A nod to Friday cat blogging

It's Friday, they're adorable, they're in the garden, and I can't help myself. My "furkids" always make me laugh, so I had to share.

Note: It's my first-ever Friday cat blogging post... I kinda like it!

(Photos: Photo's cutworm imitation; Motormouth and Nightmare keeping a respectable distance apart)

Orange you glad we planted carrots?

(I couldn't resist... sorry!)

They're like candy. Only better. They're sweet and exceptionally satisfying. So far, I'm pulling them out of the ground and eating them fresh, but they'd also be delicious sauteed with squash and carmelized, maybe using a bit o' that rich, dark honey... Carrots come in more colors than I ever knew about growing up, from various shades of purple, yellow and orange, to white. We planted orange.

Had I thought about it early on, there are a few things I might have changed, but I fully acknowledge this was an experimental year.

1) I'd have staggered plantings so we had the same vegetable ripening at different times.
2) I'd have planted more of those vegetables that take well to preserving via canning or freezing (and aren't too much work; I honestly can't imagine canning peas...).
3) I'd like to experiment with growing other vegetables (and plant more variety).

A slight breeze and a tad bit lower temperature tonight makes everything a bit more bearable. I know I'd really like the heat if I didn't ever have to get into my car (although a/c is absolutely brilliant), and if I could cool down the key rooms where I need to spend some time. And if my rain barrels still had water in them. I'm easy to please - really.

Carrots are still sitting on the back porch. I like them straight out of the ground with the excess dirt wiped off, but to take to work for lunch, it's probably better to give them a bit of a wash. How nice to have home-grown treats to look forward to in the office. Yum!

(Photos: yummy fresh picked carrots; zucchini and flowers)

Seattle Times features Sail Transport Company

The Seattle Times online NW Source published a story about the Sail Transport Company, and included some of my photos.

Check it out in the Daily Find section: Sign up for fresh fruits and veggies delivered via wind and water

(Good work, Sheryl!)

Extreme heat

OK - it's just too hot to sit in my wee little office to type out blog posts. Not a cross-breeze to be had anywhere near here. And the garden, well, it's still thirsty, and drinking lots of water from the tap. It could probably drink more, but for now, I just want to make sure everything at least remains alive.

I've heard it hit 110 here today, but for now it's just a rumor and I find it hard to believe. It would certainly be a record. However, mid-day, while out for a walk... well, it could have been 100, or at least the high 90s. I'm sure this has to be one of the dryest, hottest summers on record.

The tomatoes seem happy. Much more than last year, when rain was plentiful and hot summer sun was late in coming and then fairly scarce. The peppers are slow; we have signs of the fruit to come, but I remember we planted the seeds a little late. The ground cherries (tomatillos) have little pods (really little), so I'm hopeful! I thought they'd be going strong by now with all this heat, but it's the first attempt to grow them, so I guess we'll see. A few things have gone to seed, and we hope to use them for planting next year (more on that later). Grass is popping up everywhere and I'm too hot to care (and to hot to bother pulling it out).

Well, if I'm too hot to write, you're probably too hot to read. More when the breeze picks up!

(Photos: Thirsty raspberries; happy pepper)

Garden critters

Our cats make a lasting impression on anyone who meets them. They're quite a handful, and I often say that one of my jobs is "cat management." I've had a number of people ask when I'm going to post some pictures. For those of you reading, please feel free to make comments about any kitty encounters with our little furballs.


TOP: Motormouth (14), aka King Cat, Mr. Cat, and the Big Bruiser (so named by my friend Diane); MM has been known to attack dogs. He wears a black leather spiked collar with a big red heart. He's our snuggler, despite being the neighborhood bully even at his advanced age.

MIDDLE: Photon (13), aka Futon (all 17 lbs), Waddles (self-explanatory), and Lassie (he saved a baby 'possum once)... In the 2nd photo, he sees Nightmare, hiding in the green fronds below and positioned to pounce. Despite having lived together for 10 years, Nightmare still continues to pick on him and he continues to run away. Sweetest cat ever, belly bag and all. He's come out of his shell, so to speak, since we've let him spend most of his indoor time in the basement. This is his space, and he's a happy cat. Now I sometimes call him Fungi.

BOTTOM: Nightmare (11), aka Dirt Pig because he LOVES to roll in just about anything, and he often looks more gray than white. He's also our most playful cat, still zipping back and forth, skidding around corners. He likes to play "chase" in the yard, bouncing (rather Tigger-like) from one spot to the next while I pretend to chase him.

All three have staked out their favorite garden spots, claiming them as their own. Forrest stocked our soon-to-be water feature with goldfish to entertain them, but to date, they haven't noticed (although Photon loves to drink the water). They've made friends with all the gardeners, and don't seem to use the gardens as giant kitty boxes. There's no shortage of dull moments with cats - and these guys are loaded with personality.

The good life, take 2, and more...

Our "come on over, the grill's hot" call to friends developed into a swell little Sunday evening party. About 20 of us - climbers, coffee drinkers, gardeners, runners, music players - all got together for amazing food and good company. Berries were in abundance, corn made its first appearance, and local peaches perfectly balanced the pork and bell pepper kabobs glazed with Buck Hollow Farms honey and Kentucky bourbon (a nod to the south).

The garden is transitioning from early summer to late summer crops, and we're behind on pulling out the old and planting the new. Shiv's zucchini is one of few fresh vegetables right now as we eagerly await peppers and tomatoes. The bush beans look like they might make it, and I see some other squash flowers.

There really aren't enough hours in a day. I have good intentions to post about a weed product I found, introduce our furry garden friends, scan vintage photos from gardens past, and so much more. I'll get there... a new routine takes awhile to find some kind of groove, but I'm aiming for that!

(Photos: Friends; kabobs; Forrest at the grill; Andy's peppers)

Yellow gems

The first little golden nuggets came off the tomato vines today! A small handful, they're just the beginning of what I hope will be at least a month of all things tomato. Caprese salads, now within the line of sight. Which is good, because I think my raspberries are dying from lack of liquid nourishment. And so it goes with trying to balance nature and nurture.

I stopped by the Ballard P-Patch this morning for their Art in the Garden event. Produce and berries there all look lush and beautiful. I wonder how often they water? Their raspberries didn't appear to be suffering at all, with large red berries ready for eating (but there were plenty of signs asking visitors not to pick).

Sometime this weekend we'll get out there and pull out the peas and start fall greens and maybe some corn. We may have to get starts; it may be too late to plant seeds in the ground. So many things I just don't know yet... trial and error, learn by experience and observation. I've always found that's the best way to learn, anyway.

The good life

Sustainable Ballard's Food & Health Guild held its first summer event tonight, an "Eat Local" potluck. The open invitation suggested we bring a food dish to share made from local ingredients - ideally from our own gardens, as well as our favorite kitchen garden recipes and any questions we have about what to do with what we grow.

Over a dozen of us shared delicious food, from homemade plum wine and berry dishes, to quiche made from garden produce and eggs from backyard chickens. A number of us had picked up or had delivered a box or tote from Sail Transport Company - and of course we all raved about the Buck Hollow Farms honey.

I learned that beets really aren't very hard to prepare - simmer in a little vegetable broth, add a touch of honey, and they're as sweet as can be. Italian prune plums make fine wine - a batch started in September when the plums are ripe yields delicious results in January. There are a thousand uses for kale - and almost as many types. It's just about time to plant greens for fall crops. Garlic flowers can be sprinkled on top of main dishes and salads for a nice finishing touch. Edible flowers add not just gorgeous color but deliver a nice little flavor package. Bellingham hazelnuts made me want to plant my own. Amazingly enough, I don't think there was a single zucchini dish!

Thanks to Paula, a 23-year Ballard resident, for opening her home and garden. The idea was to come away inspired and with take-away tips and information. For me, it was a pretty successful evening.

(Photo: Jenny's salad, with all things fabulous from her garden)


A bit about the Sail Transport Company
The Sail Transport Company tied up to the public dock at Golden Gardens on Saturday morning with about 40 shares of fresh produce from Olympic peninsula farms.

I met the boat to take some photos for a friend and colleague, and watched Alex, Fulvio and Robin unload the totes and boxes onto trikes and bikes for the last petrol-free leg. After a 25-hour return trip from Sequim (apparently the longest one yet, after a record-breaking quick trip over), the sailors were concerned about wilting, but the radishes, garlic and greens were impressive, and as pretty or prettier than anything I've seen in most grocery stores.

From the boat, I went to the local pick-up point to get honey pre-ordered by friends. Angela from Kick It Boots & Stompwear has opened up her store on NW Market, just west of 24th, for those who live outside of the delivery area to pick up their shares. The mood was festive - by 10 a.m., the air was already hot, the produce was sheltered in shade, and a fiddle-player entertained passers-by and customers.

If you're not already part of a CSA or growing your own, this is certainly worth a try. At least get on their e-mail list!

Parched! A side note...

Kudos to Sunset Magazine for publishing a special report in their June issue about water, "Kick the Water Habit (in 12 steps)."

It's both an indictment of our national water addiction and an inspiring and helpful roadmap, showcasing water conservation success stories, offering helpful tips to reduce our own water use, and full of interesting statistics about how - and where - we use our water.

An illustration shows a future less dependent on water, with permeable pavement, native plants, smart irrigation, composters and water storage, along with a glossary of terms for those new to the idea of using less water.

A list of resources is also included. For the Northwest, they suggest Partnership for Water Conservation.

Here's a taste from the introductory article (hope I can do this if I give them enough credit!):

Admit that the West has a problem: Arm yourself with statistics

• California is in its third year of drought.
• The Colorado River has run low 9 out of the last 10 years.
• By 2050, the Sierra Nevada snowpack
• By 2050, the Sierra Nevada snowpack is projected to be depleted by at least 25% because of climate change.
• Urban growth has reduced the groundwater feeding Arizona’s San Pedro River by 30%. The river already runs dry in places.

Look for inspiration: Dry Las Vegas got support from its innovative water district

Fly into Las Vegas, and you see a turquoise archipelago of pools glinting in the sun. You might think this desert city is gambling with its water supply like a loser at the craps table. You’d be wrong. Aridity is the mother of invention. Even though Las Vegas’ water use remains high ― mostly because the region gets only 4.2 inches of rain a year ― no area of the country has worked harder to use water wisely.

Parched!

My garden is parched. While all of us make sure the beds are watered should someone forget or is unable to come over, I'm not sure the plants are getting as much as they'd prefer. Sad to say, sometimes I forget or, at various times, get thinking about water consumption and become a bit less generous with my plants. It's not a budget issue, it's a resource issue. I'm really fine with watering, especially when it's used to grow food. I'll even go so far as to say that watering for strictly aesthetic purposes can be worthwhile in some cases, but please, just not big, sweeping lawns!

I was listening to Alternative Radio on KUOW the other night when I heard the term "water justice." We've all heard of social and environmental justice... but I hadn't heard justice applied to water.

And then came, "peak water." I suspect we're also all familiar with "peak oil."

The last few days, the skies clouded over but no rain fell. I began to think about my garden from a place of unquenchable thirst. And then about how I've personally felt when I just can't hydrate - whether from no access to liquids or the inability to absorb them. It's almost like claustrophobia. Unable to breathe... Both the garden and I love the heat from the sun but it's so easy to wither without quenching that thirst.

Those new-to-me terms were uttered by Maude Barlow, a Canadian activist and author. She mentioned that water could be the catalyst that either teaches us all how to live with each other in peace, or be the cause of war for years to come. She talked about parts of the world - including parts of our precious first world - already feeling the effects of too little fresh water.

I know we're feeling it here. At our 2007 Focus on Farming conference, a day-long series of workshops addressed the issue of too much or too little. We're seeing hundred year floods here almost every year now, and drought-like conditions during hot summer months. The state of Georgia has experienced water shortages over the last several years - and this year filled up their water tables beyond capacity in less than a month. Yes, it's water - but it's also unusual and extreme. California and the southwestern states buy their water from wetter parts of the country.

Isn't it interesting that T. Boone Pickens is buying up water rights all over Texas? He plans to one day sell it back to the populace - when free, easily accessible water is no longer available.

Companies like Nestle who sell bottled water (and really bad chocolate-like substances) are draining the water from the Great Lakes and beyond.

Sewage water is now considered a possible resource.

And yet there are plenty of people out there who won't acknowledge climate change. Or that resources are finite. How can we possibly expect that on one planet, we aren't going to run out of the things we need when we have an endless appetite for new, different, better, and all of it takes some kind of natural resource (be it oil, water, mineral, etc.)? There are presently more than six billion of us - and our population continues to grow exponentially year after year.

Water justice. Something to think about when we buy products from the big agri-businesses (such as ConAgra, etc. - read your labels!). What a wasteful industry... Strawberries in January? Grapes from Chile? I'm not being self-righteous here; I'm a spoiled North American and I buy hothouse tomatoes and peppers in the middle of winter (but I do read labels and aim for conscientious purchasing...).

And of course, we have to have our sweeping green lawns, which makes no sense, particularly in water-scarce climates. Just why did that become a symbol of success? And just what is it with golf courses? Lawn's not only require excessive water, but typically require a lot of scary, poisonous chemicals (that end up downstream for our fish to soak up and consume).

Author and Sightline founder Alan Durning once asked, "How much is enough?" I ask this question of myself more and more all the time. I think it's something we're all going to have to ask ourselves going forward - whether we choose to or whether we have to.

A freakish new food trend

Driving home from work, I tuned into NPR's All Things Considered. The report was about "tornado fries," a Korean trend apparently founded in South Africa and now gaining popularity on the US east coast - New Jersey, to be specific.

The "fry" - since it's really just one potato - comes in two sizes, 18 and 26 inches. Apparently cut like a giant curly fry, it's skewered and deep fried. While the potato is reported to be stretched in size, it seems to me that these must be mighty large potatoes - certainly not your average potato, or even what most of us would consider a "normal" potato. A blog post says you can grow these potatoes in your Denver backyard... Really? They look like frankenfood to me.

Not to mention, that's a whole lot of starch fried in a whole lot of grease. Somehow I doubt they're organic, local, or particularly nutritious in any way. I'm sure they're a "fun food" to eat if you're at the state fair, in need of a treat, and looking for something to share. But for me, even that's a bit of a stretch. Curiosity might bend my resistance... but a bite or two would do.

(Photo: egregiously pilfered from serious eats' June 27 blog post)

AP

AP - on my electric and utility bills, AP stands for Andrew Peter, my great-grandfather and the second owner of the house I currently reside in. My Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utility bills still come in his name.

I'm noting this because I recently started a new job, and Forrest and I have to show in some "official" way that we're domestic partners if he is to be covered on my new health insurance plan. Trouble is, while we've shared our residence for over 11 years, we have little to document this. We've kept just about everything separate (fewer things to argue over!).

The city would probably frown on our irresponsibility. But as long as the bills are paid, it doesn't seem to matter who writes the checks. I've been signing my name since we moved here in '99, and it hasn't come up.

Apparently, however, there is a fee for changing the service - must just be an administrative function, as I can't think of any other need for it. My mom declared this change a waste of time and money for her, since the only change for her would be the middle initial, to AM, and she lived here for nearly 30 years. For me, personally, I just haven't gotten around to doing it ... there are always other, more important things to do. And if the question did come up, I think my uncle's middle initial is P, and he is a co-owner... Regardless, the city departments still get paid - even occasionally in person at the local little City Hall. Never has anyone mentioned that the name on the bill is different than the name on the check.

So, AP it is, for now. About that domestic partner piece... well, I've named Forrest as my designate on my Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare (just in case...), and that apparently counts.

Nurturing the "inner" garden

Other than dinner-time grazing and occasional (but not the requisite daily half-hour) weeding and watering, I've spent little time in the garden this week. Garden collaborators have also been noticeably absent. Perhaps we all need a break? We worked darn hard leading up to the tour and created a beautiful and delicious place to be. But right now I think we're all too tired to care, and have shifted our focus back to a more balanced way of being.

I like to think I'm presently nurturing my "inner" garden - as I focus on a new job, learn about healthcare and the many issues we're all facing today, adjust to a new schedule, wrap up old projects and try to stick with my own wellness regimen. There's always plenty to do here, too! Pussycats are demanding more time when I'm home, and I don't feel as compelled to spend time at the computer. A long walk to Sunset Hill Park (what we Ballardites grew up calling "the bluff") was rewarded with one of the most spectacular sunsets I've seen yet, and a scent of the sea in the slightly cool air. We're expecting 80 degree temperatures over the next few days!

I have yet to open the utility bill to see what our water usage looks like. I'm hoping the rain barrels were sufficient for much of our first long dry period. Perhaps when I receive my first paycheck (soon!), I'll feel brave enough to take a look.

A few garden notes:

• Peas, carrots and raspberries are flourishing and all are as sweet as can be! Miss Kasey from down the street visits the garden regularly; she, too, can't resist the garden flavors.
  
• Tomato plants grow taller every day, and green tomatoes are getting bigger.
• Mustard and kale have gone to seed, and we're leaving them untouched for now. Forrest wants to save the seeds for future planting, so we'll see how that works with these greens.
• The pear trees look full, but the Gravenstein has only a few small apples. Golden & red delicious are more plentiful but not by much.

Garden tour update: Groundswell Northwest reports that over 100 enthusiasts took the self-guided tour, garnering much-needed dollars for GNW and Sustainable Ballard.


(Photos: Kasey in Shiv's pea patch; this so easily could be a picture of me at her age!; Sara and friend eating Shiv's peas while he describes his Hindu practice prior to our yoga session)