She had gone to Seedy Saturday on the weekend and found out that one acre will yield one metric ton (tonne?) of wheat. Isn't that crazy?! So then we started doing calculations in our heads - how much wheat do our families consume in one year?! Well, I'm guessing we go through maybe 300 lbs of wheat in a year between 4 of us (max 300, I'm thinking it's closer to 250). So I'm thinking... and correct me if my math is off here - that on one acre, you could feed about 3 families, each consuming ~300 lbs? So really, I'd only need to plant 1/2 acre to feed our family quite securely for a year with wheat. AND... there's a local mill (within 100 kms)! That's fantastic!! She and I were both so pleased. Although I am a committed raw vegan, the other 3 members of this household all consume wheat products, so it would be so nice to have a local, organic source of the grain - not to mention think about how much $$ we'd save over a year!! Our wheat/flour prices through our food co-op have TRIPLED this past year. It's crazy. My friend and I continued to talk about farming and our plans for this year.
Exercise:
I rowed another 6 kms today as well as doing tai chi for an hour this morning in class.
Today I've eaten/drank:
- 1.5L of green smoothie (I had 3/4L around 10 a.m. and 3/4L around 2 p.m.),
- 1/2 an avocado and a tomato diced up together with a little salt and nama shoyu on it,
- a few flax crackers,
- and 3 1/2 L of water with lemon (began the day with 48 oz (~1.5L) before making the smoothie).
- 5 pieces of kale,
- 2 tbsp ground flax,
- 1 banana,
- 1c frozen blueberries,
- 1.5c frozen raspberries,
- 1 tbsp maca powder,
- 1/4 tsp camu camu powder,
- 1 tsp goji berry powder,
- 1 tbsp cacao nibs,
- 1 tbsp cacao powder,
- 1 tbsp agave nectar,
- 1 tbsp shredded coconut,
- 1 tbsp cashews,
- 2c of sesame milk and
- ~2c of water.
Kale is obviously, a dark leafy green. The many benefits of dark leafy greens are well known:
Kale provides more nutritional value for fewer calories than almost any other food around. Kale has sulfur-containing phytonutrients, which are thought to prevent cancers. Kale is also thought to aid in detoxification and cleansing. The carotenoids kale contains aid in lowering the risk of cataracts. Kale contains vitamin A, promotes lung health, contains vitamin C, supports the immune system, protects against arthritis. Kale is a good source of fiber, a very good source of calcium, vitamin E (slowing the loss of mental functioning), and protects against many forms of cancer.
Ground flax seeds are said to be high in alpha linolenic acid, omega-3 (good) fat. Ground flax protects against heart disease, cancer and diabetes. It is rich in beneficial fiber and boosts the immune system, helps manage weight, enhances memory, mood and attention. Ground flax helps lower cholesterol, has anti-inflammatory effects, lowers the risk of breast cancer, fights constipation, IBS, and diarrhea. It reduces symptoms of menopause and helps with asthma, migraines and arthritis.
Bananas are full of potassium, which helps keep your heart and nervous system in good shape. They are good for your kidneys (minimizing the risk of kidney stones) and bones (reducing the risk of osteoporosis). Bananas contain the amino acid tryptophan (also found in turkey, it acts as a mild sedative and has a calming effect on the brain). Bananas are high in B6 (essential for antibody production, B6 increases immune functioning), and help the body make hemoglobin, as well as being a good source of fiber.
Berries are of course full of antioxidants. Berries contain folic acid, vitamin C, and other important minerals and phytochemicals. Blueberries protect against bladder infections and also lower cholesterol and are thought to be antifungal, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. Blueberries improve balance, coordination and memory. Blueberries and raspberries (as well as other berries) may reduce your risk of cancer. Blueberries and raspberries contain lutein, important for good vision.
Maca powder is thought to increase energy, endurance, stamina, sexual functioning, libido and fertility. It's thought to alleviate chronic fatigue syndrome, regulate hormonal imbalances, aid in alleviating depression, giving a feeling of well-being, reduce anxiety and stress, enhance memory, learning and mental ability, reduce anemia, accelerate healing, and have a beneficial action on the circulatory system. It is good for healthy teeth and bones, gives the skin a more youthful glow, is non-addictive, and is antibacterial, antifungal, anticarcinogen, and antioxidant.
Camu Camu Berry Powder is a really concentrated source of vitamin C - 1/8 tsp a day is all you need. It is thought to protect the nervous system from degenerative diseases, protect the eyes from macular degeneration, aid in the prevention of Alhzeimer's and dementia, improve cognitive performance and mental focus, prevent depression, migraines, and infertility.
Goji or wolf berries are thought to help eyesight, protect the liver, boost the immune system, and increase circulation. The berries are rich in antioxidants, particularly carotenoids, including beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. Zeaxanthin in particular may decrease the risk of glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Goji berries may also reduce blood glucose and lower cholesterol levels. Goji berries contain a good source of carbohydrates, protein, fat and dietary fiber, and also contain many essential nutrients and minerals such as calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, vitamin C, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, vitamin B2, selenium, and several amino acids.
Raw cacao contains a high level of flavonoids, which may have beneficial cardiovascular health effects. Raw cacao is thought to lower cholesterol levels, protect against heart disease and cancer. It may have important benefits for the brain in terms of learning and memory. Raw cacao contains large amounts of antioxidants (nearly twice as much as red wine and three times as much as in green tea). It also contains magnesium, iron, chromium, vitamin C, and zinc. Raw cacao may reduce blood pressure.
Raw agave nectar is a natural sweetener that is low-glycemic (meaning it doesn't spike blood sugar levels) and is safe for type II diabetics (only stevia and agave share this honour). It is recommended for anti-candida yeast diets.
Coconut is a stable source of dietary fat. It is thought to be thyroid stimulating and have anti-aging effects. The thyroid stimulation is said to aid in weight loss. Coconut is thought to be antimicrobial/antiseptic and also be an anticarcinogen.
Cashews are a good source of iron (improving red blod cell function & enzyme activity), magnesium (promotes energy release and bone growth), phosphorus (builds bones and teeth), zinc (essential to digestion and metabolism) and selenium (has important antioxidant properties, thus protecting the body from cancer). Cashews are also good sources of protein.
Of course cashews are also cholesterol-free. Cashews also contain phytochemicals with antioxidant properties that protects the body from cancer and heart disease.
Sesame milk is said to remove intestinal worms and pus formations (gross). Sesame seeds are a good source of vitamin E, helping to strengthen the heart and nervous system. Sesame seeds are also said to protect against liver damage and high blood pressure. Half a cup of sesame seeds has 3x more calcium than half a cup of whole milk. Sesame oil can be applied externally to babies to remove cradle cap, and can also be used externally to remove wrinkles.
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