Monthly Archives: May 2010

It’s strawberry season! Preserving strawberries

Posted on 2010/05/30 by Green In Oak Park

Strawberry season has begun here in the Midwest, and I’m going to take advantage of the local bounty. But I can’t eat it all in time by myself, and I’m the only one in this house who likes them, so … Continue reading →

Posted in consumer issues, farmers markets, food, food preservation, food storage, local food | 1 Comment

BP Top Kill strategy fails

Posted on 2010/05/29 by Green In Oak Park

We’ve been waiting to see what the results of BP’s Top Kill attempt on the oil spill in the Gulf. CNN reports today that Operation “Top Kill” has failed and that BP is moving on to a next step. Current … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative energy, conservation, current events | Leave a comment

Gethsemane Garden Center in Chicago

Posted on 2010/05/29 by Green In Oak Park

What’s your favorite local garden center? It’s not close to Oak Park, but mine is Gethsemane Garden Center on the north side of Chicago. They have flowers, ground cover, trees, herbs, fruits, vegetables, annuals, perennials, succulents, gardening supplies and tools, … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, gardening, local businesses | Leave a comment

Root Riot’s Oak Park Community Garden is Coming to Life

Posted on 2010/05/28 by Green In Oak Park

Root Riot’s community garden in Oak Park is seeing signs of life. Here’s the lot after the beds were built but before any planting was done, not quite a week ago: And here it is today: Here is my little … Continue reading →

Posted in community gardens, Oak Park | 2 Comments

New Forest Park Farmers Market

Posted on 2010/05/28 by Green In Oak Park

Check it out – Forest Park will have a new farmers market on Fridays from 3:30 to 7:30. It’s at 7640 W Jackson in the Howard Mohr Community Center parking lot and it’s close to the Forest Park blue line … Continue reading →

Posted in events, farmers markets, farms, food, Forest Park, local businesses, local food | Leave a comment

Champagne mangoes and making greener choices

Posted on 2010/05/25 by Green In Oak Park

Tonight after work I went to Costco. My plan was to buy a few non-perishable items, but I found – and was tempted by – champagne mangoes. Costco calls them Ataulfo mangoes, but they’re the same thing, and they’re in … Continue reading →

Posted in consumer issues, food, food preservation, frugal, local food, philosophy, reducing waste | Leave a comment

Big day at Green Festival Chicago, plus a possible giveaway

Posted on 2010/05/24 by Green In Oak Park

Did anyone else attend the Green Festival this weekend when it was in Chicago? It was huge. To give you an idea of it’s hugeosity*, here’s a bird’s eye view of about half of the festival. Click on the image … Continue reading →

Posted in events | 5 Comments

Community Garden Workday with Root Riot in Oak Park

Posted on 2010/05/24 by Green In Oak Park

This past weekend, I didn’t go to the Friday workday for the new Root Riot community garden in Oak Park, but I did attend Saturday’s. A productive day was had by all. We mulched, we shoveled, we filled raised beds, … Continue reading →

Posted in community gardens, events, farms, food, gardening, Oak Park | Leave a comment

The First Oak Park Farmers Market of 2010 and freezing asparagus

Posted on 2010/05/23 by Green In Oak Park

So, locals, did you go to the farmers market?  We did, and we bought chèvre, handmade bread, a couple of parsley plants, asparagus, and eggs. This is less than our usual haul, but we were pretty good on food for this … Continue reading →

Posted in events, farms, food, food preservation, food storage, frugal, Oak Park | Leave a comment

Ample Harvest donates excess garden bounty to food pantries

Posted on 2010/05/21 by Green In Oak Park

One day in 2007, Gary Oppenheimer did a good thing by donating the excess from his garden to a food pantry.  When he realized how little fresh food was available to those depending on food pantries, he registered domain name … Continue reading →

Posted in farms, food, gardening, giving, reducing waste | 3 Comments