Last Sunday, we put most of the garden beds to rest for the winter.  It’s a melancholy job for me as I work so hard to raise these plants from seeds, care for them as small shoots, and put up the harvest.  I almost hate to rip the stems from the earth and send them to the compost bin. This year, the job was easier than ever thanks to our backyard chickens.  As soon as [...]

Today’s edition of Book Hounds is a political-video-chicken one. Why political?  Well, I would have precious few books to read or recommend if not for the Columbus Metro Library.  Starting today, Columbus area voters can go to the polls and cast a ballot for Issue 4, the levy to Keep Columbus Metro Library Strong. This levy, the first levy brought to the public in ten years and first increase in twenty four years, will restore [...]

The weather turned cool quickly and this means our menus will change as well. We’re including more oven baked and stewed foods because those are warming on a cold night. Our dishes aim to make best use of seasonal vegetables which are changing, too, from tangy tomatoes to sweet winter squash. This week and next we are responsible for bringing snack to Lil’s classroom. The school requests nutritious nut-free food and we obviously want kids [...]

Sweet Lil turns five today.  I have no words to summarize my complex feelings about being her mother, nor reflections on her growing maturity and beauty.  Where to turn, then, but to food? The setting: Mother and daughter are walking through an unfamiliar grocery store. Mother, reading list: spaghetti, Parmesan.  Where’s the Parmesan? Daughter: Can I have a… Mother, interrupting: Oh here it is.  We’re going to use already shredded cheese at your spaghetti birthday [...]

This crate of jars was given to me by my mother who received it from my paternal grandmother.  What does this look like to you? Trash? To me, it was a box full of potential. I know Grandma Joyce is a collector of stuff.  Out of the box of miscellaneous jars, I decided not to keep many of unknown origin or with chipped rims. After a little digging and sorting, look what turned up: Nearly [...]

Humble as pie, Basic as ‘a is for’, Diverse as the land and people: Ohio apples. Already this season I have picked a bushel and a half of apples from Windy Hill Apple Farm.  Most varieties are ripening two weeks earlier than normal this year.  I have sauced, dried, eaten them fresh, and even baked a dozen into my first ever apple pie.  In October, I will return to Charlie’s for the king of Ohio [...]

In the Edible Columbus Fall 2010 edition, readers will find a Young Palates column written by me.  It is all about apples and features my favorite apple farmer, Charlie Fritsch of Windy Hill Farm.  Read online here. You can find print copies of Edible Columbus around the city at their advertising locations. The Hobby Farm Home November/December 2010 issue has an article about hosting a class or workshop.  I am one of three subjects of [...]