Eat the Water Hyacinth

Raw

     If you want to grow your own food, you may have to open up to the idea of eating some fruits and vegetables that are not commonly found at the grocery store. And if you live in Florida, you're going to be working with a whole different plant set and growing season changes than them Yankee gardeners. All this flexibility in diet isn't easy, most people eat the foods that they were raised eating and find trying new foods to be difficult.

     Water hyacinth is my new favorite local food. It's a water plant that grows in warm water, and is well known for how quickly it creates baby plants. In the past it has been used to pull toxins out of water sources, indeed, water purification is one of it's advantages. After I had added it to my pond the water instantly cleared and the fish became visible. Because the pond water is kinda yucky, I feel that water hyacinth should always be cooked, and I handle it like it's contaminated with E.coli (as it may be after the great manure spill of 2016). 

     According to Green Deane, the best way to eat water hyacinth is to stir fry, and I completely agree. With oil and garlic preferably. It has a taste not dissimilar from some good fresh green beans, which are hard to come by nowadays. The texture is decidedly different, as the air bulbs are crunchy and airy, like eating potato chips, and can be a bit chewy. Overall I would say that water hyacinth is quite palatable.

     Water hyacinth is very different from other fruits and vegetables. Because it is so unusual I couldn't get the kids to try it, what a shame! It's so easy to grow in the pond - right plant, right space - that is seems to be ever bearing. Like ever bearing crunchy green beans! Even if the kids never eat it, I know I can eat it and the rabbits do quite enjoy the green bits (they won't eat the roots.)

     This video talks a little bit about how water hyacinth is used at this lake to feed local livestock, including chickens.

 

Debunking the paleo diet: Christina Warinner at TEDxOU

     I have decided that every once in a while I will be sharing some videos of interesting, probably nerdy topics. Not all will be related to the food supply, but many will, since we all need to eat.
     This video espouses the common claims that it is even possible to approximate Paleolithic humankind's diet in our modern world. She points out many interesting facts, the most remarkable being the severe hybridization of our modern agricultural system. Our fruits and vegetables aren't what they once were. The end wraps up with a concise summary and plan for those who want to eat in a more paleolithic style.
     What is your opinion?

 

Azolla, Azolla spp.

 Uses: Edible, Fodder, Fertilizer. Native to: The Cretaceous Period, worldwide.
     This floating water plant is actually a tiny, prehistoric fern with amazing properties. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen due to its symbiotic relationship with cyanobacteria, like an aquatic version of our more common legumes. Due to its nitrogen-fixation, it is also an extremely protein-rich plant, making it an excellent choice for home-grown fodder. In fact, there are very few land-based livestock animals that will not eat azolla, if any. Chickens, rabbits, goats, ducks, and cows are reported to gorge on this aquatic plant.
     Historically it has been used as a wetland green manure crop in the warmer parts of Asia. In the spring when taro or rice is planted in the boglands, the azolla would be innoculated to the water's surface. There the little ferns would fix nitrogen and proliferate, crowding out any competing algae or weeds via shading. Since the rice and taro have most of their foliage above water-level, it does not hinder their growth. The azolla will thrive, then self-mulch, then die down when the cooler weather comes. The farmers harvest some and shelter it for next year's use. The green manure properties of azolla make it possibly the six most valuable ferns on the planet.

A close-up of the roots which hang into the water.

     It's culture is simple - grow it in clean still or gentle water. Wind and water turbulence can fragment and destroy azolla, so sometimes floating beds are used. Like duckweed, under the right conditions it can become weedy if it escapes into waterways, so care should be taken to prevent escape. Since it provides it's own nitrogen, phosphorous can be a limiting factor to optimal growth. "The symptoms of phosphorous deficiency are red-coloured
fronds (due the presence of the pigment anthocyanin), decreased growth and curled
roots." A quick search of the webs reveals a superior organic source of high quality phosphorous can be made by burning animal bones at high temperatures to ashes. Never has a rocket mass heater in florida sounded more appealing!
     Azolla species can be used as a very nutritious survival food for humans, but it will need to be cooked to destroy any pathogens that might be living in the watery growing media. For animals, this compilated table shows it to have 16.5% crude protein and a bevy of other useful vitamins, like leucine and alanine. This Australian study lists many of the benefits of using azolla as a large-scale fodder source, but points out a simple drawback to commercial production - that contamination of the plantings by tiny freshwater shrimp can occur. This accidental animal protein renders the azolla illegal to sell as a feed source for ruminants in Australia, as they have strict legislation prohibiting animal proteins for ruminant consumption there. They also recommend the azolla be fed fresh or refrigerated, but within a week of harvest.
     A very nice synopsis of azolla research here.

Some free aquatic snail contamination.

I don't speak this language, but the video is very informative even muted.

Chicken Rules for Hernando

"A divided county commission voted Tuesday to allow chickens in residential areas but tacked on several restrictions that call for neighbor buy-in and assured residents the new ordinance doesn’t supersede existing deed restrictions.

They also capped the number of backyard chickens to four per household and required the owner keep the coop out of view from neighbors."

      According to my source (the chicken lady herself), the permits are $100 with an additional $25 inspection fee. Safe to say the people already keeping chickens illegally will probably not be wasting their time and money on the permits.

Easter Eggs Done Right

Technique 1: Get Some Eggs from some chickens.

     Boil the eggs in with your dye solution, generally with vinegar added to mordant the colors to the eggshell.  Let the eggs cool in the dye solution, overnight is ok. Wrapping onion skin around the egg will make a marbling effect. Secure any stickers or flowers by wrapping the individual egg in nylon or cheesecloth. Speckle eggs by adding oil to the dye bath.
     Pictured here from left to right: orange marbling with yellow onion skins, wrapped and boiled, yellow egg dye made with celery and Bidens alba / Tradescantia flowers, blue egg dye made with purple cabbage and Tradescantia flowers, orange and purple marbling with yellow and red onion skins, wrapped and boiled.

• Red Cabbage - Bright Blue
• Beets - Pink
• Yellow Onion Skins - Orange
• Turmeric/Saffron, Celery Leaves - Yellow
• Grape Juice - Bluish Purple
• Grass/Sedge Leaves - Green
• Cranberries - Pale Pink
• Blackberries - Pale Purple

Technique 2: Get your eggs from some rabbits.

Technique 3: After the rabbits hides your eggs, send the kids out to find them and then prepare Die Eier von Satan (Deviled Eggs).

Chrissy Speaks at Chicken Meeting

     First, I would like to thank all the county workers for the excellent job they are doing in light of the decreased property tax revenue. County services do not seem to be diminished in the least.
     I would like to remind everyone present that not every household in Hernando County is going to be keeping chickens. I estimate that it will be less than one household per block, especially considering the high numbers of vacant houses and rentals.
      I would like to publicly remind everyone that the City of Tampa and the City of St. Petersburg have had chicken ordinances for years and years, without causing any additional noise or pollution.
      My family and I would ask that the requirements and restrictions for the chicken coops be left deliberately vague, providing that no existing building codes are violated. We would like to creatively confine our hens to promote the best health and sanitation practices. Confinement is absolutely necessary to protect hens from predators, but it does not mean hens should be disallowed from exercise and sunlight. Creativity in coop building is key.
     I feel that if a community wants to restrict chickens then they should come together to form a homeowners association.
      We are also wondering why only four hens are allowed? In addition to my husband and daughter I have two sets of elderly parents and many elderly neighbors here in Spring Hill who will not be able to care for chickens, but I can. Perhaps a special permit could be possible to allow more hens.
     Fresh, locally produced eggs are a gateway to good nutrition for our most vulnerable populations - small children and the elderly.

   I was also wondering if the commissioners would be opposed to a gardening group planting young trees to beautify our public schools? Some of our schools are decidedly devoid of shade and beauty.

Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting 2/26/13 09:00 am Scroll to 33:00.

Follow-up email:

To the Hernando County Florida Board of County Commissioners,

I was shocked to hear the disapproving comments of the construction and realty interests regarding the decision to allow chickens in residential areas of Herrnando. They could bring no proof whatsoever that chickens will, in fact, be detrimental to property values in Hernando County.

I, on the other hand, can absolutely prove that chickens will be a boon to Hernando County. Rural King will be moving into a vacant eyesore of a building, and renovating it, and providing jobs to 60-80 employees. That's about 70 people who will be able to provide for their families, something West Hernando desperately needs. The business will be generating sales taxes to fund our critical infrastructure. It will also be drawing business from West Pasco and West Citrus, as these areas are underserved by feed and supply stores.

The Hernando County farmer's market is a wild success, and it is a place where locals can come together to sell home-grown products. There are many booths there selling home-baked or crafted goods, again, good for our economy and providing income for the unemployed.

Perhaps the construction industry could view the new ordinance as a revenue source. There will, no doubt, be many households that will want hens for nutrition reasons but will be unable to build an appropriate structure.

Some of the realtor's concerns focused on deed-restricted communities. I do not live in a deed-restricted community, but if I did, I would insist on having a Home Owner's Association to protect my property from any neighbor who might want to build an ugly structure. But, I say again, there is no evidence that a few well-tended chickens lower property values.

Again, the city of St. Petersburg, Tampa, Ocala, Orlando, Melbourne, Jacksonville, Fernandina Beach, Escambia County and many other areas allow backyard chickens. These areas do not have issues with vermin, odor, or noise. All require the chickens to be confined at all times.

The cost-to-feed ratio: Assuming the hens are mature and laying, and assuming one egg per 6 ounces of feed, you can get approximately 133 organic eggs from one 50-pound bag or chicken feed, which is approximately $15 from Rural King. 133 organic eggs will cost you at least $35, if not more. And the eggs will not be fresh; time does degrade the quality of the nutrition.

Texas A & M fact sheet about Backyard Chickens shows that backyard eggs have more  poly-unsaturated fat (healhy fats like Omega-3s) and anti-oxidants than regular eggs.

Cambridge Study about Organic Egg Nutrition Content.

It was mentioned in the meeting that there are places in the county to buy farm-fresh eggs, and that is true. However, the locations mentioned by the woman do not exist. There are no farmer's markets on County Line Road that sell eggs. There are no farmer's markets, farm stands, or CSA locations at or near grocery stores serviced by THE BUS. There are no grocery stores in the county that sell farm-fresh, local, organic eggs. Auro community gardens is not near any residential areas with a high population. Most of the population of Hernando County lives in greater Spring Hill and Brooksville, outside of gated communities.

Thank you for your consideration and open-mindedness in this matter. We plan on coming to the next meeting to hear what you decide.

Hernando County to finally allow chickens in backyards

     In an amazing victory for personal liberty the other day, commissioners voted unanimously to allow backyard chickens in residential areas of Hernando County. Areas which have additional zoning restrictions such as named or incorporated areas with HOA's still have their own problems.
     There is going to be some time taken to decide how many chickens and where coops can be located. I'm unclear on exactly who is deciding these issues, also it brings up more questions like chicken culling on your own property. Cleanliness. Size of fencing. Proximity to easements. Animal control.
     So when can I get my duck?  :)

Hernando moves forward on allowing chickens