My thesis! Completed in Winter of 2014, I set out to create a quarterly guide to share a way one might grow, harvest, and cook their own veggies in The Pacific Northwest. The 4-part guide was intended to be mailed out a once a quarter: it was made of inexpensive, but durable paper material in the effort to not become too precious- the goal was to have the handbook in hand (if you will), while out in the world, and would be well-used and well-loved. The guide was to be one encouraging a corporeal practice, being out in the garden, in whatever form that might take. To this day, I am zealous about sharing what I know with others, this project being the most expansive of explorations into that interest. The goal of the books was to teach what might seem intimidating through colloquial and easy-to-follow terms. This project was heavily inspired by my time spent farming in Bellingham, WA between school, (and, realistically, for a stint when I couldn’t afford school for a little while). That little farm is Joe’s Gardens, and remains a place very close to my heart.

The guide flows through the process, from veggie start to harvest to the kitchen, detailing different aspects of that quarter’s particular veggie, a planting guide, a recipe card , and a 7” x 14” print to hang. Made using traditional and digital media. I did a lot of hand-drawn type, and looong runs to think about how it would all fit together. There’s even a cheeky nod to CMYK- can you spot it? The whole kit-and-caboodle was hand bound and wrapped up all nice in a little burlap envelope sewn by yours truly.

I go through periods where I don’t like this work, do like it, back to not liking it, ad infinitum. Right now, I’m pretty proud of this goofy guide.