Milwaukee Public Schools Division of School Nutrition recently partnered with Growing Power to provide farm-fresh produce for MPS students throughout the school year.
The Milwaukee Recreation Department recently filmed a video describing the program and illustrating students' responses to this innovative concept.
Check it out!
This isn't the first time that Growing Power has joined forces with MPS. In 2008, the program paired up with Bradley Technical High School to build and urban agricultural training space atop a "green" garage in the Riverwest neighborhood in Milwaukee. Plans for the garage included a year-round roof-top garden. Solar panels on a rooftop shed were planned to provide energy for heating water and soil for winter food production in the rooftop hoop-houses.
Showing posts with label sustainability/organics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sustainability/organics. Show all posts
Wednesday
True Growing Power: Will Allen and the Good-Food Movement
I absolutely LOVE it that Will Allen and Growing Power made it to the New York Times Magazine last week. And it was no "small potatoes" article either.
Now, this isn't the first time that Will Allen has made the headlines. Last October, I wrote about Growing Power as part of my Blog Action Day article. Allen had just received a $500,000 MacArthur Fellow award to support his work. And the New York Times published an article about his accomplishments. But, judging from the content of the July article, people are really starting to take notice.
If you're not familiar with Growing Power, I'd encourage you to do some reading. And check out their Web site. This humble non-profit organization works 24/7 with the mission of providing equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food for people in all communities. GP is part of what's been called the "good-food movement." And their vision has helped countless people across the country to establish systems of growing, marketing, and distributing food in sustainable ways.
Their farm produces produce which is grown and distributed locally ALL YEAR LONG (which means I can buy locally grown lettuce and sprouts even on the coldest February days!). If that's not exciting enough, Growing Power also manages programs like the Market Basket Program, which works similarly to a CSA to supply (affordable) sustainable produce year-round to interested families. They even operate a subset of the program at Marquette University -- ensuring that interested college students can benefit from fresh produce, even while living in college apartments and dorms.
Growing Power has to be, hands down, one of my favorite local organizations. Not only because Will Allen and his staff produce such amazing produce (they do!), but also because they do it with such vigor and incredible passion. These are people who REALLY care about what they're doing. And it shows.
Growing Power isn't about real food for rich people. It's about real food for ALL people. And isn't that the point?
Thankfully, we're not the only ones who are excited. Read what Food Renegade has to say about this article. And check out all the great posts at Real Food Wednesday.
Now, this isn't the first time that Will Allen has made the headlines. Last October, I wrote about Growing Power as part of my Blog Action Day article. Allen had just received a $500,000 MacArthur Fellow award to support his work. And the New York Times published an article about his accomplishments. But, judging from the content of the July article, people are really starting to take notice.
If you're not familiar with Growing Power, I'd encourage you to do some reading. And check out their Web site. This humble non-profit organization works 24/7 with the mission of providing equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food for people in all communities. GP is part of what's been called the "good-food movement." And their vision has helped countless people across the country to establish systems of growing, marketing, and distributing food in sustainable ways.
Their farm produces produce which is grown and distributed locally ALL YEAR LONG (which means I can buy locally grown lettuce and sprouts even on the coldest February days!). If that's not exciting enough, Growing Power also manages programs like the Market Basket Program, which works similarly to a CSA to supply (affordable) sustainable produce year-round to interested families. They even operate a subset of the program at Marquette University -- ensuring that interested college students can benefit from fresh produce, even while living in college apartments and dorms.
Growing Power has to be, hands down, one of my favorite local organizations. Not only because Will Allen and his staff produce such amazing produce (they do!), but also because they do it with such vigor and incredible passion. These are people who REALLY care about what they're doing. And it shows.
Allen predicts that because of high unemployment and the recent food scares, 10 million people will plant gardens for the first time this year. But two million of them will eventually drop out, he said, when the potato bugs arrive or the rain doesn’t cooperate. Still, he was sanguine. “The experience will introduce those folks to what a tomato really tastes like, so next time they’ll buy one at their greenmarket. And when we talk about farm-worker rights, we’ll have more advocates for them.” (excerpted from NYTM article)
Growing Power isn't about real food for rich people. It's about real food for ALL people. And isn't that the point?
Thankfully, we're not the only ones who are excited. Read what Food Renegade has to say about this article. And check out all the great posts at Real Food Wednesday.
Local Eating Resources for WI
As the weather warms up here in Wisconsin, we always get re-energized in our quest to find more local eats. No, you won't find a local source for avocadoes or pineapples here. But, we have access to some pretty good stuff. And here's proof.
This cool interactive map was created by students at UW-Madison. It shows food producers, restaurants, farmers' markets, and other food resources within a 100-mile radius of Madison, WI. Good stuff here, guys.
- Another great resource is the Farm Fresh Atlas, which includes nearly 100 local farms.
- Thanks to Amy over at Daily Diner, I also found a great listing of local sources for pasture-raised meats at Eat Wild (I've pointed you at the Wisconsin farms, though they provide information for farms throughout the states and Canada).
What great resources for people interested in trying to eating locally -- especially in these northern climes!
SuperNatural Thoughts
I got one of the loveliest cookbooks I've ever laid eyes upon this year for Christmas. Super Natural Cooking (Heidi Swanson) was lovingly bestowed upon me by my sister-in-law, Jennifer -- and I've been yearning to delve into its contents for months now. Not only are the photographs absolutely gorgeous, but the food is absolutely worth eating (colorful, healthy, and uber whole-grainy -- all things I love). The book also seems to be a great resource when it comes to sources for hard-to-find products (like whole grain Asian noodles).
Now, I have to admit that I gush a little bit whenever I'm around this book. You've got to be a fan of Heidi Swanson. Photographer, cookbook author, and designer, she seems to have her stuff TRULY together. I've been a big fan of her work since I happened upon chickclick.com -- one of the most progressive "girl-centric" sites available on the Web at that time. Little did I know that our lives would converge again in the world of food many years later. She has two sites that I frequent -- Mighty Foods (a collaboration with Rachel Cole) and 101 Cookbooks (her recipe journal) -- both a wealth of information if you're at all interested in natural foods and cooking.
Anyhow, I've been glancing at the book (mostly from afar) for quite a while now. But tonight I'm going to try my first recipe. I've got a pound of lovely spring asparagus in the fridge (not exactly local, but I was having a craving). So, I think I'm going to tackle the asparagus pesto with pasta for dinner tonight.
What could be better than a pesto made with asparagus, baby spinach, garlic, and olive oil?
Now, I have to admit that I gush a little bit whenever I'm around this book. You've got to be a fan of Heidi Swanson. Photographer, cookbook author, and designer, she seems to have her stuff TRULY together. I've been a big fan of her work since I happened upon chickclick.com -- one of the most progressive "girl-centric" sites available on the Web at that time. Little did I know that our lives would converge again in the world of food many years later. She has two sites that I frequent -- Mighty Foods (a collaboration with Rachel Cole) and 101 Cookbooks (her recipe journal) -- both a wealth of information if you're at all interested in natural foods and cooking.
Anyhow, I've been glancing at the book (mostly from afar) for quite a while now. But tonight I'm going to try my first recipe. I've got a pound of lovely spring asparagus in the fridge (not exactly local, but I was having a craving). So, I think I'm going to tackle the asparagus pesto with pasta for dinner tonight.
What could be better than a pesto made with asparagus, baby spinach, garlic, and olive oil?
Something I Read Today: Top 12 Foods To Eat Organic
I came across this article on msn.com today, The Dirty Dozen: Top 12 Foods to Eat Organic
Sure enough, it's a reiteration of lists that have come before. But, I thought it was a nice update (and a solemn reminder that the pesticide levels have NOT decreased in lovely things like peaches, strawberries). The addition of meat and dairy to the standard list of produce is an important one, I think, since both involve fats that retain a high level of pesticides & other nasties. Coffee is another one that hasn't appeared on other lists I've seen.
The list, in brief:
Sure enough, it's a reiteration of lists that have come before. But, I thought it was a nice update (and a solemn reminder that the pesticide levels have NOT decreased in lovely things like peaches, strawberries). The addition of meat and dairy to the standard list of produce is an important one, I think, since both involve fats that retain a high level of pesticides & other nasties. Coffee is another one that hasn't appeared on other lists I've seen.
The list, in brief:
- Meat
- Dairy
- Coffee
- Peaches
- Apples
- Sweet Bell Peppers
- Celery
- Strawberries
- Lettuce
- Grapes
- Potatoes
- Tomatoes
I also thought this list was a nice reminder of the fruits/veggies that are less risky. Buy these if you can't find organic:
- asparagus
- broccoli
- brussels sprouts, cabbage
- eggplant
- kiwi
- pineapple
- raspberries
Monday
It must be spring!
Spring has got to be close at hand, cuz we're getting antsy.
I've got my seed catalogs in hand. And, although I haven't committed to exactly what's going to take up space in our two little raised beds, I'm eager to begin getting my hands dirty. Paul is also dusting off his "honorary farmer" clothes in preparation for the work that lies ahead. He pointed out to me that we can "almost see dirt" underneath all that snow. So, summer is due anytime now.
Secondly, we've started to think about a CSA membership. We belonged to TIPI last year (we split a share with our friends Steph & Nate). This year, we're not only contemplating switching farms, but we're also thinking about whether or not we can tackle a share on our own.
It's always a tough decision. After all, we LOVE spending time at the farmer's markets in town. And we love having our own (albeit small) urban vegetable garden. And a full share (meant to feed two voracious veg-heads, or an average family of 4) might just give us enough food so that we wouldn't have much need for those backyard tomatoes or an extra trip to the market. THEN AGAIN, we also love the idea of storing up extra veggies for the long Wisconsin winter. And a full share would give us a chance to do a bit more of that. So, we're going to give the idea a fair shot.
Right now, here's a sampling of the farms in the running:
I've got my seed catalogs in hand. And, although I haven't committed to exactly what's going to take up space in our two little raised beds, I'm eager to begin getting my hands dirty. Paul is also dusting off his "honorary farmer" clothes in preparation for the work that lies ahead. He pointed out to me that we can "almost see dirt" underneath all that snow. So, summer is due anytime now.
Secondly, we've started to think about a CSA membership. We belonged to TIPI last year (we split a share with our friends Steph & Nate). This year, we're not only contemplating switching farms, but we're also thinking about whether or not we can tackle a share on our own.
It's always a tough decision. After all, we LOVE spending time at the farmer's markets in town. And we love having our own (albeit small) urban vegetable garden. And a full share (meant to feed two voracious veg-heads, or an average family of 4) might just give us enough food so that we wouldn't have much need for those backyard tomatoes or an extra trip to the market. THEN AGAIN, we also love the idea of storing up extra veggies for the long Wisconsin winter. And a full share would give us a chance to do a bit more of that. So, we're going to give the idea a fair shot.
Right now, here's a sampling of the farms in the running:
- Jen Ehr Farm (Sun Prairie, WI) http://www.wisconsingrown.com/
- Pinehold Gardens (Oak Creek, WI) -- OK, I just found out this morning that they're "full up" for 2008... guess that's one less we have to consider.
- Rare Earth Farm http://www.rareearthfarm.com/
- Springdale Farm (Plymouth, WI) http://userfs.cec.wustl.edu/~sb2/SpringdaleFarm
- Afterglow Farm (Port Washington, WI) -- we're in love with the owners of this farm, and wish that their drop off sites were just a WEE bit closer! We may bite anyhow.
- LotFotL Community Farm (East Troy, WI) www.myspace.com/lotfotl-- These guys would be an interesting bet, as they're really new to the CSA game.
Thursday
Something I read today: An Omnivore Defends Real Food
In following the hype surrounding Michael Pollan’s latest book, “In Defense of Food", I read this New York Times piece.
Pollan's thesis is simple: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
I don't think that one can really disagree with that premise. It's simple. To the point. And it gets at the heart of what we need to do to eat for health (and for the environment). Admittedly, I'm a bit of a hedonist when it comes to cooking and food, so the "not too much" part is my biggest downfall. But, I digress.
That said --I'm not sure I'll be buying the book.
I've not yet read "In Defense of Food;" but, having read quite a bit about it already, I'm starting to wonder if the information it contains is just more recycled bits. Take for instance Pollan's article "Unhappy Meals" which appeared last January in the NYT.
Pollan's thesis is simple: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
I don't think that one can really disagree with that premise. It's simple. To the point. And it gets at the heart of what we need to do to eat for health (and for the environment). Admittedly, I'm a bit of a hedonist when it comes to cooking and food, so the "not too much" part is my biggest downfall. But, I digress.
That said --I'm not sure I'll be buying the book.
I've not yet read "In Defense of Food;" but, having read quite a bit about it already, I'm starting to wonder if the information it contains is just more recycled bits. Take for instance Pollan's article "Unhappy Meals" which appeared last January in the NYT.
In Which Lo Shares a Tale About Decomposing Foodstuffs
We try as much as we can to reduce the amount of waste that we produce, so we're big fans of composting our food scraps (of which we have many). Not only is the habit good for the environment, it's VERY good for our gardens (which shriek with delight at the sight of a bucket of the stuff). Because we have a limited amount of space on our city lot, we have two lovely compost bins in our yard, which we purchased a couple of years ago. We maintain a fairly simple system of rotation -- using one bin during the summer months, and the other in the winter -- so that we have a fairly steady supply of black gold for our gardens. This is, as Martha Stewart might say, a very good thing.
Anyhow, before he left for NAMM, Peef took out the compost.
And now, he is my HERO.
Peef normally takes out the compost for me, because he is a very nice boy. It was dark outside, which makes him an even NICER boy (I must confess to an irrational fear of going outside in the yard when it is dark).
The IPOD was playing some lovely song, and I was dancing merrily around in the kitchen, when Peef came stomping back into the house with a look of horror on his face.
"What was IN there?" he exclaimed, as he ran over to the sink and turned on the water to rinse off his hand. "It was stuck on the bottom of the bucket, and I had to reach down in there to get it out... and when I tapped the bucket to get out the last of it... it splashed on my face!!" He looked like he was going to be sick.
Sure enough, I looked into the bucket, and the bottom was coated with the remainders of an ecto-plasmic green slime. Bleh. (Apparently, copious amounts of chopped cilantro decompose exceedingly quickly when given the right conditions at the bottom of the compost bucket...)
Anyhow, before he left for NAMM, Peef took out the compost.
And now, he is my HERO.
Peef normally takes out the compost for me, because he is a very nice boy. It was dark outside, which makes him an even NICER boy (I must confess to an irrational fear of going outside in the yard when it is dark).
The IPOD was playing some lovely song, and I was dancing merrily around in the kitchen, when Peef came stomping back into the house with a look of horror on his face.
"What was IN there?" he exclaimed, as he ran over to the sink and turned on the water to rinse off his hand. "It was stuck on the bottom of the bucket, and I had to reach down in there to get it out... and when I tapped the bucket to get out the last of it... it splashed on my face!!" He looked like he was going to be sick.
Sure enough, I looked into the bucket, and the bottom was coated with the remainders of an ecto-plasmic green slime. Bleh. (Apparently, copious amounts of chopped cilantro decompose exceedingly quickly when given the right conditions at the bottom of the compost bucket...)
Tuesday
Something I read today
This article from the Utne Reader was posted over at Deb's Lunch the other day. Intrigued by the sub-header (Why Michael Pollan Makes Me Want to Eat Cheetos), I printed it off and gave it a read.
The article is well conceived, and Julie Guthman (UC-Santa Cruz) presents a good argument against the "tone" of Michael Pollan's book. Her point that "fat people bear the weight" when it comes to public conversation about food and food policy is well taken. Pollan's book does seem to suggest that WE are fat because we are too stupid to eat the foods that would keep us thin.
Dr. Guthman also cautions the latest "food movements" against an anti-regulatory approach to food politics... the sense of apolitical privilege that tends to oppress.
Got me thinking.
And so, I ask: Are we, as locovores, a bunch of smug, self-righteous (and PC) idiots? No, we don't have to be. In fact, I'd argue that it's vital that we NOT be.
One of the biggest things I've struggled with, when it comes to my support of "local" and "organic" is that it's a difficult topic to discuss without coming off as completely judgmental. It's also become an increasingly difficult topic as organic farms get BIGGER and more industrialized. It's a tough thing. For me, this is a very personal issue in a great many ways -- those of you who know me probably know that. Lately, I've been pondering the issues of availability and access when it comes to organic food, and it's leading me to some pretty interesting reading. Food and social justice, it seems, are inextricably tied... and it seems Pollan, in all of his wisdom, seems to have neglected that small truth.
The article is well conceived, and Julie Guthman (UC-Santa Cruz) presents a good argument against the "tone" of Michael Pollan's book. Her point that "fat people bear the weight" when it comes to public conversation about food and food policy is well taken. Pollan's book does seem to suggest that WE are fat because we are too stupid to eat the foods that would keep us thin.
Dr. Guthman also cautions the latest "food movements" against an anti-regulatory approach to food politics... the sense of apolitical privilege that tends to oppress.
Got me thinking.
And so, I ask: Are we, as locovores, a bunch of smug, self-righteous (and PC) idiots? No, we don't have to be. In fact, I'd argue that it's vital that we NOT be.
One of the biggest things I've struggled with, when it comes to my support of "local" and "organic" is that it's a difficult topic to discuss without coming off as completely judgmental. It's also become an increasingly difficult topic as organic farms get BIGGER and more industrialized. It's a tough thing. For me, this is a very personal issue in a great many ways -- those of you who know me probably know that. Lately, I've been pondering the issues of availability and access when it comes to organic food, and it's leading me to some pretty interesting reading. Food and social justice, it seems, are inextricably tied... and it seems Pollan, in all of his wisdom, seems to have neglected that small truth.
Thursday
Something I read today: What Would Michael Pollan Eat?
As someone who was intrigued and challenged by The Omnivore's Dilemma, my head turned when I came across this article in the SanFrancisco Gate this week.
The question of "What would Michael Pollan Eat" had me chuckling at first glance. But, while the article isn't particularly humorous, it's a great reminder of some keys for "real" eating (like the carbon footprint we make when we eat meat).
I thought you, too, might enjoy.
PS
Another soup hint. #2 is NOT vegetarian.
The question of "What would Michael Pollan Eat" had me chuckling at first glance. But, while the article isn't particularly humorous, it's a great reminder of some keys for "real" eating (like the carbon footprint we make when we eat meat).
I thought you, too, might enjoy.
PS
Another soup hint. #2 is NOT vegetarian.
Tuesday
Sustainable Thinking
As most of you know, Peef and I are pretty devoted to the idea of eating locally and supporting the philosophies of slow food. We haven't gotten to the point where I feel that we really do enough; but, we've made progress. We belong to a CSA, we make weekly trips to the farmer's market, we belong to a local co-op. Despite our lack of acreage, we even cultivate a small yard of vegetables and herbs during Wisconsin's short summers. Sometimes we pay just a little bit more for food that we know is ultra-fresh and flavorful. We also spend time nurturing our families and friends with food that we prepared with them in mind.
But, despite those things, it occurred to me that we probably haven't taken the time to really lay out the details of why we do what we do. So, I took the time this week to get down to business. And here are some of the reasons why we've chosen to support local agriculture. Some of the answers are familiar (trite, even). Others maybe not quite so much. You can decide for yourself.
- Local food just tastes better. No lies... that warm sun-kissed tomato I just picked from the backyard will ALWAYS win when compared to the pale, under-ripe variety I can find at the grocery store.
- Nutrition. Pure and simple. Some would argue that the jury is still out on whether organic is more nutritious than conventional produce. But, I have a hard time believing that food produced on factory farms and transported sometimes thousands of miles before it gets to market can beat out locally-grown produce. Well-balanced soils produce strong, healthy plants that become truly nourishing food. So, I'm going to put my money where my mouth is.
- Doing what feels right keeps us healthier. Totally getting a kick out of eating luscious, local strawberries (or apples, or soybeans, or chard) means that, in the end, we eat more fruits and vegetables. How can that be a bad thing?
- Buying local supports the local economy. I mean -- why not? We live here.
- Buying local conserves fuel. Australian apples? I don't care HOW organic they are! Give me freshness from my own backyard as often as possible.
- It's fun to buy from someone you know. Don't you have more fun when you buy your veggies at the farmer's market? For me, nothing beats meeting the farmer that grew my veg. And talking with him about how much he enjoys his work.
- So really -- the final reason really is that buying local FEELS good. And right.
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