Author Archives: Joe Neely

ANGELIC CHRISTMAS

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Joe Neely

An excerpt from my mother, Catherine Verschoor Neely McNabb’s, writings.  She is alive and well and living in Seattle.  I do not know how old I was that year I saw and heard the Christmas angels – – seven, eight, or … Continue reading →

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COUNTRY HAM AND BLACK FRIDAY: a bit of this and a bit of that.

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Joe Neely

I had a crazy idea for next Thanksgiving: I want to raise everything at the table, including the turkey.  Looking into that now . . . where there’s a will, there’s a way. We need a comprehensive national post office … Continue reading →

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HOW FAR CAN WE SPREAD THE SEEDS OF ONE TOMATO? WHAT STORIES MIGHT WE GENERATE?

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Joe Neely

I was surprised to find a beautiful heirloom Brandywine tomato for 75¢ at Bill’s Farm Market outside of Petoskey, Michigan.  October 8th is usually too late for these gems, with only bushels of canning tomatoes still available to send us … Continue reading →

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ORGANIC EGGPLANT AND GOVERNMENT-SURPLUS CHEESE

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Joe Neely

I’ve no one but myself to blame.  I went to the farmers’ market early this morning and found some great deals but forgot the eggplant for the pasta sauce we intended to make and freeze.  No problem, thought I.  “I’ll … Continue reading →

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TEE-SHIRTS A VIABLE BUSINESS?, NOT A GOOD YEAR FOR TOMATOES and other random thoughts

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Joe Neely

GARDEN TEE-SHIRTS I’m looking for a sideline business of some sort, something to bring in a few extra bucks.  So I says to myself, I says, what could be simpler than coming up with nifty ideas for tee-shirts and selling … Continue reading →

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THE COW IS GONE, GARDENING TIME IS HERE

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Joe Neely

June 1st and it feels as if gardening season has finally arrived in southeast Michigan.  The forecast is for a high of 80° and yesterday’s humidity has abated.  The incessant and ferocious rains which I was sure would drown everything … Continue reading →

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WOULD YOU READ CHAPTER TWO?

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Joe Neely

CHAPTER ONE I parked my car at the curb and the two men sitting on a stoop across the street made me for a cop right away.  That was easy; the only white guys they saw in this neighborhood were … Continue reading →

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BABYSITTER MUSIC: (and not one single thing to do with) One Couple’s Journey Through One-Quarter of a Grassfed Cow

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Joe Neely

Babysitter Music, n., term first used by Thomas M. Neely (Am, b Grand Rapids MI, 1952 –  ) and describing a musical genre consisting of songs which tell a sappy story, often employed by teenaged girls to entertain their charge(s) … Continue reading →

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WE DID IT: One couple’s journey through one-quarter of a grassfed cow

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Joe Neely

Our quarter grassfed cow is almost gone: a few one-pound tubes of ground beef, the brisket and a chuck roast remain.  I’ve got the day off tomorrow and, weather permitting, plan to smoke the brisket all day on the grill … Continue reading →

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RALPH: One couple’s journey through 1/4 of a grassfed cow

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Joe Neely

Linda and I are opting out of the industrialized chicken market.  Instead of buying boneless, skinless breasts from the big producers – where chickens are raised in deplorable conditions and the birds fed a steady diet of chemicals and antibiotics … Continue reading →

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