Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Mass Local Food

Joined this great new food co-op last week and expect to pick up my first month's order on Friday in Holden. Got locally raised pig, beefalo, and lamb for Jeff, and bread, flour, grains, and jam for both of us. Also looking forward to the MHOF Spring CSA share starting in about one month.

In the meantime, I managed to get a few of my own seeds into my four raised bed boxes on the FIRST DAY OF SPRING, which was certainly a "first" for me. Not sure if last week's deep cold was too much of a problem for the little seeds, but certainly all the rain of this week, and the sun promised for the weekend, should be beneficial. Also, am starting basil, dill, and parsley seeds on the porch, which heats up like a hothouse during the day. Fingers crossed on that experiment, too.

And yes, still thinking about city chickens after the inspired read of FARM CITY (mentioned last week; read this great review by Dwight Garner for the NYTimes ). I would love to have just six layers and could easily fix up the potting shed to host them. A little covered outdoor run onto the back lawn, and I think they'd be quite happy. Found a great chicken photo book today published by Abrams. Inspired photography; studio shots of the birds, unlike my outdoor sheep shots. But, the concept is similar. I'll keep hoping and praying for my turn in the publishing world!

Monday, March 22, 2010

New Excellent Book

Farm City: The Education of An Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter.
Just so witty and captivating.

Monday, March 15, 2010

More Good Dogs

Spent more time training and teaching this week with the shelter dogs. Dreama, Bonanza, Cookies, Buddy, all require rules, boundries and limitations. I'm learning to use the Gentle Leader and the Easy Walk devices, and having success. Tuesday was a damp, miserably wet day and instead of walking we went out into the run at the back of the shelter. I with an umbrella and the dogs with, well, not an umbrella. Some of them played "Fetch the Tennis Ball" as I bounced if off the side of the building. Once inside they all seemed to like the towel drying they received.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

EATING ANIMALS

Okay, I am all over this book today. Just read another 50+ pages and feel so fired up about the author's creative presentation and analysis of words and the urgent mission at hand. Viewed interviews with Ellen and Martha from Nov 09 with author Jonathan Safran Foer and need to DO SOMETHING beyond my current lifestyle commitment and community activism. Join a CSA (done), buy organic and local whenever possible (doing it), give up meat altogether (15+ years and counting), encourage friends and family to do the same (trying!).

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Really nice spring day at MHOF!

 


What a nice visit with the farmers at MHOF. Lunch consisted of FRESH baby greens salad, fresh eggs scrambled with FRESH baby tatsoi and onions, sauteed beans and peas frozen last summer, rhubarb and apple sauce . . . ahhhh. EVERYONE seemed quite content there today.
Posted by Picasa