Upcoming LA Farm Girl Events

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.”