Celebrate “culture” in agriculture & share skills like growing, cooking, canning

Meet Your Neighbors: Desiree

There’s nothing like a good kick in the pants to send us into the weekend inspired. This morning, we chatted with Desiree, a nature lover and 100 percent HOMEGROWN gal from Branson, Missouri. Desiree’s whole-hearted commitment to taking care of the world—and her own body, mind, and spirit—was a good reminder of just how interconnected our health is with that of our environment. For more from Desiree, check out her blog and her Etsy shop. While you’re doing that, we’ll put a kettle on for tea—and maybe add a drop of that shiitake tincture. To your health, Desiree, and to yours, HOMEGROWN!

One important note: The conversation begins with the comment that shows up last, now on page two, so you’ll need to read from the end up. Hey, it’s a little like farming: What’s down low in the soil is crucial to all of the good stuff that comes later. And thanks so much for the chat, Desiree. Really good to know you.

What is Meet Your Neighbors? Most of us spend a fair amount of time tending our online gardens, but it’s easy to forget there’s a real person behind every quiche recipe, chicken inquiry, and hoophouse design here on HOMEGROWN. Well, nuts to that! MYN gives us a chance to meet over the back fence and shake hands. (Or maybe hug? We’re huggers. But no pressure.)

View Full Size

Tags:
Albums: Meet Your Neighbors

Comment

You need to be a member of HOMEGROWN to add comments!

Join HOMEGROWN

Comment by Shannon Chandler on February 6, 2013 at 6:22pm: Hello, just wondering if I could get some tips for my daughter and i on raising goats, milking and even making cheese with the milk.....thanks

Comment by Desiree on February 1, 2013 at 11:48am: Collaboration with HOMEGROWN would be fabulous! We must talk more about that very soon!! :)

As for dinner tonight... I'm thawing out some pork bones from a pig that my boyfriend and I had the liberty of butchering ourselves on a local farm recently. I like to pressure cook bones with a splash of vinegar, carrots, celery, onions, and a whole lot of spices in about a gallon of water for several hours to make a rich bone broth. Then I'll use about 1 part broth to 1 part water and make a soup from it. Tonight I think a bean soup is in order!

Comment by HOMEGROWN.org on February 1, 2013 at 11:40am: I don't know what's more impressive: your energy and motivation or all of the work that Homegrown Missouri is doing. I guess they're one in the same, in that they feed each other and keep each other going. I see collaboration ahead for HOMEGROWN and Homegrown Missouri(!), and I hope other HOMEGROWN members find inspiration from you for ways to make their own communities the kind of places they want to live. OK. Last question: What are you having for dinner tonight? And thanks again, so much, for taking the time to chat.

Comment by Desiree on February 1, 2013 at 11:34am: You are so sweet! It was fate for me to find HOMEGROWN.org and it's hard to believe that it only just happened a few days ago... I'm so glad to be here and grateful for all the fabulous information compiled here!

Homegrown Missouri is an activist group here in southern Missouri whose mission statement is this "Local Food. Local Economy. Building Community." We are growing the food movement locally and we hope to influence things on a state and even national level in the coming year. We hold meetings and workshops on a monthly basis and cover topics like how to ferment sauerkraut and how to make kombucha. We had a guest speaker talk about the importance of enzymes and Dr. Michael Ryce (a local naturopath and holistic healer) shared lots of fabulous information about the importance of our state of mind and positive thinking. We recently had a seed exchange and we will be doing a big tree giveaway of 500 native fruit and nut bearing trees on April 20th. We are also working on one community garden and will soon start working on a couple more in the area. In about a month or so, several of us will be volunteering our time to help several people set up gardens at their homes. We really try to spread our message in any way that we can! We also talked to our favorite local coffee shop about having a farmers market in their courtyard this spring and they are so excited about it! It's absolutely fabulous to be part of such a group in this area because to be honest, many folks around here are very closed minded and live a very "standard american lifestyle". The nearest farmers market for most of the year is 30 miles from where I live, but that will be changing soon! You can check out our website that I'm currently working on updating at www.homegrownmissouri.org

Comment by HOMEGROWN.org on February 1, 2013 at 11:22am: I have to say, in our chat here today and with the little bit of corresponding we've done back and forth, you radiate that positive energy—and have such a knack for sharing it with the world! We're lucky to know you. But back to business: I'm guessing some of your eating habits and interest in a more traditional way of life overlap with the group you mentioned earlier, Homegrown Missouri. Could you tell us a bit more about what that organization does and how you're involved with it?

Comment by Desiree on February 1, 2013 at 11:17am: I would have to say that what inspired me to eat healthy was my love for animals growing up. When I was 14 years old I stopped eating meat because I learned about the treacherous conditions that animals on factory farms are put through. Growing up in Texas, I saw those farms firsthand and it brought me to tears because I just felt helpless and so sad for them! Over the next 9 years I was vegetarian and constantly learning more about the state of our food system. I'm no longer a veggie these days. I have realized the importance of eating meat for my wellness and I now have the belief that plants are just as alive as animals and can also feel stress and perhaps even sadness... but that's a whole other story.

I have found the simplest method of living a healthy, vibrant life is to return to a more traditional way of life. To learn from our ancestors. My ancestors are german and french and spent lots of time outside growing vegetables, herbs, and collecting wild plants. They raised animals for meat, dairy, and eggs. They also fermented lots of foods! Living healthfully is about getting back to our roots! A relationship with nature and our food supply is absolutely vital. I think it is also very important to eat fermented foods to keep our guts strong and healthy so that we can properly digest our food. Another very important aspect of well-being is to listen to yourself. Take time to really feel what your body is telling you and remember what makes you feel good and what makes you feel bad. It's not just food... everything in our life effects us in some way so it's best to surround ourselves with positivity. I find that we always get what we give, so be positive and share your love with the world and that is what you will receive!

Comment by HOMEGROWN.org on February 1, 2013 at 10:57am: You mention Homegrown Missouri, and I want to come back to that in a minute, but first, I love this: "Diet and lifestyle changes are first and foremost." Well said! What first got you interested in living healthfully? Or has that always been a part of your life? And what does living healthfully and taking care of your body mean to you?

Comment by Desiree on February 1, 2013 at 10:52am: We pick up spent coffee grounds from a local coffee shop weekly for our Homegrown Missouri community garden. Almost any coffee shop or breakfast restaurant will save their coffee grounds if you ask them too and they are wonderful to mix into soil or add to the compost!

I don't know if I would call myself an herbal pro, but I am working on it! I have been studying herbs at various farms and in the wild in different regions around the country for the past 5 years. Our bodies have the super power of healing itself of nearly anything and herbs can play a huge role in that gift. I feel like diet and lifestyle changes are first and foremost, and herbs can be a vital aid.

Brewing tinctures is so much fun! The Chinese have been using shiitake mushrooms medicinally for many different ailments for the past 6,000 years. They are very high in vitamins and act as an immune booster so shiitake are very good for general well-being. They have anti-viral properties so many people use them to treat colds, flu, etc. They have also been used to treat cancer, diabetes, and even HIV!

Cayenne stimulates circulation to and from the heart and has actually effectively remedied many heart attacks! If you're having a heart attack, grab the cayenne pepper! It can stop a heart attack within SECONDS of consuming it! Very powerful stuff.

Comment by HOMEGROWN.org on February 1, 2013 at 10:35am: Ah! What a good use for coffee grounds—and a good excuse to drink a cup every once in a while, although you make a very convincing case for tea! And speaking of herbs, sounds like you're a pro. You're make your own tinctures, right? We heard something about a shiitake mushroom tincture and a cayenne version. Can you tell us a little about what those are for?

Comment by Desiree on February 1, 2013 at 10:32am: I much prefer to drink a cup of tea on most mornings, and throughout the day too! It is absolutely amazing to me the infinite healing properties of herbs. Did you know that the seed of the milk thistle plant (a so-called weed) has the gift of actually repairing the liver by growing new cells? Amazing! Coffee has it's wonderful properties too, but on most days it's just a little too much for me. :) My garden LOVES spent coffee grounds!