A Fusion of Flavors

The great thing about Virtual Farmgirl is that this virtual space takes me in directions that force me to think beyond my regular day-to-day life. It transports me outside my community and, in many ways, connects me closer to it.

One of the no-duh parts of farmers markets is that they offer not only farm-fresh produce, but also offer produce varieties you can't get in the local supermarket.

Indeed, heirloom tomatoes are nowhere to be found at my Jewel and I wouldn't trust the flavor if they were. Same for the rich variety of herbs and peppers you can find at the farmers markets I make it to...though in my Hispanic-enriched neighborhood, there are pepper varieties that rival the Southern California markets I went to with my sister (good news for our tortilla soup recipe).

I suppose this is why I was drawn to this article in Projects for Public Spaces, Markets for All. The article subhead talks about how innovative markets serve the needs of low-income communities.

A market featured in the article is accepting food stamps in the form of EBT cards, along with grant-supportive incentives to shop a the markets. In Toronto, markets are dropping in to low-income communities.

I'm loving this direction and am hoping it's a positive trend.

Income aside, local farmers markets certainly can fill the need of ethnically diverse and converged communities, bringing us together and diversifying our cuisine.

I just saw Chef Rick Bayless on his show from Mexico City eating Mexican-Asian fusion foods at a local market. Mexican fried rice, no wok needed. Mexican hot pepper sauces to accompany chop suey.

One look inside my fridge and you'd have no idea what we cook, except that we like spicy, savory foods. I'd say we favor Mexican-Italian-Asian-German fusion.

Entertainment Everywhere

My mother-in-law used to ask us at every supper to share our happy moment of the day. On the best days, it's hard to pick.

But today, my happy moment stood out when I left work late and was waiting on the Blue Line platform.

I get to hear street performers pretty regularly, but they're rarely very good. In my top 5 is an older Asian gentleman who used to play violin with his young daughter/granddaughter near the Fourth Presbyterian Church on Mich. Ave.'s Magnificent Mile.

On my new commute, I've been listening to a blind singer who makes up protest songs. They're pretty bad, but more than mildly entertaining.

But tonight, I actually heard someone good. I stepped off the escalator to a rockin' rendition of "Sarah Smile." I'm not exactly a big Hall & Oats fan. But the song put a smile on my face and put me in a good mood when I went to kiss the kids goodnight.

Produce Buying & People Watching at SoCal Markets

So I made a last-minute trip to southern California this weekend.

Because the visit was so quick, I didn't have time to schedule a tour of a farmers market. That's a shame because California agriculture is a force.

I did, however, get to hear about the San Diego farmers market at Hillcrest today from my dinner companions. See an example for yourself on YouTube [Not my video].

Next time I'm here during a market, I definitely want to find the baker lady from Oceanside who makes a delicacy that looks more like coral than a loaf of bread.

I was just happy to enjoy fresh flowers at the table...plus my sister's signature satay chicken and her housemate's sesame grilled zucchini. Excellent. They all raved about my strawberries too until they found out that the secret to their extra sweetness was a teaspoon of sugar.

But what I really want to see is the historic farmers market in Hollywood. I'm told that's a sight to behold. I can only imagine that produce isn't the main attraction. Indeed, apparently the market near Hollywood & Vine is THE place for people watching.

The Healthy Flavors of Childhood

There are a couple of savory throwbacks from my childhood that I'm thrilled I can now share with my virtual farmkids...

Kefir, which is now marketed as "probiotic" and a healthy part of a weight loss routine. I just remember it being a milkshake that my parents didn't cringe at serving me.

And, then there's a favorite that my husband still can't quite understand: nutritional yeast.

I admit it has a sort of strange flavor at first, but it's addictive. I love it sprinkled on eggs or better yet as a substitute for butter on popcorn.

I was thrilled to learn that enough vegetarians enjoy nutritional yeast that movie theaters are adding it as a topping in some places.

When I was a kid, we'd pop a grocery bag full of popcorn, sprinkle it with salt and yeast and smuggle it into the theater.

Yum. I think I'll have some tonight.

Celebrating Fall

I love fall. It's been a wonderful, cool, sunny week. And I've enjoyed almost every bit, especially the farmer's market this weekend.

Even though we were too late to taste any donuts, we picked up the best multicolored corn I can remember. It went perfect with organic BBQ chicken (4-H winning recipe) on the backyard grill.

I also am thrilled that with cooler weather comes the return of my oven. I hate turning an oven on and having to turn down the AC to bear it. Much better to open the window to cool off the kitchen.

Anyway, I haven't had a chance to prepare my fall and winter baking lists. But I had some extra mango...and no idea what to do with it. So I asked my know-it-all girlfriend Internet for some help: Give me a good recipe for mango that includes ingredients I already have on the shelf.

She was quick to respond...mango cobbler. Umm. Interesting. My son and I tried it out. We'll see how it tastes once the timer dings. It sure makes my house smell good.

Need a Sitter for Your Cows?

Having just taken my first vacation in ages, I know how necessary they are.

But have you ever wondered whether farmers get vacations?

I can see heading to greener pastures or sandy beaches after harvest. But when there are animals to tend, someone's got to feed and water them. And since there aren't boarding houses for cows, there is apparently such a person as a "relief milker."

At least that's how Brian Herr makes his living. According to the Columbia Tribune, Herr and folks like him are filling a role once occupied by neighbors and farm-savvy kids. Relief milkers run from 11 bucks an hour to premium levels for a pro like Herr, who commands $17-$19 an hour.

Family Farm Turns Tables, er Windmills on Utility Company

Great little story in the Forest City Summit about an Iowa farm family who had the foresight to invest in wind turbines more than a decade ago. Now instead of paying an electric bill each month, they get a check.

Some nifty enviro tidbits in the piece, including:

*A 1.5-megawatt turbine displaces 2,700 tons of carbon dioxide, the primary global warming pollutant, each year (equivalent to planting 1.5 square miles of forest)

*The existing U.S. wind turbine fleet (11,603 MW) displaces more than 19 million tons of carbon dioxide each year, based on the current average U.S. utility fuel mix

*To generate the same amount of electricity as one megawatt of wind for 20 years would require burning 29,000 tons of coal (a line of 10-ton trucks 11 miles long) or 92,000 barrels of oil

Milk's New Color is Discouraging

Those who buy raw milk for their pets in North Carolina may soon see a change in their milk color if a new Ag rule is implemented.

The rule would require dairy farmers to dye raw milk charcoal gray and label it "not for human consumption." This is apparently to protect wayward children who might mistake the pet milk for the pasteurized stuff from the regular grocery.

Mistakes are common enough, according to this AP story in Forbes, to necessitate the rule.

Raw milk advocate Alice Hall is opposed to the rule because it could discourage raw milk drinkers. She also makes the point in the piece that raw milk from healthy cows eating healthy grass is safe.

Probably true. But who is making sure these cows are health and that the grass they are eating isn't contaminated?

Porn for Plants?

I found this press release irresistible...both for its concept and approach.

Modern conceptual artist Jonathan Keats is experimenting with entertainment for non-humans. He's developed dance for bees and is now targeting plants...with porn. Or so the release says.

He really is projecting video for the plants at a theater/gallery in Chico, Calif. But the film is of pollination. If you don't believe it, just view the trailer: Cinema Botanica's "Pornography for Plants" featuring "explicit acts of cross pollination."

This is part of something new to me, an Agrifolk Art movement.

I'd go if I was in Chico...which is north of San Francisco.

Goal to Feed a Family Hatches a Farm: A Lesson in Starting Out Small

I don't always like to link to international AG news. I have to draw the line somewhere.

But I liked this story in the York Press about a free range operation in the UK that started out with six hens and now produces a million free range eggs a week. Yes, a week. That's a lot of egg collecting.

The family now also owns a second farm for organics.

Farmgirl Susan Potter runs the family operation with her husband and two sons.

On their Yorkshire Farmhouse Eggs site, Susan is credited with getting the whole thing going by buying hens to feed her family.

The farm is high-tech too. Their website allows egg buyers to trace their eggs to the flock from which they came.