Thursday, March 22, 2012

Springtime in New Mexico

Most people really don't understand "true" spring in northern New Mexico. It took me a couple of years to get it. Springtime in Northern NM is bright beautiful days and lovely cool evenings. It is also windy, very windy. Windy beyond belief and lots of blowing dust and dirt. Last Sunday, in Santa Fe, we had gusts over 70 miles per hour. I have been told that after 5 years , many people start to suffer incredible seasonal allergies. The juniper is just about to bloom and you can actually see the yellow pollen blowing in big clouds from the trees.

So far, and most likely due to the Macrobiotic lifestyle, I have avoided the runny nose and headaches and itchy eyes. If our blood gets sticky the allergens stick. Our blood quality suffers when we eat unbalanced, processed foods. Our blood quality suffers when we do not begin to transition to spring cooking until it is late ( well into March!) because no matter where we live the signs of spring may not be obvious. But I am achy from the wind. I didn't connect that symptom until I started to think about wind and Chinese theory. So my remedy is apple juice kuzu drink, warm and flexible. My food plan is to eat more lightly cooked vegetables and to enjoy barley. Barley is the spring grain and a helps dissolve and discharge the heavier winter foods and fats.

In honor of the wind and Santa Fe Spring check out the barley soup recipe in the recipe tab.