For My Friends in Australia

Jamie, the southern coordinator for the One Local Summer blogging cooperative, called it my "superpower" to be able to add lamb's quarters to any meal. My friend Richard and his wife are both in love with it. The bloggers from the Hills and Plains Seedsavers in Australia even want to know more about it. And I, personally, think it has been sent to me as a gift. Here's why.

On March 23, 2007 I went vegetarian. I can't tell you why, exactly, except to say that I had been on a slippery slope that made that decision, on that day, inevitable. But I didn't want to be a "tofurkey vegetarian," someone who eats all those textured-soy protein sources and frozen, prepared, processed meals. I also didn't want to build my diet around eggs, milk, and cheese. I was (am) intrigued with high-protein ancient grains and greens, like quinoa and farro, spelt and amaranth, as well as nuts, beans and whatever else I can discover.

As fate would have it, one day shortly thereafter, unexpected, uninvited, unplanned, the lamb's quarters showed up. I had seen it at the farmers market the year before--Corinna Garmon always has lots of it, and she always raves about it. I took some home and compared it to what was growing in my yard and yes, I had lamb's quarters, a wild plant usually identified as a weed.

Yet, a little sleuthing revealed that a cup of cooked lamb's quarters has 6 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, 349% of my daily requirement of vitamin A, 46% of my daily calcium, 111% of my daily vitamin C, and 7% of my daily iron. In short, a vegetarian's dream. It does have a lot of sodium, however, but for me that means I don't add salt to recipes if I have lamb's quarters in it.

And so, we eat it. Daily. I have no idea how long it will last, but so far it has lasted the whole summer, at a time when I have no more lettuce, spinach, kale, or beet greens. My kids adore it. My mother thinks it's amazing. My garden overflows with it.

Coincidence that I should have it now, this year, in conjunction with my new veggie status? I've long since stopped believing in coincidences. Whatever I find out there, I know now, is what I need, when I need it. And so I don't wish the lemon cucumber crop was better this year. And I don't wonder if I'll only get that one, big Moon and Stars watermelon that's growing amidst those tangled vines this year. And I couldn't care less about the cracking tomatoes. Because, here, now, today, I have been given lamb's quarters.

For my friends in Australia, and anyone else who wants to find out more about lamb's quarters, click here. For those in the north Georgia or Asheville areas, pick up the August issue of New Life Journal at Whole Foods and other locations, or visit the publication's site at www.newlifejournal.com

Does lamb's quarters grow in Australia? Let us know!

For My Friends in Australia