The Year of the Sunflower

This year I learned about a Native American agriculture method called "the 3 sisters." A culturally significant traditional method of agriculture practiced by tribal communities throughout the Americas, this method embraces the mutualism of 3 crops: corn, beans, and squash. Instead of growing each crop in a separate bed or field, the 3 are cultivated together. The beans provide soil nitrogen for the corn…

Tryptophan and the Feast-Sleep Connection

Thanksgiving. A day set aside for gratitude. A tradition represented by an abundance of food. A holiday from work and school spent with friends and family. I remember the first Thanksgiving feast I ever hosted about 35 years ago. I stuffed a turkey with my grandmother’s sage stuffing recipe and served it to my boyfriend and his family. I was pretty proud of my…

Amaranth

Are you exhausted? Politics, climate change, wildfires, air quality, hurricanes, racism, inequities, economics, environmental injustice, threats to democracy, social injustice, COVID. It is important to stay engaged in these important matters. To stay engaged over time, sometimes we just need to take a break. Recharge. Sometimes I recharge in my garden. Smelling the soil and fragrant herbs, viewing the green leaves and colorful blossoms,…

Cucumbers

It’s peak cucumber season at my backyard farm! These thirst-quenching gourds are ripe and ready for salads, snacks, and smoothies. Used topically, they promise reduced puffiness.1, 2 Infused in water, they promise refreshing flavor with less risk of indigestion than citrus infusions.3 There are many varieties of Cucumis sativus, or cucumber as it is commonly known. I grew an heirloom variety this year, seeds…

Stop and Smell the Roses

The roses are blooming. Their brilliant colors are complimented with their transcending aroma. Looking at roses and smelling their scent can be intoxicating. But what about the rose that is fading? Has the fading flower lost its purpose? I collected the aging rose pedals in the garden before they fell to the ground and I learned how to distill rose water in my kitchen. …