Coffee with Moe - Spring_2023
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Editorial:<br />
0<br />
7<br />
Hauling Ash<br />
1 4<br />
A Kind Thought<br />
0 8<br />
@moecreative<br />
1 8<br />
Saves 9<br />
1 0<br />
Fast Food<br />
2 4<br />
Presents: A Stitch in Time<br />
ISSUE 21: A Stitch in Time...<br />
On The Cover: <strong>Coffee</strong> always tastes<br />
better when shared together.<br />
Thanks for popping by to enjoy a cuppa<br />
for this stitch in time. Cover play using<br />
fabric & stitch brushes from Stitch Craft.<br />
For digital Prints & Commission work, please<br />
Contact: monique@moecreative.com<br />
Website: www.moecreative.com<br />
Blog: www.moecreative.com/blog<br />
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/moecreative<br />
IG: www.instagram.com/moe_creative<br />
<strong>Coffee</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Moe</strong> Digital Magazine is<br />
published in association <strong>with</strong> <strong>Moe</strong> Creative<br />
Inc. based in Calgary, Alberta Canada<br />
Publishing made possible by <strong>Moe</strong> Creative, Yumpo & the<br />
Adobe Suite of Products. Mock-ups by Place-it.<br />
* Art & photography by Monique for <strong>Moe</strong> Creative inc.<br />
Many thanks to Family, Friends & Inspiration:<br />
Gratefully & alphabetically listed:<br />
AB, AC, AG, AL, AR, BCV, BD, CF, CG, CR,<br />
CS, DD, DK, DL, DO, DR, EC, ED, EN, GD,<br />
GDC, HC, HM, IF, JD, JH, JM, JR, JS, KB,KH,<br />
KN, KW, LB, LD, LK, LM, LOL, LP, MB, MC,<br />
MH, MQ, MS, MY, ND, NH, NS, PA, PB, RC,<br />
RS, SB, SH, SK, SP, SMG, TN, TR, VH, YK.<br />
& all <strong>Moe</strong> Creative’s clientele & suppliers.<br />
All for whom this issue was created, <strong>with</strong><br />
heart & much gratitude.<br />
© <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Moe</strong> Creative Inc. All rights reserved.
Well, Hello there lovely!<br />
It sure has been a while, since our paths crossed <strong>with</strong>in the pages of<br />
the fall edition of <strong>Coffee</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Moe</strong>.<br />
Back then, our hearts were full of summer and the earth was gilded<br />
<strong>with</strong> a gorgeous smattering of fall leaves.<br />
Since then, I think all of us, in the northern Hemisphere, have endured<br />
one doozy of a winter. But true to our inner strength, we did it!<br />
We made it to the other side!<br />
That being said…<br />
A hearty congratulations & WELCOME to you.<br />
We have arrived!<br />
The birds are singing, the earth is waking, summer ideas are brewing<br />
& the <strong>Spring</strong> Edition of <strong>Coffee</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Moe</strong> is here.<br />
As a creative, gardener, nature lover and book nerd, this e-zine is a<br />
bi-annual opportunity for me to connect <strong>with</strong> you. I think of these<br />
articles and images as curated conversation starters. Places to explore<br />
our connection to mother nature and each other a little deeper. A way<br />
to find common, fertile ground.<br />
So, take a few, pour yourself a cuppa and join me in the pages of this<br />
<strong>Spring</strong> Edition of <strong>Coffee</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Moe</strong><br />
Afterall, isn’t coffee always better when shared together.<br />
XO<br />
<strong>Moe</strong><br />
Say hello @:<br />
monique@moecreative.com
Be kind<br />
whenever<br />
possible.<br />
It is always<br />
possible<br />
- Dalai Lama
There is an old proverb that goes a<br />
lot like this:<br />
“A stitch in time saves 9”<br />
What started out as a stitching<br />
reference in 1723, evolved into a<br />
catch phrase to assist in correcting<br />
the issue of procrastination and often<br />
synonymously, laziness.<br />
Alas, if only life were that simple.<br />
I say this, because loads of research<br />
has been done since 1723 on the<br />
topic of procrastination and a few<br />
things have been discovered.<br />
1. Time management tools<br />
generally don’t correct or control<br />
procrastination<br />
2. Procrastinators are not actually lazy<br />
3. Procrastination has nothing to do<br />
<strong>with</strong> willpower<br />
4. Procrastination is commonly linked<br />
<strong>with</strong> a fear or anxiety related to an<br />
outcome.<br />
5. Procrastination (and laziness for<br />
that matter) are not personality traits<br />
Now, don’t get me wrong. Time<br />
management tools can be a real<br />
game changer when it comes to<br />
organizing tasks and working through<br />
projects from start to finish. But if<br />
you find that you are creating a to-do<br />
list and dragging your heels. There<br />
is likely something deeper going<br />
on that you need to address before<br />
a stitch in time is going to save<br />
anything.<br />
You see, they (scientists and<br />
psychologists) have found that<br />
procrastination is actually a coping<br />
mechanism. The dragging of heels<br />
and focusing on other things, may<br />
be your body’s way of giving yourself<br />
a mood boost when faced <strong>with</strong> a<br />
task that is conjuring some deep<br />
uncomfortable feelings or is flat out<br />
boring. It’s quite likely, for the heel<br />
dragger to have reaped a Dopamine<br />
(The feel good hormone) release from<br />
delaying a task in the past.<br />
So what are these fears and anxieties<br />
that I speak of? They are as unique as<br />
each individual and task combined.<br />
Each situation will require reflection<br />
and some good old-fashioned self<br />
honesty. It might even take the<br />
expertise of a professional to dig-in<br />
and help sort things out.<br />
Rational or seemingly irrational,<br />
procrastination can be rooted in a<br />
variety of triggers.<br />
A few of which are:<br />
- A belief about a task or outcome<br />
- A past experience<br />
- Fear of appearing on either side<br />
of many coins: foolish/ smart,<br />
successful/ failure etc.<br />
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.<br />
There is also the issue of<br />
overcommitting, an inability to say no<br />
to tasks you’d rather not do, a sense<br />
of overwhelm and even burn-out<br />
from some if not all of the above.<br />
Still frustrated enough to want to call<br />
someone (including yourself) out on<br />
being a procrastinator or a lazy so &<br />
so?<br />
Think twice.<br />
Shame and guilt are convictions of<br />
being unworthy and put even more<br />
negative pressure on any given<br />
situation. They are demotivating,<br />
harmful, punitive and cause more<br />
damage and resentment than<br />
resolutions.<br />
Superficial judgements like name<br />
calling and labelling ignore any real<br />
life factors.<br />
There’s that tip of the iceberg we<br />
touched on called root trigger(s).<br />
There’s also a barrage of mental and<br />
physical loads a person might carry<br />
that go unseen. There are societal<br />
pressures, existing anxiety(ies) and<br />
a long dark path of outcomes to<br />
flippant statements like: Depression,<br />
more anxiety, new beliefs of inability,<br />
lack and the notion of not just failing,<br />
but being a failure.<br />
Procrastination IS NOT failure, it is a<br />
temporary problem that has yet to be<br />
solved.<br />
Even the most enviable of people tip<br />
the scale of procrastination from time<br />
to time. The solution to overcoming<br />
and thriving in these moments lies in<br />
a kinder, softer, more understanding<br />
approach.<br />
A deeper perspective and a<br />
recognizing of self or our peers. A<br />
compassion for this being human and<br />
the realization that we are all on this<br />
journey called life. The bumps we<br />
face on the road CAN be overcome,<br />
so that a stitch in time might actually<br />
save 9.
HAULING ASH<br />
Nothing beats an evening spent<br />
sitting in front of a warm crackling<br />
fire.<br />
The hours slip by, as the hypnotic<br />
rhythm of fire’s flickering flames<br />
dance us through a potential mix of<br />
music, conversations, thoughts and a<br />
magical passing of time.<br />
While fire is definitely the thing we<br />
show up for, the remaining ash has its<br />
own reasons to shine.<br />
Ashes aren’t just a known waste<br />
product of fire, they are chock-full of<br />
potential uses and benefits.<br />
To start, ash boasts a make- up of<br />
potassium, phosphorus, calcium,<br />
magnesium, plus a variety of other<br />
trace minerals and a whole whack of<br />
potential.<br />
My favourite use for wood ash is as<br />
an alternative to spreading salt on<br />
ice, here are a few reasons why:<br />
1. Ash is pet safe. Many road and<br />
sidewalk salts/ice melts are<br />
considered toxic to pets.<br />
2. Ash is non- corrosive. Salt may<br />
cause slow damage to your<br />
sidewalks, footwear and more.<br />
3. Ash works well as a salt<br />
alternative because it’s<br />
naturally gritty, and the darker<br />
tone works <strong>with</strong> the sun to<br />
create slip resistant pits in ice<br />
that won’t damage the surface<br />
below.<br />
4. Ash can also be beneficial to<br />
your plants.<br />
Let’s dig into that last point a little<br />
more shall we?<br />
Ash is truly a gardeners friend and<br />
saving your favourite perennial from<br />
an over-salted wintery doom might<br />
not even be your favourite thing<br />
that ash can do. While ash is NOT<br />
recommended around blueberries<br />
and other acidic soil loving plants<br />
due to it’s high ph of 9-10, there<br />
are plenty of ways ash makes itself<br />
beneficial to collect after your next<br />
fire.<br />
A. Ash deters slugs and snails<br />
B. The Phosphorous in ash can<br />
help plants develop a strong<br />
root system and assists in the<br />
flowering and fruiting of trees<br />
C. Its calcium content helps<br />
tomato plants thrive<br />
D. It helps neutralize unwanted<br />
soil acidity<br />
E. Ash is attractive to earth<br />
worms (think an increase of...
HAULING ASH<br />
free worm castings)<br />
F. Potassium helps improve<br />
drought tolerance through<br />
increased root growth which<br />
in turn increases a plants<br />
potential yield.<br />
G. Ash can even be used on<br />
indoor plants to deter pests.<br />
Whats the general wisdom when it<br />
comes to ash?<br />
Don’t over do it!<br />
Sometimes too much of a good thing<br />
is just that. Used sparingly* it will<br />
become a seasoned favourite that<br />
prevent slips, falls and a whole lot of<br />
avoidable damage for years to come.<br />
*It is suggested that 1-6 pounds of ash<br />
is sufficient for 100 square feet (9.29 Sq<br />
M) of gardening space. If you question<br />
the nutrient levels in your soil, soil tests<br />
are readily available at most gardening<br />
centres.
Happy Camper!<br />
* Rise & Shine Mug available in plain white enamel: See Shop
Fast Food<br />
I started to write an article on Plant<br />
Power and realized straight away<br />
that there was enough information<br />
to potentially overwhelm, or break<br />
into two separate articles. I went for<br />
option 2.<br />
In this edition of <strong>Coffee</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Moe</strong>, I<br />
focus Part 1: Fast Food<br />
An easy to grow powerhouse, the<br />
sprout.<br />
Coming to the fall edition of<br />
<strong>Coffee</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Moe</strong>, I will explore Part<br />
2: Microgreens. With tips and tricks to<br />
turn a corner of your countertop into<br />
your own productive produce section.<br />
Enjoy & stay tuned.<br />
If you’ve ever met me, you may<br />
know that I LOVE <strong>with</strong> a capital<br />
sized AFFECTION gardening and<br />
surrounding myself <strong>with</strong> the energy of<br />
green.<br />
I’m the girl who would rather travel<br />
in winter, so that I might spend every<br />
spare hour of my spring, summer and<br />
autumn wandering and otherwise<br />
tending to my garden. But, alas, I’m<br />
Canadian. Growing days are fleeting<br />
and winters linger here for months on<br />
end.<br />
So what’s a person to do?<br />
Grow sprouts of course.<br />
Sprouts or micro-scale vegetables<br />
as some trendy folk call them, are a<br />
gateway into growing food indoors.<br />
They are easy to produce, take little<br />
know-how, have very minimal light<br />
and attention requirements but they<br />
are jam packed <strong>with</strong> protein and high<br />
in water content. The perfect summer,<br />
and lets be honest, year round snack.<br />
I don’t know where your health<br />
stands, but the proverbial “they”<br />
have done studies and results show<br />
that sprouts can increase your Good<br />
Cholesteral, the HDL kind. While<br />
decreasing your triglycerides and<br />
Bad or LDL cholesterol <strong>with</strong> regular<br />
consumption and that’s good news<br />
for your heart.<br />
What else can sprouts do for<br />
you? While that might completely<br />
depend on the sprouts you grow,<br />
they’re all considered more potent,<br />
condensed versions of their grown<br />
up counterparts. Generally, sprouts<br />
are touted as being loaded <strong>with</strong><br />
magnesium, folate, vitamin K<br />
& phosphorous. Check out the<br />
nutritional benefits of the plant you<br />
are sprouting for an idea of the<br />
powerhouse you are unleashing in a<br />
sprout.<br />
If this weren’t enough reason to grow,<br />
sprouted seeds increase in fiber when<br />
sprouted, but decrease in any fibre<br />
induced gas and bloat by acting like<br />
a prebiotic. That means they feed<br />
your faithfully consumed probiotics,<br />
keeping them working hard for longer<br />
in your digestive system.<br />
Without further ado,<br />
Let’s dial in on the 411 of sprouting<br />
shall we?<br />
Is is true that anyone can<br />
sprout?<br />
Yes, definitely.<br />
Do I need a whole swanky set<br />
up to get started?<br />
No. All you need is the following:<br />
- 5 minutes or less in both the<br />
morning and evening for prepping<br />
and rinsing (in filtered water)<br />
- A shady corner of your kitchen.<br />
(Sprouts are negatively impacted by<br />
sun and heat)<br />
- A clean wide mouth mason jar<br />
- A clean lid that will allow airflow and<br />
bug protection. (Cheese-cloth/ elastic<br />
or sprouting lid)<br />
- A towel or draining rack to catch<br />
leftover water drips post rinsing.<br />
Are sprouts expensive?<br />
At 2 tbsp of seeds/beans a batch/<br />
jar, they don’t have to be. It really<br />
depends on the sprouts you choose.<br />
I buy bags of organic Mung Beans in<br />
the import aisle at the grocery store<br />
for my everyday sprouts and buy<br />
more expensive sprouting seeds to<br />
mix & match. Check out Mumms*<br />
at www.sprouting.com They are a<br />
great family owned Canadian Bulk<br />
Seed supplier. This is where I buy<br />
everything but my Mung Beans.<br />
Do I need to buy organic?<br />
Yes. Beyond the fact that it’s a safer...
Fast Food cont’d<br />
choice for your body, it ensures the<br />
seed or bean has not been sprayed<br />
<strong>with</strong> an agent used to extend shelf<br />
life, pesticides, or has been irradiated<br />
to stop sprouting.<br />
How long does it take before I<br />
can enjoy my sprouts?<br />
2-5 days is average.<br />
Timing will depend on what you<br />
choose to sprout, how long you presoak<br />
your sprouts and how sprouted<br />
you like your sprouts. Your timing may<br />
be more or less than average. You<br />
can reference the Mumms* website<br />
for soaking details for each sprout.<br />
Honestly, once you realize how<br />
inexpensive, yummy and easy sprouts<br />
are to have on hand, you’ll always<br />
make sure you have some on tap<br />
* I am not affiliated <strong>with</strong> Mumms<br />
at all, I have used their seeds for<br />
sprouting and microgreens for years.<br />
I’ve never had an issue.<br />
Alright. Let’s Get Growing<br />
Once you’ve designated space,<br />
cleaned a jar and found yourself a<br />
good secure lid, grab your seeds or<br />
beans & start sprouting.<br />
Here’s what to do?<br />
1. Get your sprouting seeds<br />
or beans from a reputable organic<br />
bulk seed or bean company. As<br />
mentioned, I choose seeds from the<br />
Mumm family at www.sprouting.com<br />
2. Place 1-2 tbsp of your chosen<br />
seed/ bean in your approx. 750 ml<br />
mason jar and rinse thoroughly. Some<br />
people do an initial rinse of white<br />
or apple cider vinegar before their<br />
water rinses to eliminate any bacteria<br />
or fungus on the seed. (I simply rinse<br />
<strong>with</strong> filtered water, but it’s a matter of<br />
preference)<br />
3. Cover your beans/seeds <strong>with</strong><br />
filtered water for up to 12 hours. You<br />
can look up soaking time based on<br />
the seed/bean you are using. Some<br />
seeds take less time and over soaking<br />
can cause germination issues, so<br />
always check. The sprouting.com<br />
website has info on the individual<br />
soaking time of each sprout.<br />
4. Secure your lid, then strain out<br />
the water. Tip jar upside down at an<br />
angle on your drying rack or towel<br />
to catch remaining water and so that<br />
your seeds don’t sit in water.<br />
5. Rinse <strong>with</strong> filtered water and<br />
drain every morning and night until<br />
your sprouts are ready.<br />
How will you know they are<br />
ready?<br />
If you are uncertain, taste a sprout<br />
every time you rinse. (Once they’ve<br />
softened and sprouted that is.)<br />
This way you will get a tailored idea<br />
based on your own personal taste.<br />
Each sprout will grow at different<br />
rates and will have differing levels<br />
of tart and sweetness depending on<br />
timing.<br />
Protein, nutrient and water filled,<br />
sprouts make the perfect healthful<br />
spring and summer snack, so give<br />
them a try.<br />
Here are a few extra tips to<br />
make sprouting fun & easy<br />
a. Keep unused seeds/ beans in a<br />
cool, dark and dry location to prolong<br />
freshness.<br />
b. If you forget about rinsing for a<br />
day or two. It might be worth starting<br />
over to avoid any contamination or<br />
mould that is eliminated by regular<br />
rinsing.<br />
c. Add a reminder to your phone so<br />
that rinsing becomes routine.<br />
d. Taste a sprout at every stage once<br />
sprouted to see what you like.<br />
What to do now that they are<br />
ready?<br />
Well drained sprouts can last in the<br />
fridge for up to 10 days.<br />
Add a paper towel to your<br />
refrigerated sprouts to wick any<br />
damp. Change your paper towel <strong>with</strong><br />
another dry one when it becomes<br />
saturated.<br />
Sprouting is an easy way to break into<br />
gardening, eating fresh and to start<br />
taking an active role in growing your<br />
own food. Have fun looking up all the<br />
different benefits a wide variety of<br />
sprouts can bring into your life.<br />
Once you are completely hooked and<br />
feeling great, keep your eyes peeled<br />
for the Autumn Edition of <strong>Coffee</strong><br />
<strong>with</strong> <strong>Moe</strong> where I will dive into Micro-<br />
Greens. Giving you all my tips and<br />
tricks for growing them easily and<br />
successfully on a personal scale.<br />
Enjoy your successes in sprouting.<br />
ps.<br />
The sprout you are used to finding<br />
<strong>with</strong> Vietnamese food or at the<br />
grocers comes from the Mung Bean.