Food & Wine: Joe's Garden Has New Owners!

Joe's Garden, a popular place for local produce and an inspiration for one of our own cooking classes, is under new ownership--kind of. Parents Karl and Carol Weston are passing the torch to their two sons, Jason and Nathan Weston.


Seeing this article reminded me that I needed to make a trip to the Southside for the amazing produce that Joe's Garden offers. Now that it actually feels like summer outside, it's time to taste its bounty!

This Fall, Mary Ellen Carter will feature the produce of Joe's Garden in "Cooking in Season: Fresh From the Garden." In fact, students will be able to join her as she selects the perfect produce, and then everyone will head to Sehome to see her cook it up in her signature delicious dishes. Look for it in our Fall Schedule, which will be on the web August 17th!





To read the full article, click here.

Personal Enrichment: Don't Ignore Your Gut

Have you ever heard of gastroneurology? It's the study of your stomach as your body's "second brain." Apparently the brain is not the only place that has neurons or neurotransmitters, and scientists are just beginning to figure out the subtle messages that go between your brain and your stomach based on your emotions and reactions to the outside environment.

Thus, if you have a "gut feeling" about something, it may not be unfounded. In fact, it may be a symptom of a very sophisticated process going on in your nervous system. On a similar note, Community Education will be bringing back its popular "Awaken Your Intuition" class this fall, where instructor Carolyn Schieck will discuss ways to be aware and follow your intuitive sense. In this society of facts, figures, and tangible evidence, we often don't give our own bodies enough credit.

To read the full article on slate.com, click here.

Self Discovery: Kid Connect

I recently had a discussion with a fellow dad about connecting with our kids. It gets harder and harder to connect as our kids get older. Busy lifestyles and work schedules also take away time from the connection process.
This busy dad wanted to know how I did it. Here we were, sitting in the woods taking a break from playing paintball with our sons and this dad wanted to know the secret. My answer? Your doing it.
The key is to spend time with them as often as possible doing the things they want to do. You make time for your family like you make time for anything else.
The Zen Habits website recently published a list titled 10 Activities for Connecting with Your Kids. If you have been feeling disconnected, this list can help you re-establish those connections with your kids.
Remember that we also have a few more sessions left in our Kids College running the next couple weeks.
Photo by Jérôme

Community Education: Hot Tips for Cooling Down

With temperatures now in record territory, any tricks to keep cool are worth learning. The Real Simple website just published an article with 23 Steps to Keeping Cool. Many of these will provide relief from the sun. Some, I hadn't even heard before like:

• Close the damper on your fireplace... With the heat, your chimney actually works in reverse sucking heat down into the house.
• Blow the fan out of the house... If its hotter inside than outside, turn the fan around. Bill Nye "the science guy" says its kind of weird but the fan works better that way.

If the heats getting to you, than checkout this article and learn how to cool down!
Picture by Luke Gattuso

Business: Sole Proprietors to Take Over Whatcom County

In Dave Gallagher's most recent column in The Bellingham Herald, he discusses the findings of the latest U.S. Census report that shows that Whatcom County has an unusually high number of sole proprietors. Called "non-employers", these businesses are owned by one person, have no employees, and often work out of their homes. The official tally is 13,357, mostly in either professional services or real estate.

This number is surprising in that it is higher than other counties of equal size. However, it is no surprise to the SBDC training department here at Community Education. We see these sole proprietors every week at our workshops as they learn how to amp up their marketing, manage their books, and informally network with their peers. They are a part of what makes Whatcom County a thriving, diverse business community, and we are glad to help them succeed at their passion.

For more information about Community Education classes for small business owners, click here.

To read the full article in The Bellingham Herald, click here.