Lehman's Country Life

Year after year, surveys invariably discover that the Number One Favorite Veg of America’s backyard gardeners is the tomato, in any of its diverse forms – and often as not, in more than one of them. Why? It’s not just the pleasure (or even the economy) of being able to “do it yourself.” The reason is quality of flavor.

You don’t have to be an epicure to tell, in a single bite, the difference between a store-bought tom and a home-grown one. It’s hardly surprising why. Your typical commercial tomato begins life many hundreds of miles away from you –sometimes thousands of miles!— and has to endure picking, cleaning, grading, inspecting, packing, shipping, unpacking, and then being displayed…before it ever gets to your shopping cart, let alone your dinner table. The goal of the commercial tomato grower is to produce a fruit that looks good after the above ordeal, one that looks so good you’ll want to pay money for it. What it tastes like isn’t an issue, at the produce stand.

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This year, choose a family tree!

Take a walk in the woods and get to know the different types of trees. In a fairly short space of time you will find yourself admiring the beauty of one particular species. This may well become your own family’s ‘chieftain’ or clan totem tree. Take a stroll and see if a tree decides to share its totemic power.

By planting a tree you also help mop up that CO2!

St. Patrick’s Day in the USA may be too cold to plant your potatoes as they traditionally do.  But it may be possible to plant a tree depending upon where you live in the United States. Arbor Day is traditionally the last Friday in April but many states, like Florida, Louisiana and Hawaii, celebrate Arbor Day earlier. Maine and Alaska have to wait until May though!
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Since my last post featured one of my dad’s signature recipes, I thought I would share one of my mom’s this time. There’s almost nothing that sticks with you better for breakfast than a bowl of  granola. This is an easy recipe and makes a crunchy, hearty, not-too-sweet breakfast treat. It’s delicious with milk or yogurt, by itself or with other cereal.  I like to sprinkle it liberally on my bowl of Cheerios. Try it – I bet you’ll love it!
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Late winter is usually  a time when I gaze around the rooms of my home and notice how DUSTY everything has gotten. It’s been several weeks since the Christmas decorations were put away, and the obligatory cleaning done after. Although I dutifully clean the house each week (did I say week? I meant, er, month), it seems the dust piles up so quickly this time of year, when everyone is cooped up inside, the windows can’t be opened due to the cold and the pale winter sun shines in at odd angles, making tiny dust particles dance in the light whenever something is moved.
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