Food Ark

National Geographic, Photograph by Jim Richardson of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault

I read in the National Geographic about a fascinating effort to store seeds safely to preserve biodiversity. This effort started in 1926 by Russian botanist Nikolay Vavilov.

The National Geographic reports, "Vavilov was obsessed from an early age with ending famine in both his native Russia and the world. In the 1920s and '30s he devoted himself to gathering seeds on five continents from the wild relatives and unknown varieties of the crops we eat, in order to preserve genes that confer such essential characteristics as disease and pest resistance and the ability to withstand extreme climate conditions.

He also headed an institute (now called the Research Institute of Plant Industry, in St. Petersburg) tasked with preserving his burgeoning collection—what amounted to the first global seed bank." 1,400 seed banks are established around the world today.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault which provides an earthquake-free zone  and the collections are stored in a permanently chilled, 400 feet above sea level, ensuring that the seeds will remain high and dry even if the polar ice caps melt.

What a great way to preserve food. I wonder if they give tours.

Garden Planning 2012

Start planning your garden today

Ordering seed catalogs can be great for ordering seeds and a great resource of information.

The Maine Potato Lady

Italian Seed and Tool Company

Burpee

John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds 

Pinetree Garden Seeds 

Sweet Potato Corn Bread with BBQ Beans

Here is just one more way to eat Sweet Potato Corn Bread...

BBQ Beans

1½ lb. hamburger, cooked

1 16 oz. can kidney beans
1 15 oz. can pork and beans
1 cup ketchup
1 cup brown sugar
3 T. vinegar
1 tsp. salt

Combine ingredients in slow cooker. Cook for 4 to 6 hours.

 I just read something crazy in a magazine. For $35,000 dollars you can reserve a share in an Indiana "underground shelter network for long-term survival of future catastrophies." This includes a years supply of fuel, water, food, and clothing. Bunkers are in four states and pets can stay for free! Well, this is not for me, but I really want someone to make a movie about what this senerio would be like...If you want to see the scary video advertisment for this place visit terravivos.com.

Rotation Gone Wrong

I recently realized my evaporated milk had been a bit neglected in my cupboard. Seeing that the expiration dates where drawing closer, I took action. I made a lot of soup. I also tried to substitute evaporation milk for regular milk in some of my baking recipes.

Saturday I made Sweet Potato Corn Bread. It called for buttermilk, so I used evaporated milk, water{to dilute the thickness of the evaporated milk} and then lemon juice {to ferment the evaporated milk into buttermilk}. It worked perfectly. And using this made the recipe completely shelf stable.

This bread is not sweet, just like corn bread, it is best served with honey butter. We ate this with spaghetti last night and tonight we are eating the rest with chili. We loved it.

Sweet Potato Corn Bread
1 box (2 pouches) Betty Crocker Sweet Potatoes
2 cups yellow cornmeal
2 cups flour
2 T. sugar
2 T. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground allspice
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 1/4 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup water
2 T. lemon juice
4 T. powdered eggs
8 T. water, for powdered eggs
6 T. oil

Prepare sweet potatoes as directed on the package except that they are prepared only with 1 1/2 cups water, not the milk and butter.

In a bowl combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, allspice, and cinnamon.

Combine lemon juice and evaporated milk and let sit 2 minutes, to create the buttermilk. In a large bowl, pour mixture into a bowl and add water, powdered eggs, water for eggs, oil and sweet potatoes. Mix well.

Add cornmeal mixture and stir just until combined. Do not over mix. Batter will be slightly lumpy. Pour batter into greased 9x13 pan.

Bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Serve with honey butter.