Lunchtime Library

I got inspired by our recent trip and visited the travel section today, 917.8804.

This is the Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, Social Science and History section.

Success! (and more help!)

Thanks to everyone who helped Duffy fund his beekeeping project, he raised 141% of his goal!



This means that we will have TWELVE more beehives at The Woodlands, plus one at The Walnut Hill Farm AND a group of high school students learning how to keep bees and sell honey with us at the farmer's market! It's all very exciting.

Also exciting is Nic's novel that he finished and is getting ready to self publish! It's about the urban homesteading movement, and there's a character in there based on little old me. Read more about it here. Here's his Kickstarter page where he's raising the money to publish the novel. In return for donating you can get a signed copy of the novel, a ticket to the book release party where cool local Philly musicians will be playing, and even a secondary character named after you!



Thanks to everyone who has already donated to these causes and helped move us all forward towards a more sustainable, creative, and well compensated future!

(I'm also working on a Kickstarter page to help fundraise for UC Green, the wonderful organization that is Philly Rooted's fiscal sponsor and all-around chearleader. Look out for that in April.)

Smells Like Spring!

The past few days have been the most soft, sunny, breezy, wonderful days ever! Yesterday I walked all the way home from my babysitting job in Center City (over 35 long blocks), just to get my fill of the weather. And today I've already spent some nice quality time on the porch with my beloved, just soaking in the sun.



I also took a few minutes on the porch to read an issue of Alimentum: The Literature of Food that my friend Nicole sent me (she was asked to contribute illustrations to this issue and they are adorable), along with one of the collagraphs that she's been working on! I'm so excited, this literary journal focuses on mixing fiction, non-fiction and poetry with food. Sounds perfect for a gardener who's antsy to get outside already. And the collagraph Nicole sent was absolutely perfect for today. It's called "Beam." :)



I also found out that the journal Poetry that I subscribe to (that Jaja subscribed me to as a gift) is giving away a limited number of free copies of their April 2011 issue to reading groups that request them. It's their way of helping everyone celebrate National Poetry Month (April)! So contact them by February 20th in order to get your copies: poetryfoundation.org/npm.

Bedside table

I've been amassing quite a stack of reading material over the last month (gift cards from Christmas, woot!) and I wanted to share it with you:

McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales - Edited by Michael Chabon
- It turns out I've already read this one but forgot! I might skip it and get straight to the other books I'm looking forward to.

Urban Green: Innovative Parks for Resurgent Cities - Peter Harnick
- I saw a panel discussion this week at the Academy of Natural Sciences that featured Mr. Harnick. It was wonderful and got me dreaming about all of the possibilities for greening in Philadelphia.

Prodigal Summer - Barbara Kingsolver
- Squeeeee! One of my favorite authors, I haven't read this yet and just borrowed it from a friend who insisted that I will love it.

Poetry journal, February 2011
- Jaja got me a subscription as a surprise last year and I renewed this year. I'm finding that I almost enjoy the commentary more than the poetry sometimes, it's incredibly informative and an amazing peek into the inner world of contemporary poetry.

The Little Book of Main Street Money: 21 Simple Truths that Help Real People Make Real Money - Jonathan Clements
- From my dad, of course. I actually tore through it, I think it's helped me with some basic understanding of investing.

Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas - Tom Robbins
- Another of my absolute favorite authors. I try to meter out his work so I don't go through it all at once, the same with Barbara Kingsolver. But I treat myself to a new one once a year or so, can't wait for this one!

Fully Empowered - Pablo Neruda
- The ultimate romantic poet (sorry e.e.)
The Jewish Book of Why - Alfred J. Kolatch
- Part of my ongoing and endless education of all things Jewish

Webster's New World Pocket Dictionary, Third Edition
-Duh. Words are hard.

And finally!

Seed Savers Exchange: 2011 Catalog of Heirloom Seeds, Books and Gifts
Fedco Seeds 2011
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange: Catalog & Garden Guide 2011

Sprout Love

My parents gave me this book for Christmas (which I forgot I had asked for and was so excited to see!), "Fresh Food From Small Spaces: The Square-Inch Gardener's Guide to Year-round Growing, Fermenting, and Sprouting." Unfortunately it's more of a beginner's book, and it's more vague and less organized than I hoped it would be. Regardless, I did learn some things about how to maximize the light that I have on my porch (levels are your friend, I will be experimenting with those this spring). I also remembered that I love to sprout, and there are some good examples of different types of seeds to sprout and how to use them. I've got some broccoli seeds going in this jar right now, and some mung beans and soybeans waiting in the wings.