2013 Goals & Giveaway

lil, rachel, alex picture hawaiiLast year was a busy one, as always, for our family. We some of our 2012 goals by traveling to San Salvador Island, Bahamas and the Big Island of Hawaii with extended family and we finally moved to a new homestead-to-be. The stress of moving, an injury, a major summer storm, and some minor illnesses kept us from being as healthy as we would have liked. In my individual pursuits, I joyfully provided freelance web services for Watershed Distillery and City Folk's Farm Shop and represented Swainway Urban Farm at farmers' markets. The American Dairy Association Mideast and Pork Checkoff provided me with tours of farms and facroties to learn more about food production. I reached hundreds of people through classes at Franklin Park Conservatory and City Folk's Farm Shop and programs with Granville Homesteading group, Clintonville Farmers' Market, and the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association. I love this work because it provides me chances to exercise my educator muscles and interact with creative, smart, supportive people.

Alex, Lil and I are excited to turn over a new leaf (or, in more appropriate seasonal terms, shovel a new path) in 2013. We want to fulfill the potential of our new homestead and continue to grow strong bodies and minds. In 2013, we hope for and will work towards:

-a garden and hoophouse full of produce -a pantry full of preserved goods -eating meat we raise and slaughter on our property -collecting more eggs from more chickens -a way to offer unusual but important workshops on demystifying guns and meat animal slaughter -a more energy-efficient home -better health through lower stress and homestead exercise -travel to new places within our city and beyond -an updated name and website to more accurately reflect our new activities beyond the kitchen

City Folk's Farm Shop gave me three beautiful Igloo Letterpress 2013 wall calendar posters to ring in the new year for some lucky readers.

Enter to win by sharing one goal you have for 2013 in the comments. Be sure to leave an email address so that we may contact you if random.org picks you as a winner. The contest will be open until January 12, 2013. We will pay shipping to anywhere in the world, so enter away foreign friends.

From our homestead to yours, here's to a fulfilling new year!

Hound Approved Gardening & Local Foods Events: December 2009

Kids Cook classes ~ Sprout Soup, 4310 N High St. ~ 4:15 Tuesdays December 1, 8, and 15, repeats 11:15 Thursdays December 3, 10, and 17 ~ Three - six year olds join me for 45 minutes of tasting, cooking, and food education.  $3 per class per child. Candlelight Nights ~ Franklin Park Conservatory ~ Wednesdays December 2, 9, 16, & 23 5 - 8 PM ~ The conservatory will be dressed for the holidays with dramatic evening lighting, live musical performances, family activities and a live poinsetta tree.  Free with admission

Composting Workshop ~ Jeffrey Mansion ~ Thursday December 3 7 - 8 PM ~ Friends of Alum Creek & Tributaries (FACT) will present a one-hour public composting workshop hosted by the Friends of Bexley Community Garden. Participants will receive a compost bin (1-cubic yard capacity) and reference guide. These items are valued over $40.00 and are provided to registered attendees as part of discounted workshop fee. $15 non-members; $20 door.

North Market Holiday Open House ~ North Market ~ December 5 - 6, 8 AM - 5 PM Saturday, 12 - 5 PM Sunday ~ music, roasted chestnuts for sale, holiday edibles, and craft sale.  Free

Black Creek Bistro Holiday Open House ~ Black Creek Bistro, 51 Parsons Ave ~ Sunday December 6, 5 - 8 PM ~ Ten holiday wine tastes, buffet of Black Creek Bistro food made from local ingredients, live music. $20/person

North Market Cookie Decorating ~ North Market ~ Saturday December 12, 10 AM - 12 PM ~ Kids decorate a Mozart's cookie in the Dispatch kitchen. Free.

12 Months of Green Living ~ Blue Rock Station in Philo Ohio ~ Monday, December 28, 2009 9 AM- 4 PM ~ Spend the day exploring how to get started in a greener life, enjoy a terrific lunch, and make new friends who share the desire for a simple, honest life. Cost: $45.

As always, if I missed an event, please leave a comment or email and I will gladly add them to the list.