Judith Chase
This
is a
short note in response to reading and hearing people's concerns
about buying
and consuming vegetables in the public markets, some of which
might be
contaminated with excessive pesticide residues. At this point,
knowing a bit about the complicated dynamics involved with
producing, storing, transporting and
marketing produce, it is impossible to say which ones are safe
to eat.
Unless we go directly to the farmer and trust her/his practices,
we cannot
say. The safest approach is 'grow your own'. If you have a
small piece of
land, you can grow vegetables for your family. If you have no
land,
consider growing pots of vegetables on a balcony or koshi porch
or even on a
windowsill. This is a perfect time to begin, as the rains are
diminishing
and the sun strengthening. All cool-weather vegetables can be
seeded at this
time. Mustard greens (rayo), mizuna (Japanese mustard tasting
like tori),
beets, carrots, kale, leeks, parsley, salad greens, spinach,
chard, turnips,
radish, dhaniya, eskus, khorsani, and tiny wild tomatoes. Since
the rains
are not completely ended, cover seeds with a sheet of plastic,
newspaper or
rice straw until germinated.
If you have no experience with gardening, you can take a
training with Sangam
Sherpa at his Organic Farmhouse in Kopan or with us, a bit
further out, at EVON
farm in Patalekhet. See our website at
www.everythingorganicnursery.com
If
there are many interested, we could offer a one-day training in
Kathmandu. If
so, we can offer seeds at that time.
Best wishes for healthy eating.....Judith
