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What I’m Reading: Never Out of Season
By the 1800’s the hills of Ireland were covered in the green foliage of potato plants. More than 3 million (or ⅖) Irish peasants subsisted almost solely on the potato,…
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The Politics of Gardening and Michelle Obama’s White House Garden
Michelle Obama had the usual fears of a novice gardener; will these seeds sprout? What if weeds take over or the soil is no good? What if the vegetables are…
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How to Make a Probiotic Ginger Beer With Homegrown Ginger
In the Middle Ages one pound of ginger cost the same amount of money as a live sheep. It was desired for its medicinal qualities and rarity. Ginger is still…
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How to Make Sauerkraut From Your Garden Cabbage
It is common to enter the world of fermentation through sauerkraut; It is easy, requires only simple equipment and the end product will be tastier and healthier than anything you…
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What I’m Reading: Wild Fermentation
Fermentation is often compared to ancient alchemy, a mix of science, magic and art. Alchemist viewed base metals, such as lead, as spiritually and physically immature forms of higher metals…
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How to Make Tomato Juice from Your Own Garden Tomatoes, Then Turn it Into a Bloody Mary
Every home gardener grows tomatoes for good reason. Stores often sell tomato varieties that ship well and look pristine with taste as an afterthought. They arrive at the store after…
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Grow, Harvest and Cook With Amaranth
Amaranth is an ancient grain with a history steeped in the Aztec Empire. The Conquistadores attempted to eradicate the plant. However, due to the perseverance of subversive farmers and of…
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The Conquest of a Plant: A Brief History of Amaranth
Colonization raises many weapons at the targeted. First, there are swords and guns, weapons that kill. Then, there are more insidious slower working weapons. Weapons that alienate people from skills…
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Grow Your Own Basil Cocktail
An ancient myth held that if left under a pot, basil would turn into a scorpion. Medieval legends claimed that a patch of basil sprouted where Jesus’ blood fell during…