random cool things II

FARM CENTERED COMMUNITY
Have you heard of these?!
My friends Marc and Claire are the organic farmers at Ohio's only agri-community, Aberlin Springs!  Nestled among over 140 acres of preserved forests and meadows, the community will be centered around the farm.   Being developed with a "Farm-to-Table" philosophy, residents will be active participants in their farm's CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).  The idea is to share community in a variety of ways while reconnecting with the natural world.  House building will begin this fall.

© Aberlin Springs

LINKS:
Aberlin Springs  
Finn Meadows Farm Marc and Claire Luff's farm
other agri-communities 
article about Serenbe (Georgia)


DIRT MAKES YOU HAPPY!
Mycobacterium vaccae, a bacteria present in soil, appears to be a natural antidepressant.  These microbes seem to cause cytokine levels to rise, which results in the production of higher levels of serotonin.  How do these microbes get inside you and how long do the "happy" effects last?  The microbes can be inhaled as well as enter through breaks in the skin.  Studies say the effects may last up to 3 weeks.
So go out and play in the dirt!

These photos are from a year ago.  There was a group of about 15 of us who helped revamp this community garden.  In 4 hours we took this garden from mostly decrepit to beautiful.  It was so much fun working together!   
LINK:
Here's the article


AMAZING IMAGES CAPTURED ON GOOGLE

© 2012 google

Artist Jon Rafman has zeroed in and screenshot many of google's street views.  Some amazing images have appeared!
LINKS:
Google street views on Tech Insider
Jon Rafman's site (even more photos)
aerial earth views (I'm adding this just because there are some very interesting ones.)


LA CITÉ DU VIN (The City of Wine)

©XTU-Casson Mann-ANAKA-La Cité du Vin

This wine theme park and museum in Bordeaux, France will offer a comprehensive, immersive wine experience. Yes, please!  Learn about the history of wine, get educated in wine tasting, make wine, visit vineyards, dine at restaurants, enjoy a bazillion (slight exaggeration!) different wines.  To learn more, click the link below.
LINK:
Forbes article

What cool things have you seen lately?

all images © by the individual attributed websites   all rights reserved

dahlias

a few beautiful flowers from the dahlia garden at Finn Meadows Farm

Last Thursday, I walked around the dahlia garden at my friends' farm and was amazed at all the variations of stunning colors and designs of these flowers.  Some are only a couple inches across; some are as large as a dinner plate.

photos by me ©2015 (iPhone)  all rights reserved

luscious strawberries

fresh picked luscious ripe organic strawberries from Finn Meadows Farm.

LINKS:
The Farm:
∎ Finn Meadows Farm 
∎ Finn Meadows Farm blog--these stories may be incorporated into a book one day

Why organic?
∎ short blurb about organic/pesticided strawberries by Stonyfield Farm
∎ Mother Jones' article about organic strawberries 
∎ chart--Enviromental Working Group's annual list of the "Dirty Dozen Plus" and the "Clean Fifteen"--the worst and safest fruits and vegetables to eat as far as pesticides go--Scroll down the page to see the list.

Wordless Wednesday--where I linked up:

The Art and Tree Chatter of Aquariann

Create With Joy

 

Pictimilitude







photo by me © 2012  all rights reserved

Meet Huck

facts about Huck

1.  named after Huckleberry Finn

2.  lives on Finn Meadows Farm with Claire and Marc who practice sustainable agriculture using organic methods

3.  is very mellow

4.  is very sweet

5.  is very friendly

6.  loves to sleep on the vegetable tables  (excuse me a minute.  What's that, Huck?  Oh, I see.  You're NOT sleeping, you're watching over the produce!)

7.  hangs out with the chickens 

8.  has acres and acres to explore

9.  likes to visit the geese and the piglets

PS:  Huck will make another appearance on this blog in the near future. 

PSS:  HERE is a photo I took of Claire and Marc holding a couple of their chickens.

I'm linking up with my favorite teacher, Ms Jenny Matlock, as we work our way through the alphabet.  Please do go visit the other students, for you never know what gems you may find--humor, poignancy, information, visions of far away places, stuff you've never even dreamed of!  Check it out HERE.  You may even wish to join in yourself!  This week our letter is "H."

photo by me © 2012

delicious Autumn

Autumn means gloriously Fall-colored produce--orange, gold, cinnamon, burgundy, deep purple, scarlet.  These were recently bought at Finn Meadows Farm, a local organic farm owned by my friends.  I belong to a vegetable CSA-- Community Supported Agriculture.  I love the way they run the CSA because I get to choose what I want.

Ѽ orangey-beige squash and other squashes including 2 kinds of pumpkin, a red/green pepper and a deep purple one (green inside), 3 colors of carrots (burgundy ones are orange on the insides), a long pink and white radish, and a deep red beet Ѽ
visually pretty and yummy, too! 

It's Fall Break over at Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday!  "For this week our Fall break theme is Anything Autumn. Your post can be about anything related to Autumn in your own life... Halloween, pictures, stories, recipes...whatever strikes your fancy."
Come and join in the fun!  See more entries HERE.  You will be charmed and even enlightened in a delightful way!  Our generous Ms. Jenny is having a giveaway, too!  yipee! 
link to Finn Meadows Farm

photo by me © 2011