Local food European style

I know the name of this blog starts off with "Local.." but my main interest is finding interesting garden projects or food inspirations. On my four week trip to Europe, I was overwhelmed. Each country takes pride in their local products. This may be a certain type of meal, a particular vegetable or a wine. I wandered through vegetable gardens on cliffs of Cinque-Terre Italy. Here, I also ate the best meal of my trip of a seafood risotto with
amazing local white wine. In Tuscany, I ate at a Slow Foods restaurant where I ate the most amazing truffle pasta. I wandered through farmer's markets where a Parisian vendor joked with me that it would cost a Euro take photos of his fish. I sipped Sangria at Gaudi's Park Guell.
When you travel for hours taking in as much as you can, you don't always have time to stop and eat. Gelato made

it possible to keep exploring. It satisfied my sugar craving as well cooled me down in the Italian heat.
I camped under grape vines looking right over the ocean at the Amalfi coast. I visited the Global Seed Diversity Trust in Rome and learned more about their operations. I plan on doing a blog write up about this interview.
I learned from my gracious hosts, Matt and Miyoko that in France, "French Toast" is called "Lost Toast." I was also able to share with their friends some amazing cheeses....let's not mention "Swiss Cheese." Baguettes! I feel like I now understand why they are such a cliche. These baguettes so tasty and still warm from the bakery make a walk around Paris feel right. Museum after museum also revealed to me how food has appeared in still life paintings for centuries. Now looking back at this trip, I feel privileged to have these experiences. I look forward to returning one day and learning even more.

Overwintered...and ready for spring in more ways than one.

It looks like it has been a long time since I have added a post here. I feel like I have hibernated for the winter and am ready for something new. I have devoted this blog to my projects revolving around people growing their own food. Around my neighborhood, small gardens have been popping up everywhere with what looks like vegetable plants. In my own home, I have created a grow light stand with a bunch of different starts. Last year at this time, I was starting close to 1,000 plant starts and gave them away. This year, I am looking forward to starting plants that I can continue to see develop.
Of course, since I am an artist, I also had to turn this into something creative. In the table, I also have a camera where I have been documenting the growth. This is going to turn into a stop motion animation with an Olympic games theme. In August, I will have a solo show at Falsefront Gallery and the work will revolve around Olympic games and the theory of survival of the fitest.
Since, graduation I have been contemplating my place in the artist community. I am not sure where I fit right now. I feel very unclear about it right now. Painting is what I am used to doing but am taking a short break from it. I have noticed that I still see things as a painter however in terms of colors and textures. I will paint again, but when I am ready.
Mostly, what I am interested in is getting my garden beds ready for the summer as well as a new interest in sewing. My studio has been lonely lately save for the construction of my plant light. I mostly have been watching and waiting for the right way to manifest what I am concentrating on. Looking at my vegetable starts now, I see possibilities. I see future nourishment. These aspects are what I need to have for my own growth as an individual artist. Being a gardener is what makes since with my DNA (parents were fixed up because of interest in gardening and also mutual birthday). The artist part of me has always been different. I may not have pursued an education that would give me a more stable career, but it is the only thing that I have understood. As an artist, I am able to see things from my own skewed perspective. It is not an easy choice, but I am looking forward to seeing my own maturity as an artist.