History Repeated: Baltics and Eastern Europe in Peril?

A big weekend for Latvians in the US! Friday saw the start of JBANC’s Eleventh Baltic Conference in Washington, DC. The Joint Baltic American Committee was established in 1961 to represent the Baltic-American communities and its three parent organizations: the American Latvian Association, the Estonian American National Council and the Lithuanian American Council. JBANC exists to help coordinate the activities of the three countries in DC with the US government and agencies dealing with issues related to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Karl Altau - Managing Director of JBANC (at podium) and Panel 2: Andrius Kubilius, Andrea Chalupa, Orest Deychakiwsky and Michael Sawkiw

With the subject being “History Repeated: Baltics and Eastern Europe in Peril?” the weekend saw panel discussions such as “Russian Disinformation and Propaganda,” “Defending Ukraine,” “What are Russia’s Intentions?” and “Western Response.” The opening keynote was delivered by Andrius Kubilius, former Prime Minister of Lithuania, and later President of Estonia, H.E. Toomas Hendrik Ilves spoke. Other dignitaries included Artis Pabriks, Member of the European Parliament for Latvia (and former Minister for Defense and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia), Baltic Ambassadors to the US Andris Razāns (Latvia) and Žygimantas Pavilionis (Lithuania), US State Department officials including John Heffern (Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs) and a host of organization leaders from the US and abroad. Political celebrities included American analyst, writer and columnist Paul Goble, and journalist Liz Wahl, whose live resignation and denunciation of RT and the network's coverage of Russian military intervention in Ukraine went viral last year.

The Femme au Foyer special correspondent on the ground in DC had this to say about the weekend:

“Past JBANC Conferences have focused on securing the independence of the Baltic States, on continuing the focus on membership in Western organizations (chief among these NATO) and economic security. This conference was History Repeated: Baltics and Eastern Europe in Peril. Several themes resonated throughout the conference, the key recommendation of many speakers and panelists was to call things by their name: The Wars of Choice that have been started by Vladimir Putin in Europe (Chechnya, Georgia, Crimea, Ukraine) are actual shooting wars conducted against, in the last three cases, independent states.

In sum; this was another in a long line of substantive conferences organized by JBANC and supported by its member organizations that focus on the most pressing questions facing the Baltic States. These conferences attract decision makers and opinion leaders and are attended by people committed to working for the security and economic development of the Baltic States as members of the Trans-Atlantic community of the Western Nations. The JBANC conferences also follow a noticeable trend of being attended by increasing numbers from younger generations; perhaps 25% of this year’s attendees were under the age of 35.” 

European Parliament member Dr. Artis Pabriks (left) with H.E. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of Estonia (source here)

The JBANC conference was broadcast on-line through the internet, expanding its reach worldwide.

On twitter: JBANC chatter, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Liz Wahl, Artis Pabriks, Karl Altau

The JBANC website here

Also to watch: Why Lithuanians feel Ukraine's pain

The modern face of urban gardening

At the forefront of the urban gardening movement in Washington DC are people like our friends Linda and Ēriks with Urban Farm Plans. In less than three years they have turned their backyard into a teaching garden, as well as started a business around building composters and greenhouses - and they’re making headlines doing it. It was on our recent trip to the nation’s capital that we had the opportunity to stop in for a visit, and just as wonderful as it was seeing good friends again was gaining inspiration from their garden – productive and growing, even in March.

I’ve wanted to see this backyard farm for myself ever since I first saw a picture of the garden gate, the beams crossing overhead bringing to mind the Latvian Jumis sign. The pagan deity Jumis represents fertility and a good harvest, and a jumja zīme over the entryway is sure to bring prosperity and luck to such a well-tended garden.

Photo: Linda

Although we started off indoors, catching up over coffee (and an elderberry/shitake cordial for the boys, but don’t worry, I made sure to get a taste as well!), it couldn’t be helped that we quickly moved outdoors. Drawn to the garden, Lauris and Mikus made themselves at home, exploring every corner of the yard and inspecting all the new growth while munching on freshly-picked kale. (With all the kale being consumed at our house this last week a frequent comment has been “I don’t like this kale as well as Ēriks’ kale…”)

As I asked question after question on how the garden had come to be, what they have planted and growing where, how they harvest and preserve, and on their future plans, I marveled at just how fully the space was utilized within the backyard. With a parking area taking up a portion of their yard they joined forces with a neighbor, doubling the space suitable for gardening. What isn’t used for growing is given over to composting, storing gardening supplies and building compost bins and hothouses. We got a peek inside one of the hothouses, and I admired a second greenhouse constructed out of an old door. Then there were the compost bins; with solid construction yet easy-to-use functionality, I’ve been mentally reworking our system at home trying to come up with something with the same aesthetics and durability.

While we were poking around Ēriks’ brother Andrejs showed up. In on the endeavor since the beginning, his enthusiasm for the future of their venture is contagious, and it was easy to get excited right along with him for where they’re headed this growing season. I’m looking forward to updates on the garden as well as the online how-to tutorials for DIY compost bins. These guys have a great team, a fantastic garden and boundless room to grow –especially with Jumis blessing the gate

Linda and Ēriks have a portfolio of their work as well as more information on their services on their website, www.UrbanFarmPlans.com. Also make sure to visit their brand new facebook page for seasonal info and inspirational photos!

Goat cheese fettucine with shrimp, bacon and kale

When I was a little girl I had an aversion to all foods green. With the possible exception of cucumbers (but peeled to within an inch of their life), there was not much green that passed my lips until I finally started eating the simple stuff – salad and peas – sometime around high school. It wasn’t until living in France where access to fantastically fresh produce at the local marché is a right (not a privilege) that I started eating greens and asparagus. And although I’m still not so sure about collards and brussel sprouts, I’ve (thankfully) finally lost the one thing I had in common with President Bush Sr., the dislike of broccoli.

Look, LŪK - leeks!

Luckily my boys have not inherited this mistrust of the vitamin-rich green foods, and while there are some that they aren’t fond of, mostly they’ll give it a try. And like typical kids, what they love one day might be declined the next, so I just keep trying new things and repeating the stuff that works. It helps when there are wonderfully fresh seasonal greens (ramps and asparagus being two of my favorites this spring) available at our local stores: Swamp Rabbit Grocery, the SC farmers market and the Tomato Vine. However it’s even better when it’s coming out of our garden, and this spring I have an abundance of kale.

fresh rosemary from the garden

As kale sautéed with garlic hasn’t been as agreeably received by the rest of the lodgers as by yours truly, I’ve been working with other options. Mixed in with a fresh salad seemed to work well until it suddenly didn’t, despite the boys’ insatiable appetites for the stuff when we toured Ēriks’ and Linda’s garden in DC. And cooked into anything it always earned a big “what’s that green thing,” making it a lot more work to get them to eat it than I have patience for.

So I present to you my recipe for fettucine with shrimp, kale, bacon and goat cheese, inspired by an old Bon Appétit recipe. It’s for when you feel like making a nice dinner, or have guests coming over, but still want something rather straightforward. When you’ve been out hiking all afternoon and need a good hearty spring meal that will fill you up on a cool, rainy evening. Or when you feel like ignoring the mess in the living room and the misbehaving, mess-making boys and concentrate your energies in the kitchen. I kept the fettucine separate, thereby giving the boys the choice of eating it together or individually.  

(Oven-roasted asparagus makes a tasty side dish to the fettucine. This spring’s favorite variation is tossed with olive oil, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic and sea salt, then roasted at 425˚ for about 15 minutes.)

Fettucine with shrimp, kale, bacon and goat cheese

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS

2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons olive oil

6 thick bacon slices, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 medium leeks (white and pale green parts only), finely chopped

2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic

1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

4 cups coarsely chopped kale

1 lb fettuccine

6 ounces soft fresh goat cheese, crumbled

3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

Combine the tomatoes and vinegar in bowl, and let stand until tomatoes release their juice, about 15 minutes.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook until crisp, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels.

Add shrimp to the same skillet and sauté until done, about 4 minutes. Remove to a bowl.

Sauté the leeks for about 3 minutes, then add garlic and rosemary, stirring all the while. Mix in the tomatoes, shrimp and bacon, and simmer until tomatoes are heated through, about 4 minutes. Finally add in kale and simmer until wilted, about 1 minute.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package. Drain.

Transfer pasta to large bowl. Add the goat cheese, 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and the tomato/kale mixture and toss to combine.

Padulas Plants and Gardens

As you’re thinking about plants for your garden this spring, remember to think local. Not only will the small nurseries in your area have plants that are specifically geared towards your climate and soils, but they will also be able to offer better advice on what does and doesn’t work, troubleshoot issues and make suggestions. Since the plants at the big box stores often travel far distances, they can pick up diseases and pests along the way that might not manifest themselves in that exact plant, but can wreak havoc in your garden. Finally, by supporting local businesses you are supporting your local economy, minimizing the carbon footprint in terms of transportation costs and growing expenses (especially water), and fostering a community of gardeners in your area.

There are some fantastic resources here in the Upstate, one of which I mentioned in my post “What is permaculture?” - the SC Upstate Permaculture Society. I’ve learned so much about how to garden successfully in a southern climate from this group, not just about how to deal with the hot and dry conditions, but also about improving the red clay soils and about plants native to the area.

So many native plants have been labelled ‘weeds’ by society, mostly because they tend to grow well if not controlled and pop up in places they are not welcome – your turf or flower beds. However, there are endless benefits to these native 'weeds'; some are edible, others have herbal uses, and many are perfectly adapted to challenging local growing conditions. Insects and wildlife depend on these plants, and their scarcity means favorites such as monarch butterflies and honeybees are struggling.

Lauris helping with the yardwork

We have not yet taken the steps to completely eradicate grass from our yard, but it is an attractive option that is growing more popular in the urban landscape. As we're slowly designing our gardens with permaculture and sustainability in mind it helps to have local nurseries that not only sell native plants, but provide knowledgeable help. We have several here in the Upstate, one of which is Padulas Plants and Gardens. We recently had an opportunity to tour their grounds in nearby Greer.

The herbs, vegetables and flowering perennials sold by Padula’s are grown on site and without the use of chemical fertilizers. They make their own soil mix at the plant nursery, and offer many native species that are not available at the chains. It was interesting seeing several of their perennial stock gardens, where the plants were growing in a natural environment.

In the wooded stock garden

The owners regularly post beautiful pictures of their plants and fascinating videos of wildlife on their facebook site, which is also where you will find up to date information on what they currently have in stock. Padulas offers classes on basic garden design, the art of Bonsai creation and their care, perennial propagation and care, as well as various seasonal classes. More information can be found on their website and on YouTube. We picked up a few plants for our new garden beds, and I found plenty of inspiration in their gorgeous gardens. It didn’t hurt that the day we visited was a perfect spring day, with the sun warm on our backs and all the dogwoods and cherry trees blooming along the roads. The boys started counting them on the way there; they lost count at seventy-something.

More yard work. Don't ask.

We found the time this weekend to work in our garden. There have been some big changes in our backyard, and I’m looking forward to everything coming together so that I can share the results. These warm days have definitely brought an end to my winter crops, as the salad and kale are going to seed and the carrots wilting. The peas are coming in nicely, and the tomatoes have been planted. Along with plants from Padulas I’ve got seeds, shrubs and veggies from several sources (including the SC State Farmer’s Market), and slowly we’re piecing together our summer garden: a new year, a new garden and new possibilities!

Opening day!

Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowd;

Just buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,

I don't care if I never get back.

Let me root, root, root for the home team,

If they don't win, it's a shame.

For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,

At the old ball game.

(Did you know that this unofficial baseball anthem was composed by two men who had never attended a baseball game? “Take Me Out to the Ball Game, written in 1908 by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer and traditionally sung during the middle of the seventh inning of the game.)

The Greenville Drive won against the Augusta GreenJackets on Opening Day! Two lucky boys accompanied Roberts to the game, staying to the very end. And it was a good thing too, as the Drive scored the game-winning point at the bottom of the 9^th!

With home games every night for the next week there are plenty of options to catch the Drive at Fluor Field early this season. The boys will be back soon, and hopefully Vilis and I will be able to join them for a few innings; here’s wishing our team a great season!