Green Violet » Garden

Only in fugitive moments

greenviolet — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:31:13 +0000

“In solitude I used to wander about the garden, alternately collecting birds’ eggs and meditating on the flight of time. If I may judge by my own recollections, the important and formative impressions of childhood rise to consciousness only in fugitive moments in the midst of childish occupations, and are never mentioned to adults. I think periods of browsing during which no occupation is imposed from without are important in youth because they give time for the formation of these apparently fugitive but really vital impressions.”

–Bertrand Russell, Autobiography

Thanks, Gretchen of The Happiness Project

You really are what you eat

greenviolet — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:31:07 +0000

I really want to go see Food Inc at The Flicks but I am so broke right now.

Here’s a great review of Food Inc …

Food Inc. makes two points very well that are worth repeating and then I’ll shut up. One: wherever and whenever, try to know or find out the source of your food. And two: every time you buy food, it’s a vote for more of that food; if it’s excellent, you’re asking for more; if it’s shitty food, you’re asking for more.

I can’t embed, but please take 2 minutes to watch the YouTube movie trailer.

Eating differently

greenviolet — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:24:31 +0000

I’ve been quite busy with the garden (pictures coming) and I’m eating a lot more thoughtfully. There are volumes to be written about that, but what I mean is more or less really thinking about what I’m eating instead of just cramming (fast, bad) food in mouth as quickly as possible so I can move on to next thing. This has lead to a continuation of a blossoming trend in enjoying the preparation of foods as well. I always enjoyed baking but now entrees are a fun new land to explore.

Then there’s the cost factor. Money can buy a moderate amount of crap food or a smaller bit of good food that makes for more “life, experienced, now” moments. Who knew parsnips were so sweet? I mentioned the garden, right? Reminding myself a watched seed doesn’t germinate. It’s a process. Anyway, I really enjoyed this article at Salon by a woman who answers the question “Can we afford to eat ethically?” by which she means sustainable, local, organic. Some good links in the article as well.

One stupid mistake yesterday: I dropped one of the pots of leek seedlings. I may’ve saved most of them; we’ll see.

On the other end of things: for a bit of perspective, who was dead at your age?

It’s chicken mania day

greenviolet — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:55:09 +0000

First, I watched (streaming Netflix) “The Natural History of the Chicken” (a PBS video, about 1 hr.) Netflix link IMDB link

Now: whilst procrastinating a bit, caught this on Newsweek’s site: Chicks and the City (2 min.) about family raising chickens in the middle of Brooklyn.

Addendum 18 Nov:

New Coop de Ville (Newsweek), which mentions:

UrbanChickens.com, The City Chicken, BackYardChickens.com

Food security would probably be good

greenviolet — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:42:33 +0000

Last Wednesday night I had a rare evening out and went to the Egyptian Theatre to listen to Michael Pollan speak about food. It’s his book tour, I suppose, for In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto
which I reviewed a few posts ago. You’d think it’d be boring and just of interest to a few, but the house was packed. It was sold out.

My program’s the graphic. You can scan for more background. All I can say briefly is I’m really rethinking everything. And though I’ve not done so yet, I am looking forward to reading his article “Farmer In Chief,” published in early October and directed at the next US president. I’ve heard that Obama has read it; he mentioned it in passing during an interview.

Food is one of those things wherein you don’t often see the core issues forest for the faddish talking-head trees. It bears thinking about.

A wee collection

greenviolet — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:52:29 +0000

I wouldn’t mind having an open account at Chelsea Green, publishers, whom I follow on Twitter @chelseagreen … See this latest which highlights a book by Charles Dowding, “Salad Leaves for All Seasons”. The post includes a great YouTube video describing successful ways to get the most leaves from your garden. I rather failed at that this year, not taking time to do any seedlings. And I do envy him his greenhouse.

Here I learn of a “mouse repellent that really works”, the aptly named Mouse Magic. (Seems it is mega-minty and that’s something the little buggers cannot stand.)

I’ve always wanted a place to deal with my failed CD burns or (remember?) AOL mailings. This CD Recycling Center does accept CDs and DVDs and is trying to build up a full-country network.

And in closing, Opacity photographs “urban ruins”…something that’s always fascinated me for an unknown reason. I think I had some other sites in a previous blog… Hmm. Ah, well. All is fleeting and decays.