Spring is Here!

I've decided that, in order to make surviving winter worthwhile as long as I live in this cold northern city, I must enjoy every beautiful minute of spring. Last Saturday was a gorgeous day with sunshine sunshine sunshine. Never mind the chilly breeze and the goosebumps in the shade. I decided that this was the perfect day to kick off bike riding, photo-taking, relaxation, and spring euphoria.

I discovered optimistic signs everywhere I turned. Some signs of life I encountered were leftover from winter. It was obvious these hard-core relics had cheered up their neighborhood for some time, giving the cold wind and snow the middle finger.

Other signs were simply optimistic that spring had arrived. Drivers with windows rolled down, people with dirty hands and knees making their yards more lovely, bikers pedaling against the wind.

Finally, I stumbled across optimistic signs that Chicago is becoming a green-friendly city (despite no recycling west of California. Grrrr). Here are a few links you may find interesting. It's all pointing me toward nurturing my not-so-green-thumb and paying more attention to what I eat, how I consume, how I move through my space, etc.

Irv and Shelly's Fresh Picks
www.freshpicks.com
Year-round organic vegetable/food delivery in Chicago area, products from local producers (except in winter. Duh.) Really awesome. Do it. And if you want, write my name into the Delivery Instructions space so we both get a surprise.

Angelic Organics & Farmer John Productions
http://www.angelicorganics.com/
Organic farm co-op, home delivery, advice on community farming, lots of info for those like me who are educating ourselves. All I know is the cookbook rocks.

Angelic Organics & Farmer John Productions
www.angelicorganics.com
Organic farm co-op, home delivery, advice on community farming, lots of info for those like me who are educating ourselves.

University of Illinois Extension: Schools Online
www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/schools
www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms
The first link is a great resource for elementary teachers about plants, trees, rivers, worms. The second is a resource for children and beginning composters like myself. I figured, if I’m going to garden, may as well compost. Also, see below sites for more composting info.
www.chicagohomecomposting.org
www.wormwoman.com