WHERE DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW

Sustainability expert, influencer, and Glencoe author Julia Watkins shares everything you need to know to grow your own vegetables, fruits, and herbs (as well as wildflowers and other beneficial companion plants) in Gardening For Everyone: Growing Vegetables, Herbs, and More at Home. Growing food in your backyard (or even on your porch or windowsill) is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to nourish your family and connect with nature in a hands-on way. Gardening For Everyone is a lushly photographed guide to creating and growing a backyard garden simply and sustainably—from planning to planting to harvesting. The book includes tips for growing in colder climates by stressing the importance of understanding hardiness zones, frost dates, and getting a head start on the growing season. Plus, a section on playing in your garden is packed with fun, hands-on, kid-friendly projects and recipes for the whole family. Go from daydreaming about the perfect garden to enjoying the fruits of your labor. Gardening For Everyone is available at The Book Stall in Winnetka and on amazon.com.

PLANT-BASED

A fast-casual spinoff of Winnetka’s Spirit Elephant, the highly acclaimed vegan eatery, elephant + vine is the newest endeavor from owner CD Young and hospitality company, Wild Thing Restaurant Group. Opening in both Evanston and Lincoln Park, this plant-based expansion will take the delicious “this can’t be vegan” food to a quick-service model featuring sandwiches, bowls, and more. Spirit Elephant’s motto of “Eat plants feel beautiful™” is not just a slogan, but represents the idea that eating plant-based is a simple way to positively impact the planet and all its inhabitants, and that feels beautiful. elephant + vine will have a fresh, modern ambiance with a chic industrial design. For more information, visit elephantandvine.com.

DRINK UP

Born out of the desire to rethink what it means to “have a drink,” Optimist Botanicals are entirely free of alcohol, sugar, sodium, carbs, calories, additives, and artificial preservatives, allowing “sober curious” gourmands and health-conscious consumers to enjoy a delicious craft spirit without compromising their mental or physical wellbeing. The original recipes were developed with a master distiller and are offered in three elegant blends, BRIGHT, FRESH, and SMOKEY. The three distinct blends each combine 10 to 15 unique botanical distillates, employing a range of extraction methods—steam, vacuum, and CO2 extraction, some you’d expect from a high-end craft spirit, but others more commonly used in perfume making or the cannabis industry. This ensures the truest “essence” or “spirit” of every botanical. The ingredients are meticulously sourced from all over the world, keeping sustainable farming and supply practices in mind. Cheers to choice. For more information, visit optimistdrinks.com.