Hole in the Fence

I was asked to contribute to this blog mainly because I think Samson wanted to get me involved in this project in some way.  Don’t get me wrong, I have contributed many ideas that have been implemented into the show—say the garden, for instance.  Back in March of 2008 I innocently told Samson that I wanted to get a little garden going.  I took him to the area that I wanted it and told him my idea about making the garden so that little critters couldn’t get to it.  I wanted a simple summer garden with tomatoes and fresh herbs and maybe some melons and cucumbers….what I got was Hole in the Fence.  My little garden became a behemoth and I just threw up my hands and said, “I am done! You take over and if I get veggies this year I will be very thankful.”

Well I did get my vegetables, carrots, tomatoes, green beans and more cucumbers than I knew what to do with. (If you have any good recipes for cucumbers, I would love to hear them). I also got introduced to  composting, and I really do love composting. I have watched our weekly trash diminish from 2 full bins to maybe one and most of that was recycling. However, I have not yet found an efficient way of collecting it before we take it out to the composting pile. Just a note, DO NOT leave it open on the kitchen counter: not only is it really gross, but it also attracts ants and little fruit flies—not very pleasant.  I need to find a way to collect it that is not only pleasing to my cleanly self, but also bug free…..again suggestions would be appreciated.

Okay so here is the real reason Samson wanted me to blog. I went to Trader Joe’s yesterday and, as an earth conscious person, I take my own bags. I got my first bag ten years ago and my collection is now adequate. However, it has taken me at least a year to remember my bags on a regular basis—and if I remembered them I would leave them in the car (I can not tell you how many times I have bagged my paid for groceries in the parking lot). That being said, I have made it a habit to get my bags now and I have to say they are so convenient and easy.  I can pack my groceries in them nice and heavy and not be afraid of the bags tearing, and I can get a weeks worth of groceries in four to five bags as opposed to the ten to fifteen they try to give me with regular bags.  I also personally bag my own groceries, mostly because I like tetris and it is really challenging to get everything square, but also because I just do it in a way that I understand, for example, one bag for freezer, one for the pantry, one for the fridge, it just streamlines putting away my groceries.

I am done monopolising your time, hope I did not bore you to tears. I am sure I will contribute more as the mood comes.  Again recipes and ideas for countertop compost storing would be so appreciated.

Deni