Lost and Found with Boston Nature Center

15 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Boston Moments, Green Life

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On a bike ride home from Dorchester, I got lost.

One confused turn led to another, to another. Traveling down a road lined with brick homes that reminded me of the old military base I once lived near in New Jersey, I stopped in front of a welcoming yellow building. And then I was found.

The best thing about getting lost in Boston is that it’s a fail-proof method for learning what is where and how the neighborhoods connect.

The Boston Nature Center is an urban wildlife sanctuary located on the grounds of the former Boston State Hospital. It offers programming for elementary school age children as well as miles of trails and many bushes under which rabbits graze to their heart’s content.

Lots and lots of rabbits . . .

Look closely for two sets of ears!

Right nearby to the Nature Center are the Clark Cooper Community Gardens. Described as some of Boston’s oldest, this impressively large collection of community gardens probably does not welcome rabbits. In the past, friends and I once spotted some wild turkeys loitering around the edges.

So what have you found when you were lost?

2013 Farm Share Fair

25 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Green Life

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cambridge, city-farm, food-n-cookin

Although I’ve already signed up for my household’s CSA (community supported agriculture) share this year, I couldn’t resist dropping by the fourth annual Farm Share Fair. I’d been hearing about this event, originated by theMove*, a nonprofit that organizes volunteer workdays on farms for young citydwellers in and around Boston.

When my companion and I first walked in, we were impressed by the number of farms and vendors present. We enjoyed a leisurely stroll among the tables.

Checking out the goods at Follow the Honey

Visiting our friends at Life Force Juice

Fresh wheatgrass juice

Shortly, the crowds arrived. It was inspiring to see so many people invested in and excited to support local farms and get their hands on the delicious, healthful, and beautiful veggies, fruit, eggs, meat, grains, and everything else.

Future veggie enthusiast

After squeezing my way down a packed aisle to sign up for an egg share with John Crow Farm, my friend and I look leave of the fair to free up space for all the other enthusiasts. Lucky for us, the evening held one last treat . . .

How’s your handcut truffle fry? Mine’s delicious! @Roxy’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese food truck

*EDIT: I just learned that the event was presented by Mindy Harris Communications, in connection with theMove. Thanks for the correction, Mindy!

Stopping by Egleston Square Winter Farmer’s Market

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Community, Green Life

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city-farm, community, food-n-cookin, winter

Many years ago, visiting friends in Manhattan, I got my first taste of a non-growing season farm market.

You know how the wind whips around New York City?

Well, that was going on. December. I remember I was out by myself at the time, just drifting, and I chanced upon a market where some streets came together to create a place were people could be together. In this small stand of stalls, there were apples, greens, roots, and a fish vendor. I was impressed. I was jealous. Man, I wish we had this sort of thing back in Boston!

Home: the years marched the way they do and I observed the formation of a collection of winter markets via our area’s robust farm-to-table and food justice scenes. I heard rumors of this organization and that, trying to bring indoor markets to the old, cold city.

Finally the markets revealed themselves like crocus. Enter Somerville. Enter Cambridge. Enter Dorchester. Enter Brookline.

Enter Jamaica Plain.

Egleston Square, to be more precise. Despite spending many hours at a cafe just around the corner, I hadn’t been quite aware of this neighborhood-within-a-neighborhood.

But now I know of a lively farmer’s market that sells, among other items, outrageously delicious salsa by NoLa’s Fresh Foods, a Main Streets program, and a neighborhood church served by a well-spoken and thoughtful pastor.

So, New York, we’ve caught up. Now what you got?

Gone to Winter Market

09 Wednesday Jan 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Green Life

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cambridge, city-farm, events, winter

This time we were prepared.

Because you can’t just walk into such an exciting winter market and expect to leave with your wallet intact. It’s important to have a plan of attack (and a budget.)

And it’s important to being open to seeing people you know (and like) ’cause at the Cambridge Market the mood is sunny, and the sun is streaming through the tall windows of the Cambridge Community Center gymnasium. There is no ducking behind a tall stack of Oreos!

Culinary Cruiser team smile for the camera

Local Maple Sequel

15 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Home, With Friends

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city-farm, food-n-cookin

What we did with all that local maple syrup . . .

Golden brown, gluten-free pancakes courtesy of our good friend Heather. Pancake flipping skills and strawberry slicing courtesy of our friend Alice. Tea and fair trade coffee brewing courtesy of my partner David. Local syrup courtesy of Natick Community Organic Farm.

Cambridge Winter Farmer’s Market

09 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Green Life

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cambridge, city-farm, food-n-cookin

Oh, naive urbanite! So unsuspecting when you should have very well anticipated your well-known lack-of-fiscal control when facing a gym filled with tables, tables lined with farm fresh veggies and value-added delights at the much anticipated Cambridge Winter Farmer’s Market.

Oh, city-girl. How you underestimate your ability to leap to excitement, time and again. Why did you think you could stroll in, coolly observe, walk out only a dollar or so poorer, homemade marshmallow chick in pocket? When was the last time you exhibited such decorum at a farm stand or food truck (never?)

To think you assumed anonymity, when you’ve made so many friends of farmers! And besides, you are a swirl in the social pudding of Cambridge. Not a chance you can step into the most happening (and only) winter market in the “People’s Republic,” and then away without bumping into a friend . . . or six. Without making a new friend, or two.

Phoebe, Phoebe. Really! You should have known.

Local Maple

28 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Boston Moments, Learnin'

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city-farm, events, food-n-cookin, trees

Recently, I joined friends on a trip out to Natick Community Organic Farm to check out Maple Magic Day. We missed the pancake breakfast (so sad!), but we did enjoy a tour of the grounds and stood inside a real sugar shack, bathing in the steam and sugary air. I was particularly pleased because, last fall, I read a book on maple sugaring, and so felt impressed to experience the workings in person.

An added bonus was running into two friends at the farm, both of whom, unbeknownst to me, work there!

Headed in for the tour with my companions for the afternoon, Megna and Heather (my third companion Alice is off-screen.)

Welcome sign out front the sugar shack.

Rabbit watches the crowd.

A young worker tends the fire.

My friend Donelle re-tells an indigenous-people’s story of maple syrup.

Sap captured. Later it will be combined with the sap of other trees and boiled, boiled, boiled. The wisdom goes that it take forty gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup.

Live for the Weekend

29 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Boston Moments, With Friends

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cambridge, city-farm, craft-tastic

It’s the title of this post, but I’ll the first to admit that I do NOT like to live for the weekend. I don’t want to sound hopelessly optimistic, simplistic, or precious, but I’d rather live for the moment; have each moment as full with the beautiful things and awful things and odd/pretty/funny/quiet etc. things as possible. I just want things to be as they ARE (except when I don’t, which is fairly often.)

Yet, there are what I’ve come to think of as seasons of my life when I’m rushing towards the weekend. I mean, how can the work week compare to time with friends, family, free learning opportunities, fun-to-be-had? Some seasons are about fairness and balance, and some are all about the weekends.

Being silly with friends at a Chat ‘n Chew ladyfriends potluck/dance party.