walks. soup.

with fall coming a new light approaches. a damp light, heavy and dense. when the dogs and i walk the land we cut through wind and light to make our way to high places. sometimes the feat is so great not even the warmth of the sun can settle our flapping breath or warm those places chilled and fearful from the work of simply putting one foot in front of the other. but there is certainly beauty abound.

the patina of a dying year. good for keeping secrets, planning adventures and conjuring up fierce hungers.
and when we are cold we go in for something hot.

this is potassium broth. a medley of many skins. roots, leaves. the protective and nourishing barriers between the earth and the things that nestle and thrive there. ayurvedic practitioners ask us to drink broths to restore the salt and water of our bodies. a kind of ocean kindling for our own secret seas. the most bolstering part of such mugfuls is perhaps that they come from such stoic and simple beginnings. and to nourish yourself on the minerally jackets of soil dwelling creatures seems the best way to part the veil of the year and enter in the decaying magic that autumn winks at us from our windows.

more scientifically, potassium broth (so called from the concoction of mineral-rich plant matter,) is a good and real source of electrolytes. frequently prescribed to the sick, the recovering, or those on the verge, potassium broth is a very bio-available way of replacing lost salts and fluids. those who are prone to cold would benefit from a knob of ginger here and perhaps a very small section of chili. parsnips and rutabagas add a sweetness for those in bitter places like heartbreak and overwork. and for the already overheated, serve this less than piping hot with something astringent and mild atop such as cilantro or mint leaves.

potassium broth (some percentages)
25% potato peelings
25% carrot peelings and whole chopped beets (with tails, not greens)
50% dark leafy greens (the tougher the better. think kale and turnip greens, not spinach. although this is fine and certainly better than lettuce.)
one leaf kombu or arame
sprinkling of celery seeds or Maine dulse sprinkles

cover all with water just to the chin, bring to a boil, turn down to low and simmer until the house swells and sighs and you can wait no longer for a cupful.