GSW{meal plan}::ten

found via google images



it's rained!  can you believe it?!? and there is more in the forecast. hallelujah! now.  onto next week's dinner.  lots and lots of summer produce to celebrate, so let's get to work. 
again, these are all very simple recipes, requiring little technique, instead relying on the fresh produce to do the work. and since you rely on produce your grocery bill will be cheaper since you are buying in-season or practically free if you have a garden (or a friend's to poach).   if you weren't here last week then check out GSW::nine for a printable pantry checklist. if you are finding that you need to build your pantry then stretch the expense out by adding a few pantry items to your grocery list for a few weeks until you have a completed pantry. 

1. clementine's ratatouille (vegetable stew - french style)
2. yogurt grilled chicken with cucumber + mint salad (30 minute dinner!)
3. macaroni alla norma (eggplant pasta in 15 minutes)
4. open face sandwiches with watermelon, feta, & basil salad
5. roasted bbq chicken with corn + basil cakes
for drinking....
strawberry cucumber smoothie

for freezer cooking...
basic pantry marinara
great to get a head start on the macaroni alla norma (jarred would be just as great).  this is also my go-to, favorite marinara.

for dessert...
peach pie

back to school

 
it is almost august which means that school is almost here.  hendrix goes to a mom's day out program once a week, but it doesn't start until september.  his cousin, however, is starting kindergarten (!!) and all the crayons and milestones are making me panic a little bit.  it means the summer is almost done and i still have lots of things on my list.  it also means that my kid is growing up to fast and so are his cousins.  so, instead, of feeling sorry for myself i am focusing on what i like about back to school time...cooler weather (please!!) and SCHOOL SUPPLIES. 
what do a 3 1/ year old and 31 year old need school supplies for?  crafting, yo.  oftentimes, things like crayons, markers, glue, colored pencils, and watercolors are on sale at this time.  especially at the end of the august when they are trying to liquidate the leftovers.  plus, hendrix's head is going to explode when he sees all those crayola packages in the target cart.  so is mine. so we are going to go stock up and stock the craft closet. that way when we are snowed in (please!!) we will have plenty of tools to help the time pass.
while, i have been dreaming of a color coordinated, craft closet, i have also been going through hendrix's old clothes.  like a smartie when i bought summer clothes in april for him, i also picked up some fall shirts. but no pants.  if they made boy's pants with a 24 month waist and a 4T/5T length, we'd be in business.  alas, they do not.  so i am stuck going with the adjustable waist ones at old navy which are about $8 more a pair then i like to spend.  i prefer the consignment and last chance shops for kids clothes shopping. do they make toddler belts?
anyways, that is how we are participating in the "back to school" craze.  i also realized that with back to school came fall gardens.  and fall food.  oh, beef stews...how i long for you.  this year, my fall garden may or may not happen depending on if we get any rain.  it is so dry that i am not sure how well my seed will germinate without some decent rain.  if we do luck out and get some rain then i will be doing beets, spinach, garlic, kale, collards, buttercrunch, and turnips. are you planning on a fall garden? getting excited for apples?  counting the days until the kids go back to school?

garden{REVOLUTION}::four



parsley, rosemary, oregano

where: my aunt theresa's backyard in omaha, ne

awesomeness: hendrix and i put together this little herb box for his aunt tree-cee on mother's day. she moved into a beautiful home with beautifully landscaped flower gardens, but there is really no place for veggies.  she loves to cook with herbs for the extra flavor and their ability to eliminate the need for added salt.  we try to give her a ton of veggies and herbs during the growing season, but this allows her to have herbs ready at her back door.  this is a great example of how even growing a bit of food can really elevate your cooking and save you bucks.  by growing her own herbs, aunt theresa isn't forced to buy those $3 clamshells of fresh herbs at the grocery store every time she wants to add flavor to her cooking.  even better...she knows right where those herbs came from. and that is awesome.

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garden{REVOLTION}:: one, two, three

if you are thinking about adding a garden to your yard or are wanting to get into container gardening, remember that clementine's offers consultations and garden prep.  consultations start at $40, email clementinespandp@gmail for more info.  now is the perfect time to start planning your fall gardens. 



{garden}REVOLUTION::three

where: westwood church, omaha ne
awesomeness: the church contributed not only property but funds to build this community garden for the neighborhood they are a part of...there are 30 raised beds for the neighborhood and church members to grow food in which is....
totally awesome.

{garden}REVOLUTION::two

where: andrea's in papillion, ne
awesomeness: this one blue barrel is growing potatoes, onions, kale, lettuce spinach, and herbs.
pretty awesome for a first timer!

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you can learn more about our blue barrels by emailing us at clementinespandp@gmail.com.  they are prolific producers, virtually maintenance free, and allow folks to  grow their own food in a relatively small space.



a walk in our gardens

after a much needed rain, i took some pictures of happy seedlings and ready to provide plants. these were shot in our back garden, as well as, our herb garden outside the front door. aren't you impressed with how i weeded and cleaned up for you? *wink* anyway, enjoy.

cherokee trail {black beans} pole beans

butternut squash

cucumbers

cabbage

it's hard to see but under those greens is a ginormous turnip.  softball size.

swiss chard + onions

butter crunch that needs eating + romaine

golden beets

potatoes in tires

strawberries

hendrix's pepper garden

sage, oregano, tarragon

baby chard pot

baby rosemary plant

back porch + tool storage

things i love this week

i will be installing a pallet herb garden and tomatoes at my brother's place today.  this is his family's first foray into edible gardening.  i really enjoy doing these sort of projects with first time gardeners.  although, it is getting late in the season, don't forget that clementine's can help you with your fall garden later this season or help get you started next year.  email us at clementinespandp@gmail.com.
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this week has been such a great week of discovery....here are some of the things & people i love this week.

• the new blog for parents wanting to feed their babies well: fueling super heros
• local abundance supports a general economy...go to the plant exchange, BIG DIG GIG, at the union for contemporary art.
• mark bittman's tedX talk. word, mark. word.
• oh darling a {mom + baby} boutique is carrying original and unique refinished furniture.  check them out not only for prego clothes and baby gifts but to decorate your home!
• speaking of homes and parents....best family + design blog i have found in a long time.  dos family.
• june is operation sandbox building and tire swing hanging time.  i am using this one for inspiration.
• meal planning via the garden and farmer's markets
• lemonade stand at olive us tv
• this blog post sums up why i heart the HMC so much.

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here are this week's blog posts in case you missed them:
spring photos around the farm
preserve spring through canning, freezer cooking, jams, and more
meal plan using spring's bounty

new projects + things to share

howdy! what a beautiful monday it is at the farm.  we spent the weekend celebrating the end of planting season for mike, taking a sunday car ride, visiting grandma, and trying to find the home of a dog that showed up on our doorstep.  i'm going to work in the garden today and tend to a sick cat.  just wanted to tell you about a couple of things....

check us out on twitter: @clementinepandp

follow the sayings and antics of hendrix: @HendrixtheKid

the super inspiring, ashley english, (yes, THE ashley english who has the column at design sponge) linked to a post of ours from her blog.  i was so flattered!!

did you see the shop truck article? gabrielle from design mom featured it last week. she also linked to us, too!

olive us...super cute new show.  last week was about gardening.

you all should make this rueben bake. immediately.  it is so good.
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look at what we've been working on....
his cousin and my super mom friend, andrea, has a garden for the first time this year.  so far that garden has supplied the some of goods for a zuppa toscana soup and herbed grilled chicken with herby garlic bread.

filling the growing barrels

what do you think? would you like to grow edible treats in your yard or on your deck too?  if you already are...what are you growing??

planting herbs & greens with romy

we're working on perfecting these and the heart ministry center's community garden also has some up.  we're also working on different styles and options.  stay tuned....

bountiful growing barrels, raised bed built and planted, gate put up
clementine's p+p helped andrea till and build her raised beds, as well as, set up her growing barrels

virtual gardening clinic:: what ya'll should be doing and planting

in putting these virtual clinics on, i am assuming that the majority of the reading audience are novice or pseudo-novice gardeners.  if my assuming makes an ass out of you and me...sorry.  i am also not covering every vegetable on the planet.  just the ones gardeners in zone 5 mostly grow.
the early warm weather and above normal soil temps has a lot of people scrambling this year.  but, you know what? we can all relax.  if you are new to gardening i firmly believe the best way to set yourself up for success is do what you can with starter plants.  starter plants won't be available at most nurseries for a few weeks, at least.  any nightshade plants, squash, melons, etc.  are at risk of frost anytime before mother's day. i know this weather is making us all excited, though, so let's talk about what you all CAN be doing and planting.

getting the garden ready....
mike tilled 5 garden plots this weekend.  he tilled in compost in almost all of them.  this is the time, if you haven't already, to get those gardens prepped for planting.  if you are doing raised gardens...get them dug, add compost (if needed), till, and build.  decide what sort of fencing you need based on what the critter situation is in your area.  it seems overwhelming to do all the planning and physical labor now, but it will save you time and heartache in the long run.  i made the great decision {for the first time EVER} to add a bit of compost, dig up, and cover my raised gardens with hay last fall. as a result, my kale overwintered and it was super simple to remove the hay and plant this year. 
chicken wire, lumber, stakes, deck screws, a drill, and staple gun can make some major things happen.  if you are doing containers....get them now and fill them up.  most hardware stores and nurseries are stocking the soil needed for growing veggies in containers now. 

getting your seed and starting seed....
some veggies have to or really should grow from seeds.  roots:  carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, and parsnips are some of those veggies.  some say peas and cukes are the same way.  i have had success starting peas and cukes and then transplanting them.  and for container gardeners...this is really the only way.  so right now the soil temp is about 56 degrees meaning that you can plant those root veggie, peas, and greens seeds directly in the ground.  if you haven't bought any seed, but want to grow some of these...now is the time to buy them.  if you have bought them and want to try to start them indoors before planting in a container...now is the time for the peas and greens.  root veggies should be directly planted in the ground.  the warmer veggie seeds like cukes, tomatoes, green beans, eggplant, okra, & peppers can be put in seed trays in a week or two.  even though the weather and soil are warm, i am still subscribing to the "wait until after mother's day" rule for planting these outside.  i have been burned one too many times by hail and frost when i was a little too eager.

if you garden is prepped and ready to go....
if you have a prepped garden or containers and some experience {or a sense of adventure} go ahead and plant the following from seed: swiss chard, kale, lettuces, collards, turnips, carrots, radishes, beets, parsnips, arugula, spinach, peas, onions, potatoes, and broccoli.  broccoli can be fickle when started from seed and not a plant, but it is possible. as a rule, i have found a lot of the brassicas to be fickle but it can be done...the cabbage needs warmer weather and the brussels need long stretches of cool weather {and i would only do a starter plant with these} the rest of these in a properly prepped garden with loose, rich soil should take right off.

here is some more information on what can be planted now....

GREENS
(cooking + salad: lettuces, kale, collards, chard, mesculans, spinach, arugula, etc.)
these can typically be planted in early spring and fall. some like collards, kale, and chard are pretty heat tolerant and will produce most of the growing season. others like arugula, spinach, and lettuces will bolt &/or burn when it gets too hot. some varieties, like spinach, come in a heat tolerant hybrid. i prefer planting greens in containers or raised beds because weeding them can be time intensive when planted in rows the traditional way. however, if you do choose to have a traditional garden then do not forgo planting in straight lines using stakes and twine. this will make hoeing and hand weeding easier. kale, collards, chard, arugula, and spinach are big producers since you can just harvest the outer leaves as needed. most lettuces like buttercrunch and frisee require harvesting the whole head. 4 - 8 hours of direct sun is needed daily, water at least 3 times a week, for most: expect a crop in about 35-60 days, cooking greens can be washed and frozen. all grow well and easily from seed however starter plants are a great was to set a first time gardener up for success.

ROOTS
roots like carrots, radishes, beets, and parsnips need very deep and loose dirt. containers can work, but i like raised beds best and they allow you to really pack them in. if going with a traditional garden do plant in very straight rows to help make weeding easier. not big producers (what you plant is what you get) so if you are planting to store them or love them than do succession planting. plant rows every week during the planting season. early spring and grow. roots produce in 35-65 days typically depending on variety. beets and radishes tolerate part shade. beet and radish greens are edible and delicious. carrots and parsnips need lots of sun. water at least 3 times a week. pickling and canning work great for carrots, beets, and radishes. carrots can easily be frozen, as well. root cellar storage is great for all root varieties.

BRASSICAS
these brassicas: cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, and brussel sprouts
grow best in the ground since they take awhile to grow, need room, and can become too heavy (i.e. cabbage) for a container. early sping is the time for them to be planted. doing a raised bed is also recommended. raised bed will also allow you to till deep for root brassicas like rutabagas and turnips. brassicas are not typically big producers. cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, and brussel sprouts starter plants are recommend. need 6-8 hrs direct sun. water at least 3 times a week. almost all can be frozen except cabbage. cabbage is wonderful pickled.

PEAS
sugar snap peas grow great in containers or raised beds.  either way plan on training them up a trellis or cage of some sort.  if they lay on themselves they begin to rot and stop producing.  they are super prolific.  they love cool weather, so plant in early spring.  they will tolerate a bit of frost. full sun is needed and water at least three times a week.  can be frozen.

ONIONS
onions grow best in traditional ground gardens or raised beds.  spring is a good time to plant them.  they do not store well, but can be using in canning and i have had success freezing.  they also make good pest deterrents, so feel free to plant among other veggie and flower plants to deter critters from having a snack at your garden. do not over water.  full sun needed.

POTATOES
potatoes grow best in barrels, containers, or tires because weeding them is very time intensive.  do not over water.  store very well in a root cellar.  fun to grow in containers and nothing is quite as delicious as a homegrown potato. full sun needed.

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if you need help getting your garden planned or prepped, contact us for consulting, compost, or tilling.  in any case, i really hope you choose to grow some food this year.  it is so fulfilling and very possible for everyone. happy planting, friends.

catch up::prep

spring cleaning + organizing, beautiful weather, garden prep + planting, three year old birthdays, and time with my {baby}boy won out, my friends.  sorry, dudes.  i'm back.  i swear.

it is garden and rain barrel time!!

here's what i HAVE to tell you....

tilling: mike is quickly becoming booked, but for $50 (up to 500 sq. ft) mike will come till your garden with our commercial tiller.  tilling is a must for your traditional, in ground garden, to prepare the space for your new boxed, raised garden, or to work the ground of your raised dirt garden. email us to schedule a time.

compost:  $40 for 1/2 a pick up load.  mike can also till this into your garden if you book him for till job.  contact us for smaller or larger purchases.  this compost is black gold and will make your garden glorious.  great for containers, as well.

rain barrels:  check out our craigslist post for more info., the basic info is that these are brand new barrels with a garden hose spigot and are ready to go.  these are a great way to reuse water...so great we are putting one in at our rental property.

all natural, pest control:  we have 50 lb bags of diatomaceous earth available and duster applicators available, as well.  DE is an all natural way to treat those little buggies in the garden that won't bug off..pun intended.  read more here.  check out our craigslist posting.  the great thing about buying from us is that if you are in the omah area, no shipping!!

virtual gardening clinic: i'll be back.  i promise.  in the meantime, if you are semi experienced and ready to go...now is the time for collards, radishes, beets, asparagus crowns, onion sets, peas, spinach, & turnips to be planted.  (i know what i am doing when i get done writing this post!)  if you are not ready...no worries!!! you still of plenty of time.  we'll talk more later this week.

container gardening:  mike and i have been working on some awesome, {almost} completely maintenance free, container gardening set ups.  we have some around town that are going to be planted very soon...i will get some pictures very soon.  these are great ways for kids, busy people, people short on space, and handicapped folks to grow produce.  you can grow greens, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, peas, some root veggies, potatoes, and summer squash.  in fact, this year we will be growing quite a bit of own produce this way.  it will be easy for hendrix and easy for me if i am lucky enough to grow a baby this year, too.  pictures and details soon!!

consulting:  businesses and home gardeners, if you are wanting help with planning your garden or setting up your compost system please contact us.  initial consults are $40 and tailored to fit your needs.  i am becoming booked, but have time slots available.

community:  remember the heart ministry center when planting your gardens...plant extra and make a weekly donation to the food pantry.  fresh produce should not be a luxury.  also, did you know that the heart ministry center has a community garden??  perhaps plan to volunteer one afternoon there.  you will see our containers there, too.  we will be planting lots of herbs and greens in them making more room in the garden for other goodies.
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again, my apologies for a delay in posting.  frankly, i have been enjoying my time with hendrix and not having to rush to get things done like i had to last year.  this reaffirms our decision to not do the veg box this year.  i also have been percolating LOTS of ideas in my head.  so while i work those out...you may see lags in posting.  i will be back later this week with a clinic.  thanks!

virtual gardening clinic: what's the plan, stan?

it's FRIDAY which means it is virtual gardening clinic day.  today, we are going to talk about the importance of having a plan (and sticking to it) before the planting begins.  winging it in the garden is not a good idea.   things will either not grow, maintenance will be a b*tch, or you will have way too much to harvest.  in short, taking the time to plan will set you up for success and allow you to reap the rewards of your garden.  and make you not want to kill.

1. decide what you want to grow based on your eating habits
we eat at home 5-6 nights a week and 40% our grocery budget is devoted to produce.  during the growing season, we eat very seasonally to cut down on our vegetable buying.  however, some folks are busier than others and only eat at home 3 nights a week. some folks hate all veggies except salad greens and home grown tomatoes.  only grow what you like, want to try, and/or are going to use.  if only like a couple of zucchinis a year, don't grow them...they are big producers and you're going to be veggie bombing your neighbors in the middle of the night. buy them at the market.  they are practically free.  on the other hand, if you love them and have freezer space...you can always shred or chop them up and freeze them.  always choose one variety that expands your horizons.  variety is the spice of life. 

2. what's your commitment style?
decide what kind of garden you want to commit to.  some neighborhoods have strict covenant agreements that do not allow their residents to just dig up a garden.  fencing can be pretty pricey and is necessary to keep critters out.  maybe your yard isn't huge.  or your dog is an asshole and will dig the garden up.  perhaps a lot of the veggies you have chosen to grow are root veggies and would do better in the ground.  whatever your situation is...do a bit of research, or ask us, to decide which type of garden will work best for you.  container gardens are nearly maintenance free and can grow almost anything.  if you would rather go with an "in the ground garden"...go with raised beds.  they allow you to amend your soil, till very deeply, and make maintenance much easier.  deciding now will allow you to work on gathering your garden materials and getting them prepared for planting.  also, knowing what and how much you are going to plant will help you know what type and size of garden you need.

3. timing
once you settle on what to plant, you will need to know when to plant them.  some vegs love cool weather and will fry in the sun. and some need to be planted early to have time to produce.  much like me.  others hate cool weather and will do nothing when it is cold.  much like mike. i kid. kinda.
so here is a basic guide:
cool weather: kale, chard, beets, carrots, radishes, most lettuces, spinach, potatoes, brassicas (cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, brussels), peas, turnips, parsnips, asparagus, onions, garlic,  rosemary, thyme, parsley, tarragon, oregano, marjoram, lavender, arugula, kohlrabi
warm weather: beans, tomatoes, eggplant, cukes, pumpkins, squash, melons, corn, dill, basil, cilantro

4. vitals
all seed packets, seed dealer websites, or plant markers will tell you the vitals of the produce you are hoping to grow.  once you know what you want to grow, go to your favorite seed dealer website and read about the veggies.  they will tell you what kind of dirt you need, what type of "producer" it is, sun & water requirements, spacing needs, and how long you will have to wait to eat the goods.  these vitals are pretty dead on, so unless experience tells you differently, follow their directions.

5. location
you are going to need sun, soil, and water to grow your food.  whatever type of garden you have you are going to typically need at least 8 hours of direct sunlight.  you will need to be able to water it easily and efficiently at least 3 times a weeks and up to twice a day. your soil needs to be fertile.  we will talk more about soil at another time. but, in the meantime, you can pick your location now based on where you get the most sun.
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homework:

• take a moment this week to analyze your family's buying, cooking, and eating habits to help you decide what you would like to grow.
• think about how much time you really have or want to devote to growing food
• look around and choose a sunny place

this is an example of a ginormous garden and raised beds.  

next week:
we will talk more in depth about different produce varieties: where they grow best, how long they take to grow, weather they grow best from seed or plant, how much you can expect to harvest, preservation options, and when you can plant them.

cheap chick

it took me a long time to figure this out...

and i am still learning.  prior to the best surprise of my life (aka hendrix) i was an overindulgent party girl idiot...then hello, wake up call!!  now i love to save and score things on the cheap.  part of the fun of planning our wedding was seeing how cheap i could do it.  and if i do say so myself, i did pretty darn good.  in fact, most of things i enjoy stemmed from trying to save money...cooking, gardening, crafting, decorating our house.
when mike and i first got together we ate out quite a bit, but then i started to experiment more in the kitchen.  cooking is always more fun when you are cooking for someone else.  then came pregnancy and baby...so did grocery budgeting and with it, the wonderful discovery of aldi.  god, i love that store.  we eat pretty good around here for about $80/week thanks to that store and my meal planning.
i started gardening when i planted some herbs in containers on my apartment balcony.  my cooking was getting more sophisticated (i.e. going from warming ragu up to making pantry marinara in bulk) so herbs were just what i needed, but they are so expensive at the grocery store.  so one day i saw some herb plants on sale and i was gardening in no time.  meeting mike really brought my gardening to the next level.  our old house had the best dirt.  i loved that garden.  thankfully, it is now our rental property so i still get to visit. 
with the wedding came a lot of diy projects...really bringing out the inner crafter.  i have always liked creating and building.  it is one of the reasons i chose to study architecture in college, but man did that wedding light a fire in me.  i am hooked on making free shit look good. 
actually, i love anything free.  for instance, i painted the whole inside of our house for free. most of our stuff is thrifted, free, or from a garage sale and you know what? i like it that way. 
i simply cannot imagine walking into nebraska furniture mart and getting a matching bedroom set.  first, i would feel like a poser.  second, i don't like matchy matchy. third, the sticker shock would just be too much.  oh, and a pet or kid would promptly scratch it the moment we brought it home.
how the hell did this happen to me?  how the hell did this former boutique worker get hooked on FREE? a surprise baby and a bad economy, i suppose.
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here are some of my favorite spots to score a deal:
aldi (groceries)
new life thrift (everything)
restore (hardware/lighting)
under the sink (free paint/household cleaners)
hobby lobby (craft supplies)
menards (hardware)
super saver (bulk beans + grains)
target (diapers)
joe's collectibles
big wheels to butterflies (check out the last chance store, too)
dollar general (cleaning supplies/kitchen toiletries/party supplies/art & craft supplies)
ace hardware (hardware/plants)
qc supply (gardening supplies)
cirians (plants)
garage sales

what about you, do you like scoring a deal? what are your secrets?

food is food is food

pretty sure we can all agree that food is a basic human need, right? i think the confusion comes when we all are trying to figure out what kind of food people in need deserve or really need. i come from the school of thought that basic pantry staples, fresh produce, and proteins should be available to everyone. also realizing that if you are homeless, a sandwich or pop-top style can of soup may be the way to go. however, i am also pretty sure that if you are the working poor-person in need shopping at one of the biggest pantries in town that you would appreciate arugula donated by one of the biggest grocery stores in the nation or the lump crab meat or the saffron donated by another donor. all this along with the rice, pasta, canned tomato sauce, tortillas, eggs, and ground beef. what? are you in disbelief that there is arugula at a food pantry? why? since when did certain food become too good for others. and why? anyone could grow arugula in a pot for less than $5 and have it to harvest for most of the spring and fall. in the summer they could plant some heat-tolerant lettuce or put up a shade. so why is some food reserved for the people who can "appreciate" its' flavor? because it should not be.
the school of thought where basic pantry staples, fresh (or frozen) produce, and proteins should be available at a food pantry comes from the belief and knowledge that this is the healthiest, cheapest, most efficient way for people to feed themselves. just as the ability to cook for yourself is, often times, the healthiest, the cheapest, most efficient way to eat. sure it takes some planning and knowledge...but like anything, i suppose, you have to want to do it. and more and more, i believe people do. i just think a lot of people are completely alienated and have been led to believe that they can't. just as the food network and celebrity chefs have somehow convinced people that cooking is hard...foodies have made gardening seem like a magical thing only hippies can pull off.
i say anyone can grow food because they can. my son, two at the time, was growing spicy mesculan greens in an old wine box last year. i am not saying anyone can grow food on a large scale because they can't...but pretty much anyone can get some pots or buckets or barrels, fill it with dirt, put some seed or starter plants in the dirt...and voila! you can have some fresh, local produce. sure you will have to water it, but the maintenance on container gardening is practically zilch compared to tilled plots in your yard. and not everyone has a yard. some people have a patio, stoop, or tiny, sunny spot by their parking space. regardless, anyone can grow food. in container gardening, a person would have to spend about 30 mins total a week weeding and watering. tops. while, you can't grow melons or squash/pumpkins very well in a container pretty much anything else goes. so why do people wait in line at the farmer's market for 20 minutes to pay $10/lb. for greens? who knows? but i am starting to think all this local food movement business is becoming a little too out of reach for the average "2 parents working" family trying to make healthy changes, the working poor folks, the single parent, or even the hipster college student. the real movement should lie in helping people grow and prepare their own food. not in villainizing every single thing that who knows who decides is not good enough for human consumption because when we do that we alienate a huge group of people who could really benefit from a true local food movement. food elitists are alienating to a large group of people who don't feel like they know enough or care enough about food, but want to make better choices. people who don't feel like they have enough time to shop local and cook. we should be helping everyone be their own grower, their own cook because when we empower people with this knowledge they will make better choices for themselves, their families, their community, their local economy, their environment. this is the way to make having a garden and eating dinner as a family the norm. for everyone.
farmer's markets are great because they give us access to growers and their delicious food. local food is wonderful because it tastes better, often has a higher nutritional content, creates jobs, keeps dollars in our community, and the list goes on. but not everyone can get to a farmer's market to buy local food. most folks have bigger issues happening then worrying about how to afford veggies or knowing where the eff the veggie came from. and when people throw out phrases like food desert and sustainable in the same breath...there is no problem miraculously solved. there is just a whole other group of people alienated. that doesn't mean folks don't want fresh, local produce or don't want to learn how to grow and/or prepare them. it just means it has been made to seem so unattainable and in a lot of ways it IS. so i am over it. i want to figure out ways to bring the local food movement to all of the people in our community. the families who want to grow a garden, but don't feel like they have time. the single parents who can't imagine adding one more thing to their "to-do" lists. the busy couple who only eats in 3 times a week, loves veggies, but never makes it to the markets. i want to do this in a variety of ways including aiding people in being their own grower and their own chef. there is an immense pride and empowerment that comes with picking your own sweet pepper and serving stuffed peppers for dinner. all in the same day. and along with it, eventually, a preference and appreciation for the home grown, home cooked food.
let us rise up and grow something. let us cook something. let us stop being food snobs. let us just let food be what it is...food. and everyone has the right to food. everyone can grow something. they just need guidance.

housekeepng

did you all survive the snow? better yet, did you enjoy it? i hope so.  we all had a great weekend.  lots of baking, sledding, cooking, and eating.  hendrix and i also did some craft projects together, but have yet to get to coloring a shirt.  i can save that for this week if it is too cold or boredom hits. 
hendrix also decided what HE will be planting in HIS garden.  he chose...carrots, peas, lettuce strawberries, sweet peppers, and marigolds.  some of his favorite things.  he will be entirely in charge of his little garden.  more on this later.
i did a lot of thinking about my garden, as well, and am considering moving more things to my container garden.  i hope to be growing a baby this summer and know that the container garden will be much less work and just as fruitful.
however, this week is all about making final decisions on what non-candy valentine hendrix is going to bring to school, mailing birthday invites, making seed orders, and continuing the organization battle i waged last week on my house. 
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please check these two facebook pages out:
GO BIG FOR CASEY Sunday Fun Days...if you are a midtowner or have ever been to the Dell then you know casey, go have fun on a sunday and help a great guy.
HEART MINISTRY CENTER ...they're on facebook! now you can be updated on their awesome activity and find ways to help. 
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i'm off to get this week started off right by drinking the rest of my latte.  i'll be back soon to talk about cute non-candy valentine options, valentine menu ideas for families, hendrix's big #3 party, CONTAINER gardening, and ways EVERYONE (anywhere) can grow food this year.