Set aside any doubt that heirloom crops and heritage breeds embody unique properties. This year I raised a Bronz/Naragensett turkey cross. I typically acquire my turkeys in August and they are never ready by November. They grow slower and take until Springtime. However, this year we did indeed have a Thanksgiving turkey weighing in at ~ 12lbs. Interestingly, the turkey had bigger pockets of fat than I have ever seen before. Their diet has been a bit different. Its been a high protein mix with layer feed and supplemental greens. This is the first year I mixed the layer feed in. The result was a roast turkey with the most intense and rich flavor I have ever had before. Amazing.

Preserving the diversity of our dwindling varieties of crops and domestic breeds, got me thinking. We’ve all heard how our food variety is diminished since industrialization of the food system. However, it can be hard to visualize such a large scale impact. National Geogrpahic has done just this with the below. Check it out folks.

Grody but pragmatic. It is necessary to know what normal and abnormal waste looks like from your birds. To this end, the Poultry Page Forum has created an online guide to poultry feces. Great job PPF! You can view what they have created thus far but be forewarned, its not pretty. Read more…

In some of my dabbling into pop culture, I keep up with the show Top Chef. I love the creativity and competition. The new season launched and I am compelled by the fact that its in Dipak’s home state, the big T (that would be “Texas” folks). I was thrilled by the opening competition that featured none other than rabbit! I am also thrilled by their Mexicano contestant Chuy Valencia!! What up dude?! He grew up in Sonoma amidst his family growing and raising their own food. He talks about it fondly when interviewed. Naturally this is a language I understand so I fawn over his stories (as I am doing right now).

Already in the competition he has whipped up some inspired dishes, such as an adobo-rubbed rabbit in cashew pipian with grilled zucchini, topped with cilantro and cotija.

Adobo Seasoned Rattlesnake with Pasilla Balsamic BBQ Sauce.

Braised Goat Birria, Cabbage, Red Peanut Salsa, and Handmade Queso Fresco.

Needless to say, I am looking forward to observing what else he cooks up.

Actually, to be accurate, these remedies may or may not be of Mexican origin. I never know if something from my family is Mexican or from another source- like our chicken soup. Only Mexican households really make a soup with the same flavors (like Caldo Tlalpeno) but is it from Mexico Mexico or is it a U.S. Mexico interpretation? That said, family recently shared stories of home remedies they recalled from childhood. Now, I know there are likely several authoritative texts on such matters, but nothing I read would be as poignant as the stories passed down directly to me.*

Aloe vera: Topically applied or use in tea to boost immunity, to heal abrasions and burns and to cure stomach ailments.

Estafiate: This is used in a tea for digestive problems like diarrhea, intestinal infections and parasites. They did not know the English word for this herb but I think it is Wormwood. If that’s the case, it needs to be used with caution.

Epazote: My Tia said they cooked with this in beans to reduce gas. While cooking with Epazote is fine. I have also heard that higher concentrations can lead to liver toxicity.

Ginger root: Tea used for yeast infection

Lemon grass: Used in tea for indigestion.

Ruda: Used for earaches but they did not say how.

Spiderwebs: Used to staunch bleeding on cuts and abrasions. They said to swab it onto the cuts.

Thyme: 1tsp in hot water for bladder infection.

Vinegar: Dilute ~couple teaspoons with water and drink to deter mosquitoes.

* I verify stories on medicinal preparations with credible sources before using on myself or others.

The apples were languishing on the branches. The figs being stolen and half eaten. It has started to get chaotic. With a more aggressive schedule, how do I keep up? My approach is to do frequent walk throughs and take small steps each day to keep the space in balance. Though I  let go of the reigns with the apples and figs. They just all came in at once. So I did what I could. I schlepped the ladder from its storage place and set it up, left it there overnight and with the threat of rain and being barked at by the hubby for leaving the ladder out in the rain, I was motivated to strip the tree of apples and grab the figs while I was at it. Now to deal with 23lbs of apples and 5lbs of figs. I need great fig jam and chutney recipes. Anyone?

A toolkit providing a framework and model language for land use policies that local policymakers can tailor to promote and sustain urban agriculture in their communities (click on image to download pdf).

Uh. I just got busy. Really busy. I’ve been mentioning on and off for years, the work of the Oakland Food Policy Council (OFPC). I have had high hopes for this advisory body. In fact, I have had high hopes in general for the ability of the city of Oakland to be a national leader in developing alternative food systems and creative food entrepreneurship.  Putting my beliefs into action, I have now taken on the role of Coordinator for the Oakland Food Policy Council.

This is a fascinating development in the “urban farm experience” as it is taking my action out of my backyard and into my city and beyond. OFPC is being incubated by Food First, an inspiring, highly credible and deeply informed think tank on global food justice. I am now surrounded by motivated thinkers schooled on social theory. Love it.

What’s going on at the farm: The rain came and yet again I did not prepare by digging a drainage ditch in the chicken run, damn it. Also, I just decided that I’ll never actually make time to tan my rabbit pelts so I just started doing it. They are defrosting now. Following Kitty’s lead, I will follow the steps of the Mother Earth News article on the topic. Or more likely, text Kitty constantly to find out what to do next. Thank god we urban farmer folks are now connect via text! This could not have happened a year ago.

Upcoming posts: Kate Marie, I am going to follow up with the Mexican Herbal Remedies you asked about. I’ll also post about the tanning process once I’ve completed it.

Big success with the occupy food justice gathering, and with Occupy Oakland in general. The marchers shut down the port. There were many clever stagings. One is pictured below. Another was a group of folks bringing furniture into Chase bank to move in since their house had been foreclosed. This needs to be a national action. So good!

Stop the corporate abuse of our food system. Take control of your own food now. Come out to Occupy Oakland to support the General Strike and learn how we can take back control of our food, land and resources. Bay Area activists will share information about understanding the corporate food system, and how to build community-based alternatives. The Teach-In will include a permaculture demonstration and share healthy, locally-produced food. There will be a FOOD JUSTICE TEACH-IN TODAY, WED 11/2 at Frank Ogawa Plaza from 2-5pm.

Get to know the community of folks working hard toward a just and healthy food system. Find out what you can do.