Prez. Hall Hosts First Raw Foods Class

Yesterday I took a Raw Food Fundamentals class at Preservation Hall, offered by FarmMaid Foods. The course was taught by Katie Reed, who explained how food allergies had led her to a radical change in diet and a near total embrace of raw foods. She announced that the two-hour course would provide basic recipes and tips towards sustaining a raw food lifestyle. Since I have heard eating raw foods leads to improved health, I was all ears, as were the other five ladies who had signed up for the course.

First off, Katie showed us how to make a green smoothie with a Vita-prep mixer. We all got to taste and, I must say, it was delicious. (I will make mine in my Cuisinart.)

Next on the menu: kale salad. We learned how to massage the greens, which changed texture and reduced in volume. Katie shared her special dressing with vegetable base and warned us against vinegar, which ends all enzyme activity. Katie added slices of cucumber and orange peppers, cherry tomatoes, then finally sprouts and hemp seeds. Check out how pretty the salad looks in this paper bowl! The dish was so good I requested seconds.

Ever made sauerkraut? If not, you should learn. Boy, was it easy! Several of the attendees helped Katie massage one pound of organic cabbage to which one tablespoon of salt had been added. Then the chef wrung out the shredded cabbage and placed it in a mason jar, just covering with the rendered liquid. She pointed out how economical this sauerkraut is: the cost of one pound of organic cabbage!

Finally the potential raw food converts were treated to an uncooked brownie, whose main ingredient was walnuts. I noted the rocking motion of the food processor, which Katie explained helped keep the walnuts from turning to butter. Would I be able to imitate her technique at home? I sure hope so!

Katie admitted that it is hard to source ingredients on the Cape. She had brought some of the nuts and cacao powder, necessary for the desserts, and made these crucial ingredients available for purchase after the course.

While cooking, Katie spewed raw food tips. For instance, refrigerate your walnuts lest they go rancid and use a certain type of Agave instead of sugar. She also recommended several raw food cookbooks, which we all duly noted.

Prez. Hall will host more raw food classes this fall. Already scheduled, “Asian Fusion” and “Breakfast Reinvented,” next Sunday. Guess which one I’m taking!

Thoughts on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11

How many of us looked up at the blue sky yesterday and remembered the unimaginable tragedy that unfolded ten years ago at the World Trade Center? Sven and I were home that day, and construction of our studio was under way. It is one of those rare times, like President Kennedy’s assassination, that we all remember exactly what we were doing at the moment those planes crashed into the World Trade Center. Our whole society changed dramatically that day.

9/11 touched Wellfleet in a personal way: two residents were murdered. For nine years there was a bronze memorial plaque at the post office, but it has disappeared, so I cannot give you both names. I only know the back story for one of the victims. Berry Berenson boarded American Airlines Flight 11 in Boston, to fly to Los Angeles and see family. I always thought, how crazy: that could have happened to me.

On this day of remembrance, we also need to think about the folks who tried to rescue those who died that day. You may have heard that the 9/11 responders do not receive health coverage that covers cancer. Congress should be ashamed of this decision.

I scratched my head last week as I read a Boston Globe headline: “Ground zero dust study finds no death increase.” How different from the treatment in the Guardian: “World Trade Centre rescuers at higher risk of cancer, Lancet reveals.” It was fascinating to me to compare the two reports on the exact same news. How could they be so different? The Guardian further stated, “The cancers are various, but the most common were those of the skin, prostate, thyroid and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The authors say a link between exposure to the pollutants given off by the World Trade Centre and cancer is biologically plausible because ‘some contaminants in the WTC dust, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and dioxins, are known carcinogens.’”

Everyone knows breathing in toxic dust at ground zero cannot have been good for health.

There was also an article in today's New York Times on the dust, and what the paper calls, "the greatest environmental disaster in New York's history."

This week CNN’s senior health reporter Sanjay Gupta even did a special called "Terror in the Dust." I have not yet seen it but hope to.

Where were you on 9/11? Do you see 9/11 as the day that changed the world forever?

OUR Beach?

So many people have gone home for the start of the school year that Wellfleet already feels deserted after the incredible influx of folks on vacation all summer, non-residents, tourists, summer people. When I saw Sharyn Lindsay yesterday, she said, "Good to have our town back, isn't it?" We totally agree. Sven and I took a walk at LeCount yesterday. Over dinner, my husband said to me, "It was nice to walk on the beach when there weren't so many people. It's like OUR beach." I could only agree.

Do any of you readers, who live here, feel the same way?

LeCount Hollow, Today

Standing With ChicoBag!

Did you hear? ChicoBag is being sued by three plastic bag manufacturers. I support alternatives to plastic bags and HEART this small California-based company. I have kept a ChicoBag in my purse for four years now. I take the bag out whenever I go shopping. It's a great invention. The bag folds up and fits into a pouch. Sometimes I forget my basket. But, I can always whip out my ChicoBag. In fact, I have two. In this photo, you can see how small the pouch is and light-weight. I was even thinking of having some made up as gifts for 2012 guests at Chez Sven.

Please sign the petition started by leading environmental and civic organizations in defense of ChicoBag. Reusable bags are so much better for the environment than single-use plastic!

(This post is part of the Patchwork Living Blogging Bee at Frugal Kiwi and Attainable Sustainable).

Why Innkeepers Need an Occasional Break

Psst. Don’t tell anybody, but Sven and I took a day off yesterday and, boy, did we enjoy it. How delightful to relax after a very busy Labor Day weekend! No Main House guests until late this afternoon. Yesterday night, I settled two businessmen into the cottage for the night. The weather is not ideal, but at least Cape Cod has been spared the heavy rain that caused flooding in Pennsylvania today. The businessmen were going to stay in Liberty Coin Suite, but I was able to give them an upgrade, since no one had booked the cottage. They were very happy with their accommodation. I’m glad I could offer this upgrade, but even more pleased that Sven and I have our home back for a short period. That’s the thing: when you run a B&B in a private home, sometimes your personal space gets reduced dramatically. The last group of folks even commandeered the living room. I was glad they were happy but equally glad to see them leave. Why? We always feel a responsibility towards our guests, so cannot totally relax when the house is full. Why? An innkeeper is on call 24 hours a day.

What’s more, innkeepers must be on best behavior at all times. After weeks and weeks of best behavior, the urge to let loose creeps up on you. For a day or two, we can do whatever we want, make as much noise as we want, choose when to wake up and when to go to sleep … After a couple days of R&R, we'll be ready to interact with new guests again.

Any innkeepers out there have suggestions on how to get the most out of a break?

Outer Cape Wildlife Quiz

What wildlife exists on the Outer Cape? Can you name three wild animals? Probably, most of you thought coyotes, foxes, and racoons. We also have squirrels, chipmunks, and deer. Right? Oh, and Thanksgiving is coming in a couple months, so let’s not forget the wild turkeys that wander onto the roads from time to time, almost as tame as the foxes. What else? There aren’t many rabbits anymore because of the influx of predators. Swimming in our ponds we have, besides mercury-laden fish and frogs … turtles! Yes, and my granddaughter got to hold one this summer. (Remember how she loved the tadpoles in Dyer Pond? Same for the turtles. Note, she threw both back.)

Last but not least, I must mention a recent arrival, an animal that we actually saw lurking in the yard one day. Fisher cats. Not so pleased with this new predator that sneaks into fox and coyote dens to find supper. The fisher cats make a dreadful screech in the night that sounds like a neighbor’s wife being murdered. This creature does not have predators, so chances are they will multiply.

Can anyone think of a wild animal I forgot to mention?

After Dancing With Irene ...

Several weeks ago Sven and I walked up LeCount Hollow Beach, as we are wont to do. We like to go as far as the Marconi site, then turn around and walk back. When we had nearly reached our destination, we came upon a whimsical collection of driftwood, arranged like a ship at the foot of the dune. There were even benches to sit on and rest a while. I particularly enjoyed the dummy who stood guard. He was wearing a life vest, with a crushed aluminum can in one pocket. The beachcomber had given him seaweed for hair and a snorkeling mask as a face. Someone spent a lot of time scavenging flotsam and laboring over this creation. The least I could do was take a few photos and share them on this blog.

When we returned this week, Irene had visited the beach and danced off with the guard, whose vest was nowhere in sight. Check out the power of the waves. All that remains is the tallest timber of the ship's mast ...

Two Comments: One Positive, One Negative

Happy Labor Day, everyone!

In August, a blog reader bothered to comment on a very old post. It was about which Wellfleet’s kettle ponds are personal favorites. Anonymous wrote in the comment, “I figure Sven's must be Great Pond since he goes down on our private beach every year and sits in our chairs and enjoys the view without ever leaving even a note of thanks.”

It is true that during the spring, fall, and winter, we sometimes walk around the ponds. It’s quiet, peaceful, and deserted. No one is around. All the second-home owners have gone home to the city where they live. The beauty of the National Seashore is free for all to enjoy. The words “private beach” make no sense at such moments.

Sven, who is 73, sometimes gets tired and will rest while I take photos for this blog. And, yes, sometimes he sits down on a log, overturned boat, chair, or whatever happens to be handy. The world needs more generous-minded folks, like my husband. Private beaches do not exist in Sweden, his country.

Mean-spirited comments are very rare, thank goodness. At about the same time, I was contacted by a high school friend who found me through an ad for the bed & breakfast and calls herself a “fan” of this blog. Charlotte wrote, “I’ve just returned from the internet café in the little seaside town of Rapallo, in Liguria, where I’m staying for most of August. I went to check my e-mail and your daily blog entry. I don’t know how you do it. All the hard work and long hours in running a successful B&B are truly admirable. You’re a veritable Wonderwoman!”

You can easily guess which comment made my day. Much nicer to be compared to Wonderwoman than criticized for trespassing, don’t you think?

When Truro is the Place to Be

The place to be, for one day each summer, here on Cape Cod, is not Wellfleet, it's Truro. And, that day has come. Today the neighboring town celebrates agriculture in a big way with its third annual Ag Fair. People are being asked to carpool, or take the bus, as parking is very limited, and the plan for 2011 is to make the center of town pedestrian only. It is for this reason that I will probably not journey down Route 6 this year, although I have loved going in the past. Let me clarify: one can no longer zip in and zip out. I have too much already on my plate today. Still, I'd love a slice of pie. Pie-eating contests, great veggies, everything organic, farm animals... If you are looking for a fun way to spend a couple hours en famille, take in the Truro Ag Fair!

Cape Cod Featured in Wall Street Journal

Today the Wall Street Journal describes Cape Cod as the ideal fall destination and suggests what to do if you have only three days to explore, say this Labor Day weekend, for instance. Wellfleet gets visited on Sunday afternoon. Restaurants chosen are PB and Wicked Oyster. The reporter also recommends the bike trail and Duck Harbor Beach. This is an interesting choice because so few people know how wonderful Duck Harbor is. I always mention Duck Harbor to guests, especially anyone here with children. The waves are less frightening, for one thing. The beach is usually deserted. You can still find shells. The professional photographer did not do such a great job, in my opinion, but then it is hard to capture Duck Harbor in a photo. A long time ago, I wrote a post about why Duck Harbor Beach is so special. It's a good post, worth reading again. Check it out.

Did you like the WSJ article? Have you visited Duck Harbor?

Join the Movement to Regulate Toxic Chemicals

Walking at Newcomb Hollow last month, I noticed residue from boogie boards had washed up on the beach. What are boogie boards made of? The material looks suspiciously like polystyrene to me. Styrene is a known carcinogen.

Let's think about health a different way today. Imagine for a moment that HEALTH stands for

Help
Eradicate
A
Life-
threatening
Hazard.

I’m talking toxic chemicals. They are everywhere and must be regulated. We do not need them in our environment.

I received a comment on a recent blog post that neighbors were posting “Organic Lawn” signs, the way people used to post “Just Fertilized.” This gives me hope. But how far we must travel to take advantage of the legislation, proposed by Senator Kerry and Senator Moran (Endocrine-disruptive Chemicals Exposure Elimination Act) and Senator Lautenberg (Safe Chemicals Act)! Every day I hear about a new study indicating toxic chemicals can cause disease or that exposure has consequences on health.

There’s rocket fuel in Rialto, CA wells. Not good to drink the stuff. (Remember how shocked everyone was in 2005 when rocket fuel was detected in the breast milk of women in 18 states?)

The New York firefighters, those who responded to 9/11, are more at risk of cancer due to toxic chemicals in the dust they breathed in while trying to save lives at the World Trade Center. What was in the dust? Benzene and asbestos, among other things. According to today's Guardian, "Some contaminants in the World Trade Center dust, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and dioxins, are known carcinogens."

Studies confirm school age kids have lower IQs when their mothers are exposed to pesticides during pregnancy.

POPs may be linked to type 2 diabetes, according to a new Finnish study.

Locally, NStar intends to spray four herbicides under 150 miles of power lines on Cape Cod. One of these toxic chemicals is glyphosate, which has been detected in air and water in the Midwest. No wonder. More and more weed-killer must be sprayed on American fields because Roundup Ready crops don’t work and require additional herbicide, not less, as Monsanto had promised.

Endocrine-disruptors are often estrogen-mimics and are believed to cause breast cancer, reproductive problems, and the feminization of male frogs. Barnstable County already has a high rate of breast cancer. We do not need herbicides filtering down into our sole-source aquifer …

To make matters worse, the Tea Party is taking aim at the environmental regulations already in place.

The media ignores any studies that hint at the risk toxic chemicals pose, although a new study seems to get published every day. If bloggers and Facebookers do not spread the word, who will?

What can you do about this situation?

1.) Think HEALTH: Help eradicate this life-threatening hazard, toxic chemicals in our food, air and water. Support the movement. (I follow Safe Planet, created by the United Nations, contribute to Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and watch for new reports about toxic chemicals on Cape Cod from Silent Spring Institute.)
2.) Get educated on the risks toxic chemicals pose.
3.) Tell friends and family.
4.) Write your legislators.
5.) Eat organic.
6.) Filter drinking water.
7.) Pray?

I have been posting every month or so about how toxic chemicals pose a risk to health. Has my writing made any difference in the way you perceive toxic chemicals?

In Which Deirdre Comes to Call

Sven called to me, “There’s a woman outside.”

He was doing dishes at the sink, since the power was off and the dishwasher could not be used. I peered out the window. A stranger stood on the lawn, studying the house as if to memorize every shingle. I opened the door and met Deirdre.

“I stayed in this house in 1963,” she said, a faraway look in her eyes. The memory was obviously a good one. “It’s very evocative for me. The house was rundown then. But we had a marvelous time. It’s lovely to see it so well taken care of. And your gardens!!”

My gardens did not look so hot due to Irene’s wrath. The drooping phlox leaves called out for water. The photo above was taken a couple weeks ago when the cleome patch was perfect.

“I was pregnant,” Deirdre continued, still dreamy. “We rented from Frank O’Connor. Have you heard of him? He wrote The Last Hurrah.”

I told her my parents had bought the house from a playwright named Victor Wolfson in 1969, that Faye Dunaway had visited while Wolfson was the owner, that I had heard she was “high-maintenance.”

We chatted some more about Wellfleet. Deirdre, who has been coming here for years, rents on the other side of Long Pond Road.

“The town has changed such a lot since 1963,” she said. “We didn’t see any McMansions back then. Such abominations!”

I could only agree.

“Every time we’re here, we find new delights,” she added.

True again. You can come to Wellfleet for 48 years and never get tired of the place.

We sat there is silence.

“Thanks for letting me walk into my past,” Deirdre said, standing up.

It’s something everyone needs to do once in a while. We shook hands and she was gone.

Thousands Remain Without Power On Outer Cape

After the power returned at 2 am Monday morning and the wind had died down, two locust trees along Old King's Highway cracked in two and pieces fell onto the electric wires. We have been without power ever since. No power means no electricity, no water pump, no Internet. The library is also without power, so no using computers there, either. Fortunately, our neighbors Peter and Femke invited me in to use their computer. They were among the lucky few who did not lose power. Today Sven and I are hauling water from the fire station, which provides drinking water, as well as water to flush toilets. I am also watering the flowers because Irene brought high wind to Cape Cod but no rain. The utility company sent out tree trimmers today. We hope the wires will be fixed in a day or two. In any case, the promise is "before September 3." This hurricane missed Cape Cod. Hate to think what the situation would have been had Irene made landfall here!

Note: Power back as of 2 pm. Will write up the full experience for a future post.

Irene Sandblasts LeCount Hollow Beach

In Which Irene Comes to Call

We have battened down the hatches. Bottles of water have been prepared. Flashlights are loaded. At 7:30, Wellfleet still has power, but the NECN weatherman warns of possible wind damage during the morning and early afternoon. I hope to get out after breakfast is served and take photos of the up-to- 25-foot swells. If I do not re-post details, it will mean no power ... (Note, I did not buy any of these plastic jugs. If your power in still on, please watch this short Safe Planet video about plastic pollution in our oceans.)

In Which Fritzi Comes to Call

Check out my new T-shirt! The front also carries a message: "Don't spray where our kids spray." I had just tried it on for the first time, and was enjoying the soft feel of the organic cotton, when the doorbell rang. Outside stood one very hot lady, who immediately introduced herself as Fritzi Cohen. From the photo, you can tell she's a real firecracker. Wiping sweat from her brow, Fritzi announced she had stopped by, on foot, because of my blog and my concern for the environment, having obtained my name at the library. She was here from Nahcotta, Washington and had just spent two lovely weeks in Wellfleet with her adult children. Fritzi had been gorging herself on oysters at our local restaurants, she reported. Apparently the oysters in her home town are no longer safe to eat, due to the spraying of pesticides in the mudflats to kill a saltwater marsh grass "infestation." You have probably already understood that Fritzi and I have a lot in common. Despite the fact that I had guestrooms to prepare, I sat down outside and chatted with her for a while.

And, guess what she told me next: Fritzi owns an inn called Moby Dick Hotel and Oyster Farm. She described how she started her business, almost by accident, which is very similar to my route to innkeeping. Fritzi told me she had gotten a big kick out of my Glass Half Empty or Half Full post since she has received many complicated guests in her day.

To summarize, it was a great visit.

We share something else in common. We both believe toxic chemicals are dangerous to health and are doing our best to raise awareness. Check out Fritzi's latest effort to stop the spraying of herbicides on spartina, pegged as an invasive species out on the West Coast: Fearless Fund. Who would have thought innkeeping could lead to environmental activism!

A Dozen Pre-Hurricane Worries

This photo was taken two years ago, at the end of August, when there was a storm at sea and the ocean became surly. Last year we offered a credit to incoming guests willing to change plans due to the hurricane that fizzled out, Igor. What will happen this year with Irene? An American couple already cancelled their stay and will not come this afternoon for three days, which would have required driving Monday morning to reach their home. A wise decision, in my opinion. Our Seagull Cottage guests, who are leaving Sunday morning, plan to get up at 4 and drive west to escape the wind and rain. We have guests from Europe scheduled to arrive on Sunday and Monday. I have emailed them, requesting that they contact me. If they do not read their email, they may not realize being in a hurricane can be no fun. So, I have become a nervous wreck. Here's what I'm worried about:

• Will the forecast be off so that Irene makes a direct hit on Cape Cod?

• If the current forecast for Irene to hit the mainland at New London, CT turns out to be correct, will the forecast for Cape Cod be correct, too, meaning only 2 to 4 inches of rain?

• Will the power stay on so I can cook breakfast and keep food cold in the fridge?

• If the power goes off, how long will we have to wait for NStar crews to repair the damage on Cape Cod, with other parts of New England suffering, too?

• Will our guests from Germany and England think to check email before journeying out to Cape Cod Sunday and Monday?

• Will these guests realize we may be in emergency-mode here?

• Is there anything in the garden that might fly into a window at high wind?

• Do we have enough food and drinking water for _______ people? (no idea of number at this point)

• Has Sven checked the flashlight batteries?

• If the power is off for days, the water pump will not work, so will we be able to stock enough water in bathtubs to flush toilets for the guests for X number of days?

• If there is high wind, will tree limbs fall on the house, studio, or cottage?

• Should the power be off for days, can we get the new generator working?

Do you share similar worries about Irene? Do you remember Hurricane Bob? Have you lived through a hurricane?

More Fun on a Wellfleet Beach....

Water Matters in Wellfleet ...

Last week I promised to report on the meeting held at Prez. Hall, a gathering entitled “Preserving Our Waters,” organized by the Non-Resident Taxpayer Association, so here goes …

Above, a view of a eutrophic pond, in Wellfleet. “Eutrophic” means a pond has received an excess of nutrients, which promotes a proliferation of plant life. Panel member Herb Gstalder said that changes have taken place in local ponds over the years. He explained that the particular topic of the evening was chosen due to the closing of Gull Pond in July. The health of fresh water in our area is defined according to 1.) whether there is fecal contamination; 2.) the eutrophic status; 3.) the presence of damaging chemicals.

Health Agent Hillary Greenberg and Beach Supervisor Suzanne Thomas do an excellent job of protecting Wellfleet’s ponds, said the next speaker, who emphasized community responsibility for keeping our ponds as pristine as possible.

Suzanne then picked up on this same theme: “The ponds are in danger of being loved to death.” Measures that have been taken over the past 20 years include re-vegetation of the old parking lot beside Long Pond and the installation of flush toilets at Gull. The take-away: we all need to do a better job of protecting our ponds.

The second half of the discussion was devoted to wastewater and a fabulous, innovative way of avoiding sewers through the use of oysters as a natural filtration system. Alex Hay first described the wastewater management plan, funded by Town Meeting, then Kurt Felix went into detail after a bit of history on Chesapeake Bay (water turnover used to take 400 days but is down to 2 to 3) and Wellfleet Harbor, which now has a reduced ability to remove nutrients, 10% less than previously. The plan to remedy the situation involves oyster propagation. A spot was chosen where Duck Creek and Mayo Creek merge. Cultch was added. So far, the results are promising with two million oysters now growing and filtering water. “The ultimate goal is to reach the regulatory limits and try to avoid sewers,” concluded Kurt.

Since no one planned to mention our sole-source aquifer at a meeting advertised as being about preserving our waters, that morning I had asked Co-President Lila Croen if I might say a few words about NStar’s plan for herbicidal spraying. I was given two minutes after the speakers had finished. Here is approximately what I said:

“On Cape Cod, we have a sole-source aquifer. The EPA New England Web site says citizens must protect their sole-source aquifer. NStar wants to poison our drinking water. Not only will we be affected. But our children and our grandchildren. Even the unborn. Everyone who comes to Wellfleet and loves our town. This will last for generations. You do not have to be a rocket scientist to know it’s not good to put poison in groundwater, and herbicides are poison. They are made to kill. If you have any interest whatsoever in the future of Cape Cod, join me. We have to do something to stop this. I know one person cannot make much of an impact, but if we unite, we can stop this madness. The good news is that Senator Wolf is on our side …”

I then suggested attendees read the Cape Cod Times’ report from the previous day.

I’m not particularly good at public speaking and was infuriated when Lila proceeded to read from the Cape Cod Times article I had told her about in good faith earlier that day. She chose the paragraph claiming NStar’s contribution of herbicides is not significant compared to other sources and spoke with a voice that seemed to challenge my comments. While it is true that everyone on the Cape needs to stop using herbicides, NStar has persisted in putting forward erroneous information to defend its switch from mowing to spraying toxic chemicals. It felt to me that Lila was defending the utility company, although she probably intended to urge the non-residents to avoid their own use of herbicides, and I found this choice very unfortunate.

There followed a lively Q&A period. I learned from one of the panelists that the surface of our ponds corresponds to the top of our aquifer. Suzanne Thomas pointed out that Wellfleet did not have green lawns when she was growing up and challenged whether they were necessary. It is true that the suburban model for a “yard” does not fit here on Cape Cod. In conclusion, Curt Felix said, “What we are doing in Wellfleet will not only have an impact in Wellfleet, but in other places as well.” Pretty exciting, don’t you think?