Sunday, January 31, 2010

A day digging in the dirt with friends..

Got back to Garden for the Environment for a workday on Saturday. It was so good! Working side by side with friends -- walking through the garden seeing January turn to February in the new blossoms and thriving greens. I love winter workdays--it's all about clearing away and preparing for the spring, it's the time of year for thinking and dreaming a new, and if you want to, it's about working so hard you have to peel away your bundled layers.

I'm trying to get better at taking photos of people...but for now here's a few shots of Saturday in the garden.


Look at you beautiful pink flowering currant!
Hello, you who show your best color in the midst of winter!

Remnants of the mushroom class...


Inspired by: let's go ride a bike!

Let's go ride a bike!
I've decided to take the jump, to take my transport on my own terms. I will still walk, I will still ride the cursed Muni, but a bike will now be part of my arsenal too. I can't wait.

I was a bike commuter in Phoenix many years ago because I couldn't afford a car--not a bike friendly place, the 115 summer days and 50 mph streets everywhere don't make it easy. When I moved to the Bay Area 4 years ago I sold my beater Nissan and embraced the beauty of public transit. But as the Governator raids public transit funds and MUNI slowly and surely cuts back service, taking the bus is no longer a trusted way to get around the city. Plus, I need the exercise and I can't commit to a gym...

Thanks for the inspiring blog and the bike loan Nicole! And yes, I will be relying on you my SF cyclist friends for a little mentoring!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

A new soul food film...

Food security+ soul food+culture = a good documentary. Check this trailer out.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Epic. Underground farmer's market is ON.

Workshops, kraut, chicken coups, music, slow roasted wild boar. And more. Follow your imagination here. You know where to find me on Thursday people.

PS: great poster, no? It's by Philip Clark
phclark@gmail.com

Vote our own City Bees Cutest Beekeeper!

The Huffington Post is all over hot urban farmers...now it's stingin hot beekeepers. Vote for SF's own Robert MacKimmie as the cutest urban bee keeper! Go Robert! (I gotta say there's some steep east coast competition...mmmm, beekeepers...)

Other recent beekeeping-related adventures include: hives discovered on a beautifully rain soaked Sunday hike through one of Bernal's hidden community gardens and this new Beekeeping Supply store on 20th & Mission.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

A gem in the concrete jungle: little city gardens

I'm in love with Little City Garden's new website! Go here now for inspiration! Two women, one empty backyard ready for some love, endless creativity and passion and you get a beautiful little gem of a garden growing food for SF restaurants and residents. I hope to do an interview of these ladies and get it up on this blog soon!

Here's to dreaming of springs gardens after the rain!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Garden mentoring in Oaktown...

The thing I love so much about community gardening is that you learn everyday from the gardeners around you. You can get questions answered in no time, like: what the hell is eating my peas? and how do I kill it? or what seeds should I buy for this spring's garden?

As more and more people turn their yards from lawns to veggie gardens we all need a little help from our gardening friends. That's why I love this new mentorship program by City Slickers -- see more info below!
________________________________________________________

Are you an experienced backyard gardener enthusiastic to share what
you know? Please join us for a City Slicker Farms Backyard Garden
Program mentor training on Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 from 1:00 p.m.
– 3:00 p.m. at the West Oakland Woods Farm, 537 Lewis Street (corner
of Peralta and 7th Streets) in West Oakland.

The City Slicker Farms Backyard Garden Program helps low-income
residents of West Oakland build and maintain organic vegetable
gardens, providing ongoing support, seedlings, seeds and compost.
Volunteer Backyard Garden Mentors make follow-up visits to assist and
support participants and bring them supplies (provided by City Slicker
Farms) quarterly.

Garden Mentors can mentor one family or many. We encourage
longstanding mentoring relationships but request at least a one year
committment.

The garden mentor training will provide new mentors with information
on our program and how to be a successful mentor.

If you would like to attend, or if you have any questions, please
contact Julie Pavuk at (510) 763-4241 or BYG@cityslickerfarms.org

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Anticipation = SF Beer Week 02/05-14!


I've been a big slacker on this blog the past few weeks--I'm still settling into my new place in Bernal Heights...and I look forward to gearing up this blog soon!

In the meantime, get psyched about the Bay Area's Beer Week here! There's really too much to choose from--go fancy and hit up one of the Beer + Farm to Table dinners at places ranging from Chez Panisse to Bison Brewery, experience the beauty of beer and cheese tasting (arguably a better pairing than wine and cheese...) at Thirsty Bear, meet countless brewmasters from the Trappist in the East Bay to the Lagunitas celebration at Toronado. Other than my shrinking wallet, I don't know how I'm going to decide what to check out!

Monday, January 4, 2010

A New Year & a new way to commute to work

Read all about my friend Thomas' Wednesday Walks to Work--a positive story about taking back the streets for people! Go T!