About Me

Just Before Planting Season

When I was 13 years old, I was in the kitchen making my first streusel-filled coffee cake, singing a song to myself. "I've never seen anyone happier while making food or eating it," remarked my mother. No doubt, I was a true foodie even back then. And Mom’s home-cooked meals, every single night of the week despite working full time, tended to nurture that inclination. I also loved being in nature and experiencing the different New England seasons. My parents and grandmother kept gardens, and over the years I’ve become quite adept at container gardening.

Santa Cruz county on the central coast of California, where I’ve lived for over 30 years, is radically different from the New England suburbs that I left behind. I live in a small mountain town just a few miles inland, where I can walk to just about everything, not unlike the little town I grew up in. Temperate climate, plenty of sun and outdoor activities, liberal politics, college town culture, thriving music and art scene, organic farms galore; these assets suit me. I frequently hear that Santa Cruz has no seasons. This isn’t really true. One just needs to be more observant here than at snowy altitudes.

Camping in Big Basin

I’m crazy about reading as well as writing. Check me out on Goodreads.com, where I’m a librarian and have written close to 600 book reviews. I also love travel and write reviews on Tripadvisor, where I’m a Top Contributor. Please contact me if you’d like me to write something for you, or if you’d like to reprint a Seasonal Eating post. Potential topics include Santa Cruz/Bay area locavore resources, farmers’ market reviews, travel planning, gardening, cooking, photography, and/or books. I’m also employed part-time by our local library.

In addition to reading, writing, cooking, travel, and gardening, my favorite things include nature, art, and community--both local and online. I’ve been a photographer since pre-digital days, starting as many did with the classic Minolta SRT-201. In 1993 I founded a Zimbabwean-style marimba band in which I still play. I love to sing and am looking for more opportunities to do so. Formerly employed for 10 years as a teaching assistant in Cabrillo College’s art department, I can often be spotted at art events, locally and while traveling. I’m married to a classic “nice guy” who shares my love of cooking, eating, photography, art, and travel. I deeply appreciate my many supportive friends, and I love spending time with them.

I’m a supporting member of the following organizations:

UCSC Farm and Garden (CASFS): educates aspiring organic farmers with internship program on working organic farm; sponsors community events and sells produce and organic plants to public.

Long Marine Lab: provides ocean education to children and general public, promotes sustainable fisheries practices, supports ocean research programs and student research awards.

Botanical Garden at UC Berkeley: supports one of most diverse plant collections in US, organized into outdoor habitat groups and indoor greenhouses, gives lectures and demonstrations, provides open space to the public for personal enjoyment.

The Nature Conservancy: uses donations to buy land and preserve it in 30 countries, with very low administrative costs. Public is invited to visit most of these land areas.

Sierra Club: lobbies for legislation to preserve wilderness and ban toxic chemical use outdoors, sponsors hikes and outdoor activities.

I created Seasonal Eating as a forum for sharing ideas about eating sustainably-produced local foods in season with creativity and enthusiasm. Welcome to our online community!

~Robin Horn
SeasonalEating@gmail.com