Mrs. Wizard

I’m about to embark on my first science experiment since the 12 grade when I dissected a rabbit aptly named “Squirt” and used his innards as targets on a dart board.  Animal rights activist I am not.  Never squeamish about animals, I cannot bear violence between humans.  Could I actually hunt and kill my own food?  Probably.  I think I could.  And that’s where this little experiment is eventually heading, I can already tell. 

I am knee deep in Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.  All I can say is that this is propaganda at it’s best.  If you weren’t a gardener before, you will close out the book with a giant green thumb hanging from your hand.  Like it or not. 

I can’t help myself.  Already I planted a late summer garden of lettuce and chard.  Already I have spent all my week’s grocery money at the farmer’s market.  Yesterday I picked up eggplant, onions, five types of potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, beets, wax beans, red peppers, okra, and chili peppers.  Saturday I begin Canning 101.  We will can tomatoes, and pickle onions, cucumbers, okra, and beets.

I still ate a box of mac n cheese yesterday, so obviously I am not yet a total convert.  But what a magificent culinary world it would be if I could eat within a 100 mile radius of my house.   After canning, cheese making is next. 

 Wish me luck.