Center for Green Technology

Oh yes. If you haven't heard of it, don't worry- we hadn't either. But it just might change your life. It's in Garfield Park and it was built on an abandoned/condemned site shut down by the city.

They have solar panels that provide about a quarter of the building's electricity.



Their green house has a back wall made from concrete blocks that absorbs and reheats the building, so that additional heating/electricity isn't needed.



So many things in the building are made from recycled materials. The bathroom stalls are made from old milk jugs and soda bottles. The ceiling tiles are made from newspaper. Different floors throughout the building are made from rubber tires, aviation glass, and wine corks.



They also have rain cisterns they use for watering all the plants in and around the building, greenhouse, garden, etc.



My favorite part was the photography exhibit they are featuring right now, called What We Worry About. It featured photographs that visually depicted big (mostly environmental) issues people are worried about. We were talking about how difficult it is to talk to people about big issues without overwhelming them into apathy. I think the photographs did a good job of showing those issues without throwing a bunch of numbers our way.



SOOOOO, if you haven't visited. DO IT. And if you can't, check out the website and the photography.

Excuse me, sir.

Yes, you. The 45-year-old running past me in those white, spandex short shorts. Why? WHY?

I'm just trying to enjoy my walk to work- taking in the fresh air and sunshine. Then here you come, jogging with your ipod and your tight ass shorts. Bikers are the only males that should be allowed to wear spandex like that....and even then, only if they are biking the race of a lifetime.

No one just goes for a friendly jog around the neighborhood in white spandex. You know I can see everything. And you like it.

Gross.

Look Out!

So much has happened in the little time that's passed since my last post.



This lovely lady came to visit me. We ate a lot of awesome food, she introduced me to my first Bollywood movie (which of course I loved) and I showed her what my life was like here. We didn't have enough time- I think we should all move back to the same place again. Yes?



I begin every morning with black tea, the sun on my face and...the sound of jackhammering in my ears. This is what they've done to my now non-existent porch. :( The poor thing was condemned, so they've torn down my favorite part of our apartment. BUT, they ARE rebuilding (or so they say). All I know is that I'm going to need a place to grill and put my plants and watch the sunset- by spring.

I read this beautiful book: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. If you speak a little Spanish, appreciate nerdiness and are interested in the Dominican Republic's culture and history, check it out. So freaking good.



AND, I've been cooking new things (which shouldn't be a surprise by now). Beets and their greens with goat cheese, balsamic and lemon on crostini - lentil, cauliflower, sweet potato curry - spaghetti squash with frizzled brussels sprout leaves - and lots of roasting. :)

Un-American?

Yesterday was election day. This was the first time I have been able to exercise my right to vote and didn't. It felt very un-American and, while usually I would take pride in that descriptor, it didn't feel good. People walking around with their 'I voted!' stickers on their shirts and the political chitter-chatter. Ugh. The Molly from 2 years ago would've slapped silly the Molly of yesterday.

Some might call it apathy- but I've simply lost faith in the political process. And most of the candidates/politicians of today. I honestly believe that everyone's just looking out for number one. Hmmm....but I'm still not convinced I made the right decision to not take part at all. Time will tell.

Excerpt from The Mad Farmer, Flying the Flag of Rough Branch, Secedes from the Union:

Come all ye conservatives and liberals
who want to conserve the good things and be free,
come away from the merchants of big answers,
whose hands are metalled with power;
from the union of anywhere and everywhere
by the purchase of everything from everybody at the lowest price
and the sale of anything to anybody at the highest price;
from the union of work and debt, work and despair;
from the wage-slavery of the helplessly well-employed.
From the union of self-gratification and self-annihilation,
secede into care for one another and for the good gifts of Heaven and Earth.

Come into the life of the body, the one body
granted to you in all the history of time.
Come into the body's economy, its daily work,
and its replenishment at mealtimes and at night.
Come into the body's thanksgiving, when it knows
and acknowledges itself a living soul.
Come into the dance of the community, joined
in a circle, hand in hand, the dance of the eternal
love of women and men for one another
and of neighbors and friends for one another.

Fall!

Fall is easily my favorite season- I think mostly because my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. It's the perfect time to bundle up in scarves and cardigans (my two favorite articles of clothing) and drink lots of hot tea.

In honor of fall, this weekend we carved pumpkins, roasted the seeds, caramelized cauliflower, baked stuffed squash, dressed up in crazy costumes and drank a lot of apple cider. Tonight I tried my first brussel sprout recipe and was pleasantly surprised. Beet salad is next! Oh the good life. (Full of food!)

A little Berry:

October 10

Now constantly there is the sound,
quieter than rain,
of the leaves falling.

Under their loosening bright
gold, the sycamore limbs
bleach whiter.

Now the only flowers are beeweed and aster, spray
of their white and lavender
over the brown leaves.

The calling of a crow sounds
loud- a landmark- now
that the life of summer falls
silent, and the nights grow.

I have a JOB!!!

I figured it was probably time to publicly announce it.

I'm working at Chicago's Downtown Farmstand. And LOVING it.

We sell only local products- all from no more than 250 miles outside of Chicago. I get to stock shelves, taste-test sweets, meet farmers and local restaurant owners and cool customers, and tuck in the vegetables at night. And the staff are awesome. So is the food.

Oh, and I'm incredibly happy. :)

Pirates and Robbers and Mothers and Lovers

Yesterday I spent the day with the 2 and 4 year-old again. They are absolutely adorable with their imaginations running wild and their endless energy. I can't even remember all the games we played...but I do remember that I was always the bad guy: the pirate escaping from the ship, the robber running from the cops and the mother disciplining the children (yes, they actually suggested playing mother and babies?). I love kids and I love this age. AND I love that I get to be the bad guy. When I was little, as you might guess, I was the brown-nosing teacher's pet that was always telling. Well no more!

To end the day, I went to a good friend's house for dinner. Oh.My.Goodness. She roasted an entire chicken with incredible spices, braised leeks, served farmer's market apple cider and topped it off with ice cream and the ginger cake we had made awhile back. I forget how much I LOVE meat. I mean LOVE it. Chicken anyway. That's right, I'm a chicken lover and I'm not afraid to say it. Most of my diet consists of yummy (and creative) veggie meals, but sometimes a bit of chicken just hits the spot.

Today I have my second interview of the week, and I'm hoping it goes better than Tuesday's. It was a nightmare. Who ARE these crazy people, and how do I attract their attention? Is it that I'll sit and listen for 1 1/2 hours, when I know I should've run for the door after the first 5 minutes? Ugh. Well, here's hoping today's goes well!