Life as Therapy

A meeting honey makers
Five day old Mottled Java chicks - heirloom breed
A honey bee gathers poppy pollen

Drought and Freeze and Ranching Spring 2011

We culled deeply this year, to take some stress off the ranch. The first priority for us as land stewards is to our browse/range. When that is healthy, we can support healthy animals.

Between the freeze this winter (coldest since 1950's) and the lack of rainfall, the land is stressed; we have lightened our animal "load"significantly.

Working in this region has reminded me of the balances Nature offers. Both the more masculine rains of summer and the lighter feminine rains of winter are vitally and equally important. Have you noticed that the male rains of summer tending to be fast, aggressive, and offer a lot of water quickly? That female rains of winter tend to be gentler, longer, and allow the water to really soak into the earth.

We missed the feminine rains of winter this year. Every plant, insect, animal (human or otherwise) in the Sonoran Desert dearly hopes for summer rains. It is not hard to see the dry land in the photos below.

Deciding which animals to keep and which to sell.

Moving the heard on dry terrain.

East Meets West (foraged) Dumplings -- with Heirloom Favas from the garden

Heirloon Fava's - survived the freeze!

They are cooked al dente and served with a bit

of organic (unsalted) butter, salt and pepper.

To make the dumpling filling:

Chard is perfect to add to dumplings; chop fine.

Add some foraged cholla buds, de-spined & cooked,

A bit of blue cheese adds richness and flavor.

Place a TBS of filling into a home made spelt dumpling"wrapper", form it into a satisfying shape - and cook!

NOTE: Dipping Sauce has chiltpin in it for added flavor