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Nettles and the Locavar Ideal

 

Gathering Stinging Nettles: Tools include scissors, bag, and GLOVES!  (or buy at your local whole foods store)

I am at the height of my locavore yearnings right now. I want to eat only from the abundance of the nearby (within a 100-mile radius). I was originally inspired by the Dervaes family in Pasadena who grow 6000 pounds of food on their 1/5 acre property.

If, right now, I were to eat only what edibles I could glean from our 1/3 of an acre and what I have left over in the fridge from last season, we could eat the following: frozen blackberries, rosemary, thyme, chives, kale, grape leaves, oregano, some lettuce, blueberries (soon), parsley, aloe vera (leaves for green smoothies), nettles (yes, my son seeded some), mushrooms, sprouts, and dandelions. I guess there would be other leaves as well.

Moving slightly afield, if I were ovo-vegetarian, I’m sure my dear neighbor would sell me some eggs from his free range chickens (escorted everywhere by their possessive rooster master). And my local fave health food store has a number of locavore products in stock. We can also buy fantastic raw honey that is locally produced, and in season we have grapes, plums, cherries, figs, apples, and all matter of vegetables and nuts right in our neighborhood.

But what I would have to give up forever (or while I reside here)? Young coconut, coconut oil, all the oils actually, chia seed, quinoa, chickpeas, chocolate, stevia (I bought a plant but I doubt that it will provide what we need for more than a month or so), avocado, quinoa, rice, organic corn, pineapple, guava, and other tropical fruits.

Is it possible? Of course. Is it probable? Well, perhaps only during the harvest season here, just a window of time when there is a glut of ripe juicy fruits and fresh organic garden veggies. I’ll try the locavore experience then…
To your living health!

Go and get my favourite nettle smoothie recipe <- CLICK


STINGING NETTLES FOR YOUR HERB BED~

 Go check out the nettles
at West Coast Seeds
                                              
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