Needless to say, living in the Pacific Northwest has been an adjustment. However, I am ecstatic to live in a region that gets more than a few things right, with a friendly smile, and breathtaking scenery. I am now fairly certain that there is no other place I would rather live, though I plan to travel the world as much as possible just to be sure.

I have an insatiable need to feed people, which is rooted in my Texas heritage of bar-b-ques and potlucks, and runs in my adopted Italian genes. I love to cook, and on Fridays I prepare a huge meal for my friends, stuffing them full of whatever I am experimenting with that week. I generally post those recipes here.

I'm very attracted to sustainable living. I do not claim to have self-actualized in this department (or any department for that matter!), but I think that living in harmony with the earth and each other is a good idea. I am an obsessive gardener and have been experimenting with permaculture theory and sustainable gardening practices. I aim to be self-reliant by making more and buying less.

I am a student of education. I read and learn about the ways in which humans teach each other, and the ways in which we have systematized such practices. I think that education in general is a natural part of being social animals and more could be done to strip away unnecessary bureaucracy from education systems, especially in the United States. I believe that the public education system in this country is failing the children that it serves. As far as my little corner of the world goes, I would like to learn more about creating educational communities. In a sense I am studying to build a new educational boat that will carry us in the future.

Anyway, welcome to my blog. Feel free to leave me comments and introduce yourself. I appreciate any feedback you might have on both the content of my writings and the layout of my website. Thanks for visiting.

-Gwen Kiehne