Star Wars Jedi Party Was a Blast

We had so much fun at Future Farmboy's Jedi B-Day party. My favorite part was his circle of friends. They are all so much fun and well-mannered...even while wielding lightsabers.

Thanks to some help from Google and parents who share their party secrets online, we were able to make simple Padawan (Jedi's in training) tunics and lightsabers for all 20 kids. I used jute string to tie the tunics. For the lightsabers (the big hit), we used pool noodles cut in half. We decorated handles with red, black and silver colored duct tape.

Find instructions for foam kiddie lightsabers here at Jedi Broad Squad. We deviated a bit for the handles and also made a Darth Maul blade with the handle in the center. Turned out to be very popular at the party.



We had the party at the River Forest Community Center, which turned out to be great. Our party leader Tina helped us come up with Jedi-related games that we could play in the gym, then led us up for pizza cake and ice cream to top off the afternoon.

The cake was perfect, and not just because of the Clone Wars decorations. It was light and only slightly sweet, a creation of Roeser's Bakery in Chicago. Loved having a cake from Roeser's, which is the oldest family-owned bakery in Chicago.

More Pix From The Farm Visit

No-Till Beans Are in the Ground...Now We Just Need Rain

While we were at The Farm this past weekend, we had the chance to see some soybeans drilled into the soil our large lower field.

The farmer who leases that field practices a no-till method. And yes, that's exactly what it sounds like. No tilling. The only dust his tractor kicked up was from the wheels and the row marker.

He was in and out in less than a couple hours. It probably took him longer to get the tractor down the steep hill and into the field than to plant the whole lot.

Negotiating the hill (great for sledding, not so good for large farm equipment):


Are you sure he's actually planting seed?


Bird's eye view of the planting.

Strawberries Are In!

We finally made it down to The Farm this weekend. The reason for the visit was to re-introduce my Cali-Sista to rural America.

We were treated to good company, fresh eggs, early asparagus eaten on the spot, a bonfire in an old hollowed out apple tree and walk to the river.

But the big treat was strawberry picking. The berries in several rows were at least two weeks early and no less delicious.

We brought home two quart baskets. It was hard to pick and not eat. Two for the basket...one for tasting, etc.

You have never had strawberries until you've eaten them organic and straight from the plant.

I'm told that by the time we got home another row had ripened.

Here's to a good season!

Looking for the Perfect Bike Basket for the Perfect Bike

This morning when I dragged myself downstairs for my birthday cup of coffee, I was surprised to find a new set of wheels.

Yay, a new bike to replace the one I've had since my 18th birthday some XX years ago today. That old Scwhinn mountain bike held up like a dream.

But I have to say, I'm already in love with my Raleigh Detour 4.5. That iFarmer is a keeper for sure.

I can't wait to ride it to the Farmers Market on Saturdays. To do that though, I'll need a basket.

Here's what I like so far.

From Tahoe Mountain Sports:


From Design House Stockholm, the Carrie:

And this rattan cutie from the Basket Lady:


The Longaberger bicycle basket is retired, but I could get lucky on eBay.

But...if I want to go low end, child nostalgic, I'd definitely go for this (only $6.44 on Amazon.com):
For 10 bucks more I could get the coordinating spoke beads and handle bar streamers!

OP Farmers' Market is Flush With Volunteers

Basically, I can't love my community any more than I do right now. I went to the Oak Park Farmers Market volunteer info meeting tonight at the OP library.

No surprise, it's practically a competition to even get a chance to man the info desk. My debut as a volunteer doesn't come until mid-June.

I'm looking forward to doing whatever I can to support the market...one of the best I've ever had a chance to shop.

OP Farmers' Market is Looking for Volunteers

Thanks to The iFarmer and and Oak Park insert in the Tribune, I learned that the Friends of the Oak Park Farmers’ Market will host a volunteer recruitment reception on Tuesday

This is something I'd really like to do. But the prospect of getting up early on a Saturday isn't all that alluring. I do get up to go to the market...with thrown on clothes and a ball cap. Having to show up presentable is a whole different story.

I'm hoping there are some opportunities for occasional Saturday and different time slots. I'd be happy, of course, to be on doughnut detail. I'd be more than eager to sign up for the "take home all the leftovers" crew.

I'll find out by email...I just sent mine...or by going to the reception:

When: 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 19

Where: Oak Park Public Library (Lake St.)

More Info: 708-358-5489 or farmersmarket@oak-park.us

Ready to Take the Organic Plunge? Better Hurry

Farmers who are ready to get on the organic bandwagon have just a couple short weeks to make some important decisions.

May 29 is the deadline to apply for a piece of $50 million in incentives as part of EQIP, the USDA's Environmental Quality Incentive Program.

Farmers can receive up to $20,000 a year or up to $80,000 over six years.

To get funding, farmers have to choose one of six practices to move their farms in an organic direction. No cheating, these have to be new to the recipient farm's practices:

• Conservation crop rotation
• Planting a cover crop
• Nutrient management
• Pest management
• Prescribed grazing
• Forage harvest management

More details on the funding at Agriculture Online.

Chefs Rally to Aid Farmer Who Lost Food & Truck in Fire

It's heartening to hear that loyalty still exists and that there's real community in this urban jungle:

Next week, on my b-day, a bunch of all-star Windy City chefs are coming together to hold a benefit dinner for farmer George Rasmussen, of Swan Creek Farms in Michigan.

According to the Restaurant Intelligence Agency blog, Rasmussen lost his truck, trailer, generator and a load of food in a fire recently while he was making deliveries to Chicago restaurants.

Hosting the benefit will be Goose Island, which is one of the beneficiaries of Swan Creek Farms pork and poultry.

Guests can expect a silent auction with a chance to win an opportunity to have one of the chefs come to their homes and cook them a beer dinner.

When: 7 p.m. May 20

Where: Goose Island's Siebel Hall, 1800 N. Clybourn Ave.

Menu: Dishes from John Manion of Goose Island Clybourn; Chris Pandel from The Bristol; Rob and Allie Levitt from Mado; and Mindy Segal and Mark Steuer from HotChocolate.

Cost: $100 per ticket, call 312-915-0071.

Would You Live, Work & Eat Here?

Am loving this The Dragonfly Vertical Farm design concept for New York City.

The concept, from Paris-based Vincent Callebaut Architects, is an architectural response to the growing need for food in urban spaces, according to GreenMuze.

The farm is meant to house feed and produce renewable energy for occupants.

In addition to providing space for meat animals and layers, there will be space for orchards, gardens and grain fields.

And, of course, being New York City, the concept includes office space.

Getting Down & Dirty on Mother's Day

I think this was my favorite Mother's Day ever. I wasn't sure it was going to get better than breakfast in bed, especially after the kids joined me. [The iFarmer is too good to me.]

But I was pleasantly surprised that Future Farmgirl showed her true colors and green thumb today. She was more than eager to accompany me on my first visit to Good Earth Greenhouse & Cafe in River Forest.

I rewarded her gardening curiosity by giving FFG her own flower beds. Our eyes were a little too big for our yard space, so we have a few extra trailing and dwarf snapdragons. But the rest of the yard looks fantastic. We have hanging flower baskets and flowers all over the place. Best of all, we now have our backyard veggie garden stocked. And, this year, instead of annuals, we put rosemary in the terra cotta planters.

We probably over planted the raised bed. I'll thin and move plants if it gets crazy. For now, here's what we have:

Tomatoes (both cherry and golden)
Jalepenos
Parsley - Italian and the crinkly kind
Cilantro

[Just now doing the inventory, I realize that I forgot the basil. What was I thinking?]

We also trimmed up and fertilized our perennials:

Chives
Savory
Oregano
Thyme (two varieties)

Oh...and shallots that I keep forgetting about.

The only thing left to do is plant the sunflowers and weed.

When we finished, FFG and I laid out blankets and took a siesta on the grass, admiring our handiwork.
Photo of flowering rosemary plant from geishaboy500's flickr stream.

Is Guerrilla Gardening for You?

Have you ever looked at an overgrown lot or unkempt median in your neighborhood and thought about taking matters into your own hands?

Meet London's Guerrilla Gardener Richard Reynolds.

I realize this site has been around since 2004, but I visited it for the first time tonight. I'm not sure I'm ready to join a "cell" and start my underground gardening activity. I barely have enough time to weed my raised herb garden in my own backyard.

But I do appreciate that there are efforts like this and that there are websites like this to offer support, tips and encouragement.

I started following Richard on Twitter so I can keep up with what's happening on the "horticultural front."

If you want to see what the Guerrilla Gardeners in London have accomplished, just play their YouTube video of greatest hits [warning: you'll be humming after]:

Need a Last-Minute Mother's Day Gift? Think Farm Fresh

If you're looking for something a little different or something to get the mom who has everything, consider a couple farm-friendly options.

For a $50 donation to American Farmland Trust, you can get an autographed copy of Local Flavors: Cooking and Eating from America's Farmers Markets. With the donation comes a year-long membership to ATF, which includes a subscription to American Farmland magazine.

A $50 to Openlands will enable you to give mom a "Greener Gift," to help fund community gardens in urban areas. Greener Gift recipients will get a certificate, monthly e-updates, newsletters and an annual report.

Of course, there's always Etsy, which has some very crafty artists who can whip up beautiful aprons and kitchen accessories.

Here are a couple of my favorite vendors:

Julie Meyer makes these super cute fabric trimmed oilcloth gloves.

And for aprons, I really like perdoozy's pinup girl aprons and, when she has them in stock, Bee Haven Maven's Honey Bee Shop.

Finally, if you're looking for flowers that'll last longer than fresh cut, browse through Miranda Girl Design's shop.

Mapping a Virus: Swine Flu Traced to NC Farm

The News & Observer has an interesting piece on how H1N1, aka swine flu, and like viruses mutate and spread.

When examining the segments of the virus, scientists traced:

Two of the segments from Eurasia. The other six were traced to a 1998 North American pig outbreak, which included avian, swine and human flu.

Down into the story, is a note that the tracing of the virus to a Newton Grove, North Carolina pig farm is raising concerns about the dangers of factory farming, "where thousands of hogs are housed closely together and shipped among sites as they grow."

Still, there's nothing to point directly to factory farms for the H1N1 mutated strain.

But there could be a key regulatory measure that comes from this current outbreak: collection of genetic sequences.

The N&O quotes Nancy Cox, director of the influenza division at the CDC, who says "talks have already begun with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to begin collecting genetic sequences of swine flu found on farms in the future."

No Kidding. Google Brings Goats in to Mow Down Brush

The latest client for the eco-friendly brush-clearing service California Grazing is a pretty big one.

You can't buy the publicity that the company is getting ever since Google signed on to have 200 goats mow down brush that if not properly disposed of can cause the spread of wildfires.

I found dozens of news articles about the arrangement from Reuters and USA Today to the Washington Post, Gizmodo and ComputerWorld.

It's a symbiotic relationship that I hope will catch on elsewhere. As California Grazing notes, among the benefits of "proper grazing management" is that "one can eliminate noxious, restore native grasses and address fire prevention through fuel load reduction."

Check out a qik video from ParisLemon, who appears to be subverting the process by feeding them through the fence:

Any Guesses Where Organic Farming is Flourishing Most?

During the Bulls v. Celtics half time, I found this piece in the New York Times showing the hot spots for organic agriculture in the country.

Unlike farms in general, which are spread fairly evenly across the country, organic farms are largely concentrated in just a few geographic areas.

Much of the South will have to wait until farming practices change before they'll have much access to local, organic produce. But the Northeast and Northwest are flush with organic farms that sell directly to consumers, the Times notes.

Organic agribusinesses -- the mega organic farms -- are flourishing in California.

Don't miss the organic hot spots map to see the concentrations represented by little dots.

Laid-Off Construction Workers Give Up Hammers for Hoes

Meet two young farmboys who're trying to turn lemons into lemonade.

I learned this week from MyNC.com that when James Taylor Jr., 23, lost his construction job last year, he decided to give farming a try.

He and his buddy Robbie Lee, also 23, have leased 14 acres in Clayton from Taylor's grandfather to start T & L Farms, an organic operation.

They grow spinach, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, watermelon, sweet peppers, hot peppers, tomatoes, sweet corn, cantaloupe, among other crops.

"The construction industry around here has just hit rock bottom. So we said, well, if there ain't nothing else to do let's start farming," Taylor is quoted saying.

I'm so impressed that these young men are not only going whole hog into farming, they've embraced the CSA model, only the second in their county.

They're up to 25 shareholders so far. Let's hope this upstart sustains itself and the locals.

As Lee says, "Sustainability. That's what we're looking for. It's a better way for people and the environment."