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Let’s chat about CSAs

Weedeater

On Tuesday I graduated, finally, from the U. of I. Extension’s master gardener program. This is noteworthy not because I consider myself suddenly qualified to dispense any sort of horticultural advice — despite the certificate and spiffy new name tag I am still shocked and amazed whenever anything grows, anywhere. But I am a bit … Continued

Meanwhile, in Washington

Did you know that one measly kitchen garden can threaten the future of Big Ag? It can if it’s at the White House. From the letter writing campaign launched by CropLife, the website of the agrichemical industry [via Tom Philpott at grist.org]: “The garden is a great idea and the photo op of the First Lady … Continued

Egg pie

I spent several days hanging around with Erik Knutzen last week, and wrote a little account of his trip to Chicago that should be out in a day or two  can be found here. In the  meantime here’s a recipe for “egg pie,” adapted from The Urban Homestead. I added the bottom layer of chard, … Continued

Beth Botts blogs

Beth Botts, award-winning and recently-laid-off garden writer for the Chicago Tribune, has taken Whet’s advice. Her new blog, Growing in Chicago, covers just that. Also, nice to note she was as underwhelmed by GreenFest as I was the first year it hit McCormick Place. To wit: “Overall, it seemed less an event to focus on … Continued

Crazy cheese controversy

More intrigue from the world of Wisconsin cheese. Unfortunately the offending blog has been taken down — so I’m unable to compare the posts for myself. But, I would take this opportunity to say that,  while I seem unable to stop  compulsively pointing out to people that Jeanne Carpenter is the communications director for the Wisconsin … Continued

MP @ HWLC

Michael Pollan talks about …. all the stuff he’s been talking about for a few years — food, sustainability, nutrition vs. “nutritionism” — at the Harold Washington Library Center this coming Monday. I wrote a little preview. Pollan was also on the Colbert Report last night, and revealed that he was raised on formula and had … Continued

Urban homesteading with Erik Knutzen

(Photo from Green Roof Growers) Later this month: two events with Erik Knutzen, co-author — with his wife, Kelly Coyne — of The Urban Homestead, a how-to handbook for urbanites interested taking a a few steps off the grid. The book covers strategies for self-sufficient living that range from the unremarkable (gardening, bread baking) to … Continued

Let’s chat about CSAs

[cross-posting from the Soup and Bread blog] Have you always wanted to join a CSA, but never knew how to start? Are you intimidated by the beefy boxes of bounty sitting in your friends’ pantry? Might you, perhaps, be curious about kohlrabi? Wondering how to get your hands on some free-range chickens? Come to the Hideout on … Continued