Ladybug, Ladybug, fly away home

In the days following my cancer diagnosis I recall a conversation with my husband. “Breast cancer just isn’t my cause,” I told him. It wasn’t that I didn’t think it worthy – of course it was. I’d sponsored friends in the famous 3-day walk, made contributions to Komen and supported a close friend who founded the Arizona Institute for Breast Health. I wore pink bows to honor my best friend, my coworkers, and others but my community involvement leaned in other directions and I wasn’t ready to abandon those due to an unwanted illness. I’m terribly thankful for the thousands who do crusade on behalf of the cure and I’ve enjoyed helping the Wellness Community of Arizona, an organization that was very helpful to me, but whatever the activity, I work hard to make certain that it is well aligned with me and my values.

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by Tammy on April 5, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in agriculture, community, inspiration, life, recipe, servanthood, service, support
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Posted by Tammy on April 5, 2010

https://agrigirl.com/2010/04/05/ladybugs-community-service/

Snowy with a Chance of Kohlrabi

I count myself among the incredibly fortunate who are wealthy in friendships. For the past 19 years, I’ve met up with 11 amazing school friends together with their families for an annual ski trip. One year, there were more than 40 of us! This year, we total 25. We’ve explored many of the great ski resorts in the Western U.S. yet we often return to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. In Steamboat we always rent the same house which makes it tradition for all 24 kids that have been born to us during this time frame – ages ranging from 1 to 19.

Steamboat 2010 - Great Friends

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by Tammy on March 30, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in blogging, books, food, friendship, inspiration, life
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Posted by Tammy on March 30, 2010

https://agrigirl.com/2010/03/30/feeding-a-crowd-friendship/

A Food Ministry

“I’ve been feeling sluggish and have little energy,” a friend shares. My mind races ahead, “get gluten out of your diet.” Another friend, battling cancer, tearfully explains her last doctor visit. Again, I think, “add turmeric to your daily supplements.” I don’t say either of these comments aloud for I’m not a nutritionist or a dietician but inevitably wherever I am, my conversations to turn food. Am I being called to a Food Ministry?

Jamie Oliver; Chef and Activist

I was contemplating this question when KateBart posted a recent TED talk featuring Jamie Oliver on her facebook page. I’d seen the Naked Chef before but when I watched his passion and heard his message, my heart was pounding.  Jamie’s TED talk is 20 minutes long, but if you haven’t seen it, please schedule some time to watch.

Jamie is clearly living a food ministry. If you are not inspired by his message, I believe you will at least admire his determination.  I’m certain that part of this calling is what attracted me to CSA initially. What are you being called to do?

28 Comments
by Tammy on March 27, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in CSA, food, inspiration, life, servanthood
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Posted by Tammy on March 27, 2010

https://agrigirl.com/2010/03/27/a-food-ministry/

Why did the Democrat cross the aisle?

To eat the chalupa!

Let me explain. One of the highlights of my year was the opening of the O’Connor House. The 1950’s adobe ranch-style home was moved brick by brick to its new location behind the historical museum in Papago Park. I’d been invited by a special mentor to have lunch but had no idea that the home’s previous owner, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, would be in attendance. Nor did I know that it would be the first time Justice O’Connor had seen the home since it was moved. And finally, imagine my delight in being seated next to her for the meal.

Sandra Day O’Connor and the O’Connor House

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by Tammy on March 21, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in leadership, Placemaking, recipe, success, Unlikely allies
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Posted by Tammy on March 21, 2010

https://agrigirl.com/2010/03/21/why-did-the-democrat-cross-the-aisle/

The Green Deluge on St. Patrick’s Day

There are times when I can’t stand the thought of one more batch of sauteed swiss chard. Arizona winters produce an abundance of leafy greens; kale, chard, spinach, arugula, mustard, mizuna, collards, and the green tops of kohlrabi, beets, and turnips.

I do enjoy them and the fact that they’re an immense reservoir of calcium and vitamin C places them high on my personal consumption list. I sneak them into lasagna, roll them into tortillas, mash them into potatoes, use them as wraps for interesting appetizers and seek out other family-friendly recipes. Regardless of my own preference, week after week of greens is challenging for me and for other CSA participants. Read the full post »

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by Tammy on March 17, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in blogging, CSA, food, leadership, learning, life, writing
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Posted by Tammy on March 17, 2010

https://agrigirl.com/2010/03/17/the-green-deluge-on-st-patricks-day/

Rain, Refresh, Renewal

I’m sure there has been another Arizona winter with this much rain but I don’t remember it.  Our ski resorts are boasting more than 300 inches of snow. The desert is green as I drive through the mountainous area known as the Dreamy Draw. My ocotillo are blooming or doing the rain dance as coined by one Southwestern artist. And I find that it affects me as well. I sleep better. I walk outdoors and smell the creosote fragrance and quickly remember what we love about the desert.

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by Tammy on March 12, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in agriculture, life, recipe, renewal, success
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Posted by Tammy on March 12, 2010

https://agrigirl.com/2010/03/12/rain-refresh-renewal/

An Old-fashioned Barn Raising?

Let me start by apologizing for my overuse of the word “delight”.  I know I write it too often but I haven’t come up with an appropriate synonym for that moment of precious excitement upon discovery of something new.  This morning, I heard it in my 7 year old’s voice, “Mom, come here and see this!”  The object of his delight? His Ant Farm.

The ants had created a new tunnel and it appeared that one might be stuck but another 6-legged critter quickly marched in to alleviate the issue.  For the guy in trouble, his friend, neighbor, family member (or perhaps all three) showed up to help him out of his dilemma. Ok, that might not have been what was really going on but watching caused me to think about something I recently learned about from the Ozarkhomesteader – crop mobbing. Read the full post »

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by Tammy on March 7, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in agriculture, food, leadership, servanthood, service, support
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Posted by Tammy on March 7, 2010

https://agrigirl.com/2010/03/07/crop-mob-hopi-creating-community/

Tammy’s Top Ten (t3 report) Things to do with a Few Extra Minutes

My conference call ended 5 minutes early.  A neighbor called to say that she’ll pick my son up from baseball practice.  The casserole is in the oven a bit earlier than I’d planned.  Each one of these situations has freed me for the next few minutes – I have precious unexpected downtime.  From my earlier post this week, my son’s prioirty list caused me to think about visible reminders. Granted some of it is in the giddyness of realizing that I’m finally getting through to him!  But what do we do and how do we prioritize when we find an unanticipated few minutes?  Here’s my short list that you can modify, add to, or delete.

 

 

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by Tammy on March 3, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in books, CSA, inspiration, life, structured framework, t3 Report
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Posted by Tammy on March 3, 2010

https://agrigirl.com/2010/03/03/tammys-top-ten-the-t3-report-things-to-do-with-a-few-extra-minutes/

It’s all Part of the Plan

My thirteen year old son is going to kill me for this. When I found this note stuck to his bedpost today, I was both tickled with the content and delighted with his process. He’d set goals or at least objectives for himself and his behavior. A series of blog post ideas immediately began popping off inside my head.  So, I’m starting with the big picture – the notion of personal planning.

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by Tammy on February 28, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in Community Supported Agriculture, food, structured framework
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Posted by Tammy on February 28, 2010

https://agrigirl.com/2010/02/28/creating-an-annual-plan/

Getting Back to Our Roots

Another election season is firing up. I know because of the steady stream of email and calls coming in “a strong candidate for the District 3 Congressional seat” “support my reelection so I can further work that I’ve begun” “conservative democrat who will bring change”.  Each one is attempting to define their personal brand as they enter the political contest.  I don’t get terribly involved but I do watch with interest. In one particular election, an incumbent is fighting hard to reestablish herself as a strong local leader. She’s a dynamic woman with vision and talent and during her first term, that often led her away from the community to larger state and national platforms.  Exposure that was good for her political future?  Hopefully, but also exposure that took her away from the citizens that had put her into office. Now, she’s working diligently to remind others of the reasons she was originally elected.  She’s trying to reclaim her roots.

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10 Comments
by Tammy on February 21, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in agriculture, Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, food, leadership, learning, recipe, writing
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Posted by Tammy on February 21, 2010

https://agrigirl.com/2010/02/21/family-heritage-elections-writing-personal-memoir/

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