Invitation to Write on La Vida Locavore

Exactly! (4.00 / 7)

Looking forward to hearing more from everybody here soon!

It's almost backyard barbecue season, isn't it?  One of my neighbors had their grill out yesterday.  If I wasn't running out the door then, I might have brought over some farmers' market asparagus and hung out with them!  That would have been fun.

I need one of those mini grills (hibachi?  I keep forgetting the name, lol...) - for my mushrooms and asparagus now, and for peppers and stuff later this year...

Let's see some picnic / barbecue photo diaries soon!

:)

Coming soon to a Philadelphia near you!

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 01:32:09 AM UTC

Hopefully I'll have (4.00 / 5)

some chickens to post a photo diary about soon enough.  I'm getting the coop Tuesday but we're still not sure about the chicks themselves.

Vote for yourself at www.ni4d.us!

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by: rossl @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 01:59:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Awesome! (4.00 / 5)

Looking forward to it!

Coming soon to a Philadelphia near you!

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 02:04:57 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

you can dig a hole (4.00 / 4)

and line it with bricks, use fireplace cement, and then get some kind of metal grill thing that's rated for barbeque and prop it up over your fire pit.

Or you can get a Weber.

These are both good ideas, but watch out for the rip-offs.

I used to barbeque with a guy who had a really great little grill; it was basically a metal pan on legs, with a grill and a handle and you could raise the grill up and down over the coals. I LOVED the adjustable grill; it saved so much trouble. Wonderful to be able to fine tune one's efforts that way. I wish I could find one myself but I've never seen anything like it on the net.

"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 02:48:57 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I can dig a hole... (4.00 / 3)

...and get kicked out of my building!

Heh.

We do have a little courtyard though, which my apartment door immediately opens out onto.  That courtyard is where the neighbor had their grill set up.

Cool setup, lawn chairs and everything...

:)

About 4 or 5 weeks to go until paradise!

Summers in Portland are the most awesome things I've ever experienced.  Sunny, clear, dry and 74 degrees every day for like 11 straight weeks...

Coming soon to a Philadelphia near you!

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 03:03:41 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

well, that's what's wrong with where you're living (4.00 / 3)

that you can't dig a hole.

I mean...what's the point??

Yeah, you got me on your summers. That's sweet. Here we just hide with our a/c (or without)

But...I'm thinking... (I think about doing this every year) about gettin' some good meat..the kind that's from animals raised right and kind, and killed with the best degree of kindness possible...

and having a big ol' freaking barbeque.

First; I would start burning wood. And I would then hang around in the yard, and look out for neighbors. When they looked back, I would invite them in. Like some kind of religious ritual, some rite du passage.

I would first marinate the meat in amazing sauces. For many hours. I would set up the grills, upon the crumbling brick bases and things, and use the trashpicked clean pecan limbs (2" diameter is good!) and I would have this barbeque.

There would be tables, and umbrellas. The neighborhood kids would have shown up by then, to look shyly at my preparations, and the boldest would get up at the fence and say "Hey."

"Hey," I'd say back. Then he'd say; "You having a barbeque?"

I'd say yeah; you wanna come?

He'd look at the ground. I'd say; "You live around here, don't you? I've seen you."

"I've got plenty," I'd say. "Bring your family."

And I would then hang around in the yard, and look out for neighbors. When they looked back, I would invite them in.

I would have already of course have made all sorts of amazing vegetarian dishes. Some would be available for eating now.

I'd cook the meat from the animals who died for my barbeque. I'd salt it and flip it and douse it with lemon butter.

By then, people would be sitting around in the old broke-down chairs. They would be holding the old cheap ceramic plates of food. They would be shy, but the gates would be open.

The kids would be wandering around my yard and messing with my plants. My collie would be in heaven, adoring children as he does. The bigger children would quickly take charge of him so he wouldn't jump on the little kids.

The fires would die down, as the night progressed. The kids would go back to their homes and to bed. The grown-ups would finish off the food, and suck on the bones.

They would thank me for this fine party. And then we would all go to bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's quite possible that something like the above constitutes most of my entire goal in life; to figure out how to get that to happen now and then.

It's really, really important.


"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 04:16:22 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Your neighborhood sounds awesome! (4.00 / 3)

I'm still trying to get used to the idea of friendly neighbors after spending my entire existence living something more like out of Last Exit to Brooklyn...

I wish you were my neighbor!  At my ranch in Wyoming.  I'd certainly be there to enjoy the company and veggie dishes.  And the collie, as long as he didn't bother my 10 chickens and 16 cats (I mean, this is a dream we're talking about right?)...

:)

Coming soon to a Philadelphia near you!

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 04:29:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I read "Last Exit To Brooklyn" (4.00 / 2)

in a college seminar when I was 17.

Now I am 51; and, yeah.

I'm listening to Laura Nyro on Pandora.com, right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

love her work.

I wish you were my neighbor too. And of COURSE cats and chickens are cool!

Wyoming: that's your dream? Rough turf. Very indie. Lots of wind. Lots of drought. Lots of rough weather.

On the other hand, if you can work it out, the dreadful outside world of bad creatures pretty much leaves you alone, no?


"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 04:41:54 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Speaks volumes, doesn't it? (4.00 / 2)

Yes, I've connected with Wyoming a few times before.  Even on a hideous motel strip in Rawlins, the landscape is breathtaking when you wake up to it and look out the window.

I've also woken up in another place in Wyoming, on another occasion, surrounded by nothing but acres and acres and acres and acres of hills and sagebrush.  Best morning of my entire life, bar none...

And Evanston is an awesome little town.  Had a fantastic lunch at a little hippie coffee shop in town once...

Then again, I'm originally from where dreams don't happen.  But that's okay.  Coming close is cool.

Like Portland (I'm already here!).  Or Oakland (I was once there!).  And etc, etc.  And the beat goes on...

:)

Coming soon to a Philadelphia near you!

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 05:09:23 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

reminds me (4.00 / 2)

of a story a guy I once knew wrote; a guy who struggled all his life with migraines.

Nothing ever worked. And he was totally alt; worked with organic farms, etc. A computer programmer; really bright guy.

He was traveling around, and jumped a train, and wound up in some sort of impossible circumstance, where he had no control. He had to just be there.

He called his essay something like "The Last Time I Ever Got A Good Night's Sleep."

Before that, he'd tried living in the mountains in California without electricity or anything. He tried many things. His headaches never ended, nor his depression.

He was a very nice, disciplined sort of man. A decent guy.

I worry about him.

Oh, he's still here.

http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~rb...


"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 05:39:28 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yeah... (4.00 / 3)

Depression never ends.  Good days and bad...

Today was (relatively) good for me.  Tomorrow I may spend all day staring at the ceiling, and half-heartedly poking at projects I should finish.  Who t.f. knows, eh?

:)

This place helps.  Friends are very good...

Coming soon to a Philadelphia near you!

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 05:53:50 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

cognitive therapy worked (4.00 / 3)

for me.  

when i feel it coming on, i immediately begin surrounding myself with things that make me happy - music and plants and photos and films, everything.  I do lots of self talk, try to confront the problem as best i can, eat healthy, exercise and never for even an instant indulge in the dark.  not a sad song, not a wistful memory, not a note of it.  It works when you can see it coming.  but i've lost years of my life to the grays.  coming out of it is amazing tho - all of a sudden the world is full of colors and scents and flavors.  

hugs

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by: chicklet @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 06:14:31 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks... :) (4.00 / 2)

The problem for me though, is that -

not a sad song, not a wistful memory, not a note of it.

those tend to come to me in my sleep.  And I wake up and think of them.  Bah!

Looking forward to coming out of it, I can almost imagine...

Thank you.

:)

Coming soon to a Philadelphia near you!

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 06:20:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

:) (4.00 / 2)

I would take you by the hand and pull you out if I could.  Instead I wish you godspeed.  :)

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by: chicklet @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 06:29:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks! (4.00 / 2)

It's appreciated, believe me...

:)

Coming soon to a Philadelphia near you!

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 06:40:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think maybe you think about it too much (4.00 / 3)

been there done that. It's a common problem with people who think a lot and whose lives have fallen out from under them.

You try to figure out what you did wrong so you can keep it from happening again. Understandable, but mostly it won't be of help. There are things and behaviors you can try to learn to watch out for, but mostly it's too hard to figure out how to stay safe from other people in any sort of reasonable manner.

Some people are lucky. Some people are unlucky. But mostly it takes too much time to figure out other people.

Good solid trite California advice from a California ex-patriate:

What goes around, comes around.

Hang out with people who make you feel good. Stay away from people who make you feel bad.

Very trite, but really it works.


"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 06:42:56 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

you got that right (4.00 / 2)

Once I learned that it was okay to say "you know, I get nothing out of interacting with this person," and just walk away, my life got a lot better.  

I wish someone had told me about that years ago.  :)

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by: chicklet @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 19:49:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

music helps me a lot (4.00 / 4)

I let it get away from me for several years; that was a huge mistake.

I get into singing, dancing, playing my long-neglected flute - it changes me whole day. It's not about happiness, really. It's about taking myself back.

"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 06:36:25 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

wow (4.00 / 1)

i really loathed wyoming.  

My one good wyoming memory:  Went camping in the mountains, walked around a lake, took some pretty pictures, didn't see a badger.  Took off for a bit with the camera and caught a deer coming to the creek for water.  she drank, eyed me, and walked away.  Totally glorious.  

otherwise wyoming was an arid land of cruel wind and inlaws.  Oregon was sweeter, with temperate weather, moist air, and breezes that brushed the wild grasses.  I actually really like where I live now, outside of SF.  I could plant a farm here, but my heart will always long for the ocean.

What did you love about oakland?  I work there, and don't often get out of the office enough to see its charms.  Did you hear they renovated the fox theatre?  I have tickets to see ben folds there in a couple of weeks.  I'm very excited - he's one of my favorites.  :)

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by: chicklet @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 06:08:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Everything. (0.00 / 0)

What did you love about oakland?

Everything.  The area, the region, the City, the culture, the architecture, the history, San Francisco and Berkeley, the climate, BART, the water, Lake Merritt, the people, the food, almonds(!), the fact that it feels like Newark (my original home sweet home) only without winter; etc, etc...

:)

There's charm on every corner, imo - I wish I worked there!  :)

I still get emails from these guys (signed up for them at the Jack London Square Sunday market...), and think about local almonds...

Local almonds!

:)

Oakland's got Soul, with a Capital "S".  In the end, that just may be the most important thing...

Taking an Amtrak trip down there in October.  I'll have a few dollars (and a few days off) again by then, and I deserve to treat myself to that...

Coming soon to a Philadelphia near you!

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 06:39:29 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

well let me know when you're in town (4.00 / 1)

we'll get together, if you've got time.  :)

There's a restaurant near the office which specializes in craft beer (lots of local stuff) and has a lot of locally sourced food on the menu.  It's a favorite of mine.  :)

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by: chicklet @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 19:41:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Awesome, will do... :) (4.00 / 1)

The one thing I regret about my days in Oakland was that I spent most of my time there endlessly looking for work, and didn't really get a chance to enjoy things like Oakland restaurants and SF and Berkeley and etc...

And for that matter, I regret leaving there in the first place.  Bad decision, but I thought I was making the right one at the time.  Oh well, live and learn...

Anyways.

So playing tourist there next time will be nice. :)

Coming soon to a Philadelphia near you!

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 19:50:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

hosting a barbecue (4.00 / 3)

is one of the most glorious things.  Marinating the meat, having lots of sides - potato salad, pasta salad, fruit salad - cold beer in ice chests, slices of watermelon, the smokey delicious smell of meat grilling on a hot day - heaven.

We had a bbq to celebrate my hubby's bday a few weeks ago.  The weather cooperated - hot but not too hot, with the weather cooling to perfection after sundown.  We had beef kabobs with hickory seasoning, chicken kabobs with this amazing and simple lemon garlic marinade from a kuwaiti recipe and shrimp with a guava-orange habenero glaze.  I also made a bunch of veggie kabobs for my vegetarian friends.  There were side dishes, chips and dips, cold beer and ice cream cake.  

We played poker after food and all in all, everyone had a good time, there were hardly any leftovers and hubby won the card game.  

barbecues were always a huge deal in my family, growing up.  There's hardly a three day weekend that we didn't all get together to eat grilled meat and cold side dishes and drink icy beer and margaritas and talk talk talk about...whatever.  barbecues are heaven.

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by: chicklet @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 05:59:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well I'm thrilled (4.00 / 4)

to have somewhere to post my food diaries and it's appreciated.  We're having issues in getting others to post at the OC Progressive, so what you have here so far is amazing!  Thank you!

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by: Ellinorianne @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 03:15:00 AM UTC

food .... agriculture .... [nutrition] (4.00 / 2)

Just have to get this out of the head:

Re: "top source of news about food and agriculture"

FOOD   ...  AGRICULTURE     ... NUTRITION

Three beautiful words that often interact with each other and where the compare/contrast becomes fuzzy. And yet, some people feel so strongly about bulding strong fences between these 3 words...fences that I feel diminish more in some ways the powerful discussions and the like that can be had around each of on these words independently [and independently of their interaction with either or both of the other 2 words]. So why can't we all just get along and make everything better for it? I'm not one to care for semantics and feel that doing so, also bogs down the discussion and the like, but in this case, sometimes I feel like it gets out of hand and takes down the others (ie the other 2 words) as a result, which just doesn't help move things FORWARD.

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by: rebeccak @ Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 04:04:11 AM UTC