New Gifts from the Garden

We have almost more produce than we know what do to with!  It is a wonderful problem.

Nuestra Casita: How We Made 700 Sqare Feet into Plenty of Space

Generally, I don't believe in love at first sight, but truly, we loved our tiny condo from the first time we walked inside.  And let's be honest, in the Bay area, two public employees aren't going to be buying a palace! However, we always wondered if 700 square feet and no yard and no garage would  be something we could sustain as our forever home.  With two adults and two children, the arrangement felt very doable (especially because we love the place so much) but when we started to think about how to pack three kids into one bedroom, we began to doubt that we could remain in nuestra casita much longer--in large part because the nine-month countdown had already started!

I had a moment of clarity when I realized that getting a bigger place would only mean more work, and would be compounded by the fact that we would have an infant to care for, too. So, with a very modest budget, we set out to completely rethink the interior of our house.  Things still aren't totally finished (note the art storage in the hallway and the impossible-to-see mismatched dishes in the kitchen cupboard) but Sergio says that for homeowners, things are never finished, so better just to pick a moment and say "ok."

The biggest change we had to make was switching bedrooms with the kids.  We took the little bedroom, and our queen bed did not fit inside.  Changes cascaded from there, but overall, we are very happy with the results.  This is definitely a house for five! And, our carbon footprint will remain virtually the same (probably a few extra cycles on the washer, dryer, and dishwasher) even though will we add another member to our family.

An eight-year-old recently visited and told us, unprompted, "You know, your house is really small, but it kind of looks like a rich French person lives here." It was actually one of the most fantastic compliments I have ever received, considering how candid the source was, and considering how much we worry about the clutter factor in our little place. 

Come on in and take a look!

Our grand entryway

This is our salon, as we have taken to calling it

As you can see, the library is adjacent to the dining room

This is Sergio's study

For such a tiny kitchen, it has a great layout

The hallway is still no man's land

Boudoir

Antique dresser from parents' house

This is the only art in the bedroom, due to [my] earthquake paranoia

Just got this antique perfume tray!

The washroom

The girls' room is a real mishmash of styles, just like it should be

How cool is having a piano in your bedroom?

There you have it - three beds in one little room!

To Compost, or Not to Compost

So, the city put the official stall on the multi-family housing compost pilot program.  The official word was: We need to develop appropriate outreach materials in advance of beginning a pilot, but we will certainly include Mission Village when a pilot is feasible.  Hmmmmm. Not exactly a loss, but not exactly a win, either. When I got this news, I felt as though I were at a crossroads.  Should I wait patiently, knowing all good things come to those who deserve them? Or should I put on my bossy pants and march right down to the..well, I'm not exactly sure which department, but for sure I could at least march down to the lobby at city hall and inquire.

Chalk it up to pregnancy hormones, but I just wasn't feeling very bossy.  I was feeling very zen.  This is the good side of pregnancy (if it had been during the rabid bear hormones that are known to show up during the gestational period from time to time, I may have done something slightly more ill-advised).  Instead I just said ok, and thought back to the first three tenants of this project:

1. Make the transition slowly
2. Go easy on myself if I don't always get it right
3. Honor intentions

Somewhere out there, in the future of all good things, I know a composting service for multi-family residence citizens of Union City will come to be, and I will wait patiently for now.

Sergio and the Butcher

Last week at the grocery store, Sergio was feeling bold, and he decided to ask the butcher if he could:

a. wrap the meat in paper instead of styrofoam and cellophane
b. put the meat in a reusable glass container in the future

The butcher seemed rather offended, and seemed also to think that Sergio was a bit of a dodo.

"This meat is fresh! I assure you!" he kept exclaiming.  "Do you want me to take it in the back and remove the wrapper, or cut you a fresher piece? This meat was just put out today.  It isn't bad!"

Clearly, there was a miscommunication in place.  Everybody wanted to do the right thing, but nobody was on the same page. Finally (as these sorts of situations often necessitate) the manager was summoned.  He was very amicable and very pro-green agendas.  He got the drift right away, and:

a. a new piece of meat was placed in a paper wrapper
b. we may bring a reusable glass container in the future
c. we should ask for him, at least the first time we bring the container

One point for team Zero Waste.

First Produce

The garden finally produced!  Here are our first two crops, Swiss chard and zucchini: