There is something odd in the idea of a couple of older guys who live on  farms going to Des Moines for a book reading and signing by the author on a Friday night.  Of course, if one of the guys is the author himself, he has a good reason.  I, on the other hand,
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WASHINGTON — On Friday, Michelle Obama will begin digging up a patch of White House lawn to plant a vegetable garden, the first since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden in World War II. There will be no beets (the president doesn’t like them) but arugula will make the cut.
via Obamas Prepare to Plant White House Vegetable
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Simple pleasures gain ground | csmonitor.com
a growing group of Americans who are finding it cathartic to unplug from the digital grid, at least temporarily. While there is no exact data to track how many people are forming knitting groups, hosting house concerts, or organizing family game nights, it is possible to connect the dots between
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Kim Severson and Andrew Martin share this reminder about food labeling.
Although the rules governing organic food require health inspections and pest-management plans, organic certification technically has nothing to do with food safety.
via The ‘Organic’ Stamp – Does It Mean That Food Is Safer? – NYTimes.com.
Be sure to listen the “Backstory”  Multimedia audio link that accompanies
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NPR’s Megan Verlee reports on All Things Considered about a new kind of urban farmer.
City Folk Flock To Raise Small Livestock At Home : NPR.
If you wonder how to do this and keep the neighbors content, consider this:
But backyard farmers seem to have one ace in the hole for answering any local objections: bribery. Plenty
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The New York Times features a review of cabin living and a slide show of cabins ranging from the mid 6 figures in price down to the more reasonable 5 figures.

“One of the biggest environmentally friendly trends we’re seeing is the use of local materials,” said Dale Mulfinger, an adjunct professor of architecture at the
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Bill and Sharon Kastrinos move to a small space is featured on Friday’s CNN, along with a link to accompanying “iReports” from citizen journalists about their move to smaller living.  The CNN story also makes the connection to Jay Shafer of the Tumbleweed Tiny House.  Shafer has recently been on a road show with his
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Rather than trading up, or building on, some home owners are staying put and adding a detached shed-as-living-space solution. Many farms have sheds for a number of animal uses that could be re-purposed into an office, craft room, study, or teen bedroom. Suddenly, the open lots of opportunities for living spaces as you review potential
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The New York Times on September 7 leads with this headline:  Vanishing Barns Signal a Changing Iowa.  In an interesting story, Times Reporter Monica Davey describes how Iowa has changed since Works Progress Administration documented Iowa farm life in a 1930’s guide (available via Google Books )
Times writer  Davey, shares:
“But the tale of the disappearing
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Leave it to a Yale grad student to capture the imagination of the media and bloggers everywhere about living small. US News ran the news item in one of their blogs, and the Virginia Gazette picked up the photos here

It’s blogged here at Jetson Green, and even moleskinerie.com.  Elizabeth Turnbull’s reported $11,000,  144 square foot (plus
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