Each Little World

Wisconsin Garden Journal

It's been a "Think Globally, Act Locally" kind of week in this little world. So, if you'll allow me one last mostly local post, I have a prize for one of you. I have an unexpected giveaway because the co-editor of the 2010 Wisconsin Garden Journal just sent me a review copy — and I've already started writing in the one I bought a few weeks ago!

The 190-page WGJ is an annual publication of the Madison Area Master Gardeners Association (MAMGA). Though I'm a member of the group, I don't do anything with the calendar other than use it. This is the fifteenth edition and, as always, it's as beautiful as it is useful. Essentially it's a weekly engagement calendar designed specifically for gardeners. So each month begins with a list of tasks — broken down week by week — along with space for weekly notes. Each day also has a space to record the high and low temps.

In addition to wonderful color photos marking the beginning of each month, the WGJ is filled with a multitude of illustrations by local artist/gardeners and short, informative pieces related to the 2010 theme: The Natural Garden. The WGJ would make a great gift for almost any gardener on your list. But for those who are trying to go native, it would be perfect. 

That's because it contains three original and highly informative articles: Kate Heiber-Cobbs explains the hot buzzword "permaculture" or how to garden ecologically and sustainably; UW Arboretum naturalist Molly Fifield Murray gives you specifics on how to actually use native plants in your own garden, while UW Landscape Architecture prof Evelyn Howell looks at garden design using native ferns. The WGJ also contains a section of "yellow pages" which has hardiness charts, tables of recommended Wisconsin native plants, along with bloom time charts and design grids to name a few items that will help you get started hands-on gardening. 

I've always used mine more as a straightforward engagement calendar while I enjoyed all the extras. Because I already have the 2010 calendar in hand as I'm doing fall clean-up, I'm beginning to make notes about what to do next Spring based on my observations now. And since I will see the notes at the right time — rather than discovering them on a scrap of paper weeks after I needed that info — I'm hoping the calendar will give me a head start in the garden next Spring. Order the WGJ online or purchase it locally at garden centers, book and gift shops, including Orange Tree Imports where I work.

MAMGA is a non-profit organization and the profits from the calendar fund community garden grants in the Dane County area and other non-profit activities. The calendar is geared to those who garden in the Midwest in Zones 3, 4 and 5. If you fit that category and need a great garden tool/journal/calendar, leave me a comment and I will do a random number drawing next Friday, November 13th. 

Happy Anniversary to us

. . . or do I mean U.S.? Today marks the first anniversary of Barack Obama's election to the presidency of the United States. 

In that year the initial euphoria of many voters has ebbed away. We've discovered that Obama can't walk on water after all. He can't solve all our problems in a mere twelve months. After all, it took a good eight years for us to get into the fix we're in. On the other hand, he won the Nobel Peace Prize, an honor at any age or stage in one's life. But astounding for a sitting American president in his first year in office.

I constantly remind myself that the most important lesson from Obama's election is that it was the result of ordinary people all over the country deciding they wanted a change and then organizing and working to make that change happen. Real change always comes from the bottom — the people — and not the leaders. And nowhere is that more true than here in the U.S.

When I feel like nothing ever really changes, I don't have far to look to know that's not true. When I was in high school there was no Title IX creating parity in women's sports. Heck, there were no women's sports! As for careers, it was pretty much teacher or nurse if you were a woman. When I graduated and went job-hunting, the employment ads were broken down by gender. No women need apply!

Look around yourself and then tell me nothing ever changes. Women demanded changes in their lives, and jobs and made them happen in personal as well as legislative fashion. The LGBTQ, the African-American, American Indian, environmental, the you-name-it-communities have all made change happen in the same way: by going out and doing it themselves.  

Merely by electing Obama, we said that this nation is willing to try to change. I think that alone is worth celebrating. And the President has picked the perfect place to celebrate this election anniversary: He's coming to Madison today! So don't look for us in the garden; we're taking to the streets.

Madison memo: Pie Palooza

Now that Halloween is oven it's officially OK to talk about the next round of upcoming holidays. I like to savor special occasions and don't want to see Christmas decorations cluttering up stores before Halloween has even arrived. But now that it's November, recipes, decor, gift ideas, and general inspiration are all suitable subjects for discussion.

Locally there are two food-related initiatives that you won't want to miss. Both are sponsored by the great REAP Food Group which sponsors well-known events like the annual Food For Thought Festival. REAP's mission is "nourishing the links between land and table" and they have a wonderful Web site which has info on all their different areas like the Home Grown Lunch program for school kids. 

But I'm here to remind you that Pie Palooza is happening next Sunday, November 8. Pie Palooza is a celebration of sweet and savory concoctions sold by the slice or entire pie. This year the event has moved to the fall and will be held 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa St.

Tickets ($16 in advance, $18 at the door) to this popular event go fast, so place your order on-line soon or by calling 608.310.7836. 

BILL LUBING/REAP FOOD GROUP

You can buy a pie to go, order one or stay and eat brunch on the spot with your choice of pie, salad (farm-fresh, of course) and beverage. Among the savory offerings are Farmer's Market Vegetable Quiche, Napoli Cheese Prosciutto Pie, and Wild Rice and Spinach Quiche with Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onions. Sweet selections will include Pumpkin Pecan, Moroccan Nut Pie, Fried Apple Pies and Gluten Free Apple and Pumpkin Pies.

You can also purchase a raffle ticket for a pie-lover's delight: 12 pies from Hubbard Avenue Diner in MIddleton. The winner will receive a punch card good for 12 pies to be picked up at one time or you can select a pie a month for a year — whichever you prefer. We recently stopped at Hubbard for a slice of pie and coffee and I can't imagine a more wonderful treat than a year of their pies!

Pie Palooza proceeds support REAP Food Group programs, which promote the inclusion of healthy, local, sustainably grown foods in schools, restaurants, grocery stores and home kitchens.

MARK GOLBACH

Summer pies at the Hubbard Avenue Diner.

This year thirty schools in Southern Wisconsin are participating in the 2009 Wisconsin Homegrown Holiday Fundraiser, according to REAP's Web site. The fundraiser — an alternative to children selling gift-wrap and popcorn — is in its fifth year and organizers anticipate sales will exceed $50,000, bringing much needed funds to area school programs.  

Products available through the fundraiser include a wide selection of locally-made, hand-crafted and fairly-traded items such as: chocolate covered Door County cherries; maple syrup; specialty jams, crackers and cheeses; naturally scented soaps; and more.  

REAP is also offering specialty gift boxes and other local products directly to consumers.  These purchases will also support REAP's farm-to-school program. Order deadline is November 12th.

You can get complete details here.

 

REAP FOOD GROUP

Days of the Dead

Growing up Catholic we were always aware that the days after Halloween were Holy Days, meaning going to church followed quickly on the heels of candy and costumes. Traditionally November 1 is celebrated as All Saint's Day and November 2nd, All Soul's Day — the latter being the day devoted to memories of departed family members. 

In Mexico, Latin America and much of the U.S,. those dates are known as The Days of the Dead with family gatherings to celebrate those who have died with visits to the graves, eating the favorite dishes of the deceased and building alters with mementoes, marigolds and all sorts of wonderful sugar skulls and skeletons. More lively, colorful and personal than anything I remember from my childhood!

Our nod to the day is this little folk art wedding chapel that we bought ourselves as an anniversary present one year. This happy couple plan to remain together until the end and perhaps beyond if the banner — "Neither death do us part" — is to be believed.

 

For anyone who loves butterflies — or children's books — Barbara Joosse's tale, "Ghost Wings," offers a beautiful look at the Days of the Dead and the annual migration of monarch butterflies to Mexico which occurs at the same time. Joosse, a well-known author of children's books who lives in Wisconsin, has traveled to Mexico to visit her mother annually for thirty years. So she is well acquainted with the history and traditions of that culture and movingly portrays them in this story of little girl coming to terms with the death of her grandmother. Intertwining themes of love, loss, memory and monarchs make this a book to read again each November 1st.

Halloween Treat

For an even scarier treat click on the movie. That will take you to You Tube where you can watch it full screen and HD by selecting the buttons at the bottom right of the screen.

Inspiration: Arik Levy

We've been lolling around reading on all these cool, rainy days. Between books, we're fantasizing about updating and upgrading our library. We call it the "library" because it's the only room in our house with built-in bookshelves rather than the free-standing units we have elsewhere. We are both inveterate readers and book-buyers. And I am a magazine junkie of long standing. 

With the rapid demise of so many of my favorite publications over the last few years, I am loth to part with magazines that I used to routinely recycle via the public library swap cart. But they've been threatening to take over all available space — until now.

DESIGNYEARBOOK

Designer Arik Levy has come up with the perfect way to organize, file, and store my magazines in plain sight while giving me additional seating wherever I need it with his Book Stool. Stack your favorite books, mags or catalogs; affix the straps and problem solved. Best of all, the straps now come in red as well as basic black.