-HOW do you make paragraphs in this thing??

-I think it is AWESOME that you’re so interested in this stuff now. you’re in the perfect spot to read either michael pollan’s “omnivore’s dilemma” or Barbara kingsolver’s “animal, vegetable, miracle” (as you’ve probably figured out, this book is pretty eco-feminist-y and you may or may not relate to that. other guys i’ve recommended it to haven’t liked it as much as i have. so don’t belabor it if it’s just not working out- there are others.)

-I wouldn’t NECESSARILY recommend culinary schools, unless you’re interested in food preparation as a profession. you seem to be learning quite a bit through independent research. i’ve known at least two people who went to culinary school and learned only how to prepare food for huge numbers of people, and that kind of thing. they said it was mostly a waste of time for personal instruction. My one friend learned a lot about the chemistry of bread (which flours and other ingredients should be used at which proportions) but this kind of thing you could figure out on your own very quickly through trial and error. just make small substitutions and see where they get you. the people i know who are AMAZING cooks are all self-taught. and i think the most important thing they have in common is that they really really appreciate quality food, and you seem to already have that. It really is kind of an ongoing learning experience i think. i’ve learned so many random things about plants just by sticking the seeds in the ground over the years. a basic garden book definitely sets some important guidelines, but most of it you’ll just figure out as you go along. you’re probably not going to be able to grow all your vegetables for the summer on the first round, because you have to juggle your own personal time-frames and quantities quite a bit before you can totally blow the farmers market off. But what you do produce yourself will taste like nectar and ambrosia.

now that i’m thinking about it.. i’d say a more valuable education would probably be in horticulture. they have classes at matc. i’ve been wanting to take one for years, but haven’t had time. here’s a link to that: https://infonline.matc.edu/live-infonline/live-infonline?TOKENIDX=7649018061&SS=1&APP=ST

here’s a link to the city recreation classes that are all pretty cheap: http://www.milwaukeerecreation.net/activity-guide/adult-enrichment.pdf

i think the cooking ones are on page 33 or so. i’ve never taken any there so i can’t say whether they’re good or not.

anyway, that’s all i have to say for now. let me know if i’m being too preachy or know-it-all-ish.. that’s the last thing i want to do. on a related note, it is incredibly awesome that you’re doing this. it’s very inspiring. hopefully when you’re feeling lazy you’ll be able to look back at these entries for inspiration to get back on track. just try not to get all elitist and smug about it. people reach an almost religious-fanaticism and preachy-ness with this kind of thing that definitely doesn’t help anyone.

anyway, good luck and keep it up! you’re doing a great job.

let me know whether or not you get this comment- i’m not sure if you have these emailed to you or not and i’m a little behind the reading..