It is one of the most versatile plants known to man, harvested for food and fiber for well over 10,000 years. It was grown by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. The original Declaration of Independence was printed on paper made from its fiber. Its seed has more protein than any plant food except the soybean. […]
Like most Americans, my first experience with figs was in the form of a cookie. Fig Newtons were one of the first “mass-produced” cookies, first made in 1891 and still popular today. This famous soft cookie with its fig jam filling was a favorite of my grandfather. I was never wild about them because I […]
I was familiar with the flavor of cherries long before I ever ate one. Whenever I had a cold as a young child, I asked for the cherry flavored cough drops, which I vastly preferred to the licorice flavored ones. Many years later when I finally got to try fresh cherries, I was pleased to […]
Honeybees have been in the headlines in recent years, and the news isn’t good. Alarming numbers of honeybees have disappeared without a trace, up to 70% in some parts of the country. This is bad news not only if you like honey, but also if you like to eat. Commercial honeybees are responsible for pollinating […]
Are you sensitive to wheat? If you are, you are not alone. By some estimates, over 40% of the population has some degree of sensitivity to wheat. Symptoms may include indigestion, stomach pains, gas and bloating, as well as fatigue, headaches, excessive mucus, skin eruptions and increased pulse rate. Why would a food which has […]
