Abby Bard
Abby learned to weave in Guatemala in 1974, and sells her hand-woven clothing from her studio in Sebastopol. She is currently a memeber of ARTrails, a program of the Arts Council of Sonoma County. She also practices Traditional Thai massage. Her passion for growing food in her urban garden has enhanced her lifelong love of cooking. She considers the garden to be her teacher and she chronicles its seasons for Discoveries magazine.
Stories by Abby Bard
The Edible Landscape: Winter Solstice 2011
In the weak winter sunlight, I head out to the garden and come back two minutes later, shivering and feeling chilled through. I notice the last cherry tomato plant still struggles to grow despite the cold. It’s dark by 5:00 and I just want to curl up on the couch.
Local Authors/Local Cookbooks
I love to read cookbooks—not only for the technique and menu ideas, which are their fundamental element, but also for the histories and anecdotes that provide the spice. Here are a few of the outstanding locally-written cookbooks and compilations.
The Edible Landscape: Autumn Equinox in the Garden
Life in balance is what I strive for and the garden is where I go to find it.
Cooking from the Market
At farmers markets, you will meet the farmers and artisans who grow and create food, hear their stories, and best of all, sample some delicious things. In addition to the freshest fruits and vegetables (often picked the same day) you’ll find many locally produced items to enhance your meals, including a variety of meats, fish, cheeses, breads and pastries, oils and vinegars, a great selection of condiments—even a European-style organic butter from McClellend’s Dairy in Petaluma.
The Edible Landscape: Summer in the Garden 2011
In 1993, when I moved to Florence Avenue, my front yard was a wilderness of sickly aspen trees, clumps of grass sticking out of solid clay soil, and snail-infested ivy overrunning the cement retaining wall along the sidewalk. A group of long-haired angels bearing garden tools and a flyer for Planting Earth Activation (PEA) appeared. They asked me, “Would you like an organic vegetable garden in your yard?”
DAY TRIPPING | Art Walks
Put on your walking shoes; it’s spring and we’ve discovered two walking tours that will limber up your winter-weary legs and give you a look at works by local artists in unique outdoor "galleries.”
The Edible Landscape: Spring in the Garden 2011
Lots of rain, then a warm spell and the garden has exploded with yellow flowers—the oxalis invasion is here, covering every inch of ground that is not already covered with something else.
The Edible Landscape: Summer's Spreading Bounty
Space–the final frontier. Tomatoes–the ultimate goal.