Processing Acorn Porridge/Mush |
Greetings onto you during the time of year when we can look upon our place in life and presence on earth and assess how to live for the rest of the year. I believe summer is the season we can merge with the earth and embrace our life experience; we can find healing and belonging, because healing comes from the willingness to consciously participate. It opens our hearts. This blog is a lengthy summary of what has transpired within the confines of our gardens and their contributing wisdom from Mother Earth.
It's the height of the summer, and we just took part in our first harvest. Before I tell that story, I must confess that we still did not cultivate our indigenous garden plot this year. Last year, I had broken my leg right after we planted our spring vegetable gardens (thank goodness). Thus, the ground and the plot of our indigenous garden area were so overgrown for over a year that the effort to prepare it for this year was beyond our capabilities. We almost had a few young women interested in planting their own gardens in the area, but it did not work out for them for this year. Therefore, we concentrated on the manageable gardens closer to our living space. However, Marcus installed a drip system for the indigenous plot, and we planted more lavender and sage along the outside fence borders to deter elk and deer. Right now I am preparing the interior garden space there for next spring's gardening habitat.
On a high note, there were more flowers blooming this year than ever before. Plants flowered that had not bloomed since we'd been here. And plants that I've not known to flower, like my creeping houseplants, brought forth blooms. One of my 20-year-old cacti bloomed prolifically. Basically I was just fertilizing occasionally, nothing more.
Another aspect of the garden we are used to dealing with incessantly is the invasive slugs, which will actually destroy garden efforts. On occasion, we leave out beer, apply non-toxic slug bait and attract toads. However, this year's efforts were not grave at all. We did not have an infestation of snails and slugs. And thus, less aggressive maneuvers to deter them.
I suppose what has helped is the landscaping efforts we have started, i.e., landscape bordering and gravel trails. Snails and slugs like wild and bushy places, and there are fewer now inside our fenced garden area. So, all seemed good. But what was a telling sign of it all was the pond. For the first time in a long time, regardless of the pond looking clear, the plants were not blooming and not growing in profusion as usual; I had to find out why. I got into the pond and discovered that under the surface of the floating plants and lilies was string algae. String algae is a killer in water gardens. I was shocked and immediately got to work by hand, removing all the algae from every little tiny floating plant, and all others. Our poor fish were living in a lot of slime that we were not seeing.
So, why am I saying "telltale" sign? Excessive sun leads to string algae in ponds and water gardens. If left unattended, the algae will take over the pond and suck out all the oxygen and thus life for the rest of the life in the garden. It was an all-day grueling chore. I would not let my plants and fish suffer. There are many processes and agents that pond experts can sell to help reduce or combat string algae, but nothing works better than to hand remove it all. Ironically, one year I had a small amount of algae that I found growing and tossed it out on the property, and the area of grass that the algae lay, died. Hence, the fact of its detrimental effect.
Again, back to the telltale sign... climate change. Even out at the coastal regions, we are experiencing climate change. Our rainfall is low; our temperatures are rising. We used our air conditioner for the first time since we have lived here. Slugs and snails live in moist areas. Del Norte is traditionally a moist area. Our region has to be, as it keeps the rest of the state from becoming a complete desert.
Then, when I ventured further into the forested area of the property, I found on the ground a fallen branch of one of the clary sage bushes with flowers attached. There on the branch was a huge snail feasting on the flowers. I realized right then and there that our snail and slug relatives are so necessary. They take care of the forest grounds and support the interconnected ecosystems of our world. Immediately, I stopped the effort of adding more gravel pathway into our meditation space in the garden. In our efforts to clean our living spaces, we have contributed to global warming and also separated ourselves from the rest of nature and life. I am so very thankful to Mother Earth for giving me such direct and immediate instruction on how to live here in right relationship.
I again look around at our trees on the land, and they are magnificent. We have some Douglas fir trees that are over 300 years old, and they continue to give shelter, and homes for our animal and bird relatives who are here. They hold the moisture for all of us living here. We also have many cedar trees and pines. Trees are very important for all life on this planet. If you have such old trees, please do them a favor. Remove the ivory that grows on them. Please. I know it looks pretty in many mystical images of majestic trees with ivy all over them. However, that ivy is killing the tree. The ivy strangles the tree and eventually kills it. When we first moved onto the property, there was an extremely tall tree overshadowing the entire property. We still have several almost as tall as that one. However, it fell (luckily away from the house and our living property), but ivy had covered it. Since then we have yearly looked to our trees to remove the ivy. We are stewards of the land, and it is our responsibility to care for all that we live with. When we think of what we receive in return, why wouldn't we? Oxygen, moisture, protection, and wisdom that sustain us in so many ways.
When I returned to academia, both in Hawaii and within Turtle Island (US and Canada predominantly), I found that many indigenous scholars leaned towards the earth sciences. Nature and indigeneity go hand in hand. There is no separation within our consciousness between the land and its people. We understand the kinship. Hence the strong environmental associations within Indigenous academics and the advocacy of planetary wellness and the wellness of our human family. Such aspects of wellness include mental and consciousness wellness. I don't believe there is a separation from physical wellness.
Spiritual wellness is one that I will always advocate. I still maintain many aspects of spiritual practice. I used to meditate for one hour in the morning and one before sleep. It kept me balanced while working in the corporate world and during times of confusion and trauma. Being a facilitator and a participant in traditional Native American sweat lodge and doctoring ceremonies also brought clarity and strength. However, what I find most effective in bringing me into the highest balance state is being on the land and working on the land intending to support the spirit of the earth where I live and also offering sustainability to my relatives and community. Many of my younger Native women friends who continue to carry cultural traditions find harvesting their medicines a most sacred act of being close to the Creator. Nature immediately brings me into a familiar homecoming feeling. No crystal bowl, sound healing device or even music (all aspects of agents I love to use and partake) can bring me there as well. Nature is divinity; we don't have to go any further. Everything else is trying to find what it simply possesses.
When I was living in Sonoma County (my traditional homelands) as a youngster in junior high and high school, it was a very agricultural region. Now, there are predominant vineyards. In the past there were Gravenstein apples in Sebastopol, prune orchards in Santa Rosa, pears and peaches and a wonderful blueberry farm in Sebastopol. I, along with other youth my age, would pick fruit in the summer during the harvest season. For most of us, it was for our school clothes and school supplies. Also, when the harvest was late, the schools would delay sessions until the harvest was done. There were no farm laborers. We youth were the harvest workers. I remember those hot days listening to the popular songs on the radio with the others and, many times, many of us singing along with our favorite songs. I can see there is an element of connection and simple joys as a farm laborer. Many a farm laborer has mentioned that he / she enjoys being on the land and working together.
The blessings of growing a garden for us all is our connection to the earth and to all life, especially to benefit and support others. We learn to acknowledge that we can not live without the gifts of the earth, i.e., water, air, sun and the land. The land offers us sustenance beyond the functionality for our bodies, that the air and water and light support. The land gives us pleasure, joy, and an emotional connection. When we think of the land, our ego-centric selves relate to where we live or where we are from. But how many of us have a relationship with the environment outside of our humanity? Can we really say we have a relationship with the land itself and the plant, animal and mineral relatives? My biggest prayer is that our human family may find the desire to come back home to where we belong.
My Anishinaabe mentors and cousins gave the plants a name that I've learned to appreciate; they refer to the plant kingdom as the "standing people". They, like our grand relatives the trees, who for us in the Del Norte region are the redwoods (who my people have referred to as lume or chole depending on the dialect), teach us to focus on the light, the sun. To stand tall and straight as to who we are. They reach for their fullest potential, focusing towards the light to build strength by the only known true factor in their consciousness as the sun (Creator). Why do we humans get so distracted that we miss that focus and yet spend our entire lives seeking that center? Well, I can only speak for myself. Distractions happen maybe because someone indoctrinated us to think we must grow up and be .......... whatever. Or, in order to fit in, we must be a part of this or that. Wouldn't it be novel if there were no guidelines to our path but only inspirational support, thus allowing us to find our genius as natural as nature?
For me, plants are such a blessing, just like children. When they show up, it's because they want to be here. They are not thinking up the scenario. They are blessings, as joyful encounters.
This year as last year, raspberries came prolifically. We canned jelly and jam, gave away raspberries and also made lots of amazing raspberry tea. I urge you to try it this summer if you get a chance. You can use frozen raspberries as well. As a note at the end of this blog, I'll leave the recipe. Enjoy!
As always, we are grateful for what shows up. This year, lettuce was abundant, as well as carrots and beets and sugar peas. We also had a first harvest of potatoes, but the elk ate off the tops, and thus we found small potatoes in this first harvest. We've protected our second crop; it is doing fine right now. Also, those elk, they bit off some artichokes, but it is clear they did not like them and left them on the ground. We know that the elk have been here long before us and that this is also their home. So, learning to live with them is important, and we do. We are continuously learning.
Summer squash is still growing, as well as blueberries and strawberries. Those of us in Del Norte and Humboldt grow berries. They are the best superfoods to eat and they grow well here. They love our environment, and they produce for a long while. Also, if you can, grow hazelnut trees. They are endemic to the region and love it here as well. Californians deeply value oak trees; we natives disapprove of vineyard-related deforestation. Yet many of us don't realize that the California hazelnut tree was prolific here in our state as well. They really can be happy here again. Our hazelnut tree is now giving fruit. It's so exciting!
So, what are we doing about the algae in our fish pond? We put up a large sail that covers the pond. It filters out the strong UV rays and combats the algae blooms. It also protects the fish from that herons that come by to go fishing. We have lost some beloved fish babies in the past. We net the pond in a big dome net in the fall and winter, but we now realize it also needs protection in the summer and spring.
Finally, I posted a photo I took in the late winter, early spring of 2020, taken at Weitchpec the Yurok Tribal center. My friend Laura White Woods invited me to be her guest at the community's filming of an acorn mush traditional processing documentary. The drive up through that country was amazing, taking us far away from the populace through winding dirt roads into the mountains. It was an honor to be there. My community still holds gatherings in Sonoma County with acorn porridge public invites as well. But this was not for the public. Even in my homeland area, the particular acorns are not as available, or no longer there, or are on someone's private property. So, to see the land still close to what it could have been was humbling for me. My homeland is far removed from what I can envision what was. However, as we know, nothing stays the same. Regardless, I believe that if we can stay conscious of the reality of life and love it regardless, we can move with grace and wisdom through it all.
I pray that we all can hold on and nurture what we cherish and cultivate the spirit of relationship with our planet and so doing with each other. I believe we can adapt to Mother Earth in the changes that are unfolding.
Sometimes it's hard to fight the onslaught of fear and anger; we are only human. However, when we do, with intentions to be with the natural world and to be naturally ourselves, we change completely. In Dorothy Maclean's book "To Hear the Angels Sing,"* she shares what the devic spirit of the plant kingdom offers about love:
We simply live in love, like fish in water. You (humans) isolate love; you pick whom to love. Our realm is a sea of love, for our hearts beat to the greatest love of all, Love itself, and our energies go out to all worlds, as the rain falls on the just and the unjust. We could not blend our consciousness if our love were limited. One becomes one with what one loves; this is apparent everywhere. When you love God with all your heart, body, mind and soul, you become one with God and hence with all. When you love only your limited self, you are alone. We know no aloneness.
(page 159)
Blessings
Diveena
PS:* For those of you who are not familiar with Dorothy Maclean, she was one of the founders of Findhorn in Scotland. I was fortunate to visit the Findhorn community back in the very early 2000s. I had always acknowledged that the land and life are spiritual, and to go to a community that wasn't Native, that also enacts that, inspired and affirmed my convictions even stronger.
NOTE:
Raspberry Iced Tea - 4 to 6 servings (double for more)
Ingredients
- 4 cups water, divided
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 2 black tea bags (or 4 teaspoons loose-leaf black tea)
- Ice cubes
- Fresh raspberries and mint sprigs, for garnish (optional)
- Lemon slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of water and the raspberries.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Let it simmer for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the raspberries break down.
- Stir in the granulated sugar until completely dissolved. Continue to simmer for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the syrup to thicken slightly. Taste and adjust sweetness as needed.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Place a fine-mesh sieve over a heatproof bowl or jar. Pour the raspberry mixture through the sieve, pressing down on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the raspberry seeds and pulp.
- Let the raspberry syrup cool completely before using. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Bring the remaining 3 cups of water to a boil in a kettle or saucepan.
- Place the black tea bags (or loose leaf tea in a tea infuser) in a heatproof pitcher or large teapot. Pour the boiling water over the tea-bags.
- Let the tea steep for 3-5 minutes, depending on your preference.
- Remove the teabags (or tea infuser) from the pitcher.
- Allow the brewed tea to cool to room temperature. You can speed up the cooling process by placing the pitcher in the refrigerator for a while.
- Pour the cooled black tea into a large pitcher. Add the cooled raspberry syrup to the pitcher.
- Stir the tea and syrup together
- Fill the pitcher with ice cubes.
- Taste the iced tea and adjust the sweetness and raspberry flavor as needed. If it’s too strong, add more water. If it’s not sweet enough, add more raspberry syrup.
- Pour the raspberry iced tea into glasses filled with ice. Garnish with fresh raspberries, mint sprigs, and lemon slices, if desired.
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