Sharing & Natural Green Remedies

It's 10:30 am, friday morning and I think it's been pretty good so far. I woke up early (4:30 a.m.) and planned to go to the market, but changed my mind as I did a little jewellery work for delivery and turned on the computer to tell my facebook friends about the local blackberries that I bought at the supermarket (Megamart) last evening. It's always great to see local versions of fruits that are usually imported, which I try not to buy. It's always best, healthy and green to buy local. I usually just eat them  but I made a smooothie this time. Here is my 'berry banana smoothie' recipe based on one from EatingWell:-

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/berry_banana_smoothie.html

Blackberry Banana Smoothie

1-2 ripe bananas, peeled & chopped
1/2 - 3/4 cup black berries
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup coconut water
1/2 cup ice
1 Tbsp. flax seeds, ground

Blend until smooth. Makes 2 servings. Enjoy!


I've been very busy lately as I've been involved with a learning to earn programme to teach inner city residents a variety of crafts. I'm teaching jewellery craft and it's been scary and interesting at the same time, but as I always say, "I live and I learn", but that's a different story.
I've thought about teaching for a while and I welcome the opportunity that the Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA) has given me to share some of what I have learnt and discovered over the years.
The programme is under the auspices of the JEA and the St. Andrew Settlement (Majesty Gardens), and is sponsored by the European Union and Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF).

My neighbour across the street called to give us some information and I indicated that I wanted to come and pick some mangoes (common or stringy mangoes) from her tree (that she never eats). I actually have a standing invitation to pick the mangoes as it produces profusely and she would rather someone pick them than they go to waste or make a mess, but I prefer to let her know that I'm coming.  I'm always willing to help if it involves eating mangoes, 'King of Fruits'.

I decided to make my neighbour a natural antibiotic drink for a cold that she was fighting. This recipe comes from Sophie at Step Into My Green World :-

http://www.stepintomygreenworld.com/healthyliving/best-natural-antibiotic/

The recipe called for garlic, honey, ginger, cayenne pepper, cinnamon and lemon juice but I used seville (sour) oranges instead. I've been buying sour oranges at the market but I got some nice looking ones in Megamart as well. They were labelled 'Seville Sweet Oranges', so don't be fooled; they are not sweet. I made two batches of the antibiotic, one for myself and one for my neighbour. I had a taste of mine before packaging the other and it was very hot. Pepper is not naturally my thing so maybe I needed to cut down on the cayenne. I had to warn my neighbour so if you dont have a high tolerance for pepper, use less, but bear in mind that cayenne is good for you as it makes you sweat & gets rid of toxins. Honey and garlic are natural antibiotics; ginger and cinnamon have strong antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. There are also some other great natural remedies on the site, so check them all out.

My sister and I picked a bag of mangoes and as a bonus we got some sour sop leaves to make tea. Sour sop is another great healthy green ingredient. We regularly eat it as a fruit but it's more often than not used as a drink in Jamaica, usually with milk but lately with lime. Have a look at these sites for some great benefits:-

http://www.naturalfoodbenefits.com/display.asp?CAT=1&ID=12

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-soursop-4285.html

Google soursop for more information. In the meantime enjoy the fruits of the season.

Sprigtime Affair, Fruits in Season & A Short Rant



Large Red Flower in Bloom atop plant.  



Orange flowers in bloom.



I am in love with Spring time. I'm not sure how long I've had this 'problem' but I've only just realized it. I love to see flowers blooming especially the yellow poui, trees bearing fruit, little birds flitting in and out of flower laden shrubs. It's just magical with the exception of the lizards that seem to be in season as well. The ackees continue to open, the mangoes are beginning to ripen, there are cherries on the tree; there is just an outpouring of fruits at this time. My market basket has been heavy with fruits for a few weeks now. Have a look at this list from the beginning of April :-

Julie Mango ( 3 )                                  
Nameless Mango ( 2 )
Black Mango ( 12 )

Naseberry ( 24 )

Papaya (paw paws) ( 9 lbs. )

Ripe Banana ( 12 small )

Pineapple ( 2 small )

Soursop ( 1 med. )

Sour Orange ( 24 )

Tamarind  ( 1 lb. )

Cashew Fruit  ( 9 )

Jelly Coconuts  ( 4 )

Tomato ( 3 lbs.)

There are some fruits that I bought recently that  didn't make it on this list, namely, otaheite apples, custard apples, miniature tangerines, sweet cup, star apples, sugar cane and june plums. I guess I don't need to tell you that I love fruits. What could be nicer than biting into a ripe julie mango (substitute your favourite here) and demolishing it, skin and all? Maybe two!  I love julie mangoes & other non-stringy mangoes but I eat & love most mangoes. I can never understand how someone cannot like fruits. There are so many to choose from; sweet ones, sour ones and in between ones. Some fruits come wrapped in their own easy to peel packaging, like bananas; you just peel and eat, so they are very portable. The banana is the most popular fruit in the world.  Then there are fruits where everything is eaten, even the seeds sometimes. Others you have to carefully peel with a knife or other tool. Some fruits are best had at home, because they can be quite messy, like a large juicy mango; but you could peel a mango and slice it up in a container to go. Some fruits make thir own cup or bowl, like a paw paw or star apple; just cut it in two, scoop out the seeds and eat out of hand with a spoon (a grapefruit spoon works great on firmer ones).
I continue to discover new fruits and fall in love over and over again. Make sure to introduce a variety of fruits to your young children as a better option than getting them hooked on junk food.

One of my new favourite fruits is the custard apple. I can't get enough of it. It has the smoothest, creamiest taste; I can imagine it as an ice cream but can never have enough to spare any to experiment with. It's simlpy divine eaten as is so why mess with nature. I can't believe that I was unaware of the existence of this heavenly fruit until a few years ago.  I think we need to plant custard apple trees along with other fruit and food trees that grow well in Jamaica and if we can do it organically that would be great.

When last did you plant a tree? Have you ever planted a tree? My young trees continue to flourish at this time. There are small green apples turning pink and red on my tree. I look at them everyday. It's like a miracle seeing the progression from blossom to fruit of the otaheite apple.  I continue to be amazed by the wonder of nature.  Plant some fruit trees so that you can have this miracle in your yard as well as enjoy the taste of ripe, freshly picked fruit, as I did with the first East Indian mangoes from the tree in my yard this year. I picked one and had it for breakfast recently. I would almost swear that it was the sweetest mango  ever, but the season has just started.

Short Rant

Enjoy the bounty of fresh fruit in season, but eat responsibly. My other caution would be -  try not to buy stolen fruit as the scourge of praedial larceny devastates our farmers. Homeowners with  fruit trees are not spared either as thieves will pick every fruit on a tree, ripe or green. Then they'll come back two days later. This has been my experience and that of my neighbours in the last few years with theives and the mango trees, especially the east indian. I don't buy east indian mangos lest it came from the tree in my yard. I blame the lovers of mangoes who will pay ridiculous prices for them on the street. If we were more responsible when purchasing fruit and weren't willing to pay as if they were green gold then maybe we could start to control and stamp out this spiralling wave of crime in our beloved country.  When all else fails, dance as suggested by this mural, photographed during Kingston on the Edge ( KOTE ) 2009 in the Heroes Circle area of Kingston.

Translation :- Definition of dance - A lizard jumped on me this morning or dance is what happens when a lizard jumps on one. Look out for KOTE 2013, 'where Kingston art is happening', this June.
See www.kingstonontheedge.org for more information.

Healthy Green Tip !

Wash fruits and vegetables from the market or supermarket with vinegar and water or hydrogen peroxide and water. No need to buy commercial washes when you can make your own.