Photo Study: Monongahela Bark

These pictures were all taken during a visit in August 2010 to the Monongahela 
deep in the mountains of West Virginia...

   

“Get to know a tree...talk to a tree.  

Your neighbors will think your weird, but its ok...you’re an artist.“

- Bob Ross

"Trees outstrip most people in the extent and depth of their work for the public good." 

- Sara Ebenreck

"I willingly confess to so great a partiality for trees as tempts me to respect a man in exact proportion to his respect for them. " - James Russell Lowell

               

  "The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." 
- Nelson Henderson

"Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, 

then names the streets after them." - Bill Vaughn

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.  The next best time is now. "

- Chinese Proverb

"There are rich counsels in the trees." - Herbert P. Horne

 

"Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky,
We fell them down and turn them into paper,
That we may record our emptiness."
  - Kahlil Gibran

"Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money." - Cree Indian Proverb

“What is an oak tree except an acorn that stood it's ground.” - J. Duplantis

 

 "I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beech-tree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among the pines."  - Henry David Thoreau

“[God] loved birds and invented trees. Man loved birds and invented cages.” - Jacques Devall      ~ 

Kitchen Alchemy: Health-Nut Snack Mix

This is a healthier version of the common snack mix. Here it is pre-baked:

Take a box of organic, multi-grain squares cereal (Cascadian Farms makes a great one) and mix it with 2/3 to 3/4 c. each of these organic nuts:  walnuts, cashews, almonds, peanuts, and pecans.  I used raw nuts as I figure we will be roasting them, so raw ones are going to start with more nutrition (versus roasting them twice).

In a separate container, melt 6 Tbspn. of organic ghee (better for you than butter), then blend with 2 Tbspn. of organic Worcestershire sauce (Annie's Naturals makes a good one), 1 1/2 tspn. sea salt, 3/4 tspn. garlic powder, and 1/2 tspn. onion powder.

Next, stir this into the cereal and nut mix until thoroughly coated. Spread onto large baking sheet and bake for 1 hr., stirring every 15 mins.

This makes about 10 delicious cups of the snack mix - plenty to munch and share!


Option: You can use any nuts or seeds or dried fruit you wish, using about 2 c. total. For instance: pumpkin seeds, hazel nuts, raisins, soynuts, dried cranberries, etc. I went with the classic nut blend in an effort to copy the usual mix - but make it a healthier version.  I can imagine lots of possibilities for different tasting blends.  A sweet and salty mix would be great, or even a coconut and chocolate mix...  You could even try different cereals...

As you've noticed, I recommend using organic ingredients whenever possible as they are better for you and the greater environment.  Enjoy!