I eat vegetables, therefore I am single.

"Miss Shannon, maybe you wouldn't be single if you ate meat, and not just vegetables."

"But I ate a hot dog at the Rockies game with you last month, doesn't that count?"

"Yeah, but it had a pickle on it."


Ahhh...wise words from a sixth grader.

Beginning Farmer

Things just got more serious. I have been accepted in the Colorado Building Farmers program. oh yeah!

I have plans in work to start something before the next growing season. Be it personal gardener, mobile goats, or a business partnership on some acreage. Hopefully this fall course will help me with the business aspects of farming, and help bring to life some ideas.

If anyone has anything you'd like to see in the Denver area, food or farm wise, let me know. And especially let me know if you have, or know someone who has, extra land around here that they'd like to lend.

End of a season

October 5. Here it is. Snow!

This time comes with mixed feelings:

Really? Summer's over already? But my peppers finally overcame the aphids! And a cucumber plant finally has a cucumber the size of a pea! j/k in Colorado! This week is back up to the 70s. Thank you sunshine! And moveable pots (even if the only thing I can grow in them is baby size).

Here are my potted green zebra tomatoes, hiding from the snow.

Finally! Summer was so flippin' hot this year and I'm ready for these dang veggies to frost over. And I've definitely OD'd on arugula. Even my freezer can't take anymore of it.

But we didn't get a fall! Oh, except for every brisk summer night...which is why I still love this place. Constant up and down to appease everyone! There is something nostalgic about fall in the midwest, be it the colors or the temps or the silly awesome festivals. I can't believe I fell for the pumpkin festival back home, but I missed it once again this year. Punkin' Chuckin' this weekend in Aurora, CO, should hopefully somewhat satisfy that craving.

Bring on the winter! Bring on the soup! And the snow! and the snowboarding!! I'm banking on this year being great for snow in the mountains...anything will be better than last year's. Oh, and Wisconsin. just sayin' :)

Guess it's time to get tires for winter!

,

Going to the garage does not make you a car...

just like going to a farmers market does not make you organic. or local. or awesome. it's certainly a step in the right direction (vs going to the golden 'starches'). but know your farmer. ask questions about where and how the produce was grown. be aware that not all vendors at farmers markets are wonderful and organic and local...grocery stores may be better in some cases.

CO proud

After recent events of wildfires and movie theater shootings...plenty of folks have told me to get the heck out of this state, jokingly yes, but I still say there is some truth in jokes! Chicago for sure scared me off, tacking one dealbreaker onto the next til I eventually quit. There's still plenty of positives to overpower the negatives to keep me in Colorado for a good long run...for example... PEACHES! I contemplated driving 3 hours over to the western slope as soon as I heard word that these beauties were in season, early this year, mind you. I would welcome 70 degree temps of the cool mountains to the near 100 degrees we've been experiencing in the city lately. Considering I took my sweet time waking up that Saturday, and considering my drive would be longer than my actual visit, I decided to see if there would be peaches at the local farmers markets. And there were!! And here's where I become most proud... THE ORGANIC ONES WERE SOLD OUT! ok, so maybe I was upset at first, considering I wouldn't be walking away w/ peaches that day. But I recall a day in Indiana when I was going to make pumpkin pancakes, just after it was announced that there was a pumpkin shortage. I trekked to the store in search of pumpkin anyway, of course, not finding it...until it dawned on me...this is INDIANA. No one uses the organic section, let's look there. And VOILA! Organic pumpkin. Aplenty. Looking at the overall picture, I'm not sure how I should take in the facts. If I want to help the world eat healthier, I should probably go to the most unhealthy of places. On the other hand, it's inspiring being in a community that supports healthy eating/growing habits. Good news is that there's opportunity for learning and growth everywhere...so I'm stayin' put and stayin' Colorado proud for now :)

day 1

Day 1 and I already failed! Dang! By habit, I went to put creamer in my coffee...a few drops in I knew something was wrong...oops.

Other than that slip up, the rest of the day is gonna be great. Toast and jam for breakfast. Squash soup and a walk for lunch. Granola and a tangerine for a snack.

Funny how us women are into food. Must've come from Eve :)

going vegan

If I knew I'd be writing this 10 years ago, I'd think I'd be crazy. 10 years ago is when I first heard about vegan-ism and thought it absurd. It's one thing to not eat meat because it was a living being...but to not eat animal products? It doesn't hurt anything!

Or does it? I've read plenty of facts to know that decreasing ones meat intake will increase ones health...across the charts. Vegetarians are shown to have lower risk of heart disease, lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancers. All it took me was a few pages of China Study to realize the gross factor of eating meat in excess.

Personally I used to be size 12...creeping up on 14. A lot of that thanks to the college 'freshman 15' and late night cheese nuggets. Moving to Chicago with healthier and more expensive options, as well as a healthier city lifestyle of walking everywhere, probably brought me down to a healthy 6/8. And it wasn't til I met my 1st generation Polish-American beau that I learned the essence of eating whole foods, and mostly fish for meat. I may still have my round cheeks :) but I can't recall gaining weight since.

Living on the farm, I graciously experienced the full circle of life, eating the very creature I was tending to. Since then I think I can count on one hand how much beef/pork/chicken/fish I've bought...mainly because I want to know my farmer, that the beef/pork/chicken/fish was raised sustainably...and honestly, it's a lot of work to research, and much easier and cheaper to eat veggies (especially with a garden)!! Last year at this time I gave up meat for lent (until that was the only option while in Ecuador)...and that vegetarian trend just continued on.

So why vegan? In my mind, the jury's still out, so I'm open to finding out more. I think there are lots of great nutrients in things like fish and eggs. But I'm a complete sucker for ice cream and butter and cheese. Did I mention, butter? I guess this means no honey either. or grande hazelnut lattes. or even creamer...dang! I thought I came so far withholding the sugar...what baby steps to where I am now :)

I've had some great discussions with vegan friends about it though...not the 'animal cruelty' kind of vegans, but the vegans more in tune with their bodies and the cruelty that these foods do to their energy and quality of life. I appreciate the pure and simpleness of it.

Considering we're still 3 months from a good supply of spring greens, I'm oh so thankful to still have potatoes, a couple winter squashes, some growing mushrooms and herbs, and a freezer full of summer produce. (well, Rach does technically since mine is still busted :) oh! and canned dill pickles from Dad :)

Of course this also means no Dr. Pepper.
I could care less about cereal these days.
And no egg pastas.
But there will be my homemade bread...maybe next year I'll go gluten free...who knows.
I think there will be dark chocolate mangoes (thanks Em :)
And wine.

Join me for the next 40 days and see how it's going! I don't expect any readers to go vegan, but I hope this might encourage others to think about what they're eating...or how they feel after eating.

I feel like I should be eating ice cream right now...