Michael Simms: Evening in the Adirondacks
Always it will be late summer in your mind: Birches give off a full and dark light With a motion you know will abide and return Every evening. You are … Continue reading
Michael Simms: Four Songs from the Sioux
Behold This is a ceremonial song of the Sioux Sun dance, the three verses being sung by a leader in the ceremony. Where holy you behold in the place where … Continue reading
Michael Simms: Why Gardening is Good for Us
Last year, Eva and I hired a contractor to remove the asphalt from our backyard which for years had been used as a woodlot and a basketball court. The soil … Continue reading
The Vegan Kitchen: Eight Tropical Fruits We Should Eat More Of
One of the great joys of summer is eating fruit. In the northern latitudes, berries, peaches, apricots, and melons ripen in the warm sun, and we can buy them at … Continue reading
Michael Simms: The Apothecary in the Back Yard
In our garden of blueberry, elderberry, rose, zinnia, sage, oregano, and tomato, Eva and I have decided to reserve a corner that will be left untended. This plot will be … Continue reading
The Vegan Kitchen: Curried Cauliflower, Peas, and Potatoes
Our version of this curry, a favorite combination of vegetables in India, unites cumin, turmeric, coriander, ginger, mustard, cinnamon, and cayenne. Fresh cilantro provides an herbal note. Serve the curry … Continue reading
Michael Simms: Potluck Soup
When we were college students in Dallas in the 1970’s, my friends and I lived off college loans, the GI bill, and handouts from our parents. We were broke. So … Continue reading
Michael Simms: The Future of the Democratic Party
Last night I attended the launch of the new Pittsburgh headquarters of the Bernie Sanders campaign. Pennsylvania has a large number of delegates, and the state helped elect Obama twice, … Continue reading
Michael Simms: Why Donald Trump?
Liberals and leftists in America consistently underestimate the political savvy of the leaders on the right. We forget that presidential elections are not decided by reasoned debate in which important … Continue reading
The Vegan Kitchen: Hearty Lentil Soup with Greens
Cooking for a group of people on restricted diets: Legumes cooked with fresh greens are a traditional favorite that has versions in every culture. Commonly referred to as “beans and … Continue reading
Michael Simms: Why I support Bernie Sanders for President
America is in crisis. We have 662 overseas bases in 150 foreign countries, we are engaged in military attacks on another 135 countries, and yet we feel less safe than ever before. … Continue reading
The Vegan Kitchen: Rustic Red Cabbage and Potato Soup
At the end of the week, I like to make soup out of the last of the vegetables. This week the soup turned out especially tasty, so I thought I’d share the recipe with you.
The Vegan Kitchen: Brazilian Orange and Black Bean Soup
We tend to think of brightly colored fruits and vegetables as our best source of phytonutrients, but recent research shows that black beans are actually a strong contender in phytonutrient … Continue reading
A Few Things Rumi Might Have Said
Your task is not to seek love, but to find all the barriers you’ve built against it. _ Stop acting so small. You are the ecstatic motion of the … Continue reading
