...wonders Mark Bittman, food writer for The New York Times."Don't hold your breath, but in 1964, when the Surgeon General's report appeared, no one could have predicted the kind of anti-tobacco legislation we've seen since then."
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Bitten: Could Industrial Raised Meat Be Illegal?
...wonders Mark Bittman, food writer for The New York Times.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
9News: Colorado Farmer Jailed for Using Water From Wells on His Property
Just a short article, but apparently a farmer used water from wells on his property to grow crops. He didn't have water rights to the water on his property.Interestingly, many Denver residents have also run into problems using water they thought was theirs. Collecting rain in a barrel and using it to water your garden isn't allowed - really.
Out in the Cold
As a new livestock owner, I have a lot of learning to do this year. It's a year of "firsts," including our first sub-zero nights. Over the last couple of weeks I did several things to prepare for the impending temperature drop.I installed a heat lamp in the goat shed and put up a tarp barrier to create a little room that would (hopefully) retain some heat. Turns out the goats are afraid of the heat lamp and would rather sleep on the other side of the tarp, so that effort was a bit of a bust.
The chickens have their own heat lamp in their coop. It keeps them warm, but I'm pretty sure the light also keeps them awake. I've noticed some drowsy chickens in the barnyard during the day. Hens with large combs are in danger of frostbite. The solution is to rub Vaseline on the sensitive area. I can attest that smearing Vaseline on a chicken is just as hard as it sounds.
I read up on cold-weather livestock care on my goat and chicken forums, and also talked to other animal owners (including my friend who grew up on a farm outside Chicago, where it gets SERIOUSLY cold). The general consensus is that these critters are really hearty, and will be just fine.
Nonetheless, I will feel so much better when it warms up!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Give the Gift of Sustainable Living for the Holidays!
We're excited to announce that Heirloom Gardens gift certificates are now available, just in time for your holiday shopping! (Well, they're "just in time" if you're like me, and haven't started your shopping yet.)
With the recent announcement of our 2010 Winter Classes, you're sure to find something that everyone on your list will love. Our schedule includes classes in:
- Delicious, from-scratch seasonal cooking
- Backyard chicken & goat keeping
- Getting the most from your home garden
- Starting your own NSA program
All classes will be hands-on, accessible, and lots of fun! Please click here to view our complete class calendar, including class prices and dates.
Heirloom Gardens gift certificates are valid for a year, so they can also be used to purchase fresh, ultra-local produce from Heirloom Gardens at the summer Farmers' Market!
Gift certificates are available in any denomination. To purchase gift certificates, you have two options:
1. Pay By Mail
Just send a note with the following information:
- How many gift certificates you would like, and in what amounts
- Where the gift certificates should be mailed
- Your email address or phone number
Enclose the note with a check (payable to Heirloom Gardens) and send to: 4460 Winona Court, Denver 80212. We will mail your gift certificates within 24 hours of receiving your payment.
2. Pay Online
Amazon Payments allows you to pay online using either a credit card or your checking account. Just go to:
and create an account. Once you've created an account, hit the "Send Money" button. The recipient should be "info@eatwhereUlive.com"
In your online note, please include:
- How many gift certificates you would like, and in what amounts
- Where the gift certificates should be mailed
- Your email address or phone number
We will mail your gift certificates within 24 hours of receiving your payment!
If you have any questions at all about purchasing a gift certificate, please call Sundari at (303) 956-7203.
Happy holidays!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Lisa Rogers Rocks Urban Ag on CPR
Lisa Rogers is the executive director of Feed Denver, a local organization that utilizes the work of Will Allen to create incredible urban greenhouses (among other things). Lisa recently appeared on the Colorado Public Radio show "Colorado Matters," where she spoke eloquently about the importance of urban agriculture.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Recommended: Farm City
Michael Pollan's endorsement of "Farm City" begins with the line "For anyone who thinks the local food movement has gotten a tad too precious, (...)" I can't remember anything else from his quote, but that little bit stuck with me as I read the book.
Because neither Novella Carpenter, or the story she tells in "Farm City," is the least bit precious. Set in a rough Oakland neighborhood nicknamed Ghost Town, "Farm City" describes how Novella and her boyfriend move into an apartment and begin piecing together an urban farm.
The book opens with Novella waiting for a special package to arrive. She's ordered assorted poultry chicks from a hatchery, and is soon the proud owner of baby chickens, turkeys, geese, and ducks. At this point Novella has already started a raised bed garden in the adjacent abandoned lot (with the begrudging ok of the lot owner) and set up her beehive on her deck.
The book takes us through Novella's adventures in raising her own turkey for Thanksgiving, then moving on to meat rabbits, and finally - get this - full sized pigs. Along the way she does plenty of vegetable gardening, tries a month of eating only self-grown food, introduces her assorted neighbors to the wonders of homesteading, and meets a gourmet chef who teaches her the art of charcuterie.
Novella's book is candid, speaking honestly about the the pitfalls and personal failures she encountered along the way --- just as she savors the joy of her triumphs. This is a real book, and anyone who's attempted any aspect of urban farming will smile with recognition. If you haven't yet tried to grow your own food or raise a few livestock, Novella's story will both entertain and inspire you.
You can read more about Novella and her life in Oakland on her blog:
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Cooking, Animal Keeping, NSA, and more!
We're excited to announce our 2010 Winter class schedule. Over the last year I've received many requests for classes, and nothing makes me happier than sharing my love of homesteading-type stuff others.
The cooking classes will teach from-scratch methods for making simple, wholesome dishes using "real food." We'll offer fun, hand-on classes in backyard chicken and goat keeping. There's also a gardening class geared toward making the most of your home garden.
The crown jewel of our winter class schedule is the NSA (Neighborhood Supported Agriculture) workshop I'll be co-teaching with Kipp Nash of Community Roots. This workshop is for anyone who is interested in starting their own NSA program. Both Kipp and I would be thrilled to see NSA spread through all of the neighborhoods in our area!
Without further ado, here is the class schedule. You can click on each individual date to read a full class description and/or register for the class, or you can view the complete calendar here.
Cooking
Simple From Scratch
Menu: No-Knead Multigrain Bread; Homemade Mozzarella; Roasted Beet Salad with Garlic, Green Beans and Sour Cream Horseradish Dressing; Vegetable Barley Soup; Apple Dumplings with Ice Cream and Homemade Caramel Sauce
Tuesday, February 23rd at 6:00
Cost = $50 (includes recipes)
Seasonal Soups and Breads
Menu: Creamy Onion Soup with Brandy and Caramelized Apples; Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Brown Butter and Creme Fraiche, Portuguese White Bean and Kale Stew, Challah Bread, Cheddar Cheese and Buttermilk Biscuits, Fig and Almond Dessert Bread
Cost = $50 (includes recipes)
Simple Indian
Menu: Golden Mung Dal with Winter Squash, Saag with Homemade Paneer, Coconut Curry Roasted Vegetables, Cabbage Koftas with Spicy Sauce, Grilled Naan Bread with Fennel Seed, Kheer with Almonds and Dates
Cost = $50 (includes recipes)
Animal Care
Backyard Chicken Keeping
Hands-on introduction, including: choosing the perfect chickens, chick care, housing and fencing, feeding, common chicken challenges, all about the eggs, financial considerations, livestock permitting process
Saturday, January 23rd at 1:00
Cost = $25 (includes instructional handouts)
Backyard Goat Keeping
Hands-on introduction, including: choosing the perfect goats, housing and fencing, feeding, medical care, common goat challenges, all about the milk, financial considerations, livestock permitting process
Saturday, February 20th at 1:00
Cost = $25 (includes instructional handouts)
Gardening
Neighborhood Supported Agriculture (NSA) Workshop - with Kipp Nash
Intended for those interested in starting an NSA program, including: community land resources, organizing workers, planning and planting, distribution, marketing, financial, zoning rules and liability issues
Cost = $80
Getting the Most Out of Your Home Garden
Maximizing the production of your garden space, including: creating a master plan, soil preparation, seed starting, companion planting, succession planting, spacing, organic pest and disease management, preserving techniques
Saturday, February 27th at 1:00
Cost = $30
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