LA Farm Girl

Why Should You Grow Your Own Food?

2012-01-12T20:17:00.000-08:00

The New Year always makes me think about my gardening resolutions and what I want to grow. For those who are on the fence about growing some of your own food, check out my Care2 Green Living post "7 Reasons Why You Should Grown Your Own Food. It is an "oldie" but it might give you just the reason you need to start growing your own!

Here's some of my lettuce that I still have in my garden due to our very warm and dry winter

I also have chamomile coming in huge quantities, it has reseeded itself and is like a weed but it keeps the cats out of my garden bed and I can dry it and make some tea.

Food Stories of 2011

2011-12-31T15:12:00.000-08:00

As we come to the end of 2011, for my Care2 Healthy Living post this week, I wrote about the big food issue of the year, namely food safety and how it has dominated the news and remains one of the biggest food issues to consumers Top Food Stories of the Year.

Here's to hoping that we finally start getting it in 2012 and make a commitment to supporting and encouraging the development of local, sustainable food!

Make Your Holidays Sustainable!!

2011-12-05T22:09:00.001-08:00

Santa Paula Christmas Tree Farm

Here is my Care2 Healthy & Green post for this week. From the tree to the food, yes, you can have a sustainable holiday and here are some tips on how to do that:
4 Easy Ways For A Sustainable Holiday Season

From Fighting To Farming

2011-11-11T09:19:00.001-08:00

In honor of Veteran's Day I updated my Fighters to Farmers story I did a couple of years ago about the wonderful work that the Farmer-Veteran Coalition does. They help our veterans heal and also work towards building a healthy and sustainable food system.

UPDATE 11/11:Tom T. Ishibashi Farm Misc. Equipment & Supplies For Sale

2011-10-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

Those of you who follow LA Farm Girl regularly know that not only has it been ages since I have posted, but that I have written much about the wonderful Tom T. Ishibashi Farm @ Torrance Airport and that sadly, Tom passed away in May and his family is finishing out the season since he planned/planted for it.
Tom T. Ishibashi’s farm stand and farm is located at Torrance Airport and is the last farm in Torrance. He was the last farmer from a Japanese American family that has farmed in the South Bay, since the early 1900s mostly on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and in Torrance, the Ishibashi’s have been farming the area at the Torrance Airport for the past 60 years and sadly, with his death, the end of an era and the farm comes.

This means that all of the equipment, etc. has to be sold or disposed of. So, I have offered to help spread the word for them.

UPDATE: The farm is now closed. So, if you are interested in any of the following items they have made an email address available for people interested in finding out more info. tomtfarm@yahoo.com.

Address: 24955 Crenshaw Boulevard, Torrance, CA

Here’s a list of some of what they have (looking for best offer on most things):

Lug Boxes - They have about 1,000 of them. For those who buy a lot of them, they are asking $5 a box; or if you only want a few, then they are asking for $10 box.

Lug Box

Strawberry Baskets – There are 34 cases of clear plastic type, (Pactiv Brand item # 92519) 4 1/8 x 4 1/8, and are asking $100 per case (1200 in a case).

Clear Strawberry Basket

Tomato Trays – They have about 200 of these

Strawberry Trays - They have about 200 of these

Fruit Trees – They have a Japanese persimmon, 3 olive trees all in ground, and 9-12 fig trees, green figs, not sure of variety but they are all in the ground.

Miscellaneous Farm Equipment & Trucks – They have tractors and trucks that are all different and all different ages, some very old and some not so old.

Tomato Stakes – 5 feet each, they have several hundred of these.

5 Foot Tomato Stakes

Irrigation Pipes - They have narrow ones that are 20 feet in length, and wider ones 10 feet. They also have fittings plus working sprinkler heads.

30 Years of Good Food

2011-09-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

Here's my LA Urban Agriculture Examiner post all about this week's Good Food Festival and Conference in Santa Monica. It runs from Wednesday, September 14 through Sunday, September 18. Come and celebrate Santa Monica Farmers' Market's 30th Anniversary and have yummy food, hear from renowned good food panelists, attend the trade show and learn how to be a better urban farmer!

Check out my story for links and more info. 30 Years of Good Food

Come To Celebrate & Honor The Ishibashi's Farm History on PV Peninsula

2011-07-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

It seems that in the past few months, my blog has become very Ishibashi family-centered and sadly, not always with good news about them.

This morning's Daily Breeze has a front page article about plans to sell the family's historic Ishibashi Ranch on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Ishibashi Family Selling Historic Portuguese Bend Ranch.

The 5-acre ranch is part of the land that James' and Tom's father leased in the early 1900s. The Ishibashi's were one of about 40 Japanese American families who farmed the Palos Verdes Peninsula on leased land at the turn of the 20th Century since they were not permitted to own land.

As a way to honor their farming legacy, Sande Ishibashi is having a celebration at the ranch house on Saturday that is open to the public.

Annie's Stand

Here are the details:

What: Celebration at the Ishibashi Ranch

When: Saturday, July 16, 2 p.m.

Where: 5521 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes

Support the Ishibashi Family and Shop At The Farm Stand!

2011-06-22T21:09:00.000-07:00

Today I was at Torrance Memorial Medical Center and for those familiar with the area, you know that it is right across the street from Torrance Airport and the Tom T. Ishibashi Farm.

I parked up on the roof of the parking structure and stopped to look down at Tom's fields and tears came to my eyes when I saw the bounty that was still there and nearly ready, namely the wonderful sweet, white corn that he has become so famous for each summer.

Tom T. Ishibashi's last crop of sweet corn

For a brief moment I forgot that he was gone. It was both comforting and sad to see the farm was still there. Despite the sadness I feel, I am happy that his family is finishing out the season and that the farm stand is still open. So please, go and shop there and support them in this difficult time and give Tom a successful last season.

The Tom T. Ishibashi Farm Stand is located at 24955 Crenshaw Boulevard in Torrance, alongside the Torrance Airport next to Armstrong Nursery.

Rest In Peace My Farm Hero, Tom T. Ishibashi

2011-05-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

LA Farm Girl is very sad, not only have I lost a wonderful friend, but our community has lost a wonderful farmer, one who cared about not only his land, but the community surrounding it.

He was the last living legacy to our farming past and the contributions of he and his family cannot be understated and must never be forgotten.

I was so privileged to know him and to have him as the "star" of my book. If you are right Tom, then you are reunited with your beloved Maya. I will miss you.

Longtime South Bay farmer Tom Ishibashi dies

Are You Right For A CSA?

2011-05-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

If you are thinking of becoming a member of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program, you might want to think about if YOU are a good match for one.

Check out my Care2.com Healthy & Green Living post that asks you to think about the kind of eater you are, the kind of cook, and if you are adventurous enough to join one!

Your Excess Produce Can Help The Hungry

2011-04-04T12:15:00.000-07:00

If you are still doing your spring planting and planning your summer garden/farm, you might want to plant an extra row for those who need. New statistics show that LA County leads the nation in the percentage of people who do not have a consistent source of food.

Here's my Care2 Healthy & Green Living post that talks about how to donate and help. We can all make a difference!

Happy National Agriculture Day

2011-03-15T16:15:00.000-07:00

Today, March 15, 2011, is National Agriculture Day. I wrote about the day and what it means to me for my post this week on Care2.com Healthy & Green Living, in honor of National Agriculture Day.

LA Farm Girl's Post Re: Los Angeles Wine Country!

2011-02-28T10:07:00.000-08:00

Some of you know that I not only write about current farming in California and especially here in LA, but that I am obsessed with farm history and am working on a new book about Los Angeles agriculture.

As part of this, I am blogging with my book partner at her UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Los Angeles Agriculture blog.

Here is Part Two of:
"How Los Angeles Became The Commercial Winegrowing Capital of America"

Yes, long before the Napa Valley or Sonoma became the winegrowing meccas that they are, LA was it, a position it held until the late 1800's.

Jean Luis Vignes winery, downtown Los Angeles

I am working on Part 3 so watch for it soon!

I Am An Urban Homesteader

2011-02-21T08:46:00.000-08:00

It is funny how life turns out, if you would have told me that one day I would even consider referring to myself as an urban homesteader, I would have told you that you were crazy.

I mean I am an LA girl, born and bred. The fact that I am LA Farm Girl is a big enough stretch from who I always thought I would be, but, urban homesteader? Hardly.

First Crop on My Urban Homestead, July '09

But, over the past several years my career as a farm writer (how I got there is a story in and of itself that I will blog about one day) has led me to “walk the walk” instead of just “talking the talk.” It started with me applying to become a University of California Master Gardener, and paying for the privilege of volunteering in the community teaching them to grow their own food. This led me to ask myself; why am I not growing my own food?

Since I am a University of California Certified Master Gardener (yeah, throwing around my “big credentials” at every opportunity) I always like to defer to our parent campus, UC Davis for definitions of things related to gardening and farming, and, it turns out that they actually have one for urban homesteading.

According to UC Davis’ Small Farm Program “an urban homestead is a household that produces a significant part of the food, including produce and livestock, consumed by its residents. This is typically associated with residents’ desire to live in a more environmentally conscious manner.”

While I am a long way off from producing a “significant” amount of our food, especially the livestock part, I do plant more each year and I do it in an environmentally conscious way.

How? Well, two summers ago after getting tired of hearing me express my desire to grow my own food, my dear hubby ripped out half of our back lawn and built me the most beautiful raised bed garden, complete with a beautiful basket weave fence and gate around it.

At the time we needed the gate to keep our sweet lab out. Sadly, a few months after it was built we lost her, so now the gate just looks pretty and somehow makes me feel as if she’s out there with me when I am working in the garden just like she used to be.

Ms. Maggie in newly built and planted raised bed garden, June '09

Not only do I now have a dedicated space to grow my own veggies, but we got rid of much of our wasteful lawn, and replaced it with the raised beds that have a drip irrigation system, and that use only organic soil amendment and compost.

Another way I garden with the environment in mind is by using only non GMO, non-treated, open pollinated seeds, preferably heirloom varieties, and transplants of the same.

This year I am going to plant some more burpless cucumbers, lollipop heirloom tomatoes, and other heirloom tomatoes. french baby carrots, pole beans, and for the first time, sugar baby watermelons from Baker Creed Seeds.

August 12, 2010 Harvest

I am not as self-sufficient as many of my other urban homesteading friends are and I probably will never be. But, each year I make more progress in weaning myself from the grid and slowing down my pace, and my dependence on a food system that frankly scares the hell out of me.

My next goal on the road to more self-sufficiency is preserving more of my own food, I just barely scratched the surface last year, and have invested in some canning tools to help make this happen this year.

So, on this, the Urban Homesteaders Day of Action, I want to suggest that you join me by becoming an urban homesteader and discover the joys of growing your own food at your own urban homestead.

Stand Up "Urban Homesteaders"

2011-02-16T21:50:00.000-08:00

Not sure how many of you are aware of a brewing controversy but there's a Los Angeles area urban farm that has said that it has trademarked the terms "Urban Homestead" and "Urban Homesteading." There's a great blog post about it here, on the OC Weekly.

So, some very upset Urban Homesteaders have created a Facebook Fan page so that we can take back our term and they are asking people to go and like it. Here's the link:
Take-Back-Urban-Home-Steadings Facebook Fan Page

Oh, and here's the profile photo that they created for this fan page, I love it:

SLOLA: Saving Seeds For The Future - Los Angeles Urban Agriculture | Examiner.com

2011-01-12T15:26:00.000-08:00

Here is my latest post from my Los Angeles Urban Agriculture Examiner page, all about Seed Library of Los Angeles (SLOLA). Come and join this awesome group at their monthly meeting this Saturday, January 15 at 2:30 p.m. at Learning Garden at Venice High School. Help them "grow" and save the seeds of our future!

SLOLA: Saving Seeds For The Future - Los Angeles Urban Agriculture Examiner.com

Public Outcry Wins 90-Day Extension for Hollywood Farmers’ Market! - Los Angeles Urban Agriculture | Examiner.com

2010-12-17T21:01:00.000-08:00

Here's my latest post from Los Angeles Urban Agriculture Examiner page about the Hollywood Farmers' Market:

Public Outcry Wins 90-Day Extension for Hollywood Farmers’ Market! - Los Angeles Urban Agriculture Examiner.com

Hollywood Farmers Market Action Alert: Email Councilman Garcetti TODAY - Los Angeles Urban Agriculture | Examiner.com

2010-12-15T15:31:00.000-08:00

Important, the Hollywood Farmers' Market needs our immediate help, check out the details at my Los Angeles Urban Agriculture Examiner page on how to help them now!

Hollywood Farmers Market Action Alert: Email Councilman Garcetti TODAY - Los Angeles Urban Agriculture Examiner.com

Urgent: Save The Hollywood Farmers’ Market - Los Angeles Urban Agriculture | Examiner.com

2010-12-09T18:20:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest on the Hollywood Farmers' Market, this is from my Los Angeles Urban Agriculture Examiner page:

Urgent: Save The Hollywood Farmers’ Market - Los Angeles Urban Agriculture Examiner.com

Help Save The Hollywood Farmers' Market!

2010-12-06T12:29:00.000-08:00

In case you hadn't heard, the Sunday Hollywood Farmer's Market is in danger. One of the largest farmers' markets in Los Angeles County, this 20-year old market is faced with the prospect of either shrinking in size or possibly closing altogether due to a conflict with a nearby business over parking.

The LA Film School petitioned the city to "move" the market away from their parking lot, which is located on Ivar Avenue between Sunset Blvd and Selma Ave.

According to KTLA News, "That means approximately 150 vendors who sell their own products every Sunday will be displaced. Vendors will lose the more than $130,000 in income that is generated every Sunday.

And with the loss of that income, 7 other smaller farmers' markets in low income areas like Watts, Crenshaw, South Central, Echo Park, East Hollywood and Atwater Village that are supported by the Hollywood Farmers' Market could also be forced to close."

The market is run by the non-profit SEE-LA, which has not only started all of these other markets, but created the Hollywood Farmer's Kitchen.

Yesterday at the market, SEE-LA gathered thousands of signatures showing the community's support. However, if you didn't get the chance to sign their petition, and want to show your support and be kept informed of what's going on with this issue, send them an email at: info@farmernet.com to show your support.

Also, make sure to "like" the Protect the Hollywood Farmers Market Facebook page.

There is a meeting scheduled for later today between market staff and the City. Hopefully they will be able to work out a way to keep this fresh food oasis that is one of the only sources of fresh, local food in the community.

Happy National Farm-City Week

2010-11-21T21:03:00.000-08:00

This week, millions of Americans will gather around the Thanksgiving table with family and friends enjoying the harvest from the most bountiful food source in the world. But, did you know that this week (November 19-26) is also National Farm-City Week? A week designed by the National Farm City Council to highlight the important roles that urban and rural partnerships play in food and fiber production.

Did you know that the state of California produces more than 50% of the nation’s fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts? And, it does this using just 3% of the nation’s farmland. California farmers and ranchers produce nearly $30 billion a year, support over 1.1 million jobs, and is the top agricultural state, a position it’s held for more than 55 years.

For most people the answer to these questions is no. That’s because there are usually no big, headlining agricultural stories in the media. There is no constant coverage on the fact that thanks to California, we have the safest, most affordable food supply system in the world.

What about the people who grow your food, fiber and flowers? It might surprise you to know that California is still dominated by family and small run farms. Approximately 97% of California farms are run as family farms or partnerships.

If farm issues are covered on the news, most stories usually cast a negative light on farmers. However, many of our farmers practice sustainable agriculture and work towards preserving our natural resources, protecting the environment, and conserving water. They are the largest stewards of our land and are working to preserve what little open space is left.

But each year, their very existence is jeopardized by the unchecked growth of development, competition and dominance by large corporate farms, over-regulation at the state and federal level, and the apparent lack of concern for their survival by the general public.

American Farmland Trust says that every minute of every day, America loses two acres of farmland.

Maybe you think that because you live in Los Angeles you are so far removed from agriculture that it doesn’t affect you. Have you ever stopped to count the number of times during the day that agriculture touches your life? From the time you crawl out of the cotton sheets on your bed in the morning, to the time you brush your teeth at night; agriculture is there. If you use products like paper, shampoo, crayons, buttons, and shoes, then you are affected by agriculture.

You might also think that in Los Angeles County we don’t even produce agricultural products anymore. In 2006 (latest report available), L.A. County had 16 million dollar commodities including ornamental trees and shrubs, bedding plants, root vegetables, herbs, apples, strawberries, and grapes.

As you sit down at the table this Thanksgiving and give thanks for all of the good in your life, take the opportunity to thank our farmers. Remember: agriculture is part of our lives, so we must help to protect it.

You can make a difference by asking where your food is grown, who grew it, and when and how it was grown. Shop at your local farmers’ market; look for Buy Local campaigns at your local market, showing that the food was made in California.

Dont Miss It: LA Farm Girl Book Signing

2010-11-15T11:10:00.000-08:00

Did you know that:

Gardena was once known as the Strawberry Capital of the World?
Redondo Beach was once known as Carnation City?
There were still a dozen dairies in Torrance until the mid-1960s?
The Palos Verdes Peninsula was once one of the largest producing areas of garbanzo beans?

All of this and more is true, and are just some of the great things I discovered while researching my book, "Farming In Torrance And The South Bay." If you are interested in this fascinating history and want to learn more, come to a book signing this weekend in Torrance.

Here's the details:

Date: Saturday, November 20, 2010
Time: 1 to 3 p.m.
Location: Costco - Torrance, 2751 Skypark Drive, Torrance, CA

Forneris Farms Harvest Festival Starts This Weekend!

2010-10-06T21:58:00.000-07:00

Since it is already October, Halloween will be here before you know it. That means it is time to go and pick-your-own pumpkin. Instead of going to that parking lot pumpkin patch next to your supermarket, why not go to a real farm and have a great day of fun and support a great local LA farmer?

Yep, a "real" LA farmer, imagine that! Forneris Farms is one of only two "traditional" farms left in the San Fernando Valley---John Forneris has been farming in Mission Hills for the past 45 years!

Not only can you pick-your-own pumpkin, but during Harvest Festival time there's great activities for the whole family including a tractor-pulled train ride, a "farm frolic" area with kid's games, farm animals, antique tractors and cars, and on weekends there's food and entertainment. They also have an awesome corn maze with over 4 acres of turns to get lost in. And, of course their farm market is always open and features farm fresh produce year-round.

Follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook

Let's show John and Barbara that we support them and appreciate that they are here providing us with locally, grown, farm fresh produce and a great on-farm experience for the whole family!

LA Farm Girl Post on UC ANR Los Angeles Agriculture Blog

2010-08-28T22:13:00.000-07:00

My first post for the wonderful Rachel Surls' UC Los Angeles Agriculture blog is now live!

These blog posts are part of the book we are working on together all about Los Angeles agriculture both past and present.

The post is part one, about how Los Angeles became the wine growing capital of California in the mid-1800s.

Also, there's a great post from Rachel Surls all about Self-Help Cooperatives of the 1930s and how, during the depression people bartered for goods, including harvesting farmers' crops for a share of the harvest!

Meet LA Farm Girl at Food Rendezvous

2010-08-27T12:46:00.000-07:00

I have been busily working on many things, including my next book, that I have neglected my own blog!

But....I just wanted to post a reminder about the first ever "Food Rendezvous," kicking off tomorrow in Venice. This is a new monthly gathering and hopefully people will keep coming back for more!

Here's the details on Food Rendezvous:

August 28, 2010, 4 - 10 PM

Location: SPARC, historic 1920s police station/jail house and its adjoining parking lots Venice, 685 Venice Blvd.

$10

Featuring:

•Delicious food from emerging local artisans

•Creative chefs’ demos

•Cookbook swap

•Fun cooking contests

•Inspiring food movies

•Tasty live music

• Jam Making Contest

Local food authors, including yours truly!

I will at the Writer's Table tomorrow from 4 to 5 p.m. right when the event kicks off. Come and learn all about our rich farm history in the South Bay and LA area, and hear how both Venice and Lomita claimed to be the "Celery Capital" of So Cal!!!

"Farming in Torrance And The South Bay" by Judith Gerber

Upcoming LA Farm Girl Events

2010-08-01T20:38:00.000-07:00

LA Farm Girl's August 1 morning harvest, cucumbers, Oregon Spring & Lollipop tomatoes

Having had my blog for a few years now, I still don't feel comfortable using it to talk about myself, or all of the things that I am doing. And, I usually end up using it to promote other people's projects, events, etc.

But all of my fellow farm and garden writers and foodies tell me that I should.

So, I am going to take their advice and list of couple of things I am doing this month, but I don't feel as uncomfortable since they are great events featuring other people's work, a film, and other fun things.

First up, the Torrance Public Library will be showing "Food Inc." and following the film, I will be moderating a discussion. Those of you in the South Bay, please come out and help me lead an intelligent talk about this important film.

Food Inc. Film and Discussion: Wednesday, August 4, 7 p.m.

Location: Katy Geissert Civic Center Library, Community Meeting Room, 3301 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503

Next up, please join me for the kick-off of an exciting new "Monthly Gathering for Food Lovers!" The Food Rendezvous

August 28, 2010, 4 - 10 PM
SPARC, historic 1920s police station/jail house and its adjoining parking lots Venice

Featuring:

Delicious food from emerging local artisans
Creative chefs’ demos
Cookbook swap
Fun cooking contests
Inspiring food movies
Tasty live music
And so much more!

And local food authors, including yours truly, I will be talking about our rich farm history in the South Bay and LA area.

Farm and Food News Update 7/23/10

2010-07-23T14:58:00.000-07:00

So humbled and excited to have my blog post included in American Farmland Trust's weekly "Farm and Food News Update." I wrote about not only their work, but how things like agri-tourism can help save our farmland.

As they say, "No Farms No Food"

Farm and Food News Update 7/23/10

Why Saving Farmland Is So Important

2010-07-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

Here is my Care2.com posting for this week. I wrote about the importance of saving our farmland. Why?

Well, when I write about our farmers and our farms, I always talk about the obvious reason to keep our farmland, i.e. "No Farms, No Food," as the American Farmland Trust always says.

And, I always talk about how without land; our farmers will be out of business. One of my food "idols" is Russ Parsons, of the LA Times. As he says, farming is a business. This is true no matter how big or small a farm is and if it wasn't treated as a business, they couldn't survive. So, we need to support them and the land that they work so they can survive!

However, there are many other reasons that farmland is so important that most people often aren't aware of. One of the biggest is the fact that our farms are green space and can contribute to a healthy environment. Sadly, we don't hear about all of the work they do in this regard, all we hear about are the big bad, corporations, which I don't really consider "real" farms and which are degrading our environment.

Here's the story I wrote covering all of this, I would love to hear your feedback! http://www.care2.com/greenliving/why-saving-farmland-is-so-important.html

Follow Me On My Slow Project

2010-06-15T09:48:00.000-07:00

LA Farm Girl's Farm

As those of you who read LA Farm Girl's ever-decreasing blog entries know, I seem to get busier and busier and get less and less accomplished, including posting here.

That's why I have decided to embark on a personal journey that I am calling "The Slow Project." It came out of a post I did last week for my Care2.com Healthy and Green Living contribution, "5 Easy Ways To Slow Down."

The response I received from that post, there were over 180 comments, told me that I was on to something, that we all need to take time to slow down a bit.

So, this week I wrote about my own attempt to slow things down and to "walk the walk" and kicked off The Slow Project.

I sometimes feel like such a fraud writing about slow foods, gardening as a healer, and sustainable farming, and then rushing around like a crazy woman in order to that.

I thought it was high time I put to practice what I have been preaching (so to speak). I would love to have you join me and let me know what works for you and how you are enjoying the process of being more mindful and enjoying the things around you.

As part of my efforts to take time to enjoy the literal fruits of my labor, after I tended to the garden, I took the time to look at what I have created, took photos and let myself enjoy it. Here's a couple of shots of what is going on now:

Here's my "Burpless" cucumbers, they are yummy!

flat leaf and curly leaf parsley doing great now!

LA Farm Girl's First Spring Crops

2010-05-21T16:14:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy writing and farming that I haven't posted anything in over a month! So, until I have time to compose something meaningful, I thought I'd post a few photos of the first of my new veggies. I am still planting but so far, my burpless cucumbers and sugar snap peas are doing great, and my little tomatoes are growing, although there's no fruit yet.

My first cucumber is nearly ready for picking and several others are starting to pop out of their flowers!

My sugar snap peas are living up to their name, they taste like candy, so sweet! Thanks to Peter Lee, of Environmental Arts for the wonderful seedlings :)!

Spring's Simple Pleasures: Visiting Tapia Brothers Farm Stand

2010-04-09T17:57:00.000-07:00

While we hear so much in the media, online and through our social networking sites about urban farms, community and school gardens, we often don't hear much about "traditional" farms that are still surviving and still offering us a chance to reconnect to the land.

Yesterday, LA Farm Girl ventured out to Encino to visit one such place: Tapia Brothers Farm Stand, at 5251 Hayvenhurst Avenue, in Encino, literally just off the Hayvenhurst exit off the 101 Freeway.

Now, many people know Tapia Brothers as home to TomatoMania, but they are so much more. For LA Farm Girl, it's a place to return to for some memories of when I was a kid and I would go to the stand sometimes to buy strawberries with my Grandpa.

Their farm and stand is one of only two such "mom and pop" farm stands left in the once agriculturally abundant San Fernando Valley. They don't even have a web site so if you want to make sure they are open before going, call the stand at (818) 905-6155.

It is a little early still for their tomatoes, but I bought some and they were already pretty sweet, as were the strawberries. As the weather warms up and summer comes, they will have their sweet corn and peaches and much more.

We need to make sure the Tapia Brothers know how much we appreciate them and how happy we are that this family owned farm is still here, so go and show them some love.

Happy Birthday Cesar Chavez: It's Cesar Chavez Day

2010-03-31T11:31:00.000-07:00

Today would have been the 83rd birthday of civil rights activist, farmworker, and labor leader Cesar Chavez, who along with Dolores Huerta founded the National Farm Workers Association.

Here are some quotes from Chavez to remind us of the huge contribution he made for farmworker's rights by advocating for justice, equality, and dignity for all Americans.

“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. We have seen the future, and the future is ours.”

“We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.”

“The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people.”

"Non-violence is not inaction. It is not discussion. It is not for the timid or weak... Non-violence is hard work. It is the willingness to sacrifice. It is the patience to win.”

It's Tomato Time!

2010-03-23T17:32:00.000-07:00

For those of us who live in southern California, most tomato planting begins in mid-to-late March depending on nighttime temperatures. This means now is the time to plant and luckily for us, there are plenty of places to get a wide variety of yummy heirloom tomato seedlings.

Here are a couple of great events to get you started:

Friday, March 26 through Sunday, March 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. TomatoMania! at Tapia Brothers Farm in Encino. This is one of the biggest tomato events in the area, with almost 300 tomato varieties!
Wednesday, March 31 through Saturday, April 3, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Long Beach City College Horticulture Club Plant Sale will feature 4,000 tomato plants for sale. All proceeds benefit the horticulture program.

If you can't make one of these events, why not buy from a local urban farmer? Laurel Garza is owner of Laurel's Heirloom Tomato Plants in Lomita, Laurel grows and sells over 130 varieties of heirloom tomatoes from her own urban southern California farm. She not only sells year round to online customers, but has on-site plant sales as well. Check out her site for a list of upcoming sales or to schedule an appointment to pick up your plants.

Help Grow LA Victory Garden Initiative

2010-03-15T19:21:00.000-07:00

Well, it is hard for me to believe that it's been a whole month since I last posted on my blog! Things have been so busy but I wanted to make sure I got a post up about a great new project that my wonderful Master Garden Program (UC Cooperative Extension Los Angeles County) is launching.

This is the Grow LA Victory Garden Initiative, which is part of UC Cooperative Extension's LA County Common Ground Garden Program.

Click here for a description from UC Cooperative Extension's LA County's own fabulous director Rachel Surls about this exciting new effort, http://ucanr.org/blogs/GrowLA/.

As she says, UC Master Gardener volunteers and community partners are offering a low-cost, four-session class, held at 10 locations around Los Angeles County, to teach new gardeners the basics of successful vegetable gardening. These "Victory Garden Circles" will provide not only basic lessons, but also a way to stay in touch with fellow gardeners, ask questions, and share produce.

Groups are gearing up to start in late March and early April. Participants who complete all four classes will become UC Certified Victory Gardeners. A google map shows the locations and contact information for each site.

They are hoping to start ten more sites in the fall, and LA Farm Girl is looking for a site to do this in her area, the South Bay, ideally, we need both indoor and outdoor access in case of rain or extreme heat.

You can follow all of the excitement on the blog http://ucanr.org/blogs/GrowLA/ or at the Initiative's web site http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/Common_Ground_Garden_Program/Grow_LA_Victory_Garden_Initiative.htm

A People's Garden

2010-02-15T16:51:00.000-08:00

Well, since Care2.com has asked that I not use the same posting for my own blog as the ones I write for them, LA Farm Girl is starting off the week rather lazily and simply putting a link to this week's post here http://www.care2.com/greenliving/help-start-a-peoples-garden-in-your-community.html for your reading pleasure.

It's about the USDA's People's Garden Initiative, encouraging us all to plant gardens in our local communities. A great idea! And, nothing precludes me from posting a photo of one of our great local community gardens, Torrance's Columbia Park Community Garden.

Spread Some V-Day Farm Love

2010-02-12T15:50:00.000-08:00

Since this weekend is Valentine's Day and since LA Farm Girl has never been one who believes in celebrating an artificially created day to celebrate love, I have been on the hunt for alternative ways to spend the day all centering around my one true love, our urban farms and gardens.

And, fortunately I have found some and thought I'd share them with you.

First on my list, "Love Pick" a great event organized by that awesome group Food Forward, http://www.foodforward.org/ those wonderful folks who go on organized fruit picks and collect it for those in need. As they say, "Calling all who are in love or looking for love (singles, couples and lovebirds welcome)--come find love in the orange grove."

Here's the details:
Date: Sunday, February 14
Where: Franklin Canyon Orange Grove (off Coldwater Canyon)
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m.
Spots Available: 40
To Reserve a spot, RSVP to Carl@foodforward.org

Number two on my list and something completely different is a look back at the history of farms and farming here in So Cal. through a visit to Rancho Santa Anita known today as the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia http://www.arboretum.org/.

On V.D., you can take the Curator's Tour of the Historic section of the garden and learn all about the history of Rancho Santa Anita, from when it was a citrus growing ranch, a cattle ranch and hear how it became the world class botanic garden it is now.

Date: Sunday, February 14
Time: 10:30 a.m. to Noon

While there, you can also check out the exhibit on display also related to the history of the garden when it was a ranch. Time & Land: Artifacts from the Arboretum's Collection. See art, tools, archaeological artifacts, documents, photographs and more that tell the story of the Arboretum and Rancho Santa Anita.

Exhibit Dates: Now through April 2

Times: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday

Free with garden admission of $8

And, if you do go to the Arboretum on Sunday, you can also check out the Mushroom Fair, http://www.lamushrooms.org/fair-2010.html.

Plant the Perimeter Fruit Tree Giveaway

2010-01-27T21:16:00.000-08:00

Tree People and LACMA Present:

Plant the Perimeter Fruit Tree Giveaway
Sun, Feb 7, 12 noon - Los Angeles County Museum of Art, BP Grand Entrance, 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles

Artist collective Fallen Fruit http://www.fallenfruit.org/index.php/news/ kicks off a yearlong project, EATLACMA, with a fruit tree giveaway.

Come pick up a free fruit tree along with planting instructions for your garden. This is the first in a series of events, which will include an exhibition, opening in June, and a series of food-related events throughout the year.

EATLACMA is a year-long investigation into food, art, culture and politics. EATLACMA's projects consider food as a common ground that explores the social role of art and ritual in community and human relationships.

EATLACMA unfolds seasonally, with artist's gardens planted and harvested on the museum campus, hands-on public events, and a concurrent exhibition, Fallen Fruit Presents The Fruit of LACMA (June 27-November 7, 2010).

Image courtesy of Fallen Fruit

City Labs Community Service Fair

2010-01-18T15:03:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to let you know about an event this weekend that will let you help LA's community organizations by getting involved in community service! City Labs Community Service Fair http://city-labs.org/event-info/ is presenting this one-day fair to browse, discover and connect with 50 local non-profits — organizations doing great things who need your support to maintain sustainability.

Some of LA Farm Girl's favorite food and garden (and green) organizations are participating and need your help including:
LA Guerrilla Gardening http://laguerrillagardening.org/
Food Forward http://www.foodforward.org/
South Central Farmers' Health and Ed. Fund http://www.southcentralfarmers.com/ Tree People http://www.treepeople.org/

Date: Saturday, January 23rd 2010
Hours: 11 am – 4 pm
Location: California Market Center’s Penthouse (110 East Ninth St. in downtown LA)
Donation at Door: $5 per person (includes entry, a free drink, and DIY workshops)

Free Workshops including Lazy Person’s Guide to Going Green w/YourDailyThread ‘Craft for a Cause’ area presented by Causecast :: pack and assemble food boxes for the city’s hungry.

There will be a lounge and even live music and raffle contests all day long including amazing prizes from Chronicle Books, local UNIQUELA designers and more!

Parking Information: The Parking Garage is located underneath the building, with parking entrances on Main Street and Los Angeles Street. There are also plenty of above-ground lots and a fair amount of street parking near the venue.

Only One Week Left to Apply For Master Gardener Program

2010-01-08T08:32:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to let everybody know that January 15, 2010, is your last chance to request an application for the Los Angeles County 2010 Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program, http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/Common_Ground_Garden_Program/Master_Gardener_Volunteer_Training_Program.htm

To get an application, Email Yvonne Savio, ydsavio@ucdavis.edu and let her know which elist(s) you're interested in: 1. Community Gardening and Food Security and/or 2. School Gardening.

Criteria: lots of prior community volunteering, passion for helping low-income residents.

Apply and join me, LA Farm Girl as a UC Master Gardener! It's great fun and so rewarding, plus you meet the nicest people doing something you love. What could be better?

Support the Food & Flowers Freedom Act!

2009-12-13T19:13:00.000-08:00

There has been such a growth in the city farm movement in the past year, that media giants like Time Magazine and USA Today have been writing and talking about urban farms and city farmers on a fairly regular basis. Even a recent issue of Los Angeles magazine had a cover story on growing your own called, “Homegrown.”

Here in LA, urban agriculture projects range from home food growing and community gardening, to those who are selling what they grow at local farmers’ markets and through small CSA programs and even mini-farm stands.

The momentum of such small farming efforts seems to be pushing it forward and it will only increase. This means there will be more access to fresh food for more people, which is especially important for low-income residents who currently don’t have such access.

One of the things the city of Los Angeles can do to increase and encourage urban farming is to eliminate many of the restrictions that urban farmers now face to support healthier local eating. Little by little these issues are coming to light as residents want to go beyond just growing fresh produce and want to raise their own chickens and other small farm animals, or become beekeepers, or even become flower or fruit farmers and sell these goods to their fellow citizens.

But, in Los Angeles, under an antiquated 1946 truck farming ordinance, selling anything grown on your property except vegetables is prohibited.

That is why a group that includes the LA Community Garden Council, http://www.lagardencouncil.org/and other urban farmers have been working to have this reversed.

The good news is that LA City Council President Eric Garcetti has introduced a motion that would reverse this ordinance. If passed it would change this city law prohibiting people in R-1 zoning from growing fruit, nuts, flowers or seedlings for off-site sale and will explore allowing “the cultivation of flowers, fruits, nuts or vegetables defined as the product of any tree, vine or plant, and that these products be allowed for use on-site or sale off-site.”

Called the Food and Flowers Freedom Act by its supporters, the motion is gaining momentum thanks to the city farmers who have lobbied for it.

These include Tara Kolla an urban organic flower who runs Silverlake Farms,http://www.silverlakefarms.com/who had to stop selling at farmers’ markets because of this ordinance and Erik Knutzen and Kelly Conye of Homegrown Evolution, www.homegrownevolution.com/2009/08/food-and-flowers-freedom-act.html.

They, along with other urban farmers have created the group Urban Farming Advocates urbanfarmingadvocates.org to legalize urban farming in the City of Los Angeles and they are asking for your support so that City Hall will change the law quickly because they believe “that LA’s current zoning does not support urban farming or people’s growing desire to have access to locally-grown, organic, fresh, nutritious, safe and pesticide-free food and flowers.”

Urban Farming Advocates is asking that you write to your Los Angeles City Council member and encourage them to support this Act. City of Los Angeles http://lacity.org/lacity/YourGovernment/CityCouncil/index.htm

In Memory of Maya Ishibashi

2009-12-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

So sad to hear that Maya Ishibashi passed away. She along with her husband Tom (my farmer hero pictured in the post just below) have run their farm at Torrance Airport for nearly 50 years.

My thoughts go out to all of the Ishibashi family, but especially to my friend Tom, who has lost his life partner.

Here's a photo of Maya from the 1980s that I used in my book about the history of farming in our area.

Happy Thanksgiving: Thank a Farmer!

2009-11-26T14:40:00.001-08:00

This is me (last year) with my favorite local farmer, Tom T. Ishibashi, I want to thank him this Thanksgiving! He is my Farmer Hero!

I am putting a link to my story that I did for Care2.com this week because they have chosen it as their Daily Action for Today/Thanksgiving Day.

So, make sure to go and Thank a Farmer, without them, there would be no Thanksgiving foods or any food for that matter.

http://www.care2.com/dailyaction/homepage.html

Project Food / LA @ MAK Day

2009-11-06T09:45:00.000-08:00

Saturday November 7, 2009

Project Food/LA is presenting this all day event that's "part rally, part political convention, part lecture and part panel discussion."

It culminates with the Edible Endeavors Convention --- This is a survey of food advocacy practices in Los Angeles that will be presented in a rapid-fire series of presentations, and features a diverse set of individuals and organizations that will present their work on behalf of food issues in the city.

Keynote by Evan Kleiman, host of Good Food on 89.9 KCRW.

Featuring Presentations by:
Community Services Unlimited
Fallen Fruit
Fed Up with Hunger, an initiative of Jewish Federation of Greater LA
Garden School Foundation
Highland Park Coop
Locali Market
M&A Gallery
Project Food / LA
Public Matters
Root Down LA
UEPI at Occidental College
Watts Labor Community Action Committee

Here's the Complete Schedule:

12-1 pm: A graphic workshop with Handbuilt Studio for Project Food / LA. In preparation for the Edible Endeavors Convention, Yuju Yeo leads participants in generating foodie propaganda – banners, flyers, posters, etc.

1-2 pm: Curatorial walk-through on the exhibition Otto Neurath. Gypsy Urbanism with guest curator Nader Vossoghian

2:30-3:30 pm: Panel discussion: A discussion of exhibition and display strategies in relation to infrastructure, do-it-yourself methods, social space engagement, and graphic communication.

3:30-6 pm: Edible Endeavors Convention

Location: MAK Center for Art and Architecture, Schindler House, 835 North Kings Road, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Don't miss the gathering of community gardens

2009-10-22T15:17:00.001-07:00

Gathering of Community Gardens at FarmLab in downtown LA

Don't miss the gathering of community gardens

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It's Pumpkin Patch Time

2009-10-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd start off the month of October with a quick post about a great family farm where you can pick-your-own pumpkin and support a great local LA farmer.

Yep, a "real" LA farmer, imagine that! Forneris Farms, http://www.fornerisfarms.com/, is one of only two "traditional" farms left in the San Fernando Valley---John Forneris has been farming in Mission Hills for the past 40 years!

Not only can you pick-your-own pumpkin, but now during Harvest Festival time there's great activities for the whole family including a corn maze, a tractor-pulled train ride, a "farm frolic" area with kid's games, farm animals, antique tractors and cars, and on weekends there's food and entertainment. And, of course their farm market is always open and features farm fresh produce year-round.

They are also now on Twitter, http://twitter.com/fornerisfarms so follow them!

Let's show John and Barbara that we support them and appreciate that they are here providing us with locally, grown, farm fresh produce and a great on-farm experience for the whole family!

USDA Launches Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative

2009-09-15T16:45:00.001-07:00

Well, there's more good food news coming from the Obama Administration's team. Today, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack officially announced the kick-off of the "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" Campaign from the USDA's People's Garden. As he says in this video http://www.youtube.com/usda , the campaign is designed to begin a national conversation to help develop local and regional food systems and spur economic opportunity.

Secretary Vilsack recorded a video to invite Americans to join the discussion and share their ideas for ways to support local agriculture.

"An American people that is more engaged with their food supply will create new income opportunities for American agriculture," said Vilsack. "Reconnecting consumers and institutions with local producers will stimulate economies in rural communities, improve access to healthy, nutritious food for our families, and decrease the amount of resources to transport our food."

And, they are putting their money where their mouths are; this week alone, USDA will announce approximately $65 million in funding for 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiatives.

Whoo Hoo! Michelle Obama Applies for Farmers' Market Permit!

2009-09-08T11:40:00.001-07:00

Just had to post this great news. Got a notice from DCist that the First Lady's office has requested to close Vermont Avenue between H and I Streets NW between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., every Thursday, for the market.

According to the DCist, this is the day and time that their readers and commentators were hoping for but the location was never discussed since it was unknown.

In this block, Vermont stretches between the far corners of Lafayette Square and McPherson Square. However, nothing is final and location could still change.

It is so great to see FLOTUS and POTUS so strongly supporting local food systems and farmers. It's something this LA Farm Girl has wished for a long time!

Come And Celebrate "30 Years of Farmers' Markets in Los Angeles"

2009-08-31T09:56:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to let you all know about a great event coming up this Thursday, September 3. It's,"30 Years and Growing," a celebration of the 30th anniversary of Los Angeles’ first farmers’ market.

Many people aren't aware that the Gardena Farmers' Market, which opened June 23, 1979, was the first market in Southern California. This anniversary is going to be celebrated at LA City Hall and will include Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Evan Kleiman of KCRW's Good Food, Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner Kurt Floren, Jonathan Gold the LA Weekly's Pulitzer-Prize winning food critic, and many organizers and farmers from the original Gardena Farmers' Market.

There will also be a salsa contest, several urban farmers from around LA , a "Taste The Harvest" Booth, more than 40 local farmers, prepared foods and fresh food vendors as well as local artisans, and of course, birthday cake!

When: September 3, 2009, 10am – 2pm
Where: Lawn of City Hall, 1st and Spring St. Downtown Los Angeles

For more info, check out their site http://locallygrownla.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/hello-world/

This wonderful even is being sponsored by some great organizations and groups including Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles (SEE-LA) and the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College.

Today (August 26) is Women's Equality Day

2009-08-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to remind everyone that today is Women's Equality Day, a celebration of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 that acknowledged the right of women to vote! This photo shows only a small part of how long it took and how hard it was for us to "get" the vote. We should never forget that.

This interesting piece on HuffPo today by Luis R. Burgos First Deputy Commissioner, New York Division of Human Rights points out, we still have work to do: "Gender discrimination still exists, most notably in the work place. Women are paid 78 cents on average for every dollar earned by men." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/luis-r-burgos-jr/womens-equality-day-some_b_268782.html

And this quiz from the National Women's History Project is a great way to get the discussion going and to remind us it took 72 years for women to "get" the votehttp://www.nwhp.org/resourcecenter/equalityday_quiz.html

LA Farm Girl Quoted in LA Times

2009-08-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

I normally don't do "bragging" posts but this one is not really about me, but about James Hatano, the last farmer left on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. I have talked to him many times and included him in my book and was interviewed about farming on the Peninsula by the Times' reporter, Jeff Gottlieb who did the story that's in today's paper and he included a quote I gave him about the importance of our farms and farmers. It's called, "The Palos Verdes Peninsula's last farmer"

Here's the link:http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lastfarmer21-2009aug21,0,5303873.story

Here's a photo of Hatano Farm from my book.

LA Farm Girl's City Farm is Growing

2009-08-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

These are some photos I took of my garden over the past week or so. It's really growing and I have had some great zucchini, beans, tomatoes and basil.

My green beans are coming in great now and they are yummy!

And, the avocado tree seems to be coming back after the severe "trimming" it got!

The zinnias are not only providing great color from my office window, but they are doing their job, attracting bees and other "good" guys!

Finally Good News: Survey shows California farmers profit from agritourism!

2009-07-29T14:57:00.001-07:00

Tanaka Farms, pick-your-own produce tours, IrvineI am so happy to share a bit of good news for California's farmers. According to a survey conducted by UC Davis' Small Farm Center (a great organization) "California farmers and ranchers hosted more than 2.4 million agricultural tourists in 2008, according to early results from California’s first statewide economic survey of agritourism operators."

Check out the preliminary survey results for more detailed info. http://www.sfc.ucdavis.edu/pubs/sfnews/200902news.pdf

What exactly is agritourism? Here's a definition that I included in a story I did on the topic for California Tour and Travel, back in 2004

Agri-tourism takes many forms and includes such diverse activities as farm tours, bed and breakfast farm stays, Christmas tree farms, corn mazes, agricultural/historical museums, petting farms, farm markets, food festivals, pick-your-own produce farms, roadside produce stands, nurseries, greenhouses, and wineries. Many farms also enhance the visitor’s experience with home-cooked meals, pies and desserts, gift shops, picnic areas, hayrides, train rides, and even cooking and gardening classes.

According to the survey, "Most agritourism operators who responded to the survey reported their agritourism businesses generated some profit. A majority said they are planning to expand or diversify their agritourism offerings over the next five years. In addition, 22 percent of agritourism operators reported more than $100,000 in agritourism receipts for 2008."

The survey also showed that most visitors are local, another great trend!
“We are excited to find that agritourism really seems to work for a lot of small farms,” said Penny Leff, statewide agritourism coordinator for the UC Small Farm Program. “Our results also show that agritourism is primarily local. More than 85 percent of reported visitors were from California.”

Let's help keep the trend going and make sure we visit a local farm and help support California’s small farmers!

Underwood Family Farm, Moorpark, they have pick-your-own-produce, birthday party areas, and a great farm stand

California Agriculture Is In Crisis

2009-07-20T20:07:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted for a bit and I kept thinking, I know I usually post about LA centric or City centric things and realized that I should also be posting more about the dire condition of California agriculture.

Some of you may ask but why? I live in LA, how is this relevant to me? Because California produces over one-half of the fresh fruits and vegetables in the United States and has been the #1 agricultural producing state for at least the past 60 years. It brings in over $10 billion a year to the state's economy and now that's in jeopardy.

Like the rest of the U.S. economy, California's agricultural industry is facing tough economic times. There are towns in the Central Valley, Mendota for example, that has a 40% unemployment rate. That is mind-boggling to me, that here in California this is happening.

But, unlike other sectors of our economy, agriculture is also facing pressure due to the state's drought and the increasing restrictions on water as a result of other issues including protection of wildlife from the already sparse water resources it relies on. And, illogical and overzealous new food safety regulations that are in response to the food recalls of the past few years (instead of addressing the real issues in our food system).

In the past week alone, I have tweeted about and posted on my facebook page at least a-half a dozen stories on the troubles facing California farmers, and it's so heartbreaking.

I have been writing about our farmers and farms for the past decade and I made a conscious decision from the beginning to always try to focus on the positive, to show those outside of ag. (i.e. we city dwellers and consumers) what's in it for us. Be it pick-your-own-produce farms, farm stands, farmer's markets, or hayrides, I have encouraged people to go out and visit farms, and to buy from our farmers, because that's how we can support and save them. And, I still encourage everyone to do that.

But now, I feel that this alone isn't as effective considering the huge challenges our farmers are facing. We need to be more than consumers, we need to advocate for them, and to educate ourselves to become informed voters and urge those at the local, state, and federal levels of government to think about what would happen if we didn't have our farms. And, we all need to think about what would happen if we didn't have our farms. I shudder to think about that myself.

For example, to get you in the right mood, this is a photo of an orchard along the Fresno County Blossom Trail back in spring 2002. The Blossom Trail with it's vibrant colors each spring, is a great family activity and something that could be threatened if farmers keep having to clear their fields and leave them fallow.

Here's some links to some of the stories from the past week or two that I am talking about. Please read them and think about our farmers next time you bite into the sweet and juicy stone fruit of summer!Here's Simonian Farms, part of the farm family mentioned in this first story about packing houses closing, so sad, they have been farming in Fresno since the early 1900s. "Economic woes cause stone-fruit packers to close" http://www.cfbf.com/agalert/AgAlertStory.cfm?ID=1346&ck=82965D4ED8150294D4330ACE00821D77

"Fresno County left in the dust" http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-wartzman19-2009jul19,0,7402229.story

"Despair flows as fields go dry and unemployment rise" http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-drought6-2009jul06,0,3172131.story

"Crops, ponds destroyed in quest for food safety" http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2009%2F07%2F13%2FMN0218DVJ8.DTL#ixzz0LrWKfaBU

Fallen Fruit Fresh 'n Easy Exhibit, at Another Year in LA Gallery

2009-07-12T17:23:00.000-07:00

LA Farm Girl's Photos From "Fresh 'n Easy Exhibit"
This piece shows hand-made canvas cotton and burlap bags and painted with the phrase, "dispshit liberals always looking for a handout." Beneath the bags are shelves that feature a "Public Fruit Exchange," so when you visit you are free to take what you want and also to bring fruit to share.

This piece is an awesome pine table inscribed with the phrase, "to all 'haters' this basically shows that we can all live off the land."

These photos come from the great little gallery and the exhibit I stopped into on Friday. It's by the wonderful people from Fallen Fruit, http://www.fallenfruit.org/, and its being held at a small gallery that's housed in what was once the Capitol Records pressing plant in the Glassell Park area of LA, called "Another Year in LA," http://www.anotheryearinla.com/.

Now for those of you unfamiliar with Fallen Fruit, they are (according to their site) "an activist art project which started as a mapping of all the public fruit in our neighborhood. We ask all of you to contribute your maps so they expand to cover the United States and then the world. We encourage everyone to harvest, plant and sample public fruit, which is what we call all fruit on or overhanging public spaces such as sidewalks, streets or parking lots."

As part of their art project, they have a quirky and very small, yet very important show going on at "Another Year in LA," highlighting their work that combines public art social practice with the production of images, photographs, and installations like this one.

They took objects from their first five years of work and are using them to tell not only their story, but the responses to that story that were left by anonymous viewers of a PBS video of Fallen Fruit on You Tube. Some of these responses are not only hilarious, but sad and include one of my favorites, like this one printed on this hand-made, cotton apron, "So, if hippies lean over my fence is it legal for me to eat them?" Hilarious!

What's really cool is that you can also purchase items from the exhibit and help support their work and have some great local art in your home too!

Another Year in LA, is a very small gallery, but the building is great, lots of character and lots of potential so we all need to come out and support them so they can keep having these kinds of exhibits.

Here's the details:

Exhibit Runs through Sunday, August 2 and there is a Closing Reception, "After Jam" on that day from 3 to 7 p.m.

Another Year in LA - 2121 Nth. San Fernando Road, #13, (323) 223-4000

Gallery/Exhibit Hours: Tuesday through Friday, Noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m.

Local Food Tips - How to Eat More Local Food - thedailygreen.com

2009-07-03T09:47:00.001-07:00

This is a great posting talking about Roger Doiron's (founder of Kitchen Gardener's International) new project encouraging everyone to celebrate Food Independence Day tomorrow July 4th by eating more locally grown food. Why? Eating locally is patriotic after all!

Local Food Tips - How to Eat More Local Food - thedailygreen.com

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First Planting In My City "Farm"

2009-06-19T12:24:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to show that I have actually started to plant my new raised bed garden/farm. I am planting both veggies and beneficial attracting flowers and will post more as I progress. Still need my tomatoes and gonna call up Laurel to see about getting some http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/.

I am also hoping to do some serious blogging this weekend, lots of things going on and info. to share so stay tuned!

Get Your Organic Heirloom Tomatoes

2009-06-10T09:46:00.001-07:00

Well, as you can tell by the increasingly infrequent postings, LA Farm Girl has been so busy she hasn't had much time to blog, let alone "farm."

But, busy or not, this has to change since my dear hubby installed a beautiful vegetable garden for me, complete with a fence (to keep the doggie out) and raised beds. This is a photo of the completed area.

So, since I was not prepared for this, I didn't buy plants, set seeds or anything. Luckily for me, I can still get some of my favorite heirloom tomatoes and plant them now. This is because Laurel of Laurel's Heirloom Tomato Plants, http://heirloomtomatoplants.com/ is having an on-site sale this Sunday at her urban "farm."

Who is Laurel you might ask? Well, she has been growing and selling her heirlooms for the past 9 years, but she comes from a long line of city farmers, her family farmed in Lomita and she still lives there where she is raising her tomatoes.

As she says on her site, "We are your year-round Southern California source for more than 160 luscious varieties of strictly organically grown heirloom tomato plants, a few carefully chosen great-tasting hybrids, plus a fine selection of gardening products for your home garden, and for growing in containers and greenhouses."

I have planted her tomatoes in my garden before and can attest to how great they are. Plus, she runs the business along with her Mom and her sisters so it's a great way to support a local urban family farm.

Don't miss the Pre-Father's Day Plant Sale:

Sunday, June 14th

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

1725 257th St, Lomita CA 90717

Information: 310 534 8611

Vote For Your Favorite Farmers' Market: Might I Suggest Torrance Certified Farmers' Market

2009-06-01T17:15:00.000-07:00

Torrance Certified Farmers' Market!

Voting has begun in American Farmland Trust's, "America's Favorite Farmers' Market Contest." http://action.farmland.org/site/PageNavigator/Americas-Favorite-Farmers-Markets/best_local_farmers_market_vote

So, I am encouraging everyone to go and vote for the Torrance Certified Farmers' Market to show our support and why we are the 3rd largest farmers' market in Los Angeles County! And, its not just because we have a large selection of farmers, but it's because our market is a community event and has been a fixture in the South Bay for 29 years! The Tuesday Market began in 1985 and the Saturday Market in 1992.

Now more than ever we need to support our local farmers' markets and make sure they thrive. Without farmers' markets, many California farmers couldn't survive (like Ken Lee, who has the best pluots ever)!

California Drought & Farmers

2009-05-26T21:44:00.000-07:00

Well, I just returned home from a trip up to San Francisco and Berkeley to see my nephew graduate from Cal and to spend a few days in the City. I am one proud Auntie and I had a wonderful time in the Bay Area as I always do.

However, I couldn't help thinking about the disturbing landscape I saw as we made our way up through the Central Valley, along Highway 5, it literally looked like the Dust Bowl (SEE PHOTOS ABOVE, IT'S JUST DUST). A fact not lost on the farmers and the California Farm Water Coalition who had posted signs all along the fallow and brown fields that read "Congress Created Dust Bowl."

Now, unless you live under a rock, you are no doubt aware of the drought that our state is facing. But, I also know that most Angelenos haven't got a clue about the water issues facing our farmers and usually assume that they get "all the water," when in fact this is not true.

So, as usual LA Farm Girl is asking everybody to educate themselves about the real role of agriculture and the real impact to our farmers when these issues come up. You can start by visiting the California Farm Water Coalition, http://www.farmwater.org/. Here, you fill find useful information such as actual water usage by different groups in California.

For example, "The environment uses 48% of all developed water in our state. Ag gets 41 percent and the remaining 11 percent goes to urban use, according to the Department of Water Resources in Sacramento."

As they mention on their site, "Estimates from UC Davis economists indicate up to 80,000 jobs will be lost and $1.6-2.2 billion will disappear from the economy in the San JoaquinValley alone because of the reduced water supplies this year. Along with the economic decline will come incalculable social consequences."

This is already happening, in the town of Mendota, unemployment is 40% and farm workers and their families are now among the hungry and homeless. Pretty ironic in an area that grows food.

You might wonder why you should care about farmers or agriculture, well the main reason is that the water farms use goes to feed us, yes all of us and many other people in our nation. California produces one-half of the fruits and vegetables in the United States.

Vote For America's Favorite Farmers Markets

2009-05-17T20:37:00.000-07:00

American Farmland Trust (AFT) is having a contest this summer for people to vote for a fave farmers' market. They are (not surprisingly) calling it, "Vote for America's Favorite Farmers Markets." As they say, "Together we can strengthen the local farm-to-fork connection and pledge our support for healthy farms, healthy food and healthy communities."

We Angelenos need to show the rest of the country how much we love our farmers markets and our farmers!

The first step is getting your Market Manager to enroll their market into the contest so they can be part of it!

So be sure to tell your favorite Market Manager to go to the site and enroll, its free and easy, www.farmland.org/marketmanager.

"Over the summer American Farmland Trust will be promoting farmers markets to local food enthusiasts in your community and beyond."

For those who aren't familiar with them, American Farmland Trust is "committed to protecting the nation's best farm and ranch land and improving the economic viability of agriculture."

Declare Your Food Independence!

2009-05-07T13:06:00.001-07:00

As regular readers know, I have been a big supporter of Roger Doiron and his Kitchen Gardener's International for a long time and was very happy that his "Eat the View" Campaign succeeded in getting the Obamas to plant an edible garden on the front lawn of the White House.

So, I am here to help spread the word about their latest endeavor, it's a new campaign, "Declare your Food Independence this July 4th" with the goal of keeping the momentum going, " this spring and summer by reinventing our national holiday meal as a celebration of healthy, delicious, and locally-produced foods. July 4th deserves better than mystery-meat hot dogs and water-flavored beer! Think about how you could make contact with your state's first family about this idea. Locally-grown and home-grown foods are patriotic, so let's not hesitate to wave our colors. "

He's asking folks to sign his petition at Facebook, http://apps.facebook.com/causes/petitions/153 or if you don't have Facebook, http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=cnVpalB0aGpYQjczbjI1WlI1WU9WTXc6MA..

Citrus Sunday, May 3, San Fernando Valley

2009-05-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

I received an email (thanks Astra) about a really cool event taking place tomorrow, Sunday, May 3 called "Citrus Sunday." This is apparently the 4th annual event. Its a volunteer fruit drive to pick thousands of pounds of fresh citrus to benefit needy San Fernando families.

Volunteers will pick oranges, grapefruit and other citrus fruit from trees in their yards or at picking locations and drop them off at participating San Fernando Valley Fire Stations.

For a list of drop-off locations and information on how to get involved check out this site: http://www.cd12.org/cd12homepage/cd12cd12homepage256559506_05032009.pdf

If you have fruit you want to donate here's what they ask you to do:

• Pick the oranges, grapefruits or other citrus from the trees in your yard up to three days in advance.

• Wash them and put them in plastic bags

Sunday, May 3, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

LA Garden Show "A Festival of Flavors"

2009-04-30T15:11:00.000-07:00

This is just a reminder that the LA Garden Show at the LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden starts tomorrow, Friday, May 1 and runs through the weekend until Sunday, May 3, http://www.lagardenshow.com/.

The good news for urban farmers is that this year's theme focuses on a variety of edible plants that can be "easily grown in a garden. From fruits and vegetables to herbs and grains, the LA Garden Show, "A Festival of Flavors" offers something for every garden---whether that garden is in pots, on a balcony, in the backyard or spans several acres."

Highlights:

Edible Garden Showcases
Guest Speakers throughout the show including Steve Goto "Tomato Guru" composting workshop and Permaculture workshop
Marketplace featuring edible plants and rare finds
Opportunity to learn about organic gardening and sustainable practices
Get New Recipes

Time - 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 1 - Sunday May 3

Early admission for Arboretum members is 8 a.m.

Adults $7.00

Seniors (62 and older) and Students with ID $5.00

Children (5 to 12) $2.50, Younger Children

Free Entry for Arboretum Members

Buy Locally: Support Your Local Farmer!

2009-04-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to do a quick post to remind everyone that the Ishibashi Farm stand now has flowers and strawberries but they are only going to be here a little bit longer!

I went over on Monday to buy some strawberries and things are getting to the in-between stage so when they run out, we will have to wait until their new veggies are mature.

A reminder, they are located at 24955 Crenshaw Blvd. in Torrance!

Blog Today For Equal Pay Day

2009-04-28T08:35:00.000-07:00

AAUW (American Association of University Women) is encouraging all bloggers to blog for Equal Pay Day. What is Equal Pay Day?

"To match men's earnings for 2008, women have to work from January 2008 to April 2009 — an extra four months. In recognition of this inequity, Equal Pay Day will be marked on April 28, 2009."

Actions you can take to help change this inequity include:

Wear RED on Equal Pay Day to show how pay inequity keeps women in the red!

Tell your senators: Keep the Change

For more information on the issue and events for the day, check out the AAUW site, http://www.aauw.org/advocacy/issue_advocacy/EqualPayDay.cfm

Happy Earth Day! The Garden Opens This Weekend

2009-04-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Earth Day! And, I am looking forward to the day when every day is Earth Day and we won't have to "sell" people on the idea of saving the earth since it seems like a no-brainer to me.

I also wanted to let everyone know that the Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary, The Garden http://www.thegardenmovie.com/ is opening this weekend(April 24) at the Nuart Theater in West Los Angeles. The Garden is a powerful look at "the famous politicial and social battle over the largest community garden in the U.S., located in south central Los Angeles." All week there will be different speakers during the different screenings so make sure to check it out,http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/LosAngeles/NuartTheatre.htm .

And, for those of you here in the South Bay, there is a special "sneak" preview/screening tomorrow, Thursday, April 23 at Cal State Dominguez Hills, at 3 p.m. in Claudia Hampton Hall, WH D165, http://www.csudh.edu/csl/. The writer/director, Scott Hamilton will also be there!

100 Garden Challenge

2009-04-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

My friend, fellow Master Gardener Sarah Spitz asked me to post about the wonderful event that The Westside Permaculture Group and Sustainable Works are sponsoring, the “100 Garden Challenge.” And, she even graciously sent me a press release to make it even easier to do! So, here's the deets:

The purpose of this event is to create 100 edible gardens in a single weekend to build and enhance our community, raise awareness about the benefits of locally grown organic produce, and inspire an appreciation of the gifts nature has to offer. The “100 Garden Challenge” will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17, 2009.

There are three primary ways to get involved:

1. Community members who desire to start and maintain an edible garden and who have land for a garden or fruit tree or space for potted plants, are encouraged to register their future garden site for the "100 Garden Challenge" on the Gardens of Gratitude website.
For participants in need of advice or assistance in designing or planting their garden, the Westside Permaculture Group will supply the needed talent and workers to assist registrants in completing the work. Participants may also work independently if they prefer. Financial assistance in the form of materials donations is also available to qualified project sites.

2. Westside Permaculture Group is seeking volunteer gardeners of all skill levels and ages to assist in the designing, planting and maintaining of the gardens for before, during and after the event. Needed volunteers include: both unskilled and skilled gardeners; certified gardeners (i.e.: with Master Gardener, Biointensive Gardening or Permaculture Design certification, or the equivalent); trucks and drivers. Other volunteers desired include artists, musicians, cooks and event coordinators for the Gratitude Parties being held both afternoons of the event.

3. Westside Permaculture Group and Sustainable Works are seeking businesses and organizations interested in supporting the event through monetary or in-kind donations. Proceeds will go toward financing supplies for qualifying low-income participants in realizing their garden, and other direct event costs. Current sponsors include: Sustainable Works, The City of Santa Monica, Co-Opportunity, The Learning Garden, Heal the Bay and The Seed.

Registration for garden sites, volunteering, or becoming a sponsor for the event may be completed by visiting the "Gardens of Gratitude" web site: http://www.gardensofgratitude.org/. For more information please contact Traci Reitz: reitz_traci@smc.edu

LA Food Bank Vertical Garden

2009-04-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

Well, since LA Farm Girl is still recuperating from her surgery last Friday, I thought I'd just post a few photos of the new Master Garden project I am helping with. Last summer students from CAL Poly Pomona, sponsored by Urban Farming installed a vertical garden along a wall in one corner of the Los Angeles Food Bank.

Now, we are replanting all kinds of edibles in hopes that it will continue to flourish. So far we planted tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, strawberries, and some herbs like basil. It's amazing to see things growing sideways on the wall and its part of a new trend in urban areas to plant where and how there is room.

However, for me, it's super sad that when I drive to the Food Bank and look around the corner at the now empty 14-acre South Central Farm, lack of space was never a problem here, it was lack of concern and understanding. But still I am happy to be involved in such a worthwhile project and if it helps to raise awareness of sustainable food issues especially food "desserts" in our city centers, then I will be happy!

Screening of The Garden This Saturday

2009-04-09T17:43:00.001-07:00

While I know I put it on my events, I wanted to highlight a special event coming up this Saturday, http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/arroyo/storecalendar.php.

Its called "Locavore Launch" and it features a screening of the Academy Award-Nominated documentary, The Garden, about the South Central Farm and a panel featuring several of the farmers' from the film and the farm as well as David Burns, the creator of Fallen Fruit (an urban foraging movement), see my blog posting here for info. on Fallen Fruit, http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/free-fruit-urban-fruit-harvesting/.

Its also going to include a cooking demo. from the South Central farmers and is going to help them celebrate the fact that Whole Foods will be selling the farm's organic, local produce every day. For those who aren't aware, after being displaced from their South LA farm, they have started farming on land up in Shafter and offer CSA sign ups. Check out their site for more info., http://www.southcentralfarmers.com/.

LA Farm Girl is sad she can't attend but will be recuperating from a medical procedure she is having done tomorrow. But, I will be there in spirit!

When: Saturday, April 11, Noon to 3 p.m.

Where: Whole Foods Market, South Pasadena

Americans are Planting "Recession" Gardens

2009-04-06T15:51:00.000-07:00

Recently, there was an interesting AP story in my local newspaper describing how many Americans are turning to gardening as the recession has become more and more serious. I found it interesting that in not only this article, but in several similar articles, journalists are using the term "Recession Garden" rather than the term used by most of us who write about sustainable farming and gardening "Victory Garden."

As I have written and talked about this movement, I have had many people ask me, "Just what is a Victory Garden?" Basically, during WWI and WWII, millions of Americans planted Victory Gardens to help the war effort by conserving resources, namely food, and becoming self-sufficient so that other resources would be available to the war effort.

Historian and Food and Society Fellow Rose Hayden-Smith points out the benefits and the importance of Victory Gardens on her blog. As she states, "Nearly 40% of the fresh fruits and vegetables consumed stateside during 1943 were grown in school, home and community gardens." She concludes by discussing how Americans were providing a service to the country and points out that, "Gardens were not a diversion...through gardening efforts, Americans made significant contributions to the war effort."

Think about it. Backyard growers like you and me grew almost half of the fresh produce at that time. That number just astonishes me! And all because people chose to get involved and help not only themselves, but a greater cause, a greater good.

How so? These gardens not only allowed them to make it through the hard times of the war by reducing their food budgets and helping them eat more healthfully, but it led to other positive changes on a larger scale by reducing food miles and saving fuel and other transportation costs, and it provided more food where it was needed.

Eleanor Roosevelt led by example in WWII by planting a victory garden on the White House front lawn to encourage all Americans to plant their own victory gardens. So, the question is who will lead us today?

Many are hoping it will be President Obama. I wrote about this in my post about the campaign to get a White House Garden planted. The non-profit group Eat the View is encouraging the President to replant a large organic victory garden on the White House Lawn with the produce going to the White House kitchen and to local food pantries. ***

The group sees this as not only a way for him to lead by example to meet the global challenges of food security, climate change, and energy independence, but to show how organic gardens improve individual health and ease the rising cost of food, just as they had done during WWI and WWII.

As those involved in the Eat the View campaign point out, it's not only the downturn in the economy that has led to this new "Victory Garden" movement. It comes from a renewed call for eating locally grown produce that has led this new movement over the past few years. It's only in the past year that it has gained momentum due to the current challenges Americans face in making ends meet.

Examples of this renewed interest in Victory Gardens can be found all across the nation. One of the most well known is the Victory Garden pilot project in San Francisco. Funded by the City of San Francisco, the project aims to turn backyards, rooftops, and unused land into organic gardens/city farms. For them, victory has been redefined to mean urban sustainability, with victory seen as growing food for increased local food security and reducing food miles.

Last summer, Slow Food Nation, worked in collaboration with Victory Gardens 2008+ to plant a Victory Garden at San Francisco City Hall for Slow Food Nation. As stated on its web site, the group believes it has "heralded the era of self-sufficiency by creating an edible garden in the heart of San Francisco's Civic Center. Planted on the same site as the post-World War II gardens 60 years ago, the Slow Food Nation Victory Garden demonstrated the potential of a truly local agriculture practice, uniting and promoting Bay Area urban gardening organizations and producing fresh, healthy food for those in need."

As part of this, in November 2008, they donated over 1,000 pounds of fresh produce to those in need through a partnership with the San Francisco Food Bank.

Their work and efforts is something that I believe we should all aspire to achieve because it is possible and it is necessary.

***UPDATE, during the week of March 16, First Lady Michelle Obama broke ground on an organic garden at the White House!

( Originally published on Care2.com http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/americans-are-increasingly-planting-recession-gardens/ )

More Good Sustainable Food News!

2009-03-25T14:01:00.000-07:00

This morning I got another great piece of news in my email box. Michelle Obama is not the only First Lady planting an edible garden!

Maria Shriver, California’s First Lady announced that they will be breaking ground on an edible garden in May, http://www.firstlady.ca.gov/index.php/news/561/.

As stated in the press release, “It will promote community and educational outreach and encourage all Californians, especially children, to include fresh, healthy foods at mealtime and plant their own seeds for the future.”

They are going to do this by working in conjunction with the California School Garden Network (LA Farm Girl belongs to this too), Alice Waters and California Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura.

This is great because California still produces over one-half of the nation's fresh fruit and vegetables and the garden will create awareness "about the important role of food, where it comes from, nutritional value, how it is grown and harvested and ultimately how it reaches the tables of those who need it most."

Yet Another Shameless Book Plug

2009-03-19T15:16:00.001-07:00

Torrance circa 1931, nothing but oil derricks and farms

I thought I'd just post here my good news. The interview about my book that I did with Evan Kleiman for her Good Food Show on radio station KCRW is going to air this Saturday, March 21st. It not only airs live on the radio on 89.9 f.m. here in LA, but live on the web I believe.

The show airs from 11 a.m. to noon but my portion is scheduled to be on at 11:26 a.m. I am also interested in hearing the other story about the ladies from Lomita's St. Mark's Church replanting their grape vines!

Here's the link detailing the show, http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/gf/gf090321cheese_myths_umami_b

White House To Get Organic Vegetable Garden!

2009-03-18T21:23:00.001-07:00

Those of you that are regular LA Farm Girl readers know that I have been posting about the calls from the Eat The View campaign for President Obama to plant an organic garden on the White House lawn.

Well, the good news is that today, they announced that they will be planting an organic vegetable garden! And, although the White House vegetable garden will be dug up and planted on the South grounds of the White House, out of view of the main house, it will still be there nonetheless!

As somebody who has been writing, volunteering, and advocating on behalf of sustainable farming and gardening for the past 10 years, it finally feels like my work has paid off and that people are realizing how important sustainable food is.

Check out the details from ABC here, http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/03/first-family-to.html

Why Eat Locally?

2009-03-11T13:08:00.000-07:00

My recent Care2.com posts on the creation of the USDA’s People's Garden and How to Get the Most Out of Your Local Farmer's Market that are meant to encourage people to eat locally got me to thinking. Do people really know why it might be better to eat locally?

There are many benefits to eating locally. To me, the biggest benefit is that it just tastes better. Instead of being picked before it's ripe, locally grown produce has been freshly picked, meaning it's sweeter, crunchier, juicier, and all-around more flavorful than produce that's traveled thousands of miles to get to you.

It's also better for the environment because it reduces the need for transportation, meaning it reduces carbon dioxide emissions and reduces the amount of packaging necessary to transport the food.

Local eating also helps preserve, support, and protect local farmland and farmers, and it provides a boost to your local economy by keeping dollars right in your own community.

Another great thing about buying locally is that it often turns out to be healthier for you. Because you know where your food comes from, who grew it and how it was grown, you are more in control of what you eat and what goes into your body.

You have a unique opportunity to develop a relationship with the people who grow your food. This means you are able to choose foods from growers who minimize or eliminate the use of pesticide, hormones, and other unwanted chemicals, and you can ask them about how their food is grown and why.

Where to find local food? As I wrote in my posting about farmers' markets, your local farmer's market is one of the best places to find the largest selection of locally grown fruits and vegetables. To find one near you, check out the USDA’s farmer's market site.

Another great option is to join a CSA or community supported agriculture farm. This is basically a kind of "subscription" farm, where you buy shares in a farm in exchange for a share of the harvest. Most CSA's require annual or quarterly subscriptions and offer a weekly or bi-weekly box of fresh produce that's either delivered to your front door, or that you can pick up at the farm or some other convenient drop-off location.

For more great ideas and encouragement, go to http://www.eatlocalchallenge.com/. To find local farms, farm stands, farmers' markets, and CSA's in your area, go to Local Harvest, Food Routes, or the Eat Well Guide.

Since I am a Californian (I am LA Farm Girl after all), there’s a great resource for buying local, California grown food, it’s the Buy Fresh Buy Local Guide which now includes portions of southern California.

(Originally published on Care2.com http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/why-eat-locally/)

It's Women's History Month, This Year's Theme is "Women Taking The Lead To Save Our Planet"

2009-03-03T09:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Women's History Month to all! This year's theme is not only about how women are helping our environment, but this year, Women's History Month will honor the "Mother" of the modern environmental movement, Rachel Carson.

Carson's book, "Silent Spring," was so influential in creating changes in legislation, attitudes, and inspiring activists. As part of this salute to Carson, they are going to have nationwide screenings of a film about her life, called “A Sense of Wonder" http://www.asenseofwonderfilm.com/ .

As they say on their web site, " Sense of Wonder Productions is teaming up with the National Women's History Project to host 100 screenings & events across the country entitled "An Evening with Rachel Carson." It's an opportunity to revisit the origins of the modern environmental movement, and learn how Carson's message can inspire us for generations to come.

We are lucky here in LA because there is a screening on March 19 at the Laemmle Music Hall Theatre in Beverly Hills, http://www.laemmle.com/viewtheatre.php?thid=4.

For more info. on National Women's History Month, check out the group that led to it becoming a nationally recognized month, The National Women's History Project, http://www.nwhp.org/. You can even order goodies from them!

Ishibashi Farm Stand Is Open!!!!!!

2009-02-26T15:14:00.001-08:00

I am so happy to report that Tom T. Ishibashi and his family (including his wonderful niece Karen) have re-opened their stand at the Torrance Airport (at 24955 Crenshaw Boulevard)!

They have their first of the season strawberries and some beautiful poppies, with other flowers soon to debut once the weather warms up a bit.

I was lucky enough to spend 1/2 an hour chatting with him and catching up. He is one of the featured farmers in my book on the history of farming in the South Bay and Torrance and he reminded me that this year marks the 60th year that the Ishibashi family has been farming on this stretch of land. How lucky we are to have had them all these years and to still have Tom here!

Stop by and visit and buy your first of the season berries, they are good and only going to get better!

White House Vegetable Garden By Summer?

2009-02-24T15:09:00.000-08:00

(Photo Courtesy Eat The View Website)

Well, after the depressing news the last few days about California's budget and the cutback of water for California's farmers, LA Farm Girl is very happy to hear this piece of news from CBS news. It seems that an adviser to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack says that there should be a vegetable garden planted on the White House lawn by this summer! Great news and I am sure the Eat The Viewhttp://www.eattheview.org/ people are so happy too!

Check out the CBS News blog for more info. http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/02/24/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4824828.shtml

NY Times Story About The Severity of California Drought and What It Means To Our Farmers

2009-02-21T21:53:00.000-08:00

Just when I think that things can't get any harder or worse for California farmers, I am horrified to be wrong. Our severe drought is causing more hardship for them including severe restrictions on water use.

This NY Times article talks about both the economic hardships and the hardships the drought has brought to the Central Valley, especially the town of Mendota which now has a 35 percent unemployment rate (and no, that's not a typo)!!! As the mayor says in the article, "People are saying, ‘Are you a third world country?’"

Other grim facts the article points out: "Last year, during the second year of the drought, more than 100,000 acres of the 4.7 million in the valley were left unplanted, and experts predict that number could soar to nearly 850,000 acres this year. All of which could mean shorter supplies and higher prices in produce aisles — California is the nation’s biggest producer of tomatoes, almonds, avocados, grapes, artichokes, onions, lettuce, olives and dozens of other crops"
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/us/22mendota.html

We are still the number one agricultural state so this affects all us, truly sad what's happening in our state.

California Revamps State Agriculture Committee

2009-02-17T14:26:00.001-08:00

As the nation's number one agricultural producer and exporter, California's agricultural policy has always influenced what goes on in the rest of the country. Recent changes to the old California Senate Agriculture Committee will see if this trend continues as the state works to become a leader in creating a sustainable farm system.

On January 13, 2009, the California Senate Agriculture Committee was renamed the Committee on Food and Agriculture. And its leaders announced that it will no longer focus solely on grower and food producer issues, but also on larger consumer-focused issues including sustainability, food safety and farm animal welfare.

The reorganized committee represents a new vision that recognizes the need to protect natural resources at the same time it has to feed a growing population. It also brings a new focus on agriculture's role in developing sustainable communities that support healthy lives and healthy communities.

The biggest change that this committee brings is the recognition that consumers have thus far not been given a voice in Sacramento. For too long, only producers and those in the industry dominated the state's agricultural policy.

The Committee is led by Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez who outlines the new committee's agenda on its new web site. "It was my goal, when reorganizing the Food and Agriculture Committee, to create the first ever forum where consumers and policy makers can discuss the fundamental topics of food safety, sustainable farming, animal welfare, and food security,” he wrote.

One change addressing the food security issue will be the inclusion of urban legislators on the committee, which has historically been made up of rural members. This is in response to the recognition that most urban residents need increased access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

As part of the goal to include consumer input, over the next year, the Food and Agriculture Committee will be holding a series of public hearings across the state and are seeking public input as they prepare for these hearings.

That's why they have created a new web site http://www.californiasafefood.com/ that provides both information on the committee’s change but also encourages public input on policy issues ahead of the public hearings. Those interested can sign up for email newsletters and updates on upcoming hearings, or post on the message board.

(Originally published on Care2, (Originally published on Care2, http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/california-revamps-state-agriculture-committee/ )

Bringing The Farm To The Hospital

2009-02-10T15:49:00.000-08:00

One of the things in life that I find most ironic is the unhealthy food that is served in hospitals and at other medical facilities.

Think about it. In spite of the fact that fresh food has natural disease fighting nutrients that help speed healing and prevent illness, hospital food is not known for being a model of healthy eating. On the contrary, it has the reputation of being mostly non-edible and features all of the things that most doctors caution against: foods with enormous quantities of fat, sugar, and sodium, and many even have fast food restaurants right on site.

The good news is that in recent years many hospitals are using creative solutions to provide nutritional food to their patients and staff while promoting healthy, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable food systems.

The most common way they are doing this is by partnering with local farmers to improve the quality of food in these institutions. These partnerships, known as farm to hospital programs, not only bring healthier food, but also help small and local farmers by providing them with increased economic opportunities.

A leader in this trend is the Center for Food and Justice (CFJ) at Occidental College in Los Angeles. They have been working to promote the farm to hospital model and implement pilot farm to hospital programs throughout Southern California.

CFJ notes that the farm to hospital approach goes beyond buying local fruits and vegetables and includes other sustainable and health-promoting food purchasing options like organic food, sustainably raised meats, produce and dairy products, and antibiotic free meat and dairy products.

Also spearheading this movement is the nonprofit Health Care Without Harm, a coalition of hospitals and health care systems, medical professionals, community groups, health-affected constituencies, labor unions, environmental and environmental health organizations. They started the Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge to get hospitals to serve more local fruits and vegetables, hormone-free milk, and meat raised without antibiotics or hormones. So far, over 160 facilities nationwide have taken the pledge.

The pledge also asks health care institutions to go beyond local and healthy food purchasing and adopt practices for food waste, food packaging, and buying fair trade products. Both organizations indicate that farmers’ markets on hospital grounds are an important component of farm to hospital programs. Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland was the first healthcare facility to house a farmers’ market on its grounds. Started in 2003, it now has 10 markets at its California facilities.

Other hospitals throughout the country that have implemented similar programs include Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa, and Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.

If you work at a healthcare facility or are concerned about the food served at your local hospital, contact the food services director or the health education department to see about making a positive and healthful change in your community. You can use these models to show them the effectiveness of Farm to Hospital programs.

(Originally published on Care2, http://www.care2.com/causes/health-policy/blog/bringing-the-farm-to-the-hospital/)

Message From Evan Kleiman

2009-02-09T14:16:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been so busy this past week or so with both personal things and work things, I thought I'd at least stop to post this link to a video from KCRW Good Food host Evan Kleiman.

She is thanking everyone for their support, and reminding us all how we can continue to support KCRW and its great programs, like her show.

Check it out for yourself here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMLqL8XlE2g.

I am hoping to get back on track with blogging tomorrow!

Another Shameless Book Plug

2009-01-28T17:53:00.001-08:00

Well, it's been a while since I posted any news about my book. As I mentioned the other day, there's a new Los Angeles Agriculture blog from UC Cooperative Extension Los Angeles County. Well today, Rachel Surls, the LA County Director posted a very nice entry about my book and even included a photo of one of my favorite farmers, Bill Mertz.

You can check it out here http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=969

Here's the photo she used from my book that is from Bill Mertz's personal photo collection (which he was generous enough to let me publish in the book). Check out the size of the celery that he and his partner Carl Tasche are holding! No wonder he was so successful!

New LA Agriculture Blog from UC Cooperative Extension

2009-01-26T19:02:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to let you all know about a wonderful new resource, a new blog all about Los Angeles agriculture from the official source, Rachel Surls, Director of UC Cooperative Extension Los Angeles County Office,
http://ucanr.org/blogs/losangelesagriculture/index.cfm.

She just started the blog so she's still filling it up with content but she is hoping to make it the home of all things agriculture related and some things that aren't. And, she will also include some wonderful history about our county's agriculture since she has a passion for history and is a great resource. She is also interested in hearing your stories, leads, and whatever else you might want to include there.

And, contrary to popular belief, UC Cooperative Extension is not affiliated with UCLA, but is part of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at UC Davis, the real agriculture college of the University of California.

Replant An Organic Garden At the White House

2009-01-21T16:59:00.000-08:00

Those of you who read the blog regularly know I have been advocating for the creation of a Victory Garden at the White House and that this idea submitted by the Eat The View folks won the Grand Prize in the OnDayOne Contest.

Well now, they are asking that we vote for the idea as one of the "9 for '09" to encourage President Obama to plant the garden in his first 100 days in office.

You can sign their petition at their site, http://www.eattheview.org/petition, or at the One Day One site, www.ondayeone.org as part of the "9 for '09!"

Last to Day Vote For Victory Gardens 2.0 At Change.org

2009-01-15T12:01:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to let everyone know that today is the last day to vote for Victory Gardens 2.0, in the Ideas for Change in America competition!

On Friday they will present the top 10 ideas to the Obama administration at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. And they will then connect the winning ideas to leading nonprofits and launch a series of national advocacy campaigns to turn each idea into federal policy.

Right now Victory Gardens. 2.o is in 26th place and it needs over 5,800 more votes to make it in the top 10. So, click now and vote for it!!!!
www.change.org/ideas and click on Victory Gardens 2.0!

Good News: Eat The View Comes Out #1

2009-01-13T14:57:00.000-08:00

Eat The View, the campaign to plant an organic Victory Garden on the White House Lawn, came out as the #1 idea for change on the On Day One website, http://www.ondayone.org/.

The idea won first prize in the OnDayOne.org contest ahead of 5000 other proposals. The contest, a project of the Better World Fund, brought together over 5000 ideas for what the next president should do “on day one” to help tackle global problems.

Roger Doiron, the wonderful man behind the idea and the creator of Kitchen Gardeners International said this today:

"While it is unclear whether Mr. Obama will commit to this initiative, Doiron and his supporters are optimistic about their chances, emphasizing the proposal’s simple, symbolic and fiscally-responsible nature. It requires no new spending, but rather redirects existing natural and human resources towards a more productive and socially-responsible end. The sun and soil are already there, Doiron points out, as is the White House’s 13-person grounds crew who could help plant and maintain this new garden."

Vote at Change.org For Victory Gardens 2.0

2009-01-06T14:08:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to let you all know that LA Farm Girl became an official endorser of Victory Gardens 2.0 on the Change.org site, which is Obama's site for hearing what we all want to be changed and one of the ideas that is leading in votes is a Victory Garden at the White House. Check it out here and vote for it!!!!!http://www.change.org/ideas/view/green_the_white_house

As they say on the site, "Thousands of Americans and people from the around the world are asking the Obamas to lead by example on climate change, health policy, economic self-reliance, food security, and energy independence by replanting an organic food garden at the White House with the produce going to the First Kitchen and to local food pantries."

The "original" Victory Garden movement made a huge impact. The stats they give are amazing: "Victory Gardens (behind homes, schools, in vacant urban lots, etc.) produced 40% of the nation’s produce at their peak, helped conserve food and natural resources at a time of crisis, resulted in the highest consumption rates of fruits and vegetables our nation has seen, and helped keep millions of Americans physically fit and active. "

And, despite objections from the USDA, Eleanor Roosevelt planted a Victory Garden on the White House lawn!

Vote with your thumb 2

2009-01-05T17:31:00.001-08:00

LA Farm Girl Finally Realizes That It's 2009!

2009-01-04T16:56:00.000-08:00

I guess the holidays have really knocked me off schedule and I realize I haven't posted in quite a while!

Last year I made some farm and food related resolutions and I realize that while I kept some of them, some of them I didn't. So, I have decided not to torment myself by making such resolutions again since one never seems to know what life is going to throw at you.

But....I will try to keep moving forward on my path to eat more locally grown, family farmed, fresh fruits and vegetables in the coming year. I am also making progress in buying more locally produced products in other areas as well, or at least shopping at local merchants so I am encouraging others to keep doing that as well.

I am also trying to decide which way to go with my writing, I so enjoyed working on my book about the history of farming here in the South Bay and am wondering if anybody is interested in the history of farming in Los Angeles, there is so much to it and it involves a lot of research but I feel like its so important to tell the story.

So, if you are a follower of this blog, please let me know what you think, are you interested in LA Farm History? Are there other things you are interested in? Let me know!

I also have the idea of doing a guidebook, "The Garden Lovers Guide to Los Angeles," and can't seem to shake it, but is anybody interested in that?

Here's wishing us a "fine 2009!" And here's hoping that our family farmers continue to find fresh food lovers who will support them!!!!

LAFarmGirl.blogspot.com

2008-12-23T15:43:00.001-08:00

American Farmland Trust Points Out How Christmas Trees Help The Environment

2008-12-23T15:19:00.000-08:00

Santa Paula Christmas Tree Farm

I received an interesting little item in my mailbox this a.m. from American Farmland Trust and thought I'd share it.

They indicate that there are 21,904 Christmas tree farms throughout the country. And they point out that Christmas tree farms can help sequester carbon dioxide, prevent erosion, protect water and provide habitat for wildlife; for every tree cut down, two to three seedlings are planted.

They also point out that some tree farms are taking extra steps by adopting integrated pest management or organic practices to reduce pesticide use and by planting buffers to prevent runoff.

They point to an article in the NY Times http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/garden/04garden.html?_r=1&ref=garden about these growers which asks a great question, How many of us give the same kind of thought to locally grown, pesticide-free, fresh, healthy trees that support area farmers?

The article talks about the different farms that use sustainable practices like planting buffer zones near wetlands and streams and keeping records of pests, diseases and pesticide application.

And, they talk about the tree farms that have become certified organic by the Department of Agriculture. Or those that are Certified Naturally Grown trees, which meets the same basic requirements: it was raised without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, using sustainable methods like composting and erosion control.

Certified Naturally Grown, http://www.naturallygrown.org/farm-list.html a national organization with 500 members from 47 states, was founded in 2002 (the same year as the Agriculture Department’s organic certification program) by small farmers looking for an alternative that didn't require a licensing fee and complicated record keeping.

It's great to hear that there are sustainable options that allow people to still celebrate with a fresh tree. To find one near you, check out Local Harvest, localharvest.org it lists sources for Christmas trees and wreaths, both organic and conventionally grown.

Happy Hanukkah: Make Potato Latkes

2008-12-22T18:30:00.000-08:00

Well, at the risk of repeating myself, I am re-using most of the post I did last year for Hanukkah because it still works.

For those who haven't read it, here goes: One of the classic dishes served throughout Hanukkah is potato latkes, I thought it was a great time to remind everyone to buy farm fresh potatoes.

Where to buy them? Your local farmers' market of course! And, my favorite farm that has yummy potatoes; Zuckerman Farms.

Here's a bit of the history of Zuckerman Farms. Roscoe Zuckerman farms 1,300 acres on Mandeville Island just outside Stockton. Zuckerman’s Farm was started in this location by his grandfather in the 1940’s.

His almost entirely organic peat soil is perfect for potatoes and he grows many varieties, year-round, most not found at your local grocery store.

Some in vibrant colors of red and purple, and the ever popular Yukon Gold and fingerlings.

Some of the farmers' markets where you can find Zuckerman's include Torrance, Hollywood, Encino, and Pacific Palisades. I buy them nearly weekly at the Torrance Certified Farmers' Market and I used the yukon golds for mashed potatoes this Thanksgiving and they were wonderful!

South Central Farmers' Cooperative CSA Option

2008-12-19T09:24:00.000-08:00

Since I posted about giving a loved one fresh produce, I realized I had forgotten about the South Central Farmers’ Cooperative (SCFC). As most of you probably know, the South Central Farm was located near the LA Food Bank and was dozed since the landowner wanted to develop it.

Well since then, the group has reformed and has created a non-profit organization and now farms on leased land up in Bakersfield. Community members from Los Angeles travel to the Bakersfield farm each week to plant, clean, and harvest the produce.

As they state, they are "committed to engaging and empowering community members around attaining food sovereignty and access to high quality organic produce." That means the SCFC Farm is certified organic by the CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers). They ask that you please consider giving a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription to friends and family this holiday season.

Click Here http://www.southcentralfarmers.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=358&Itemid=49 to order and purchase a gift certificate to e-mail a friend or family member.

Another great thing you can do is to sign up to give a weekly box to a family in need.

The good news is that there are pick-up locations all over LA County, even in my neck of the woods in the South Bay. Drop Off Locations:

Farmers' Markets --

Sundays: Hollywood and Atwater
Tuesdays: Sherman Oaks
Wednesdays: Lawndale
Thursdays: LA City Hall
Saturdays: Leimert Park and Watts

Non-Farmers' Markets --

Long Beach, Every other Sunday
Pasadena, Sundays
UCLA, Wednesdays
Culver City, Saturdays

Click here to learn more about the wonderful work they are doing to create a sustainable food system http://www.southcentralfarmers.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=10&Itemid=49

Farmlab Seed Harvest Give Away

2008-12-18T08:29:00.000-08:00

Come to the Metabolic Gallery at Farm Lab this Saturday, December 20 at Noon for a free seed give away. As they note, all of their seeds are from heirloom stock. They ask that you bring your own containers to take your seeds home.

There is a potluck as well so please bring your own eating and drinking utensils and your favorite dish to share so please RSVP so they know what food to expect.

Farm Lab is located at 1745 N. SPRING AVE., L.A. 90012. The phone number is (323) 226.1158, and for more information, info.@farmlab.org.

Give Farm Fresh Produce & Help Others Too

2008-12-09T14:22:00.000-08:00

Veteran's Garden West Los Angeles

With the holidays around the corner you might have a friend on your list that loves fresh local produce and that is an avid supporter of her local farmers' market.

Even if she is, you might want to surprise her with a very special gift, one that not only helps her to eat better, but that helps others as well.

A great option is to give her a yearlong subscription to a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) enterprise. A CSA allows people to support local growers by subscribing to a farm that supplies locally grown, seasonal fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

Typically, the CSA delivers weekly or bi-weekly boxes right to a customer’s front door or to a centralized location.

To give your favorite Angelino a "traditional" CSA subscription, you can join Tierra Miguel Foundation CSA. It has pick up locations all over the southern California area in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, www.tierramiguelfarm.org/csa.htm.

But, since we are in LA, we have what I will call "atypical" CSAs, those that have their own "farm" stands or locations where you can pick up the produce or that have a weekly farmer's market of their own.

But they also have something else, something I think that's even more important. Most of these city farms are also in business to help those in need, usually providing job training to youth or others, or that are in need of fresh healthy food, and subscribing to them or visiting their location can help them to thrive and grow.

One of my favorites is the Vet's Garden at the West LA Veteran's Hospital, http://www.losangeles.va.gov/patients/vetsgarden.asp. While they don't have a subscription program per se, you can buy their plants, flowers, and vegetables each Thursday at the Farmers' Market, or on Fridays at the Lobby of the Main Hospital. The Vet's Garden provides a wonderful horticulture therapy program and job training for our veterans.

Another great city farm is operated by CSU (Community Services Unlimited) http://www.csuinc.org/. CSU has a weekly farm stand on Thursdays at Exposition Park and a produce subscription program. This wonderful nonprofit has programs that provide youth of all ages experience in urban farming and in healthy eating and even has an apprenticeship program for at-risk youth where they learn not only farming and gardening, but entrepreneurship skills and leadership development.

Another great project is the Earthworks Community Farm, http://www.ewent.org/. This project is a part of the LA Conservation Corps and Earthworks provides job, life skills, nutrition and organic farming training, employment, and leadership development for youth at an organic urban farm at the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in South El Monte. Their produce stand operates every Saturday from 9 a.m. to Noon.

Although these options require more effort than visiting a local farmer's market, the payoff is worth it and something to consider since these urban farm models are growing and becoming much more common with the way our economy is going. Supporting them supports the green economy and green jobs of the future.

And, it just might be a great new way to spend some quality time with your friend by giving a gift that allows you to go to these places together each week and to actually see how your gift helps those in need.

Buy local and Homegrown at GOOD December

2008-12-04T16:42:00.001-08:00

This weekend there's a unique event taking place here in LA called the Local World's Fair presented by GOOD Magazine.

As they say on their site, http://awesome.goodmagazine.com/december/
GOOD presents an alternative to the fast and anonymous shopping we’ve come to expect in the holiday season. Shop, eat and make local! Ongoing DIY workshops throughout the weekend. Plus special guest Evan Kleiman of KCRW’s Good Food.

Here's the Details:
Saturday & Sunday, December 6 & 7
Time: 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
Location: GOOD's Office and Community Space, 6824 Melrose Avenue, LA 90038

Free and open to the public!

Never Forgotten: World AIDS Day

2008-12-01T08:02:00.000-08:00

December 1st is World AIDS Day, a day where individuals and organizations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic.

2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Although we have come a long way since 1988, there is still much more to be done.

Take this opportunity to not only honor and remember those we have loved and lost, but to educate yourself about the epidemic as it stands today, http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/static/en/

Happy Farm City Week!

2008-11-25T17:18:00.000-08:00

This is a flower centerpiece I just finished making using locally grown flowers and a locally grown pumpkin. Thanks to my local farmers for making this possible.

Last year at this time, I posted a column I had written about Farm City Week, which is always the week before Thanksgiving. This year it runs from November 21 through November 27. Its purpose is to foster a stronger relationship between the urban and the rural and to highlight the interdependence of those who produce our agricultural products and those who consume them.

It was started by the National Farm-City Council and promoted nationally by the American Farm Bureau who encourage all Americans to recognize farmers, ranchers, and all those who contribute to the strength of America's agricultural industry.

As I mentioned in my column about Farm-City Week, remember, Thanksgiving would not be possible as we know it, if it were not for our farmers and ranchers. And, I ask that you look at the products you eat, consume, and use each day keeping these things in mind:

Did you know that the state of California produces more than 50 percent of the nation’s fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts? That it does this using just 3 percent of the nation’s farmland? That California farmers and ranchers produce nearly $30 billion a year and support more than 1.1 million jobs?

That California is the top agricultural state, a position it’s held for more than 50 years?

What about the people who grow your food, fiber and flowers? It might surprise you to know that California is still dominated by family and small farms. Approximately 97 percent of California farms are run as family farms or partnerships.

Maybe you think that because you live in the South Bay, you are so far removed from agriculture that it doesn’t affect you. Have you ever stopped to count the number of times during the day that agriculture touches your life? From the time you crawl out of the cotton sheets on your bed in the morning to the time you brush your teeth at night, agriculture is there.

If you use products like paper, shampoo, crayons, buttons and shoes, then you are affected by agriculture. As you sit down at the table this Thanksgiving and give thanks for all of the good in your life, take the opportunity to thank our farmers.

Remember that agriculture is part of our lives, so we must help to protect it. You can make a difference by asking where your food is grown, who grew it, and when and how it was grown. Shop at your local farmers market; look for “Buy Local” campaigns at your local market, showing that the food was made in California.

Take your children to petting zoos, pumpkin patches, Christmas tree farms, “u-pick” orchards and farms, and teach them where their food comes from. Initiate a farm day at your school, or invite a farmer to talk at your school or community organization.

Thanksgiving Eat Local Challenge

2008-11-24T08:51:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to post about an effort that the Eat Well Guide and the Consumers Union (the publisher of Consumer Reports) have put together challenging consumers to "Eat Local and Organic" for Thanksgiving.

They are not asking consumers to completely change their way of shopping or preparing for Thanksgiving but to just try to make one small change and are challenging everyone to use at least one local/sustainable/organic ingredient in their Thanksgiving meal.

For those who have been reading my blog since I started it last year at this time, you know that I advocate doing this year round by shopping at the local farmers' market, local farms, and asking for locally, sustainably grown produce at the supermarket. You might also know I have had a link to the Eat Well Guide since I started the blog.

So, you can start there http://www.eatwellguide.org/i.php?pd=Home to find a local farmers’ market if you aren't sure about one near you and you can also check out Eat Well's Green Fork Blog that will list all of the recipes people submit using these wonderful ingredients, http://www.eatwellguide.org/i.php?pd=Home.

An Overview of Obama's Views on Agriculture

2008-11-17T20:03:00.000-08:00

I got this from one of the many groups I am on (Organic Consumers Association) and it outlines Obama's policies on agriculture. It sounds like some good things will finally be happening for sustainable agriculture!

Here's the main points:

1) Support for hunger and conservation programs in the Farm Bill.

2) Expand Country of Origin Labeling requirements on food products.

3) Support for organic farmers and transition to organic programs.

4) Increase farm extension service programs to attract more youth to farming as a career.

5) Encourage the use of technologies to produce power from animal wastes, and farming practices that reduce energy use and maintain soil health.

6) Increase incentives for farmers to plant trees, restore grasslands and managed the land in a way that better absorbs CO2.

7) Campaign pledge to support mandatory labeling for genetically engineered foods.