Showing posts with label austin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label austin. Show all posts

Monday, January 24, 2011

SWAP Reminder! And Other News.

I announced an exciting (in my opinion) swap on Friday, and I hope you will check back and enter. I'll be sending some of my homemade, all natural goodies to two readers in exchange for something made by them. I'll be choosing my two readers on Friday morning (the 28th) so get your comments in for YOUR chance to swap with me!  I'm really excited to try out some goodies made by my crafty, frugal, thrifty, novel and resourceful readers.
In other news, the Austin Urban Farmers Market got back to a shaky start this past Saturday. Our layout was atrocious and passersby were few, but it was a gorgeous day and i did sell some of my new body lotion, plus slathering it on all my fellow vendors to their delight. We'll be back at it this coming Saturday at the new location just south of Ben White on the east side of Manchaca Road, so i hope you'll work us into your Saturday plans. There was tons of produce and delicious duck meat and hot sauces, among plenty of other things. I made a Moroccan style duck stew last night: soooo good, but definitely decadent.


And in even MORE exciting news - CSN Stores are again offering a gift certificate for my readers! The amount will be for $45, so start your wish lists.  Entry will start this Friday - so stop back by to find out the winners of my swap, and to enter for your chance to win free internet shopping. I have another surprise up my sleeve for Friday's post - so don't miss out!

Have a great week, everyone. Anyone lose any plants in our chilly weather last week? I had some very very frosty broccolis on my hands, but all have perked back and are growing merrily along.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

COMING SOON: New Mini Co-op to Purchase Goods from the Austin Homestead

Hi folks!
I'm happy to announce that my entrepreneurial spirit is in full swing. As loyal readers, you know that i am the happy mother of 4 beautiful hens, and an experimenter and succeeder in the brewing of Kombucha Tea (KT). Since I live alone with my husband and animals - we simply have more KT and eggs (in theory, they're not quite laying YET) than we can consume in a hasty fashion. I don't, however, make enough of any of these consumables to warrant a full scale advertising corporate identity or even farm stand, nor guarantee availability at all times.



That being said: I would love to form a small scale, local co-op to partake in purchasing and consuming of my wares - for your benefit and for mine. You will help me pay for the things that make my life more fulfilling and healthy, and bring something healthful into your own home while buying as "local" as it gets.

Wares I will have available for purchase will vary with the season, but will rotate around these assorted items: Kombucha Tea, flavored and unflavored, bottled by me or bottled into your bottle at a discount (you can bring bottles as a deposit towards next time, or have me fill it on sight), Yard Fresh Eggs, by the dozen, half dozen, or even by the egg if you don't mind skipping the fancy egg carton, freshly made pasta and pesto, seasonal produce, maybe even cheese! I also crochet beverage cozies that are great for personal use or as gifts, among other silly and useful crafty things.




I will create a google document that you can simply open up online and place your order. The spreadsheet will tally your totals and orders will be filled upon availability. I will do my best to keep the spreadsheet current by week, and if something is unavailable when you want it, you will be sure to get first dibs the following week.   This document will also be an easy way to 'tell your friends' and they can request participation in the co-op as well.  As we go along I'll have a better idea of exactly how much KT i can really bottle in a week - and luckily it keeps in the fridge so i can bottle as it comes and save it up for the weekend.  I'm still working out the kinks - but I will either set up a set time to meet co-op members at an established locale, or set up  'open hours' Saturday afternoons to coincide with the farmers market schedules.


I am open to comment and suggestion, so please let me know your interests, needs, and preferences, and feel free to give me any ideas about facilitating local goodnesses.

Would this be something you'd be interested in? Do you have friends that are looking for a local source for KT or even scobies to purchase for their own homebrew? Would you buy local, yard eggs for about $3 a dozen? Let me know!

Friday, November 13, 2009

An Evening in the Gardens

I felt the need to take some pause and reflect on the emerging and regressing beauties in the gardens.
Spinaches and greens are germinating and growing stronger, the bell peppers are slowly ripening to vibrant colors just in time for an end of season harvest, the garlic are peaking out their slender green heads, and the multiplying onions are, well, multiplying. These, along with some awkward volunteers, are filling the gardens with beauty and daily change. It's a great season here in Austin.