Ok, it probably doesn’t look all that different to you (which is kinda the point), but I’ve finally gotten http://preservingtraditions.org/ up and running and not just pointing at the WordPress blog. You’ll notice the calendar is a little more slick, and there’s a prominent link to our Flickr photo group. (Please contribute photos!) The “about” page also has details on our second location, in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

Enjoy!

Just a note – instead of reposting things I’m posting over at Preserving Traditions, I’ve added a feed on the left side. As I add things over there, the title, date, and a link will show up here, and you can follow the link if you’re interested.

When I can move my arms again, I’ll tell you all about Apple Day at the Grange (including making cider) and the chicken harvest workshop.

Hi-

Does anyone out there know the ins-and-outs of non-profit status enough to help me think through “franchising” Preserving Traditions? I want to keep my relationship with the Grange, but I also would like others to be able to start branches that aren’t housed at a Grange. We’re doing this informally now, but I can see it growing to the point where something formal needs to be set up.

Emily

Dear Universe,

Please find a way to bring this:

and this:

together and create an iPhone app that shows me the happy-food establishments from the Local Harvest database nearest to my location – and give me directions from my current location to the nearest place to get local, free-range, and organic food.

Will help facilitate with love, cookies, and possibly even money.

Thanks,
Emily

I’ve just done a write-up of our pickling event for Preserving Traditions. Follow the link for instructions on how to make old-fashioned, lactofermented pickles. It’s really easy and oh-so-tasty!

I’m doing my first workshop on stocking a pantry to live out of! This workshop aims to appeal to a variety of folks: those who want to save money, those who want quick meal prep, and those who think the economy is going to collapse but aren’t quite ready to join a peak oil group or move to a commune. Here’s the announcement: [EDIT 8-13 4:30pm - revised location]

Oct 10: Stocking your Pantry

Join us at 10 AM on Saturday Oct 10 at St. Paul Church elementary school (495 Earhart Rd., Ann Arbor) when Emily Springfield, a member and organizer of Ann Arbor’s Preserving Traditions club (http://preservingtraditions.wordpress.com), will present a workshop on Pantry Staples. Having easily-stored staples on hand will make meal preps easy, and Emily will even share some simple recipes to which you need only add vegetables or meat. In addition, Emily will share tips on basics to have on hand in case of emergency (think blizzard or tight funds), items you could buy in bulk or on sale to stockpile.

Cost is only $5 and includes the workshop and munchies. We promise to let you go by noon. Please RSVP to Ruth Zielke 994 3718 (azielke914@comcast.net). Bring your friends. Ask that nice woman who sits in front of you every Sunday if she will join you. There will be time for sharing tips and stories, too. It will be great to be together. There is no home game, so you won’t even have to worry about traffic! Treat yourself to great fellowship!

When you think of pickles, do you only think of cucumbers soaked in vinegar? While no one denies the joy of a good garlicky dill pickle, there are so many more kinds of pickles to be savored! This class will teach you about the two basic methods of creating pickles: vinegar-brining (for making pickles that will keep all winter) and old-style lactofermentation (which produces outstanding nutrition, but no alcohol). Then we’ll make a quart of lactofermented pickles to take home.

Bring:

• A clean quart-sized glass jar with a lid (preferably a plastic lid)
• Enough small pickling cucumbers to fill the jar (don’t use the long “slicing” cucumbers – get the small, bumpy kind)

We’ll supply salt, dill, and other flavorings.

Sunday, August 9th
2-4:30pm
Pittsfield Grange
3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI

Cost is $5; free for members of the Grange. RSVP here!

Just a quick update to let you know what projects I’ve got going right now (besides the garden and, y’know, my actual job).

• First Preserving Traditions “canning work day” at the Grange, this Sunday starting at 1pm. The water situation at the Grange is still dire, but our wonderful facilities guru is bringing large jugs of city water so we don’t have to deal with sediment from the water heater.
• Getting interviewed by Edible WOW for their fall issue about PT.
• Initial meetings about selling “Yes. We Can.” schwag at a local store.
• Getting Groundcrew set up to organize the picking of feral fruit from untended trees around Ann Arbor. The perfect fruit will go to Food Gatherers; the imperfect fruit will turn into dried, canned, or sauced fruit for the pickers.
• Planning a farm visit with Preserving Traditions to see (and perhaps help) butcher chickens.
• Still planning to cook with Laura! In fact, I have secured a pig’s tail, bladder, and lard. I’m buying half a hog this year and I’ve been promised the…odd bits. I expect more of the Laura project will happen in the fall and winter once the pig is butchered.

Hi, folks -  I got a call from Edible Wow and they’d like to take some pictures this Sunday to go with the story they’re doing on Preserving Traditions. So I’m going to be at the Grange from about 1-3 the afternoon of Sunday, July 26th, canning raspberry jam. Feel free to come by, check it out, and/or do your own canning! It need not be raspberry jam, but it should be water-bath. Bring your own ingredients, jars, and lids; we’ll have a couple canners, jar lifters, etc.

Emily