In a convenient pocket guide size, this little book should accompany you on every shopping excursion.

You’ll learn about the Best and the Worst places to shop whether it be online, at a shopping mall, or at your supermarket. You’ll learn about which items in your supermarket are “green heros” ,and which items and companies’ products fall into the category of “corporate villian”

Not only will you learn which type of butter or margarine is the most eco friendly and  family farm- owned, but you’ll also learn which companies provide the best canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, chips, cleaning products, clothing, and so much more.

You’ll even learn which hotels, airlines, gasoline, electronics, and computers are the best earth friendly choices.

The pocket guide also has numerous internet website links included that will take you to even more extensive lists of businesses and products that meet the criteria of being earth friendly.

Find out which companies truly put the environment, human rights, animal protection, and community involvement first. This is “the guide” to have handy for those that wish to start making a change…dollar by dollar, and for those who wish to become more aware of just where and to which companies your consumer support goes to.

Find Your Copy HERE

About the Author:

Ellis Jones, PhD is the award-winning, bestselling author of The Better World Shopping Guide and The Better World Handbook. A scholar of social responsibility, global citizenship and everyday activism, Dr. Jones has dedicated himself to uncovering practical ways for people to make a difference in the world. He currently teaches in the department of sociology at Holy Cross College.

www.betterworldshopper.org

Have a chance to win "Victoria" (11 inches tall) and her teddy bear "Lovie" (3 inches tall)

Carolyn will gift one lucky “Small Town Living” reader with  not just one,but two of her lovely creations!!

“Victoria” and her teddy bear “Lovie” will have a chance to live with one lucky reader whose name is drawn via a random number number generator based on the number of comments recieved.

To have a chance to win: Simply leave a comment on this post with a way to contact you should your comment number be drawn. Contest ends Sept.13,th 2010

Read the article about Carolyn’s work here:http://stliving.com/?p=3506

Visit Carolyn’s website: http://www.patchworkark.com/

"Jing-Mei" a 6 inch tall creation by artist Carolyn Robbins

My husband and I, along with 3 cats, live in Colorado, USA at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.  Doing something I love in my home studio is a blessing.  My artwork is an extension of who I am; my hopes, dreams, thoughts, feelings and beliefs.  I have to thank my family, friends and all the collectors that make it possible for me to continue my career.

My family is very creative and I have been involved in sewing and crafts from a very early age. My father and brother are great woodworkers; my mother was an excellent seamstress and loved all crafts; and my grandmother crocheted doilies.  My sister and I enjoy crafting together whenever we can. As a child my favorite toy was a monkey named Zippy and several dolls. I never had a teddy bear or a rag doll, and always wanted a doll house. For me, the source of inspiration comes from childhood memories, vintage art and the Victorian era.  Other artists are very inspirational as well.  Marie Osmond’s dolls and Boyds Bears are favorites as well as all the artists that worked with the Annette Funicello Bear Company.  I don’t know when my love of miniatures began, but I have always enjoyed the detail of little works of art.

For many years besides bear and doll making; quilting and hand painted ornaments, as well as creating wardrobe and costuming for film, theater, and television has kept me busy.  Being a self taught artist, there are no “rules” to get in the way of creativity. Belonging to an amazing group of artists, my credit goes to several of them for their encouragement.

Making things for other people has always brought joy into my life, and I began selling my pieces at the holiday time through a show in my home.  The show included a variety of things from cross stitched items to painted ornaments.  For variety I made dolls with cross stitched faces.  My first bears were 12” tall, made of acrylic fur.  After working with acrylic fur for a while, I found the world of miniature bears and started using mohair.  Designing miniature bears began in 1996 when The Patchwork Ark was established, and soon the doll faces were painted to get a more realistic look.  The name of my business came from my love of quilting, and the many animals I enjoy creating .  They remind me of Noah’s Ark.

All of the bears and dolls are designed and handmade by me.  The fine detail of each piece is exciting.  My experience of all crafts is very helpful in creating props and accessories for my pieces.  It is so important to me to create a quality bear or doll at a reasonable price, so that everyone can become a collector.

My most favorite part of bear and doll making  is the face, and dressing the dolls.  I guess it brings back childhood memories of playing with my dolls.  Having a great face is what gives the piece character, and their unique personality; we were all created to be one-of-a-kind.  It is very special to know that someone will love the pieces that come from my hand, as much as I do.  My greatest challenge – so many ideas – so little time.

"Kwaak" a darling 5 inch tall creation by artist Carolyn Robbins

The Ark holds many creatures besides teddy bears.  You will also find elephants, monkeys, cats, ducks, and rabbits in my collection.  The dolls represent angels, young girls, girlfriends, and the wise older people in our lives.  Each bear is fully jointed and features eyes made from onyx beads or glass eyes.  The doll’s faces have been either hand painted or painted with doll eyes added for uniqueness.  The dolls are also articulated with movable arms and legs so they can be posed.  They are all filled with cotton and synthetic fiber.  Steel shot has been added to the bears for added weight.  No lead weights are used in any of the pieces. The dolls’ clothing is made of a variety of materials, and the hair is made of yarn, fibers or feathers, depending on the piece.  I normally work on one creation at a time, with some limited editions of 2 to 3 bears.  The bears and dolls are made for ADULT COLLECTORS only.

When completely finished, each piece is given a special name.  On the tag that comes with each one, you will find the name and important information about the piece.  I have begun to do a few custom orders, and will take suggestions for future creations as well.

Having my work published in bear magazines is very special; and I have enjoyed meeting other artists and collectors at a variety of shows.  My work is shown in places where there are few bear or doll collectors, in order to encourage more people to begin their collections.  Very few contests have been entered, but my reward is having customers from all over the world love what I do and enjoy what they purchase.  The most joyful part of being an artist is the pleasure my pieces bring to the lives of those who collect my pieces. Seeing the smiles on their faces when they find the new little friend they choose to adopt brings great joy. Bears and Dolls have a special place in my heart, and I am blessed to be given the opportunity to touch so many hearts and souls. Being an artist is truly a God given talent.

Sculpting is something I have always wanted to try.  My new line of Grandmother Dolls have hand sculpted faces.  They are a part of the Grandie’s Attic collection, and the ideas overflow for the future.  I am continually creating new designs for both bears and dolls and look forward to meeting new collectors.

"Lyla" a 22 inch tall doll by artist Carolyn Robbins

My pieces are sold retail but I am open to wholesale opportunities.  The pieces can be found on my website at http://www.patchworkark.com.

At the present time I attend two shows a year in my local area, as well as two online shows in the spring and fall.  You can follow “the news” of The Patchwork Ark by reading my blog at http://patchworkark.com/wordpress or signing up for my newsletter at info@patchworkark.com.

My work can also be found at various bear and doll sites.  You can find links to these places on my website.  Contact me at “The Patchwork Ark” on Facebook and “thepatchworkark” on Twitter.

The bears range in size from 2 to 12” and the dolls range in size from 10 to 22”.  The prices range from $18 to $60 depending on the piece.  The artist can be contacted at info@patchworkark.com.

Canning with the Sawtooth Botanical Garden

What: Family Canning Workshop

Location: Sawtooth Botanical Garden (Highway 75 & Gimlet Road, Ketchum, ID. 83340)

Date: Wednesday, September 29

Time: 5:30-7:30pm

Cost: $15M, $25NM. Materials included.

To join in on the fun or for more information, contact Teresa at (208) 726-9358

Join us for a traditional and exciting harvest activity! We will be making delectable jams and sensational salsas with Kaz Thea, an experienced gardener who manages the Hailey Farmer’s Market. Participants will master the art of canning by learning the process required to successfully preserve food and what materials are needed. We will be slicing and dicing, preparing the ingredients and doing the actual canning ourselves. Everyone will actively participate-even the little ones. Signup today!

Sure there is the typical…”eat it as is” approach, but sometimes we all like something a bit different and wish to discover new and innovative recipes using some of our favorite fresh produce finds.

That is where the “Southern Farmers Market Cookbook” by Holly Herrick (Gibbs Smith 2010) comes in to play.

Within the pages of this book you will find recipes for such things as: Christmas Collards, Fresh Butter Bean and Smoked Ham Hock Soup, Field Peas A La’ Provencal, White Acre Peas with Bacon and Tomatoes, Local Honey- Drizzled Cheese Toasts,Sweet River Run Farms Grass-Fed Beef Meat Loaf, Blues-Busting Blueberry Ice Cream,  and many more delicious combinations.

Although this book is titled as the “Southern Farmers Market Cookbook” there are recipes within its pages that are suitable for the Northern cook as well. Although some items like crowder peas, sweet vidalia onions, and collards are pretty common to the Southern regions of the States, there are also recipes within the book that utilize products such as tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, eggplant and many other types of produce that are grown in all areas. So don’t let the title leave you thinking that this book cannot be incorporated in the Northern kitchen as well…quite the contrary.

For those that do live in the South though, you will find a wonderful reference at the back of the book that  gives you a State -by-State Seasonal Produce Chart. Telling you within which months of the year you will find different types of produce available. The States covered are: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

You’ll also find a list of websites for each State that will direct you to the farmers markets within that State.

This is a book that you’ll find yourself turning to time and time again after your weekend visits to your local farmers market. No more of the “What shall I make with this?” game. Now you’ll have the answer with more than 75 seasonal recipes to help you along the way. As we say in the South…”Ya’ll eat up now!”

FIND YOUR COPY HERE

About the Author:

Holly Herrick is a bona fide lover of delicious food and life in general. Born in Alabama and raised in New England, Herrick’s roots hail back to rural life. Later, she attended Boston College as a journalism major and began her food-writing career with a jump-start education in classical cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France.

Holly is a first-place national awarded restaurant critic and food writer. She’s written features and columns for many magazines, including Southern Living, Lowcountry Living, Bon Appetit and more. Her first book, Southern Farmers Market Cookbook (Gibbs Smith) was released in June, 2009. This will be followed in January, 2009 by The Charleston Chef’s Table Cookbook (Globe Pequot).

Holly resides happily in beautiful Charleson, SC with her chocolate cocker spaniel therapy dog, Tann Mann and her chubby cat, Chutney.

Grant Family Farms invites you to join in its 2010 Harvestival celebration on September 11th and 12th. Harvestival is two days of music, speakers, hands-on demonstrations, and fun activities for the kids. The event, which is held on beautiful Grant Family Farms in Wellington, Colorado, starts daily at 10 am and ends at 7 pm.

Harvestival is pleased to have musical legend Judy Collins as its headliner for Sunday, September 12th. Judy Collins has thrilled audiences worldwide with her unique blend of interpretative folk songs and contemporary themes. Her impressive career has spanned more than 40 years. She is also noted for her rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” on her classic 1967 album, Wildflowers. “Both Sides Now” has since been entered into the Grammy’s Hall of Fame.

Regional and local talent features artists such as Gregory Alan Isakov, the Boulder Acoustic Society, Zivanai Masango & Pachedu, and the 3 Twins. Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Gregory Alan Isakov’s song-craft lends to the deepest lyrical masterpieces. With hints of his influences, Leonard Cohen, Iron and Wine and Kelly Joe Phelps, Gregory Alan Isakov has been described as “strong, subtle, a lyrical genius” and has shared the stage with touring artists such as Calexico, Ani Difranco, Brandi Carlile, Indigo Girls, Richie Havens, and Fiona Apple.

Joel Salatin will head the speaker venue. He is an American farmer, lecturer, and author whose books include You Can Farm and Salad Bar Beef. Salatin raises livestock using holistic methods of animal husbandry, free of potentially harmful chemicals, on his Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley. There are also hayrides, bus tours, and a host of other activities and entertainment for the entire family.

Tickets for the event can be purchased by the day or in a weekend package. Tickets prices are $20 on Saturday, $30 on Sunday or $45 for both days. Children 12 and under are free with a paying adult. Tickets can be purchased at Tickets West, the Harvestival website (www.GrantFarms.com), or Rockin’ Robins in Fort Collins, Albums on the Hill in Boulder, and Twist & Shout in Denver. For more information, visit the Harvestival website or contact Liz Barnez at lizbarnez@grantfarms.com.

A free shuttle will be available from the Lyric in Ft. Collins to/from the farm every hour on both days.

Grant Family Farms is a national leader in the production of high quality certified organic vegetables and grains. With the philosophy of producing food that is both safe and healthy, Grant Family Farms is committed to being responsible stewards of the land, the community, and the people who work on the farm. Harvestival promises to be two full days of music, speakers, and farm-family fun.

Grant Family Farms

1020 WCR 72

Wellington, CO

Did I like this variety? Or merely tolerate it?

Years of gardening have taught me one thing for certain:  to never rely on my memory of this year’s garden to help me plan for the next.   I’m not referring to my long term memory.   I can tell a argyranthemum from a leucanthemum in nothing flat.  I can tell you if hypericum likes wet feet or whether thunbergia comes true from seed.  What I cannot tell you, what I will hum and haw over if asked, is what variety I planted this year as opposed to last.  I cannot remember if it was the Dwarf Siberian Kale that I loved or the Blue Scotch.  I will not be able to recall, without teleprompters, the name of the seed company I used in 2004 to buy that rare variety of French green bean, and indeed how many days it needed to mature.  And don’t ask me what month the lunaria starts blooming – I’m at a loss.  Basically, there’s a lot of information I need to write down or it will be lost forever.

Do I hear a groan from the audience?  Not content to advise you to weed and water your patches, do I now have the effrontery to suggest more work for the beleaguered gardener?  Take heart.  This work can be done in the comfort of your own home with ice tea in one hand and the A/C control in the other.  It is not labor intensive.  It does not require pruners, sunscreen or a large can of DEET.   It is as simple as a small bound book and a sharpened pencil – and the rewards will far outweigh the work involved, promise.  Quite frankly, gardening doesn’t get any easier than this.

Let’s start with the persuasive part of my argument because I know that some of you will need some convincing.    In order to do this, it is necessary to suspend a hot August’s reality for a moment and transport ourselves to a hypothetical February in the coming winter.

It is cold.   The garden looks, for all intents and purposes, dead.  You are looking through catalogs trying to plan a better bloom sequence for your flower garden.  Now…when was that huge gap in flowering?  What did you say at the time would work a lot better than that overpriced shrub you bought in May?  What was the name of it anyway?  You glance outside for something to jog your memory.  The garden is under a frozen blanket of leaves that never got raked up and the only thing showing any sign of life is the neighbor’s cat.  After ten minutes of digging around with frostbitten hands, the only plant markers you can find are for some spring pansies and a tree that you’re willing to swear you never planted.  Hmmm.

So you move on to the seed section.  You do remember that you planted two varieties of snap bean last year – and one of them was so good you even got your kids to eat them.  The other one you used to bait mouse traps.  Thankfully you kept the empty seed packets, which you now examine with a critical eye.  Surprise, surprise, each stoutly proclaims the virtues of its tiny dried product, and neither is going to admit to being a bold-faced liar.  Hmmm.

Memory letting you down?  Well no matter, you’ll just have to start seedlings with what you have already.  Now, did you find last year that it was the tomatoes you shouldn’t have started so early or the parsley?    Did it turn out that the gro-lights worked better, or were the fluorescents just fine?  Am I starting to annoy you with incessant questions that you cannot answer?  Then the defense rests.  It’s time for a gardening journal.

Journals can take many forms – there is no set formula.  There are those that will approach it with the depth of a graduate thesis, and those who will settle for a few words jotted down here and there.  There are those among us who will immediately see a scrapbooking opportunity and run to the nearest crafts store for some little paper carrots and a miniature gardener’s hat (you know who you are), and those who will carry around a couple of pages held together with electrical tape and brads.   I am not here to judge.

It doesn’t even need to be called a “journal”.   I recognize that the he-men among you are shaking off a cold chill each time I mention the word, so protect your masculinity and call it a notebook instead.  The way in which you approach it is not important – what is important is that it is a centralized, not to mention organized, ledger of your planting and planning activities.

Once you have it, decide how you are going to utilize it.    If you’ve used a loose leaf format, sectioning it off is an excellent way of keeping your thoughts in order for later perusal.  Seed starting, garden planning, landscape projects,  plant lists, nursery addresses – whatever you can think of to help you in your gardening adventure.   However you section it, keep religiously to that formula.  Even if your handwriting is atrocious, at least you’ll be able to find something when you want it.

Sections not your thing?  Too much work?  Annoyed you have to think about this at all?  Maybe you would be better off with a chronological diary, day by day or week by week.  This is actually how I write in mine, although I would like to make a sectioned one someday when I have a few minutes to myself.  I really like this method as the book becomes more of a “good read” on a winter’s evening – but I do have to do some searching when I want to find out what I thought about that Siberian Kale.

Bottom line, the gardening journal…ahem..notebook, is a record of behavior in the garden.  It is the stomach churning report card for the underperforming shrub, the reticent herb and the perennial who could “try harder in class”.  Conversely, it is also the forum for praise where praise is due, marking vegetable cultivars as winners or expounding on the extraordinarily long bloom time of the daisies this year.

But in your haste to record performance and variety,  don’t short yourself one of its sweetest pleasures.  For it is also a place to harness your thoughts.  What the summer was like, where you enjoyed sitting, how the bees coped with the rain, whether eight tomato plants will be enough next year – a place I guarantee you will enjoy visiting when the winter winds begin to howl and the seed catalogs start to pile up.  Pick up your pen, the summer is almost over.

To read more articles by Marianne be sure to visit her website at www.smalltowngardener.com

Having been home schooled from Jr. high school through my senior year, I found that I had a bit of free time on my hands. I would spend several hours a day playing guitar until my mom would return home from work. Then it was into the kitchen together where we would create different dishes for family members.(my mom still remains a very dear inspiration to me and she is a great cook) It was during this time that I began to become even more intrigued with the kitchen and the purpose and value of being a good cook. I began to pay attention to the lessons my mom was teaching me in the kitchen and also to draw a bit of inspiration from cooks like Julia Child, Graham Kerr, The Frugal Gourmet, The Sunshine Cuisine, Martha Stewart, and Katie Brown. I began to see not only how valuable a good cook was, but also how entertaining they could be.

I began my education at the illustrious Culinary Institute of America in October of 2000.I learned more in that first year than I ever thought possible. I learned the basics of cooking on a high level, I learned the foundation of what makes a kitchen operate. I wanted to share the experience of creating excellent food and I found that to be my passionate pursuit in this culinary world.

In 2004 (after my graduation from the Culinary Institute) I moved to New York City where I was able to gain quite a bit of experience with the culinary scene in New York, and working with a variety of chefs that specialized in everything from French bistro cuisine to authentic Mexican cuisine. During that process I have found where my passion for food is. I began to think, “How can I rock out and cook at the same time?”, “How can I bring people together and have a great time as a career!?” I think I figured it out…or at least I almost have. I suppose the journey from here will be my greatest yet. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Upcoming Events!-

I am pleased to announce that I will be Co-Hosting the 2010Viking/PGA Classic with Emeril Lagasse in Jackson, MS this fall. (Sept. 27-Oct. 3 at Annandale Golf Club in Madison)

We are launching the first ever Live Interactive Cooking Show on the internet “Food, Drinks, and Rock n’ Roll LIVE!” on www.Ustream.tv

Our official Launch is Saturday Sept. 4th at 12 EST. It will be a 13 week season with all the interactivity of twitter, facebook, and myspace. The show will consist of 1-2 recipes and taking direct questions from a live interactive audience via tweets and chat. The goal is to encourage viewers to view the “Shopping List” and Recipe and follow along as we cook together. Any questions can be answered during the broadcast immediately. We are so proud of this venture and I love being the first one to do it. Here are the links… http://www.ustream.tv/nathanlippyfooddrinksrocknroll

http://apps.facebook.com/fooddrinksrocknroll/

I also do cooking classes at The Rolling Pin in Brandon,FL.

A bit more about Chef Nathan~

Funniest Kitchen Fiasco- Recently I was invited to the Destin Charity Wine Auction. I was asked to do a 4 course tasting dinner for 31 people with Celebrity Vintner Regina Martinelli from Martinelli Winery. I was so thrilled, so I came up with a fantastic menu. When I got to Caliza Pool (the resort restaurant I was using for the event) the kitchen had a small 4 top burner and a 3 foot grill. As soon as I saw what I was working with I freaked a bit. But, I figured I would just roll with it. So… with VERY limited space, my sous chef and I kicked butt and prepared an amazing evening for all of the guests. My party was able to raise $30,000 for the charity. It was one of the hardest dinners I had ever done, but probably the most memorable.http://www.dcwaf.org/cmsAdmin/uploads/menus/cvhn-martinelli.pdf

http://www.dcwaf.org/events/chef.php?Nathan-Lippy-8

Favorite Cuisine- I love mixing tastes. When sweet and savory meet in harmony, I feel like its the experience our palates are craving. When I come up with a new dish or order something at a restaurant, I want something that has depth and character. Everything from Southern Home Cooking to New England coastal food Culture, from Indian to South-American, from Korean BBQ to Thai cuisine has these combinations. So, I suppose I dont a particular FAVORITE, as long as it tastes amazing, I’m game. But, then again BBQ has a very special place in my heart. Its the culture more than the food really. Its a beautiful tradition and its about as American as it comes. It takes time and patience. It takes an artist touch to get it just right, but when its right oooohhhh its pretty amazing!

Future Goals- My biggest goal is to follow the footsteps of one of my heroes, Jaime Oliver. I am a huge advocate for healthy eating as a lifestyle not as a diet. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good cheeseburger from Checkers every now and then, but 9 times out of 10 I create food and eat food that nurtures the body. We are well oiled machines, created intricately, much like a 67′ Shelby Mustang (my fav car by the way)- but we would never put garbage or tainted gasoline in our muscle car, so why do we do it to our bodies? I love to have fun and enjoy life, I love to eat and cook, and I would like to do those things for as long as possible. My greatest goal is to influence my generation for a better food lifestyle and a more sustainable way of living.

Check out Chef Nathan’s website at: http://www.nathanlippy.com/

To make the mobile:

10 fluffy chenille stems

organza type wired edge ribbon in colors of choice (I chose pale blue and pink)

bead garland or other glittery type garland (I used about 24 inches of a tiny plastic flower garland in silver color)

small fabric quilted heart (or other embellishment of your choice that has a little “weight” to it/this will help to allow your mobile to hang better)

fabric ribbon (I used a harlequin print pink and brown colored ribbon)

6 small plastic ballerina cupcake toppers (available from: www.layercakeshop.com) (I used 3 of each pink and blue)

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To create this simple child’s room decor you do not need glue or sewing skills. You just simply need to know how to create a bow and to twist wire, and to tie knots.

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Take 3 of the chenille stems and create a circle. Twist the ends of each chenille stems together.

Take 6 chenille stems and place them evenly around the circle. At these evenly spaced points twist the chenille stems around your circle. 3 small twists will secure. Now point these 6 chenille stems upward into a “tent” shape. Gather them all together in a point.

Fold the sharp edges over. Take your last chenille stem and form into a hook shape on one end. Use the excess to wrap around your 6 gathered stems. Wrap tightly.

Create a large decorative bow from your fabric ribbon(not the organza type, but the thicker solid ribbon) Before tying the bow to the top of your mobile slide a few strands of decorative glittered garland in between the bow(about 12 inch length/2 strands). Finish attaching to the top near the hook by making a knot. Your  glittery garland will be secured by the knot you tie.

From the hook area also tie a long piece of organza ribbon(about 18 inches long) hanging down from the center of the mobile(tie in a knot). This will be what you attach the fabric heart or other center embellishment with.

Attach the heart or other center embellishment to the length of ribbon that hangs from the center of your mobile. Tie with a knot. Right at this knot, attach a pretty ribbon bow. Again secure by knotting the bow onto the ribbon hanging down.

Cut 6 lengths of organza wired ribbon (about 10 inches long) Tie ribbon in a knot around the waist of each of the ballerina figures.

Attach  the ballerinas to the mobile by tying with knots at evenly spaced intervals around the chenille ring.

Where each ballerina’s holding ribbon is attached to the chenille ring tie little blue organza wired bows . Trim bow ends.

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***This can be changed to be used for a boy’s room by using green or blue chenille stems or another favorite color chenille stem and using such items as tiny plastic dinosaurs or other fun plastic figures. Be creative and have fun! No limit to the types of little plastic items you can use to create a fun mobile.

*** As with any item that has small parts keep away from small children. Not recommended for a baby or children who have a tendency to put items in their mouths.***

Wild Rice (photo by whitneyinchicago/flickr user)

3 beef bouillon cubes

1 can garbanzo beans (undrained)

1 can field peas (undrained)

1 can black eye peas (undrained)

1 cup wild rice

3 cups water

1 can Mexican stle sliced stewed tomatoes

1/2 teaspoon of each of the following spices: garlic powder,tarragon,basil,celery salt,crushed red pepper flakes,crushed oregano

2 tablespoons celery flakes

Put all into a large crock pot. Cook on high for 4 hours in crockpot.

~Enjoy~ This soup is terrific for the upcoming Fall season. Easy to prepare and great to have on hand for those busy school day evenings.