so, i guess i'm a doctor now...

i finished my ph.d. it only took me 5.5 years. there were meltdowns, there were many moments of uncertainy, but it's over now.  that means a few things. first, i will be updating my blog again!

considering i haven't made a post since 2011, i realize i may be the only person still here, but that's fine.  i kind of like existing in an audience vacuum.

anyhow, onto the present!  i live in oakland now. i have a new sweetheart. his name is chops. i've known him for many, many years, and our lives finally collided a year ago. now we live together, and have begun growing some roots in the east bay. yes, i do mean that literally.

both of us consider ourselves radical people, but we often express our radical nature in different ways. one thing we do agree on is that becoming independent of the multinational food and beverage industry is a major step towards separating ourselves from a for profit system that does really scary things to keep you consuming and stop you from forming thriving communities.

we decided to become urban gardeners.  we are starting with raised beds!  our new place has a giant backyard, and was full of trash when we moved in. much of this has been hauled away, but about 15 futon frames and pallets were left by the management. we saw these as free veggie beds.  here are the results of our scavenged wood repurposing project:

tall raised beds for salad greens.

repurposed pallet beds. we layered them with plastic because
we were told our soil was no good.

big L shaped bed.

this weekend we filled them. our dear friend erin lent us her little pick-up truck, and we drove all over the place to get enough material to fill these puppies. first we found cheap compost at the napa recycling center (two truck loads there), and then got a heavy load of soil from alcapulco soil. in the end we spent about $80 to fill the beds. not too bad for all new soil!

cool little barrel planter for our herbs: basil, sage,
and rosemary.

the tomatoes: one beefsteak, and two wild heirlooms.

the full bed, with a compost corner pocket. there's a little
pepper in the right corner, but it's time we get planting seeds!

we have already decided on planting carrots, beets, radishes, and peas in the near future. still a lot of space to fill...

we also had a little housewarming/birthday get together! it was a blanket fort party, sleepover encouraged.  here is lauren cozy in her pink fort room:

fort party! lapis attack!

nothing like a good ol' fort party to make a girl feel settled in her new digs.  next up, CHICKENS! photos to come.