By Michelle Riggen-Ransom

This “Meet a Parent” is a little different than usual. To kick off a summer of gardening, I interviewed my friend and avid gardener TJ Sondermann about his gardening habits. TJ is a librarian who is currently at home with his almost seven-month-old son. He’s also a committed urban gardener, a fount of techie and greenie information, and an all-around nice guy. Let’s meet him!

Where do live?
TJS: Providence, RI

What are you planting this year?
TJS: This year we’re removing lots of lawn to make room for perennials. In the veggie garden, we’re planting corn (which we grow mainly to make the dry stalks into fall decorations as the squirrels always eat all the corn), lots of assorted greens, eggplant, tomatoes, pickling cucumbers, our regular assortment of herbs, and we’re experimenting with Brussels sprouts.

We’re also planting a neighborhood BYOS (bring your own scissor) herb garden on the side of our house this year. Come on over for a sprig of thyme if you need it.

Where do you garden?
TJS: The first day we looked at the house that would become our own, my wife was asking all sorts of appropriate questions about taxes and heating bills. Me, I had my eye on about sixty square feet of space in the backyard that was screaming, “Clear me out and plant some veggies.”

I’m also volunteering a bit at the Mount Hope Community Garden this year. I can’t think of a better way to get your family involved in the fabric of your neighborhood than by standing shoulder to shoulder, knee-deep in compost with the diverse group of folks who generally make up a community garden.

Who do you garden with?
TJS: Generally with my wife and a small group of friends whose children range in age from 4 months to 6 years of age. We all pitch in (with advice or manual labor) from time to time at one another’s backyard plots and share the bounty either directly or through weekly dinners. Last year a few of us (kids included) plucked many pounds of basil leaves from stems and had a pesto making party. Everyone went home with a few containers of freshly made pesto.

What is your favorite thing about gardening with your child?
TJS: I’ve been hooked on gardening since my grandfather sat me on his lap at age 5 and showed me a cucumber that he had grown inside a beer bottle (Michelob, of course), and I cannot wait to do the same for my son.

Thanks, TJ! Happy Gardening to you and your family.

Nature/Nurture, written by Michelle Riggen-Ransom, is an occasional column with ideas and information to help kids and their families engage with the natural world in fun, interesting ways. Share your thoughts and explorations by adding your comment below, or contact us with your story ideas.

PHOTO CREDIT: From TJ Sondermann’s Flickr account

Time to celebrate all the dads out there.

Today I’m honoring my husband, my father, my father-in-law, and my mom’s father, “Grampy”—still alive at age 92. And my dad’s father, “Baba”—although he passed away, I have many fond memories of his visits to this country when I was a child.

I admire these men for their strength, integrity, and strong moral character. They all have a great sense of humor, know how to have fun and are great storytellers (important in our house). My boys and I are fortunate to be surrounded by such great male role models.

This picture shows the boys having a fun time with their dad—they were all inspired to make their own Soapbox Derby vehicle after watching the Soapbox Derby Races last year here in Providence.

Read more about Father’s Day.

Today’s Kidoinfo Interviewer: Nancy King

Kidoinfo: What neighborhood do you live in?
DR: I always tell people who ask this question: “I live in the 1950s.” But the real answer is Rumford, East Providence. It just reminds me of what I imagine it was like in the 1950s – small houses on small lots with people of various ages and occupations living right on top of each other. It’s a real neighborhood. My neighborhood throws a block party in the summer…

Kidoinfo: Where were you born?
DR: I was born in Springfield, Vermont, in the southeastern part of the state. Again I have a shopworn line about it, because everyone thinks growing up in Vermont must have been so beautiful! … It is a beautiful state, but my little corner is not the part you see on the postcards. I’ve always thought there was a Universal Law of Conservation of Charm that governed states. My part of Vermont is the part with the charm deficit that allows Woodstock, Burlington, and the like to be extra charming. Having said that – it was a great place to grow up. And I love going back to visit my family, all of whom live there now. I have a much greater appreciation for it now than I did when I was a teenager and all I could think about was leaving.

Kidoinfo: How long have you been in Rhode Island?
DR: We moved Providence from Rochester, N.Y., in 1993.

Kidoinfo: What is your current state of mind?
DR: Anxious. About most everything… Then again, it’s sort of my permanent state of mind, and I don’t find it debilitating; it’s more of a motivator.

(more…)

Neighborhood: Nayatt-Beach, Barrington

Kidoinfo: How long have you lived in Rhode Island?
PC: Three long, wonderful years.

Kidoinfo: What is your current state of mind?
PC: Swirling (getting ready for a science fair and I’ve not done much yet..ahhhh).

Kidoinfo: Who’s in your family?
PC: Ted — Man of Unbelievable Ethos; Slade the (currently practicing) Benevolent; Archer the Performance Artist (has indelible red scrawl on his face to show his school the look of ’surprise’); Babe the albino dog that looks like a pig, honks like a goose, and acts like a 95-year-old Irish bitty; Sketchy and Hoagie— the feral brother/sister feline duo.

Kidoinfo: What trait do you most admire about your family?
PC: We love to laugh deeply and think potty humor is incredibly funny.

Kidoinfo: What is your favorite thing to do?
PC: With kids — dance like a crazy person. Without kids — surfing. Someday with kids — surf.

(more…)

Home Work: Lessons from Work at Home Parents. Like many of us, these parents juggle kids, work, and childcare (or lack of it), but their unique situation requires that they squeeze in worktime at home, whether working for someone else or running their own business. Hearing how these parents manage to make it work along with the challenges they face may help the rest of us with our own home work.

Today Cindy Elder, founder of Bristol Harbor Homemade, shares with Katy Killilea of Kidoinfo how she deliciously does her Home Work.

Cindy was born in New York and moved to Barrington, RI, when she was six. She graduated from Barrington High School and received a BA with a double major in creative writing and career writing from Roger Williams University. She and her husband, Bob Elder, live in Barrington with their two daughters – Elizabeth, age nine, and Emily, age ten. Cindy’s business, Bristol Harbor Homemade, is an artisan food company (formed in May 2004) that produces all-natural gourmet baking mixes such as cookies, breads, scones and biscotti. (Read Katy’s review on Kidoinfo.)

Kidoinfo: What inspired you to start your business?

Cindy: I’ve always enjoyed producing homemade treats for the holidays. When we were living in Harvard, Massachusetts–a very rural town–I noticed that many of the local farm stores carried baking mixes packaged in mason jars. I decided to package my own favorite recipes for gift giving, and it became an annual tradition. These pre-made mixes were a time-saver for me at home, so I often made extras to have on hand for quick baking with that “made from scratch” quality. They really came in handy when we were sailing with the kids in the summertime, because storage and work space are scarce commodities on a boat. It made sense to pre-mix as many things as I could so that we could eat well on board without a lot of fuss.

How did you start your business?

Cindy: When we first moved to Rhode Island, we enrolled our kids at the Gordon School. At one of my first PTO meetings there, they mentioned they were looking for fundraising ideas. I offered to make up some of my cookie mixes, and we sold out of the 120 jars in a few hours. After the fundraiser, people kept asking me for more. “I don’t care what you put it in – just get me more of that mix,” they’d say. Several of my fellow moms, along with the school’s kitchen manager, encouraged me to turn it into a business. The next step was to become a certified food safety manager, incorporate the business, and refine the recipes. Then we had to settle on a logo, an image, and packaging concepts. I worked closely with a few local retailers who gave me great feedback on my designs, and these people became my first retail customers. In the beginning, most of my sales came through fairs, events, and fundraisers where I was able to showcase my products.

How do you balance work and family?

(more…)

Home Work: Lessons from Work at Home Parents. This series of Kidoinfo Interviews with parents is about how they manage to squeeze in work time at home (whether working for someone else or running their own business) along with juggling kids, homelife, and childcare (or lack of it).

Today Ilira, co-owner of Rag & Bone Bindery shares with Anisa Raoof of Kidoinfo how she artfully does her Home Work.

Ilira Steinman runs Rag & Bone Bindery with her husband, Jason Thompson, in their renovated mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Rag & Bone is not just about selling books but about honoring the traditional craft of bookbinding to create a successful business that allows time for her family. The couple lives upstairs from the business with their two children (under seven) in their recently renovated loft.

Rag & Bone Bindery employs eight people to create a beautiful line of handmade photo albums, journals, guest books, baby books, and other fine bindings distinguished by their craftsmanship and enduring beauty. Their books, albums, and journals can be found in fine gift shops, stationery stores, photo studios, and galleries across America and beyond.

Kidoinfo: What inspired you to start your business?

Ilira: I come from a family of small business owners, so it always seemed like a possibility within reach to have my own business some day. I also found bookbinding to be an extremely meditative and satisfying craft.

How did you start your business?

Ilira: Shortly after meeting Jason (now my husband), I had to come up with a birthday present for him. After analyzing the implication of every possible gift, I decided that having recently returned from a bookbinding apprenticeship in Italy, a handmade journal was the best bet – I also liked the idea of the book as an empty vessel and it represented limitless possibilities (oh to be young and romantic again!). He was so taken by the book and the process that he started making books a few months later on his own. For five years, Jason steadfastly made all sorts of albums and journals while I labored away designing and sewing women’s hats. As Rag & Bone Bindery blossomed, we decided to join forces and make it the family business.

How do you balance work and family?

Ilira: When I am in the studio, I try to be very focused and driven so that I can play equally hard when I am with the kids. It isn’t quite so cut and dry since we live in the same building that we work in. I don’t mind that our family conversations often include talk of the business. It’s part of who we are and I think it is beneficial for the kids to know how hard we work and how rewarding it can be.

Please describe a typical day.

(more…)

Children tend to have someone at their beck and call—someone called Mom (and Dad). I know there are many busy moms out there like me who may work in or out of the home, are juggling kids, the household, the spouse—and trying to squeeze in one more thing on the to-do list. The very idea of having someone to help me out is simply irresistible. And for those of us who live in the Providence area, we are lucky enough to have someone at our Beck and Call. Melissa Laundry is a stay-at-home mom with lots of free time since her son goes to school all day. She will run all sorts of errands: pick up dry cleaning, make coffee runs to the office, handle vet visits for your pet, wrap a birthday present, or come to your home or office to notarize your papers, and more. She charges an hourly rate with a half-hour minimum. So, if you need a little help with your to-do list, you may want Melissa at your Beck and Call. And imagine what a brilliant gift this would be for a new mom—one size fits all!

You may have noticed a change to the Kidoinfo events calendar. With the help of my techie husband, Doug, we have set up Google Calendar to track events instead of 30 Boxes. Although I liked the way 30 Boxes looked, it did not always display all events or allow you to save an event to your own calendar. I am in the process of testing more sophisticated calendars that will allow readers to input their own events and share them friends with a click of a button. In the meantime, Google Calendar allows you to see a list of events by day, and with one click you can expand the event to see a description and the location. You can also add any of these events to your own calendar using the iCal format.

On a personal calendar note: I am on a quest to organize my life - stay on top of e-mails, PTO and work meetings, article deadlines, and a night out with my husband or gal pals. I have been searching for a calendar that works, a reliable place to jot down my ideas, and a place to track my contacts. Anna recently wrote about this topic on her blog, “To do today: tell me how you stay organized,” and many readers have commented on what they do. I am curious about what works for you. Are you a Post-it person or paperless? Just as in parenting, other people’s tips and tricks can be enormously helpful.

I am a notebook person (maybe too many), and I use a combo of online and offline systems which I will write more about later. I’ve also started using Google Calendar for myself, which allows me to set up separate calendars for work, school, and home. I can see them all at once or turn off the ones I do not want with a simple click. I can also share the calendars with my husband so he knows when we have a school event, the kids have a doctor’s appointment, or when we’ve scheduled a babysitter.

I invite you to share your thoughts about the new Kidoinfo Events Calendar and how you stay organized.

In this month’s Fit Tip, our contributor Jen reminds us how important it is to clear our mind of all the stuff that fills our days as parents—juggling kids, school, shopping, cooking, home, and work. Since my mind tends to wander more when I try to sit still and relax, I like the “Progressive Relaxation” technique she recommends because it forces me to concentrate on relaxing each part of my body one by one—which prevents me from thinking about what didn’t get done that day or what I am making for dinner.

Here is what Jen has to say: 
Taking a few moments to clear your mind does wonders for your overall health. Whether you choose to meditate or prefer a different method of relaxation, this time will allow you to think more clearly, sleep better, and be more productive throughout your day.

In addition, practicing relaxation techniques can improve how you respond physically to stress by slowing your heart rate, lowering blood pressure, slowing your breathing rate, reducing your body’s need for oxygen, increasing blood flow to major muscle groups, and reducing muscle tension.

In terms of overall health and lifestyle, relaxation techniques can reduce physical symptoms such as headaches and less back pain, as well as emotional responses such as anger and frustration. You stand to benefit from increased energy, improved concentration, a greater ability to handle problems, and more efficiency in daily activities. What parent doesn’t need this?

One relaxation technique that works for many people is called Progressive Relaxation (it’s helpful to tape the instructions before starting your practice). Read how this method works and about other techniques that help quiet the mind and relax the body on the University of Maryland’s website.

Contributed by Jen Morin, Pilates/Corporate Fitness Director at EVOLUTION bodywork & nutrition in Bristol.

Neighborhood: Hill and Harbor in East Greenwich

Kidoinfo: Where were you born?
FL: I was born in Hartford, Connecticut, home of the once mighty Whalers (and I’m proud of the fact that I can still bust out their theme – “Brass Bonanza” - at a moment’s notice).

Kidoinfo: How long have you lived in Rhode Island?
FL: I have lived in Rhode Island since 1997 when fate brought me to Block Island. I was all set to leave a year later for the bright lights of Brooklyn, when I crossed paths with a certain preschool teacher. Good-bye Williamsburg, hello Providence!

Kidoinfo: What is your current state of mind?
FL: I’m feeling upbeat and hopeful, and thinking of adventures near and far (especially far).

Kidoinfo: Who’s in your family?
FL: My family consists of my wife, Kateri, my three kids, Ivy (7), Stella (5), and Ezra (10 months), and our cat, Aedan.

Kidoinfo: What trait do you most admire about your family?
FL: The ability to sleep well in a tent for weeks on end.

(more…)