Comforts (whose author claims her grandmother's house was always pleasantly cool in summer), and a couple are my own. 

If you have any tips of your own on keeping cool, please comment and share.  

Keeping Cool without AC 

*If you can, install exterior shutters, shades or awnings on your house to help block out the sun. Light colours reflect more heat. 

*Interior shades, blinds or draperies also help a lot. Anything that can block the sun will help (so if going for draperies, make sure you get an opaque, tightly woven fabric). Again, light colours reflect more heat. In fact, two layers (blinds/shades and draperies, or two sets of draperies) are best of all. They'll help keep the house warmer in winter too, by blocking out drafts. 

*Ventilation can help if the outside temperature is lower than the inside temperature. A good idea is to open windows to let cool air in at night and in early morning, and to close blinds and draw curtains during the sunniest, hottest part of the day. 

*Use appliances selectively. Don't use the oven on hot days (for some reason I always get the urge to bake on the hottest days of the summer. No idea why). Limit use of the stove, dishwasher, and clothes dryer (or use them at night), and close the doors of the rooms they're in when using them. Speaking of, TVs and computers can emit a surprising amount of heat; don't turn them on unless you really need them (another reason why summer is a great time to catch up on your reading). 

*Fluorescent lights produce far less heat than incandescent bulbs (in fact, some people have complained that after switching to fluorescents, they had to turn up the thermostat in winter because the lights were no longer providing extra heat). 

*I cannot emphasize enough the awesomeness of fans. I have tabletop and floor fans in every room (ceiling fans are also really good, but I find them unattractive). Not only will fans cool you and the house down using far less energy than AC, but they'll circulate the air and make your home generally more pleasant to live in. Even with AC, I'd keep the fans for this latter reason. 

*Dehumidifiers are great as too much humidity makes you feel hotter (not to mention icky). Dehumidifiers emit some heat, though, so we keep ours in the basement and turn it on at night. You'd be amazed how much water you collect. 

*Plant shade trees (e.g., elm, maple, oak, sycamore, ash)! They can lower temperatures around them by up to 9F. Deciduous trees are best, as they drop their leaves in winter and allow the sun back in to warm the place. Bushes and vines on trellises near the house also help. Trees should be planted on the northeast-southeast and northwest-southwest sides of your house. Don't plant too close to your house or you'll block breezes (and don't plant trees where their roots will get into water pipes). 

*Insulating your attic makes a huge difference, as apparently that's where most of the heat enters your house (an insulated attic also helps keep heat in during winter). Interestingly, venting your attic is also an excellent cooling measure. You should probably hire a pro for this, but if you're feeling handy make sure to place intake vents low and exhaust vents high. You might also want to make sure you install some kind of secure screening to prevent critters from getting in. 

*A light coloured exterior will help reflect heat away from your home, but if you're lucky enough to have an old house with original red/brown bricks, I strongly urge you not to paint or cover them. Those old bricks are gorgeous, and have a patina that can't be replicated. Painting them just looks bad. 

*You can buy reflective roof coatings to help lessen heat absorption. Home Comforts doesn't mention them, but I have to wonder about different types of roofing materials, as well. You might want to look into whether terracotta, ceramic, or aluminum shingles and tiles would help keep the house cooler, and also whether they're practical for you. 

*Make sure your bathrooms are vented. They help suck out humidity and maybe some heat as well. Anyone who's ever showered in the summer in an unvented bathroom (right here) can attest to the sauna-like effects once you step out of the enclosure. 

If the heat still gets to be too much (as it might, especially during a bad summer), I suggest cooling off with ice cream, cold watermelon, quick showers (or running under the sprinkler), and occasionally escaping to a beach, pool or public building (libraries, malls, community centres...) 

You should also keep a close eye on pets! Make sure they have plenty of cold water available and a shaded area to sleep (preferably inside). Dogs overheat more easily than cats, so watch them extra closely. And do not, ever, under any circumstances, no matter what, leave them in your car! Not even for a second while you run inside. (Same goes for kids, although I hate that it even needs to be said in either case.) Cars are ovens on sunny days. 

Image from http://www.freeimages.co.uk/

[Edited for formatting and to update link. Follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com]

Hot Muffins: April Edition (Cinnamon-Nut Streusel Muffins Recipe)

Between Easter (with all its accompanying treats) and the start of the garden season, I almost didn't get to April's muffin. But have no fear--it's here for you now, in all its hot muffin glory! April's muffin (Seminary Streusel) is brought to you by Charli the bunny. She's 33 and a mom of two. 

Click photos to enlarge. 

Walnut-cinnamon streusel goodness: 

 

Hand-mixed and still-floury batter. I didn't want to overdo it: 

 

Ready to go into the oven and already looking good: 

 

Freshly baked:  

Check out the melted sugary crust that's formed around the top of the muffin in the foreground. Streusel gold!  

Charli's Seminary Streusel Muffin 

[My notes/changes in brackets] 

Muffin 

1 egg 

3/4 cup milk 

1/3 cup vegetable oil 

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 

1/4 cup [granulated] sugar 

2 1/2 tsp baking powder 

1/2 tsp salt 

Streusel 

1/2 cup chopped nuts [I used walnuts] 

1/2 cup brown sugar 

1 tsp cinnamon 

2 tbs melted butter 

Grease or line 12 muffin cups with paper liners. [Preheat oven to 400F.] 

[Make streusel by mixing all ingredients together thoroughly. Set aside.] 

In a bowl, slightly beat egg, adding milk and oil. Set aside. In a large bowl stir flour, [granulated] sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add egg mixture all at once, stirring just until moistened. Do not over beat, as batter should be lumpy. 

Spoon into muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Top with streusel. Bake at 400F for 20 to 25 minutes.  

My verdict: I really liked this muffin. It's easy to make and tasty. At first I thought the muffin itself was a little too bland, but it's actually a nice foil to the streusel topping. It's also got a good dense, but light, texture that works well with the crunchy topping. This is a muffin I'd like to experiment with. Besides trying different nuts in the streusel, I think adding a touch of vanilla would be lovely. I'm also tempted to make a double batch of the streusel and stir half of it into the batter (and top the muffins with the other half) before baking. Even a simple cinnamon-sugar swirled into the batter could be good. 

Want more Hot Mormon Muffins? Check out my previous posts:  

January: Easy Banana-Praline Muffins

February: Raspberry Muffins

March: Marmalade Muffins

All photos by Whimsy Bower.

[Edited for formatting, and to update title and links. Follow me on my main site: AspasiaSBissas.com]

Review: New Urban Farmer by Celia Brooks Brown (and a recipe for Smoky Chard with Chickpeas)

When Quadrille offered New Urban Farmer by Celia Brooks Brown for review, I jumped at the chance because it sounded exactly like the sort of thing I love to read, although I didn't expect the book to be that useful to me. I thought it would be a back-to-the-land type of instruction manual with info on raising backyard chickens and canning vegetables and that sort of thing. Well, it turns out I was right and wrong. 

Self-sufficiency manual this is not--but I did indeed love reading it (more than I even expected).  

New Urban Farmer is described as "...a year-round gardening book that is part-journal, part-gardening manual and part-recipe book with one aim: to inspire you to cultivate and enjoy your own delicious homegrown produce." Talk about ambitious. And she succeeds. 

I loved reading Brown's personal stories of life at her London allotment garden. I could easily delve into an entire book of such anecdotes, and I wish there had been more of them. Not exactly a social butterfly (especially when I'm digging in the dirt), I never thought I was the type to enjoy the public aspect of allotment gardening. But after reading about the author's garden friends and neighbours, and her interaction with the community at large, I suddenly find myself wishing for an allotment of my own (never mind that I already have a large yard). 

Journal: check. 

I couldn't try as many of the (all-vegetarian) recipes in the book as I wanted, since they rely on fresh, local ingredients and there's not too much available around here at this time of year. But they all looked delicious, and I did get to try the ones for Pea + Feta Egg Cups (p 72) and Smoky Chard with Chickpeas (p 39). 

The Pea + Feta Egg Cups were fantastic, even with my substitution of dried spearmint for fresh. They're easy to make and are ideal for breakfast/brunch or as a side at dinner (maybe with a salad or some form of potatoes). Even better, they're just as good at room temperature as they are hot. I'll definitely make those again. 

The chickpea recipe is a little on the vague side (see below), but it's not really a dish you can ruin. And it's delicious: smoky and tangy and savoury. I have the crazy notion that some bacon crumbled into it would make it even better, so I think I'll try that with the leftovers. I'll be going to the recipes in this book again and again as things come into season. Can't wait. 

Recipe book: check. 

But it was the gardening-manual portion of the book that I really fell in love with. Every bit of it was completely inspiring. I started fantasizing about growing all the things the author talks about, from asparagus to rhubarb and beyond. The fact that I'm within walking distance of a farmers' market, Parkview Neighbourhood Garden, and several supermarkets and ethnic groceries doesn't put any kind of dent in my newfound enthusiasm. Neither does the fact that I have limited sunlight in my backyard, most of it already given over to flower beds. 

The book's not just inspiring--there's plenty of good advice, as well (though by no means comprehensive, as the author herself points out). You'll find info on growing (in beds and containers), keeping costs down, when to sow and when to harvest (remember to adjust for your own climate)--even foraging. This is my new favourite garden book. 

Garden manual: check check. 

As for the book itself, it's nicely designed, on heavy paper (this isn't a book to read once and put on the shelf) with lots of full colour photos. And the photos have captions! Informative ones! It's amazing how often captions seem to be an afterthought, or are overlooked entirely. 

My one quibble: it's hard to keep the book open (say to a recipe) even with a weight meant for that purpose. I'm afraid you might be in binding-breaking territory. 

I think everyone should get this book. It's a fun, inspiring read and you'll learn things. Useful things. Writers like Celia Brooks Brown deserve all the support they can get. 

Smoky Chard with Chickpeas 

A quick supper--serve as is or with couscous or rice. 

Drain the contents of a tin of chickpeas, then stir-fry with chopped garlic in olive oil. Add a few handfuls of shredded chard with a little salt and pepper and stir until wilted. Stir in some pimentón (smoked paprika), then add a squeeze of lemon juice. 

Serve topped with yoghurt flavoured with lemon, salt and ground cumin. 

More info on the author here. Info on the book here.

[Edited to update title and links, and for formatting. Follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com]

Seedy Business Pt 2

After a week of constant rain, the weather is beautifully cooperating now--sunny and reasonably warm. I'm loving the time spent in the garden, despite looking like I lost a fight with an angry cat. I won't be making the mistake of pruning roses while wearing short sleeves again. 

I'm still starting seeds, both indoors and out. And I'm trying not to feel overwhelmed with everything that needs to get done!

Planted indoors 3 April: 

In peat pellets: 

--butterfly bush 

--Greek basil 

--sweet basil 

--cinnamon basil (sprouting!) 

--Alyssum, 'Wonderland Rose' (sprouting!) 

--Alyssum, 'Royal Carpet' (sprouting!) 

--marigold, 'Red Gem' 

--marigold, 'Tangerine Gem' 

--marigold, 'Lemon Gem' 

--Achillea, Cassis 

--cosmos, 'Early Sensation' 

--cosmos, 'Sensation Daydream' 

--malva, 'Mystic Merlin' 

--nicotiana, 'Only-the-Lonely' 

--nicotiana, 'Sensation' 

--poppy, 'fruit punch' (sprouting!) 

--foxglove, 'Giant Shirley' 

--vinca, 'Cooler Mix' 

 

In a small plastic pot with Miracle Gro potting soil: 

--leeks, 'Ramona' 

 

 Outside, directly in garden: 

--garlic (the kind my mom grows in her garden, whatever that is) 

As for my previously planted seeds, I've now got three lupines (one pink, two mixed 'Russell') and loads of tomatoes and tomatillos. The cherry tomato plants are big enough that they need to be transplanted into larger pots (they're all crowded into one at the moment). The datura looks like it might be starting to cooperate too. And I never got around to planting the cilantro (it's not too late!) As expected, my old seeds aren't delivering for the most part, but I'm actually pretty happy with my results so far. I just need to figure out what I'm going to do with all those tomatillos... 

By the way, if you want to follow what's going on in my garden (among other things) in more detail, follow me on Twitter!  

Photos of 'Fruit Punch' poppies and alyssum from Thompson & Morgan; photo of cinnamon basil from Richters. Click to enlarge.

[Edited to update title and links, and for formatting. Follow me on my main site: AspasiaSBissas.com]