LA Farm Girl's Shameless Plug

Torrance circa 1931 near my neighborhood! Oil and agriculture!

Well, I just have time for a quick post tonight because (and here comes the shameless plug) I spent the better part of the past two days working on some photo choices for the cover of the book I am working on.

I am doing a pictorial history book for Arcadia Publishing and it's called Farming in Torrance and the South Bay and it will tell the story of the importance of agriculture and family farms here in the South Bay. As I keep uncovering these wonderful stories I will share them here.

So, I thought I'd show you at least one of the possible choices and see if you all think its book cover worthy (although it's lower quality here).

Eating Locally: What's a Locavore?

While at the Torrance Farmers' Market on Saturday I noticed a table in the middle of the market with signs reading "Eat Local" and was greeted by some very enthusiastic UCLA students and their professor, Dr. Michael Silverman.

Very intrigued, I asked them what their booth was all about and they told me that this was part of a project that they were doing for their class about sustainable agriculture and gender, and doing a public program at the market was their idea and how they chose to fulfill their class requirement.

Basically, their goal (as is mine) is to point out that it's better to eat locally and if possible, organically. Why? Did you know that food typically travels between 1,500 to 2,400 miles from farm to plate in the United States?

Think about the effect not only on the food itself, which loses taste, freshness, and overall quality, but about the energy required to transport that food.

The Solution? Eat locally! For those of us living in California, this is much easier since we have a bounty of fresh food to choose from, and we have over 300 farmers' markets to shop at as well.

Eating locally has become an important tool in helping to promote better eating while helping the environment and has become so popular that the Oxford University Press chose Locavore as its 2007 Word of the Year.

As Oxford outlines, "a locavore is somebody who uses locally grown ingredients, taking advantage of seasonally available foodstuffs that can be bought and prepared without the need for extra preservatives. It encourages consumers to buy from farmers’ markets or even to grow or pick their own food, believing that fresh, local products are more nutritious and taste better."

Locavore was coined two years ago by four San Francisco women who proposed that local residents should try to eat only food grown or produced within a 100-mile radius. Since then, other groups have adopted the same motto and the "movement" has spread.

In fact, that's one of the reasons I started this blog, to not only inspire myself to try and increase the amount of locally grown food I use, but to show others how to do the same. So, that's what I will do here, point out local sources, resources, and show how important and easy it is.

Busy Community Service Day

Mary Lou Weiss, Market Manager, Torrance Farmers' Market

I just wanted to post and let everyone that I will be adding a "real" post later today or tonight since today I will be busy out in the community.

First up, is a flower arranging workshop with the Senior Gardeners at Torrance's Bartlett Senior Center. Then, it's home to get ready for the Torrance Public Library Commission Meeting.

I do have a super photo to post though, of my friend and Torrance Farmers' Market Manager, Mary Lou Weiss who had to bundle up on Saturday since it was quite chilly. Enjoy!

Support The Vets Garden

The Veteran's Garden at the West L.A. Veteran's Administration is not only a good example of what urban agriculture is, i.e., basically it's a small farm, with 15 acres, but it's a wonderful place that offers horticulture therapy to vets, enabling them to heal and learn a valuable new skill.

The garden was established in 1986 as a work therapy program, and continues to run as a fully self-sufficient business, selling fresh-grown, pesticide-free produce to individual customers and several local restaurants.

You can find a wide variety of plants, herbs, and floral arrangements, and produce either directly at the garden or at one of their weekly sales at the Main Hospital or the Federal Building. Check out their website for exact times, locations, etc. http://www.gla.med.va.gov/vetsgarden/vetsgarden.htm

The Veterans Garden is also home to the Westwood Farmers' Market each Thursday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. http://www.westwoodfarmersmarket.com/ .

While the garden is designed to be self-sustaining, donations and volunteers are always needed, particularly now as more and more vets are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

An easy way to support them is to come to their Christmas Open House Sale this Saturday, December 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. They will have a wide variety of holiday greens and decorations for sale including garland, swags, wreaths, centerpieces with candles, and custom flowers. In the event of rain, the Open House will take place on December 15th instead.

Click here to learn more about this wonderful farm: http://www.capitalpress.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=1007&SectionID=67&SubSectionID=616&S=1

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Hanukkah! Since tonight is the first night, and 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.

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.

Check out their profile on this KQED site when they were chosen Farmers' Market Farm of the Month: http://www.kqed.org/topics/home/cooking/farmer-month-apr.jsp.

Real Christmas Trees Come From Farms

Santa Paula Christmas Tree Farm

Fillmore and Western Tree Train

Since there's now only a few weeks left until Christmas and the stress of shopping has no doubt gotten to you, not to mention trying to keep up with everything on your list, why not try enjoying it as you cross the Christmas tree off of your list.

While I know my blog is called "LA Farm Girl," I am going to bend the rules a bit here to highlight an awesome outing in Ventura County; the Christmas Tree Train at Fillmore and Western Railway.

This Railway runs through the beautiful agricultural scenery of the Heritage Valley to the Santa Paula Christmas Tree Farm. There, you get off in search of that perfect tree which you choose and cut yourself. Then, you take your tree back with you on the train while enjoying the relaxing ride back.

It's perfect for all ages, Santa even makes his way through the train. You get a fresh-from-the-farm tree, and you get to remember what the holidays are really about for a brief time.

Check out their site for more information and to make reservations which are a must since the trains are filling up quickly! http://www.fwry.com/tree_trains_2007/Tree_2007.html

Today is World AIDS Day

Just a simple note to remind everyone to take a moment to remember friends and loved ones who have been affected by AIDS/HIV, especially those we have loved and lost.

Not sure what World AIDS Day is? Click here http://www.hhs.gov/aidsawarenessdays/days/world/index.html