Gardening connects you to the past, present and future. The garden is where the wilderness and civilization meet. The gardener's job is to maintain the balance between chaos and order. Sustainable gardeners seek to understand the interactions between the elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit.
I think that the answer to the question: Why are we (humans) here?; is to garden. We are the builders of soil, and through our work we learn how Nature performs the vast number of functions (air and water purification and circulation, for example,) that she does, continuously. Our role is to tend the garden cooperatively with the Natural forces that are already at work, insects, worms, spiders, birds, trees, and on and on.
We may never grasp the totality of the processes that are taking place. I am okay with that, mystery and curiosity feed creativity and learning.
This week we begin our exploration of herbs and their possibilities, with a reprint of an article from July 26,2002.
"the pesto manifesto; Recipes for Basil & Beyond"
by Laurel Nazzaro
isbn: 1-890132-95-0
Basil has to be my favourite herb. I grow several varieties both indoors and out. This is one reason that I was delighted to come across Lorel Nazzaro's delightful book, "the pesto manifesto, recipes for basil & beyond".
Nazzaro begins with the intimate connection between basil and pesto, basil being pesto's prime ingredient. It is possible that the relationship between basil and pesto is similar to the relationship between basil and tomatoes, the one will not thrive without the other. Accept no substitutes.
Basil is known as the "King of Herbs" (p.2). Its botanical name, Ocimum basilicum, derives from the Greek okimon (smell) and basilikos (king). (p.2) The herb has a rich folkloric past and Nazzaro provides the reader with an overview into its colourful history. In addition to sharing some of basil's folklore with the reader the author also gives us a family profile which invites us into the wide world of basil and all its family.
Throw in growing and harvesting tips and this book provides us with all we need to know to begin our adventure with this ancient plant. Nazzaro does not stop there, however, from pesto bread to potato salad, this manifesto is chock full of delicious recipes, some quite risque, (Fish and Chips with pesto tartar sauce), which we can try.
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