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On My Oasis – #Project Mealworm
Despite it being mild, it’s fairly quiet on my oasis. These warm temperatures allure to spring, but I’m trying to avoid being seduced. After all, if there is cold weather to come (of which I’m sure there is) it’s far too early to be sowing seeds. And that cool climate needs to arrive soon if it’s going to do so because the garden doesn’t quite understand what’s going on. There’s a strawberry plant in flower, for example. November-planted broad beans are not short sprouts awaiting spring warmth, but tall, slender plants already in need of staking. Bulbs are popping up everywhere, and I noticed the apple, photinia and acer all have growing buds on them. We need this cold snap soon otherwise it won’t halt growth, it’ll kill freshly sprouted greens and leaves, and cause more damage than good.
#ProjectMealworm
Before the New Year starts, my major new challenge is #ProjectMealworm. There have been all manner of studies done on the protein content of insects. In fact, research suggests that the ratio of proteins and good fats in mealworms is higher than in beef cattle. Though not common in the western world, lots of other countries eat bugs and I, for one, can see the advantages. It’s cheap. It’s nutritious. It’s low on carbon emissions, and if you can get past the squeamish nature of it, you can grow cultures at home. Of course…that’s possibly the hardest part – getting past the negative culture that surrounds eating bugs. Even some of my most self-sufficient, eco-friendly farmery friends were a little ‘eewwww‘ at the bug eating prospect.
Mealworms can be roasted and, it’s said, they taste like peanuts. Have as a snack. Use as a garnish. Add to salads. You could even grind them down and use them IN cooking – though I don’t really see the point in that so much. I don’t really want to make mealworm cake, but I suppose grinding down could help camouflage the critters a little.
So, one of the new things I’m doing this year is an all-out attempt at growing more protein at home. These includes mealworms (see below video) and raising more meat birds.
Raising Chickens for Meat
With money tight and too many cockerels in the backyard, Christmas dinner was one of two small Poland roosters. Surprisingly, the birds had quite a lot of meat on them and, unsurprisingly, they were darn yummy. Also, though past killing, plucking and dressing has been a little stressful, I found it far easier this time. So much so that I’m now determined to raise as much chicken myself as possible. It’s the main meat our household eats, after all.
There are a few species I’m going to try. Light sussex is a good dual-purpose birds, and I can keep hens for eggs and kill any excess, along with any roosters, for meat. An instagram friend – Claire at Smallholding Dreams – suggested I try naked necks too. As yet, there are no hatching eggs for the latter on eBay, but light sussex are generally fairly easy to get a hold of.
The Ornamental Garden
But it’s not all about meat and veg, and I’m looking forward to the ornamental garden this year too. I find this gardening more relaxing than veggies and fruits and the constant fear of poor harvests. With ornamentals, the merest bud, opening flower or beautiful and unfurling new leaf is reason to smile. Alas, as I’ve already mentioned, it’s too early to get sowing, but I’m wishing for spring so life will start emerging in the garden again with abundance.
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