Hey, I finally got around to trying that sourdough starter recipe you sent me last month. It took a few tries to get the feeding schedule right because my kitchen runs a bit cool, but on day seven it finally doubled in size and smelled amazing. I baked my first loaf yesterday and the crumb was actually pretty open, not too dense. I think I overproofed it just slightly because the ear didn't spring as much as I wanted, but the flavor was there. I added a little whole wheat and some rye flour to give it more depth. Next time I want to try a higher hydration dough, maybe around 80 percent, and see if I can get those big irregular holes you see in artisan loaves. I also want to experiment with adding some soaked seeds or maybe even some dried fruit for a breakfast-style loaf. Let me know if you have any tips for shaping without degassing too much. I've been watching tutorials online but it's harder than it looks. Anyway, thanks again for the starter. I'll bring you a loaf next time I see you so you can taste it and tell me what you think. I'm really excited about this hobby now, it's so satisfying to make something from scratch.

I finally finished that documentary series about urban farming that you recommended. I watched all four episodes over the weekend and I have to say the episode about rooftop gardens in Chicago was my favorite. It's amazing how much food they can grow in such a small space using hydroponics and vertical planters. I've been thinking about setting up a small herb garden on my balcony this spring, nothing too fancy, just basil, mint, and maybe some cherry tomatoes. The series also talked about community composting programs which I had never really considered before. There's a drop-off site about ten minutes from my apartment so I might start bringing my scraps there instead of just throwing them in the trash. It feels like a small change that could actually make a difference over time. I also learned that certain vegetables like carrots and beets actually get sweeter after a frost, which I thought was really interesting. Anyway, if you haven't seen it yet I think you would really enjoy it. Let me know if you want me to send you the streaming link. I'm already looking for more documentaries about sustainable living because it's been giving me a lot of ideas for small projects around the house.