Sep 08
Here in Zone 5, September brings with it the perennial question: When will the first frost strike? If Accuweather is, well, accurate, this year our first frost in Lyons may well be Friday night, with temps predicted to dip to 31. Although that’s not a “hard frost” (when temps stay at or below 28 degrees …
Jan 24
In mid-September, our family began what has turned out to be a fun and educational adventure in local eating. After months of canning, drying, and freezing every fruit and vegetable we could get our hands on, after many talks with other local folks committed to eating Colorado-grown food, after many, many trips to the Farmer’s …
Oct 18
For the first time I can remember, Matt & I (and, post-nap, the kids) did some fall clean-up in the yard in the fall instead of in late winter/early spring. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm. The type of day that makes me love fall in Colorado (even if I am sunburned!). We …
Oct 01
We have been immersed in preparation for our year of eating local and are happy to see The Eat Local Challenge blog join the mix of folks blogging about local eating adventures. The Eat Local Challenge is working on a challenge for the month of October and so, of course, we’re game! They’ve asked us …
Aug 27
I am not a scientist. That’s why I am sometimes amazed and appalled when a bunch of really, really intelligent PhD types do something like create genetically-modified Round-up resistant cotton and then react with surprise and dismay when weeds start turning up with herbicide-resistance. Yes, Monsanto, I’m talking about your scientists, your GMO cotton, and …
Aug 19
Researchers at Cornell University released a study that confirms what we already knew: eating local is better for the planet and better for our health. The study found that the United States food production industry uses almost as much fossil fuels as our entire fleet of automobiles. This seems impossible until you consider that it …
Aug 07
There is nothing sweeter than home-made jam. And that’s not because it has more sugar. It’s because the fruit is fresher, the jam is less processed, and, well, because making it yourself always makes it taste better! If you are new to canning, please review Part 1 in this series, Home Canning for all the …
Aug 03
A couple of folks have asked me for a quick how-to on making jam. I realized I couldn’t jump straight into recipes & tips until I covered some basics on canning itself. What is home canning and how does it work? What do you need to get started? Do you really need to take a …
Aug 02
How can it possibly be August already? That leaves us less than 30 days to go to prepare for our year of eating locally. Granted, September is still harvest season here in Colorado, so it’s not like I have to have everything put by before the end of August, but still, the pressure is on! …
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