Family photos in the home

When my girls were toddlers I felt it was important to remind them who their family was, especially those they didn't see very often, so that when events did arise, the distant family members weren't "strangers" to them.  I incorporated current pictures as well as pictures of immediate famly in different stages of their lives, such as baby pictures/graduation pictures of their grandparents, aunts and uncles. Now the girls enjoy seeing pictures of how their family has changed and grown, and has given them a better connection to their relatives, and how people are related (paternal family members/maternal family members) to them.  Friends and neighbors enjoy seeing the collage as well.  It is a work in progress with room to add new pictures as new memories are made. 

A great background for this project was my ugly hallway closet doors.  The 1988 hollow particle board doors were uninteresting and dull... so I had nothing to lose.  I didn't want to destroy precious heirloom photos so I used color copies, which I think turn out pretty well.  I used the largest size piece of paper that the color copier at the office suppy store would accomodate...11 x 13 I think it was... I created individual collage places, copied them as a collage, and then used Modge Podge to affix the pages to the closet doors.  Then, I used several layers of the medium over the paper.  I had to cut the collages where the hinges in the foldable doors where so that they would open.  I would suggest using quite a few coats on the edges so that they don't become frayed.  Then I used funky drawer pulls to add a little more interest.  This hallway is part of our entrance, and always provide converstation for anyone who visits, and helps our girls piece together information about the story of their lives.

A Blogger's beginnings....

I have had an inherent love of agriculture since I can remember. I raised rabbits, took horseback riding lessons, planted a vegetable garden, and planted perennials. I wasn't raised on a farm however, and had to look for opportunities to cultivate my interests.  I pursued a degree in secondary education from MSU and (luckily) met my future husband who was from a farm, and was happy to continue to encourage my interests and create new endeavors together.  I graduated from MSU and was hired as an Agriscience teacher where I worked for 6 years while my husband worked in his degree field, Landscape Horticulture.  We were presented with the opportunity to purchase the business where he was employed in 2003.  He continues to create customized landscape designs for our clients, as well as supervise the build portion, while I manage our retail garden center, where we offer perennials, shrubs and trees.  We are open for Christmas with locally grown cut trees, potted trees, garland, and custom evergreen wreaths. I teach gardening and project courses at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, and through the Kellogg Manor House at the MSU Biological Station.  From May to October, I am the co-market manager of the Richland Farmers' Market.  This allows us to sell our extra farm produce as well as continue to share my love of agriculture with members of our community.

The goal of my blog is to share gardening methods, tips on raising your own food and being more self sustaining, recipes to use the food that is raised, as well as creative decorations and fun ideas using found items, natural, as well as inexpensive materials.  I hope to share my love of plants, animals and nature with you and to inspire you to incorporate local food into your life, even if it's just in baby steps....