"New" Organic Movement?

It seems you like I can't go anywhere without hearing about organic this and organic that. It appear that a "new" organic lifestyle is on the rise. Nowadays most people are searching for and paying a lot to get the highest quality natural foods. The irony is that hunters have always been at the forefront of this movement. What better source of natural organic foods than nature herself?

All grilled; elk, portabello, corn. Photo by Cory Arola.

I have grown up as a hunter, fisher and gardener. My mother always had a wonderful garden in our backyard every summer growing various vegetables. My father growing a bramble of raspberry plants that would produce so well we could enjoy bowls upon bowls of the fruit. We would also enjoy wild game, turkey, dove, rabbit and trout. As I grew older I moved into hunting big game. Four years ago I harvested my first big game animal. A cow elk near Meeker, CO.

First elk near Meeker, CO. Yes that is an old Savage 99 in .308. Photo by G. Sonnenfeld

As an cooking enthusiast I was excited to explore different recipes. I delved into the world of matching flavors of spices, making sauces, pairing wines and using different cooking methods. Spices and wines from many different continents, using a grill, dutch oven or skillet all became a hobby adding fuel to the desire to become a better woodsman. Bettering my outdoor knowledge is crucial to increasing the chance I am able to harvest each year and continue to eat such a wonderful meat.

The next fall I was lucky to harvest my first deer near Red Feather Lakes, CO. Once again I was gifted the opportunity to explore a new medium. Venison. The next two years after that my father and I were both fortunate enough to both harvest deer near Meeker. Since that first elk I have never had the desire to consume meet that was not harvested, handled and cooked by myself. I still occasionally eat at restaurants but it never seems to have the same satisfaction that wild meats provide. I am not sure if it is how natural and pure the animals' diets have been or all the effort and work it took to turn something into table fare that has culminated into appreciation, that gives the wild game it's delicious flavors.

First deer near Red Feather Lakes, CO. Photo by Cory Arola

My girlfriend is a vegan. Yes I do hear how odd it is that a vegan and a hunter are able to live together quite often. In reality it isn't that different we are both natural eaters.

This year we are attempting our first garden. As we rent we are limited by pots and a wheelbarrow.

Dharani planting seeds in small pots until we can get larger containers. Photo by Cory Arola.

Our garden. Tomatoes, peppers, squash, giant sunflower, zucchinis, strawberries and black berries. Photo by Cory Arola

Egyptian green onions from my mother. Photo by Cory Arola

The day after planting I decided to celebrate with a meal of last falls venison. I created an asian inspired stir fry with red and green bell peppers, carrots and broccoli sautéed in sesame oil, peppercorn chili oil and teriyaki sauce. I added brown rice seasoned with curry and turmeric as a base for the dish. The loin chop from last fall's deer was grilled, while I enjoyed a warm summer evening's beautiful Colorado-sunset.

Photo by Cory Arola

Photo by Dharani Jdanov

Photo by Cory Arola

I look forward to later this summer when we are able to enjoy our own fruits and vegetables.

I am enthusiastically looking forward to the new lessons I will encounter while growing my own food. I can only relate it to how game must be handled in order to make the best of it's meat. A quick humane kill requires the skill of marksmanship and knowledge of that particular animal's anatomy, similar to understanding each plant's sun/water requirements and planting it accordingly. Field dressing quickly and cooling the meat to preserve its integrity and quality can be related to harvesting at the appropriate time and preparing your harvest for storage. While both hunter and gatherer roles require different knowledge and skills that are mastered over much trial and error; each require time and patience to fully gain the fruits of the labor.

Not to be left unmentioned is the great experiences hunting has allowed me to share with a handful of friends and especially my father. The many years we have spent together are always unforgettable even though they tend to blend together as many hunting season do (very likely due to the little sleep we get during those months). Now a new parallel chapter is beginning with my wonderful, understanding* partner Dharani, as we begin to learn and spend time growing food for ourselves.

Thanks Dad. Photo by Cory Arola
November 2013 Meeker, CO

*Yes I am sucking up a little, elk season will be here before we know it and I will be MIA quite often. Visit her website at http://mdharaniblog.wordpress.com/