Wilderness Calls by Paul Berensmeier Tribute to an Elder
Dirt First by Will McQuilkin How to Harvest
Harvest is one of those imperative summertime chores that can seem mysterious without experience. I let my first kale crop go unpicked for months because I was afraid to hurt the plant, only to finally harvest huge, inedible leaves covered in powdery mildew, alas! Of course, different garden- ers have differing ethics and approaches when it comes to harvesting even the simplest fruits and veggies, but here are some tips and tricks that might come in handy this season. I like to harvest lettuce and other veggies that head-up like cabbage and cau- liflower with a sharp, serrated knife. First, locate a mature head by touching it and testing for size, density and color. Mature heads of lettuce and cabbage should feel dense and firm. Once you’ve found your plant, strip away any dam- aged or loose outer leaves, and cut the head free from the rest of the plant. You can then further prep the head by taking off even more stem as needed. Some greens also lend themselves to what’s called a “cut-and-come-again” harvest method, by which you harvest the plant’s outer leaves, but leave the main head to continue producing in the garden. If you prefer this method, just be sure to terminate the plant before it bolts, as plants that have set seed tend to have a bitter, unpleasant taste. Some of my favorite crops to harvest are those that grow in the underland. It can be tricky to tell when these tubers, bulbs and fat little stems are ripe, but there are usually aboveground clues. Potatoes, for example, grow beneath ground on a vine that sends out beautiful green shoots in the spring. When the potatoes beneathground are mature, the green vines will usually wither to brown when the spuds are ready for harvest. Locate the center of the vine’s growth and use a digging fork to carefully fork up the earth about 6-8 inches from that center. Behold a cache of taters! Once harvested, don’t wash your potato harvest as excess moisture can lead to molding. Garlic is also a mystery to some gardeners, which is a shame because it’s one of the most fun crops to grow, and the most important in the kitchen. Hardneck garlic sends out a flower, also called a “scape,” which indicates that the gar- lic is close to full maturity. We also look for the yellowing of the bottom 4-5 leaves, and/or the presence of 5-7 leaves remaining aboveground. If all else fails, pull up a single garlic bulb and cut it into a cross section. You should see the development of cloves, and several layers of thin skin separating those cloves from the outside. When you see all of this, use a digging fork to loosen the soil around bulbs, grip the plant near the base and pull — just like that, you’ve got garlic! A pungent and rewarding harvest. As I’ve said, there are certainly other ways to harvest the few fruits and veg- gies I’ve laid out here, but these are good ways that may help in a pinch. Mind them as they serve you and forget them when they don’t. I’d love to hear about your favorite crops to harvest, and any tricks you’ve found helpful. Happy gardening! Building a Safer Future at San Geronimo Commons Coming Soon: The San Geronimo Commons – Marin County Fire Head- quarters Project is part of a broader vision to create a connected, community- centered space that supports public safety and open space. This first phase will deliver a right-sized headquarters designed to meet today’s emergency response needs while reflecting the character of the Valley. In partnership with Marin County Parks, the project supports trail connectivity, access to open space, and shared community benefits across the Commons. Com- munity input continues to play an important role as we work to balance local pri- orities with the operational needs required to keep our community safe.
He looked at me in the dark, the reflection of the sacred fire burning in his eyes, and said, “Nature is the greatest teacher.“ He led me along an old path into the mountains and forest. I learned from nature. For this tribute I step up to the old path. Nature beckons. I follow. This morning these words come through the rain . . . moistened earth. It is fertile . . . rich with potential. Salmon creek gurgling . . . wind whistling in redwoods. Wisdom comes from the mountain . . . from Earth Mother. I can hear him in the water and feel him in the wind. He drips with rain, runs through the redwoods, babbles in the brook, and sings through the birds. My tears merge with this blessing and the feminine rain. I know I stand the way I do, and think the way I think, and write the way I write because of him . . . and so too his family . . . and so too his community. . . . I’ve heard there was one who lived by the side of the road and was a friend to man. My teacher lived by the side of the trail and was a friend to humankind. He taught the difference between a person and a human being. One thinks and takes care of himself first, others last. One thinks and takes care of others first, thinking seven generations into the future. He taught us how to become a true human being. He pointed to my heart and said, Heal yourself first, clear the obscurations, clear the flu. Then you can go out into the world, work with others, experience, learn, teach and create a better place now and seven generations into the future. He was a husband, a father, a teacher, a firekeeper and a friend. He was our Elder. He carried the ember of our hearts. As the best tribute to him and his work, let’s go out into nature . . . listen to the creek . . . the wind . . . the birds . . . watch the breeze blowing across the golden roll- ing Valley Hills of his home. Let’s remember him . . . hear his voice through nature . . . remember this connection . . . remember to be human beings . . . which are of benefit to all beings. He reminded us that we have a special birthright . . . and a gift . . . and a purpose here. Let’s share it in love . . . for all beings. Let’s remember he was a relation . . . an ancestor now . . . connecting us to the native in us all. A relative in our journey through life. Let’s remember him by the edge of the mountain trail . . . in nature . . . urging us on . . . to be our best . . . and being a friend to humankind.
Postcript
On the 49th day of Dane Larsen’s passing — completion of Bardo (Buddhism) — I sat on Mt. Barnabe in a natural rock chair overlooking the Valley:
It’s raining A bird flies east It means something Sun peeks out Floods Valley in the light
Three birds fly Their shapes dwindling Flying west . . . transformation They form a triangle Receding, smaller, smaller . . .
Rain clouds part Sun shines through A brilliant rainbow In the west
It becomes a double rainbow! Where bird triangle disappeared It is the end of Bardo Dane’s spirit . . . flies full and free
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