June 30 Protest, Vegan Taco Boats, and Avo Pit Sprouting
It's been along time learning, but I've finally perfected the art of growing your own avocado tree. For those who are interested.
Sprouting avocado pits in soil is the only way to go. I've learned this after years of trying water sprouting. Water sprouting (think of the old days when we sprouted pits using toothpicks and a glass of water) is sketchy at best. New plants are usually weak, and eventually, they must be transferred to soil, and avos don't like transplanting. I've lost too many pretty little plants to even the most careful transplant efforts.
Sprout your avo pit in the pot you intend to keep it in for the long term. Choose a lightweight potting soil with lots of drainage. Compost is rich in nutrients, but too heavy. And be patient: it can take a couple of months before the pit germinates. Keep the soil moist but not wet. Here's a pic of one of our baby avo trees in the kitchen:
Once the pit germinates, give it regular feedings of a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer. Tender young avo trees don't like direct sun, but a mature tree loves it. Bring the tree indoors in winter and keep in the sunniest window in your home. Don't overwater in winter, and fertilize only once midway through the season.
Prune when the tree is about a year old, from the top, to encourage a bushier tree and discourage apical dominance. Use scissors or clippers sterilized with rubbing alcohol.
I've been obsessed with avo trees for years. I've sprouted pits, and gave the small trees as gifts to friends. The tree may never give fruit, but it's the coolest thing to have. There is in fact a whole following to this: there are online forums and fan groups of gardeners who get a thrill from sprouting avo pits all year long. We're a strange lot.
Want to share a pic of last night's dinner. We made vegan taco boats using tortilla boats filled with our own garden romaine lettuce, carrots, avocado, onion, and green peppers, topped with our own home sprouted daikon radish seeds, and sriracha sauce. They were rich, spicy, and crunchy. So satisfying. Afterwards, my husband and I cooled down our scorching mouths down with orange ice pops.
Heads up: there will be a National Day of Action peaceful protest in nearby Deep River, Connecticut June 30 to voice support for immigrant rights. I'll be there, with my best friend and many others - balls out, and protest signs high. If you're in the area, stop by. You'll make new friends, get new ideas, and do the good work of democracy.
But this is a national event, so make some signs and get to your local protest next weekend.
Why protest? Protest is fundamental to human rights and a democratic society. We should all be doing the work of advancing human rights. Protesting provides and essential voice for citizens and breaks the back of dominant discourses in government and other bodies of power. And sometimes, we win in ways we never intended.
Barbie xo
