Columbia Missouri Spring Round Up Community Day

Spring Round Up Community Day

Saturday, April 4th 2009

1 pm – 4 pm

Unity Center of Columbia

1600 West Broadway at Clinkscales Road

Columbia Missouri

Open to the public – free of charge

Keynote speaker: Dr. Kamyar Enshayan 1pm – 2 pm

Kamyar Enshayan, Ph.D., is the Director of University of Northern Iowa Center for Energy and Environmental Education as well as for the regional Buy Fresh, Buy Local which strives to connect people, restaurants and stores with local farmers and processors.  The winner of the 2008 Sustainable Agricultural Acheivement Award from Practical Farmers of Iowa, Kamyar has been recognized for his influential work in local foods and local communities.  Enshayan also teaches environmental education classes at the University of Northern Iowa, and is a program manager for Yards for Kids, and is a city council member for Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Chef Demo by Chef Craig Cyr of Wine Cellar & Bistro 2 pm

Chef Craig will shop the Columbia Farmers’ Market the morning of April 4th.  He will then prepare his findings in this demonstration.  Come see and learn how rewarding our local food system is.

Home Food Preservation by Vera Massey, MU Extension 3 pm

Now more than ever folks are wanting to re-connect with food.  Preserving some of the freshly harvested foods provides an opportunity to enjoy those foods throughout the year.  This workshop will provide the latest research-based information to make sure the foods you preserve are of the highest quality and safe to eat.  Learn about a variety of preservation methods-jam/jelly making, pickling, canning, freezing and drying.  Decide what preservation methods are right for you and have fun preserving!

Break Out Sessions:

2:15 pm, Blue Room: Adam Saunders, Bobby Johnson, Daniel Soetaert: These urban agriculturists will give a presentation on their work in the Bennett-Stephens neighborhood.  They are already affecting city policy.

3:15 pm Blue Room: Community Garden Coalition President Bill McKelvey: Will give an update on the 2009 season plans for gardens around Columbia.

2:15 pm, Green Room: Worm Bins & Backyard Composting:  Presentation by Dorothy Canote of Harvester Farm in Harrisburg: Dorothy is an agronomist and experienced science teacher.  you will surely learn in this hands-on demonstration.

3:15 pm, Green Room: Bee Observations: Presentation by Vera Gelder of Walk About Acres.  Are bees the monitors of our global environment?  How much of the food system is depended on bees?  What can you do to encourage bees in your at home habitat.  All kinds of resources will be available, including MU Extension handouts, seed catalogs, and brochures.  Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer any of your gardening questions.

2:15 pm, Orange Room: Methods of Organic Pest Control presented by Rex Roberts of Seasons Farm and Sue Baird, Owner of Sue Baird Organics, a consulting firm for organic certification.  Learn how to control pests while providing a safe environment for beneficial insects.

 

Vendor Area: There will be up to thirty vendors to visit and shop.  this will be a relaxed atmosphere for asking questions and getting to know your local suppliers.

Event Sponsored by Columbia Farmers’ Market & MU Extension Healthy Lifestyle Initiative.  For more information contact Caroline Todd, CFM Manager, 573.823.6889

www.columbiafarmersmarket.org

Alternative K-12 Education Fair…FREE!!!

Your family is invited to learn more about some of the educational options available in Lawrence at the Alternative K-12 Educational Fair. Come view displays and speak with representatives from Lawrence’s Alternative education community.

Saturday April 11

10 a.m – 3 p.m

Lawrence Public Library

Alternative Education is about any public school, private school or educational organization that has a special curriculum or that offers a more flexible program of study than a traditional school

For more information please call 913.842.4882 or email danaab@ku.edu

Come out and get your questions answered!

Homemade refreshements will be provided

 

 

Organic Census

Documenting Organic Growth
Missouri Ag Connection – 03/03/2009

For the first time ever, USDA is conducting a Census of all known producers of organic crops, livestock and livestock products, as a follow-up to the 2007 Census of Agriculture. Why? In order to document for policymakers, consumers and producers, “it is imperative that data be compiled to show the importance that organic production plays in the overall food supply and how it is meeting the growing demand”, said Gene Danekas, Director of USDA-NASS Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service. “NASS will be asking producers to respond to a survey during the May-June 2009 timeframe, with results being available in December 2009.” This is organic producers opportunity to make known the facts about their industry.

Information will be requested that includes the amount of acreage, production and value of sales of all types of organically produced products during 2008. Production expenditures and production practices associated with the growth of these commodities will help document to policymakers and the industry the relative viability and risk associated with organic production. USDA will look closely at these data to enhance programs and insurance products that may ease the burdens and encourage expansion of organic production. Of course, marketing strategies and practices utilized by this important industry will be studied and the results used to potentially provide additional marketing opportunities.

As usual, the USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) takes the lead in compiling this data, guaranteeing all respondents the complete confidentiality of their data, as protected by U.S. law. All producers are encouraged to promptly and accurately compete and return the short survey when it arrives in their mail. The results will help producers, as well as consumers, as each strives to satisfy the needs of a growing industry with expanding demand. The Census of Agriculture is “your voice, your future and your responsibility.”

For more information regarding this important activity, contact Gene Danekas, USDA-NASS at 573-876-0950.

Community Supported Argriculture

There’s a really great article in the Kansas City Star about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).  We are supporters of CSA and buying everything locally grown whenever possible.  It’s benefits our company, the farmers we buy from and the local economy as well as the environement we live in.  Below is the link to the article Mary Pepitone wrote for the Star:

http://www.kansascity.com/living/food/story/1102334.html

To find out how your school can become involved, give us a  call at 913.710.5171

State Dinners at the White House with Veggies from the Obamas Garden

 

It’s true……a sustainable garden is coming to the south lawn of the White House.  On Friday, March 20th (today) third graders from local schools will join First Lady Michelle Obama on the South Lawn of the White House to break ground on an 1100 square foot kitchen garden that will provide food family and formal dinners.  Mrs Obama stated that the entire Obama family, including the President, will pull weeds, “whether they like it or not.”  (Although I’ve peered through the fences at the White House and have yet to find A weed)

The garden will contain 55 varieties of organic seedlings started in the executive mansion’s greehouses, including various types of lettuce, peas, shallots, carrots, parsely, onions, fennel, all kinds of herbs, and on and on and on. 

For more information visit www.eattheview.org.  Below is their official press release.

100,000 Applaud Announcement of a New White House Food Garden

Environment, Nation’s Food System and People’s Health Stand to Benefit 

(Scarborough, Maine) –100,000 people signed a petition asking the Obamas to replant a Victory Garden at the White House, and recent news reports indicate that they are about to reap what they sowed.  

For advocates of sustainable and healthy foods, this harvest of good news was as welcome as the summer’s first red-ripe tomato.  “I’m thrilled for the Obama family and for all who will be inspired by their example to grow gardens of their own this year,” said Roger Doiron, founder of the nonprofit Kitchen Gardeners International and leader of the successful petition campaign, “Eat the View.”  

Launched in February 2008, Eat the View proposed that the Obamas replant a White House Victory Garden while planting a few extra rows for the hungry. The campaign used viral videos and social networking technologies like Facebook to grow a large support base, attract international media attention and help inspire a larger grassroots effort. In January, 2009, Eat the View won the “On Day One” contest sponsored by the United Nations Foundation, beating out 4,000 other entries and resulting in thousands of messages being sent to the White House in support of its proposal.  

Over the course of the past month, the Eat the View campaign has touted the economic benefits of home gardens as part of its pitch to White House staff members.  As proof, Doiron and his wife spent nine months weighing and recording each vegetable they pulled from their 1,600-square-foot garden outside Portland, Maine. After counting the final winter leaves of salad, they found that they had saved about $2,150 by growing produce for their family of five instead of buying it.  “If you consider that there are millions of American families who could be making similar, home-grown savings, those are no small potatoes,” Doiron said. 

Although the White House garden campaign is now winding down, Doiron says the Eat the View campaign is just getting warmed up.  “Now that the Obamas are on board, we’re going to be reaching out to other people and identifying other high-profile pieces of land that could be transformed into edible landscapes.  Sprawling lawns around governors’ residences, schoolyards, vacant urban lots: those are all views that should be eaten.” 

History of Harvest at the White House

While the Obamas’ garden and the online technologies that campaigned for it might be new, the idea of an edible landscape at the White House is not.  Throughout its history, the White House has been home to food gardens of different shapes and sizes and even to a lawn-mowing herd of sheep in 1918.  The appeal of the White House garden project, Doiron asserts, is that it serves as a bridge between the country’s past and its future.  “The last time food was grown on the White House lawn was in 1943, when the country was at war, the economy was struggling and people were looking to the First Family for leadership. It made sense before and it makes sense again as we try to live within our own means and those of the planet.” 

Care Where Your Food Comes From

Heather Gibbons who’s a writer/editor has created a six part series on food and sustainability.  I just finished reading her first story at KC Olive Branch’s blog, and we wanted to share it with you.  Sometimes as parents, and people who are trying to figure out where we start in order to make those life changes, like myself, information can come at us from every direction and we end up getting overwhelmed with information. not knowing where to turn.  Heather’s article simplifies the “food system”, providing guidelines on how sustainability works, and what you need in order to eat healthy and nutritious.  

I really enjoyed reading her article and I’m sure you will too.  Copy and paste the link below to your browser.

 http://kcob.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/seed-to-plate-care-where-your-food-comes-from

Michael Pollan is coming to K.C.

Rainy Day books just announced that they are bringing Michael Pollan (author of: In Defense of Food: An Eaters Manifesto, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World) to Kansas City to speak:

Wednesday May 20th

7 p.m

Unity Temple on the Plaza

707 W. 47th Street

Kansas City, Mo.

Now from what I understand,  in order to attend this event, you need to purchase a $15 copy of the paperback version of his book “In Defense of Food” from Rainy Day Books, (or be in their database as previously purchasing a copy).  For more information and to purchase a copy of the book,  please click the following link:

http://rainydaybooks.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp?s=storeevents&eventId=409126

EAT LOCAL! 2009

11th Annual Exhibition of Farmers

Buy Direct from Local Family Farms

• High quality, organic vegetables available on-site and thru CSA Memberships
• Free Range meats, eggs and dairy products
• Veggie seedings and plants for spring gardens
• Free directory of Local Organic and Free Range food producers
• Free admission, free parking
• Original music by Eco-Troubadour Stan Slaughter

Saturday, March 28th

9am to 2pm

Shawnee Civic Center

13817 Johnson Dr. Shawnee, Ks.

(2 miles east of I-435)

 

Free workshop starting at 9:30 a.m:

“How to Buy Local – CSA’s and Organic Farmers Markets”

 

Saturday, April 4th

9:15AM – 2:00PM

Roger T. Sermon Community Center

Truman & Noland Road, Independence, Mo.

 

Free workshop starting at 9:30AM:

“How to Buy Local – CSA’s and Organic Farmer’s Markets”

 

Sponsored by: Seirra Club, Food Circles Networking Project – Missouri Extension, Growing Growers Project – Kansas Extension, Kansas City Greens, Society of the Precious Blood, Sustainable Sanctuary Coalition, Green Sanctuary Committee, All Souls UU Church, Bridging the Gap.

 

The Kansas City Food Circle is an all-volunteer, not for profit organization. www.KCFoodCircle.org (913)-334-0556.

 

 

 

 

Grocery Tip of the Day…(or until I put another one up)

This is just a little friendly reminder about what to look out for when shopping for groceries.  Just simple tips that help keep you and your family healthy. 

1. Don’t buy anything with more than 5 ingredients in it (to processed)
2. *Don’t buy anything with ingredients your children can’t pronounce (to yucky)
3. Don’t buy anything that’s artificial  (tastes bad)
4. Don’t buy anything with a cartoon on it (direct marketing to your children)
5. Don’t buy products with a health claim (often misleading)

*exceptions to this rule would be children who have not yet learned to talk, so as parents speak for them and choose the healthy stuff!  Better yet, choose the healthy stuff for your kids who can speak! 

I heard an interesting statistic when I was watching a show called “Half Ton Teen” on TLC lastnight.  A doctor mentioned that parents are expected to outlive their children, due to increased childhood obesity that is increasing at alarming rates.  

This is why we keep asking……..Are you ready for a paradigm shift?

Oakhill Fun Friday with Jeff Adair

Jeff Adair

As many of you know, each month we have a theme.  It gives the kids the opportunity to learn more about the food they eat, where it comes from, how it’s produced and more importantly how it feeds them and the benefits both in the short and longterm health.  February was Bison month and Oakhill invited Jeff Adair from the New Bison Company to speak to the kids about the importance of Bison.  Jeff started off by explaining the “difference” between Buffalo and Bison (they are the same animal but Bison is the proper name), which now makes me think…..is it the Buffalo Bills?  Or the Bison Bills?  And do they play football in Buffalo New York?  Or is it Bison New York?  Hmmmm, could be fodder for a blog down the road.  Jeff also talked about the health benefits and the heritage of this beautiful animal.  The health benefits are listed below:

• Bison are handled as little as possible.  They spend their lives on grass, with very little time spent, if any on a feedlot.  They are not subjected to questionable drugs, chemicals or hormones.
• Nutritionally you are getting more protiens and nutrients with fewer calories and less fat
• Buffalo is a dense meat that tends to satisfy you more while eating less.
• Comparisons to other meat sources has shown that Bison has a higher concentration of iron as well as some of the essential fatty acids essential for your daily life.
• Readers Digest magazine even listed Bison meat as one of the five foods women should eat because of the high iron content

How's my hair?

One of the biggest kicks of the day was when Jeff would ask a question to the kids regarding Bison.  When someone answered the question correctly, they got to wear, “The Grand Poo Bah hat.”  It was FredFlinstone meet Oakhill day school at the Great Lodge!!!!!

The kids also sampled “Bison Bites” which my sources inside the Bison zone said they loved.  Now how many of you parents out there remember a day in your school when we got to try Bison?  The only thing that sticks out to me was…………Mystery Meat,  and that changed each time it was made.  That’s as close to a Fun Friday with food that I ever had!

The Power of the Poo Bah!

Junior and Jr. Bison

The Poo to the Bah!

Why yes….cool is my middle name!

Bow to the Poo Bah!

Who is the next Grandmaster Pooh Bah?