This is not at all a HoCo post, but it is sort of related to markets and farmers. And it was too interesting not to share.
I still hear a lot about Japan on the radio and in the papers, including personal accounts. There's a great post over on Just Hungry that describes one retailer's approach to dealing with the food/vegetable crisis.
Just Hungry is a fabulous food blog maintained by a Japanese expat who (last I checked) was living in Europe. Her writing style is clear, entertaining, and informative. She also runs a site called Just Bento and has a related cookbook.
A number of food products from contaminated areas have been identified in recent weeks, although some reports say the risk from consuming "hot" vegetables is low. Bans on imports have been instituted by other nations as well, including the US. The UN reports that produce grown in other countries is not at risk.
4/7/11
F: Farmers' Markets
F is for......
wait for it....
Farmers' Markets!
It's almost time. Howard County Farmer's Markets open the first week in May! Last year, there were five sites across the county.
I like going to the farmers' markets, even though it requires some planning - weekends are often too busy, and weekdays the hours are short. But I like talking to the vendors at the market - they always have ideas for what I can do with the produce, they're happy to give me samples, etc.
I also like the opportunity of knowing where my food comes from. And eating seasonally, the food tends to taste better.
Especially the big baskets of fruit.
In addition to the places listed in the link above, check out two other locations for farm-fresh produce: Gorman Farm in Laurel, which has a farm stand open 5 days a week starting in May, and Neu-Valley in Elkridge, which should begin advertising produce in the spring (most, but not all, of their produce is from Maryland - if in doubt, ask).
And of course, you can always check to see if there's space left in one of the area's CSAs.
F is for Farmers' Markets, and Farm Fresh Food in the HoCo.
wait for it....
Farmers' Markets!
 |
| Farmers' Market in Rockville, MD By Tammy Farrugia (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons |
It's almost time. Howard County Farmer's Markets open the first week in May! Last year, there were five sites across the county.
I like going to the farmers' markets, even though it requires some planning - weekends are often too busy, and weekdays the hours are short. But I like talking to the vendors at the market - they always have ideas for what I can do with the produce, they're happy to give me samples, etc.
I also like the opportunity of knowing where my food comes from. And eating seasonally, the food tends to taste better.
Especially the big baskets of fruit.
In addition to the places listed in the link above, check out two other locations for farm-fresh produce: Gorman Farm in Laurel, which has a farm stand open 5 days a week starting in May, and Neu-Valley in Elkridge, which should begin advertising produce in the spring (most, but not all, of their produce is from Maryland - if in doubt, ask).
And of course, you can always check to see if there's space left in one of the area's CSAs.
F is for Farmers' Markets, and Farm Fresh Food in the HoCo.
------
This post is part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. (hocofood@@@) Click on The Link for more info and other participating blogs!
4/6/11
E: Elkridge
E is for Elkridge.
That's where I live. (Yes, I know I write MoMentum for the Columbia Patch. I've moved a few times.) I like this side of the tracks.
I live in a great neighborhood - people are always out walking their dogs and I know most of our neighbors - something that wasn't always true where I lived in Columbia. I'm quite close to Patapsco State Park, the local library and other conveniences, and I can read the Elkridge Patch for local stories and news of interest. But I don't know that much about Elkridge itself, so here's some quick history (sources hyperlinked)...
Did you know that Elkridge is the oldest settlement in Howard County? It started, in 1733, as a settlement called "Jansen Town" on Elkridge Landing, along the Patapsco. Jansen Town burnt down in 1825, but some old buildings persist - like Melville Church which dates to the late 1700s.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Elkridge Landing operated as an inland seaport. Belmont, built in 1738, is one of the last physical reminders of that position.
Elkridge played a role in the Civil War, when Union troops arrived to guard the Thomas Viaduct. They camped on Lawyers Hill.
Today, Elkridge is a "Census-designated place" occupying 7.9 square miles, with 22,042 people and 8,324 households (as of the 2000 census).
Interested in more of Elkridge's history? Me too. That's why I'm going to try to make the next meeting of the Elkridge Historical Society, which meets monthly at the Brumbaugh House - visit their facebook page for more information.
Also, look into a history walk in Patapsco (Apr 19) and check out this recent article about historical Elkridge on Elkridge Patch!
E is for Elkridge, where people have been making homes since 1733.
That's where I live. (Yes, I know I write MoMentum for the Columbia Patch. I've moved a few times.) I like this side of the tracks.
I live in a great neighborhood - people are always out walking their dogs and I know most of our neighbors - something that wasn't always true where I lived in Columbia. I'm quite close to Patapsco State Park, the local library and other conveniences, and I can read the Elkridge Patch for local stories and news of interest. But I don't know that much about Elkridge itself, so here's some quick history (sources hyperlinked)...
Did you know that Elkridge is the oldest settlement in Howard County? It started, in 1733, as a settlement called "Jansen Town" on Elkridge Landing, along the Patapsco. Jansen Town burnt down in 1825, but some old buildings persist - like Melville Church which dates to the late 1700s.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Elkridge Landing operated as an inland seaport. Belmont, built in 1738, is one of the last physical reminders of that position.
Elkridge played a role in the Civil War, when Union troops arrived to guard the Thomas Viaduct. They camped on Lawyers Hill.
.jpg) |
| By Jim Kuhn Camera location 39° 13' 17.31" N, 76° 42' 47.81" W This and other images at their locations on: Google Maps - Google Earth - OpenStreetMap (Info)39.22147368;-76.71328068 [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons |
Today, Elkridge is a "Census-designated place" occupying 7.9 square miles, with 22,042 people and 8,324 households (as of the 2000 census).
 |
| By Arkyan [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons |
Interested in more of Elkridge's history? Me too. That's why I'm going to try to make the next meeting of the Elkridge Historical Society, which meets monthly at the Brumbaugh House - visit their facebook page for more information.
Also, look into a history walk in Patapsco (Apr 19) and check out this recent article about historical Elkridge on Elkridge Patch!
E is for Elkridge, where people have been making homes since 1733.
------
This post is part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge (hocoblogs@@@). Click on The Link for more info and other participating blogs!
4/5/11
D: Daedalus Books
D is for Daedalus.
There are few things quite as dangerous as a bookstore.
Really.
It's always been that way for me - book sales, the local Borders chain, even sidewalk sale events, it's very difficult for me to walk away without an armful of books. I love browsing the shelves, sifting through titles to find a phrase or a cover or a summary that speaks to me. I like the touch and feel of a book (even as I like my Kindle - whole 'nother story).
You can see why this is a dangerous thing. You might also understand why it's nice to have options like the library - or a used book store.
I used to go to the used book shop off of Dobbin Road (Lily's Mexican Market expanded into that space). Yet for years, I've driven past another location without stopping.
Daedalus Books, which has an online store, as well as physical stores in Baltimore and Columbia.
I took some time the other day to visit Daedalus and see what I was missing.
The store itself is pretty bare-bones, with concrete flooring and bright lights. But it has books. Shelves and stands and stacks of books. They're organized pretty well, but be prepared to spend some time looking.
Theused remaindered inventory at the store is not as broad a selection at bigger chain places, of course. Still, I easily found items of interest. In fact, much more than I left with.
And pretty good deals...
Or were they? Well, let's do some math.
List price - paid price = 54.44 - 12.94 = $42.50 saved.
But who really pays list price anyway? A more accurate judge for this would be to go to a big online retailer, the automatic go-to when one starts to shop online (especially for books)... that's right. That one.
Online Price (lowest new, without shipping) - Paid Price = 27.95 - 12.94 = $15.01 saved.
Pretty good deal. :) Also of note two of the three books were somewhat scarce on the Big Online store.
D is for Daedalus Books, a local and online source forused remaindered books in the HoCo.
There are few things quite as dangerous as a bookstore.
Really.
It's always been that way for me - book sales, the local Borders chain, even sidewalk sale events, it's very difficult for me to walk away without an armful of books. I love browsing the shelves, sifting through titles to find a phrase or a cover or a summary that speaks to me. I like the touch and feel of a book (even as I like my Kindle - whole 'nother story).
You can see why this is a dangerous thing. You might also understand why it's nice to have options like the library - or a used book store.
I used to go to the used book shop off of Dobbin Road (Lily's Mexican Market expanded into that space). Yet for years, I've driven past another location without stopping.
Daedalus Books, which has an online store, as well as physical stores in Baltimore and Columbia.
I took some time the other day to visit Daedalus and see what I was missing.
The store itself is pretty bare-bones, with concrete flooring and bright lights. But it has books. Shelves and stands and stacks of books. They're organized pretty well, but be prepared to spend some time looking.
The
And pretty good deals...
Or were they? Well, let's do some math.
List price - paid price = 54.44 - 12.94 = $42.50 saved.
But who really pays list price anyway? A more accurate judge for this would be to go to a big online retailer, the automatic go-to when one starts to shop online (especially for books)... that's right. That one.
Online Price (lowest new, without shipping) - Paid Price = 27.95 - 12.94 = $15.01 saved.
Pretty good deal. :) Also of note two of the three books were somewhat scarce on the Big Online store.
D is for Daedalus Books, a local and online source for
------
This post is part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge (hocoblogs@@@). Click on The Link for more info and other participating blogs!
4/4/11
C: Chopstixx
C is for Chopstixx.
Double X intentional - you see, it's the name of one of our favorite takeout restaurants, located off of US-1 in Elkridge (at the shopping center at US-1 andMeadowridgeMontgomery Road).
I play favorites when it comes to takeout. I have my go-to pizza joints, my go-to for wings, etc. Chopstixx churns out consistently good food, be it the better-than-"usual" suspects or their slightly more enticing street meals menu. The food is an excellent value, too - big portion sizes and fresh ingredients. I don't ever get the sense that I'm nom'ing chopped by-product when I go to this place.
They also serve bubble tea. And the staff is super friendly. And the service is very efficient.
Other than that, I'll let the food speak for itself...
Double X intentional - you see, it's the name of one of our favorite takeout restaurants, located off of US-1 in Elkridge (at the shopping center at US-1 and
I play favorites when it comes to takeout. I have my go-to pizza joints, my go-to for wings, etc. Chopstixx churns out consistently good food, be it the better-than-"usual" suspects or their slightly more enticing street meals menu. The food is an excellent value, too - big portion sizes and fresh ingredients. I don't ever get the sense that I'm nom'ing chopped by-product when I go to this place.
They also serve bubble tea. And the staff is super friendly. And the service is very efficient.
Other than that, I'll let the food speak for itself...
 |
| Malaysian Kway Teow Rice noodles, chicken, shrimp, scallions... this was spicy and tasty. |
 |
| Thai Fried Rice. Jalapeños give it a spicy kick. |
 |
| General Tso's Chicken. Classic. Not too greasy. Tasty. |
 |
| Miso Soup and Steamed Shumai Perfect with an ice cold beverage. |
 |
| Meat Stew Rice w. a Simmered Egg (link courtesy of Min) (pork and five spice, daikon radish pickle, interesting egg... this is AWESOME and a great value) |
 |
| House Seafood Soup with crispy wantons (I put it in a glass to make it pretty) |
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This post is part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. (hocofood@@@) Click on The Link for more info and other participating blogs!
4/2/11
B: Bloggers of the HoCo
B is for Bloggers. HoCo Bloggers, to be specific.
It took me a while to get into blogging. Sure, I had blogs before. The most successful was one that was defined by a short-term goal. More of a project then a blog. An internet journal, if you will.
When I started SwimWriteRun (originally MoWrites), I tried to set parameters like that because I thought that would help keep me blogging - a schedule, the decision to cover whatever theme I chose, etc.
What I didn't anticipate was the HoCo blogosphere.
Howard County's blogging community is both rich and active. There are more than 200 bloggers on board. Monthly get-togethers give bloggers an opportunity to meet face-to-face, adding an unusual amount of personal contact to blogging. I know it wasn't always that way, that the group was smaller. I'm not sure if it's grown because that core group was so awesome, or if it reflects a wider, more general trend in how people express themselves (or their causes/agendas/brands/passions) to the rest of the world.
I do know that the "blogosphere" has become part of why I like to blog. I like to know that people are reading my posts. (Hi!)
More importantly, I like to read local/community blogs. I like the thoughtful social commentary, the quick and timely snippets of local politics, and the varied points of view offered by the community. I like seeing honest, intelligent, and even-keeled debate when bloggers do not agree. I like how bloggers support each other, whether by donating to someone's cause, linking to other blogs, or stepping up when an anonymous commenter is out of line (not that such a thing ever happens).
Most importantly, the bloggers of Howard County have helped me to see my community in a different light. It's as if there is a whole new side of a place I thought I knew. And I do think, since having found HoCoBlogs, I pay more attention to my community.
Rock on, Bloggers of HoCo. You are super. So super you get your own letter.
B is for Bloggers in Howard County.
It took me a while to get into blogging. Sure, I had blogs before. The most successful was one that was defined by a short-term goal. More of a project then a blog. An internet journal, if you will.
When I started SwimWriteRun (originally MoWrites), I tried to set parameters like that because I thought that would help keep me blogging - a schedule, the decision to cover whatever theme I chose, etc.
What I didn't anticipate was the HoCo blogosphere.
Howard County's blogging community is both rich and active. There are more than 200 bloggers on board. Monthly get-togethers give bloggers an opportunity to meet face-to-face, adding an unusual amount of personal contact to blogging. I know it wasn't always that way, that the group was smaller. I'm not sure if it's grown because that core group was so awesome, or if it reflects a wider, more general trend in how people express themselves (or their causes/agendas/brands/passions) to the rest of the world.
I do know that the "blogosphere" has become part of why I like to blog. I like to know that people are reading my posts. (Hi!)
More importantly, I like to read local/community blogs. I like the thoughtful social commentary, the quick and timely snippets of local politics, and the varied points of view offered by the community. I like seeing honest, intelligent, and even-keeled debate when bloggers do not agree. I like how bloggers support each other, whether by donating to someone's cause, linking to other blogs, or stepping up when an anonymous commenter is out of line (not that such a thing ever happens).
Most importantly, the bloggers of Howard County have helped me to see my community in a different light. It's as if there is a whole new side of a place I thought I knew. And I do think, since having found HoCoBlogs, I pay more attention to my community.
Rock on, Bloggers of HoCo. You are super. So super you get your own letter.
B is for Bloggers in Howard County.
------
This post is part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. (hocoblogs@@@) Click on The Link for more info and other participating blogs!
4/1/11
A: Apples
A is for Apple... yes, yes I know.
That's one of my favorite memories from childhood: apples and apple cider from the Cider Mill. It's one of those early memories, the sort that's fuzzy and crinkled around the edges, where gaps appear and only highlight the importance of what is still remembered.
The Cider Mill sat on Landing Road - I'm not sure if it was technically Ellicott City or Elkridge, I saw both when I was researching for this post. The Farm gave tours to school kids. As I went to school nearby, this was probably a no-brainer in the out-of-classroom educational experiences department.
To be honest, I was young enough that I don't remember the details of the tour. What I do remember is the apple press. I remember seeing an apple on the belt, and then the tour guide warning us not to get our hands flattened (which I'm sure was an exaggeration). I watched the apple go from round and shiny and red to crushed: skin torn open, white flesh spilling out like guts, juice dripping out from beneath it.
The guide must have stopped the belt, because we got to lean in then and pinch some of the squashed apple and taste it. The pulp tasted like the suggestion of an apple - not really the texture of a real one, and without sweetness or sour tang.
The Cider Mill is gone now. It closed in 2002, and was split up into lots for 2400-4000 sq foot homes I will probably never be able to afford. The street names reflect the land's past - Winesap and Rome Red and Owens, presumably for the farm's owner - but to me, that's even more of a shame. What was once an educational experience - or at least, the nucleus for memories - is just a luxury development with a romantic/nostalgic name.
That sort of nod to history, to the experience of being on a farm and understanding how it worked, seems kind of like that pinch of pulp, insufficient. The bite of apple that wasn't.
But at least I have my memory - the tiny thrill of fear at the idea of being squashed in the apple press, and pleasure in the "secret" knowledge that the cider we got in jugs actually came from shiny red apples.
A is for Apples and Apple Cider from Cider Mill Farm.
------
 |
| Image Credit: Agricultural Research Service, Public Domain |
That's one of my favorite memories from childhood: apples and apple cider from the Cider Mill. It's one of those early memories, the sort that's fuzzy and crinkled around the edges, where gaps appear and only highlight the importance of what is still remembered.
The Cider Mill sat on Landing Road - I'm not sure if it was technically Ellicott City or Elkridge, I saw both when I was researching for this post. The Farm gave tours to school kids. As I went to school nearby, this was probably a no-brainer in the out-of-classroom educational experiences department.
To be honest, I was young enough that I don't remember the details of the tour. What I do remember is the apple press. I remember seeing an apple on the belt, and then the tour guide warning us not to get our hands flattened (which I'm sure was an exaggeration). I watched the apple go from round and shiny and red to crushed: skin torn open, white flesh spilling out like guts, juice dripping out from beneath it.
The guide must have stopped the belt, because we got to lean in then and pinch some of the squashed apple and taste it. The pulp tasted like the suggestion of an apple - not really the texture of a real one, and without sweetness or sour tang.
The Cider Mill is gone now. It closed in 2002, and was split up into lots for 2400-4000 sq foot homes I will probably never be able to afford. The street names reflect the land's past - Winesap and Rome Red and Owens, presumably for the farm's owner - but to me, that's even more of a shame. What was once an educational experience - or at least, the nucleus for memories - is just a luxury development with a romantic/nostalgic name.
That sort of nod to history, to the experience of being on a farm and understanding how it worked, seems kind of like that pinch of pulp, insufficient. The bite of apple that wasn't.
But at least I have my memory - the tiny thrill of fear at the idea of being squashed in the apple press, and pleasure in the "secret" knowledge that the cider we got in jugs actually came from shiny red apples.
A is for Apples and Apple Cider from Cider Mill Farm.
------
This post is part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge (hocoblogs@@@). Click on The Link for more info and other participating blogs!
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