See on Scoop.it – The Food rEvolution
“If you don’t know what a loquat is, you probably aren’t alone. A loquat is a fruit that grows on a tree in China, although farmers in California, the Middle East, and South America have learned how to grow very nice loquats.”
They sound delicious. I would like to try a loquat.
See on www.ayushveda.com
See on Scoop.it – The Food rEvolution
"Nobel laureate says ‘people of conscience’ must break ties with oil and gas companies that are destroying planet’s future"- Jon Queally, staff writer
See on www.commondreams.org
See on Scoop.it – The Food rEvolution
When conservators at the Art Institute of Chicago wanted to find the missing pigment in a portrait by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, they used laser light to reveal the original hues.
Nothing lasts forever as proved by an advanced technique for painting color analysis. A laser technique called surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy reveals that the red has faded in a Renoir painting circa 1883. This is due in part to the fact that the red pigment, carmine lake, was ‘made from crushed and ground cochineal insects that live on cactuses in Mexico and South America.’
See on www.nytimes.com
See on Scoop.it – The Food rEvolution
In this 2010 Ted-Ed Talk Lesson, educator Dr. William Li discusses the concept of angiogenesis, the growth of new capillary blood vessels in the body and how certain foods can be used in the anti-a…
Food can be very powerful medicine.
See on laughingsquid.com
See on Scoop.it – Global Evolution: Will we be in time?
The worst accident in Everest’s history underscores an unfortunate reality: ascents have gotten safer for Westerners, but not for Sherpas.
Will our consciousness change enough to prevent another tragedy like this from happening? I see no reason why not as long as enough people are made aware of the inhuman circumstances surrounding ‘recreational’ climbs up Mount Everest and others like it. The lives of those who can’t afford the luxury of doing this for recreation should not be put on the line for those who can. Something must be done about this inequity NOW.
See on www.newyorker.com
See on Scoop.it – Avant-garde Art & Design
“According to PANTONEVIEW.com contributor OLTMANS VAN NIEKERK, the digital universe is vast and impossible to pin down. Its pervasive force has had a major impact on the way we live and work. It seems that everything that people think is important is virtual and everything and everybody is in a hybrid, digital state. The digital is invisible and everywhere. No hard disks, no desktop computers, no fixed place. The asset-light generation embraces simplicity in order to gain freedom.”
I am not especially fond of the blues show here. Nor am I excited about ‘these new waves of blues trending for 2014 and beyond.’
See on www.pantone.com
See on Scoop.it – Global Evolution: Will we be in time?
M. Sanjayan, a host of Showtime’s new series on climate change, talks about almost dying on set, telling the stories behind science, and the new face of global warming.
According to this scientist, we are too late to stop global warming. Climate change is already part of our present day world.
See on grist.org
See on Scoop.it – The Cultural & Economic Landscapes
The worst accident in Everest’s history underscores an unfortunate reality: ascents have gotten safer for Westerners, but not for Sherpas.
The tragedy on the recent Mount Everest climb injured nine. I addition, it took the lives of sixteen Nepali guides.
"Although many news reports indicated that all the victims were Sherpas, the legendary mountain people who comprise just half of one per cent of the Nepali population, three of the sixteen were members of other, much larger ethnic groups: one was Gurung, one was Tamang, and one was a member of the Hindu Chhetri caste.
All, however, were employed as high-altitude climbing sherpas, with a lowercase “s”—an élite profession that deservedly commands respect and admiration from mountaineers around the world."
See on www.newyorker.com
See on Scoop.it – Avant-garde Art & Design
It’s being called “the most beautiful, haunting infomercial you’ll ever see.”
This video is addictive and eerie at the same time. It does tell an ‘Orwellian’ story of what has become of the food industry and what can be if we take back our power, our passion and our hearts.
See on gawker.com
Lately ‘Back to Basics’ A Simple Healthy Green Natural, Relaxed and Thrifty Life has become my Ikigai, my reason for being. Ikigai is a Japanese word that roughly means what motivates me ‘to rise and shine’ each day. My Back to Basics projects certainly qualify as just that. On a daily basis, I rise and head for my laboratory (also my kitchen) to see how something is fermenting, gelling, infusing or whatever process is used as a back to basics alchemist.
I am not very good at remembering things. I have numerous paper recipe notebooks. But I either forget to write things down or do a terrible job of it. On the other hand, I love to blog. So I decided that Alison*s Back to Basics Journal, an online collection of blog posts, would be the best way to go. This also provides a recording of my current Ikigai and an archive of these activities.
MY BACK TO BASICS JOURNAL
Here I am at a new beginning. I have completed a few ‘Back to Basics’ projects. So before I forget what they are and the details, I better get going with this journal. I have been working on five projects that are at various stages of maturity. They include:
• orange essence infused vinegar (not shown)
• homemade apple cider vinegar
• Kombucha
• Kefir water/Kefir milk
• homemade laundry detergent (not shown)
HOMEMADE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
I have already written a blog post about homemade apple cider vinegar. Ironically, it is the last project to be started and the first to be written about. I have followed Janella Purcell’s instructions as indicated:
“Here’s what you need –
cores and peels from 6-8 (preferably) organic apples (colour not important)
2 tbsp organic sugar or raw honey
filtered water to cover
Return the liquid to the jar and cover it again with a paper towel and band. Leave it for 4 more weeks, stirring daily.
Taste it and see if it has the acidity you would like. If it does, transfer it to a bottle with a lid for storage. If not, leave it in the wide-mouthed jar for a little while longer, checking every few days.” #applecidervinegar #janellapurcell #fermentedfoods”
Since I just started yesterday, I have to wait until the 28th to remove the scraps. Then I have to wait another 4 weeks to taste it. I am going to have to be very patient with this project. Next, I think I will explain how to make orange vinegar. It is easy, fun and great for house cleaning. It also smells great.
KOMBUCHA
The most involved are the Kombucha and perhaps the Kefir. They involve not only fermentation but also a special mushroom to transform the ingredients added to them to give them probiotic qualities for consumption. Both Kombucha and Kefir have links to them so you can learn more about them. In fact, if you can’t wait for me to include them in my Back to Basics Journal, you can learn how to make them from watching YouTube videos and asking lots of questions, yourself.
KEFIR
Kefir water can look very similar to Kombucha. But Kombucha has some effervescence and Kefir does not. They are both supposed to be very healthy. So I guess it is a matter of taste preference. I actually prefer Kombucha to Kefir water and Kefir milk to kefir water.
HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT
Last but not least is my homemade laundry detergent. I am having lots of fun working on perfecting the consistency. I may wash all the clothes in my neighborhood by the time I perfect it. One bucket goes a long, long way. But I am going to wait for another day to go into detail on that project in my Back to Basics Journal. Suffice to say, I have grown to love it. The savings makes it even more desireable. There is a blog with a recipe in the additional resources below.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Why You Should Be Drinking Kombucha
Kombucha Health Benefits
What Is Kombucha
How To Make Kombucha
Making Your Own Apple Cider Vinegar
The Difference Between Kefir and Yogurt
Back to Basics Laundry Detergent For Only Pennies A Day
