Resource Woodworks, a branch of the Center for Resource Conservation in Boulder gathers salvage materials from deconstructed homes that are being remodeled at their Resource Yard.

These treasures are then reworked to make fine ‘resourced’ furnishings, lighting and garden accessories (planters shown here). Shawn Hovin head of RW, works magic into each new piece that can rival any overpriced version found at trendy retailers. So much character lives in each new piece, and this non profit is really doing the Boulder Valley a wonderful service by not allowing precious resources to go to waste.

Shawn and his team do some fantastic custom work too, so if you are remodeling your home and would love something ecological and unique, go in and visit them.

Where: 6400 Arapahoe Rd.
Boulder, CO 80303
(303) 419-5418

Fort Collins has an additional branch at:

1501 N. College Ave.
Ft. Collins, CO 80524
970-498-9663

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Living in Colorado, it is relatively easy to drive down and spend a long weekend in Santa Fe to experience all the art that abounds there. Right now though, it is too easy as there is a wonderful exhibition featuring Georgia O’Keeffe  at the DAM Denver Art Museum. I love the museum in Santa Fe dedicated to her, the O’Keeffe Museum but this show at the DAM is nicely done and features rarely seen works.

Many of her kachina doll paintings were shown along with a collection of antique kachina dolls. Landscapes, still life and her signature florals round out the show along with a video about her. Worth the visit, so go!!

WHAT: Georgia O’Keeffe Paintings Exhibit

WHEN: Feb 10, 2013-April 28 2013, regular museum hours

WHERE: 100W 14th Pkway, Denver, CO 80204

I am very pleased to have been included as an artist in the 1st Annual Bike Arts Exhibit at the Dairy Center for the Arts. The event was packed with patrons.

Swapping food, either casually among neighbors or in an organized group, is reviving a barter-and-trade system for food that went away with the introduction of the modern grocery store, when Americans stopped worrying about growing, trading or stocking up on enough food to make it through the year.

As everyone grew accustomed to shopping for prepackaged foods made in factories, we lost the art of acquiring things to eat from people we know. But recently more people are growing, making and preserving foods, drinks, and goods that they once bought from a store and are rediscovering the benefits of trading goods locally, building community. Swaps are a wonderful opportunity to meet others who are interested in gardening, food preservation, beekeeping, and other sustainable, DIY activities. It’s like trick-or-treating for adults.

There are some of these swap groups right here in Colorado. The Mile High Swappers meet in Denver/Boulder and Fort Collins once a month. No money is exchanged, just think of it as a DIY potluck party! Participants bring at least 3-5 items to swap, but they don’t all have to be the same thing. Other groups in the state are in Colorado Springs with two versions the Pikes Peak Community Cupboard and Bear Roots Urban Homesteading. The Pueblo version is Homestyle Swap Meet. These free community events support local agriculture and encourage turning your backyard into a working mini farm of sorts to create  “swapable” items.  Every  community should have one of these locavore haunts! I now know where to take my pickles, jams, fruits and herbs!!

If you’d like to find a food swap in your area, check out the fabulous Food Swap Network!!!

Example of items to bring for bartering:

•Fresh produce, fruit, sprouts, and herbs from your garden.
•Backyard/Farm fresh eggs, cheese, baked goods, savory snacks, honey
•Preserved, pickled, fermented items, vegetarian soups, stocks
•Homemade condiments, dips, spreads, and toppings
•Handmade soaps, lip balms, lotions, and other beauty products
•Crochet/knitted items, handmade jewelry, handmade cards, etc
•Useful garden tools, household and camping/backpacking items
•Homemade flavored salts, spice blends, seasonings
•Seeds, seedlings, compost, soil
•Homemade soda pop, fruit juices, drink mixes

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Its Open Studios season again! I frequent this every year, but this time I will visit the studios of Patricia Chapman–assemblage art, Rebecca DiDomenico-mixed media, Alix Christian-encaustic, Dawn Spencer Hurwitz-ethereal painting and Kristin Fitzgerrell-assemblage art. Happy October!

When Alice Waters opened the doors of her restaurant, Chez Panisse 40 years ago, she never imagined that the simple idea of feeding friends “real food” would help spark a revolution. Recognizing the transformative power of food, she established the Chez Panisse Foundation in 1995 to launch an Edible Schoolyard in Berkeley, California.

This year, the Chez Panisse Foundation becomes the Edible Schoolyard Project, with the mission to transform the health and values of every student by building and sharing a food curriculum for the school system.

Check out this video for more info.

Had a great Sunday visiting the Tour de Coops Boulder, a tour that is free to the public, occurring in Boulder County September 4th, 2011, from 2-6PM. I rode my bike around to several of the coop locations for this tour that has no specific start location. All of the chicken owners were very informative, giving tips on where to get chickens, why the got them and what they feed them. Now I want some chickens too.

Some of the property locations had not just chickens but also edible gardens, bee hives, or an aquaponics system.

There are a total of 17 properties on the tour, ranging from smaller start up urban plots to more seasoned farmers.

Laura Ruby -Yummy Yards.org   Lynette Hanthorn-Transition Colorado.org

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Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903), an American social reformer and democrat, was the instigator of the design and creation of numerous central city parks and is considered the founder of landscape architecture. He was highly regarded as an environmental planner, and won the competition to design Central Park in New York. His concepts of landscape planning and design not only continued to develop, but were regarded as the standard in North America.

Olmsted’s his claim to fame: woods, fields and water. These features became the principles of urban landscaping, designed to offer the practice of leisure and the rediscovery of nature, as a counter current to the chaotic nature of cities.

One could argue that early city planners for Boulder Colorado followed Olmsted’s great accomplishments in landscape architecture by making Chautauqua, Flatirons Park and various other parks around our small city the central focus to life and well being here. The continuous purchasing of open space makes this such an outdoor oriented and pleasant place to reside. These pictures offer some proof to the tranquility.

Revisions Art Show and auction, an event sponsored by the Conservation Resource Center will go up at the ResourceFort Collins from June 3rd-July 1st, 2011. The final reception and auction will be held at New Belgium Brewery on July 1st. All proceeds will benefit Resource.

Art by Elizabeth Morisette, Loading Dock Designs and others.

Cucina Urbana in Bankers Hill San Diego has just as inspiring farmhouse decor as fresh delicious cuisine. Their modern country style design is a bit rustic a bit vintage and a little recycled Bohemian.  Lovely chandeliers adorn the ceilings, reclaimed wood, murals and chalkboards liven the walls while country table cloths and burlap upholstery enhance the tables.

The food at Cucina Urbana is largely locally raised on farms around the San Diego metro area with seasonal fare determining menu changes. Thing to try: house infused alcoholic drinks, imaginative & scrumptious salads and gourmet desserts.