Wisdom in Her Pocket

I decided to harvest my flat a second time. Now I know this is rather controversial, however I researched all over the net and it seems that if you re-mineralize the second harvest should be fine. As long as the grass is green and not yellow, there should be no bitter aftertaste. So, being the good student I am, I followed directions exactly. I added azomite (all natural trace mineral fertilizer) to the water and saturated well. I continued to let the grass get to be about 6-7 inches long and re-harvested. Voila! The flavor was milder than the first round, less pungent. I juiced a larger amount to make up for slightly less mineral makeup. (That’s what all the experts said.)

It worked and all is well. So, I have a new flat sprouting in the garage, and I am finishing the second harvest of my first flat. If I have to say so myself, I could not have timed it better! Here’s to your health.

First harvest has arrived. The grass grew so fast, almost an inch a day 0nce I put it in the sun. It is beautiful green with a peppery aroma. I had some uninvited gnats, but they were easily remedied with a small fan. My new Healthy Juicer by Lexen worked very well. I am glad I bought the automatic, to save myself much elbow grease. I have to say that I was surprised at how much grass it took to get a couple of ounces of juice. But the Lexen made it easy suggesting to take the first pulp and re-juice it for a higher yield. It was sweet. It really was. It had no aftertaste, although I did have a slice of orange as a chaser.

Clean up was a breeze with the Lexen juicer due to the external pulp screen.

At last green gold. Drink up me hearties!

Well my seeds are sprouted and my flat is prepared. Now it’s in the dark for three days and then indirect sun for seven more. Hope all goes well. What could go wrong? Mold for one thing, not enough water for another. I’m hopeful though. My seeds are nice and wet with four layers of soaked paper towels to keep them moist and mold could be problematic, but I am checking it daily.

The process continues, We shall see…..

I don’t usually talk too much about this stuff because it has just becomepart of life for me and my family. My littlest son has Tourette Syndrome and it has graced our lives for four full years now. It alone has been the source of most of my mommy tears yet, it has been the one thing that has kept my on my knees. I know God’s ways are higher than ours and I know that He is good all the time. So that settles it. No complaints, just prayers.

But this weekend has been challenging. It has been about 5 months since the tics have been this prevalent, and when new one’s appear, I am moved. Christ is always my solid ground, but alas I am moved. I can see it coming a mile away, and pray the train wreck is minimal. My little boy’s emotions get erratic, his coping skills fly out the window, and then the tics come marching in. He is still so young that he barely notices. But when he does, look out! Then we struggle with his anxiety trying to control them, and all the “Why me’s?”  That is by far the SINGLE most difficult part.

This Mother’s Day I am a little melancholy. Mommyhood is the single greatest gift I have been given (my marriage too) and I can honestly say that I am the woman of prayer that I am, because of it. Happy Mother’s Day ladies. Do not grow weary in well doing….. Jesus Christ is the hope of glory!

Kelly

I just received my Healthy Juicer automatic wheatgrass juicer by Lexen yesterday and today Fed Ex delivered my wheatgrass growing kit, by wheatgrasskits.com. So what next? Well, I am reading all the instructions. My wheatgrass kit  came with a great little book, as well as instructions for sprouting, growing, and juicing. All steps are very clear.

Tonight I will rinse and soak my wheat sprouting seeds and tomorrow I will let them sprout for about 24 hours. I have a large one gallon jar that’s the perfect size. Once sprouted I will continue with the growing instructions. My kit came with organic soil, all plant materials, but you can grow without soil if you like. I think I will start my flats in the garage to seedling stage and then transfer to my laundry room shelf for the remainder of the growing time. There seems to be adequate, but not direct, sunlight in there. There’s also a window because I need to keep it somewhat cool.

Do I have a green thumb? Well, only time will tell, but I’m hopeful. Once I harvest the grass, I will let you all know how well the juicer works. This whole process should take 7-10 days.  Wish me luck.

Check your local listings. Food Inc. premiers tonight on PBS.  Watch and then join in the conversation.

What a great day: a field trip to a pick your own veggies farm. Today I took my kids to Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark, California. On the weekdays it is only $3 to get in and you can take your time. The whole farm is at your disposal. We started with beans, snow peas and carrots, made our way through lettuces and celery and ended with the crowning glory.. strawberries.

I had hoped to have this trip be a great addition to our healthy foods unit study and it proved to be so much more.  We got a wagon to haul around the farm and we paid for what we picked at the end. Everything was soooo reasonable. Our grand total was only 22 dollars and that included dried wild flowers from the field as well as raw honey from the bee farm one town over. 

What a great day to enjoy the sun, family and healthy food.  I encourage you homeschoolers to go on field trips! What a needed break from the everyday. Only God could create a great venue for science, agriculture, health and PE too.

Have you had a good meal today? Thank a farmer.

http://www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com/

I understand the antibiotic resistant thing, but what about allergies? Are they related? I have taken antibiotics as needed all throughout my life.. as most people have under a doctor’s care. However during the last few years, I seem to have developed a severe allergy to penicillin. I wonder if this could be related to meat or poultry consumption?  Who knows.

Nice article in the Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/opinion/18kennedy.html

Now that may sound like an oxymoron, but when it comes to homeschooling I find that it is very true for me. The sun is out, I am feeling like I want to play hooky and yet I see the end of the school year looming in on me. Therein lies the dread. How many more math lessons till the book is finished? How many more science lessons? And the inevitable… Uh-Oh, there are only 45 school days left!!!!  Is is an anxiety attack similar to the panic felt before a final exam in college where I didn’t study like I should have,  0r like when I used to cashier at the express line at Ralphs grocery and there were 30 people glaring at me to hurry and I suddenly forgot all my produce codes  (ok that’s a whole other panic, again from my college days).  You get the point.

I try to console myself and say things like “They NEVER finish their books in public schools.”  But is that really true? I don’t remember if I finished my math book in elementary school or not. Regardless of other schools or other kids, I plan to, try to and like to, have my kids finish their textbooks. It is a real sense of accomplishment and when you homeschool it is a reachable goal. But I still go through the panic and anxiety when spring rolls around.

So, whether we finish all of our books on time or not, or whether we do a few extra days of work here and there throughout the summer to make up for it… Spring is in full bloom.  Deep breath, refocus and remember… not to grow weary in well doing.

Looking forward to the end of the school year. Counting down the days and trying not to panic.  Blessings, Kelly

Just ordered the book Animal Factory by David Kirby…check out this video and let me know what you think.

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