Reflections on the New Year
My Nana’s homemade pickles ranged from the lip puckering sour green tomatoes to the smoldering dilled cucumbers. And I could devour a half jar of her picked okra in an afternoon.
Those childhood memories of my paternal grandmother’s canning abilities inspired one of my “slow living” resolutions for 2009, to start preserving my own food.
To be honest, I only remember the artifacts of her efforts, not the process itself. Only until recently did I discover the various ways of pickling vegetables (or that beets, green beans and onions could be on the menu).
I suspect that many my age have no hands-on experience with canning, fermenting, dehydrating or even freezing. I grew up for the most part on 30-minute Hamburger Helper and the pop-a-top Del Monte green beans.
Now at age 27 – with a full-time job and screaming toddler – I want to learn the time-intensive process of making my own jars of tomato sauce and strawberry jelly? You better believe it. For me, 2009 is the year I take more responsibility for the food I eat, including growing it, preparing it and storing it.
That doesn’t mean I won’t work smart. I’m hoping to partner with some friends and neighbors to share equipment, knowledge and time. I’m already researching safety tips and recipes from institutions such as the National Center for Home Food Preservation and my local cooperative extension office.
My 2009 ambitions don’t stop at the dinner table. I also want to get outside more, preferably traveling by foot or bike.
Now, I’m not the most fit or committed bicycle rider. On my best day in the spring of 2007 I could ride about four blocks before braking to a clumsy stop and heaving out a relief. That’s when I started riding a bicycle again after a roughly 10-year hiatus.
I aim to be on the bike more next year, perhaps outfitting it with a panier and making a quick trip to the grocery store. Or using it to meet a friend for coffee at a nearby cafe.
I won’t overpromise: You won’t see me commuting to work on it anytime soon and I measure my progress in yards, not miles. But it’s a start, two years in the making. Some lower hanging fruit: A family camping or hiking trip. Brunch on the front porch on as many sunny afternoons as I can manage. Wave to passersby and appreciate nature in small, suburban batches.
What are your goals for 2009?
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