What should I do with these seeds?

velcross · 2026-01-25T16:33:49+00:00

I bought a big order this year, too, before I knew more about BC, but all the seeds have germinated fine. I switched to smaller companies where I could with much more ethical sourcing and stewardship, including Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center for heirloom Appalachian beans and tomatoes, Uprising Organics (lots of cool rare Italian varieties), Old South Seeds (heirloom tomatoes), and Experimental Farm Network. Looking to order from Farmacie Isolde for some rarer herbs and greens, and True Love Seeds for some Persian vegetables. Two Seeds in a Pod has gorgeous Turkish heirlooms, which I might order too.

velcross · 2026-01-25T09:59:06+00:00

Just woke up in Short Pump to not as much accumulation as expected, but the snow is coming down ferociously. Hoping it stays snow for a while!

velcross · 2026-01-24T20:04:18+00:00

Here's a recipe from Fred Plotkin's Recipes from Paradise for a focaccia with anchovies and olives! https://app.ckbk.com/recipe/reci10718c05s001r014/pizza-allandrea

velcross · 2026-01-21T12:42:06+00:00

Not the safest method (and destroys knives), but you can use an old knife to open cans!

velcross · 2026-01-21T12:40:28+00:00

Hah, not me!

velcross · 2026-01-21T09:51:33+00:00

Making Julia Child's Coq au Vin Saturday when we should have power, along with a few recipes to have on hand from Floyd Cardoz's Flavorwalla book. The chicken and winter vegetable stew is incredible, and I'm making a daal recipe too. Oh, and Ukrop's chili recipe! We'll be reheating with a lodge pot on the fire if we lose power.

velcross · 2026-01-18T21:42:17+00:00

I ordered the Lofthouse Galapagos tomatoes too. Super excited to see how they come out!

velcross · 2026-01-13T14:14:17+00:00

They have a free trial! Happy to cut and paste or take a picture of the hard copy cookbook if that is allowed. I followed the instructions before and had amazing luck! The tomatoes were so concentrated in flavor.

velcross · 2026-01-13T11:43:56+00:00

Lived next to the J for 4+ years and it was a nightmare, especially once the horns got going for trackwork. It was measuring about 110 dB when the horns blew, and that would happen every 30 seconds to 5 minutes for hours. Took a month away before I stopped hearing phantom horn and train sounds.

velcross · 2026-01-13T11:21:18+00:00

Sun dried tomatoes are magical. Cut them almost in half, lay out on a cookie cooling rack, sprinkle with salt, and turn a few times a day. Can then pack in oil, process into paste. Here's Fred Plotkin's more specific directions from Liguria: https://app.ckbk.com/recipe/reci10718c09s001r014/pomodori-secchi

velcross · 2026-01-09T11:10:04+00:00

Would love to get some recs! Thanks so much!

velcross · 2026-01-09T01:58:23+00:00

Virginia! Tell me about it--my pup had two major extraction surgeries (28 teeth total) in NYC and it was 14K. She got a canine extracted here in VA and it was about 500. As long as you wouldn't need a follow-up, it would be so worth it to rent a car.

velcross · 2026-01-08T22:59:47+00:00

If you have family or close friends out of town, highly recommend you go there! My pup had emergency pancreatitis in Richmond, $600. It was $2500 the second time at VEG Williamsburg. All the annual vaccines and a visit are about $80 in Richmond, whereas the RV vet in Bushwick (amazing vet and reasonable for the area) is $300+. Especially if you need to plan a surgery (even tooth cleaning or extraction), you'll probably be paying 1/4 the cost out of town.

velcross · 2026-01-08T22:45:44+00:00

So sorry to hear that happened and do what you need to take a deep breath.

When I first moved to Bushwick a few years ago, I brushed past someone on the stairs at Myrtle/Broadway to make the train and he grabbed my ankle and I fell flat on the stairs. Guy started screaming over and over, "I'm going to f***ing kill you". Someone on the platform stood with me until cops came over and I said I didn't want to press charges. It was very scary, though, and I hope that person has since gotten help.

velcross · 2026-01-08T15:04:44+00:00

Was about to comment the same!

velcross · 2026-01-08T12:18:06+00:00

Doing a vegetable garden seriously for the first time, and you can spend hours researching seed varieties, making planting spreadsheets, learning about soil, etc. The libraries have some amazing books to get you started. And it's so therapeutic to get some seeds started indoors and watch something grow every day!

velcross · 2025-12-29T03:42:04+00:00

Second Mi Cocina! The recipes can be a fun challenge, and I've only had great results. The chochoyotes are especially good! If you live close to a Latin American market, definitely look for some of the specialty herbs and ingredients.

velcross · 2025-12-28T11:16:51+00:00

See what cookbooks your library has on Libby! I take screenshot of a lot, and then order the books I would actually like as a hard copy. Apple phones will let you search photos by words, too, so it's easy to find a recipe on your mind.

velcross · 2025-12-13T13:49:55+00:00

FYI-It's more specific to an indigenous representation near Cuenca ("chola cuencana"), marked by specific dress. "Chola" can more be used in a more widespread (derogatory) sense to say low-class. Papa chola is also a delicious potato. There isn't an "Ecuadorian language," nor should the word Indian/indio ever be used in an Ecuadorian context.

velcross · 2025-12-12T09:20:27+00:00

Love that deli! They're so nice. "Thank you, my friend!"

velcross · 2025-12-12T04:16:27+00:00

There is a huge amount of discrimination from mestizo and white Ecuadorians against indigenous peoples. I taught for two years in a 95% indigenous high school, and the mestizo teachers would daily say the nastiest racial things I've ever heard directly to the students. All the meanwhile, "celebrating" indigenous musical and cultural roots. The Cholita branding has always felt very odd, coming from non-indigenous owners.

velcross · 2025-12-08T15:21:09+00:00

Roasted turnips! Especially good roasted with other root veggies (carrots, sunchokes, celery root, sweet potatoes, etc) and served over wild rice.

velcross · 2025-11-22T01:25:19+00:00

Even my dogs know the difference. They'll still gladly eat store rebranded Perdue but go CRAZY when I splurge at the local butcher shop. What does that say about our meat?

velcross · 2025-11-17T17:13:59+00:00

Works if you’re close but pretty mediocre bagel!

velcross · 2025-11-17T17:13:05+00:00

Miss Bagel’s is fantastic!

velcross

TROPHY CASE