Growing the Menu

You can use 'successive planting' to create lots of food and happy plants. Successive planting: think a constant supply of fresh greens, scallions and herbs and a long harvest of things like beans, peas, tomatoes, peppers, squash, cukes. If you keep replanting the greens and do a couple smaller plantings of beans and peas, and then plant a couple different varieties of the others, you can "extend your harvest". Above, you can see from before, the bright green lettuce is almost gone. As I take those out, I put in peppers and more baby lettuces.

Above, that beefy little tomato shares some space with those red beets on the right. I figure it'll be a while till the tomato needs that much room. And the beets are something you can eat small, medium, large, early, midseason and late.

Here a tomato shares the pot with some cukes; they'll be trained up the back of the pot and onto the pea trellis, and the tomato has its own cage.

On the left side, 2 lacy Mizuna greens with a pepper plant fill in after lettuce was harvested. The mizuna will be done by the time the pepper gets big. I can eat any leaves that get in the way! And a couple potatoes on the right. I can pull those when the pepper needs the space.

Successive: The pole beans are just coming up to follow those peas on the fence. I tucked them in here and there where the peas were thin.

A happy family of speckled red lettuce, shallots, peas and baby onions. They'll all be maturing at different times, and I can harvest as needed.

multiple retailers and the request for a 40% reduction in price from organic producers

Understanding the balance and flow of power is crucial to understanding what people say, what they don't say and what they imply.

Below is the original version of what appeared in the Irish Examiner yesterday, Thursday 28th May.

It was reported various places that multiple retailers are set to ask for a 40% price reduction from their suppliers of organic produce.

I have spoken to numerous well positioned people involved in production, distribution, processing and retailing of organic produce since then, and it seems the reality is more complex than was first reported.

The particular producer featured in the story on the 40% price reduction is uncertain at present whether the retailers were directly asking for a reduction. However he did receive strong signals that this was coming downstream.

Others, when queried, told me that there they have not been asked for this reduction directly.

According to Glenisk, �We have not had any 'demands' from retailers and we're on good terms with them all. Pricing is obviously a challenge right now; we're focused on the broader issue of value for money. For example, we're running 50% extra free promotions on all of our 4 packs and that has been very well received by consumers.�

Glenisk also claim that this cost will not be passed onto the farmer: �No, it's our cost. We find that consumers appreciate the extra value and consequently that has a positive effect on sales.�

Supermarket sources also told me, when queried, that they were not directly asking for a 40% reduction.

This raises interesting and important questions about whether producers, consumers or those in between - the retailers, processors, distributors - have the most power when it comes to the organic sector.

Whatever about direct requests for price reductions, the market share multiple retailers command defines the terrain within which their suppliers � Irish farmers - operate.

In mainland Europe, nowhere has the same level of multiple retailer penetration as do Ireland and the UK. Simply put; there are other routes to market, so those who supply into the agri-food system have options. They have more power.

So when Tescos announce a more international sourcing policy for Irish stores, or a change in store layout, Irish producers can start to feel the pressure.

While Tescos claim to send over 600 million euro of Irish product abroad annually, it is also the case that Irish agri-food companies have many more options when supplying the mainland EU market. This is clear from, for example, the various routes to market in European countries the Good Herdsman achieved at BioFach this year.

At the end of the day, does it actually matter if a supermarket directly asks a for a price reduction, if all the signals and pressure are pointing that way for sooner rather than later?

Will processors who supply supermarkets make price-reduction predictions and pass these on to producers? Or will they behave opportunistically?

Some of the facts of the retail situation for organic farmers at the moment make for stark reading.

While organic is sold through other routes, sometimes in a very high profile manner, it is still the case that the majority of organic produce is still sold through the multiple retailers: up to 85% according to Bord Bia.

Organic farmers make up about 1% of farmers. There are often hardly any alternative options for sourcing feed or processing units.

In general, consumers are cutting back. This can have unintended positive consequences � some consumers eat out less and eat organic food at home more, and still save money.

Organic is not due to suffer to the same extent as other areas, according to recent research into Irish consumer motivations. However, consumers cutting back by 1/3, as the research suggests, will inevitably have some negative consequences.

So we have a small number of producers, with few input or processing options and one main channel to an under pressure market. This main channel has enormous overall clout in the agri-food sector.

Along with this, there is a new version of an old issue: the Northern situation. It is to this we turn next posting.

Portland, City of Roses

Founded in 1917, Portland�s International Rose Test Garden is the oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States. In the beginning, even though World War I was raging in Europe, hybridists sent roses from around the world to Portland�s garden for testing and to keep the new hybrids safe from being destroyed by the bombing in Europe. The primary purpose of the garden is to serve as a testing ground for new rose varieties. Portland's Rose Festival, in its 102nd year, kicked off this weekend and the first roses on my porch are happenin too.

The nose knows when a rose is a rose. To me, roses aren't complete without that powerful damask fragrance, so I choose them accordingly. This red one is Mr. Lincoln and his velvety dark red petals are surpassed only by the classic fragrance---he's a keeper! Drink in that fragrance---in the 'language of flowers', roses mean love.

This one's a climber, Golden Showers, with a fruity rose fragrance and nice form. I like it because it's resistant to black spot and other foliage problems too.

True, it's not a rose, but since it's on the porch blooming right now, this pretty clematis, "Dr. Ruppel", deserves some show time too. Plus, roses and clematis just go together so well.

My prize beauty, "Aloha". A super duper fragrant pink, the fluffy petals are light on top with a darker reverse, AND, as if that weren't enough, she's also an heirloom 'own root' rose, not a hybrid. The bush on my porch came from a cutting I took off the mother plant---that's the beauty of 'own root' roses. The foliage is really healthy, and the form divine, life is good.

Link Think and be Merry

I've added quite a few links over there on the left of late, so I'll take you through a few of them. I'm not going to hyperlink them in this, as they are linked over there.

First up, foodinfo.net. Very comprehensive, like a completely reliable wikipedia when it comes to the facts on food, from a technical perspective at least. From possibly Europe's top agri-food academic institution, Wageningen University.

I had to add a few industry standards: for Ireland Shelf Life, and, for global info Food navigator.

BBC food, DAFF and Bord Bia- well, the state had to get a look in too � the BBC do a great job in any case, and Bord Bia and DAFF have both revamped their offerings of late. (All minister's agri-food press releases are on DAFF)

But its more that just the big institutions. Marian Nestle's has been updated over to her relatively new blog. Great info from a real expert who provides the ammo for your intuitions on whats right and wrong in food. Perfect, eh?

You may have noticed that I've put an ad free logo to the left. This I got from make wealth history. For all the talk about growth and buying and selling (here included!), its worth remembering that sometimes growth itself is the problem. Ireland's Co2 emissions will be down by up to 10% this year, thanks to the recession. Despite all the pious talk all the efforts and reports, global worldwide recession is an almost Gaia-like Karmic moment to sort us out.

With the allotments movement taking off like wildfire, I though that a link to the best of the sites on this topic would be of use. There probably is actually one near you at this stage: Where I live, in Clare, there are 5 towns with them now, and more on the way.

A few quirky ones; the long pen ends all excuses for evermore that business flights are an essential and unavoidable part of the modern world, emissions and fuel waste and all. They are not, and that's the proof.

The how to do things, idler and inappropriate libertarian drinks are both high quality enough to make the grade as genuine left of centre guides, musings or other oddball useful ways to find out more. Check the idle parenting link on the idler � great fun!

That's just a sampler of what's over there.

Happy clicking!

(Photo from Hey Paul, under creative commons)

Get Your Tomatoes in the Ground!

No time for dilly-dally! If you've been waiting or wondering what to do next, just go do it! Just about everywhere is warm enough for all those crops you've been dreaming about--tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, beans, basil, carrots, you name it. You can sow beans, cukes, squash and carrots directly; buy the pepper and tomato starts. Follow the package instructions for spacing and add a little organic food when planting. This can be liquid, powder or compost, whatever is easiest, but stick with organic, skip the Miracle-gro. See, we're actually growing soil here, the food is a delicious byproduct. That's why organic is important---we want to create a healthy environment for all the earthworms and critters who relish in making soil, the true kings and queens of the garden. Make it nice for them, and they'll take care of you.

Along the fence, I'm harvesting that early lettuce completely and following it with pepper plants, what's called successive planting. See the garlic in front, and peas are growing up the fence.

My Earth Box spinach is starting to 'bolt', go to flower and seed. I'm going to harvest it all now and replant with a whole new summer menu.

Cute little Cherry Belles from the porch, these are in a big pot with snow peas at the back so they can climb the trellis. This we call companion planting. When they're done, I might put more of the same in, or maybe something like basil.

The porch is bustin out with lush green vibes, it's amazing how fast things are growing now---moon on the rise, heading towards summer solstice, powerful time in nature, peas growing 6 inches a day and starting to flower (left foreground).

2009 teagasc organic demonstration farms announced

From 400 cow dairy farms in north Donegal to clay ovens in Kildare and carrots in Cork, the 2009 Teagasc organic demonstration farms have been announced.

The organic sector can consider itself blessed that the number of organic demonstration farms has remained stable, when all around, the scythe of agri-cutbacks has been swung.

In 2005, when the first of the series began, just three farmers were involved: James Mulhall (milk, beef, lamb in Laois), the Colchesters (Turkey, chicken, lamb, beef in Kilkenny) and Fintan Rice (Dairy in Tipperary). All three are having walks again.

I know and have been to the farms of a reasonable number of these farmers, so perusing the list, I immediately noticed a positive: all are relatively happy with their farming and food business lot. Many are also diversifying to keep ahead of the game. A significant number are growing and expanding their enterprises.

There are also newcomers which reflects that fact that the organic sector is growing, albeit from a low base.

One of the most interesting of the newcomers is quite a distance away from almost everywhere: north Donegal. Its a long trip but it just might be worth getting up to Ian Witherow's leased holding.

There are less than 20 organic dairy holdings in Ireland, but when this one becomes fully certified in March of next year, 400 dairy cows will be supplying organic milk into the system

Witherow will be supplying Donegal Creameries all year round, which will involve both Spring and Autumn calving. According to a recent report by Pat Barry, who has helped with the conversion process: �In 2008, the herd consisted of 50% first calvers and averaged 5650 litres at 4% butterfat and 3.35% protein using 400 kg concentrates�.

The holding, having previously been in cereals, was reseeded with a sward including red and white clover.

As housing modifications had to be made, Dairy farmers interested in the organic option may learn from Witherow's shed conversion experience. This has been cited as one of the main changes needed in converting a holding to organic.

What's perhaps most interesting about this holding is that the diary unit Witherow is leasing is just one part of a 2500 acre organic farm, an Grainin, which will become one of Europe's biggest organic farms when fully certified next year.

That in itself could well make for a worthwhile visit on Thursday 2nd July.

Another newcomer to the series includes Colm O Regan (Kinsale, Cork) on Thursday 18th June for horticulture and poultry. The other and previous organic horticultural walks tended to be more northerly (mid Clare, east Galway and Offaly), so this is an opportunity for those interested in this option in the south west.

Peter and Jenny Young (Kildare) have held walks before. However, this time they are holding two, including one which specifically includes farm diversifications. This latter area has been historically underrepresented on the walks, so this makes for a welcome change.

And if any holding in Ireland could be seen as a model of diversification, then surely its the Young's Castlefarm.

There are many innovative examples of their diversification. They have diversified into different food enterprises, along with their mainstay of dairying, including poultry, cheese and chutneys.

Along with production -specific diversifications, they have developed numerous other uses for their land and skills.

They currently offer 32 6x5mt allotments, and bring in experts to offer classes once a month for budding gardeners. More than this, they offer courses for farmers, landowners and community groups to learn how to offer allotments to the public.

They also offer courses in a range of food and sustainability-related areas such as outdoor clay oven building, willow weaving and many aspects of farming and growing. They even take school tours.

This second of the Young's walks, which will also feature horticulture and their farm shop, is on Friday August 28th .

Overall, both the geographical spread of the organic demonstration farms, as well as the range and number of farming and growing options on offer is to be commended.

For more see here and click on events, or ring 059 917 0200

Homeopathy 101

Homeopathy, you may have heard of it, but you may not be clear about what exactly it is.

Homeopathy ("home-ee-AH-pah-thy"), also known as homeopathic medicine is a whole medicine system, developed in Germany and practiced in North America since the early 19^th century. Homeopathy seeks to stimulate the body�s ability to heal itself by giving very small doses of highly diluted substances that in larger doses would produce illness or symptoms (an approach called �like cures like�.)

Follow the links below, provided by Natural Foods Merchandiser, to gain a clearer understanding of the practice of homeopathy. There�s a list of basics, including history and regulations, and resources, such as a homeopathic glossary and a podcast by homeopathic expert Dana Ullman that answers frequently asked user questions. Top your understanding of homeopathy off with Natural Foods Merchandiser �editor picks� articles.

Homeopathy Basics

What is homeopathy?

A brief history of homeopathy

Single vs. combination remedies

How homeopathy is regulated

Chart: Understanding homeopathic dosages

Resources

Homeopathy glossary

Homeopathy research roundup

Homeopathy resources

Podcast: Dana Ullman, Homeopathic expert answers the top 5 consumer questions

Editors� Picks

Spotlight on: Boiron�s remedies for cramps, PMS and hot flashes

Spotlight on: Hyland�s remedies for children�s teething and allergy problems

Spotlight on: Nelsons� homeopathic skin care line

Spotlight on: Heel�s remedies for cold and flu symptoms

Spotlight on: KingBio�s remedies for pain and stress

Popular Homeopathy Articles

Peer-reviewed research backs homeopathy

Homeopathy helps heal little ones

Manufacturers give homeopathy more consumer appeal

Homeopathic rules and regs decoded

Treating kids with homeopathy

What's in a name? Or, is Rachael organic, or just your new best friend Rachael?

In light of the establishment of a new Irish organic milk producers company (IOMP), it is apt to look again at the organic diary sector across Europe.

In the UK and Ireland, there are both similarities and differences between the respective dairy sectors of the two countries. The UK was importing milk at the beginning of 2008, whereas now it exports. While shortage in supply on mainland Europe is part of this, yet again, the sterling differential helps UK farmers over and above their competitors.

Milk sales in the UK in 2008 were up 10%, according to the Soil Association. This has been put down to the clarity of the organic dairy message and the relatively low price premium organic milk and milk products carry.

Still, this was not enough to stop 'Rachael's Organic' from becoming just 'Rachael's'. The company themselves claim to be suprised by the furore, and put it down to a branding move, a mere name simplification.

�We have been astonished by the attention this small change has attracted,� stated group spokesperson Steve Clarke. �In part it is because there is currently a perceived downturn in sales of organic produce elsewhere but this was not the reason for the logo tweak, which has been in the pipeline for several months since the autumn.�

Across Rachel�s packaging, the manufacturer claimed that the term �organic� would still be highly visible and that it was responding to consumer research conducted last summer that found preference for a simpler brand name.

In others words, like Maria (Carey) Whitney (Houston) Lenny (Kravitz) and of course Bertie (Ahern), when consumers get to know a product well, they know it on a first name basis.

�Rachel�s organic yogurts have in fact seen an 18.3 per cent - year on year - increase in sales for the first quarter of 2009 so we are seeing fantastic growth,� stated Clarke.

Further afield, scientists in Germany, where organic milk is a whopping 11% of the market, claim to have invented an organic milk test.

One of the issues with organic is that the validation process is done through checking on actions, rather than on the products themselves. So paper trials, inspections are used to decide if someone is organic.

Researchers at the Federal Institute of Nutrition and Food Research, Kiel, developed a test based on an analysis of milk fat for the ratio of stable isotopes of carbon.

They used it to identify milk samples from cows raised on feed containing a higher ration of maize, more of which is used in conventional feed than organic rations in Germany.

Organically raised cows are fed less maize but more grass. However, the transferability of this test to other regions is questionable, as the feeding regimes differ from country to country.

This research also discovered higher levels of alpha-linolenic acid, or Omega 3 fatty acids. This is now proving to be typical for organic milk over conventional, and may be part of organic milk's appeal.

Likewise research presented in Ireland by Dr. Carlo Leifert (Quality Low Input Food project in Newcastle University) at the Bord Bia Organic conference last September did much the same. This research consistently pointed to organic as superior nutritionally, especially with regard to Omega 3 and the vital 3 to 6 ratio.
However again, the issue may partly be the grass levels fed. Low input farming (ie low on concentrates high on grass) also scored well nutritionally in Leifert's research.

The make up of the ration has proven to be important too: Researchers (again from Newcastle) found that by adding a mix of soya beans, rapeseed and linseed to the daily food rations for each cow kept indoors, milk quality improved and was comparable to the milk from an outdoor cow eating a fresh grass diet.

In Ireland, both organic and conventional cows eat a higher proportion of grass than elsewhere in Europe, due to the amount it rains here.

Whatever about the rain, across Europe, organic milk and milk products continue to sell well and to carry a strong message.

With a pool of up to 4 million litres of milk, it is likely that the IOMP will have a bright future.

Good Herdsman secure contracts for Irish organic beef in Germany

Good Herdsmen, Ireland�s largest dedicated organic meat processor, recently secured sales of � milion Euro at the BioFach organic trade fair in Germany.

Three of the four new companies new customers are mainly in the Eurozone, thereby accessing vital new, non-sterling markets.

Dennree, a German wholesaler who supply 1500 natural food shops are the major coup for the Cahir based company.

The retail market in Germany differs from that of Ireland or the UK: natural food stores, which are more like wholefood delis than Irish health food shops, are quite prominent. Global supermarket chains are less dominant than in Ireland. Dennree also supply Austria and northern Italy.

In Denmark, Calu, who supply the niche sections of mainstream supermarkets will be taking Irish meat products from Good Herdsman.

Both Denmark and Germany have very strong organic sectors (Denmark was named organic country of the year at Biofach this year) and neither are suffering from the recession to the same extent as Ireland.

In Holland, an organic supermarket chain called Ecoplaza, while in France, an internet company called Vitafris are the new customers.

A combination of an innovative new style of packaging and premium cuts from a country with a clean green image seems to have been the winner for Good Herdsman at BioFach.

�We had more competitors taking pictures than customers� according to Josef Finke of the Good Herdsman. �The packaging and presentation went down very well.�

Good Herdsman have developed a new style of packaging which allows for their own retail packs to be made in Ireland and exported. This too is better for the Irish economy: previously Good Herdsman's meat was exported to be cut and packaged on the Continent.

With production, slaughter, processing and packaging done in Ireland, more mark up revenue is retained in Ireland.

Initially matured for 21 days, the new skin or film packaging Good Herdsman have developed allows for further maturing of the meat in the pack. �The meat is on a tray and has a film put around it in a way which prevents any air from getting in between� Finke tells me. �This allows for an extra 21 days of shelf life�.

The tray for the packaging is compostable, while the film is biodegradable: �a retail product on the continental market needs this level now�. They are also looking into making the tray biodegradable in the near future.

Stylistically, as well as visible meat, the packaging has a very striking black and white image of Ireland, which allows it to stand out from the multi coloured crowd. This packaging also allows for fixed weights to be sold, which internet sellers in particular are attracted to.

The new range is called Organic Steakhouse. �This we feel has the right associations. Steakhouses are known for good quality steaks at an affordable price. Also the word 'steakhouse' can be read and easily understood in many languages.�

According to Finke, along with Ireland's clean green image, and of course the economic situation, Irish cattle breeds proved to be of interest to these new customers:

�Breed actually came second after price� he tells me. �They loved the fact that the traditional breeds, Herefords and Angus, are used as mothers, with the Continental bull on top�.

Four beef and two lamb cuts have been introduced into these new markets. In lamb noisettes and leg steaks, while in beef striplion, sirlion, ribeye, and minute steak are being supplied.

I spoke to a farmer recently who visited a farm shop near Munich during BioFach. He found that, despite food in general being cheaper in Germany than Ireland, conventional Charolais beef from the farm was achieving 50E per kilo at the farm shop.

I put it to Josef Finke that the price the German consumer is willing to pay for quality organic beef should benefit Irish farmers:

�We managed to get the prices in Germany, France and Denmark that we need. This means that we do not have to put as much pressure on the other end: we want to try maintain the farmer's price. This strategy may or may not work, but so far looking good.�

Planting Seeds of Literacy in Jamaica with Great Shape! Inc.

Some of you may already know, I love Jamaica, I love Bob Marley, and I love Reggae. I'm blessed to volunteer with Great Shape! Inc. in Jamaica where we conduct the "1000 Smiles Dental Project", the SuperKids Literacy Program, and this year, Vision Clinics. I'll be working with our literacy team in schools around Ocho Rios this year.

Last year, we brought teachers, literacy specialists, books, computers, musical instruments, love, smiles and enthusiasm to students like these at Breadnut Hill Primary School.

On our day off, a group of us went up to this tiny Basic School in Woodland, way up above Hopewell and delivered books and 'fluffies' (stuffed animals) to Andrea Brown's students. Here they are in front of their new library.

First Books supplied us with many copies of the ever popular Dora.

Aleshia, the librarian at Parry Town Primary worked with us to get their library ship-shape for the new titles we brought for our Book in a Bag program. We are committed to working with the schools to improve literacy and education for all of Jamaica's children.

Check our work at Great Shape! Inc. on the web. Great Shape's been in the mix for 20 years in Jamaica.

Soil Association report for the organic market in the UK:

Pic: Jason Horner, organic veg seller at Ennis Farmers' Market

The UK's largest organic certification body, the Soil Association (SA), has just published a report on the market for organics. The news is mixed for the overall organic sector, and in some ways, bad for the UK organic farmer.

The situation in Ireland is different to the UK, with the market here remaining stronger. However the UK remains an export location for Irish organic produce. Along with the market itself suffering, the euro sterling differential is compounding the difficulties for Irish organic exports to the UK.

The UK organic market is worth over �2.1 billion annually. Diary is the biggest organic category (29.5%) followed closely by fresh fruit and vegetables (26.2%).

Growth in 2008 in the SA report was at 1.8%. This represented growth in three quarters, and decline in the final 08 quarter. Compared to 11% growth in Ireland in January 2009, the difference in the figures is significant.

The fairly neutral finding of a 1.8% increase disguises the fact that different categories showed sharper variations.

Sales of organic milk, cheese, meat and poultry grew by 10.6%, 11.5%, 13.3% and 17.7% in 2008. Convenience foods and confectionery fell, by 5.9% and 21% respectively. In part this reflects both cutting back and 'back to basics': sales of organic cooking ingredients were up a considerable 13.5%.

The two biggest growth areas for organic in the UK offer little opportunities for Irish farmers.

Certified organic textiles hit the �100 million mark, with organic cotton sales increasing by a full 40%. The organic health and beauty category rose by 69%. This was, however, partly due to consolidation of the certification and labelling regulations as much as an increase in sales: i.e. consumers were buying what they considered to be organic products previously anyway.

There are more signals of changes in what people eat. As reported by Ray Ryan last week for food in general in Ireland, cheaper cuts of meat are also in for organic in the UK. Worryingly, both fruit and vegetables sales were down. Some consumers are also switching to canned or frozen organic vegetables in place of fresh.

The location of purchase has also changed. This reflects both price and other considerations. ASDA, who spoke about their organic sales growth at a conference in Waterford last year, report growth of 25%. ASDA thus increased its share of the market from 8% to around 10%. Another low price multiple retailer, Morrisons, also reported growth in organic sales.

This reflects both increased organic purchasing by a broader socio-economic range of people and people from higher socio-economic groups changing where they shop.
Supermarkets that traditionally attract wealthier consumers have suffered: Tesco, Waitrose, Marks and Spencers and Sainsburys all reported losses in their organic sales.

In the analysis of the report, the SA point out that organic fruit and vegetables, Tescos largest organic area, have begun to pick up again in their stores.

The Co-op achieved double-digit percentage growth, increasing sales by 15%. This is a slightly unusual retail outlet in the UK. It is a consumer co-op with over 2200 stores, and recently took over the Somerfield supermarket chain.

While non multiple outlets (health food stores, box schemes etc) only reported 1.4% growth, farmers' markets were the exception. Growth in this route in the UK was high, at 18.6% to �23.7 million.

All told, for non multiple retailers, Around �11 million is now spent on organic products through independent retailers every week, or �568 million. This compares to �1.54 million through the multiples.

The report also calls for an improvement in the way the organic movement coveys its messages: a perhaps unexpected example of an underreported fact is the following: organic fruit and veg from box schemes are consistently cheaper than those in supermarkets.

In many ways, the strongest signal from this report from an Irish organic farming perspective point to the need for new markets in mainland Europe. In many EU countries the market remains strong or indeed continues to grow.

To access the report, click here

Into the Kitchen

All the greens are coming in full force now, this is my pick off the porch, 6 kindsa lettuce, huge spinach (6" x 5" lvs!) and the star-flowered plant in the foreground, chickweed (Stellaria media)--it's best harvest time is right now. You can also use it to make a healing salve by simmering gently in olive oil, strain after steeping, and add some melted beeswax to make it 'gel'. Read Jethro Kloss' classic, and one of my main references, "Back to Eden, the classic guide to herbal medicine, natural foods and home remedies" for more info.

I made this Green Goddess dressing with some chickweed and....

1 cup yogurt

3 T. olive oil

1/2 cup mixed herbs: chickweed, parsley, thyme, oregano and basil, all fresh off the porch

2 T. lemon juice

1/4 t. salt
1 sm. piece green scallion or some chive and a sm. piece garlic

Put it all in the blender and 'grind' on low till blended and smooth. If it's too thin, add some nutritional yeast.

Onto greater heights, fresh pickles! I'm practicing now to get my chops by harvest time when cukes will be begging to evolve into pickles. Here I blanched cauliflower, carrot, asparagus and garlic then packed loosely into jars with chunks of jalapenos. In each jar are also mustard seed, bay leaf, salt and peppercorns.

Into the heating brine of water and white vinegar, I added sprigs of dry purple basil and got this pretty color. Bring to a boil and pour into clean jars.

Here's my recipe:

12 carrot slices

3 cloves garlic

partial head of cauliflower

Blanch these for 2 minutes. What that means is get a large pot of water boiling, then throw in everything at once and time it. As soon as time's up, drain and put veggies into a bowl of ice cold water to stop the cooking, this keeps them crispy.

Into a quart jar put:

1 teaspoon pickling salt

5 peppercorns

1/2 teaspoon mustard seed

1 bay leaf

Now pack loosely into the jar(s) the veggies along with about 8 nice big fat jalapeno peppers, sliced into 1/2" chunks.

Into a pot, put:

1 cup water

1 1/4 cup white vinegar

Heat this to boiling, then pour into the jar. Put the lid on, seal, cool then put in fridge. Eat the next day, and these will keep for weeks in the fridge.

Easy breeezy!

Porch is getting crowded. It's time to put the tomatoes into the ground, but yesterday only got up to 48 degrees! Buy all the starts you want and have room for now, and start planting, 'cause May 15 is the magic date for putting in the warm weather crops we crave all winter long. You've got 2 weeks now to make it happen, so don't delay (note to self).

The Home Gardener

Tomatoes and peppers and zucchini, oh my! The sun�s warming up and now is the time to get to planting. Whether this is your first year in the garden (or at the balcony planting pot), or you�ve got a few years of sowing under your belt, Mother Earth News has a wonderful gardening blog that will help you get the most out of your endeavors.

Not sure when it�s the right time to sink your seeds into the ground? Not certain what goes best when planted side by side? Wondering if seeds or starter plants are your best option? Wonder no more . . . The Mother Earth News garden blog has the answers for your queries, and perhaps some ideas you might not have considered. These include everything from starter seed basics and ways to seed swap with locals, to expert transplanting advice and what top producing crops are in our Southwest region.

Plus, there are really groovy articles such as:

� Know When to Plant What: Find Your Average Last Spring Frost Date

� Our Indestructible Tomato Cage

� Lasagna Gardening

� A Better Way to Fertilize Your Garden - Homemade Organic Fertilizer

Pick up your spade, pop on your sunhat and get your hands busy growing your own!

Signs of Change

A quick tour of my neighborhood with spring in full swing. Most of these pix are on my walk to the garden.

Check the saddlebags of pollen on this bee enjoying the camellia; encourage more bees with hives if you can do it or small block kits for mason bees. Get info at any nursery; advocate for urban hives in your town. We need those pollinators more than ever---they've taken a big hit with all the pesticides, herbicides, pollution and development. We are allowed to keep bees here in Portland, and chickens, but no roosters in city limits.

Here my friend is making good use of deck space and nice big crocks for growing a variety of salad greens, peas and other green crunchy treats, and soon tomatoes....right outside the kitchen. Brilliant!

I like this--converting that sod by the curb to a planting of poppies in front of the painted poppy fence. Note the smart straw mulch for weed control, water conservation, and building soil, plus it's way prettier and more balanced pH than that boring brown prickly bark mulch. But that's just my opinion.

Change is here! This was just like a driveway, and now look at the raised beds they just put in, bursting with potential. Yes we can!!! I walk by here all the time---watch for progress shots.

You probably know this view by now, yep, I'm walking up to our beautiful community garden. The wild mustard in the foreground is a nice spicy wild food right now. Add those beautiful yellow flower stems to any salad or stir fry. Try some of these wild foods right now, they're so perfect in spring, and traditional blood purifiers for spring. Each wild food has its best time--it's important to know when to pick what part and how to eat it, but it's not hard to learn.

can people distinguish canned dog food from p�t�?

Can people distinguish canned dog food from P�t�? The second you think of it, you go...
oh no...but you have to check, don't you....

This and 114 other important questions are being asked at the 3rd annual wine economics conference in, aptly I suppose, Champagne.

To find out, click here...if you dare!

( pic by myler dude, licienced under creative commons

climate change and farming in Ireland: part 2

photo by: Mariah gale, licienced under creative commons

In November, Minister for the Environment John Gormley said that �all sectors will have to cut emissions�. According to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, �making significant cuts from agriculture will be very difficult�.

He warned against �significant downward pressure on animal numbers, something that would �in a global context make no sense�.

The Minister said that if Ireland was to reduce cattle numbers, the global climate change situation would actually be worsened because "Irish beef would simply be replaced on world markets by beef produced in a much less sustainable way".

This point of carbon leakage has been raised in many quarters. Essentially the suggestion is that if we stop producing, other less sustainable regions in the world will instead. This will increase rather than decrease overall GHG emissions.
Department of Environment representative, when queried, claimed that �there is no confusion between this Department and the Department of Agriculture on greenhouse gas emissions from the agriculture sector.�

Simple and straightforward. And yet, there since the EU targets were agreed, there has been a rumbling on going discussion on footing the GHG bill. Enough to remind one of Queen Gertrude's most famous line: 'The lady doth protest too much, methinks'.

What has been dubbed the 'cow tax memo' suggested, according to reports, that �imposing a levy on all livestock is the best way to avoid having to cut the size of the national herd�.

This memo proposes a levy set at �5 per tonne of CO2 emitted, to generate just over �100 million. This has been reported as an equivalence of a levy of �13 for each dairy cow, �7 for non diary cow, �1 for sheep.

Minister Brendan Smith and even the EU commission have all come out railing against the possibility of this cow tax.

According to former Green Party leader, Minister of State Trevor Sargent, who's brief also includes cattle breeding, �A myth has been peddled however claiming Minister for the Environment and Local Government John Gormley T.D. is in favour of a cattle cull to reduce methane emissions. This is completely untrue and is a gross disservice to the work Minister Gormley has been doing to help the long term viability of all sectors, including agriculture�.

He points to two crucial areas his colleague has achieved for Ireland and agriculture with regard to climate change: In the European climate change deal agreed before Christmas, �Minister Gormley ... achieved flexibility in the deal to ensure that Ireland did not face higher costs of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and that we would not be forced to reduce our national herd�.

Gormley �also met with the European Presidency�s chief climate change negotiator, and was successful in having carbon leakage placed onto the agenda for future climate change negotiations�.

Just how much agriculture should pay is an altogether more interesting question in a contracting economy.

While demand for higher end food products may reduce abroad, it is likely that agriculture, which already provides 32% of net foreign earnings, will become more prominent in the future. Ireland have various practical advantages in producing food (e.g. climate, access to markets) which do not pertain in most other economic sectors.

According to Dr Mary Kelly of the EPA �The profile of greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland is unusual in the European context, with agriculture currently accounting for 27 per cent of all emissions and 40 per cent of emissions in the non-trading sector. This makes it very difficult to effect actual reductions on the scale required in the non-trading sector�.

The Koyoto targets, it seems, might be reachable due to recession. However the EU targets will prove far more difficult. Climate change experts have predicted that Ireland's' emissions will be down by between 5 and 9% in 2009, because of the recession.

Frank Convery, professor of environmental policy at University College Dublin, was reported recently as saying that Ireland's emissions may well be as close to the 63 million tonnes permitted under Koyoto. This would save the government E300 million in the purchase of carbon credits.

A recent EPA report, issued in March of this year, considers different scenarios, including that of economic shock until 2010 � decline by 7% each year until 2010, and then growth until 2020.

According to the EPA report, irrespective of economic performance, there is only one scenario for agricultural emission projections:

�Emissions are projected to decrease by 4% over the period 2007 � 2020 to 17.8 Mtonnes of CO2e.� This estimate was actually 18.95 Mtonnes in 2008, so agriculture is performing even better than just last year's predictions from the EPA itself. Agriculture in 1990 accounted for 35% of emissions.

Individual sectors performance within agriculture underscore this fact: According to Dr Gerry Boyle of Teagasc �Technological advances in dairy production, for example, have led to a drop of 12.4% in the amount of methane produced per kg of milk between 1990 and 2006�.

Most GHG emissions from Irish agriculture are methane from livestock and nitrous oxide from soils.

Specific measures under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) �are expected to raise awareness amongst farmers of the need to address climate change and also to promote greater acceptance and uptake of technologies that contribute to greenhouse gas abatement, such as use of minimum tillage and the adoption of low emission trailing shoe technology for slurry spreading� a DAFF spokesperson said, when queried.

Other abatement strategies include: dietary modifications, additives or probiotics to reduce methane production, breed selection, increasing the length of the grazing season and breeding more efficient animals.

The spokesperson also pointed out that the nitrates directive had resulted in �better use of nutrients with consequently less nitrogen application and therefore fewer nitrous oxide emissions�. This includes matching nitrogen use to soil type, increasing clover use on farms, use of nitrate inhibitors�.

It was also suggested that �in terms of reduced fertiliser use and consequent emissions, organic farming will also have a role to play and is supported through the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food's Organic Farming Scheme.�

Forestry and energy crops are also relevant. To encourage energy crop cultivation, the National Energy Crop Premium (E80 per hectare) was introduced in 2007 to supplement the EU Premium of E45 per hectare.

A new Bioenergy Scheme was also launched offering establishment grants worth E1,450 per hectare to plant willow and miscanthus. Land planted with energy crops can also benefit under the Single Payment Scheme as well as REPS and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, subject to some restrictions on the areas planted.

The main issue from a farming perspective is, according to Gerry Boyle, �Gaining credits for afforestation and biomass production for bioenergy is problematic�. However, �there is no basis in logic for the agricultural sector not benefiting in accessing these offsets given that it is farmers that will need to alter their land use practices�.

However, there are other laggard areas. Gary Lanigan is a Teagasc research officer based in Johnstown Castle. His area of speciality is emissions, including GHG emissions, and soil carbon content.

According to Lanigan, while fertilizer usage is down down 20-25% from 1998, and while sheep and cattle numbers are down too, he estimates that �Only about 1% of farmers are using clover�.

Considering the numerous cost and environmental benefits, this is an astounding figure.

There are many considerations in the debate on GHG emissions. A complete and comprehensive life cycle analysis might skew all the figures again: While the application of fertilizer produces GHGs, so to does the making of fertilizers.

A nagging worry of course is the possibility that the scale of the problem and the scope of the solutions simply do not match up.

In the meantime, matching efficiencies and emissions, and seeing opportunities in the constraints may help agriculture move forward sustainably.