first blog post, thanks kirsten!

Well, after some preliminary "how to start a blog" research, here we are making our attempt. First it was checking online, the requisite google search, then the book reserved at the library, the growing impatience, and a trip to Powell's, returning with the appropriate ..."for dummies" title, a bit of reading in the bathtub, and finding this site. Now here we go. I say we, as it is hard to imagine people would actually want to read what I have to say. "We" seems to add power and glory, and to tell the truth, there is very little I accomplish without the hard work and support of the guy I married, as well as the inspiration from the kids we are raising, and a lot of what I think "we" will be saying, grew from discussions our group from church had as we explored the Northwest Earth Institute's group study classes on "Menu for a Small Planet" (local eating issues and options etc) and "Healthy Kids Healthy Planet" (self explanatory), perhaps "we" in this sense is the most appropriate pronoun. As a different "we" have discussed in another circle, there is too much "me" in our society and not enough "we", so I think I have talked myself into we at this point. Soooo, after all that, the impetus for starting this blog, is Kirsten, as mentioned in the title of this first post. First, a little background...(very little because there will be so much more to say as we go along). Our family has done Community Supported Agriculture (see link) subscription off and on (mostly on) since we moved to Portland 9 years ago yesterday. We have also attempted gardening in our back and side yards, with not much to show for it, though enough to make it interesting. In February of this year, we made a call to "Your Backyard Farmer". (see link). Their idea is similiar to a CSA, though the organic "farm" is in your yard. They have some requirements, like amount of sunlight, raised beds if too close to an old home that may have lead based paint flecks in the soil, and square footage to match the eaters in your home. Long story short, for this first post, we did it, we have a sideyard farm, as we call it, plus much more to be shared soon, and neighbor Kirsten suggested we do a blog about it, as many in our life situation, or similiar, might be interested in how it goes. I liked the idea, as there is a lot we are learning, and if others might find it interesting or helpful, well that sounded pretty good to me. Thanks for reading.