We had a lovely couple over to dinner for the first time a few days ago and the lady of the pair kept to a gluten free diet (and has for like 17 years, so you know it’s not a passing thing). I know what you’re saying: “Hey, I know someone who is gluten free!”…
A Brief History of Monsanto and Seed Houses Who Got Screwed
The following is adapted from a note I published on Facebook in February 2012. Since I’m still getting questions about Territorial Seed and Monsanto, I’m publishing it here to make it more widely available. It’s seed catalog time! The dripping seed lust of gardeners at this time of year, flipping through pages filled with new…
Merry Mellow Christmas
Dear Friends, Merry Christmas! Twenty-twelve is drawing to a close. The clock struck midnight not too long ago, and Homebrew Husband and I donned our Santa hats and crept down the stairs to place a decidedly modest stack of presents under the tree. This has been the most mellow holiday season on record at our house. My…
Being The Gatekeeper
Something evil happened last week. I don’t need to tell you what it is. You know. You’ve seen the reports, and read the headlines and wept for strangers and clutched your children to your breast because of it. This thing, this tragedy, maybe it’s entered your heart and your head. It’s entered mine. I have…
From Russia, With Vegetable Love
Part 1 Sometimes I go to the grocery store and get mad and start ranting about vegetables. Homebrew Husband thinks I’m silly when I do this, and pokes me if people start looking at me funny. The thing is, the cost of vegetables at the market is often far out of proportion to the difficulty…
Free Seeds! Free Seeds! Free Seeds!
Was that post title a little overboard? Sorry about that…I’m a sucker for free, organic, high-quality seeds, and (be honest) most of you, my wonderful readers, are too. Part Two of our awesome giveaway week is here, and it rocks. (If you missed Part One of giveaway week, there is still time to go enter…
Giveaway: Food Grown Right, In Your Backyard + Year Round Gardening Like The Pros
The season of giving is upon us! And friends, do I have some giving for you. This week I’m doing a couple of great giveaways just in time for you to show some holiday love to your favorite gardener. If you win and decide your favorite gardener is you and you’re keeping the loot, no…
The Taco Formula
The cuisine of Mexico is complex, diverse, by turns subtle and bold. And I am a total gringo with only a cursory, Rick Bayless cookbook-skimming understanding of Mexican cuisine. Which is my way of saying, I make no claim to authenticity here, but in my house, this taco formula works. My kids come back for more, my…
Infographic: How Hard Is It To Grow That Brassica?
Broccoli, kale, cauliflower, turnips, cabbage, mustard greens, oh my! I get asked, “so, how hard is that to grow?” a lot. I made this infographic to answer that question, as I see it, with regards to my favorite winter vegetable family, brassicas. This is based on my experience in a maritime climate that is generally…
And Then The Ugly Happened
You haven’t read much about gardening on this site for almost three months. That’s because I haven’t been doing any of it. My garden is really ugly right now. It is inadvisable to leave your garden completely unattended for almost three months because if you do then the Ugly happens. I have done almost nothing…
Affirmations for Crazy Crafters
Last night, as I was pinning together the two halves of some toddler long johns I was sewing from the felted-wool sleeves an up-cycled Norwegian sweater I picked up at the thrift store, I thought three things. One: “If someone described to me the action I am currently engaged in and used the term ‘up-cycled’…
Giveaway: Farm Curious Wide Mouth reCAP Fermenting Kit
Update: Contest is now closed. Congratulations to contest winner Sarah Z, and thank you to FarmCurious for sponsoring this giveaway. Thank you to all who entered! You know what we haven’t done in a while? A kick-ass giveaway. Some time ago, I suggested that you could make a really inexpensive fermenting crock with a Mason jar,…