It's all about the full-circles here, people.

¡Hola Todos!

My name is Livy Bulger and I hail from the great state of Maine. Where exactly in Maine, you ask? Southern. Actually, the most southern town before the border of New Hampshire. It's called South Berwick and it's one of those towns from the movies, made up of one Main Street with a cafe and a grocery store and a bank and a place that sells vacuums (so random!). Most importantly, it has absolutely zero stoplights. Only a crossing guard. Named George. Who loves peach ice cream (long story).I'm currently a senior at UVM, majoring in Environmental Studies and Food Systems in the Rubenstein School. I spent last spring semester in Oaxaca City, Mexico studying Spanish and Food Systems and living with a host family. It was the most unforgettable experience of my life and I truly don't know where I'd be without it. It taught me so much not only about myself, but also about my place within this big, wide world of ours. Re-evaluation is crucial to happiness and Earth-grounding. Siempre, siempre, siempre.

In June, I moved into my first official Burlington apartment and had an amazing summer farming at Riverberry Farm in Fairfax, working 80 acres of dank, organic goodness of vegetables and fruits! I also farmed last summer in Maine, as an apprentice at Rippling Waters Farm, located in Standish. I worked through MOFGA, Maine Organic Farmer and Gardener Association, much like NOFA here in Vermont. I love to cook and spend time around a dinner table and heaping plates of food with good friends and conversation. I recently took up baking and have done a few different breads. Due to sweet farm hook-ups, I was able to also do a bunch of canning this year. My strawberry rhubarb jam is a sure favorite, but I also rocked some dill pickles, hot pepper jelly, peach tomato salsa and garlic-y heirloom tomato sauce.I live for farmer's markets and try to make it at least two weekly-Tuesdays in the North End and Saturdays at City Hall. I've loved seeing how the farmer's market revolution has made it's way into the main stream and seriously, who doesn't love meeting their farmer? Face to face, the real deal. Local food is definitely my thing and I find some much intimacy and fulfillment in being able to shake the hand of my farmer to thank them for their work to fill my belly, with the same hand I just shook, that I'm about to eat. Kind of confusing, but it's all about the full-circles here, people.

I also love kids. Teaching kids about food and the environment? Even better! I'm three weeks into an internship at Charlotte Central School teaching fourth graders about ethnobotany and Abenaki Native American heritage in a program called the Pease Mountain Stewardship Program. After I graduate from UVM this spring (woah) I plan to enroll in a newly created program called Food Corps, which was started by the founders of Slow Food International. It works with elementary schools across the country to build gardens and improve nutrition and environmental connections by incorporating this fresh food into the school lunch program.

The most important thing that I associate with food is activism. My own kind of activism. My own food sovereignty to plant, nurture, harvest, share and enjoy. All of that goodness with not a corporate hand involved. My hands and my hands, only. People love with a lot of different things. For me, I love with food.Cookies to the neighbor boys, leftovers to the older lady next door, fresh veggies or leftover bread from work to the man picking for cans on Church Street. Food is my means of love and it's pretty incredible what kind of light and joy it can bring into others and in building a greater community as a whole.

Needless to say, I am a foodie.
And this is my blog, where I will be doing what foodies do and writing to y'all about it!

Photo Credits:

1. Me. "El agua del Apoala." April 2011. PC: Zoe Hoffman.

2. Oaxacan Bowls. "Colores Locos." February 2011. PC: Livy Bulger

3. Beck & I. "Oaxacan Foodies." March 2011. PC: Katie Pierce

4. My Porch. "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." July 2011. PC: Livy Bulger