Here at Hammock, we’re all pretty serious about our morning coffee (or tea, if you’re Megan M.)–and most of us have chosen our coffee mugs with care. Here’s a fun look at the cups we reach for each morning when we stumble sleepy-eyed into our headquarters on West End Avenue in Nashville.
When we’re not out running, TeamHammock is all into food. And we’re especially into food that is part of the locavore movement.
What’s locavore? Well, for one thing it’s a word so cool that the New Oxford American Dictionary selected it the 2007 “word of the year.”
To quote the word watchers:
“The locavore movement encourages consumers to buy from farmers’ markets or even to grow or pick their own food, arguing that fresh, local products are more nutritious and taste better.”
Since 2007, the word locavore has given way to the easier to explain term, “local food.”
And that’s the food TeamHammock is pulling together to support these days.
We’ll be posting here about lots of local food related activities we’re involved with. We’ll be posting photos and videos of the gardens many of us are busy planting. And we’ll also be posting videos and photos of the food boxes we receive by participating in a Community Supported Agriculture program.
For this post, I’ve embedded above a slide-show of my first (2006) effort at Square Foot Gardening. Well be creating several of these “Local Food Diaries” and posting links to them here on TeamHammock as we move through the planting, growing, harvesting, cooking and eating seasons.
And at least one member of TeamHammock, Lisa Ask, is maintaining a blog to chronicle her impressive garden. (Did I say impressive?)
Check back here often, as we’re growing our gardens — and sharing our ideas about local food — rapidly.
As for now, here are some links to whet your appetite:
Find farmers’ markets, family farms and other local food sources near you:
Nashville & Austin (Places that are local for TeamHammock):
Austin:
Edible Austin: A quarterly publication promoting local food in Austing and Central Texas. (Sidenote: Edible is a magazine franchise concept. Here is a list of other communities you’ll find the magazine.)
Nashville:
Nashville Farmers’ Market (On Twitter: @nashfarmmarket)
Local Table: A guide to food and farming in Middle Tennessee.
Our friend Carrington Fox’s first Nashville Scene “Bites Blog” post about her “urban garden.”
The Hammock offices are often buzzing with the sound of interviews. Voices asking questions across tables and phone lines, getting the information we need to write awesome stories for our client publications.
But recently we decided to turn the tables and interview each other. We don’t expect these interviews to make it into any award-winning publications, but we did learn a lot about each other and about ourselves as a team. For instance:
Around 1 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2009, my town of Murfreesboro, Tenn., was slammed by an F-4 tornado that killed two people, injured 50, completely destroyed 59 homes and damaged 291 more. Numerous businesses were damaged or ruined completely. The National Weather Service reports the path of the tornado extended 23 miles.
I was overwhelmed with relief when my husband told me our house, located in the southeastern part of the city, was not affected by the tornadoes. (There was also another smaller tornado reported, an F-1, that hit closer to my house, but luckily all we saw was hail, rain and green skies.) All of my friends and family members are safe, though a few have some damage to their homes.
I wanted to blog about this earlier in the week, but I’ll be honest: I have been pretty freaked out. Ever since my apartment building was damaged by a small tornado (or perhaps straight-line winds; the jury is still out on that one) back in 2003, I have had a great (and admittedly irrational at times) fear of tornadoes. My husband was at home on Friday, which, while I was concerned for his safety, also brought me comfort in that I had a direct line to what was going on at my house while I was stuck in Nashville waiting out the storm until I could drive home.
This was a huge tornado that has affected so many people in my community. There is so much damage and devastation, and my heart breaks for my fellow Murfreesboro residents. I can’t imagine what I would do if the tornado had come through my neighborhood as well—and at the advice of others, I’m trying to stop thinking about that. Tornadoes are just random acts of nature’s vengeance, and in Tennessee you have to expect them and deal with them.
So in an attempt to stop focusing on what could have happened, I’ve been concentrating on what I can control: Buying a fireproof safe (in case my home ever does get blown apart, my valuables will be sturdily contained). Knowing where our safe spot is should we be home if one comes through our area (the downstairs bathroom, the most interior room in the house). Making sure our homeowner’s insurance is up-to-date. Loving on my (four!) cats a little more each night when I get home.
And I’m also ready to help with the recovery. I’ve got clothing and household items to donate, and I am ready and willing to help with any clean-up or rebuilding projects. Murfreesboro is a great city and has been good to me. I know it will rebound, but I also know it will take time.
I’m still processing all the lessons learned from my recent trip to Haiti. Five of us Nashvillians traveled there to visit friends, find out a little more about the country and help out where we could. Don’t get me started talking about how much I loved the journey. Just count yourself lucky all I’m doing here is posting a few pics.
Here we are after cleaning out mud from a school in the Gonaives area struck by September 2008’s devastating hurricanes. After initial shyness, several of the village kids helped out in a big way and taught us a few things about swinging shovels.
We re-roofed a house damaged in those same storms. (And yes, believe it or not, there are shots of me successfully using a power saw without harming myself or others. In a skirt, no less.)
We met adorable children, who laughed at our bungling attempts to speak Creole. And while entertaining said children (one day, they numbered 300!) with tons of balloons, bubbles and soccer balls, we, by necessity, learned how to speak their language a little bit better.
Yes, we witnessed some great needs in Haiti. But we came away with memories of a lot more beauty than we ever expected.
To learn more about the work of the Haiti Water Project, one of the efforts we witnessed making a big difference in the everyday lives of people, take a minute to watch this video.
When Editorial Director Jamie Roberts isn’t jet-setting around the globe, she can be found working on her organization skills and planning her next fabulous trip to some distant land. I snuck in on her today to ask a few questions about how a typical day goes for her.
What do you reach for when you need an afternoon pick-me-up?
I walk around the office stealing food from people. Sometimes I ask nicely.
What communications medium helps you the most during the day?
Yelling like I live in a barn. No, just kidding, I like the IM. And the email. And the InterWebs. Still, when I need to solve a bigger problem or figure out a challenge, few methods are better than picking up the phone or sitting down for a face-to-face.
What is the last thing you do before you leave the office every evening?
Four times out of five, I harass Ben to help me with a last-minute design project. He loves me.
How do you divide your time each day between projects? Do you set aside specific hours to work on certain things, or do you just play it by ear and see what needs the most attention?
I usually start my day with a neat little plan to work on certain projects, but a lot of time those plans get waylaid and I have to go to where the hot projects are. I aspire to be as organized as Barbara or Lena or Summer or Natalie or Julia or Lisa … wait … am I the MOST unorganized person around this place???
If you could pack everyone in the office up and take us to work (and play) in your favorite travel destination, what would it be? Why?
The people in this office are ridiculously talented and hard-working and creative. I think a team of us could make a huge difference on some important projects going on in Haiti. Then I’d take us all to Paris, London or Greece for a party. We also really know how to throw a party.
Marketing Director Barbara Logan is one of the most organized people I’ve met and/or worked with—ever. Being someone who thrives in a certain amount of chaos, I looked forward to getting an inside peek at her daily routine here in the office.
What is the first thing you do when you get into the office each morning?
Each night before I leave I print my list of to-dos for the following day. It’s one of my favorite iCal features. Sometimes I even rank them in order so that they will prompt me in the morning. So when I arrive each morning I get a glass of water, get a handle on my inbox and then take a look at my list to see where to focus my attention first.
What communications medium helps you the most during the day? (IM, email, the phone)
All three! I like the instant help I can get from IM when I might be on a call and need a quick answer from someone. But I like email for the record it creates. I have a LOT of email folders and subfolders that I constantly refer to.
How do you divide your time each day between projects?
I try to work through things in order of their urgency. The flow of work generally sets how I divide my time, although I am usually jumping from one thing to another all day. I don’t mind though—it definitely keeps things interesting and makes the time fly by.
What three software programs do you use every day and could not live without?
I use some of the basics everyday like Excel and Word, which while functional, aren’t that exciting. On the other hand, while I don’t rely on them every day, Keynote and Skitch are must-haves for me when working on presentations or with images.
What is your favorite non-electrical tool you use for work?
Post-it notes because I really like lists.
Thanks, Barbara! I’m going to go check out these “to-do lists” that you speak of…
The interminable buildup is over.
The Obamas have a new dog. A Portuguese Water Dog. Named Bo. He’s a cute little rascal.
The Obamas are thrilled, I’m sure.
I’m not.
My wife, two daughters and I also have a Portuguese Water Dog. His name is Winston. My life, as I had known it, is now over.
Since this whole media contest for the dog started, I’ve been rooting for the Obamas to get any dog other than a Porty. Now, when people come up to us and ask us what kind of dog we own, we’ll mutter “A Portuguese Water Dog,” and they’ll invariably say, “Of course, just like the Obamas.” This has already happened. Twice. These dogs, and how great they are as pets, used to be a pretty well kept secret. Now, the secret’s out.
That’s not to speak of all the predictions about puppy mills cranking out PWDs. I hope this doesn’t turn into the President’s stimulus package for the overbreeding of a wonderful dog. Hopefully, the breeders stay just as careful about selecting owners as they were when I bought one. Portuguese Water Dogs, I’ve been told, are not in shelters. You can’t rescue one because there aren’t any to be rescued. Probably not exactly true, but whatever kernel of truth there is in that, I’ve always took it to be an endorsement of the breed and its owners.
My family isn’t as down about this as I am. And I don’t mean to rain on their parade. Now that the deed is done, I should say what’s in store for the Obamas based on our experience. Not the typical stuff about how loyal they are, playful, etc. All that’s true of EVERY DOG. In discussions with other owners of this breed, what I’ll tell you is pretty consistent with the experience of others, too.
It’s a dog that will attach to its primary caregiver. In my house, that’s my wife. Winston needs to know exactly where she is at all times. When Hannah e-mailed me earlier this year to renew that chip he has implanted under his skin, I balked at paying the $10. If Winston, who stays approximately within a 7-foot radius of my wife at all times, is missing, we’ve got bigger problems than a missing dog. It becomes a missing person’s case. So, who’s the attached human going to be? Sasha, Malia, the First Lady or Mr. President?
Good news. The dogs aren’t chewers. Bad news, they are swallowers. Socks, underwear, dead squirrels, boxes of needles (true story, this happened to Winston’s mother). You have to be hyper vigilant, especially when they are younger than three years old. Nothing of great historical value to our country small enough to be swallowed by a dog should be left sitting out. Seriously. And whatever they swallow will end up on your front lawn, or pooled up at the bottom of the stairs with their dinner.
Portuguese Water Dogs deliver presents to anyone who walks in the door. This can make for some slightly embarrassing situations. No visits by heads of state from other countries should be casual enough that the first dog is in the room. Otherwise, the first gift to the dignitary may be an article of clothing not meant for public viewing, or worse, something dead.
They will be mistaken for poodles. A lot. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
So God bless the Obamas and their new dog. I wish them well. But what would have been so difficult about them getting a labradoodle? Maybe Bo has tax problems in his past and they’ll have to withdraw him from consideration. Somebody needs to get on that angle.
Contrary to popular opinion, Editor Bill Hudgins does not spend all day looking for weird news on the Web. It finds him. His days are also filled with donkeys, time on Facebook and a comfy chair with a warm cat.
What is the first thing you do when you get in the office each morning?
My day starts early—around 5 most days (That’s me with an early bird, a Harris Hawk, at left).
Breakfast first, always, accompanied by TV news and checking email, Dilbert, Calvin & Hobbes, Facebook, and the news online. Handle any overnight business, send emails to clients or designers or writers as needed. Feed our foster-care horses and donkeys, play with cats and welcome the day—definitely a morning person whose ideas come early. I spend about 40 minutes commuting and use the cell phone only when I must.
First thing at the office: Switch on computer, get coffee and catch up on what’s happened since breakfast. If I haven’t already, figure out a plan for the day—if other things don’t interrupt. Plans are useless, but planning is essential.
What’s your favorite non-electric tool you use for work?
Sticky notes. I use stickies at home and office to capture fleeting ideas and to-dos, to remind me of obligations and appointments. They have almost replaced my “back-of-hand Pilot.”
Which meal fuels you better for the day, breakfast or lunch?
Breakfast, definitely. Morning guy all the way. Coffee and either oatmeal with fruit and nuts, or toast, cottage cheese and fruit. When I travel and have to be going all day, I go the bacon and eggs and grits and biscuits route. Lunch makes me sleepy.
Do you doodle while on the phone or in meetings? What do you doodle?
Some times at meetings. Rarely when I am on the phone. Usually I am multi-tasking and the keyboard is tempting.
How do you divide your time each day between projects? Do you set aside specific hours to work on certain things, or do you just play it by ear and see what needs the most attention?
I’ve never been able to consistently block out time for only one task. Sometimes when I am desperate, I turn off the phone and set email to check every 30 minutes to an hour. If I have to read a book for research or a review, I usually have to do that at home; there are too many incoming distractions at the office, and the chairs at home are more comfortable for that. I am thinking of bringing a reading chair to the office, but it will seem bare without a cat in it.
You can always find Digital Media Manager Megan Morris logged on to something on the Internet. With a mouse in one hand and some other gadget in the other, you can bet she’s jumping into something new for work — and for fun. I interrupted her candy-chomping and code-busting this afternoon to see how a day in the office typically goes for her.
What’s your favorite non-tech tool you use for work?
I don’t really have a lot of non-tech tools in my life, but I guess I would have to say my coffee cup. I cannot even begin to function without a cup of green tea when I first get in to the office, and it has to be out of a coffee cup (I’ve used a styrofoam one before and it’s just not good).
If you could only keep one kind of candy at your desk for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Oh Summer, this is like asking a mother which of her children she loves the most. But if I had to pick just one, I probably would go with Tootsie Rolls. I would have said peppermints, but I know that Natalie always has those up front. So HA!
What communications medium helps you the most during the day?
IM, hands down. I am a multi-tasker and hate to be interrupted by the phone (email is OK, but I can’t stand a messy inbox), and IM lets me answer someone or ask a question without having to completely stop what else I’m doing and get off track. Plus, being a nerd, I just prefer to converse in text rather than in person. I would probably IM my family instead of calling if they would let me get away with it.
What is your favorite on-the-job responsibility?
Lately I’ve been getting into some more involved (well, more involved for me) coding, so any time I get to work with php, javascript or CSS I get excited. I still love writing, but I’m really starting to appreciate the art of building Web sites—even the nerdy back-end part. The more I learn, the more I realize the creativity involved in it, and I love being able to see the graphical elements and the coded elements come together as a nice-looking, functional Web page. It makes me feel very productive.
How do you refocus if you’re having trouble concentrating or getting the creativity flowing?
If I’m getting frustrated and just can’t get back in the groove, I will usually get up from my desk and walk around a bit, or I might read a quick news piece online. Just something to take my mind off the task at hand long enough to refresh my brain. Then I will usually queue up some different music on iTunes (which artist depends on what I’m working on, but I can’t really pinpoint how I decide… I just kind of feel it) and try to get back to it.