My friend, Dan, shared an essay by his son. I loved reading it, and I wanted to share it with you. -Brian I ♥ Soil Soil, how could I Have forgotten you? You help with the harvest, And feed the animals too. Your rich nutrients Help me grow my crops, So I can feed my [...]

Today was our 5th CSA pickup of the season. It’s hard to believe that it’s already 25% over, but time has a way of traveling along with or without you. The CSA provides a lot of our social life. Each year, we get to meet new people and introduce them to our favorite foods and [...]

A batch of just-hatched chicks arrived just in time for our upcoming Urban Chicken class. The hatchery ships them via USPS, and the downtown Omaha office called since the holiday would have delayed delivery for another day. It’s an interesting car ride with a constant CHEEPCHEEPCHEEP in the passenger seat. This is our third year [...]

Today, I opened our last jar of Apricot Peach Jam. Kelly’s handwriting marked the label “07/10,” so I know I have six months to wait before the apricots ripen again. As we sit under a blanket of new snow, I can remember harvesting the fruit, bringing the buckets into the house and watching Kelly canning [...]

In five months, we will have our first CSA pickup of 2011. Although the wintry winds are upon us, the farmhouse is full of dreams fueled by vibrant seed catalogs. Our mouths water with the promise of purple tomatoes, savory arugula, baby beets, luscious melons and fresh spring peas. We imagine the rows of sunflowers [...]

This weekend, I will be speaking at the No More Empty Pots Food Summit. You can still register, and the price is very reasonable at $30. My panel will address marketing and distribution. My friend, Nancy Williams, has been instrumental in organizing this event, which is focused on creating jobs through food. As you likely [...]

Tonight, I brought the computer into the kitchen to provide some companionship as I cleaned apples. One of my favorite sources of education is TED, so I searched for “food” and chose this TED Talk. I really loved the way Dan Barber spoke about his experiences and realizations. However, my entire outlook on food changed [...]

Tonight, Kelly started her flower arranging class. I came home from work a little early and found a list of tasks for me to complete. One of them was “dig sweet potatoes.” Sometimes, as a part-time farmer, I find it difficult to keep track of our crops. Pair that with my “big picture” strengths (read: [...]