Category Archives: Uncategorized

I was looking for a family activity this weekend and I found one on my local blogs. Both Vital Information and Chicago Locavores will be at this weekend’s Family Farmed Expo 2008 at the Chicago Cultural Center. So exciting. The schedule is just crammed with great events, including a screening of King Corn on FridayContinue reading “Headed to Family Farmed Expo this Weekend”

I received my Carolee’s Herb Garden newsletter today and was reminded that as I plan my holiday menus, I also have to decide quick whether to plant bulbs so that I can have some bright surprises when winter has worn on me enough to have me thinking of heading south. Carolee did have some goodContinue reading “Before You Dress That TXG Bird, Think Spring”

Bad news from my old pal Phil Kadner at the Southtown: The Summit chicken police are on patrol. Their target? Bob Trzeciak, a 51-year-old who has 9 hens and a rooster in a backyard chicken house he built as a child. No surprise, he got a complaint, even though as Kadner points out, you canContinue reading “Summit 'Chicken Man' Under Attack”

…you have a cardboard box, some duct tape, Lincoln Log sticks and a Mason jar lid? Future Farmboy came up with this make-shift hockey set. I thought he did a great job.

Scouting around for a farm-related post that would honor our country’s veterans, I stumbled across this organization: Farmer-Veteran Coalition. I love the mission: …to mobilize our food and farming community to create healthy and viable futures for America’s veterans by enlisting their help in building our green economy, rebuilding our rural communities, and securing aContinue reading “Vets Trade Tanks for Tractors”

I think it must be the turn in the weather, the sight of flurries that has me in a nesting “let’s get organized” mood. I’ve been that way in the office and I’m clearly that way at home too. I’ve decided to tackle the basement and the boxes and boxes of inherited memories and mysteryContinue reading “Unboxing Sweet Memories”

How is war related to the aisles and aisles of junk food lining our grocery shelves? Watch Food Fight for the answer. I won’t spoil it here. But I will say that if you get a chance to see Chris Taylor’s new documentary, take a few minutes. If you’re a buy local fanatic, you’ll seeContinue reading “Vote With Your Fork, We Are”

After my post Thursday about root cellars, I picked up a new follower on Twitter: Food Storage Made Easy. It’s an interesting emergency food storage resource site. It’s chock full of ideas for literally shelving and keeping the food you need at the ready. Plus the site is super cute, with a clean design (noContinue reading “Food Storage Made Easy?”

Anyone who doesn’t live in California or Florida who has become addicted to local, fresh food from farmers markets, dreads November and the bitter cold, barren months ahead. In the Midwest, if you don’t have a plan for saving food through the winter or have a CSA that will deliver root veggies until Spring, you’reContinue reading “The Root of the Problem: Food Storage”

I got this note from Hoosier Outsider. It’s been circulating among the sustainable farming enthusiasts. I can totally relate to all of this and I think it essentially applies to life in general…except I don’t have an extension agent to help me with issues in my neighborhood. The note to new farmers is from TracyContinue reading “Advice for New Farmers: Make Friends”