Happy Black Friday! Not.

Today I slept in, woke up, and immediately ate some leftovers for breakfast. I did NOT brave the chilly November air to risk life and limb for that one Christmas gift. In fact, none of my family did. I am home for Thanksgiving and I have to say, I am very thankful to have all of my family home.

After living in an apartment for a few months, I realize how useful a yard is. I'm not sure how sustainable it is to have a yard — shouldn't we all be living in small cities in the ideal sustainable future? But I have to say a yard would be ridiculously useful. I could have a large compost pile and use the end product to fertilize my garden - where I would grow all my herbs and vegetables I would cook with. What a nice fantasy. It is unlikely I will have a yard anytime soon, however, so I will have to make do. I asked my father about composting supplies to see what he knows about it. He grew up in the 60s and 70s, so I figured he might have some knowledge. He told me about the importance of the carbon dioxide and nitrogen ratio and said his ideal composting situation would be 4 areas sectioned off with cement blocks on a rotating cycle. He didn't however have much confidence in apartment composting. That tells me to be cautious because it is likely if I don't know what I am doing, I will just end up with failed experiment. I will have to do some more reading and see what I can do.

In other news, I heard from a professor about a man only a handful of miles from East Lansing that raises his own marine shrimp. He is using a method of indoor aquaculture we were learning about in class called indoor recirculating systems. It would be a good place for me to buy shrimp next time we want to cook with it! At least there won't be a lot transportation involved! I will be emailing my professor for a way to contact the shrimp man today.