Welcome to our second newsletter. With these warmer, longer days, it is hard to spend any time on the computer. But with the expertise of our Web Gurus, John and Reza, our new and improved web site is up and running. Please have a look and share your thoughts. We are delighted with the speed and ease of navigation that this new site offers.

Our New Look

With rumors of a 13 ft west swell on April 7th, We packed the van complete with a full quiver of surf boards and headed for the coast. We were blessed with overhead glassy waves and sunshine. Between surf sessions I stumbled upon a huge patch of young stinging nettles.....oh what fun!!!
Because of their dense concentration of amino acids and minerals, nettles are a healthy spring tonic for the kidneys, adrenal and thyroid glands. They help increase and stabilize energy levels and help build strong bones and healthy skin, hair and teeth. Nettles are also a general tonic for pregnant, lactating and menopausal women.
With 3 days of experiments the 2 best new recipes are.....
Sombrio Stinging Nettle Pesto
Yields 2 cups
several handfuls of freshly picked and washed young stinging nettles (approx. 4 cups)
2-3 cloves organic garlic
1/2 cup almonds soaked (12hrs min.) and peeled
2 Tbsp light miso
2 Tbsp engevita yeast
1/4 cup olive oil
1Tbsp lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
optional....1 tsp chipotle puree (then you would call is Southwestern Stinging Nettle Pesto)

***To harvest and clean nettles, wear gloves. Pick the tender top leaves.
***To make almonds easier to peel, pour boiling water over them
*** Soaking nuts and seeds makes them much easier to digest and assimilate all available nutrients
1) Steam nettles lightly and squeeze out excess water
2) Puree all ingredients, adding oil to desired consistency
Enjoy this as you would any pesto...liven up eggs, soup, pasta. Use as a dip for vegies YumYum!!!
Spring Nettle Tonic
Yeilds 4-6 servings
1 cup white navy beans, soaked overnight
1 piece of Kombu (seaweed)
1 head roasted garlic
1/2 cup diced leeks
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup diced parsnip
1/2 cup diced turnip
1-2 tsp dried rosemary or (1 Tbsp fresh)
1 cup stinging nettles chopped and rinsed
Crock Pot Method
1) Cook beans with Kombu for 2-3 hours
2) Add remaining ingredients, except nettles and simmer for 1 hour
3) Add nettles and simmer 5-10 mins. season and serve with homemade bread
***This easy soup is only limited by your imagination. I encourage you to experiment with whatever you have on hand....or you can follow along with this recipe, and guarantee a great pot-o-soup.
*** I used a crock pot, but if you don't have one of these convenient gadgets, the stove top will work fine. Adjust cooking time accordingly.
Please email any comments and share these recipes with your loved ones!!

More tasty recipes from the Milagro kitchen

DEMAMIEL CREEK ORGANICS is a small family run farm that is governed by our holistic philosophy of ecological health, sustainability and continuity. Using these philosophies and following the organic farming standards as outlined in the BC Organic Agriculture and Farm Management Strategies booklet we tenderly care for our garden. Our selection of produce ranges from soft fruits, and heirloom vegetables to herbs and flowers. During our growing season we provide vegetable baskets to residents of Sooke, French Beach, Victoria and Milagro Retreats.

The weather has such a spring feel to it that being in the garden is an invigorating experience. Digging, raking, and hoeing are all movements that help to limber up the garden and our bodies after the winter break. Perennial garden beds would enjoy an application of compost or composted manure at this time. Dividing perennials or planting new perennials would be a good task for this spring. Watch the weather and if it looks like frost (which we could still get) then I recommend covering the newly planted perennials with row cover at night to keep them from feeling the chill of the frost. Remember to water the plant at the time of planting then, with the spring rain and the plants desire to put on new growth you should see it quickly adjusting to its new home.

If your desire is to get food growing the best things to be planting right now are peas and potatoes. For peas amend a bed with some composted manure, a little lime, and rock phosphate, then plant the pea 1 inch below the soil surface and water in. The peas should germinate in 10 to 15 days. Potatoes are happy in almost any type of soil, with a little composted manure, rock phosphate, and potash. To plant potatoes cut the potatoes into pieces so that each piece has an „eye from which the potatoe will grow from. Don't let these pieces get smaller than the size of a quarter. Next allow the freshly cut potatoes to cure in the sun so the flesh forms a dry skin. Then into 6 inch deep holes that are separated by 6 inches plant a potatoes piece eye up. When purchasing seed potatoes look for ones that are certified organic and certified disease resistant. These early potatoes should be ready to dig up in late June.
Happy gardening!! We hope the humming birds are visiting your garden and buzzing you as they are us!
Demamiel Creek Organics can be found selling this produce and more at two weekend markets: Esquimalt market beginning Saturday June 19 10 -2 p.m. and Government Street market beginning in late May on Sundays and holiday Mondays from 11-2p.m. Both these markets are in Victoria.

We welcome any questions you may have about us at our email demamiel@islandnet.com or phone 250-642-0425.

Happy and healthy eating,

Wendy and Tony

Demamiel Creek Organics

With our Solstice Weekend almost sold out, your next opportunity to retreat with us in Tofino will be our Blue Moon Yoga/Surf Retreat with Marne Semick. She has studied with some of the nation's most respected teachers including Ana Forrest, Shiva Rea, Rodney Yee, Baron Baptiste, and Shandor Remete.
This 3 night package includes 2 yoga classes daily, luxury accommodation on Jensens Bay, complete with sauna and hot tub, and organic feasts.

More information about this Retreat

Just posted.....our collaboration with Coresource and the Yoga Shala. Join us this Labour Day weekend for an eclectic mix of Movement and Stillness in Tofino, B.C. Enjoy delicious organic meals, daily Pilates, Yoga and Meditation classes and luxury accommodation overlooking Jensen Bay, with 2 hot tubs

More information about this Retreat