I hate to think of surviving on just whole wheat, beans and rice. That is why in my garden I have been adding some spices.
Often we think of spice as an exotic and difficult to grow product from the warm climate. It is true that many of the well know spices will not grow in the temperate zones. There are however many spices that grow well in the cooler places.
This year I have began experimenting with mustard. Mustard is an herb that is very easy to grow. Most varieties are heirloom and the seeds can be planted from season to season.
Despite what the bible indicates mustard is not grown on a tree. It is a low herb that grows a lot like lettuce. It is a warming green. By warming I mean the leaves are warm or hot to the taste. And not too surprising they taste a lot like mustard.
To grow mustard greens plant the seeds a few inches apart. I did mine 3 inches apart. the plants grew to about 12 inches high and produced a lot of leaves. They make a nice spicy addition to a green salad. They are a bit like water cress. I would not use them for the whole salad. They would be to hot. If you suffer from heart burn you may want to have your ant-acid on hand if you eat too much.
This plant also produces a second crop. When the weather turns hot (80 degrees Fahrenheit) the plants bolt quickly. This is not a problem. The flower stalks may grow over 36 inches. They have a lot of small yellow flowers on them. Bees pollinate the flowers that become seed pods that are about an inch or so long and about 1/16 inch wide. Let the pods stay on the pants until they begin to turn brown or yellow. Then pick them off and place them in a paper bag. If you leave the pods on the plant they will split open and the seeds will fly out in every direction. Let the seed pod dry in the bag. When they are dry shake the bag this will cause most of the pods to open. Any pods left unopened and be gently crushed in your fingers to free the seeds. Separate out the seeds. The seeds can be used for pickling or crushed and made into mustard. The mustard in a bit warmer than the yellow mustard in the store. It has a flavor more like Dijon mustard.
Be sure to save some of the seeds for the next years crop.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Big Brother is watching your Phone and our Online Activity!
Part 1
This past week it came out in the media that the government has been gathering information on everyone in the USA. By following Facebook picture posts ad checking who you call on your phone.
The government of the USA stated that this previously secret program was instigated to protect the people from terrorist attack.
First let me ask you some questions.
You really did not know the government was watching you? Tracking your life? Keeping a file about you? If you did not you must be one of the most naive people on the planet. Tracking people is easy.
Most of us however are too boring to track or even pay attention too. We live mundane lives of no real consequence to the global stage. The government will not be spending any resources watching us because in most peoples lives there is nothing to see. Watching people work, go home and then watch TV is not interesting to the Federal government.
The people who may need to worry about the governments ability to snoop are the ones who are doing the wrong things.
This brings us to a primary question of freedom. One of our most cherished rights. How do we define our freedom! What is its meaning. How do we go about being free?
When I was in high school an American history teacher discussed freedom and gave an American idea of freedom and a Communist idea of freedom. In the USA we at that time believed that we were free to do. The Communist nations were free from.
We in the USA could choose our own path in life. Free to work at the jobs we wanted. Free to live where we wanted. Free to marry who we wanted. Free to get higher education. Free to protect our homes. Free to own property. Free to have a private personal life. Free from government intervention. Free from unreasonable search.
The Soviet block nations were free from the responsibility of finding a job. Free from paying for health care. Free from hunger. Free from the cost of housing. Free from crime. Free from personal responsibility. Free to have the government examine your personal life. Free to be searched without cause.
Over the past few years I have seen a change in the mind set of the people of the USA. They are expecting much more from our government. The want to be free from the high cost of of health care. They want to be free from hunger. They want to be free from gun violence. They want to be free from terrorist attacks.They are willing to have themselves searched before getting on a plane. They say its OK to monitor phones and the Internet if it prevents a terrorist attack. It's OK to give up your guns it it could save one child.
How quickly we have changed from a people wanting to choose our own course in life. A people who took responsibility for our actions. To a people wanting to be taken care of, watched over, fed and protected by the government.
SO WHY ARE YOU COMPLAINING WHEN YOU FIND OUT THE GOVERNMENT IS WATCHING OVER YOU!!! If the government is going to take care of you they need to know what you need. To know what you need they will watch you. Then they can take care of you. Why is everyone so surprised. You have what you have been asking for.
Seriously do you think the government is concerned about you? They are not. They are only concerned about getting re-elected. They will do what people who donate to their campaign or vote want them to do.
PART 2
I can tell you who is concerned about you and who is watching you much more closely than the government ever has. People who have a vested interest in you, what you do and how you live.
It is Corporate America. Yes the big retail giants are watching you. Do you have any member cards? The one that gives you a discount every time you shop at their store? They are tracking you. They know what you like to eat, drink and sleep on. They keep a list of your favorites. They track all you do and when you will need something. How do I know? Have you ever gone shopping for your food and bought a multi-vitamin with 100 pills in it? Then in about 80 to 90 days latter received a coupon for a multi-vitamin? They track what you buy then send you a coupon for it when you are about to run out. Then you will come back into their store to buy it. That can form a habit of shopping there. All this is not that bad, they are watching over you, helping you and saving you money. Did you check to see if the coupon was for a more expensive item? A brand name vitamin? They are slick and know how to separate you from your money.
The people watching your every move, who know what you buy, what you eat, your choice of entertainment, your shoe size and when your car needs its oil changed is not the government. It is Corporate America. So when the government has a reason to look closely at you they do not expend their resources. They simply call your credit card company, your phone company, check your Facebook, your bank and local supermarket. They have so much information about what you have been up to.
Get use to the idea you are being watched and so is every one else. Try to keep it interesting the government is getting bored.
This past week it came out in the media that the government has been gathering information on everyone in the USA. By following Facebook picture posts ad checking who you call on your phone.
The government of the USA stated that this previously secret program was instigated to protect the people from terrorist attack.
First let me ask you some questions.
You really did not know the government was watching you? Tracking your life? Keeping a file about you? If you did not you must be one of the most naive people on the planet. Tracking people is easy.
Most of us however are too boring to track or even pay attention too. We live mundane lives of no real consequence to the global stage. The government will not be spending any resources watching us because in most peoples lives there is nothing to see. Watching people work, go home and then watch TV is not interesting to the Federal government.
The people who may need to worry about the governments ability to snoop are the ones who are doing the wrong things.
This brings us to a primary question of freedom. One of our most cherished rights. How do we define our freedom! What is its meaning. How do we go about being free?
When I was in high school an American history teacher discussed freedom and gave an American idea of freedom and a Communist idea of freedom. In the USA we at that time believed that we were free to do. The Communist nations were free from.
We in the USA could choose our own path in life. Free to work at the jobs we wanted. Free to live where we wanted. Free to marry who we wanted. Free to get higher education. Free to protect our homes. Free to own property. Free to have a private personal life. Free from government intervention. Free from unreasonable search.
The Soviet block nations were free from the responsibility of finding a job. Free from paying for health care. Free from hunger. Free from the cost of housing. Free from crime. Free from personal responsibility. Free to have the government examine your personal life. Free to be searched without cause.
Over the past few years I have seen a change in the mind set of the people of the USA. They are expecting much more from our government. The want to be free from the high cost of of health care. They want to be free from hunger. They want to be free from gun violence. They want to be free from terrorist attacks.They are willing to have themselves searched before getting on a plane. They say its OK to monitor phones and the Internet if it prevents a terrorist attack. It's OK to give up your guns it it could save one child.
How quickly we have changed from a people wanting to choose our own course in life. A people who took responsibility for our actions. To a people wanting to be taken care of, watched over, fed and protected by the government.
SO WHY ARE YOU COMPLAINING WHEN YOU FIND OUT THE GOVERNMENT IS WATCHING OVER YOU!!! If the government is going to take care of you they need to know what you need. To know what you need they will watch you. Then they can take care of you. Why is everyone so surprised. You have what you have been asking for.
Seriously do you think the government is concerned about you? They are not. They are only concerned about getting re-elected. They will do what people who donate to their campaign or vote want them to do.
PART 2
I can tell you who is concerned about you and who is watching you much more closely than the government ever has. People who have a vested interest in you, what you do and how you live.
It is Corporate America. Yes the big retail giants are watching you. Do you have any member cards? The one that gives you a discount every time you shop at their store? They are tracking you. They know what you like to eat, drink and sleep on. They keep a list of your favorites. They track all you do and when you will need something. How do I know? Have you ever gone shopping for your food and bought a multi-vitamin with 100 pills in it? Then in about 80 to 90 days latter received a coupon for a multi-vitamin? They track what you buy then send you a coupon for it when you are about to run out. Then you will come back into their store to buy it. That can form a habit of shopping there. All this is not that bad, they are watching over you, helping you and saving you money. Did you check to see if the coupon was for a more expensive item? A brand name vitamin? They are slick and know how to separate you from your money.
The people watching your every move, who know what you buy, what you eat, your choice of entertainment, your shoe size and when your car needs its oil changed is not the government. It is Corporate America. So when the government has a reason to look closely at you they do not expend their resources. They simply call your credit card company, your phone company, check your Facebook, your bank and local supermarket. They have so much information about what you have been up to.
Get use to the idea you are being watched and so is every one else. Try to keep it interesting the government is getting bored.
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