About the blog
My original post outlined a brand new, awesome liberal art called The New Home Economics and what that would cover, in some imaginary college of the future. These skills — basic skills towards self-sufficiency — might just be the most important skills we can learn, and the most important skills we teach our children.
I’ve been interested in this stuff for several years, but I am no expert. About four years ago, my husband’s and my lives became quite complicated: we added two kids (simultaneously) and lost quite a bit of income (mostly because of the kids, partly because of the economy). So necessity has really become the mother of invention at our house.
For me, New Home Economics is where saving money and reducing my carbon footprint meet. This is my journal of my family’s attempts to improve the health of our bodies and our planet, on a budget.
About me
I live in south Minneapolis with my husband Adam and our twin children, Rowan and Anneke, who were born 6/9/07. I’m the Interactive Marketing Manager at the Minnesota Orchestra (a new position to me) and a gardener, among many other interests. Adam works full-time part-time as an art teacher, and also refurbishes old bikes which we both ride to work. He does most of the cooking in our house, so the recipes here have been tested/modified by him.
If you’d like to contact me, drop me a line at jrensenbrink [at] hotmail [dot] com.
Thanks for stopping by,
Jennifer Rensenbrink
Minneapolis, MN
Our family, spring 2010:
Photo by Adam Kennedy Photography
Last updated April 18, 2011.
Jennifer, what a terrific blog! I love what you’re doing with the garden and your experimenting with recipes.
Just wanted to let you know I just posted a link to your blog on my own nascent blogging experiment, http://www.whattheyfound.com. I really respect what you’re doing, whether gardening, becoming involved with your food, or raising kids with healthy traditions. I’m intrigued myself by the permaculture/sustainability/slow food movements, but you’re taking action and walking the talk, which puts you quite a few steps ahead of me, steps which I hope I can follow soon. I love the blog and plan to stay a reader, keep up the good work.
Derek, thanks for stopping by. I really like your blog as well. I’m especially intrigued about the Kelly Lambert book… more on that later.
Hi! I just found your blog looking for materials for myself but more particularly hoping to find ways to teach my 8 year old daughter to have a better perspective on what she is eating. I’m hoping to get her to the point that we can reverse the direction of peer pressure in her eating choices. I look forward to reading your college level course and adapting lessons to a grade school level.
Hi, I would start with a viewing of the movie Food, Inc. or by reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma together. Those are great jumping-off points for discussions about this stuff. Good Luck!
Hello Jennifer. I stumbled upon you blog and love how you are raising your children with such healthy attitudes toward food and the environment. We have a website dedicated to teaching children about green living through gardening. I’d love to hear what you think about: http://www.gardeningforkids.org
Thanks!
Hi Jennifer, What a lovely, lovely blog. Surprising what nice things you can make with a little technique and some raw materials! (Sock arm warmers!) I especially love the pictures of canning– brought me back to my childhood in Michigan, where canning was a family event and seemed to last days. The rewards of course lasted much longer and our family recipes relied on the special foods we put by every year. They can not be duplicated today.
You and your readers may enjoy our new website: http://www.home-economics.net
We strive to provide economical products for the home that are good for your family and the environment. New products are arriving daily, so check back frequently.
Best regards,
Sandy
Hi Jennifer,
I work for the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS), founded as the American Home Economics Association in 1909. I came across your blog today, and it has a lot of great information. I also just wanted to make sure you were aware that the field of family and consumer sciences (FCS) is still providing research-based information in many areas, including personal and family finance, nutrition, apparel and textiles, and human development. FCS is taught at all levels of education and through Cooperative Extension programs.
I also thought it was very interesting that you covered the important issue of BPA. Our Public Policy Committee is taking on this issue and has provided tools to help our members take action. You can view the AAFCS BPA resolution and tools at http://www.aafcs.org/Advocacy/Resolutions.asp.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of these topics, I can be reached at gmason@aafcs.org or 703-706-4600.
Thanks,
Gwynn
Jennifer,
I really love your blog and find it very inspiring. I have already read several of the books that you have recommended and am adding several more to my library list. I also am a young mother(2 1/2 year old son), gardener, baker, and all around do-it-yourselfer (brew beer, roast coffee, make butter) that lives in South Minneapolis. I’m currently reading Homesteading by Abigail R. Gehring and have added several more of her books and thought you would like them as well. Thanks for the inspiration.
Racinda
Hi Racinda, have you found the gardening advice to be applicable to our MN climate? That has been my main criticism of nearly every homesteading-related book I’ve read… these people all seem to live in California or Oregon!
Found you through a “Fermented Salsa” search and am going to subscribe to you in google reader. I like what you are up to, your writing and the clean layout of your blog. I’ve got a similar thing happening over in suburban Seattle, so if you’re looking for some gardener-foodie-blogger company, you can find me at nwedible.com.