Hoophouse Craze

Hoophouses, hoophouses everywhere! A friend of mine - who is oh so nice and thoughtful, likely because of her Minnesotan upbringing you betcha - sent me an article about hoophouses being used in blustery Minnesota eh!

WGBH Boston interview

You'll all have to just trust me that lot's of things have been going on. One of those things worth mentioning - which caught me a bit off guard and I subsequently don't think I interviewed all that well - was that I was interviewed a recent Saturday morning at the market by two people with a very nice camcorder who purportedly were from WGBH Boston. They were interested in what kinds of fresh foods were available at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market during the winter: in specific what I bring to market then, as well as how that is even possible. It was my understanding that said footage was potentially to be used in a future episode, perhaps in January, of the series Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie.



I did sign a release form, so there is a chance a few seconds of the footage might in fact be spared from the cutting room floor and actually make the episode. Hopefully the editor's will be merciful and make me look somewhat intelligent. Anyway, if any of this should turn out to be true or if I have any further information I will pass it along. Hold off popping the local popcorn til then.

Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit

Back on October 21st I had the pleasure of presenting a workshop Solar Greenhouse Food Production at the Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit conference. I think the Bioneers conferences are such a great idea in terms of sharing ideas and networking those who are building a better future. I was particularly happy to see (and meet one) representatives from the Intervale in Burlington, VT present. I think the concept of the Intervale would be so tremendous in a Detroit or even Ann Arbor setting.

It was so great meeting so many who were interested in ways to grow and then harvest year-round locally. If any of you are no reading my blog, please keep me posted of your stories as you try things out.

Tiffany Tomato

It thrills me to no end to keep an eye on friends' blogs and to see them talking about local food. Some may even be doing a better job than me. I may need to post more. Seriously, everyone's talking about it. I'm sure you likely are too if you are reading this blog, so keep up the good work. Anyway, my friend recently read the book Plenty and definitely recommends it. I hope to read it between now and spring planting although there's a few things ahead of it on the list.

The Farmer's Marketer

Hello friends! It's been a while since my last post... The fall can be one of my busiest times because of the combination of teaching at my day job at the University of Michigan, harvesting what's left of the summer crops, and planting all the exciting winter and fall crops. Seeds, seeds, and more seeds. Anyway, I'm excited to report that the hoophouse is essentially all planted (I'm always continually squeezing in more seeds here and there year-round:). I've planting a lot of the usual suspects plus some new surprises. Get ready for some delicious greens and produce starting now continuing through May - I can't wait to bring them to you!

Anyway, it was a long haul to get there and I'm most grateful to family and friends who helped at times. You can actually read about one such work day on my foodie friend's fabulous new site that was launched this year The Farmer's Marketer. She has a very nice story Know Your Farmer at Brines Farm: Haps in the Hoophouse from which (I hope she won't mind) I borrowed the photos below.

Before


After