Grow your own - compost!

Yes it's the post the you've all been waiting for - welcome to the wonderful world of composting! How to make your own, to grow your own:

I've been composting for a few years now and I have to say that it gets quite (secretly) addictive! Not to mention the fact that it saves money on buying compost which is often poor quality and of very dubious origin! If you are vegan and/or environmentally conscious it's the only way of ensuring good quality compost that's totally green and has no animal or chemical components to it.

There are several types of different composters you can buy - but it's also fine (and free!) to just create a pile in a disused part of your garden.

The classic bell shaped composter usually has a lid at the top to remove for filling and a 'hatch' at the bottom. This is where you draw the finished compost from.

bell shaped composter with collection hatch

These wouldn't be my first choice of composter because of the hassle bending down to get the finished compost out - but I've inherited one of these and so I've just filled it and kind of left it!
These type of composters rely on generating heat to get started, so add quite a lot of matter if you can - all different kinds of things from the list that will follow.

As you cannot rotate the bin its a good idea to aerate the contents occasionally with a garden fork or similar - but having said that, if you just pile layers of things in you would find it would still probably turn to compost - it's just that it would take about 2 years!

aerator which you push down in twist & pull back up to mix

For me, the better types of composter - which are so easy to use, are the tumbling kind. I have one large one and two small ones (like the picture below). They remind me of the old tombola boxes and the principle is basically to add matter and then give them a spin to mix every day. If you can locate it near your backdoor somewhere, it's a great habit to get into taking out kitchen scraps at the end of each day, and giving it a spin!
All of the marketing around these says you will make compost in just a few weeks - but I find it does take about 6 months, if not more. But you can make a really rich compost for use next season, and, like I say, they are really easy to use.

a tumbling composter with two compartments

For larger scale composting of prunings and grass cuttings etc I find these wooden composters good. You can build them anywhere on an accessible piece of flat ground and the slats at the front come away so that you can tip a wheelbarrow of compost material in more easily.
Again - its good to get started with a large pile of greenery and to keep the compost aerated. I have a tarp-type cover on mine too, to aid breakdown of matter and to stop it getting water logged and all the 'nutrients' washing through/away.

this is called an easyload wooden composter

And finally, if you have the space then I would strongly recommend having an open leaf cage. Leaf mould/compost is really rich and is great for mulching plants and for mixing into garden soil to improve texture as well as nutrient content. I use it all the time.
Add all of your leaves to it throughout the autumn and turn over every month or so.
Then the following season you can dig down to retrieve the more rotted mulch or you can transfer the mix to another cage or wooden composter like the one above, cover and leave until the following season - when it will be an even finer texture (This is a system I inherited here at secret cottage and it produces a wonderful compost that I've used with all of my food crops this year).

our leaf cage at the end of the garden - this was full last autumn!

So - what can you compost? That's the key question now...

Things to add (same for all types of composter):

• veg peelings, unused veg etc
• egg shells - crushed
• used tea bags (split) and coffee grains
• newspaper and brown bags - shredded
• cardboard such as loo roll inners and cereal boxes - torn up
• junk mail - shredded - best place for it!
• grass clippings
• small weeds - [or large ones too if you can shred through a chipper or similar first]
• hedge / shrub clippings
• saw dust and wood shavings

Things to avoid:

• Meat fish and bones of any kind (no problem if you are veggie/vegan - hurrah!).
• Any cooked foods - they must be raw.
• Citrus peelings
• Wood / tree / bark chippings (they absorb too much moisture).
• Heavily printed / thick glossy paper / card 

 
 
 
Speeding up the process:

To speed up the composting process it's best to shred / breakdown items as much as possible before you add them. I always chop up hard veggie stalks such as those from cauliflowers or cabbages and when I replace my food processor I think I shall use my old one to shred veg before I compost it.)

You can also buy a 'compost starter' which is like a 'sand' that you add when you have topped the bin up with a layer of goodies [NB at the time of writing I am unsure of the components of this - it may not be suitable for vegan / organic gardening].

It's also effective to add a little garden soil each time - as it will contain the bacteria / organisms that you need. 

You'll get the best compost from adding a mix of all of the items above.

As a specialist note, if you have chickens you can also add their droppings and bedding (providing it is something that will rot well) to the mix (or to one of your mixes separately).

Chicken manure is rich in nitrogen which is great for growing brassicas!

So there you have it - my starter guide to composting!

As you get into the process (and if you have the space and the time) you can get quite involved in creating different mixes that will have different nutrient content for growing certain crops. But really any of the ingredients above will provide you with a rich source of plant food for the next year. Nature is wonderful in that the remains of our food can be used to create food for our subsequent crops - what a virtuous circle!

Have fun!

Chantal xx

[Disclaimer: I am not a gardening expert - these musings are simply gathered from my own research and subsequent gardening adventures and experiences.]

Armchair activism - be a voice for the voiceless...

It's been a couple weeks since I did one of these posts - apologies.

Recently I've been reading some work of animal rights / liberationists with an abolitionist approach that would suggest that signing campaigns isn't very constructive and can be a waste of time.

I would beg to differ, because every now and then either on Twitter, or by email, I hear back about a campaign (such as the one below) that has been successful in achieving its objective. And even if the campaign hasn't been successful in its ultimate objective, it has still raised awareness of a vital issue.

Every voice that is lent to a campaign - be it marching on the street or quietly adding a signature to an online petition - helps.

YOU are a custodian of this beautiful planet and all of its inhabitants.
YOU are a voice for the voiceless.

Thank you.

Chantal xx

Recent victories:

Belgium bans the use of wild animals in circuses.

Petition against the production and export of foie gras in ALL of Europe.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/10/we-the-undersigned/

Put and end to dog fighting in car trunks.
http://forcechange.com/64627/put-an-end-to-dog-fighting-in-car-trunks/#.Ue5rXJoPpq0.twitter

Protect the Appalachian mountains and waterways.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/157/880/275/#

Save the Scottish Wildcat.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/356/348/002/save-the-scottish-wildcat/

Oppose 100million sharks a year being killed just to make soup.
https://secure.earthjustice.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1489

Regulate the aquarium trade (I would say write to BAN it).
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/374/553/573/indonesia-regulate-the-aquarium-trade/

Conserve space for the endangered panther.
http://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/ars/petition/DOW-GivePanthersRoomToRoam

Stop local authorities from killing stray dogs (8903 in the UK last year!).
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/52351

Stop free newspaper ads giving pets away 'free to good homes'.
https://www.change.org/petitions/gumtree-all-papers-that-put-dogs-cats-free-to-a-good-home-stop-advertising-free-animals?utm_campaign=twitter_link_action_box&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

Campaign to end the barbaric Pamplona Bull Run.
http://www.league.org.uk/content/764/Pamplona-Bull-Run#

Ban the use of full inversion slaughter boxes.
 http://www.change.org/petitions/ban-the-use-of-full-inversion-slaugher-boxes-live-animal-export-trade-2?utm_campaign=twitter_link_action_box&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

We call for a Cumulative Impact Assessment of Welfare Reform, and a New Deal for sick & disabled people based on their needs, abilities and ambitions. 
 http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43154

Stop catching turtles for turtle races.
 http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=13901

Save the pink dolphin from extinction.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/763/299/553/save-the-pink-dolphin-from-extinction-in-hong-kong-and-taiwan/#

End the dolphin slaughter in Japan.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/end-dolphin-slaughter-in-japan/

Stop Kangaroo slaughter.
 http://www.thepetitionsite.com/637/237/798/stop-killing-kangaroos-for-shoe-leather/

 

 

Recipe - quick SOMEBODY pleeeease make some ice-scream!!!

Hey, so I was going to write a scintillating post on making compost - but something tells me that a quick, easy recipe for amazing vegan ice cream might be more appropriate... ?

Yep? thought so...

I've experimented with this cold nirvana for several weeks now and have come up with a really simple ingredient / methodology that seems to be pretty foolproof. Just in time as the mercury rises to levels we poor UK folk just aren't used to seeing...

This recipe is for a basic vanilla base - to which you can add whichever luscious flavour combinations you wish - you can also use flavourings other than vanilla of course - but this is to get you started.

[caveat - this is a rush job to get something to you by the weekend - cos by all accounts its going to get even hotter!!! I will refine later - so please bear with on typos / shoddy pics etc]

Gather

A blender, a cup, a tin opener, your measuring spoons, a Tupperware box, an ice cream machine, a long handled latte spoon.

1 tin coconut milk (full fat & ideally without added carboxymethylcellulose)

1 tin almond milk - use the coconut tin as the measure

1/2 cup of agave syrup (or about 4 really good long squeezes)

3 tbsp rapeseed oil (ideally a light organic one)

3/4 tsp xantham gum powder (find it in most baking sections of supermarket now)

pinch of fine ground rock salt

4 tsp vanilla extract, flavouring or paste (+seeds of a vanilla pod if you like) - or another flavour you prefer

ready to make rhubarb & custard ice cream in just 20 minutes?

Create

1. Stick all of the ingredients into your blender and whizz until smooth and fully blended.
2. If you have time - chill in the fridge for up to 2 hours (ideal scenario if you have the patience).
3. If you don't - stick it in your ice cream machine - or straight into the Tupperware and into the freezer (adding any other flavourings before you do).
   

exciting picture of a blender...

Enjoy!

Leave at room temp for 15-30 minutes to soften slightly before serving - although I find I can scoop/hack this out quite quickly if I need to. (the more fruit puree added the harder your ice cream will be).

Oh, and the latte spoon is for eating it out of the ice cream machine while it is churning ;)

even more exciting photo of the mixture in my ice cream maker...

Options:

To make raspberry ripple flavour I made a raspberry coulis with fresh raspberries and caster sugar (added only enough sugar to taste - I like it quite sharp) then reduced to a syrup consistency (but not too thick) then swirled into the ice cream with a fork once it had been poured into a Tupperware tub.

To make rhubarb and custard flavour I reduced the coconut milk by a quarter, added 1 more tbsp of rapeseed oil and added 1 generous cup of rhubarb compote before blending. You could do the same with any fruit puree.

Told you it was easy!

Enjoy responsibly and please feel free to let me know YOUR amazing flavour combinations.

Next on my list is strawberry & pink peppercorn and blackcurrant & rose :)

Big Lix

Stay cool...

Chantal xx

Paws 4 thought... is animal welfare campaigning in conflict with an abolitionist approach?

When thinking about veganism and vegans you might be tempted to think that their outlook and beliefs are the same - that they are all working towards the same goal...

I used to think that it was relatively simple - but the more I listen to and speak with other vegans I see that, in fact, it can be complex. People have different beliefs, different causes that they are more passionate about and, dare I say it, different agendas.

So what might it mean to YOU to be vegan?

I've read a couple of blog posts recently that got me to thinking - just what does this new way of life mean to me, and, why am I doing it? What do I want to achieve?

This post on 'Single Issue Campaigns' got me thinking and then another well written piece from The Thinking Vegan helped me to realise that I have now crystallised a clear opinion on my beliefs / personal vegan ethics.

You see there are some vegans who believe in what is called an 'abolitionist' (radical) approach - this is a hard line for total animal liberation - one which often believes that animal welfare reform (such as improving welfare standards on farms) is not acceptable. Abolitionists will argue that welfare campaigns etc do more harm than good because they perpetuate the farming of animals and detract from that ultimate goal of total animal liberation.

Proponents of a different view - animal 'welfarists' (reformists) usually believe that any improvement to the way in which we treat animals now is good and should be fought for. Animal welfarists often have certain causes that they promote / follow with a passion. They don't necessarily disagree with the ultimate goal that abolitionists have.

What the Thinking Vegan's post highlights is the regular dissonance between the two approaches which can often lead to online wars of words between vegans. He suggests that whilst debate is good, respect should be the order of the day and any 'infighting' is going to do vegans, as a collective, no favours in the eyes of the external (unenlightened) world.

He has a good point...

and I'm glad he's made the point.

I started out becoming vegetarian - mainly because of the dreadful suffering caused to animals by the way in which we intensively farm them for food..... but as I learnt more about the treatment of animals for the production of all manner of goods (including entertainment purposes) I started to lean towards an abolitionist approach. Reading several very powerful pieces on the matter then had me feeling that I shouldn't perhaps be supporting organisations such as Compassion In World Farming, because it would perpetuate the concept of it being OK to eat animals as food.

I also started to draw away a little from the multitude of online campaigns there are for very specific welfare issues / causes.

BUT then I also started to come across some of these 'wars of words' between vegans - mostly, I have to say, with strong criticism by those in the abolitionist 'camp' criticising welfarists.

I found this very unsettling.

And it made me see that welfarists are usually abolitionists too - it's just that they know they can't change the entire world overnight, so they focus on small victories that they can support and help win, one at a time.

And an answer started to emerge for me. I know absolutely 100% that I disagree with the use of animals for any product or service for human use. But this goes with a caveat that where people are living in a subsistence society - such as a remote island / desperately poor / barren part of our planet, where animals might be their only source of food - then they have no choice other than to kill them to survive. I understand this. But for a large part of the civilised world - we do not need to eat meat or use animals in any way to survive. Therefore it's morally wrong for us to do so, because all animals are sentient beings with a right to free life on this earth. Humans should live alongside them and protect them and nurture them.

*I include other humans in the word 'animals'.*

In short, I would want to see the mistreatment/use of animals abolished.

However, I'm a realist.
I know that to achieve this ultimate goal we need to overcome centuries of culture and habit. We need to fight big business, corporate greed, power and corruption.

It's no mean feat.

It's not likely to be successful in my lifetime.

So whilst I will shout (gently) about the need to respect other sentient beings and end ALL suffering permanently, I can, and will, do 3 things:

1. I can make a personal decision to follow what I believe is a moral obligation / imperative - by living the least damaging lifestyle that I can (saving animals, myself and the planet).

2. I can support and create campaigns to improve what is  happening on the ground here and NOW - because I see every day that they DO make a positive difference. 

3. I can pass on information, help and support to others (you, dear reader and yet to be reader) so that I can raise awareness and inspire others to become more caring custodians of this planet and all life upon it.

And now having read that back to myself and seeing it in black and white - I see clearly that those actions, bite size chunks of compassion, all contribute to the ultimate goal and, for me, are in harmony with it. They are a realistic way of working towards the abolition of all animal suffering. Because consider this small example - if a person who farmed pigs was forced to introduce better welfare standards that meant he was able to observe the sentience and intelligence of those animals in a way like never before - he might then be inspired to change / improve further and ultimately struggle with the day of slaughter arriving.

So dear fellow vegans lets not fight amongst ourselves, we're all on the same side. It's going to be a long tough ride, but taking it together could help us reach the destination more quickly.

Chantal xx

postscript

Just when I thought I had my thinking sorted on this - I have now done some more reading and have a clearer understanding of the abolitionist view point.
I would highly recommend reading Confronting Animal Liberation: Grassroots Essays. The first three essays alone are very interesting and pose a strong case for abolitionism.
My main problem though is that the theory surrounding it (particularly that of prof. Gary L Francione) offers no full solution to achieve the ultimate goal of animal liberation.
Whilst welfarists are often considered to be either speciesist or helping to perpetuate animal use/enslavement/cruelty - they are at least fighting one battle at a time...

RECIPE: Heavenly Hazelnut Pancakes... look - no eggs, no dairy!

My favourite breakfast EVER has to be... American-style 'fluffy' thick pancakes!

New York is one of my favourite places to spend time and of course absolute heaven when you're a fan of these little beauties (Pershing Square under the bridge opposite Grand Central Terminal - make some of the best). And in a previous life of course my favourite accompaniment to them would be crispy bacon and maple syrup.

These days however, gone is the pork (and the milk and the eggs for that matter) and instead I love to serve mounds of fresh fruit with these completely vegan pancakes - still topped with maple syrup and occasionally (for real decadence) some soya cream too.

Quick as a flash to make and worth getting out of bed for any day...

So - to my newest experiment with them - Hazelnut - discovered mainly due to running out of soya milk, but thankfully inspiring a whole new delicious way to enjoy!

Tuck in...

Chantal xx

[Makes about 10 small pancakes - easy to double the mix quantity for more]

 

Gather:

Utensils - 

Put some serving plates on to warm and collect your weighing scales and measuring spoons, a large 2l jug, a hand whisk, a large heavy bottom frying pan, or two if you have them and a spatula. 

I actually used an electric whisk and didn't need the cups.

Ingredients - 

150g flour - I like a mix of plain white and wholemeal

10g sugar - I use unrefined granulated

25g baking powder (approx 2 tbsp) - seems like a lot but will give you a good 'fluff'!

pinch of salt

230g Hazelnut milk (250ml / 1 cup)

25g oil (approx 2 tbsp) - I use hazelnut oil but a light flavourless oil such as vegetable or rapeseed is fine

A little extra veg/rapeseed oil to brush your frying pan/s

Some chopped roasted hazelnuts plus any mix of prepared fresh fruit that you love - raspberries are in season just now, bananas always great and blueberries are a classic. Maple syrup or agave on the side.

Create:

1. Put your pan/s on a medium to high heat to warm up while you prepare the batter.
2. Weigh all of the dry ingredients straight into the jug and stir to combine.
3. Weigh the wet ingredients into the jug and whisk straight away until a thick smooth batter is formed.
4. Oil your pans (if they are smoking then they are too hot - take them off the heat to cool for a minute or two) and pour a little of the mixture into the pan - I usually fit three pancakes to a pan & use two pans.
5. Cook the pancakes until you see bubbles start to appear and the batter is starting to set - then flip them over gently with your spatula.
6. Cook for another 2 minutes or so on the other side - lifting one up to see if it is cooked to a dark golden brown.
7. Transfer to your plates and eat immediately - these really are best eaten as freshly made as possible.

Bubbles start to form and when the batter is set you can flip!

Don't let your pancakes be too anaemic or they may be raw in the middle.

Enjoy:

You can vary the pancakes by adding some finely chopped hazelnuts to the batter or sprinkling some on when you have poured the batter into the pan and before you flip the pancakes - or of course sprinkled over once cooked! Go NUTS!!!

Pancakes with added chopped pecans before flipping.

Served with fresh raspberries - from our garden, fresh bananas - not from our garden + pure maple syrup!

Cooks tip:

This is a great general recipe that can be easily adapted. Plain pancakes can be made in exactly the same way, with the same ingredients, except using soya milk instead of the hazelnut milk and vegetable oil instead of the nut oil.