Category Archives: Uncategorized

Before heading out for the day, we were a whirlwind of activity at home. First order of business was clearing out the end of season leaves to let my lilies and tulips through and to clean out my veggie garden. I’m clearly going to have to add some soil to my garden and probably doContinue reading “Is There Really Such a Thing as Carefree, Odor Free Composting?”

I’m not seeing that there will be a First Farmer, but I was elated to see this evening that First Lady Michelle Obama will be planting a vegetable garden on the White House grounds. Wow. What a victory for the organic, locavore movement who pressed for such a symbolic move! This is the first timeContinue reading “Victory for Locavores. Obamas to Plant Veggie Garden at White House”

This short and sweet column in my latest Women in Ag Sampler got me wondering about how my friends and family get recipes for their favorite foods, comfort and day-to-day. The article notes that 60% of us still get recipes from family and friends. When my mother-in-law was alive, I called her several times aContinue reading “How Do You Find Recipes These Days?”

There’s something not quite right about leaving a trendy restaurant, where hors d’oeurves and cocktails are a plenty, then going home to eat a chicken pot pie heated up in the toaster oven. But that’s what I just did after meeting an impressive group of the movers and shakers in the Chicago locavore community. TheyContinue reading “Steppin' Out With The Locavores”

I hardly ever trek east of Austin on Roosevelt, so I didn’t know Depot American Diner existed until some fellow Twitterers threw the name out this a.m. and then proceeded to rave. I had the kids and was doing chores around the house, so I dispatched the iFarmer and a friend to check it outContinue reading “Move Over Krispy Kreme, There's a New Donut in Town”

I couldn’t end the week without noting an on-the-fly food combo that delighted us until our tummies were full: Pot Roast Nachos w/ Aged Cheese & Cherry Salsa. We had a bunch of leftover pot roast from the slow cooker to deal with. I was going to put it in burritos, but the iFarmer rememberedContinue reading “Lefovers With a Bar Food Meets Gourmet Twist”

I finally caught up with my Tribune Good Eating section for this week and was giddy to discover that a new “artisanal” bakery has opened, with a name that took my breath away: Hoosier Mama Pie Co.Love it. And I especially love that the owner of this new Ukrainian Village sweet shop has a HoosierContinue reading “'Luxury on a Fork' at New Area Bakery”

If you’re searching for examples of CSAs really building and feeding communities, look no further than Petaluma Bounty. Petaluma Bounty is a four-part system meant to change the way people of all ages and income brackets get their food. 1. Bounty Farm, an urban farm.2. Bounty Box, a weekly CSA sold wholesale to low-income families.3.Continue reading “A Model CSA Any Urban Area Would Covet”

My cousin actually “found” this band and I haven’t been formally introduced. But I like what I see so far on YouTube and Facebook. I love that they chronicle their road tours via social media. And according to an interview on the Steve Levy Show, their van has more than 190,000 miles on it. Wow.Continue reading “Local Music Find: Josh & The Empty Pockets”

Not much of a locavore weekend here in the flood zone, with two delicious exceptions. For lunch with my cousin and aunts, then at a small dinner party tonight, we set out XX Hot Heirloom Salsa from River Valley Kitchens. The recipe, according to the label, is from Rick Bayless. I almost didn’t break theContinue reading “Local Finds: Super Salsa and Tangy 2-Year Cheddar”