Chain Links No. 3: Gardening and garden-based eating links for late summer
Congee comfort, a truly free press, 'synbio heme,' urban farming woes, fermented peach salsa, and more.
By Lisa Brunette
This month’s link roundup includes two audio offerings, a couple of intoxicating tales, and a cookie recipe penned by a medieval saint. Enjoy!
Restacks
My congee recipe holds the coveted No. 1 spot in our top five posts of all time. So when
of broke out with this sweet little take on the stewish tonic, I had to read it.The next Substack’s not about gardening or eating per se, though
has covered a few related topics, such as this story on the scientific bias plaguing climate-change research, this stunning report on light pollution, and this fun post about a 22-year-old who up and buys a farm.But given our culture’s deeply disturbing embrace of censorship, I was really taken with their clarion call for a truly free press.
I’ve been inspired by
’s copious harvests and have enjoyed conversing with on both our Substacks’ comment sections.
Further afield
Just as urban farming seems to be on the rise, the federal government might yank all funding. (Civil Eats)
We’re considering turning part of our basement into a root cellar. This how-to will sure come in handy if we do. (Mother Earth News)
This article on the substances that make up today’s veggie burgers—such as “synbio heme,” which mimics the bloody umami quality of meat—makes me really glad I’m no longer a vegetarian. But hey, if that’s your jam, you can opt for the non-GMO versions. (Non-GMO Project)
Published in print since 1990, GreenPrints is under new ownership and has migrated 100 percent online. While I mourn the death of the cute little paperback I could hold in my hands, I welcome the new audio versions of their stories, for example, “The Green Wars,” from the latest issue. Publication frequency is increasing from four issues per year to monthly. (GreenPrints)
Brunette links
I was a recent guest on the Dodcast, the thoughtful podcast component of
’s intriguing Substack, . We discuss a wide range of gardening topics, from biodynamics to permaculture.
Brunette Gardens crossed over the one-year mark!
From the vault
“The melodrama is intoxicating in this saga about the Mondavi wine dynasty” stands out from my days as a hopeful Seattle journalist, writing for the Post-Intelligencer. It never ceased to be a thrill to run out to the paper dispenser on the street corner at press time to get a print copy. I might have held it up to my nose and inhaled the ink.
Event
I enjoyed our visit to the Ozarks Homesteading Expo so much, I can’t help gazing wistfully at this National Ladies Homestead Gathering next month in Wallace, Idaho.
Recipes
Someone should really make a movie about this saint—and her cookies. (I’m available to write the screenplay, if anyone from Hollywood is reading this, and to the six literary agents who regularly read this Substack, this is your official nudge.) (Atlas Obscura)
We’ve been seriously upping our fermentation game this year, and this fermented nectarine salsa is now on the list. (Hobby Farms)
End-of-summer sale
Chelsea Green, leading publisher of books about organic farming, gardening, homesteading, sustainable living, and more, is having one heckuva blowout sale right now, in case you want to stock up on winter reading material (we might earn a small commission at no cost to you via the affiliate link; see our policy).
Thanks for the shout out! The garden exceeded my expectations. I'm putting the finishing touches on my root celler, which wiil be its own post.. Here is to more sharing....
Thanks for the shout out. Made my day!