le pois chiche & new permaculture friends!
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Sorting and saving seeds with a group of French with special needs.
Ouf! I think we all landed safely, you and me, after yesterday's switchover. French Word-A-Day has changed email carriers and just in time... I have so much more to share with you: words, photos, dreams and more.
le pois chiche (pwah-sheesh)
: chickpea
Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc Download MP3 or Wave file
Les femmes semencières ont trié les pois chiches, avant de donner les graines à ceux qui ont besoin.
The women seedkeepers sorted the chickpeas before giving the seeds to those in need.
- Correctly pronounce French with the book Exercises in French Phonetics
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE... by Kristin Espinasse
Imagine you had a growing passion for something... but had no (local) friends who shared the same interest. And then, suddenly--serendipidously--you met another person who understood you when you murmured the code word....
"Permaculture!" I said, while showing our guests around our garden. "This is an experimental permaculture garden..." (I always toss in the word "experimental"--which covers a multitude of garden sins as well as ignorance on my part.)
That's when one woman spoke up amidst all the murmuring. "Yes, permaculture...." I cannot recall exactly what Marie said next, so amazed was I by this opportunity.
Marie mentioned there were a few local organizations I might be interested in, and she sent me this flyer when she returned home:
...And that's how I found myself standing in a potiron patch, babbling in French to a sacred femme semencière....
(To be continued)
A permaculture and forest garden not far from my house. More in the next post.
A Message from Kristi: Ongoing support from readers like you keeps me writing and publishing this free language journal each week. If you find joy or value in these stories and would like to keep this site going, donating today will help so much. Thank you for being a part of this community and helping me to maintain this site and its newsletter.
Ways to contribute:
1.Zelle®, The best way to donate and there are no transaction fees. Zelle to [email protected]
2.Paypal or credit card
Or purchase my book for a friend and so help them discover this free weekly journal.
For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety
ça a marché - aucun problème.
Et j'ai aimé apprendre ce nouveau mot - j'adore le 'hummus' avec le pain.
Posted by: Maria Cochrane | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 06:29 PM
Yeah! You're back ... and I'm so glad I NOW have access to my French cup-a-day (I know, I know -- its Word-A-Day but its like my daily serving of French coffee to get my day started) I so missed getting this in my in basket. Glad I'm connected again!
Posted by: Robin Katsaros | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 06:35 PM
Our dear Kristi,
Only one word for you,dear lady: BRAVO!!!
Is there nothing you cannot achieve?
Now Permaculture!
You turn your dreams into reality and give inspiration to the rest of us!
THANK YOU!
Love
Natalia XO
Posted by: Natalia | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 06:41 PM
I'm also happy to have FWAD back. Glad you've met some permaculture friends.
Posted by: Jill Ferrie | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 06:42 PM
All good, on this end. What a lovely poster, to catch one's attention, and a very good subject.
Posted by: Mim (Richmond, VA) | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 06:47 PM
Thank you for your association with special needs folks, no matter the difficulty. I have a 44year-old special needs daughter who lives in the Phildelphia area - I live in Florida. She would love to help with seed sorting or anything to do with a garden or being outside. Bless you, Kristi.
Posted by: Jeanne | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 06:47 PM
Smooth transition to the new carrier. Also love the "reader version" option for the tablet. :-)
Posted by: Robin from Encinitas, CA | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 06:49 PM
What a magnificent permaculture & forest garden! Too, love the flyer, it's purpose & and all the new French words...expanding my French vocabulary .etc!!! Thanks so much!
Posted by: Faye Stelly | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 07:04 PM
Kristin,I have a friend in Ireland who has taken 3 acres of wasteland and through permaculture, 10 years of work turned it into a marvelous piece of sustainable property. You might like her blog. She does go political at times, but her heart is in the right place...the land that she farms...Bealtaine Cottage http://bealtainecottage.com/2014/10/13/a-feast-of-autumn/
I have been a permaculture gardener even in the city...It sure reeks of sustainability! Bravo to you and anyone else who is is venturesome! bj!
Posted by: BJ Tuininga | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 07:19 PM
Hi! I wasn't sure this was you, but I'm glad I opened it!! Can you please translate the flyer?? (For us baby-Francophiles? Please?)
Bless you for hanging in there!
Posted by: Tonya McNair | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 07:20 PM
Here is a cute bit from flyer: repas tiré du sac
I believe that means bring a sack lunch! But literally, lunch pulled from a sack! Very interesting post, Kristin!
Posted by: Ellen | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 07:28 PM
Like several people above, I wasn't sure who this was, but I am so glad I opened it! Phew! I'm happy that you have landed safely, and that I will continue to receive your lovely French Word A Day!
Posted by: Alyssa Ross Eppich | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 07:34 PM
I almost didn't open it, with "Day" as the sender, and permaculture in the title. It sounded like a spammer or hacker-virus. Scary. Can you place French Word-a-Day in the title, or perhaps French Day? But, I'm glad I took the chance and did open it.
Posted by: Beth Hartmann | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 07:58 PM
well it was a totally new look..I had to, I choose to read the French text wondering what it was..and voila there you are. Glad the transition went smoothly. Nice looking garden.
Posted by: Catharine Ewart-Touzot | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 08:16 PM
Beth, this glitch has been taken care of. Thanks for letting me know if it happens again.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 08:17 PM
Kristi-
Please put "F W A D" in the title first ....there is no indication that this is from you- looked like an ad to me, and almost clicked it off...
Thanks!
Posted by: Nancy, Cambridge | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 08:39 PM
Dear Kristi,
Transition could NOT have been more smooth!
Excellent planning on your part!
So glad you are back; you are loved!
Micki Simms
Houston, TX
Posted by: Micki Simms | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 09:14 PM
As often happens, one noble effort embraces another. Good for you, Kristin! Enjoy~
I have never experienced fresh chickpeas in the shell, so your photo is quite fascinating. Our daughter showed us how to season and roast dried chickpeas after they have been reconstituted by boiling in water. So good.
We appreciated your email yesterday telling your readers of the change in email carrier. Very glad to receive this post today.
And a shout out for your Twitter and Instagram accounts. A very nice daily dose of FWAD!
Posted by: Chris Allin | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 09:19 PM
Hi Kristen,
Looking good!Easy transition. Thanks for all that you do.
Posted by: Sevahn Merian from Michigan | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 10:25 PM
So Kristi I guess you've found more local sources of permaculture advice than the Aix-en-Transition folks, but I couldn't figure out exactly from whom.. With the end of the summer crops I'm a little bit at a crossroads as to how to proceed. Shortly going back to the US for six weeks.
Loved the story about your father swimming in the calanque. I've done the same thing many times.
Warmest regards, Robe-aire from Aix
Posted by: Rober Wildau | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 11:13 PM
Hi Kristin,
I'm having fun pronouncing pois chiche! Your garden is gorgeous and I imagine you saying, "this is my experimental permaculture garden" and someone saying "pois chiche"... it is fabulous, what are you talking about!" Did you join the seed women group?
Posted by: Eileen deCamp | Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 11:42 PM
Thank you all for these most encouraging words! Every note brings a smile. This latest transition fried my nervous energy (and all the coffee I drank to get through it did not help any).
Ellen, yes, that expression jumped out at me, too. It would make a featured phrase (in place of the word of the day).
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 03:03 AM
Just a rough draft but a beginning:
The Global Alliance for Free Seed Scattering
Call to Action for Seeds, Food and the Earth
20 Sept-20Oct. 2014 - EVERYWHERE
The Shared Garden
"Sow the World's heart"
The Protectors of Free Sowing are organising a workshop
Wednesday 15 October in the garden
"Reap what you sow"
Gathering and sharing of garden seeds
from 10AM to 3PM "A meal pulled from a sack"
Let's plant life together
Propagate living heritage, pollinate fertile life
Women Who Sow Truth, Peace, Diversity
In partnership with the Foyer Maurice Dujardin, Bandol, Var, France
Garden ""Sow the World's heart", Espace Rampale, Route de Bandol 83 Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer (Var, France)
contact: [email protected]
Posted by: Julia Frey | Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 08:36 AM
Thanks, Julia! Love the translation. So helpful.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 10:20 AM
Hi, The red color on the border of the blog page, around the main paragraph(s), is distracting to me--as any color would be to me.
Is it possible for you to write at least half of the blog in French?
Actually, I would prefer an all French edition, if you have one. Can I sign up for that instead? You can still translate the specific words and phrases that you have chosen to be our "lesson" for the day.
I would like to see the lesson words in French context--in the French organization of phrases and grammar in each sentence. French organization is not the same as English, as some of us know.
Thank you for all that you do already.
Joanne Polner
Posted by: Joanne Polner | Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 03:30 PM
I miss your vocabulary column.
Posted by: Vivian Langley | Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 03:55 PM
Hello Kristin
my petits commentaires are
#1 Congrats on the smooth transition.
#2 I hope the Vocabulaire will be restored
#3 love the permaculture content
Keep up the good work and God Bless
Seosamh
Posted by: Seosamh | Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 06:24 PM
Well, Vous etes ici! Bienvenue to Permaculture. In the USA, I watch "Victory Garden" on Saturdays on a PBS station. Very interesting covering all aspects of farming and animal husbandry. It's incredible the things they can convert to edibles. While I don't have room or sun enough for a garden, I love to see others' plots and that picture was so lush and inviting. Enjoy this expansion in your experiences.
Posted by: Diane Young | Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 06:29 PM
fantastique, nous avon un jardin permaculture,un demi hectare.
Posted by: Terry Dolman | Friday, October 17, 2014 at 12:18 AM
Congratulations for taking the" plunge" into permaculture gardening. I feel sure it will be so rewarding albeit hard work in the beginning Also connected up with the lady in West of Ireland, hasn't she achieved wonders. I have found the transition of your emails has gone smoothly for me and look forward to your happy informative postings as always Kristin thank you
June Qld
June Qld
Posted by: june furey | Friday, October 17, 2014 at 07:18 AM
Could the new carrier use the title, "French Word-A-Day? I had to retrieve this from the 'poubelle'.
Posted by: Mitchell Sollod | Friday, October 17, 2014 at 09:30 AM