[Friday Link Round-Up]

1. Try upcycling your own furniture. For inspiration, check out this re-nest Furniture Facelift: One IKEA Dresser, Three Ways (not that I condone IKEA furniture. You could find something of much better quality to upcycle). Or check out this idea for creating your own picnic basket from an old suitcase.

2. Get scooting on that business idea you've kept on the backburner for so long with great articles from this week's Design*Sponge and paper n stitch. Check out this post on the difference between PR and marketing (a vital difference indeed). Or read the 3-part series on how to become influential and likable in business. I sort of take issue with the idea that women have to be "likable" to be successful in business, but the ideas in these posts are still totally legit even if gender relations aren't.

3. San Francisco just passed a law allowing people to sell their homegrown produce to restaurants, stores, and so on. This is a huge step for urban farmers. 

Photo via Michael Macor, The Chronicle

4. Today is Earth Day! Stage a rain dance! Kiss a tree! Roll in some grass! Or just look at pretty photos of how majestic the world can be.

Havasu Falls, AZ via here

[Green Thursdays] My Own Little Urban Garden

A few months ago, I said in defiance that I was planning to start my own backyard urban garden. I live in a postage stamp of a house in Bernal Heights, but my roommate and I (okay, mostly my roommate -- she has quite the green thumb) have succeeded in waiting out the winter months and have done our planting for the spring. Here are a few shots of what we've done with the place. It's all in containers right now, but we plan to use some raised beds soon, once things get a lil crazy back there. 

Right now, we're growing: 

• Strawberries
• Swiss chard
• Cherry tomatoes
• Thyme/Rosemary
• Mixed lettuces
• Potatoes
• And lots of other stuff that I can't even identify because my roomie has done some of her crazy magic back there, and I no longer recognize the plants I so lovingly picked out at Flowercraft.

The backyard entrance 

Flowers and herbs

Edible Weeds

Our Thriving Tomatoes

[Friday Link Round-Up] Spring Fashion, Jane Eyre, Cinnamon Bread, Urban Farming

1. WEAR. Be inspired by the carefree spring fashions cropping up over at Cupcakes and Cashmere.

2. WATCH the new Jane Eyre movie. It's out tonight!

3. BAKE cinnamon pull-apart bread with a recipe by Joy the Baker (one of my absolute faves). I've never seen anything like this before! Saturday calls for sleeping in and spending time baking - then EATING - this. 

4. READ this new book from Spring Warren, called The Quarter-Acre Farm about urban sustainability and farming. 

[News] Back-to-Farm Movement Stunted by Price of Land

Alemany Farms in San Francisco via sf.streetsblog

Here's an interesting article from Palo Alto Daily News about the unattainable price of farmland in California. I've been pushing my parents for years to open a goat farm and make cheese (their idea, not mine, seriously), but my dad has always said that the price of land here would make it virtually impossible to turn a profit on such a venture. 

It's sad news for those hoping to join tthe major return of the back-to-farm movement and sustainable farming. 

Personally, I think there should be tax deductions and other financial incentives to landowners who intend to use their space for sustainable purposes, but the California budget probably can't stretch to meet that need. It's the sad but true reality of one of the most "progressive" states in America. If we don't get our priorities straight and look toward the future, there might not be such bright, sunny days ahead for the Golden State. 

[Green Thursdays] Raising Urban Chickens

My friend's baby chick

Raising urban chickens is the new cool thing to do. Just ask my friend Marie who started raising her own in October. I mean, it's a win-win all around if you've got a bit of space: you get cute pets that are fairly stupid so they're easily trained, you get some delicious eggs that are sure to impress house guests, and you get to give the chickens all your food scraps because they'll basically eat anything.

I just found this site that helps you get started. And you'll find a surprising number of chickens for sale on craigslist (please don't buy a turkey fryer at the same time you buy a chicken. That will scare the poor thing.)

There are a few drawbacks: it's hard to have other animals if you have chickens. See the photo below. Also, they can be a bit noisy, so make sure you check with the city if you are allowed to keep them and warn your neighbors. Lastly, they tend to get sick when they are younger, so it's useful to read up on chicken ailments.

Happy chicken raising!

Don't let this happen to your chickens!!!