Across the country (and in plenty of cities), people are growing and canning vegetables, learning to make jam and even raising chickens, for Pete's sake. Inspired in part by pushing back against a persistently sour economy, a growing portion of the population values good old-fashioned know-how. The DIY movement (or "knowing how to do important stuff," as our grandparents might call it) is picking up steam as a certified trend.
It's a home-grown revolution.
But what if you have a brown thumb and your grandparents spent more time opening cans of Bird's Eye peas than teaching you how to pluck them from the pod? You could start by keeping an eye on Robyn Jasko, creator of the Grow Indie blog, a guide to all things DIY.
Jasko recently released her first book, too: Homesweet Homegrown: How to Grow, Make, and Store Food, No Matter Where You Live. The 128-page Homesweet Homegrown encourages people to start growing their own organic food, whatever their personal (and property) limitations. Jasko, along with illustrator Jennifer Biggs, is currently on a pro-garden book tour, via Amtrak. Stops along the way include Portland, Ore., San Francisco and Asheville. Like any savvy ladies trying to sell lots of books, the duo are serving cocktails at each showing, too.
On Friday, June 29, from 6 until 8 p.m., toast with Jasko and Biggs at Short Street Cakes where owner Jodi Rhoden will host a book signing/cocktail party celebrating the release of the new book. The event will feature complimentary heirloom cocktails, sweet and savory local treats and a reading and signing by the author. Books will be available to purchase for $9.95. Short Street Cakes is located at 225 Haywood Road in West Asheville.
For more information about Short Street or the signing, call 505-4822. For more about Jasko and her book, visit http://avl.mx/gs.
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