Coffee with Moe - Spring_2023

Editorial:
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Hauling Ash
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A Kind Thought
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@moecreative
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Saves 9
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Fast Food
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Presents: A Stitch in Time
ISSUE 21: A Stitch in Time...
On The Cover: Coffee always tastes
better when shared together.
Thanks for popping by to enjoy a cuppa
for this stitch in time. Cover play using
fabric & stitch brushes from Stitch Craft.
For digital Prints & Commission work, please
Contact: monique@moecreative.com
Website: www.moecreative.com
Blog: www.moecreative.com/blog
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Coffee with Moe Digital Magazine is
published in association with Moe Creative
Inc. based in Calgary, Alberta Canada
Publishing made possible by Moe Creative, Yumpo & the
Adobe Suite of Products. Mock-ups by Place-it.
* Art & photography by Monique for Moe Creative inc.
Many thanks to Family, Friends & Inspiration:
Gratefully & alphabetically listed:
AB, AC, AG, AL, AR, BCV, BD, CF, CG, CR,
CS, DD, DK, DL, DO, DR, EC, ED, EN, GD,
GDC, HC, HM, IF, JD, JH, JM, JR, JS, KB,KH,
KN, KW, LB, LD, LK, LM, LOL, LP, MB, MC,
MH, MQ, MS, MY, ND, NH, NS, PA, PB, RC,
RS, SB, SH, SK, SP, SMG, TN, TR, VH, YK.
& all Moe Creative’s clientele & suppliers.
All for whom this issue was created, with
heart & much gratitude.
© 2023 Moe Creative Inc. All rights reserved.

Well, Hello there lovely!
It sure has been a while, since our paths crossed within the pages of
the fall edition of Coffee with Moe.
Back then, our hearts were full of summer and the earth was gilded
with a gorgeous smattering of fall leaves.
Since then, I think all of us, in the northern Hemisphere, have endured
one doozy of a winter. But true to our inner strength, we did it!
We made it to the other side!
That being said…
A hearty congratulations & WELCOME to you.
We have arrived!
The birds are singing, the earth is waking, summer ideas are brewing
& the Spring Edition of Coffee with Moe is here.
As a creative, gardener, nature lover and book nerd, this e-zine is a
bi-annual opportunity for me to connect with you. I think of these
articles and images as curated conversation starters. Places to explore
our connection to mother nature and each other a little deeper. A way
to find common, fertile ground.
So, take a few, pour yourself a cuppa and join me in the pages of this
Spring Edition of Coffee with Moe
Afterall, isn’t coffee always better when shared together.
XO
Moe
Say hello @:
monique@moecreative.com

Be kind
whenever
possible.
It is always
possible
- Dalai Lama

There is an old proverb that goes a
lot like this:
“A stitch in time saves 9”
What started out as a stitching
reference in 1723, evolved into a
catch phrase to assist in correcting
the issue of procrastination and often
synonymously, laziness.
Alas, if only life were that simple.
I say this, because loads of research
has been done since 1723 on the
topic of procrastination and a few
things have been discovered.
1. Time management tools
generally don’t correct or control
procrastination
2. Procrastinators are not actually lazy
3. Procrastination has nothing to do
with willpower
4. Procrastination is commonly linked
with a fear or anxiety related to an
outcome.
5. Procrastination (and laziness for
that matter) are not personality traits
Now, don’t get me wrong. Time
management tools can be a real
game changer when it comes to
organizing tasks and working through
projects from start to finish. But if
you find that you are creating a to-do
list and dragging your heels. There
is likely something deeper going
on that you need to address before
a stitch in time is going to save
anything.
You see, they (scientists and
psychologists) have found that
procrastination is actually a coping
mechanism. The dragging of heels
and focusing on other things, may
be your body’s way of giving yourself
a mood boost when faced with a
task that is conjuring some deep
uncomfortable feelings or is flat out
boring. It’s quite likely, for the heel
dragger to have reaped a Dopamine
(The feel good hormone) release from
delaying a task in the past.
So what are these fears and anxieties
that I speak of? They are as unique as
each individual and task combined.
Each situation will require reflection
and some good old-fashioned self
honesty. It might even take the
expertise of a professional to dig-in
and help sort things out.
Rational or seemingly irrational,
procrastination can be rooted in a
variety of triggers.
A few of which are:
- A belief about a task or outcome
- A past experience
- Fear of appearing on either side
of many coins: foolish/ smart,
successful/ failure etc.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
There is also the issue of
overcommitting, an inability to say no
to tasks you’d rather not do, a sense
of overwhelm and even burn-out
from some if not all of the above.
Still frustrated enough to want to call
someone (including yourself) out on
being a procrastinator or a lazy so &
so?
Think twice.
Shame and guilt are convictions of
being unworthy and put even more
negative pressure on any given
situation. They are demotivating,
harmful, punitive and cause more
damage and resentment than
resolutions.
Superficial judgements like name
calling and labelling ignore any real
life factors.
There’s that tip of the iceberg we
touched on called root trigger(s).
There’s also a barrage of mental and
physical loads a person might carry
that go unseen. There are societal
pressures, existing anxiety(ies) and
a long dark path of outcomes to
flippant statements like: Depression,
more anxiety, new beliefs of inability,
lack and the notion of not just failing,
but being a failure.
Procrastination IS NOT failure, it is a
temporary problem that has yet to be
solved.
Even the most enviable of people tip
the scale of procrastination from time
to time. The solution to overcoming
and thriving in these moments lies in
a kinder, softer, more understanding
approach.
A deeper perspective and a
recognizing of self or our peers. A
compassion for this being human and
the realization that we are all on this
journey called life. The bumps we
face on the road CAN be overcome,
so that a stitch in time might actually
save 9.

HAULING ASH
Nothing beats an evening spent
sitting in front of a warm crackling
fire.
The hours slip by, as the hypnotic
rhythm of fire’s flickering flames
dance us through a potential mix of
music, conversations, thoughts and a
magical passing of time.
While fire is definitely the thing we
show up for, the remaining ash has its
own reasons to shine.
Ashes aren’t just a known waste
product of fire, they are chock-full of
potential uses and benefits.
To start, ash boasts a make- up of
potassium, phosphorus, calcium,
magnesium, plus a variety of other
trace minerals and a whole whack of
potential.
My favourite use for wood ash is as
an alternative to spreading salt on
ice, here are a few reasons why:
1. Ash is pet safe. Many road and
sidewalk salts/ice melts are
considered toxic to pets.
2. Ash is non- corrosive. Salt may
cause slow damage to your
sidewalks, footwear and more.
3. Ash works well as a salt
alternative because it’s
naturally gritty, and the darker
tone works with the sun to
create slip resistant pits in ice
that won’t damage the surface
below.
4. Ash can also be beneficial to
your plants.
Let’s dig into that last point a little
more shall we?
Ash is truly a gardeners friend and
saving your favourite perennial from
an over-salted wintery doom might
not even be your favourite thing
that ash can do. While ash is NOT
recommended around blueberries
and other acidic soil loving plants
due to it’s high ph of 9-10, there
are plenty of ways ash makes itself
beneficial to collect after your next
fire.
A. Ash deters slugs and snails
B. The Phosphorous in ash can
help plants develop a strong
root system and assists in the
flowering and fruiting of trees
C. Its calcium content helps
tomato plants thrive
D. It helps neutralize unwanted
soil acidity
E. Ash is attractive to earth
worms (think an increase of...

HAULING ASH
free worm castings)
F. Potassium helps improve
drought tolerance through
increased root growth which
in turn increases a plants
potential yield.
G. Ash can even be used on
indoor plants to deter pests.
Whats the general wisdom when it
comes to ash?
Don’t over do it!
Sometimes too much of a good thing
is just that. Used sparingly* it will
become a seasoned favourite that
prevent slips, falls and a whole lot of
avoidable damage for years to come.
*It is suggested that 1-6 pounds of ash
is sufficient for 100 square feet (9.29 Sq
M) of gardening space. If you question
the nutrient levels in your soil, soil tests
are readily available at most gardening
centres.

Happy Camper!
* Rise & Shine Mug available in plain white enamel: See Shop

Fast Food
I started to write an article on Plant
Power and realized straight away
that there was enough information
to potentially overwhelm, or break
into two separate articles. I went for
option 2.
In this edition of Coffee with Moe, I
focus Part 1: Fast Food
An easy to grow powerhouse, the
sprout.
Coming to the fall edition of
Coffee with Moe, I will explore Part
2: Microgreens. With tips and tricks to
turn a corner of your countertop into
your own productive produce section.
Enjoy & stay tuned.
If you’ve ever met me, you may
know that I LOVE with a capital
sized AFFECTION gardening and
surrounding myself with the energy of
green.
I’m the girl who would rather travel
in winter, so that I might spend every
spare hour of my spring, summer and
autumn wandering and otherwise
tending to my garden. But, alas, I’m
Canadian. Growing days are fleeting
and winters linger here for months on
end.
So what’s a person to do?
Grow sprouts of course.
Sprouts or micro-scale vegetables
as some trendy folk call them, are a
gateway into growing food indoors.
They are easy to produce, take little
know-how, have very minimal light
and attention requirements but they
are jam packed with protein and high
in water content. The perfect summer,
and lets be honest, year round snack.
I don’t know where your health
stands, but the proverbial “they”
have done studies and results show
that sprouts can increase your Good
Cholesteral, the HDL kind. While
decreasing your triglycerides and
Bad or LDL cholesterol with regular
consumption and that’s good news
for your heart.
What else can sprouts do for
you? While that might completely
depend on the sprouts you grow,
they’re all considered more potent,
condensed versions of their grown
up counterparts. Generally, sprouts
are touted as being loaded with
magnesium, folate, vitamin K
& phosphorous. Check out the
nutritional benefits of the plant you
are sprouting for an idea of the
powerhouse you are unleashing in a
sprout.
If this weren’t enough reason to grow,
sprouted seeds increase in fiber when
sprouted, but decrease in any fibre
induced gas and bloat by acting like
a prebiotic. That means they feed
your faithfully consumed probiotics,
keeping them working hard for longer
in your digestive system.
Without further ado,
Let’s dial in on the 411 of sprouting
shall we?
Is is true that anyone can
sprout?
Yes, definitely.
Do I need a whole swanky set
up to get started?
No. All you need is the following:
- 5 minutes or less in both the
morning and evening for prepping
and rinsing (in filtered water)
- A shady corner of your kitchen.
(Sprouts are negatively impacted by
sun and heat)
- A clean wide mouth mason jar
- A clean lid that will allow airflow and
bug protection. (Cheese-cloth/ elastic
or sprouting lid)
- A towel or draining rack to catch
leftover water drips post rinsing.
Are sprouts expensive?
At 2 tbsp of seeds/beans a batch/
jar, they don’t have to be. It really
depends on the sprouts you choose.
I buy bags of organic Mung Beans in
the import aisle at the grocery store
for my everyday sprouts and buy
more expensive sprouting seeds to
mix & match. Check out Mumms*
at www.sprouting.com They are a
great family owned Canadian Bulk
Seed supplier. This is where I buy
everything but my Mung Beans.
Do I need to buy organic?
Yes. Beyond the fact that it’s a safer...

Fast Food cont’d
choice for your body, it ensures the
seed or bean has not been sprayed
with an agent used to extend shelf
life, pesticides, or has been irradiated
to stop sprouting.
How long does it take before I
can enjoy my sprouts?
2-5 days is average.
Timing will depend on what you
choose to sprout, how long you presoak
your sprouts and how sprouted
you like your sprouts. Your timing may
be more or less than average. You
can reference the Mumms* website
for soaking details for each sprout.
Honestly, once you realize how
inexpensive, yummy and easy sprouts
are to have on hand, you’ll always
make sure you have some on tap
* I am not affiliated with Mumms
at all, I have used their seeds for
sprouting and microgreens for years.
I’ve never had an issue.
Alright. Let’s Get Growing
Once you’ve designated space,
cleaned a jar and found yourself a
good secure lid, grab your seeds or
beans & start sprouting.
Here’s what to do?
1. Get your sprouting seeds
or beans from a reputable organic
bulk seed or bean company. As
mentioned, I choose seeds from the
Mumm family at www.sprouting.com
2. Place 1-2 tbsp of your chosen
seed/ bean in your approx. 750 ml
mason jar and rinse thoroughly. Some
people do an initial rinse of white
or apple cider vinegar before their
water rinses to eliminate any bacteria
or fungus on the seed. (I simply rinse
with filtered water, but it’s a matter of
preference)
3. Cover your beans/seeds with
filtered water for up to 12 hours. You
can look up soaking time based on
the seed/bean you are using. Some
seeds take less time and over soaking
can cause germination issues, so
always check. The sprouting.com
website has info on the individual
soaking time of each sprout.
4. Secure your lid, then strain out
the water. Tip jar upside down at an
angle on your drying rack or towel
to catch remaining water and so that
your seeds don’t sit in water.
5. Rinse with filtered water and
drain every morning and night until
your sprouts are ready.
How will you know they are
ready?
If you are uncertain, taste a sprout
every time you rinse. (Once they’ve
softened and sprouted that is.)
This way you will get a tailored idea
based on your own personal taste.
Each sprout will grow at different
rates and will have differing levels
of tart and sweetness depending on
timing.
Protein, nutrient and water filled,
sprouts make the perfect healthful
spring and summer snack, so give
them a try.
Here are a few extra tips to
make sprouting fun & easy
a. Keep unused seeds/ beans in a
cool, dark and dry location to prolong
freshness.
b. If you forget about rinsing for a
day or two. It might be worth starting
over to avoid any contamination or
mould that is eliminated by regular
rinsing.
c. Add a reminder to your phone so
that rinsing becomes routine.
d. Taste a sprout at every stage once
sprouted to see what you like.
What to do now that they are
ready?
Well drained sprouts can last in the
fridge for up to 10 days.
Add a paper towel to your
refrigerated sprouts to wick any
damp. Change your paper towel with
another dry one when it becomes
saturated.
Sprouting is an easy way to break into
gardening, eating fresh and to start
taking an active role in growing your
own food. Have fun looking up all the
different benefits a wide variety of
sprouts can bring into your life.
Once you are completely hooked and
feeling great, keep your eyes peeled
for the Autumn Edition of Coffee
with Moe where I will dive into Micro-
Greens. Giving you all my tips and
tricks for growing them easily and
successfully on a personal scale.
Enjoy your successes in sprouting.
ps.
The sprout you are used to finding
with Vietnamese food or at the
grocers comes from the Mung Bean.