Many years ago, when I moved to California, the backyard of the house I purchased was burned by the sun, arid, no one needle of grass in site and nothing was growing. The climate was sunny and mild, I saw the potential for reproducing a Mediterranean garden with a small orchard, as I was used to. My vision was clear, the canvas was blank and I started to create.
I planted first citrus trees, lemons, blood and navel oranges, then apples, apricots, berries and a two avocado trees that have not produced anything. Then, I started to create vignettes of relaxation and beauty with garden furniture, fun décor, lighting and accessories, but I left a certain roughness to it, I didn’t want a manicured garden. These are the blood oranges growing over the arbor that bless me with health all year, except August and September. I really have made a small paradise in my backyard.
It was necessary to learn how to process all the fruit I was hoping to get and certainly, I did get a bounty from nature. I only used water, good organic fertilizer and my singing. Yes, plants feel and hear the voice of the person who loves them, the more I sing to them, the happier they get and produce more. I know they love the operatic voices of il Volo, Cecilia Bartoli, Maria Callas, Pavarotti, Caruso, and most of the sopranos/tenors I listen to. The result is a florid, thriving garden I can eat off of it.
Now, I make citrus juices mixed with other fruit or vegetable for the morning breakfast. I add nothing else to the mixture, no water, no sugar, no additives or coagulants. My juicer discards fibers and peels, what I get is pure juice.
This is oranges and raw beets.
This is a juice made with oranges, apricots and lemons.
Here I have a delicious glass of oranges and carrots.
Here there is mixture of red bell peppers, oranges and apples.
All these juices lend themselves to become an alcoholic spritzer made with a bit of bubbles or mineral water for a non-alcoholic refreshing drink.
Aside from juices, I use my oranges and lemons as house cleaning products, facial masks and facial treatment products. I don’t have to buy anything the market proposes any more and I avoid chemicals, or other unpronounceable stuff that enter our body when we use commercial made products. I talk about what to do with citrus in my booklet Naked Lemons, the book Facebook blocks every time I advertise it, as the word “naked” suggests pornography to their stupid algorithms.
I hope you will try some of these, there is nothing to it, it takes very little time to make a glass loaded with pleasure. Ciao.
Valentina
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Copyright © 2022 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved
Valentina Cirasola is an interior-fashion consultant, author of 6 published books, a storyteller, and a blogger of many years. Her books are non-fictional practical ideas to apply in the home, fashion, cooking and travel.
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