Cookin' in the 'Cuse

Blog Day 2008

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Oh, where does the time go?  I guess a schedule that has me back at work, orientation and first week of classes at SU, a funeral, a wedding, some exciting advances on the home front (more on that soon I hope!) and my recently renewed obsession with blogs about art, design, and printing leave little time for my own blog.  And, oh yeah, there are those quickly ripening tomatoes here at Dorset Harvest Farm (and even a strawberry or two when I can beat the squirrels to them) to keep me busy in the garden.  So you get it--lots going on.

But enough about me--Blog Day is about other people's blogs.  I've been given shout outs in years past by bloggers who have introduced me to their readers by listing me as one of their 5 blogs for this annual blog event.  The point is to recommend blogs that are different from your own and help expand our experience of the blogosphere because, you know, you needed help getting lost in the deep and endless world that is the internet.

So here are my picks--I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

1.  Boxcar Press.  This totally cool letterpress printing company is located on Fayette Street (in the Delevan Gallery complex) and blog about what they do here.  I went to a specialized high school for printing and journalism in Manhattan and still have a great love for printing ink, handset type, and all things paper.  In addition to turning out beautiful letterpress cards, stationary, and the like, Boxcar is moving toward more and more sustainable practices including working with Jamie Edelstein and CSA/CNY to provide organic vegetables on the premises of their production facility--very, very, cool.

2.  Freshly Blended.  This blog is fairly new to me but it was here that I discovered Nook--a cute shop in Pittsford specializing in journals, letterpress cards, handbags, pillows, and small production accessories items for the home.  Freshly Blended is based in the Rochester Buffalo area and helps me keep inspired to be creative outside of the kitchen.

3.  Bike Portland.  It's been no secret to friends of mine that if I could live anywhere else right now, other than the 'Cuse it would be Portland, OR.  When I'm not drinking our own local Gimme! Coffee, you can bet i"m downing something from Stumptown Coffee Roasters.  But the other reason I love Portland is because of their bicycling culture--they are almost always rated the number one bike-friendly city in America.  To see why and to get inspired to get on my bike more here, I regularly read this blog.

4.  Zen Habits.  This blog is perfect for me:  a productivity blog about getting things done with a Zen-like intentionality.  There is inspiration here for everything from saving money to establishing a calm routine for getting through our busy days.  This blog has thousands of subscribers--read one post and you'll see why.

5.  Notebookism.  I did mention that I love paper, right?  This blog is a daily read for what's new on the paper front--reviews and news on journals, pens, planners, and the folks who use them creatively. 

Check 'em out.

NY Times Highlights the Finger Lakes

Today's Escape section of The New York Times covers our region.  Kim Severson, known best for her reporting in Wednesday's food section, sets her sights on the delicious food to be found right here.  She calls the Syracuse-Rochester-Ithaca area a triangle with the Finger Lakes as the juicy center.  I love that--if I call it the "Golden Triangle" maybe she'll let me steal her phrase.  Anyway, check it out in today's paper or hit the link here.

Photo by James Rajotte for The New York Times

Market Watch--Green Hills Organic Farmers' Market

Small, neighborhood farmers' markets seem to be popping up all over Syracuse.  Now the Valley and the South Side have a delicious option too.  Check out the market held in the Green Hills parking lot on  South Salina on Wednesdays from 3-7pm--it is small but mighty.  Organic vegetables and herbs, pasture-raised meats, Heamour Farms cheeses and Navarino Orchards selling their delicious pies are selling well so if you aren't already on your way today--put it on the calendar for next week.  For my part, I found that a blueberry pie from Navarino and a pint of Mercer's wine ice cream picked up at Green Hills makes this market stop irresistible.

Thank you sun--now bring on the tomatoes!

Have you noticed?  We've finally had more than 2 consecutive days without rain.  On the one hand, all the rain has been great--I've only had to water the garden about four times all summer.  But all that rain has my tomatoes big, beautiful, and green.  They're supposed to be red or orange or yellow by now.  It's gotten so bad that I've actually had a nightmare involving someone kidnapping my hard, green tomatoes and taking them off to some sunnier state.  Luckily, it was just a nightmare and the sun has returned.

Until my own tomatoes ripen I'm relying on area organic farmers to supply me with small numbers of greenhouse tomatoes, Early Girls, and juicy Orange Blossoms.  If it were not for them I'd be bereft of one of summer's most simple and delectable pleasures--the BLT!  Thanks friends!

Buy Local Week in Madison County

Are you looking for some "eat local" inspiration right now?  If you live in or near Madison County then you'll want to check out their Buy Local Week sponsored by the Madison County Agricultural Economic Development Program and the Cornell Cooperative Extension.  The emphasis of Buy Local Week, which begins today and runs through Satruday, is to support local farmers and help people learn how much food they can obtain from local sources.  You can even get a passport stamped at participating farms and at the Cazenovia and Hamilton farmers' markets.  They'll even hand out prizes for those who collect several stamps on their passports.  And there's more!  This Saturday, new maps to Madison County farms will be available at the Cazenovia and Madison County markets--very, very, cool!  Click here for more information.  Thanks, David, for the tip!

If you're looking for more inspiration check out the Eat Local Challenge blog for information on this year's Eatl Local Challenge taking place in October.  While that will be high harvest time for us in Central New York, you won't want to forget to freeze, can, pickle, or dry the great produce we have right now for extra variety through the fall and winter.  I hope to have news about some canning workshops soon.  Stay tuned!

To Market, To Market

This is the height of the summer produce season here in Central New York and aren't we lucky to have so many sources from which to get our fresh food?  After being out of town for the past few weeks (month?) I'm looking forward to stocking the larder and catching up with the peas, beans, berries, peaches, and tomatoes (finally!) that are starting to come to market.  We have some great options each week in the Syracuse area but here are a few that are special occasion or may have missed your radar.

• The Syracuse University Community Harvest Farmers' Market is open today from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm in the Waverly parking lot--that's the lot at the corner of Waverly and Crouse.  There will be local farmers and producers, books for sale, information tables, and lots of prepared foods as well.  Even if you plan to do your market shopping tomorrow, come and check out this one--it is the second of four markets that SU will host this season--and we want them to add more!!!

• The Greener Bean Market in Skaneateles is open Saturdays  from 8:00 am to Noon in the P&C parking lot.  It touts itself as New York's premier 100% organic farmers' market and features produce from Black Brook Farm. I haven't checked it out yet but because making the Skaneateles farmers' market on Thursday is difficult for my schedule, it's nice to know there is another option during the week.  I hope to get there tomorrow.

• CNY Regional Market.  Okay, you already know about this one but here's a different spin on the idea--leave the car at home and bike there!  I have several friends who bike from the Westcott/University Hill neighborhoods and I've been envious of their sustainable habit (and guilty of my carbon waste habit) as I drive there each Saturday.  Well, a ride has been organized to go the Regional Market tomorrow by the local Sierra Club chapter.  Meet at the Thorndon Park swimming pool parking lot at 9:30 am.  "Ride is about 10 miles and kids accompanied by adults who can do this at around 7-10 mph are welcome.  Helmets required."  For more information call 428-1905.  No charge.

See you at the markets!