farmer’s market |

3 Comments September 30, 2013 nourishinggrace

This time of year is all about preserving the freshness and bounty of the season… and that usually requires me to act fast, you know what I mean? There comes a week, during the peak harvest, when the farmer’s market surplus of tomatoes reduces their cost to $15 dollars for a 30 pound box – at least around here! Tomatoes for 50 cents a pound! It’s an irresistible sight I both long for and dread. With so many tomatoes, one needs to act quickly or they will go bad – let them sit even overnight and you are guaranteed to loose a few to the compost.

So the season of harvest has me re-thinking our methods of preserving. As a mom and student of holistic nutrition, I want foods teaming with life and nourishment for my very vibrant family. A few years ago I learned about a different method of preservation… fermentation.

Unfamiliar with fermenation?

The art of fermentation is as old as humanity, but one that has largely disappeared from our western diets. Fermentation is fairly simple because it preserves without the use of hot water baths and pressure cookers. Conventional canning methods kill all bacteria; whereas fermentation is actually a cooperation with the bacteria (germs!) that are naturally available on the environment of the produce. In fermentation, the naturally present bacteria feed on the sugar and starch in the food which creates lactic acid and that preserves the food, while also creating beneficial enzymes, b-vitamins, short-chain fatty acids, and various strains of probiotics.

Fermentation not only preserves produce, but also transforms ingredients into a more digestible state and creates more nutrition than it’s original vitamin content.

These foods nourish us deeply because through fermentation, nutrients become more absorbable – pregested like the lactase in yogurt which has been broken down and is why those with lactose intolerance may be able to handle yogurt or aged cheeses.
Ferments are laden with probiotics -which have numerous health benefits. Historically, people would get a large portion of the healthy bacteria necessary for their digestive systems in the form of fermented foods. Studies show that these good bacteria- probiotics are integral and critical to good health. Our modern food industry, instead, has left us as a generation that turns to supplements to re-innoculate our digestive tract. Yet with a traditional ferment, each morsel of can provide trillion of beneficial bacteria- far more that you can get from a probiotics supplements. (Mercola) That’s pretty amazing!

Through the fermentation process, many foods accumulate increased levels of B vitamins, including thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2) and niacin (B3) as compared with the nutrition of the raw ingredients prior to fermentation.

In a nourishing sense, fermentation is a virtue!

The finished product – through the slowness of time and the inner-working of a microbial community becomes greater than it’s original constituent ingredients. And, it lasts! It’s true to say that ferments and the art of nourishment requires patience and time and nurturing.

In our day, that is a choice, one that more and more of us gladly make – for the very word nourish means to feed or cherish, to preserve, look after or suckle. In that sense, nourishment means relationship… one involving care and love.

Fermented products can be an acquired taste, but some well known examples of fermentation include sauerkraut, kimchee and brined pickles.
Ready to give ferments a try? A great introduction to fermented foods is a fermented salsa that a friend shared with us. It is delicious and a family favorite – even with the kids! For a small batch, you’ll need:

3 lbs of fresh tomatoes – chopped – do not discard the juice
1 bunch of cilantro or basil (our cilantro has died out, so we are using fresh basil)
1 small onion (about 3/4-1 cup)
3 tablespoons sea salt
1 head garlic – peeled and chopped finely
Optional – 1 jalapeño chopped – with or without seeds depending on your tastes
1 lime – I try to use only local ingredients in my ferments – so I usually skip this
2-3 clean mason jars
Clean bowl and spoon.
All your utensils, cutting boards and bowls should be clean. It is not necessary to sterilize them.

Rinse tomatoes and wash your hands.

Chop ingredients to the salsa consistency you prefer. It is not necessary to discard the juice as this becomes our brining liquid. Mix all ingredients well in bowl.

Spoon into jars and either with a wooden spoon or your clean hands press the salsa below the liquid.
Seal tight and leave out of direct sunlight on the kitchen counter for 3-5 days.

Open the jars periodically as this will release some of the gases and also make sure to continue pressing your salsa below the brine line if necessary. Frequent tasting – once the ferment has reached the taste consistency you love, enjoy some and then move it to the refridgerator. The cooler temperature there slows down the fermentation process.

A taste of this salsa in winter will unleash the vibrant delicious flavors of summer! It can be enjoyed with your favorite organic chips, with scrambled eggs, on a taco or anywhere that you normally would enjoy it. One word of caution that I offer… if this is your very first ferment or your diet is generally spartan of probiotic rich foods, please start out with just a tablespoon per day for about a week to build up your internal probiotic community slowly.

Fermentation is making a niche comeback and one that has been recognized by culinary mega-giants like Williams Sonoma which now sells vessels for fermenting. This is great news!

Leave a comment September 30, 2013 nourishinggrace

While it’s true that it can be a challenge to eat seasonally, it is also a culinary delight rich in freshness, nutritional value and a renewing connection to one another and our land. Real food is seasonal food and seasonal food is real. There is something absolutely fabulous about waiting all summer for the tender sweetness of a ripe fig fresh off the tree – or – the delicious juicy sweet crunch of a local apple in Fall.

Seasonal and local food is good nutritional economy – more vitamins and minerals for the dollar. Locally produced calories are also support local business in your area. While local foods may or may not be “certified” organic, the pleasure of the downright neighborliness of getting to know your local producers is one step in getting more involved with your food and local growers – the priceless act of reconnecting with our communities and building strong local bonds.

There are several key reasons to focus on a seasonal and local diet.

[box]diet the nutrient density of local foods : There is a direct correlation in foods harvested at the peak of ripeness and that foods nutrition profile, freshness and taste. Most foods begin to loose nutrients immediately upon harvest, so the earlier food is harvested and the farther it is transported the lesser it’s nutrition profile. Fresh foods are alive and flourishing with nutrients and this is vital to our physical health.

taste matters : Just compare the flavor a color of a warm juicy tomato from your farmer’s market in July to one from your big chain grocery store. say no to gmo : Small farmers can focus on local and heirloom varieties of produce which reduces your exposure to genetically modified foods.

variety is the spice of life : From summer squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, peaches and beans to fall apples, corn, pumpkins, acorn squashes and into winter cabbages, beets, kales, radishes and leeks, you’ll enjoy the full spectrum of foods your area produces. To find what’s local in your town visit http://www.localharvest.org

environmental benefits : Local seasonal foods lend to reduced pollution as well as transportation costs. Lower transportation costs translates to lower food costs – it’s just less expensive in the big picture to eat the locally abundant food available and to support the local farmers in our communities.

investing in your community and investing in yourself : Hipoocrates once said, “Let thy food be thy medicine and let thy medicine be thy food.“ Along with that goes eating a seasonally based diet with lots of variety throughout the year. This is the “cornerstone of preventive medicine,” says Preston Maring, a doctor at Kaiser Permanente’s Oakland Medical Center in California. Inspired by study after study documenting the benefits of eating an in-season, plant-focused diet—reduced risks of cancer and heart disease, increased longevity, improved cholesterol, improved vascular health, increased bone density and weight loss, to name a few—Maring has actually written prescriptions for patients to buy fresh food from the hospital’s on-site farmers’ market, complete with suggestions about how they can prepare it.” (Mother Earth Living) [/box]

There can be, however, challenges to local eating. For many people – especially those working long hours or otherwise pressed for time, availability is key, and eating local can present hurdles, especially in areas with a long cold winter.

Many farmers markets close beginning in late October or November, so it takes some rooting around to locate the best sources to shop in winter. However, now farm CSAs with local drop off points and even home delivery are becoming more accessible and prevalent. Persistence and a desire to make this wonderful lifestyle change is really the key. Also, a willingness to try new, perhaps unfamiliar ingredients is a plus. My recommendation is always to take the plunge and go local, seasonal and organic – just a little bit at a time.

Despite the challenges, as you learn what’s available, you’ll become more comfortable planning for your regional food cycle. You’ll develop a seasonal eating rhythm that is more nutritious, healthy and very enjoyable!