Beth’s blog is The Expatriate’s Kitchen, “Musings on food and life, with my original recipes, and a cynical wit as sharp as my ten-inch French knife”.

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March begs for a dash of newness and, in the spirit of greening our lives and recycling, there’s no better food for fodder (literally) than revisiting the things we see everyday, probing for a nugget of inspiration. From dusting off old cookbooks (I’m amazed at how I can always rekindle an old favorite I haven’t made in a while from our B&B cookbook, Edible Earth: Savoring the Good Life with Vegetarian Recipes from Inn Serendipity) to foraging to the back of the pantry and finding that jar of grape leaves in brine (foodie impulse buy?), there’s a good shot of ideas nearby.

In this spirit of digging for fresh ideas — and to help kick-off the content on this great new Eat.Drink.Better site — here’s some links to a selection food blogs I originally posted to GreenOptions last year. These posts provide a buffet of fresh eating ideas, ways to save money while eating healthier and supporting your local and sustainable food system.

Read on for new perspectives with recipes to go with them:

• Use It Up: Clear Out the Pantry
• Stock Up and Buy Bulk: Think Like a Squirrel
• Edible Activism: Eat High, Use Less
  
• Edible Activism: Eat Low, Use More
• Edible Activism: Savor a Dash of Authenticity
• Edible Activism: Explore the Unusual Vegetables
• Edible Activism: Un-process the Processed

Every child should have mud pies, grasshoppers, water-bugs, tadpoles, frogs, and mud-turtles, elderberries, wild strawberries, acorns, chestnuts, trees to climb, brooks to wade in, water-lillies, woodchucks, bats, bees, butterflies, various animals to pet, hayfields, pine-cones, rocks to roll, sand, snakes, huckleberries, and hornets; and any child who has been deprived of these has been deprived of the best part of his education.

The garden provides a unique environment for children to explore the natural world and combat nature deficit disorder. There are many tiny creatures to explore and the wonders of plant life never cease to amaze a child. Children also love to explore the garden with their friends. Here are ten tips for organic gardening with small children I have collected from experience and gardening friends:

1. Wear Your Baby: All over the world women can be seen working in the fields while wearing their babies. In The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, a Chinese peasant delivers her baby in the field and goes back to work! Backpacks and other baby-wearing devices aren't just for hiking, as they can provide a secure place for your baby to rest while you pull weeds, hoe, water, etc.

2. Provide Child Size Garden Tools and Gloves: Children love to imitate their adult models, and imitation is an important part of their play development. By providing children with appropriately-sized tools, not only can they help in the garden, but also they work in their own garden beds.

3. Establish a Garden Bed Just For Your Child: One of the hardest parts about gardening with children is letting go of your perfect rows or plant spacing. By establishing a garden bed just for your child, you allow them their own space to experiment in, while you work on more delicate garden tasks. In addition, your child's garden bed will provide them with a sense of autonomy in the garden.