Lean Times
This week, we been just too busy here at the urban homestead to have a “decent” breakfast. I know, I know – bad, bad, bad (but we can nibble on homegrown fruit inbetween chores and projects)
What’s with no breakfast anyway? Due to our cutting back on buying any unnecessary “staple” ingredients we have stopped making homemade granola. Yep, tis the end of the famous urban homestead granola days. Why? Too many ingredients involved (honey, oil, oats and when we, er, splurge nuts) We are simplying and cutting back and will opt for a cheaper breakfast – oatmeal with homegrown, homepreserves.
We are, as Farmer D says, “going into depression era mode” so it’s all about making our money and food stock go further.
Especially more so since this year our homegrown business (DerVaes Gardens) of 13 years took a bad hit this season. The stock market wasn’t the only thing that dipped. Our produce sales plummented because we didn’t have any (much) surplus to sell.
Normally we rely on a good summer harvest to bring in a decent income to get us through the lean fall and winter months. But with no summer bumper crop to bank on (thanks to the wacky weather), the lean times have started earlier this year.
So we are cutting back and out what little staples we do buy and seeing if we can stretch and save. It’s going to be a long winter and will be looking to our pioneer counterparts for ways to tighten our belts.
HG = Homegrown
SATURDAY
Breakfast – homemade pancakes (made with HG eggs) and homemade, HG strawberry sauce
Dinner – homemade organic flour tortillas with homemade spanish rice (HG tomatoes, peppers, green onions) topped with HG tomatoes, peppers, cilantro and organic cheese
SUNDAY
Lunch - leftovers from Saturday
Dinner – OUT, DINNER AT FRIENDS HOUSE
MONDAY
Lunch – HG creamed cow peas and sprouted bread toast
Dinner – HG green beans and HG vegetables (peppers, tomatoes, squash) and herbs (HG lemon thyme & chives) with CA organic rice
TUESDAY (Rosh hashanah)
Breakfast – homemade pancakes (made with HG eggs) and homemade, HG strawberry sauce
Dinner -homemade vegetarian lasagna
WEDNESDAY
Lunch – leftover lasagna with HG green beans
Dinner – leftover lasagna with HG and preserved dilly green beans
THURSDAY
Lunch – HG cow peas and CA organic rice
Dinner – homemade HG herb pizza crust with HG toppings (eggplant, basil, green onions, tomatoes, peppers and figs) with organic cheese
FRIDAY
Lunch – organic pasta with HG vegetables (squash, tomatoes, peppers)
Dinner – homemade tomato sauce (HG tomatoes, peppers, green onions, herbs) with organic whole wheat pasta topped with organic Parmesan cheese
Could you tell us more about Farmer D’s ‘depression era mode’??? I know that’s a vague question, but that really caught my attention. We’ll all be going into depression mode soon and I’m just wondering what approach y’all take???
I second that. It peaked my interest as well and would like to know a bit more of what your plan is.
Oh, and on a sidenote, I love what you’re doing and you kind of got me into gardening, chickens, crafting and whatnot. Thanks!
My mom who was born in 1916 talked many times about eating bean sandwiches as a teenager and young adult. It seems that all the people I have talked with who lived through very lean times depended on the garden, foraged food, dried beans, and some form of fat. The brain becomes dull form fat depletion.
It seems like the Dervaes garden contains at least one avocado tree. Avocado is an excellent source of fat which is readily usable by the body nourishing the brain. If various varieties could be planted to extend the season that would help.
Extra virgin olive oil is also a good source of plant based fat which I believe would be less expensive than dairy for those who do not have their own farm animals or cannot grow avocado trees. Also making sesame seed milk is much less expensive than buying animal milk, and is very delicious and nutritious.
Just some thoughts.
We’ve been cutting back on just about every extra goodie, from cable tv to even Netflix (ouch!)…and it does give one the time to preserve more foods, forage for more fruits and nuts etc, do more research and write more, etcc… but basic bills, still need to be paid…so I feel for y’all with your lousy summer production. Depression mode indeed, Farmer D….
Yes, nuts are expensive. We’re fortunate to have three walnut trees in our side yard, and I’m in the process of drying them for storage and much cracking soon. They are one of the best plant fats along with the almond and avacado…We all love them, and use them in so many ways…from salads, to pestos, to cookies, candies, etc…And since I can’t afford a cash donation to you all, How about a bag or two of some of my organic walnuts? I know they would be appreciated, and then you could make a little granola again!