Author Archives: Ann Lovejoy

Simply Splendid Sourdough

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Ann Lovejoy

The right flours can make a major difference to the quality of your bread. For a light but chewy loaf with a good crust, mix wet starter with high gluten/high protein bread flour, preferably at least 11% protein; the closer to 13% the better. You can also use part bread flour and part whole wheat or rye flour for a different flavor and texture. For especially good texture, add a couple tablespoons per loaf of gluten flour (vital gluten), a trick that makes many artisan yeast breads outstanding. Gluten flour runs as high as 70-80% protein, so just a little makes a big difference to bread texture and rise. It’s especially valuable for rye bread (yeast or sourdough), helping fragile rye flour capture and hold yeast gasses, which gives the heavy dough much better rise. Continue reading →

Posted in Health & Wellbeing, Nutrition, Recipes, Sustainable Living | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Great Pause

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Ann Lovejoy

Obviously we CAN stop, because we just did. But now what? It’s my deepest hope that we don’t try to return to business as usual, and I’m pretty sure that will prove impossible anyway. Instead, we seriously need to find new ways to live and work. Today I was moved to tears (yes, again) to learn that the governors of Washington, Oregon and California announced a Western States Pact, a plan to carefully restart our shared economies, putting the health and wellbeing of all our people first. The plan is based on science-based information, in vivid contrast to the amorphous national strategies of confusion, confustication and bebotherment. Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Health & Wellbeing, Sustainable Living | Tagged | 5 Comments

Keeping In Touch Without Touching

Posted on April 6, 2020 by Ann Lovejoy

If you can’t dye Easter eggs, try sheep…natural dyes of course A Flurry Of Flower Fairies Today Washington State Governor Jay Inslee announced that schools will remain closed until September. A lot of other institutions and businesses will remain closed … Continue reading →

Posted in Health & Wellbeing, Natural Dyes, Planting & Transplanting, Sustainable Gardening, Sustainable Living, Teaching Gardening | 7 Comments

Overcoming Fear Of Food

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Ann Lovejoy

For now, if you find yourself slipping into food fear (or any other kind, really), put down your device, go outside and plant some greens. Really. You’ll feel better almost immediately and you’ll certainly eat better with lots of fresh greens on hand that don’t need any more decontamination than a swish in cool water and a quick spin dry. Fortunately, nurseries that grow and sell edible plants have been recognized as essential (well duh) so plants and starts are still available. Some nurseries are offering free local delivery, others are letting people call in and pay for orders, then drive through the parking lot for pick up. Take advantage of local options for everyone’s sake (we may save an industry as well as our sanity). Continue reading →

Posted in Care & Feeding, Early Crops, Health & Wellbeing, Planting & Transplanting, Sustainable Gardening, Sustainable Living | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments