(Re) Chic

I am ashamed to say that I did not post anything in honor of Suicide Prevention Week.  However, today I was shown this website curated by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.   It was shown to me because you can order publications on particular Mental Health and Substance Abuse topics that interest you.  You can find articles on everything from alchohol abuse to workforce trends and I think its fantastic that there is such a great free resource for people out there.  There are also over 70 articles on Suicide Prevention which is a great link to use this month as last year there were more suicides in Warren & Clinton County in September than any other month.  So if you're at all interested in any of these topics I highly recommend checking out SAMSHA's website I know I'll be ordering some things!

I know yesterday I said that I was going to post pictures of my garage sale finds but I have something that's even better...gardening photos! Today was the annual Clinton County Master Gardener Plant Sale (they also offer workshops but I couldn't afford to attend any) and I bought more plants than any girl could ever need and I am super excited about it.  The Spoils So of course after purchasing a quantity of plants that was NOT in my budget...I got to plant them all.  And I feel pretty proud of myself for the creative containers and the ingeniuty involved in getting that many plants (along with everything I was already growing) in my available space.    Half an old trashcan converted into a planter A skillet full of impatiens As I was choosing and smelling the different varities of vegetables and herb plants that have become available to me from this sale i've decided that I want to do a little more homework with my plants to ensure that I'm picki...

Once again my Hunger Action Month posts are written the week after they happen but its the Action not the post that counts right? My AmeriCorps*VISTA position has me working very closely with a food pantry/soup kitchen called Sugartree Ministries.   Sugartree Ministries serves over 1200 hot meals a week and touches approximately 500 people during its weekly grocery distribution.  As part of my position I am responsible for getting student volunteers over to Sugartree on a regular basis.   Saturday we celebrated the 9/11 Memorial Day of Service by hosting a clean-up project at Sugartree Ministries.  Usually when I plan projects like this I get about 6 girls and we do basic things like wipe down the tables and chairs and sweep in the kitchen before its time to go.   This Saturday I had 30 student volunteers!     Not only was it completely overwhelming to supervise 30 enthusiastic students who were more than happy to do the dirty work; ...

Awhile back I wrote a post about mow-less yards and then today I read an article in the Chicago Tribune Editorials about a great gardener who has turned his front yard into a garden and his neighbors complained!   I personally think turning your lawn into your own personal vegetable garden is a great idea.  Not only will you probably grow enough produce to feed you and your family and your neighbors you might even grow enough to share your bounty with a local food pantry!  And that of course, is the most important thing.   The garden beds I planted and tend (thanks to Verizon Telecommunications) as part of my VISTA position.   Tomorrow, September 1st marks the beginning of Hunger Action Month .  And as a VISTA focusing on poverty and food access this is an issue I deal with everyday.  So here is my pledge to you...ever loyal blog readers.   I, JessicaCRB , pledge to (through my work as a Grow Food, Grow Hope AmeriCorps VISTA) take ...