Need Saturday night plans?

If I were going to be in town this weekend, I would definitely do this:

The UW Student Food Cooperative is looking to raise seed money to build a sustainable cafe on campus next fall! Come join us for an amazing night of food, music and drinks! Invite your partner, friends or family to come out and kick-start this community-supported project! 

Menu: Spiraled zucchini noodles with spinach pesto, smoked asparagus, raw kale chips, roasted garlic white bean spread, local cheeses, and much much more. 

Dessert auction (tables will bid collectively): To name a few... chocolate swirl cheesecake, gluten free black bean brownies, vegan chocolate cake from Chaco Canyon, or how about some home made truffles & salted caramels.

Local bands: The Foghorns, and Pillow Army. 

Happening near Gasworks Park at:

OmCulture 2210 N Pacific St Seattle, WA 98103

From 6 pm to 10:30 pm.

*Beer (from Fremont Brewery) and Washington wines will be available for those 21+ 

*Please bring cash or check for auctions. 

Tickets available online thru
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/112864

*At the door, prices will be $15 (students) and $22 (general public)*

Doesn't that sound like fun?

I will be in Cheney/Spokane for the holiday weekend. Hoping to see some sun, go for a hike with a real geologist and get lots of knitting done in the car or at least read the oft-neglected book club book.

I won!

Wow. I won something. It's perfect because I've been meaning to do it, really I have, but it's so much better to have this extra push. What did I win? I'll let Annette of Sustainable Eats explain:


I’m giving away a pantry makeover! A What Not to Eat episode custom tailored for you and yours by me. Fun fun!

What Not to Eat—a Pantry Makeover

Go from plasticized processed to local, sustainable, nutritious real food!


Win a custom-tailored pantry make-over. I will come into your home and work with you and your family to replace packaged and processed foods with suggestions and recipes for local, sustainable and highly nutritious real food options.

Lower your carbon footprint, increase your nutritional intake, reduce your grocery spend and support local farmers all at the same time.

Together we’ll work on replacements or substitutes for the foods you currently eat to make you lean and green.

I have been trying to make changes here and there, but it's going to be great to have someone help me take it on all at once. I'm so glad I won! I'll keep you posted on how it goes. I hope Annette is ready for my kitchen...

This Week

Reading: Farmer Jane by Temra Costa. This is an inspiring book about women working in food production/distribution/education.  And she's coming to Seattle June 5-7. Which of the many events shall I stalk her at? The UW bookstore reading? The Green Festival? Third Place books? So many options!

Watching: The IT Crowd I have to admit that Maurice Moss is my favorite. I don't know what I like so much about watching British computer nerds in sitcom format, but they are adorable. Seeing Noel Fielding as Richmond on this show just makes me want to watch the Mighty Boosh over and over again. Which I do anyway. I can't describe the Mighty Boosh, but I highly recommend it.

Volunteering: I already volunteer at the library year round. But this is a special time of year. The SIFF festival has begun! I'll be seeing, Micmacs by Jean-Pierre Jeunet of Amelie fame and Strange Powers the Stephin Merritt/Magnetic Fields documentary.  And many more I'm sure because I'm so ready to nerd out!


Wearing: As much Nau as possible.  Sustainable, comfortable, fashion.  It's a good thing they have warehouse sales... Looking forward to pulling out my summer clothes but it's still too unpredictable for that.


Eating: Molly Moon lavender honey ice cream with lemon curd, whipped cream, ginger crystals and real bits of lavender on top. Delicious!

Loving: My chickens! They are teenagers now, figuring out how to roost and what is good to eat. They love bugs but aren't so sure about green vegetables!

You've Got To Know Your Chickens

After a prolonged talk with the landlord, about urban ecology and stewardship some new members were added to the household. Chickens! I've been wanting pets for so long and Jesse seemed more open to the idea of pets who are also productive and just happen to poop outside. So chickens it is.



These little gals were mailed right after hatching and I picked them up and took them home on the bus.  That was a wee cold trip for them, but they all made it. They are Dominiques, a heritage breed that is supposed to be good for beginners as they are docile and handle confinement well. And adorable to boot!



These pictures are their glory days of adorableness. I have to admit that they are somewhat smelly teenagers now, but the upside is they will be fully feathered and ready to go outside soon. Then: Eggs!