Explorations in Just Living
About this blog
Welcome to the blog of the Enough for Everyone program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). By "just living" we mean both justice-based living and just simply living – freeing ourselves from the clutter of stuff so we can focus on living faithfully and living well. Join us in the exploration!
About the Author
Bryce Wiebe coordinates Enough for Everyone, a ministry of the Presbyterian Hunger Program. He loves slow food and is fascinated by the way things are made. He is excited to dive into experiments in simplicity with you. His sacred cow of consumption: kitchen gadgets.
Recent posts
- Songs of Justice: Magnificant
- Thanksgiving invitation and Children's sermon
- Children's Sermon for Food Week of Action
- A Cycling Meditation
- Bryce Bikes: update!!
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- Discipleship (23)
- Witness (19)
- Stewardship (17)
- Mission (15)
- Justice (14)
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Garden delights
If you've ever delighted in growing something (a houseplant, an herb on the windowsill, a small potato cutting in elementary school), you know the joy I experienced last summer in my first foray as a vegetable gardener.
I had been thinking about gardening for some time, as a way of getting to know my food better and simplifying some of the production and transportation chains on which I rely for food. I have patroned farmers' markets and CSAs for a number of summers, and the prospect of starting to grow some of those delights myself was at once overwhelming and exciting. Last year was the year. I began growing vegetables and herbs, and I fell in love. The hard work, the tasty rewards, the satisfaction of a job well done, the intricate puzzle of where to place what (my garden space is my small side yard in an urban neighborhood)--I love it all.
So it was that months ago, deep in the heart of winter, I was already dreaming about this year's garden and what I would grow. Basil, the simple little herb basil, is one of my favorite summer treats. Fresh from the garden or the farmer’s market, I have always loved pairing it with tomatoes, a little cheese (mozzarella or parmesan) and some freshly ground pepper.
This year I have not one, not two, not three, but four basil plants, and aside from plucking a leaf or two here and there for eggs or salad, this past Sunday was my first actual harvesting of the basil. It has been doing well lately, the strong tall plants producing huge, bright leaves and a heavenly aroma. So when it came time last weekend to decide what to make for a potluck I was attending, fresh basil pesto was the obvious choice. I used a recipe from the New Moosewood Cookbook which contains the following ingredients:
3 cups basil leaves, packed
4 cloves garlic
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/3 cup parmesan, grated
Salt and pepper to taste
The pesto turned out nicely. The process did as well. In cooking, I have found that as much as the final result itself, I thoroughly enjoy the process of assembling ingredients and cooking itself. And, like the challenge of gardening, I love the challenge of sourcing my ingredients as responsibly as possible. For this batch I was able to use my own home-grown basil, garlic from a farmer friend that I patron regularly at the nearby farmers' market, olive oil from a Palestinian fair trade cooperative and organic pine nuts from the bulk bins at a small independent grocer.
What are some of your favorite summer treats? Do any of your ingredients come from favorite sources?
- Posted at 9:16 p.m.
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