Policy & A Pint

Minnesota Public Radio's the Current is heading up to my alma mater tomorrow night to collide a couple of my worlds and hold a very important discussion on the culture of food.



Gary Brever of Ploughshare Farm, which was named 2009 Edible Twin Cities' Local Hero for Best Farm, will be speaking on air with Diane Veale-Jones, who has recently moved from the nutrition department at CSB/SJU to the growing environmental studies department, before everyone's favorite DJ, Mark Wheat, spins a few tunes and Chris Koza performs live.

Whoa!!!

I worked on Gary's farm and lived with him and his family in Parkers Prairie, MN one summer not so long ago, getting my hands dirty and my mind into the practice and business of organic/sustainable farming. The days and weeks were long, but so rewarding, and my time at Ploughshare has instilled in me a dedication to the communities of people working hard for healthy food, ecosystems, and local economies. Additionally, Gary brought to it his passion for social justice, something that was clearly intertwined with food and poverty in the senior seminar course I took with...you guessed it...Diane Veale-Jones!

I'll try to make it, but I'll be dropping John off at the airport for his spring break in the Mountains for the first half, so I hope you catch it all and fill me in. It will be fun to catch up with old friends...and maybe sneak in some syruping in the Arboretum's sugar bush for old time's sake.

See the MPR page about the event, co-presented by the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/about/press/releases/release.php?ftrv_ident=2010/03/15/currentnight

Spring Catalog Out

A welcome sight to see! Twice a year, North House sends out its catalog of traditional craft courses. Want to make your own mukluks? House? Boat? Not on the mailing list? Go here: http://www.northhouse.org/catalog.htm to get thorough class listings, a calendar, instructor bios, and detailed photos of projects in action two times a year. Or just visit the website.



I took quite a few photographs when I was living there and continue to do so when I return for visits and courses. It's been fun to see which ones Scott, who does an amazing job with layout and design...big project(!), decides to put in for the last few editions and this time to see my name beside acclaimed photographer, Layne Kennedy, on the list of contributors!

Making Things

We've been busy for the last year making things in Minneapolis while John finishes up grad school part 2 and I finish up my year of AmeriCorps service (in addition to spending time with family and friends, traveling, and making loads of food and music).

Rings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:


Beer:


Bread:

Vermont

After departing from North House and before beginning my year of service with AmeriCorps VISTA, I attended the Wildbranch Writing Workshop in Craftsbury Common, VT. It was co-hosted by my favorite magazine, Orion, and a beautiful, small college called Sterling. We spent the week with editors and contributors of the magazine and our workshop-mates, discussing the intersection of nature, culture, and place (and writing). I was impressed by the school's dedication to sustainable agriculture, environmental studies, and hands-on learning, I immediately felt akin to their interdisciplinary programs, and I hope to return someday and keep up on the good work they're doing.

Traditional Crafts

My apologies. It's been a couple of years.

I departed from Japan after a year of teaching and exploring. I spent October 2008-April 2009 living, working, and learning at North House Folk School, a nonprofit learning center focused on traditional crafts and sustainable living. My home was a little yellow house right on campus, beside Lake Superior. It was an amazing winter and although I'm no longer living there, I don't think I will ever leave. I remain involved with occasional visits, classes, volunteer opportunities (check out the new website John and I built at www.northhouse.org!), and what have you.



While there, I spent my time assisting with work around the school (from taking photographs to writing and editing publications to hosting visitors to washing toilets to taking lots of classes), as well as picking cranberries at the bog to make fresh sauce, playing music, skiing, dog sledding, and so much more.