Getting back in the swing of things

Despite having started some seeds inside and tucking some onion sets into containers over the last month, today felt like the start of the garden v.2009.  Version 2009 is a big change from Version 2008. I have gone from a container garden on a sunny deck to a large yard that is rough, weedy, has [...]

Signs of Spring

It isn’t just the crocus blossoms and return of birds from their winter migration that heralds spring in my corner of the world.  Here are a few other signs:

The Port Drive-in reopens in Chesterton.
Birky Farms returns to weekday hours next weekend.
Marilyn’s Bakery opens for the season; the grand opening is today.
Sprouting seedlings are watched in [...]

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

During the semester break, I visited family in Oklahoma.  It is a long drive from NW Indiana to Oklahoma (about 900 miles) so I try to make the journey an adventure rather than stick to interstates which I find both boring and stressful.
The trip down didn’t contain fun thanks to feeling decidedly not [...]

One down and thirty to go

Days in the August Challenges that is. In addition to continuing with One Local Summer and Independence Days, I signed up for Chile Chews’ End Discretionary Eating challenge, Crunchy Chicken’s Buy Nothing challenge, and the Quit Now challenged being hosted this month by Jennifer of Veg*n Cooking and Other Random Musings.
So first the “rules.”
We are [...]

Local Snacking – No official OLS meal for Week 7

I don’t have a OLS meal this week. Between deadlines looming and oppressive heat humidity and no air condition, meals have not been appealing and cooking them has been unbearable. I am existing on snacking which has included some local goodness this week. My local grazing has included:

Blueberries and sweet cherries from [...]

Edible Chicago

Chicago now has an edible communities publication.  Chicago joins a list of locations that includes Allegheny (Pennsylvania), Aspen, Atlanta, Boston, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Cape Cod, Chesapeake,  East Buffalo, East Bay, East End, Finger Lakes (New York), Front Range (Colorado), Grande Traverse (Lower Pennisula Michigan), Green Mountains (Vermont), Hawaiian Islands, Iowa, Jersey, Los Angeles, Low Country (Carolinas), [...]

Why I Make the Choices I Am Making

Mary Jane’s letter in the summer 2008 issue of Mary Jane’s Farm fits nicely with some things I have been pondering. My thoughts have to do with why I take part in things like the Independence Days Challenge or One Local Summer.  They have to do with why I grow my own garden, use canvas [...]

Another week of motel living

Still working a flood relief operation in Illinois so no One Local Summer or Independence Days post again this week.  I hope to explore a couple of local farmer’s markets here this weekend and hopefully Monday I’ll head back to my own home. After being in preparation (proactive) mode for the last few weeks it [...]

From eating things I grow to eating out

No Independence Days or One Local Summer posts this week.  For the past 5 days, I have been in Illinois working a disaster relief operation.  Instead of picking what I eat from my own container garden or purchasing it at area farms and farmer’s markets, I am eating food that I don’t even cook myself.  [...]

This blog may be quiet for a couple of weeks

I have received a disaster services assignment and head to one of the many flood/storm areas first thing in the morning.  I might be gone 5 days or might be gone 3 weeks or more.  Until I return there won’t be One Local Summer or Independence Days Updates.