back at you

Hunkering down and enjoying a bit of free time I figure I should pick my blog back up. A lot has happened since my last post in June. Some points to note: we have made it through the farming season, I earned new front teeth, and we traveled to Italy with the high-profile foodies of the world (more to come on this one). Between my new day gig and grant writing here are some of the highlights:

city growing

Our friend Molly recently bought a house with a lengthy backyard and decided to farm it! After many hours of sod busting, hauling dirt, tilling, and planting she has an amazing farm in her backyard, Erie's Edge. I was astonished at the size of her tomato plants when we visited yesterday- so big. Not to mention her favas, insane amount of onions and black radishes that are coming in so well.

 Erin is growing beans in one of the two vacant lots next door to Molly's. Molly brokered a deal with the owner to rent the land from him. Haling from two years of farming in NC, Erin is only growing dry beans and she will undoubtedly fill the gap in the local dry beans we are able to get here.  As of now her plot looks like art:

Things are looking lush on our farm. I pulled two of the biggest beets (first of the season) today. We have scapes coming out of our ears and it seems like we are constantly battling perslane but things are growing strong.

Check out that garlic!

summer force

Summer has hit us hard in Cleveland. The heat, the humidity, the rides, the night dips, and the icecream.

m day/ poeny love

blowout

I was nervous about turning 25. For the past couple of months I have been finding gray hairs and promptly pulling them, stressing about where my life is and where I am going and feeling anxious that I am well on my way to being in the late 20s. Infinite thanks to Peter, Lizzie and Dan -  my birthday so wonderful I forgot  all of my woes. And really, the older we are the sweeter it gets (to some degree).

Birthday breakdown:
Read the sunday nytimes with coffee, strawberries and toast with Pete. Rode bikes to the Fig for brunch and Alex joined for a scone and coffee. Rode bikes to Tremont - I bought a book at visable voice and we all ate icecream at scoops.
I took a nap at home with new book while Pete ran errands for the party. Then I dressed for the party that I knew nothing about.....
Got to party and was blown out of my socks. Lizzie and Dan made their backyard a paradise and prepared the most amazing menu and food. Bobbi supplied the bouquets from her garden and Micheal (officially hottest bar tender in cleveland) made virginia gin fizzes for everyone. We lounged and ate homemade corn chips, hot salsas, scallop ceviche, and mexican street corn. We were seated at the table, poured a glass of prosecco and served an arugula salad with hakurei turnips from our farm topped with fresh ricotta and chili lime watermelon. Dan then served a braised pork shoulder soaked in orange juice and coke from New Creation Farm and pinto beans.  For dessert Molly made a rhubarb cake covered in rose petals and Cio made a Tres leches cake (both of which were tdf) paired with homemade chocolate and sweet cream ice cream. I opened presents and then we sat around the fire. I scored a pressure caner! Look out summer veggies!

I had hands down one of the most amazing birthdays ever. Thank you to all that worked so hard to pull it together - it was heaven. 

Pics:

BI