How To Build Community

Contrary to popular belief, I have not disappeared off the face of this earth. Rather, I've been quite busy with about a month of unexpected travel. You see, I've gotten a new job at Google which begins the first week of June. My last day at my former job was May 6 so I've had some time to visit Traverse City, explore Mackinaw Island, travel to upstate New York, and take in the scenery in Amish country of Ohio. 

Though plenty of lengthy updates about these exploits are to come (as well as some much needed garden work and blogging), I wanted to share this image of a poster spotted hanging in a small coffee shop in Burton, Ohio where I'm currently located. In case it's hard to read, I've included the text at the bottom.

Though some of these make me roll my eyes (e.g. listen to the birds, sing together), others give me some good ideas. In fact, I'm bringing back some Amish recipes and baking supplies which I think I'll share with the neighbors...

So, for now I'll conclude with a commitment to post more details and photos of my travels soon and the hope that the rain lets up tomorrow afternoon so I can plant some cabbages after I get back in town.

Transcription of the image text:

How to Build Community

• Turn off your TV
• Leave your house
• Know your neighbors
• Look up when you are walking
• Greet people
• Sit on your stoop
• Plant flowers
• Use your library
• Play together
• Buy from local merchants
• Share what you have
• Help a lost dog
• Take children to the park
• Garden together
• Support neighborhood schools
• Fix it even if you didn't break it
• Have pot lucks
• Honor elders
• Pick up litter
• Read stories aloud
• Dance in the street
• Talk to the mail carrier
• Listen to the birds
• Put up a swing
• Help carry something heavy
• Barter for your goods
• Start a tradition
• Ask questions
• Hire young people for odd jobs
• Organize a block party
• Bake extra and share
• Ask for help when you need it
• Open your shades
• Sing together
• Share your skills
• Take back the night
• Turn up the music
• Turn down the music
• Listen before you react to anger
• Mediate a conflict
• Seek to understand
• Learn from new and uncomfortable angels
• Know that no on is silent, though many are not heard - work to change this

Seed Starting: Round #4

On Sunday, May 1, I started my second to last batch of seeds:

• Serge garden peas
• Pioneer shelling peas
• Eureka cucumbers
• Marketmore cucumbers
• Burpee pickler cucumbers

I was hesitant to start peas since these are best direct sown into the ground. However, we weren't sure when we were going to be able to get into and work in our community garden plot where I plan to plant these guys. So, because peas are cool weather crops and tend to be done by mid-June when the weather gets too warm for them, I wanted to be on the safe side and start a few, giving them a head start in case we can't get into our garden for a while. The main reason for my caution is that I really want a lot of peas for freezing. They make such a wonderful (and easy) side dish throughout the year and they don't take up much freezer space. Just a winning preservation crop all around!

I am also very excited about the cucumbers. Supposedly these vining vegetables are prolific, but that's never been my experience. In years past, the cucumbers we planted from seed in our community garden plot have always been first ravaged by cucumber beetles in their early stages and then killed by a powdery mildew. So, again in my attempt at preemptive vigilance, we are starting cucumber seedlings and planting those seedlings in our newly constructed raised beds on the side of our house.

I'm glad there's only one more round of seeds to start (squash and zucchini this Saturday) because it means it's almost time to plant! Though spring has somehow passed over us and we've gotten very few gorgeous mid-60s days, I am ready for summer and the harvest it brings.

It's Catching On...

For all those who like to be early adopters, it looks like time is running out to jump on the "grow your own produce" hay wagon. The other day, Josh and I saw this sign outside an apartment building on Jackson Road.

So, if you simply must be the first of your friends to do something, better start with a garden this summer! Not sure where to begin? I'd love to offer whatever help I can. Leave a comment with your inquiry and I'll certainly respond.

On Location: Michigan's Original Maple Syrup Festival

Vermontville, Michigan

This past Saturday you could have found Josh and me in Vermontville, Michigan. And what were doing in Vermontville, you ask? Well, as the town's name might suggest, we were participating in the very well attended Maple Syrup Festival.

I'm kind of a sucker for agricultural festivals, something that I'm increasingly recognizing as one of my many midwestern characteristics. There's something so great about the idea of a community coming together to celebrate the end of another's year's harvest of their local product (in Vermontville's case, maple syrup). Of course, many of the original qualities of agricultural festivals have evolved to reflect modern day socio-economic practices as well as modern values. Relatively few people are professional farmers today, meaning the "end of the harvest" significance of the celebration is less salient than it certainly once was. Similarly, what I imagine was once a giant potluck (and, granted, I may just have an active imagination) is now a commercial enterprise for some who sell any number of products made with the ingredient of focus.

But, those differences aside, the reason I love these festivals is their sense of jubilant and proud community gathering. In this small town of 750 or so residents, cars were parked on both sides of Main Street (a two lane road through the downtown area) for at least a half mile out of town. The parade boasted more than 60 local businesses and organizations and was led by the volunteer fire department (members of which knew by name most of the crowd). On display were goods for sale by local craftspeople as well as the local career technical school, demonstrating wood processing skills they teach their students. There was even old-fashioned ice cream made by hand with nothing but some cream, maple syrup, an ice bucket, and a John Deere diesel engine. 

I guess all of this seems so wonderful because in our too often violent and fractured modern world, this is a perfect, albeit momentary, manifestation of what community can be: a common interest bringing together a group of people.  

At any rate, Josh and I have five more festivals on our calendar for this summer and the Maple Syrup Festival was a lovely opening to the season.

A Man and his Tractor (during the parade)

M-C Auto Repair Towing Little Miss Maple Syrup Hopefuls (during parade)

Career Technical Education Demonstrating Wood Processing

Old Fashioned Ice Cream

Old Fashioned Ice Cream Ice Bucket