Intern Amanda turns home grown apples into delicious apple sauce

At the Bridge Street Inn guest, Fransico De Lovely, longly eyes the apple in his hand.  ”These homegrown apples are crisp like your line dried sheets.  Every bite I take makes me pat my belly in joy.  My belly has loved the company of many an apple raised on worm castings, garden compost, the shit from a goat, warm sun rays, and the most pure spring waters.  Never have I tasted an apple quite as delicious as the one I hold in my hand.

I reply, “There are 3 elements missing from the above apple growing ingredients.  They are happy guests,  dirty sheets, and  greywater.

Happy Guest

Clean sheets need a happy guest

The wash machine produces greywater from the dirty sheets

After a happy guest checks out of The Bridge Street Inn by 10:30AM I strip their bed then put the sheets into the wash machine.  When the sheets have gone through the wash cycle the biodegradable soap and dirty water exit.

The greywater flows through pipes that lead to the underground root system of the apple tree.  The now damp clean sheets are line dried and the process starts over again.”

The simple pleasure of folding crisp line dried linens

Fransico De Lovely looks at his clean toe nails and strokes his well trimmed mustache he sighs, “I notice several beds are unoccupied.  Sadly, I’m only dirty enough to dirty one bed per night.  What’s going to happen to her?”  As he points towards the apple tree.

Apple tree growing in the greywater garden

“Friend, cheer up!”  I say,  ”The apple tree loves the frosty nights and warm sandal wearing days.  Life at The Bridge Street Inn has a healthy ebb and flow that coincides with the seasons.  As the tourist season slows into the colder months the winter rains replace the greywater system.  Our apple tree has found a balance between what nature and happy guests can provide.”

Happy guests + dirty sheets + greywater + nature = delicious healthy apples

The Girdwood Alaska Backpackers Inn has an exciting common room that features a Little Martin guitar, a unique custom log bar with matching stools, two colorful handmade hula hoops, and a bookshelf that features a plethora of reading from Rod McKuen poetry to a book of black and white photos of Jacqueline Kennedy. Out of all features, the aquaponics project usually draws a crowd.

A lot of our guests are entertained by curiosity, nature, and knowledge. One guest commented about aquaponics, “It has all the entertainment thrills of a sports bar full of television screens. It just doesn’t have the deep fried onion rings.” Another guest wanted to know why I named the fish after Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. To me it’s obvious — Jackie O was so elegant that I want GABI guests to envision her, instead of a dirty little fish from tropics, defecating on their spinach .

The components of aquaponics include botany, horticulture, hydroponics, and photosynthesis.

Guests are encouraged to spend several days at GABI to learn about aquaponics. Below is a list of different ways to have fun with aquaponics devised by Sean Mullen, Cornell University:

1. Identify components of the biotic and abiotic environment

2. Learn to differentiate between heterotrophic and autotrophic organisms

3. Understand nutrient cycling (nitrogen cycling in particular)

4. Measure levels of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate

5. Measure plant growth

6. Construct graphs of nutrient levels and plant growth rates (can supply crayons, sharpies, and butcher paper)

7. Generate a poem about the impact of nutrients on plant growth and we’ll post it on our blog.

A play pen of horny rabbits is the only educational system that could possibly be more entertaining then aquaponics. Besides giving hostelers something to do when not exploring the Chugach Mountains, aquaponics…

1. Can inspire people to further their education as seen in the below video.

2. Will improve a person’s health. Doctors have known for years that simply placing an aquarium in a waiting room will lower patients’ blood pressure and anxiety while they wait to receive prescriptions for their anxiety and high blood pressure.

3. Can give a glimpse into what life will be like on Mars. Until McDonalds opens a restuarant on Mars, planetary pioneers are going to have to eat something. Nasa thinks aquaponics could be the answer.

4. Will provide a source of light and fresh vegetables during the long cold dark Alaskan winter.

For the past couple of years, I have had a desire to become a farmer. The aquaponics project has allowed me to start a small spinach, bamboo and basil farm. Here are some pictures of Weirdo’s Farm.

Weirdo's Farm and Cafe

Side view

Weirdo's fish are named Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

growing basil, spinach, broccoli, strawberries, bamboo

spinach and broccoli

Jackie O says, children who eat spinach will grow up Weird and Strong

There are many different aquaponic systems.  Because of space limitations and issues of aesthetics, Weirdo’s Farm is somewhat patterned off Earth Solutions aquaponic systems and an article found at Aquaponics.com.

Weirdo’s Farm and Cafe for one day is renaming the fish to Rebeca Suarez, Larry Whittle, Tara Hall, Mark Quinn, Tabor Kluza, Lynn Zeller, Cheri Darling-Perata, Annie Berical, Karlito Franz, Robin Doll, Jean Calomeni, Patricia Moore, and Mike Roberts.  In honor of friends who support Follettry.  THANK YOU!!

Thank You Jackie O

New Jackie O logo by Chris Mecham. Thanks Chris!

Goodnight! Sweet Dreams Sourdough!

After a good night's rest the sourdough looks forwards to being baked.

Sourdough, you will grow like a weed. In 40 minutes I won't even recognize you. Goodbye to youth.

Oh sourdough, you feel so warm. I wish I could cuddle in the cast iron with you.

Baker Brandon loves his sourdough and cast iron

Special thanks to sourdough!! You give Ken, Gabe, and Karin the necessary energy to explore the Central Coast.

Instructional Creepy Sourdough Video

The RECIPE

1 cup of starter
1 cup of salt
3 cups of flour
mix
cover the dough set out overnight

heat oven and cast iron at 475 degrees
spread floor on surface
poor dough onto counter
fold dough in from all 4 sides

place dough in cast iron
20 min with lid on
20 min with lid off

The Bridge Street Inn offers guests plenty of cast iron options

Need some Cast Iron cooking inspiration check out Cast Iron Idaho.

God in the Field performed by Veronica and the Mental Foreplays
Brandon Follett on vocals
Josh Kindelberger on guitar and bass

lyrics by Brandon Follett
music by Josh Kindelberger

Might have saw god in the solitude of a field.
Might have felt god in the grass between my toes.
Might have seen god in the undeveloped skyline.
Might have heard god in a blue jay’s chirp.
Not sure if I do believe in god
but at least I feel at peace.

The next year
a church had been built
in the field
where god might have been.
There I met a loud, guilt-driven, reincarnated Adam Smith.
He collected dollar bills
that read, “In God We Trust.”
He calls them testimonies of faith.

I told the preacher about the field
so he took me to the gift shop
and said, “You’ll find all that peace
in this consumer Jesus doll for $5.00.”
So I bought it.
He then proceeded to pray,
“May this Christ-like bobbling head
forgive your sins,
corporate salvation save your soul.”

Not sure if I believe in God
but do know I’ve been swindled.

Eating vegetarian in Idaho has its surprises.  Towns like Middleton, Kuna, and Emmett are surrounded by vegetables and fruit.  Despite the abundance of food most vegetarian choices on the menu taste like an unwanted step child.  If you’re not following here’s a different perspective.  Reader let’s pretend your a horny 20 something straight guy.  All day you walk along Venice Beach observing fields of women.  The sunny California female beach bathers have excited your taste buds.  Later that evening you are in the mood to hear some local music and talk to a beautiful woman.   You decide to check out the bar scene off the boardwalk.  The first bar plays techno music and claims to be the friendliest gay bar on Venice Beach.  You keep moving.  The second bar has Erasure night.  Buffed out men are dancing and mouthing the words,

“And if I should falter
would you open your arms out to me?
We can make love not war
and live at peace with our hearts.
I’m so in love with you
I’ll be forever blue”

You ponder what does forever blue mean to a bar full of guys?  Bar after bar packed with flirtatious men.  You are confused, the beach has field after field of women similar to Idaho small towns with field after field of fruit and vegetables.

Despite only observing cows in the Stanley basin, surprisingly a vegetarian can eat amazingly creative thought out meals from sun up to sun down.  I am so blown away that I might look for Mrs Right in San Francisco’s Castro District.

BREAKFAST

It’s Sept 14, Stanley Baking CO. & Cafe seems to be the most popular eatery at this time of day.  I get into line.  Clouds have socked in the Stanley Basin.  The Sawtooth Mountains are obscured from view.  I wonder will the seasonal disorder effect of no sunshine and the stress of a hopping eatery effect the cooks?  Distressed cooks and pigs don’t make good meals.  I start perusing the menu wall.  Holy moly a vegetarian has more choices than the typical cheese omelet, waffles, and pancakes.  A person can substitute real meat for fake meat.  Here’s the dish that made my vegetarian belly tremble.  This dish didn’t involve fake meat substitutions it’s the real deal.  A signature vegetarian dish called the “Mingas.”

“Our version of a Mexican breakfast.  Two eggs any style, tortilla chips, potatoes, green chilies, feta, provolone, jack cheese and black beans baked in a red New Mexican enchilada sauce & topped with homemade salsa.”  Eureka!

Despite a dark weather mood the chefs cooked like two happy pigs that go on daily walks and get their bellies scratched.

Click here to read the Stanley Baking Co. & Cafe omelet review.

LUNCH

I spent mid morning and early afternoon exploring the shore of Redfish Lake.  After some enjoyable hiking I stopped in at The Redfish Lodge for lunch.  The outdoor grill menu offers a veggie burger.  Before ordering I asked, “do you make your garden burger?”  To my surprise The Redfish Lodge services frozen garden burgers.  I decided to head down highway 75 to Smiley Creek Lodge.  Their website boasts homemade food which means no frozen veggie burgers.

When approaching The Smiley Creek Lodge an urban restaurant goer might keep driving.  City restaurants typically don’t have teepees, wood carved bear art, a gas station, and boast they sell non alcoholic beer.

Inside I’m quickly greeted by a friendly server named Lisa.  I ask her is the Abe’s Chair Garden Burger a fancy name for some pre made frozen veggie burger bought at Costco?  Lisa has incredible delivery on the same level of a comedian or motivational speaker.  She gave a long pausing smile then said, “Our chef makes the veggie burger.  The fries are home cut and the bun comes from Bigwood Bread.  After I take your order I think I’ll have an Abe’s Chair Garden Burger.”  Enough said!

Here’s the menu description.
Vegetable and bean patty, on a Bigwood Bread organic challah bun, topped with a cilantro jalepeno sauce.

DINNER

I am going to pose a question.  Would the Mona Lisa have the same impact tacked up on the wall of a mechanic shop framed by hotrods with models posing on the hoods?  I think not.  Great works of art are properly framed and the buildings that house the art are of the same awe inspiring level.

Welcome to the Sawtooth Hotel’s patio.  If you’re a mushroom lover and love the Sawtooth Mountains you’ll be enjoying a little piece of heaven.

“Mushroom Ragout wild and cultivated mushrooms stewed with fresh herbs and aromatic vegetables served with buttered orzo.”

An amazing dish like this served in a smokey truck stop won’t taste the same as enjoying it the presence of the Sawtooth Mountains.

Side note:  When preparing a menu for a smokey truck stop cafe does the chef ask questions like, “Would a roasted beet salad with spinach, goat cheese, toasted walnuts and a roasted garlic vinaigrette taste good with a Lucky Strike?”  After a moment of thought with a Lucky Strike in the left hand and a beet in the right hand the chef answers his question. “No, a Lucky Strike won’t compliment the taste of a beet but I’m sure a rocking chair, PBR, and The Sawtooth Mountains will.”

This song is dedicated to Claudia and Dallas, the pigs. They had a fun time running around Bowmont, ID up until they went to auction in the fall. Video of Veronica and the Mental Foreplays shot by Sam Counsil in Annie Berical’s living room. Special thanks to Jeni Rebeca Rivero Suarez of Mostecelo.

Click the below link to check out Veronica and the Mental Foreplays
http://earthwormenvy.wordpress.com/veronica-and-the-mental-foreplays/

Click the below link to check out Mostecelo
http://mostecelo.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-possible-tense

Angry bear wants to eat omelet eaters

While eating an omelet I face a mean looking bear with arms extended, menacing claws and a snarl that shows off large human eating size teeth.  I’m not afraid of a dead bear it’s just unnerving to be in a restaurant with an animal that looks like it wants to kill me in body and probably in spirit.  Maybe a slice of Kneedery’s organic Bigwood sourdough bread on top of the bears head followed by a tomato and lettuce would take the edge off.  The restaurant buzzes like a hive.  The server is polite but engages in short direct menu related talk.  I figure this isn’t the time to present my bear sandwich thought.  Instead I choose another chair at the table that faces this dowey eyed dead cow.  There that’s much better.

The Kneadery
260 Leadville Ave
Ketchum, Idaho

Neither “Veronica” nor Brandon Follett can break the rules, because there simply aren’t any that apply.  They are innocent.

Veronica and the Mental Foreplays, IS her imaginer Brandon Follett.  It’s as straightforward as a one to four person band, named after a blowup doll called Veronica.  Mechanistic Lover Veronica is the namesake.  Brandon Follett is the lyrical observer who spares neither humor nor suprise.

Toss the expectations – these is no preparation for this.

Brandon Follett’s uniquely explorative humor earned its own title “Follettry”.  His sideways observations socially enliven Jesus, earthworms, ribbed coffins and American presidents.  His entertainment smiles at the expense of safe values 1 Corinthians 13:13 And These Three Remain Faith, Hope and Love.  But the Greatest of These is LOVE

There are no hidden secrets – if Veronica is about mental foreplay, Follettry is about Brandon Follett touching all the untouched topics, purely for self entertainment.

Follett goes on with the show without apology.  Some give raving testimonials.  Other counter with “restimonials”.  His Mom has been telling him to put it to rest since Veronica’s debut in 2000.  ”Piss Poem” started as his apology to her but took a wrong turn along the way.  Ballad of Johnny is all turns.

“Oddly entertaining.”

It’s no just the lyrics, it’s not the music…it’s the Follettry.

Follett’s redefined take on “obvious” shines through his music, comedy, poetry, books and performances.  See a show, to see anew.

Talented musicians who have played with Veronica through out the years:

June 2011
Rebeca Suarez of Mostecelo on vocals, guitar, drums, tamborine

2002 to 2004
Josh Kindelberger on bass
Isaac Bonn on drums
Allyson Wuenschel on Viola
The four of us recorded the album No Room for Growth released in 2011.

Veronica at the Four E's Bar in Kuna, Idaho

2000 to 2002
Josh Kindelberger on bass

I heard Josh play bass and he heard my poetry and we new their was something special.  The beginnings of Veronica and the Mental Foreplays.  Josh in spirit still plays in the band.

Part restaurant review, part tour guide, this book offers pure entertainment in eloquent language that can be enjoyed by just about everyone.

Written like a memoir (the good kind), the book offers a glimpse into foreign food production, consumption and a healthy dose of social interaction and culture shock as well. It’s an objective look at travel and all it entails, offering tips and advice on how to get by. It also gives descriptions of local cuisine that can either repulse you or attract you, so reading it while hungry is a bad idea.

This book is well worth the money. Rich with well-worded descriptions and beautiful photos, this zine will satisfy the reader who has either travel-curiosity or no idea what to make for dinner (which, of course, would be omelettes).”

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WANTING TO READ A CLEVERLY WRITTEN BOOK ABOUT EATING OMELETS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA HERE’S YOUR OPPORTUNITY.

Click on one of the below links to purchase a copy:

Ipad
Android
Kindle
Bangkok Books

Front Cover

Sample Page

Back Cover

Recycling has a nice jingle when made into a coat.  Tim Andreae, Boise musician, shares this beautiful soundscape.

CLICH HERE to listen to Tim Andreae’s latest recordings.

CLICK HERE to learn about Green Works Idaho projects.