Year of Plenty Blog to be Added to www.downtoearthnw.com Site

I'm working with the folks as the www.downtoearthnw.com site to add this blog to their family of blogs. After our year long experiment it was a little unclear as to what would happen with the blog in that it was intended to report on our experiences of following the the rules of consuming everything local, used, homegrown, and homemade. Many have asked if we're still doing that and the answer is yes and no. Many things we have carried with us but we're not quite as legalistic as last year's constraints required. We're enjoying avocados and bananas, and we've moved to a more regional definition of local, meaning that Tillamook cheese and Ivar's clam chowder from Costco are on the local food menu in the Goodwin house.

But things continue to evolve with chickens and community gardens and giant pumpkins. So we're marching on into the new year continuing old conversations from our experiment and beginning new ones. Here is the description that will go with the blog on DTE.

The Year of Plenty blog was created by Craig Goodwin in the winter of 2008 to chronicle the experiences of his family as they sought to consume everything local, used, homegrown or homemade. That journey was a wonderful introduction to people and movements in the Spokane area who are seeking the welfare of the community through local foods, farmers markets, community gardens, sustainable transportation, and more fulfilling and just patterns of consumption. In 2009 and beyond the blog will continue to report on these relationships and practices, all through the eyes of a family with young children. Craig manages the Millwood Farmers' Market, is a Master Food Presever and Pastor at Millwood Presbyterian Church.

I will continue this Typepad site independently from the DTE version but the content going forward will be identical for the most part. The hope is that this blog can draw new readers into the DTE efforts which I think are a great example of the Spokesman Review adapting and innovating new ways of doing business. And also that DTE will give the conversations on Year of Plenty more visibility as I seek the welfare of the community through the blog.

Check out the existing blogs at dte;

Down to Earth where Bart and Paul are committed to reporting and sharing environmental news and sustainability information from across the Inland Northwest.

DwellWellNW where Megan gives Down to Earth visitors the scoop on home, garden and craft happenings in the community. Her DwellWellNW blog includes details of upcoming craft fairs and home improvement events, photos of unique homes and gardens, interesting local crafters and crafts and ways to make our living spaces more harmonious with our environments.

The Eco-Traveler where Andrea explores tips to reduce our carbon footprint, suggestions on staying green while traveling, and alternative vacations with an environmental twist.

Comments

[Craig Sr.]

Pumpkin update - We received our 8 seeds of 600 pounders. Looking to plant this weekend. Have warned our neighbors about grow lights through the summer and all seem ok with that. We have the water and the heat, albeit expensivee heat. But what is a competition without fun and expense. Have you got your one seed yet. Good luck, sounds pretty high risk to me. I may need help from Lily and Noel to be sure that our 8 600 pounders get properly weighed and entered into the competition. Will they accept west side stuff? Anyway, our garden looking really good, just need to protect from the deers.

[nancy goodwin]

I've got my pumpkin in the greenhouse. The $12 seed has germinated and sticking out of the ground at this point. They recommend starting them indoors in a peet pot that you then set outdoors when after it's got a couple of real leaves on it. Pumpkins need some heat to get germinated so make sure it's not cold and wet or the seed will just rot in the ground.

[nancy goodwin]

Ok, that last comment says I wrote it, but don't be fooled. I don't know beans about pumpkins! (And I don't know anything about beans, either!) Craig probably got on the computer right after me and didn't know I just posted a comment. As for me, I'm the weeder, harvester and cheerleader for all Craig's efforts in the garden.:)