Urban Gardens, Greenspace, and Global Wellness

I am one of the luckiest people on the planet.  I live in Minneapolis Minnesota.  My city has believed in Green space since the 1880s.  Minneapolis supports green space and gardens in all types of neighborhoods. 

Wayne Clingman of Racine Wisconsin wants his city add both Green space and an Urban Garden to his city, http://news.racinepost.com/2009/07/community-garden-proposed-for-north.html.  This plot of land, 2.3 acres is empty,  and in a low income area of the city.

Two things come to mind about this project.
    1.  People can accomplish for people in this world.
    2.  We never really know all the impacts of our actions.

Wayne, you inspire me to action.

Trust My Fat Body

My workouts begin with dread. Actually, I dread my workouts BEFORE my workouts. My mind piles one the excuses- and the task gets bigger and bigger.

I’m currently in training to run a 5K from not running. So I’m alternating intervals of running and walking, and shortening the walking intervals and lengthening the running intervals. The key to this is to not to do it two days in a row, but at least three days a week.

The final goal is to run intervals of 10 minutes and walk 1 minute, for 3.2 miles (5K).

Now I’m carrying a lot of excess weight- probably 75 pounds. This doesn’t make this easy. Nonetheless, this is my goal.

When I do my workout, and my feet find the rhythm, the time goes quickly. I finish, pant and gasp, gulp my water and glow with pride. I succeeded. I went a little faster, a little farther.

I can trust my fat body. It can do it- with 75 extra pounds!

Nature in the City

Minnehaha Falls Tame Turkey- one of our City Treasures

Minneapolis is blessed. Over a century ago, our forefathers saved extensive green spaces- little parks, trails, the lakes and rivers. This parkway system is is nearly fifty miles of paved walking/biking trails called the Grand Rounds. It connects the city lakes, Minnnehaha Falls and more city parks and green spaces.

I’m blessed too. My commute is along the Mississsippi River parkway to the Minnehaha Falls parkway. Daily I share this treasure with the runners, dog walkers and bikers. I note the weather, the changes in seasons, the health of the  trees lining the boulevard. Are the wild flowers blooming? The leaves starting to turn? In October, the drive is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.

And some very lucky days, down by Minnehaha Falls, I get to see the turkey! This fellow stops the traffic as he saunters slowly across the parkway, looking for his handout.

Nature is so close here in the city- turkeys, coyotes, foxes, crows.  When ever I feel empty or sad, I find what I need- outside.

Sometimes I Hate My Body

I’m sticking to my goal learning to run. At least three times a week, or four, I’m pushing my body further and further. I was eating fruit, salads, vegetables. I had weighed myself three weeks ago and reaped the reward of my effort- four pounds lost! I was ecstatic! Then two weeks ago I got on the the scale again- the damn four pounds came back. and they haven’t left. I’m angry with my body. I feel cheated.  I know all the axioms- be patient- it comes with time, the scale is not your only measure of success, your gaining muscle. Bullshit.  My pants are as tight as ever. My only gain is running endurance.

Wait a minute. I’m running! My overweight body is running! And that is my goal isn’t it? Hooray! I’m doing what I planned to do. Yes, it would be alot easier without the extra fat load. but, hey- I’m even stronger- because I DO IT WITH the FAT!!! There wasn’t a promise that running was going to make me lose weight. If that is a goal, I need to set that as a separate goal. Right now, my goal is running, And I am.

I’m achieving my goal- with my fat load. Way to go!

Memorial Day Preparations

Memorial Day is just about here.  Memorial Day is when, as an American, we honor those who have come before us.  Memorial Day was supposed to commemorate those who were lost in war.  Luckily it has been expanded to be about remembering all who have gone before.  Yesterday I participated in an annual ritual.  I went to the graves of my parents and grandparents. 

My maternal grandfather, Delos Vernell Tostenson died in 1971.
My maternal grandmother, Edna Marie Elizabeth Tostenson died in 1998.
My paternal grandfather, Ira Van Beek died in 1962.
My paternal grandmother, Mabel Van Beek died in 1970.
My dad, David Alan Van Beek died 10 years ago, 1999.
My mom, Marilyn Edna Van Beek died just 3 years ago, 2006.

I like to build in time to see the living as well as tend the graves.  The ritual is about connecting with the past.  This past includes being from a small town, Hollandale.  I find that I restep some of the daily tasks.  I have to drive around Hollandale, it does not take long, it is about 4 blocks square.  Then drive around Maple Island and drive by Geneva Lake.  Dad used to do this every day we got together.  Not for any real reason, just checking out what is happening.  Small town life is full of ritual, though no one would call it that.

Back to tending the graves.  I pack a bucket and scrub brush.  I know it is only once a year, but I like the act of scrubbing the stones.  A small act, but it makes the stones look so much better.  There is a tactile connection with the names.  Noticing how the stone was excised to create the letters V  A   N      B    E    E   K…   Noticing the texture of the stone.  Thinking about good times.  Talking in my head to their memories.

Because I am a good boy, a title understandably by other small town people, I want fresh flowers added to the grave side.  It is rather like putting a stone on the grave.  The flowers are the public expression, letting others know that someone in the family cared enough to tend to the graves.  Our existence on this earth is lengthened by people’s memories.  I am saddened to see stones, neglected by time.  Families move away.  Generations go by.  Noone really remembers the infant that died in 1918.  The beautiful white marble log with the carved lamb.  The act of amazing love that put that stone there, was run its course.

Wellness in my mind has a lot to do with being grounded.  I am not grounded without my past.  I can not go back to live in my past, but I can not go forward without it.  Memorial Day, more than any other day, grounds me with the past.  I am where I am, to a great extent, because of the shoulders I stand on.

If you have never tended the graves of your people, take the time.  Your ROI (return of investment) will be more than you can measure.

Member Welcome (MayFest) at Salad Days CSA

 

 

Tamarack shows the sorting and packing area.

Saturday May 16 was Mayfest at Salad Days, or Webster Farms Organic.  Last month, We attended the Seward Coop 8th Annual Community Supported Agriculture Fair.  After meeting many of the farmers, we chose Webster Farms as our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). It was a sunny, breezy day and the neighbouring woods were carpeted with white trilliums.

Nett and "Fairies"

Salad Days is run by Nett and Tamarack, who describe themselves as people of the earth, deeply committed to the restoration of the ecosystem and to the production of healthy food. Their love of the land and joyous outlook was contagious.

 Tamarack gave a short tour of the barn and preparation area. It is incredible that just the two of them grow, pick, clean, sort, pack and deliver so much food for so many!

Our Parade leader

Everyone was encouraged to face-paint, dress up and make noise makers for the “Waking the Gardens” parade.  Using construction paper provided, I made a bird mask and added decorations to my tin plate noisemaker.

At 2:30 we happily marched to each garden, banging, rattling, and singing. As we reached each earthy plot, we took a pinch of corn meal,  and encouraged the earth and creatures to awaken and flourish. Afterwards all gathered for fruity teas and snacks.

Waking the Gardens with a Pinch of Corn Meal

 

 

 

Nett and Tamarack invite their members to visit the farm,  or attend Earth Camp, a new program of sustainable living skills, food preservation, and guided nature walks in the farm’s woods, meadows, and wetlands.

For me, the day  was one of connecting and re-connecting. Their farm in the woods reminded me strongly of my growing up in rural Minnesota. Memories of weeding, rock-picking and hard-earned harvest flooded my mind. I also wanted to see the place where my future food was coming from. The cycle of earth, to seedling, plant and finally as a meal makes their produce more than simply a salad, but a gift from the Earth.

May 18th, Meatless Monday

The concept of Monday’s without meat are becoming ingrained.  I started thinking, mentally preparing for today last Monday.  Since I very much like meat, going meatless takes a brain shift.  Last week I had lunch with Shawn at Moose and Sadies, and we both had the Quesadilla.  Very simple, tortilla, filled with beans and salsa, some chips and guacamole.  Then and there I decided that is what I would make for dinner tonight.

Breakfast this morning was a little different than what most people would make.  I had fried rice with onions and mushrooms (no not morels, but perhaps some day that will be possible).  We had left over rice from our Chinese last night.

Lunch was really really yummy.  I had a big romaine salad with radishes, Italian, and tuna salad.  Our co-op offers some honestly great canned tuna.  I mix one can with a bit of course mustard, some dill pickle relish, a touch of mayo, and a squeeze of lemon.  This is my favorite of salads.

Now, for dinner.  I am not 100% sure, but this is what dinner should be.  The reason I am hedging a bit is that I am still at the ER, and I have no idea how long this will take.  But dinner should be quesadillas with spicy bean dip, salsa, guacamole, and cheese.  These served with asparagus that I picked up at the farmers market yesterday.

Guacamole Recipe:
1 very ripe avacado
1 tablespoon minced onions
2 tablespoons salsa
juice of 1/2 lime
1 small clove of garlic minced
Mix well, serve very fresh

If I get really ambitious this evening, I may well make a rhubarb crisp.  We will see. 

I did not get ambitious enough, the crisp will happen tomorrow.

Morel Foray, I found my first morels…

It is difficult to eat more local than foraging.  Here is a bit of a travelogue of my first successful foray Saturday.

Saturday morning, 9:00 am, I am on the road to the tiny town of Elba Minnesota.  Because of flooding, much of the land around Elba is State Land.  There are trout streams as well.  The drive down was sunny, but very, very windy.   I stopped in a very pleasant small town, Plainview.  Plainview has a real downtown.  Store and shops, not boutiques of ticky tacky….

Met up with the Mycologists in Elba at 11:00.  After a bit of milling about, we headed out the the first search site.  I had the great luck of traveling with 5 others to the site.  I just wish I was better with names.  The driver works for an Ad agency, his partner, I did not find out much about her.  There was a potter, who just did a wood firing.  His spouse work for a copy organization.  The last person, lives in South Eastern MN, an avid hiker.  The total group for the foray totalled about 50 from the  Minnesota Mycological Society.

The group split in two when we arrived in the first spot.  One group headed on a death march, up and down great big hills.  The other group a more flat reasonable walk.  The first group was rewarded with the forest’s bounty.  Where we must have averaged about 8 morel’s per person, they must have averaged 30.  I told my team leader that I had never picked a mushroom before, and he made sure that I found at least one.  But when he pointed out the first, I then immediately saw 5 more in the area. 

Some of my finds:

I headed back after only one foray pass.  I was beat.  I did not realize how tired I was until I got home, and did not even have enough energy or desire, to cook a steak to go with the mushrooms.  So, we simply cleaned the 8 morels, fried them up with a bit of butter and garlic, and had them with toast.  I recovered mid afternoon Sunday.

Last of the Pierogi for the Year

I am very fond of local church fundraisers.  Everything from cake walks to pancake breakfasts.  Where I grew up, we had the soup supper and the pancake breakfast.  Fund raisers supply you a good meal and the ability to do good at the same time.

Unique in my experience is St. Constantine’s Ukrainian Church in Northeast Minneapolis.  The do Pierogi Friday’s for lunch, 11 – 1, Labor Day – Memorial Day.  They serve potato, sauerkraut, and prune.  Nine pierogi with coffee is only $6.25.  I can not wait until the fall.

I had 5 sauerkraut and 4 potato, with butter and onions.  The coffee was nothing to write home about.  The pierogi are well worth the trip.

Price per dozen to go, $7.oo.

Just Another Meatless Monday

Monday is my domestic day.  That means laundry, clean the house, cook, etc…   Dawn and I need to have more fun time together.  All of those tasks which took up weekend time while I was working have moved to my Mondays. So I have also decided that I would work on Mondays to be our first Meatless day of the week. 

Definition of Meatless.  I mean no red meat, no white meat, no dark meat.  Animal products, such as cheese, milk, yogurt, and eggs, are acceptable, at least at this point.  Seafood and lower animals, just not sure about yet, but the goal is do not use them either.

Toady’s menus:

Breakfast:  I started out the day with oatmeal  with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla, raisins, honey, and a bit of plain yogurt.  I was pleased with the taste of yogurt in my oatmeal.

Lunch: broiled cheese sandwich and a peanut butter rice rispy bar at the Second Moon.

Dinner, roasted root veggies and mushroom, onion, cheese, chive quiche.  The roasted root veggies will be beets, rutabagas, potatoes, and onions.  The dinner plate should look very nice.

I am not a fan, in eating terms that is, of eggs.  I understand the theory as to why they are a good protein source and the price is right, but I have a texture issue.  I also know that I will have to be pushing my boundaries this year.  So I figured that if I created the quiche, I would be in control of the content.  This general recipe is taken from Cooks Illustrated, you might need a subscription to be able to see it.  I used more veggies and cheese than the recipe called for.  I really want to learn to like this, wish me luck.