yummy winter greens

sunday suppers has some of the best food fotos i have seen in a very long time. this work communicates community and fellowship as it relates to sharing a table with wonderful people. and the winter salad looks like it is yummy. full of beautiful texture and color.

jam it up

more jar repurposing from decor8

rays of light

repurposed old jars as lights / ideas from desire to inspire

summer naps in a tree

tree house from la cabane perchée. good video here - in french and still good even if you don't understand. via maire claire maison

Canning

after I finish up my work today I'm going for a swim and will swing by the farm for some strawberries. It's canning time! Strawberry black pepper balsamic chutney...yummy with cheese.

If you aren't familiar with canning, author Barbara Kingsolver was interviewed last year by the SF Chronicle and she talks about her lifetime love for canning. In it there are a number of recommendations for books and resources.

Theater time this summer

Looking forward to seeing this movie.

Bike Only Roads

Max Fisher has a great article in the Atlantic today about bike-only roads.

featuring Marfa, Texas and JM Dry Goods

NYT featured my friends' Michelle Teague and Ginger Griffice's new venture, JM Dry Goods in Marfa. This photo is from the feature linked here. Also mentioned in the piece are my clients Liz Lambert and El Cosmico.. Pals from the Food Shark get a shout out too - Hooray!

Been searching for this for months

Ever since I was last in Munich I've been searching for this bench. It was outside the Haus der Kunst and I sat there while I was waiting for my friend Jürgen before we went to the Maison Martin Margelia and Gerhard Richter exhibits. I came across it today in a magazine and found out it's designed by Jurgen Bay who has a studio with his wife in Rotterdam.

Above is the photo from droog (it's only 11,000€....) and two of mine.





gestalten has a great video featuring the two of them. linked here....

Going Dutch - from NYT

Yesterday's article in the New York Times (first post from yesterday - just below) reminded me of an article from a few weeks back. It offers insight into what the perceived 'high' tax rates in European countries are comprised - what programs, initiatives and social support. Read the entire article {here}

Toujours Petite

Love everything about this mini-maison. This idea is a bit like what we're working on at El Cosmico. Low-impact Mini dwellings and art shacks as an alternative to gigantic hospitality structures.

These photos are from a feature in Marie-Claire Maison on weekend homes.

Household Indulgence

Wooden ironing board from Manufactum.

Breathing Harmonia

São Paulo architecture firm Tryiptyque (French/Brasilian) designed Harmonia House as a building that breathes. Its walls are caged within water pipes that feed the thirst of the building's vegetal ecosystem.

MMM

Maison Martin Margiela 20th anniversary exhibit at Haus der Kunst in Munich.
Extremely well curated and inspiring.

Doo-Nanny Tomorrow

see butch anthony's site for updates and photos.

Farm Love in the Heart of the City

Found this great site today - Pistils Nursery: Country Life in the City.

"We started Pistils to create a unique gathering place for people who are as passionate about plants and urban homesteading as we are … a place for discovery, conversation, and above all, sharing."

They have a great list of workshops and a very nice shop. Portland people lead the way once again. Seems like a very community-oriented business and a fun model of how to incorporate learning, sustainability and retail into your operation. 

Farm Love

I recently returned from a two week farm stay in Grafschaft Bentheim (northwestern Germany). It was arranged by Stefan Westhuis of the Landwirtschaftskammer in Bad Bentheim (Agricultural Extension Service). I was hosted by local family that raises pigs, steers and dairy cows. During my stay I learned about the regional farming practices and visited a number of area farms. I had the opportunity to work alongside some of the farmers, my host family included. The farming industry in this area is primarily family-run and farms are small to medium-sized operations. The majority of these family farms sell their products to larger operations (dairies, groceries, etc.). 

One of the most interesting parts of my stay was learning about agricultural certification and education. Germany has a multi-track education system (which has its ups and downs). Vocational education is one track of study. This vocational track consists of extensive practical and experiential training and education that farmers in Germany are required to complete. You cannot call yourself a farmer without this training - seriously.

It was interesting for me to take a couple of steps back from the current US-food security debate and see how important it is to insure stable food production by supporting agricultural education.

When my host family asked me how one becomes a farmer in the States, I had vague, insufficient answers...., really guesses more than answers. Handed-down education? Earn a degree in agricultural management? FFA? 4-H?

Even more interesting was the thought that these young farmers emerge from their education debt-free....zero student loans. That is a step in the right direction.* 
Farm Links:
Bunte Bentheimer Pigs: Delicious Pork Products
Ekenhorst Dairy: Milk, Yogurt, Cheese

(*from article to appear later this spring in GOOD)