Liking What I See

Pictured here: our little grandson, Logan, who is nearly three and a half.

Regular readers know that he lives with us, and that I try to take him to all the farms with me. But it's been a while since I've written about him, and I hate to do his cult following such a disservice.

Logan is such a love: we call him the Light of Zartha. He's so funny: Bob and I were holding hands the other morning after we woke up, and Logan grabbed his arm. "You need to stop HANDING her, Poppy. I don't want you to HAND her!"

And he's compassionate. We were watching a nature show about leopards. One leopard, who had been hunting a huge herd of muscular water buffalos, turned into the forest. There he found a baby buffalo, which he killed and carried by its neck up into a tree. Logan was on the verge of tears, and said, "I want him to kill the dangerous things, not the things that run away!"

No kidding, huh?

We've been going to farmers markets and loving the summer. As one woman said at the little farmers market on East Cliff Drive yesterday, "I love this time of year. We eat the best." She was scooping up handfuls of Joe Schirmer's haricot verts. (So was I.)

I've written before about the Edible Communities publications, and how much I esteem—wait, make that love—their work. The closest publication to me, presently, is Edible San Francisco, and the editor is Bruce Cole, whose work and writings I previously enjoyed in his Saute Wednesday incarnation.

Imagine my delight when Bruce wrote to propose a new feature for Edible San Francisco: an ongoing inclusion of my photography, in every issue of the magazine. Starting in September, the inside back cover will be one of my photographs of a farmer, with some personal quote or anecdote about that farmer, which I'll provide. It's a huge honor, and it really feels good to me. Showing the faces of the people who bring you your food is right for every reason, and illuminating good people and good work is one of my favorite things in the world to do. (Way more fun than exposing marketers and other vile folk, but hey, sometimes a girl's got to do both.)

Wait 'til you see Miss September! (You've seen her here, but you haven't heard what she has to say.)

Thank you, Bruce, for this wonderful oportunity. And for the payin' gig: WOO, I say unto you, WOO HOO.

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Speaking of illuminating good people, please go and check out SelfMadeFarmer.com: it's the blog of an aspiring young lady farmer, Krystle Chung, who learned to farm from scratch.

How do you become a successful farmer when you're starting from scratch? With no agricultural background, no financial support, no inheritance of any kind, and no land to call your own, is it possible to earn a satisfying, profitable living as a farmer? For me, it's worth trying. Here's why.

I was so touched and inspired by her story. I think you will be, too. She's now farming (and blogging): check out TasteTheSeasons.

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One more VERY useful and tasty treat: Simply in Season's guide to fruits and vegetables. Much like the Russ Parsons book without having been written by Russ Parsons.

That's all for today. I'm going to go pick up Logie-O and take him to a farm.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” —Saint Augustine

Thanks, as ever, for visiting.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love what I get to do?

Comments

[Lydia]

Tana, we now have an Edible here in Rhode Island, too. Congrats on your new gig with Edible SF; your photos are a feast for the eyes. (and Logan just gets cuter and cuter...)

[Weylin]

Hi Tana,

I totally love your blog. The pictures and more importantly, the message are so beautiful. I went to college in the Bay Area and I miss it dearly. Reading your blog reminds me why. I write a food blog on Singaporean/Travel restaurants and cooking at epicurative.blogspot.com , come visit! I would like to link your blog, if that is ok with you and would be honoured if you would do the same.

Best,
Weylin

[Krystle, TasteTheSeasons.com]

THANK YOU so much for the support and encouragement. I really, really, really, REALLY appreciate it. We crazy entrepreneurial farmers need all the help we can get!