Aimee Markowski

Umngqusho - Samp and Beans

After reading Walden by Thoreau and these posts on fresh vs old,  I'm inspired to grow my own beans.

I've been craving traditional food from home so will be soaking sugar/speckled beans and samp (big hard white corn kernal)

Then will cook in Dutch oven on stove with bones,  boil then simmer.  Later will add onions,  little bit of mild curry powder, salt  butter and potatoes which is important to get that creamy taste from samp and beans.

You can add tomatoes,  carrots and other ingredients if you like but sometimes,  simple is better.

Thanks for the welcome Suzanne, Sara and Mart.

Mart - Thanks for the links. I had a look at the sites and they are not for me. I will feel like a heathen and things will get awkward if I get involved.

I do appreciate links to Florida people. Learning about Florida aspects is helpful. Hopefully there are more secular spaces out there.

Sara and Suzanne - I'm flattered that anyone would be interested in my journey and would love to share milestones and accomplishments.

Let's hope I get to put those trees in the ground one day!

Lovely people here - Lots of love.

Thank you guys!

It's such a lovely feeling to be welcomed.

I appreciate the advice and finding the balance between what looks good and creating a yield will be a great learning experience.

I have a few things I have grown from seed: A couple of avocado trees, some lemon trees and a mango tree. I have been told that my seeds from store bought fruit may not yield the fruit I originally ate.

I am trying to manage my expectations and still planting seeds for the hell of it. If the tree dies, so be it. If I have to graft later on, then there is practice in that.

I'm on a tight budget at the moment. I have been waiting for my US work authorization for 5 months so trying to be as frugal as I can. I'm hoping it comes any day now so I can get a remote job and build cool things like water systems and buy nice seeds and plants.

The local plant exchange has been good too and there are seeds at the library as well. I am grateful for that and the warm hospitality of American people.

Hi All

What a surprise to find this site! My name is Aimee, I am originally from South Africa.

We're staying in the states for a while and figuring out where we will eventually settle. At the moment, we are renting a house in Florida and because we are renting, I can't go too wild in the garden.

I'm trying to find a balance between lawn culture and sneaking in some things on the borders of the driveway and paths.

We will be buying a house in about 6 months and I am very excited to have a bit more freedom. I have some saplings in pots in preparation.

My husband is focused on resale value and I am focused on food yield and cyclic systems. I see some persuasion and convincing ahead.

Hopefully one day, I can buy my own place outright and just do my thing. This has been my biggest challenge since I discovered permaculture and I imagine for many other people as well. I see Heather Jo Flores finally got her very own place. So happy for her.

Glad to be here. I hope to learn and connect more, not just online but in person too.

Cheers!