"Many organic practices simply make sense, regardless of what overall agricultural system is used. Far from being a quaint throwback to an earlier time, organic agriculture is proving to be a serious contender in modern farming and a more environmentally sustainable system over the long term."
Here's my thinking: from the time I decided that my By Hand Project would focus around learning the principles of organic cooking, I could not have possibly grasped the immense scope that exists within the organic movement. I have been exposed to so many different ways of looking at how food and food production can be considered organic. Its really beyond belief!
I'm just thankful that our current class reading, Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life was assigned towards the end of the semester. It has really worked out in the best imaginable way as it has coincided with my Reflection Mode. Not only have I been able to reflect on my personal organic experience through my By Hand Project, reading this book has reaffirmed what is unique about organic farming. For example, unlike genetically modified foods, which were discussed in the text, which use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides as a means to enhance production of food sources. In actuality, there are many unintended and harmful consequences that can occur from these practices. Oppositely adherents to organic practices use tactics such as composting, green manure, as well as crop rotation which serve to provide a natural source of nutrients and fertilizer, while also protecting the agricultural fields from pathogens and pests. All of this is done in the organic movement to ensure that what is being grown is not only good for oneself but is also good for the environment.
This is just one way Reflection Mode has benefited me. It can probably help you too.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
We'll call it...Reflection Mode
Its officially that time of the semester once again. You know, when all of the work for all of your classes comes flying at you and hits you like nothing else. You feel overwhelmed as if no matter how much effort you put forth toward your studies, it still doesn't come close to the amount of time you'll actually need to get everything done. Currently, its hard to imagine many other situations that could be more stressful then experiencing the pressures connected to making your deadlines.
But oddly enough, the thing that always helps me when I feel stressed come this time of the semester is not to jump into my studies for as hard as I can and/or as long as I can. That will only exhaust me. Instead, just take some time to reflect on what has happened over the course of the semester. I am now officially in Reflection Mode. I take some time to figure out what has been easy for me and what has presented challenges. Also I try to recognize whatever techniques that best assisted me in preparedness for a particular class so that I reuse these methods next semester. But most importantly, as I work through the endless amounts of layering that is my school work, I constantly find myself asking the same question: What have I learned from this experience?
I'd like to think that from every class I've taken, I have received some sort of beneficial knowledge or useful advice that contributes to the expansion of my worldview. With Reflection Mode in full-swing, I am happy to report that there is no exception to this notion when it comes to my experience with the class, up to this point.
Here's my thinking: from the time I decided that my By Hand Project would focus around learning the principles of organic cooking, I could not have possibly grasped the immense scope that exists within the organic movement. I have been exposed to so many different ways of looking at how food and food production can be considered organic. Its really beyond belief!
I'm just thankful that our current class reading, Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life was assigned towards the end of the semester. It has really worked out in the best imaginable way as it has coincided with my Reflection Mode. Not only have I been able to reflect on my personal organic experience through my By Hand Project, reading this book has reaffirmed what is unique about organic farming. For example, unlike genetically modified foods, which were discussed in the text, which use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides as a means to enhance production of food sources. In actuality, there are many unintended and harmful consequences that can occur from these practices. Oppositely adherents to organic practices use tactics such as composting, green manure, as well as crop rotation which serve to provide a natural source of nutrients and fertilizer, while also protecting the agricultural fields from pathogens and pests. All of this is done in the organic movement to ensure that what is being grown is not only good for oneself but is also good for the environment.
This is just one way Reflection Mode has benefited me. It can probably help you too.
But oddly enough, the thing that always helps me when I feel stressed come this time of the semester is not to jump into my studies for as hard as I can and/or as long as I can. That will only exhaust me. Instead, just take some time to reflect on what has happened over the course of the semester. I am now officially in Reflection Mode. I take some time to figure out what has been easy for me and what has presented challenges. Also I try to recognize whatever techniques that best assisted me in preparedness for a particular class so that I reuse these methods next semester. But most importantly, as I work through the endless amounts of layering that is my school work, I constantly find myself asking the same question: What have I learned from this experience?
I'd like to think that from every class I've taken, I have received some sort of beneficial knowledge or useful advice that contributes to the expansion of my worldview. With Reflection Mode in full-swing, I am happy to report that there is no exception to this notion when it comes to my experience with the class, up to this point.
Here's my thinking: from the time I decided that my By Hand Project would focus around learning the principles of organic cooking, I could not have possibly grasped the immense scope that exists within the organic movement. I have been exposed to so many different ways of looking at how food and food production can be considered organic. Its really beyond belief!
I'm just thankful that our current class reading, Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life was assigned towards the end of the semester. It has really worked out in the best imaginable way as it has coincided with my Reflection Mode. Not only have I been able to reflect on my personal organic experience through my By Hand Project, reading this book has reaffirmed what is unique about organic farming. For example, unlike genetically modified foods, which were discussed in the text, which use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides as a means to enhance production of food sources. In actuality, there are many unintended and harmful consequences that can occur from these practices. Oppositely adherents to organic practices use tactics such as composting, green manure, as well as crop rotation which serve to provide a natural source of nutrients and fertilizer, while also protecting the agricultural fields from pathogens and pests. All of this is done in the organic movement to ensure that what is being grown is not only good for oneself but is also good for the environment.
This is just one way Reflection Mode has benefited me. It can probably help you too.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Crafting on the final days of Passover
For today's post to my By Hand blog I've crafted something that's in every Jewish kid's arsenal during Passover: Matzo Pizza.
Pictured above is all the ingredients I used:
- Matzo
- Dave's Gourmet, Organic Pasta Sauce
- Organic Valley Shredded Cheese, Mexican Blend
After splitting the two pieces of Matzo in half, I applied the pasta sauce.
Next, the shredded cheese is place on top of the sauce (pictured below).
The matzo pizza is placed in the oven (at 400°) for just a few minutes until the cheese starts to melt.
The end product is a tasty snack that I have mad at least six or seven times during this current Passover holiday.
The End Product:
Going back to my post from last week, I was very happy I could revert back to the original intention of this blog's purpose: to explore organic recipes while adding to my own personal cooking repertoire. This week I was able to introduce organic ingredients to a recipe I was already familiar with. I have to report that the ingredients made all the difference! In the past, when I have made Matza pizza with whatever I could find around my house, I have always ate my creation without any complaints. But to go out beforehand to Bloomingfoods and specifically purchase organic ingredients, I felt a certain and different sense of accomplishment when I created this dish throughout the week...not too mention the results tasted great! In the upcoming weeks, I look forward to creating more organic dishes.
Pictured above is all the ingredients I used:
- Matzo
- Dave's Gourmet, Organic Pasta Sauce
- Organic Valley Shredded Cheese, Mexican Blend
After splitting the two pieces of Matzo in half, I applied the pasta sauce.
Next, the shredded cheese is place on top of the sauce (pictured below).
The matzo pizza is placed in the oven (at 400°) for just a few minutes until the cheese starts to melt.
The end product is a tasty snack that I have mad at least six or seven times during this current Passover holiday.
The End Product:
Going back to my post from last week, I was very happy I could revert back to the original intention of this blog's purpose: to explore organic recipes while adding to my own personal cooking repertoire. This week I was able to introduce organic ingredients to a recipe I was already familiar with. I have to report that the ingredients made all the difference! In the past, when I have made Matza pizza with whatever I could find around my house, I have always ate my creation without any complaints. But to go out beforehand to Bloomingfoods and specifically purchase organic ingredients, I felt a certain and different sense of accomplishment when I created this dish throughout the week...not too mention the results tasted great! In the upcoming weeks, I look forward to creating more organic dishes.
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