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Dear Feedback,

Thank you for the most recent issue of Grass Roots, which I am greatly enjoying. A lovely lady named Sue sent me some runner bean seeds in response to my Feedback letter but didn’t include a return address, so I am saying T h ANK yo U here – thank you Sue, if you would like any seeds from me in exchange, please let me know your address and I will send you some. I have daikon radish, tokyo bekana, red Russian kale, buttercup pumpkin, painted mountain corn, and (soon) lazy housewife beans and maybe some others.

If anyone has the white seeded runner bean seeds or Siberian pea tree seeds please let me know and I am happy to do a trade or send some money in the post.

Kate Downham, P o Box 115, D EL o RAINE , T AS 7304.

Email: katedownham@permies.com h i Megg, Emma & Suni,

I hope all is going well with all of you in the GR office. It’s a glorious day here in Oldina and I just dug up the most enormous potato. No one else I know would appreciate my excitement but I know you will.

Angela

Fry,

oLDINA , T AS .

Dear GR Friends,

Recently GR 271 came my way – another good read. Thanks to all who take the time to write and share, and of course big thanks to Megg and the team!

Julia Schafer’s article on SNAKE BEANS brought back memories of my NT garden. These beans are a favourite in Asian cuisine, and I used to make a delicious c URR y which the cattle station team devoured. Take chopped onions, sliced carrot and snake beans cut or snapped into inch-long pieces, sauté in oil of choice. Add coconut cream and curry spices (use curry powder or paste if you don’t make your own mix), garlic and salt to taste. Excellent with rice and steamed Asian greens!

Pam Thoday’s PANTR y SETUP has great suggestions for an efficient and easy-to-use space in which to store preserves and bulk supplies. As the cost of living goes up, it only makes sense to buy bulk direct from the farmer and invest in organised long-term storage. Old fridges make great airtight storage for bulk grains and other vittles, if set up in a dry shed or shipping container.

Slippery elm powder was mentioned on page 42. It truly is a marvellous herb. Unfortunately, due to ravages of Dutch elm disease and over-exploitation of surviving trees, slippery elm powder is not really a sustainable herb unless you grow your own. The good news is that MARS h MALL o W R oo T P o WDER is the perfect substitute for the vast majority of the time. Mallow is easy to grow and prepare. Just make sure you have the correct one – Althaea officinalis is the correct medicinal one. I grow my own, and many herbalists are using mallow instead of slippery elm whenever possible.

Emma J was asking for GREEN T o MAT o RE c IPES in Feedback. Here is a tasty idea: thickly slice green tomatoes and dip into seasoned breadcrumbs. Fry in olive oil or melted butter until both sides are golden. Larger tomatoes are much easier to work with than cherry tomatoes in this recipe.

In closing, here’s an idea for Suni’s SU cc ULENTS : small pots can be put on their side in an old wooden pallet standing vertically. The pallet slats will form shelves for the lip of each pot, creating a vertical garden. Depending on the exact type of pallet used, you may need to add strips of wood in strategic places to help support the pots. As the majority of succulents don’t need regular watering, a quick spray with the hose from time to time should suffice. Glazed or painted pots are better than unsealed terracotta.

Keep warm this winter! Cheerio!

Sally Danen, W ARATA h, T AS .