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Pear wealth and other good things

2012 October 5
by Rachel Turiel

My parents, during their 2 month stay in Durango, have noticed that here, people don’t talk so much about their jobs, or politics or culture, like they do in the West Coast city my parents usually live in. Here, it’s: I just got 50 lbs of tomato seconds for $44! Or, We’re taking the kids backpacking to the wild hot springs. Or, I can’t go anywhere this weekend, I’m canning applesauce. (True. The sample size of er, my community, might skew the odds).

Anyway, our stock in pears is soaring. We’re expecting winter dividends in dried pears, pear sauce and root cellar-chilled raw pears. See, I do understand economics after all! (knock-your-socks-off pear recipe coming soon if I can get the copyrights from Jojo).

ps: my parents have spent most of the last 2 months like this:

It’s going to be so hard to say goodbye. But as my dad always says, “it’s just goodbye for now.”

*Winner of the 10-day Family Recharge is Danielle, who said: Camping! Being away from the crazy schedules of work and school for a few days recharges my family. But really, everyone is a winner because it’s a pay what you can class. Go here for more details including info (see FAQ’s) on what it looks like to pay what you can. Danielle, I’ll get your info to Erin.

*Also, the Positive Discipline classes by PeaceWorks are this weekend! Free class tonight, Top Ten Tools for Raising Responsible Children from 7:30 – 9pm at Yoga Durango on Main, and half day workshop tomorrow, Why Children Misbehave and What You Can Do About It, 1pm-5pm, also at Yoga Durango, in which you can still get $10 off by entering 6512andgrowing in the coupon code, and another $10 off at the door, by bringing a friend.

And in the Department of Touching and Lovely Collaborations, I just spoke with Ruth Cutcher, Suzuki guitar teacher at The Guitar Dojo (and 6512 sponsor), and learned that she’s offering free childcare to the parents of her guitar students so they can attend the Friday night PeaceWorks talk. This is because Suzuki is about character development through music, and Ruth wants to support parents in getting off the harmful wheel of bribes and threats in relationship to guitar practice and everything else. Wow.

*And, if edible weeds is your thing, I’m teaching Edible Weeds and Fall Gardening at my house on Saturday, 10am – 11am. 3 spots left. Details here.

Bring your mystery weeds for identification.

*It’s time to share your vinegar exploits on the Sustainable Eats website for a chance to win 2 fab books. You can share in the comments or link up to the post you wrote about it.

* I hear the forecast is 28F for Saturday night.

Cover those tomatoes, or say “goodbye for now.”

*Psst: highly experimental fermented chocolate beverage currently fizzing away on Fermentation Row. If it’s a winner, (results available in 2 weeks), you’re all invited for samples.

Thanks for your generous comments on this last post.
May you find the fall light this weekend,
Rachel


24 Responses leave one →
  1. October 5, 2012

    hello dear. can i contribute to your apple stash? yes, they do have golden delicious and lots of other varieties and i’ll gladly trade for a few pears! hope your weekend is lovely!

  2. October 5, 2012

    hello dear. can i contribute to your apple stash? yes, they do have golden delicious and lots of other varieties and i’ll gladly trade for a few pears! hope your weekend is lovely!

  3. October 5, 2012

    I can’t believe those pears! And how nice the last of your tomatoes look. Ours are looking rather pathetic after their summer of neglect.

    Also, if it weren’t for the 2000+ miles I’d be showing up to taste test that fizzy chocolate drink!

  4. October 5, 2012

    I can’t believe those pears! And how nice the last of your tomatoes look. Ours are looking rather pathetic after their summer of neglect.

    Also, if it weren’t for the 2000+ miles I’d be showing up to taste test that fizzy chocolate drink!

  5. October 5, 2012

    I’m working on a watermelon soda, using a ginger bug as a starting point. Hope it works. If you end up with extra pears, try a batch of perry – ie hard cider made from pear juice. Brew like wine, but don’t add the extra sugar (which keeps the alcohol content down around 5%). I’ve got a batch going on my kitchen counter right now. Or perhaps pear soda with a ginger bug (I’d probably pasteurize the juice first on that). SO fun this time of year!

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      October 5, 2012

      Watermelon soda sounds amazing. I used the ginger bug as a starter too (in *concept* anyway), I couldn’t believe how quickly the yeast found the chocolate!

  6. October 5, 2012

    I’m working on a watermelon soda, using a ginger bug as a starting point. Hope it works. If you end up with extra pears, try a batch of perry – ie hard cider made from pear juice. Brew like wine, but don’t add the extra sugar (which keeps the alcohol content down around 5%). I’ve got a batch going on my kitchen counter right now. Or perhaps pear soda with a ginger bug (I’d probably pasteurize the juice first on that). SO fun this time of year!

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      October 5, 2012

      Watermelon soda sounds amazing. I used the ginger bug as a starter too (in *concept* anyway), I couldn’t believe how quickly the yeast found the chocolate!

  7. Jamie permalink
    October 5, 2012

    It snowed last night and all I have are sheets for the tomatoes. No dryer to dry the sheets to put out again tonight. All those green tomatoes :(

    Oh well. Next year I will make sure they are in full sun and I shouldn’t have the problem I am having now.

    In other news, I am jealous of your winter stash of fruit. Every year I am amazed at the amount of food you are able to process and store. A little jealous of your ability and zest. I spend my free time knitting (a.k.a. on my butt, lol).

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      October 5, 2012

      Jamie,

      For what it’s worth, I’ve been at it for like 17 years (the fruit-acquisition and preserving). Also, I have a nice slice of time to hang out with the kids during the week, and guess what Mama’s doing while they go feral, I mean do their homeschool work? And yes, I do have a lot of zest for food preservation; I think it’s in my DNA. No knitting/crafting ability whatsoever.

      xo Rachel

      ps: put your green tomatoes in paper bags, they will ripen nicely.

  8. Jamie permalink
    October 5, 2012

    It snowed last night and all I have are sheets for the tomatoes. No dryer to dry the sheets to put out again tonight. All those green tomatoes :(

    Oh well. Next year I will make sure they are in full sun and I shouldn’t have the problem I am having now.

    In other news, I am jealous of your winter stash of fruit. Every year I am amazed at the amount of food you are able to process and store. A little jealous of your ability and zest. I spend my free time knitting (a.k.a. on my butt, lol).

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      October 5, 2012

      Jamie,

      For what it’s worth, I’ve been at it for like 17 years (the fruit-acquisition and preserving). Also, I have a nice slice of time to hang out with the kids during the week, and guess what Mama’s doing while they go feral, I mean do their homeschool work? And yes, I do have a lot of zest for food preservation; I think it’s in my DNA. No knitting/crafting ability whatsoever.

      xo Rachel

      ps: put your green tomatoes in paper bags, they will ripen nicely.

  9. October 5, 2012

    i’m glad we don’t have to worry about 28F yet. sorry. here it’s more a problem of trying to keep the pear wealth cool enough. i wonder at what temperature do fruit flies keel over? my pear wealth is about 115 pounds, mostly going to be dried and sliced/canned in juice, but i’d love a knock my socks off pear recipe! i still have time, i picked them not-quite-ripe because i’m sneaky like that.

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      October 5, 2012

      fruit flies. aaargh. and house flies. I was telling the kids it’s like having new housemates for how many flies we now live with.

  10. October 5, 2012

    i’m glad we don’t have to worry about 28F yet. sorry. here it’s more a problem of trying to keep the pear wealth cool enough. i wonder at what temperature do fruit flies keel over? my pear wealth is about 115 pounds, mostly going to be dried and sliced/canned in juice, but i’d love a knock my socks off pear recipe! i still have time, i picked them not-quite-ripe because i’m sneaky like that.

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      October 5, 2012

      fruit flies. aaargh. and house flies. I was telling the kids it’s like having new housemates for how many flies we now live with.

  11. katy permalink
    October 7, 2012

    Where did you get so many pears? Pear envy! Pear envy! I only grew enough pears for two quarts of canned this year. Heavy sigh.

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      October 7, 2012

      Oh, but those will be 2 precious quarts. Info on next post re: pear acquisition.

  12. katy permalink
    October 7, 2012

    Where did you get so many pears? Pear envy! Pear envy! I only grew enough pears for two quarts of canned this year. Heavy sigh.

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      October 7, 2012

      Oh, but those will be 2 precious quarts. Info on next post re: pear acquisition.

  13. October 8, 2012

    I swear I can smell those delicious pears from here!

  14. October 8, 2012

    I swear I can smell those delicious pears from here!

  15. October 9, 2012

    I can’t even BEGIN to tell you how jealous I am. How did you score the pears? Did you say it & I missed it? Anyhow… I made spiced pear butter once… it was amazing. Delicious on toast, but even better eaten out of the jar with a spoon. I can’t wait to head back north!!!!!

  16. October 9, 2012

    I can’t even BEGIN to tell you how jealous I am. How did you score the pears? Did you say it & I missed it? Anyhow… I made spiced pear butter once… it was amazing. Delicious on toast, but even better eaten out of the jar with a spoon. I can’t wait to head back north!!!!!

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