Happy (B)Earth Day, 30 Pounds!
It’s Earth Day! I try my best to make every day an Earth Day, but I do so love that this pretty planet has a holiday all to itself. Over the years, I’ve celebrated Earth Day in a variety of ways: planting seeds in milk cartons to watch them grow, attending festivals where local food stands front and center, marathoning Wall-E and Fern Gully, or just getting outside to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air which we are so lucky to have.
This year, I have yet another way to celebrate: today marks the first birthday of 30 Pounds of Apples!
I know a year of blogging isn’t really a huge deal: some of the blogs I read have been pumping out new content for five, eight, or ten years. But a little over a year ago, when I published my first post, I was still trying to convince myself that this idea was sane. As it turns out, the cooking, photographing, gardening, writing, and sharing that go into this site have brought me more happiness than I ever expected.
I’ve spent the last few days reflecting on what I’ve learned over the last twelve months, where I’ve flubbed up, and what I’m looking forward to before the next blog-o-versary comes to pass. There are many methods by which I can sum up the last year, and I want to share a few of them with you.
So without further ado, consider this the first-year highlights reel of 30 Pounds of Apples.
Top 5 Most Popular Posts
Based on Google Analytics numbers, these posts had more visits this year than any other.
Top 5 Challenges
It’s not all sunshine. Keeping this blog going is a lot of work, and these challenges were sometimes difficult to overcome.
Web “Design”
The quotes aren’t meant to belittle web design as an art. If anything, I’ve gained immense respect for programmers and web designers through the construction of this site. I sometimes spend hours on a cosmetic change or functionality upgrade. Frankly, it’s a miracle the whole thing functions at all.
Time
The time needed to find a recipe, prepare that recipe, photograph the process, sort through photos, edit photos, write and re-write a post, and share that post is often quite daunting. I’m in awe of food bloggers who manage to post every day or so: it’s all I can do to get up two posts a week.
Light
My kitchen is dark. There is no window. The light fixture that we have is lame. Hence, every photo I take in the kitchen is on a tripod. Ever wonder why so many of my final shots are on my porch?
Writer’s Block
And cooker’s block. And photographer’s block. Sometimes I just flat-out haven’t felt like doing this. Fortunately, inspiration has returned after every bout of doldrums, and I imagine it will continue to do so.
Flubs
A disastrous strawberry rhubarb pie. Caramel sauce blackened on the bottom of the pan. Zucchini plant smote by squash bugs. Not installing google analytics until six months into posting. To be fair, the successes have drastically outnumbered the failures, but for some reason, the failures tend to prod more easily at me. Why is that?
Top 5 Favorite Posts
My favorites, that is. For one reason or another, these ones make me smile just a teensy bit more than the rest.
Top 5 Goals for This Year
It’s been a great year, but I have so much more to do! Here’s a few of the things I have set my sights on.
Grow More Food
The more I grow myself, the less I have to buy, and the closer I’ll be to eating as locally as possible.
Post More Often
I know, I know, I just mentioned that I have a severe deficit of time, but it’s still my goal to post every third day or so.
Preserve More Food
Water canner? Check. Canning buddy? Check. Seemingly endless bounty of local produce? Check. I’m so pumped to see just how much food I can put away this summer, and curious about how long it will last me through the winter.
Upgrades!
If you look around the site today, you’ll notice some upgrades in place already, mostly in the form of new graphics from the amazing Sara and updated content on the pages in the menu bar. Soon, I hope, I’ll have new ways to browse for recipes, an even more specific recipe index, and who knows what else (the plugins out there are endless).
Read More
I must confess, now that a large swath of my free time is spent on something to do with 30 Pounds, reading has diminished in priority. But there is SO MUCH to read out there, I really need to nip that habit in the bud and move books back up on the priority list.
Top 5 Favorite Photos
I’ve shot, sorted, deleted, edited, or posted thousands of photos for this site. These are a few of the keepers that I really, really like.
From Cranberry Orange Cheesecake
From Homemade Sugar Scrubs, Two Ways
From Community Garden: Sprouts!
So there you have it. A year of blogging summed up by this list-maniac. Did I miss any of your favorites? Is there something you want to see more of this year? I’d love to hear from you!
But first, I want to say thank you. Thank you to all who read, to those who just stop by for a photo or a recipe, and to those who share their thoughts. I write this blog for my own entertainment, to be sure, but I also genuinely hope that the photos here make you smile. That the recipes make you hungry. That the stories and my sometimes mindless blabbering help you deal with something in your own life. I can’t say enough how happy I am that you’re here.
So happy Earth Day, happy birthday, and here’s to another year!
Kate.
April 22, 2012 @ 10:55 am
Congrats! I think a year of blogging is a great accomplishment (especially for those of us who have full time, real world jobs! Keep writing! :)
Abbe
April 22, 2012 @ 12:48 pm
Happy Bearth Day 30 Pounds! I can’t believe this blog is only a year old. I feel like I’ve been reading it and loving it forever!
Also, how in the WORLD did I miss the carrot cupcake post?!?
Strong work, Kristi. I can’t wait to see where it goes!
Kristi @ 30 Pounds of Apples
April 22, 2012 @ 1:40 pm
Thanks Abbe! I don’t know, maybe you were overseas when Carrot Cupcakes went up?