The rise of the new domestic goddess
A new breed of household artisan has arrived - one focused less on perfection and more on expression and connection. Enter the new domestic goddess.
May 27th, 2010
The rise of the new urban agrarian
From the White House to your own backyard, veggie gardens are sprouting up all over.
May 26th, 2010
Landscapers form green team
“In the beginning, we had to answer a basic question of whether we were better off collaborating or competing.” Three entrepreneurs share a vision of sustainable Milwaukee landscapes.
May 24th, 2010
Time to get your hands dirty
If you're not a natural gardener, Peg's advice will make spring less daunting and more colorful
May 23rd, 2010
We’ve sprung a leak
Cleaning house: The spring ritual hasn’t found a home in this house
May 22nd, 2010
Simply Health
A better alfredo: Mushrooms and garlic replace heavy cream – and boost the dish’s flavor
May 8th, 2010
News you need to know
"Fair Trade My Home" encourages us to think about how we can incorporate fair trade into our homes. After all, fair trade isn't just coffee, tea and chocolate.
May 8th, 2010
Pantry Raid! Have your cake, eat it, and run in the kitchen, too
It’s surprising that we never prioritized learning to bake cakes sooner, as the mere mention of cake makes us smile from ear to ear.
May 8th, 2010
Want good food for free?
Annie uncovers the secret joys of urban foraging for wild-growing agrarian delights
May 7th, 2010
You can go home again, but it may not be there
The farm had existed through five generations of my family. It was impossible to imagine it not being there.
Apr 13th, 2010
Spring for sustainable food
These simple recipes celebrate the earth’s resilience and annual renewal by using plenty of fresh spring vegetables and herbs.
Apr 9th, 2010
The problem with melted snow is …
Why should we use the über-clean water that’s gone through the Milwaukee water works’ energy-intensive decontamination process just to flush the toilet?
Apr 8th, 2010
Natural food co-ops enjoy healthy growth
“Taking the food system into our own hands was a very powerful thing.” — Pam Mehnert, General Manager for Outpost
Apr 7th, 2010
News you need to know
Joining a CSA for the first time? Looking for a new one? Not sure what a CSA is? Well, join the CSA club.
Apr 5th, 2010
A birthday wish list for the mayor
Milwaukee has changed a lot in Outpost’s 40 years. How should it change in the next 40? We asked some friends to share their wish lists for our city’s mayor.
Apr 3rd, 2010
Talking ’bout a revolution
It was forty years ago this month that a handful of activists banded together and created Outpost. Their goal was simple - to take back control over their food.
Apr 1st, 2010
Pantry Raid! Give it some mustard (and we’re not talking the nasty yellow stuff)
Mustard up! Queen Victoria and Pope John XXII both had personal mustard makers, so ditch the yellow stuff and get some class in your dish.
Apr 1st, 2010
Will health care reform happen?
The reformation: Time to take wellness reform into our own hands.
Mar 8th, 2010
The ‘whole’ truth about cereals
Grains of (un)truth: Most breakfast cereals aren’t what they seem…
Mar 8th, 2010
Prevention trumps recession?
Does prevention trump recession? We asked holistic healthcare practitioners if the economy has brought them customers or just tough times.
Mar 1st, 2010
There’s a (green) app for that
Kermit was wrong - it IS easy being green, especially when you have iPhone apps helping you out.
Mar 1st, 2010
Pantry Raid! We’re rocking the Crock-Pot (due to popular demand)
Rockin’ the Crock-Pot: Slow cookers earn a place of honor in our pantries.
Mar 1st, 2010
You call it a miracle, I call it tenacity
Counting days: We never really know the number left – so treat them each with care.
Mar 1st, 2010
Seed swap and farmer open house at UEC
Urban Ecology Center offers must-attend events for green thumbs and locavores.
Mar 1st, 2010
Can tea heal?
We seem to know intuitively that tea is a good thing, but can it really make us healthier?
Mar 1st, 2010
What to do when things are dormant
As the soil emerges from under the snow, check areas where you planted spring bulbs.
Feb 2nd, 2010
All you knead is love
Of all the things that get cooked and baked in our house, lately the ones that I’ve enjoyed making the most are breads.
Feb 2nd, 2010
From the Outpost Exchange editor
On a wing … Now is no time to abandon hopes and dreams.
Feb 1st, 2010
Think green (and local) this Valentine’s Day
If you’ve always given flowers, consider options that don’t involve pesticides and refrigerated freight trucks.
Feb 1st, 2010
Pantry Raid! Forgive figs their outward appearance
You sexy fig. Dried figs may not seem to be leading man material, but with a little coaxing and nuzzling, they are ready for romance.
Feb 1st, 2010
You can’t judge a love story by its cover
Love’s rhythm. Is it the number of heartbeats that matters - or what we do between the first and last?
Feb 1st, 2010
Choices for a healthy heart
Advice straight from – and about – the heart. Simple life changes can help your heart in a big way.
Feb 1st, 2010
Telling ourselves stories
Can storytelling help heal? An interview with Nancy Mellon, author of Body Eloquence: The Power of Myth and Story to Awaken the Body’s Energies.
Feb 1st, 2010
Hot yoga, saunas put a new face on winter
Instructors say students either like the heat or don’t — there’s rarely middle ground.
Jan 1st, 2010
The what-to-eat list to end all lists
Feeling listless? Here's my short list for healthy eating.
Jan 1st, 2010
Caring for strays brings its own rewards
Fostering shelter: A pair of alley cats find cover, food -- and love -- in the backyard.
Jan 1st, 2010
Yes, you can bike in winter
Too much bulk will cut off the blood flow, and you’ll end up colder than you were to begin.
Jan 1st, 2010
Winter bites, but you can still find local produce
For chefs, there's a three-pronged approach to sourcing local food in winter: greenhouses, root vegetables and the sweet accents of honey and jams.
Jan 1st, 2010
Pantry Raid! Bulk soup will save us from foodie’s block
A confession: Sometimes, we’re embarrassed to admit what we had for dinner -- but not this time.
Jan 1st, 2010
Local meats mean homemade sausage
With local meats available year-round, it's easy to make a case for homemade sausages.
Jan 1st, 2010
From the Outpost Exchange editor
Time for resolutions? How about a time for resolve, and there's no better time than the start of a whole, new decade.
Jan 1st, 2010
You’d be surprised what’s alive out there
Want to embrace winter? Collect ice data, search for a butterfly or a snow flea, or listen to the owls.
Jan 1st, 2010
Gift fair gives shoppers a real alternative
Fair change: Alternative gift fair raises several thousand dollars for local charities.
Jan 1st, 2010
Dreaming of a slow Christmas
It’s always been overkill – a season of excesses. But the avarice feels even more awkward and out of place this year.
Dec 4th, 2009
The humble houseplant is the best HVAC system
Naturally green: At home and at work, plants can do more than clear the air.
Dec 4th, 2009
History enters
A keepsake from her old house provides a window to her past.
Dec 3rd, 2009
Pantry raid! It’s party time, and we know how to make it easy.
Our four hors d’oeuvre trays will keep everyone well fed — and keep you out of the kitchen.
Dec 3rd, 2009
Cook once, eat twice
The “cook once, eat twice” approach — which we use twice here — is a time and penny saver.
Dec 3rd, 2009
Probiotics to the rescue
Gut feeling: Probiotics are turning up in more and more places. They really belong in your belly.
Dec 3rd, 2009
How Milwaukee’s independents plan on surviving a harsh winter
Recessions might be scary, but Old Man Winter is no match for hardy independents.
Dec 2nd, 2009
Ebenezer Scrooge says ‘humbug’ to simpler times
Has the recession altered our approach to the holidays? Will Giftsmas become Christmas again?
Dec 1st, 2009
Abandoned school becomes green campus
Three groups work together to transform an abandoned school into the nation's latest green campus.
Nov 2nd, 2009
Alternative Gift Fair comes to Lakefront Palm Garden this December
Choose from nearly two dozen worthy charities at the Exchange's fourth annual fair.
Nov 1st, 2009
It’s time to plan(t)
Avoid frostbite and get your green thumb indoors to plan for next year.
Nov 1st, 2009
Local food options at markets, co-ops and restaurants heat up Wisconsin winter
Our short growing season is long gone, but these restaurants, markets and stores keep the local food movement going strong.
Nov 1st, 2009
Reflux-ology
Got a bad taste in your mouth? Here's how you can combat gastro esophageal reflux disease.
Nov 1st, 2009
A simple prayer
I think when we can picture the path the food has taken from the ground where it was grown and harvested to our kitchens, we can’t help but feel some gratitude.
Nov 1st, 2009
NUTS TO YOU!
Unexpectedly delicious, creamy and freaky good for you! Seriously? You can see why our pantries are all in a tizzy over this whole nuts-in-a-jar thing.
Nov 1st, 2009
On a butterfly’s wings
You have within you the power to accomplish more than you may even imagine, and each act you undertake undoubtedly has untold and unforeseen consequences.
Oct 9th, 2009
Fall is here, and that means squash
Autumn brings with it fantastic smells, and new and familiar flavors and ingredients.
Oct 2nd, 2009
A sensory guide to fall
This is a great time to listen for birds practicing their calls (and often failing miserably).
Oct 1st, 2009
Pre-diabetes can be a gift
It's a relief to know that a diagnosis of pre-diabetes does not mean you will get diabetes.
Oct 1st, 2009
Gratitude is a year-round affair
"I know that this moment … and this … are all we are assured of. For each, I am deeply and sincerely thankful."
Oct 1st, 2009
Who knew rice was this good?
Rice is said to calm the nervous system and strengthen internal organs.
Oct 1st, 2009
The stories of Milwaukee’s book co-ops
Local book co-ops find success in the communities that help to sustain them.
Oct 1st, 2009
Field is ripe for young farmers
We are growing ever more concerned about our food, where it comes from and how it's made.
Sep 30th, 2009
So you wanna’ be a locavore?
If you think we like to cook, you should see us dance; it’s not just salt and pepper shakin’ in our kitchens! Our mad dance skills are perfectly complemented by all things local, too. Check out Local Live on WMSE every Tuesday night from 8-9 on the Midnight Radio show.
Sep 1st, 2009
Made in the USA … by you
Craft represents choice, creative freedom and a push toward economic independence
Sep 1st, 2009
Local theater adapts; shows go on
As the arts season opens, theater in Milwaukee is alive and kicking.
Sep 1st, 2009
Where to go when schools lose funds
Fifty-five schools host MPS Community Learning Centers, providing arts-focused enrichment programs to kids of all ages.
Sep 1st, 2009
Eating for two
Eating for two? It’s a better idea to eat twice as well, not twice as much.
Sep 1st, 2009
On becoming your mother
“ . . . like, I am so not like my mom. Every single time I leave the house she’s like, ‘Be careful, sweetie, drive safe.’ I will never, ever say the same thing like that to my kids. It makes me so crazy!”
Sep 1st, 2009
United by passion
What makes community? A united passion, most of all.
Sep 1st, 2009
News you need to know
A film crew followed the family as they went without basic needs such as electricity (...) and even toilet paper.
Sep 1st, 2009
Hard to beet
My husband swore he wouldn’t eat beets before I prepared them and my brother-in-law is still conflicted about them since an incident with his childhood babysitter. But I love beets and therefore grow lots of them, both red and golden, in my garden each year.
Aug 25th, 2009
The way it was
Cronkite felt that journalists had a duty to hold up a mirror to society, to tell and show what had happened. “And that’s the way it was,” was his customary sign-off.
Aug 1st, 2009
Take it with a grain of salt, pt2
Be aware that some over-the-counter medicines contain a lot of sodium. Two tablets of dissolvable Alka-Seltzer have a whopping 1,134 milligrams of sodium.
Aug 1st, 2009
Greening our schools
Sustainability is all about those wonderful virtues we grew up with; giving without expecting to get back, finding enlightenment even from your mistakes, sharing the knowledge, recording the failures as well as the successes, implementing and reflecting and doing it again.
Aug 1st, 2009
Eating right
"Eat Right Racine” was formed earlier this year, and its mission is to “partner with community, business, agriculture, and schools to develop a food system that supports healthy children, communities, economies and environment.
Aug 1st, 2009
Natural Gardner
August and September are payoff time for vegetable growers. However, this is the time when hot and humid conditions promote insect or disease problems; so keep monitoring plants.
Aug 1st, 2009
Yes we can
…cooking or canning tomatoes actually increases the amount of lycopene – a super anti-oxidant that’s shown to protect against certain types of cancer.
Aug 1st, 2009
Growing the next generation of green leaders
Shenstone is very excited about her future and says Green Corps has prepared her well to assume other environmentally-focused posts.
Aug 1st, 2009
News you need to know
We are fighting for food security from an industrial agriculture system that is destroying our health and the health of our ecosystems; for a connection to (the) cycle of life, and good, tasty food … from garden to plate.
Aug 1st, 2009
Puppy love
When not galloping in figure-eights around the backyard, she was collapsed in her bed, head hanging off the edge, a fine thread of drool hanging from one floppy lip.
Aug 1st, 2009
Take it with a grain of salt
Salt is cheap, makes most foods taste better, extends shelf life, and hides the artificial taste of processed food.
Jul 1st, 2009
Praising dreamers
Pioneers. Dreamers. Idea people. Idealists. In fits and starts, in great successes and blinding failures both, they move us all forward.
Jul 1st, 2009
Growing Hope, Growing Change, Growing Power
Will Allen just might be the Johnny Appleseed of the next food revolution
Jul 1st, 2009
Wearin’ of the green
Concerns about value and cutting carbon footprints bring new focus to resale shops.
Jul 1st, 2009
News you need to know
Sweet Water Organics angling to grow fresh fish - and a healthier community - on the city's south side
Jul 1st, 2009
Giving credit where it’s due.
It is easy to point to imploding businesses and even whole sectors of industry as examples of what NOT to do. A more interesting, and more finite, approach would be to point to businesses and sectors of industry that provide insightful examples of what TO do. The credit unions seem to provide just such an opportunity.
Jul 1st, 2009
Life stories writ small
In our region's lakes, ponds and rivers, the rhythm of life beats with more urgency as summer moves in, even for the smallest creatures.
Jul 1st, 2009
Pasta perfect
Pasta salads yield to the inspirations you'll find in our pantries.
Jul 1st, 2009
Farmers markets help nourish local economies as well
Supporting local growers comes with many benefits for food consumers
Jun 1st, 2009
Environmental illness in your life
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: What is it, and could you be suffering from it?
Jun 1st, 2009
Love bites
When you live in a rural area, or even a small town, there is almost always at least one dish in your cabinet that is freshly washed and simply awaiting return to its rightful owner.
Jun 1st, 2009
Salad grains
For quick and versatile summer salads, you can’t top this trio: couscous, quinoa and bulgur
Jun 1st, 2009
Cool it
The right foods can help keep you cool this summer. Foods grown in the summer are often rich in water content and easier to digest, which helps to keep our bodies cool.
Jun 1st, 2009
News you need to know
Researchers, farmers hope bee population continues rebound from colony collapse Will this year be a good one for bees? Time – and analysis – will tell if our country’s bee population will continue to bounce back from lows suffered two years ago. Bee colony collapse has not been in the news much since the sumemr of 2007, when 35 states reported Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The news was alarming: pollinators (which includes bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, birds, bats and the wind) are needed for the reproduction of 90% of flowering plants and one third of human food crops. In Wisconsin, cranberries and apples are among the agricultural crops almost totally dependent on honeybee pollination. The loss of 50% or more of adult worker bees was a wake-up call that demonstrated once again how little we knew about how we affect nature. Since 2006, Wisconsin has participated in the Bee Alert Survey and agreed to voluntary request inspections of hives in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Apiary Program offers inspections beginning in May and going through July and resuming in the fall. The inspector will find the queen, look for varroa mites, foulbrood diseases, viruses and any other pests or diseases. Some early signs of CCD are: • An insufficient workforce to maintain the brood • The workforce seems to be made up of young adults • The queen is present, appears healthy and is usually still laying eggs • The cluster is reluctant to consume food provided by the beekeeper, such as sugar syrup and protein supplements • Foraging populations are greatly reduced or non-existent Since local bees alone can’t effectively pollinate huge acreages of crops, migratory beekeepers from Florida, Texas, Mississippi and California haul about 40,000 hives or colonies into Wisconsin to help pollinate fruit and vegetable crops. Local farmers often rent the visiting hives for pollination. Although the mingling of local bees with migratory bees may be beneficial to the gene pool, it can also spell disaster when a very serious die-off of honeybee colonies spreads across the country. Since no one knows the exact cause of CCD, there are only precautionary guidelines for beekeepers to keep their colonies safe. They include: • Not combining collapsing colonies with strong colonies • Storing equipment where bees won’t have access to it when CCD is found • Treating with certain bacterial agents and not others Timothy Fulton, president of the Wisconsin Honey Producers Association says: “ There seems to be a number of factors that are affecting CCD. One of the most important aspects is nutrition. Bees need a variety of proteins from a variety of flowers. Having a population just available for alfalfa, for example, weakens their systems.” He also mentioned viruses, mites, certain insecticides and mold. Last year was a good year, with very little die-off. It is uncertain yet what the bee population will be like as of this writing since they are just beginning to stir from their […]
Jun 1st, 2009
Spring’s Promise
History’s biggest lesson might be the success of hope.
May 1st, 2009
Greening the White House
Madison woman wins national grassroots vote to send a farmer to transform lawn into organic garden.
May 1st, 2009
More Matters
On any given day, 45 percent of children eat no fruit, and 20 percent eat less than one serving of vegetables.
May 1st, 2009
The Natural Gardener
Greetings, gardeners! Let the season begin! The landscape is budding, lawns are greening and nurseries and garden centers beckon. May is a month of promise, but it can also be daunting because now it’s time to turn winter gardening dreams, visions and plans into reality. Did you see winter slip by without making plans? Take some time now and your improved landscape will reward you. If your goal is continuous color, check the bloom times of various plants. If you want a specific color scheme, find plants appropriate for landscape areas, containers, or window boxes. If you plan to raise vegetables, consider varieties for sunny spaces and check how long they take to mature. Thinking of adding a tree or shrubs? Research which do well in our area, and definitely check their mature size! Now you can make your shopping list. This will keep you from buying ‘one of everything,’ as we all are tempted to do. Refer to your gardening journal, notes or photos from last year to remind you which plants to move, divide or replace and what voids need to be filled. If you haven’t kept records, start now and you’ll be glad for the information later. Gardening Tasks By now you have enjoyed spring flowering bulbs. Snip off faded flowers so energy goes to the bulb for next year’s growth. Don’t remove foliage until it dies back as it is needed for future plant energy. Tuck in early blooming annuals such as pansies to provide color and hide straggly leaves. You can also add perennials to help in the future, but be careful where you dig! Before adding new plants (or bulbs in the fall), mark the location of existing plants. This prevents you from digging them up accidentally or slicing bulbs with a sharp tool. You can buy markers at a garden center, or use transparent plastic silverware as an inexpensive and unobtrusive alternative. Plant type and color can be added with a permanent marker. I do this with lone tulips and later move them to related clumps. Spring-blooming shrubs can be pruned as soon as they complete flowering; finish by early June to provide enough time to set next year’s flower buds. Renewal pruning can benefit suckering shrubs including lilacs, forsythia and bridal wreath spirea. You need to remove one-third of older stems to ground level. For pruning information, check a basic how-to book or the University of Wisconsin-Extension (UWEX) web site for publications to download or purchase. Planning to expand your planting space? Use a garden hose to outline proposed beds. This provides a good visual reference and you won’t be disappointed later to discover you chose the wrong site, size or shape. It’s helpful to prepare your beds before shopping and planting. Work compost or fertilizer into the top 6 – 12” of the soil, rake it smooth and then let the soil settle. A soil test can determine if it needs specific amendments. This can be done commercially or through UWEX. […]
May 1st, 2009
Spring for Fun
Getting friends involved in chopping, tearing, and piping is a terrific way to interact. Let everyone grab a glass of local wine or craft beer and invite them to pick up a knife or pastry bag.
May 1st, 2009
Love Endures
Though the pace of change is unrelenting, some things never change.
May 1st, 2009
Puttin’ on the grits!
Coarse grain’s delicious versatility makes it a perfect fit for your pantry.
May 1st, 2009
