Exploring the many medicinal/nutritional gifts offered by kale, it's place in the regenerative garden and how to preserve and create with it in the kitchen
Regarding the part of your comment about Kale's place in the regenerative garden, Kale (like many helpful garden crops) can be harvested in a way that actually encourages it to grow more prolifically (producing more leaves, for a longer period of time and producing more blooms and seeds, due to the stimulation of specific harvesting techniques). Thus, Kale can serve a purpose that is both regenerative in the context of the soil ecosystem (through being used as self-sowing 'living mulch' and chop and drop techniques) and in the insect ecosystem (providing nectar for pollinators) while simultaneously serving a regenerative purpose for human health through providing nutrition.
As for those that "revile" kale, I suppose that is a choice that is determined by a matter of one's set of priorities in life and how motivated one is to get creative and try new things. I eat quite a few things regularly that do not appeal to my taste buds (blue green algae, anise hyssop tea, male cannabis leaf "gundruk" etc) because I know those things offer powerful gifts to heal and optimize the function of my human body. I make this choice as one of my priorities in life is to express gratitude and respect for the gift I have been given by Creator in being able to inhabit this body. Thus, I strive to treat this vessel with respect, reverence and provide it with high quality fuel (whether or not my taste buds and other senses enjoy the fuel or not). I used to dislike kale as I never had it prepared well as part of a good recipe. After I learned to get creative with it in the kitchen I came to enjoy it in certain forms.
Some people prioritize how they take care of their internal combustion vehicles or electric vehicles, some people prioritize gathering fiat currency and others prioritize what is easy, pleasurable and flattering to the ego above all else. Each must choose their own path and set of priorities in this life and I see no one path as better than the other. Each will offer their own set of opportunities to learn and grow.
Do you revile Kale Vonu?
Also, I am curious, what are your top three priorities in life?
In many ways, you may be right about that. Though if I take a step back to 'see the trees as part of the forest' growing kale is a little easier (for a variety of reasons, whether it be climate variations, growing space limitations and/or various archaic and oppressive laws being imposed by statist regimes serving the will of the transnational corporatocracy) so I think kale is a little more universally applicable as a nutrient dense and adaptable member of the regenerative garden (IMO).
I would also contend that (from a purely nutritional and medicinal standpoint) Cannabis would be better in everyway than both hemp or kale (when eaten as a raw vegetable).
This is true due to the fact that Cannabis typically has a higher concentrations of various cannabinoids than hemp (which offer their own powerful medicinal non-psychoactive benefits). For example, Cannabidolic Acid (CBD-A) and Tetrahydrocannabonolic Acid (THC-A) are also very good antioxidants.
Hey Gavin...while we're on the subject of kale and brassicas in general, are you guys plagued by Swede Midge in your neck of the woods? Came in to these parts (Eastern Townships) about 5 years ago and that which was previously "bulletproof" is now susceptible. I mean EVERYTHING. Cauliflower, kale, cabbage, one of my root cellar staples - Gigante Kohlrabi - Everything!
On another note...we've been getting so much rain in the last 6 to 8 weeks that many things are simply failing altogether. I've never seen anything like it. And then of course are the strange cloud patterns which, being observant, I deem to be "not of this earth", if you get my drift. My nano-particle drift.
I am sorry to hear about the challenges you are facing in the garden this season.
I have not seen any Swede Midge in southern Ontario yet but I appreciate the heads up that they are a potential critter to watch for here.
I see that some people have had luck with encouraging predation of the adult swede midges by attracting dolichopodid flies and Lady beetles (H. axyridis and c. septempunctata) have been studied for their ability to prey on the larvae of swede midges so perhaps planting some things that can attract those predators may help relieve the pressure on your favorite brassicas?
We got hammered with some heavy duty rain in the last few weeks here as well (one night we got 2.5 inches!) but thankfully most of our more sensitive crops are up in double decker raised beds with a couple feet deep of porous soil (and inverted hügelkulturs underneath) so most of our crops bounced back despite being soaked heavily for a few days there.
Yes the weather modification programs have been going strong here as well recently, one day I saw an intense grid laid down in the morning on a day when we had a sunny day forecasted, turned the whole sky soupy grey and then the grey particles appeared to be hit with some kind of directed energy wave/beam (as the particles become very distinctly aligned into a ripple pattern emanating from a particular point in the sky). Later that day a weird thunder storm showed up, rapid fire thunder sounds in strange patterns (sounding like a machine gun or a grinding machine or something).. no rain but then lightning began striking intensely. One strike hit about 30 feet from where I was standing at work (hitting a cedar and sending a concussive pressure wave my way when the air was explosively ignited at ground level which actually moved me and made me stumble backwards). It was pretty intense and did not seem like normal storm behavior.
I hope this fall brings more favorable conditions for harvests in your garden. Thanks for the comment.
If kale is regenerative in the garden, it should be retained there instead of being fed to those who revile it.
Thanks for the interesting comment Vonu.
Regarding the part of your comment about Kale's place in the regenerative garden, Kale (like many helpful garden crops) can be harvested in a way that actually encourages it to grow more prolifically (producing more leaves, for a longer period of time and producing more blooms and seeds, due to the stimulation of specific harvesting techniques). Thus, Kale can serve a purpose that is both regenerative in the context of the soil ecosystem (through being used as self-sowing 'living mulch' and chop and drop techniques) and in the insect ecosystem (providing nectar for pollinators) while simultaneously serving a regenerative purpose for human health through providing nutrition.
As for those that "revile" kale, I suppose that is a choice that is determined by a matter of one's set of priorities in life and how motivated one is to get creative and try new things. I eat quite a few things regularly that do not appeal to my taste buds (blue green algae, anise hyssop tea, male cannabis leaf "gundruk" etc) because I know those things offer powerful gifts to heal and optimize the function of my human body. I make this choice as one of my priorities in life is to express gratitude and respect for the gift I have been given by Creator in being able to inhabit this body. Thus, I strive to treat this vessel with respect, reverence and provide it with high quality fuel (whether or not my taste buds and other senses enjoy the fuel or not). I used to dislike kale as I never had it prepared well as part of a good recipe. After I learned to get creative with it in the kitchen I came to enjoy it in certain forms.
Some people prioritize how they take care of their internal combustion vehicles or electric vehicles, some people prioritize gathering fiat currency and others prioritize what is easy, pleasurable and flattering to the ego above all else. Each must choose their own path and set of priorities in this life and I see no one path as better than the other. Each will offer their own set of opportunities to learn and grow.
Do you revile Kale Vonu?
Also, I am curious, what are your top three priorities in life?
Hemp would be better in every way than kale.
In many ways, you may be right about that. Though if I take a step back to 'see the trees as part of the forest' growing kale is a little easier (for a variety of reasons, whether it be climate variations, growing space limitations and/or various archaic and oppressive laws being imposed by statist regimes serving the will of the transnational corporatocracy) so I think kale is a little more universally applicable as a nutrient dense and adaptable member of the regenerative garden (IMO).
I would also contend that (from a purely nutritional and medicinal standpoint) Cannabis would be better in everyway than both hemp or kale (when eaten as a raw vegetable).
- https://www.mary-magazine.com/food/is-cannabis-the-next-kale-one-chef-aims-to-prove-its-even-more-nutritious/
- https://greenrushdaily.com/health/cannabis-vs-kale-better/
This is true due to the fact that Cannabis typically has a higher concentrations of various cannabinoids than hemp (which offer their own powerful medicinal non-psychoactive benefits). For example, Cannabidolic Acid (CBD-A) and Tetrahydrocannabonolic Acid (THC-A) are also very good antioxidants.
For more info:
https://gavinmounsey.substack.com/p/raw-cannabis-in-the-kitchen-the-medicine
How do you like to include hemp in your diet Vonu?
Hemp is the best soil remediator and absorbs the most carbon dioxide in the plant kingdom.
Hey Gavin...while we're on the subject of kale and brassicas in general, are you guys plagued by Swede Midge in your neck of the woods? Came in to these parts (Eastern Townships) about 5 years ago and that which was previously "bulletproof" is now susceptible. I mean EVERYTHING. Cauliflower, kale, cabbage, one of my root cellar staples - Gigante Kohlrabi - Everything!
On another note...we've been getting so much rain in the last 6 to 8 weeks that many things are simply failing altogether. I've never seen anything like it. And then of course are the strange cloud patterns which, being observant, I deem to be "not of this earth", if you get my drift. My nano-particle drift.
Greetings my friend
I am sorry to hear about the challenges you are facing in the garden this season.
I have not seen any Swede Midge in southern Ontario yet but I appreciate the heads up that they are a potential critter to watch for here.
I see that some people have had luck with encouraging predation of the adult swede midges by attracting dolichopodid flies and Lady beetles (H. axyridis and c. septempunctata) have been studied for their ability to prey on the larvae of swede midges so perhaps planting some things that can attract those predators may help relieve the pressure on your favorite brassicas?
Info on attracting said predator insects:
- https://www.sgaonline.org.au/good-flies/
- https://extension.umd.edu/resource/ladybugs-or-ladybird-beetles
We got hammered with some heavy duty rain in the last few weeks here as well (one night we got 2.5 inches!) but thankfully most of our more sensitive crops are up in double decker raised beds with a couple feet deep of porous soil (and inverted hügelkulturs underneath) so most of our crops bounced back despite being soaked heavily for a few days there.
Yes the weather modification programs have been going strong here as well recently, one day I saw an intense grid laid down in the morning on a day when we had a sunny day forecasted, turned the whole sky soupy grey and then the grey particles appeared to be hit with some kind of directed energy wave/beam (as the particles become very distinctly aligned into a ripple pattern emanating from a particular point in the sky). Later that day a weird thunder storm showed up, rapid fire thunder sounds in strange patterns (sounding like a machine gun or a grinding machine or something).. no rain but then lightning began striking intensely. One strike hit about 30 feet from where I was standing at work (hitting a cedar and sending a concussive pressure wave my way when the air was explosively ignited at ground level which actually moved me and made me stumble backwards). It was pretty intense and did not seem like normal storm behavior.
I hope this fall brings more favorable conditions for harvests in your garden. Thanks for the comment.