tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44087067782117605762024-03-12T23:03:24.037-04:00Chautauqua County Rural Ministry Gleaning ProjectGleaning, gardening, and cooking or way to a sustainable and healthy future.Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-66447442801967987832016-02-29T11:51:00.000-05:002016-02-29T11:51:02.596-05:00Herbal Steams <div align="CENTER" style="widows: 4;">
<span style="color: #009933;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Herbal
Steams for Winter</u></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A
hundred years ago, people didn’t have the medications available
today for curing coughs, colds and flu. They relied on herbs grown in
the garden and found along sunny edges of forests and by roadsides.
Every house had its own ‘kitchen garden’ growing vegetables as
well as herbs to spice the soup. Those found growing wild are what we
today call ‘weeds’, a highly mistaken term considering that these
plants store vitamins, minerals and other properties that make them
excellent healers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One
of the remedies our ancestors used for winter ills was the steam. In
a large pot of water on the wood stove, they added herbs carefully
dried and stored from last summer. Breathing the steam of the herbs
brings relief, as decongesting sinuses and bronchial passages open
the airways and allow for easy breathing. The steam also replaces
moisture in the lungs that become dried out from extreme outdoor
temperatures and dry indoor heat.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Coltsfoot</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">-
Coltsfoot helps loosen and expel phlegm. </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In
a steam, Coltsfoot will break up congestion in the </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">sinuses,
bronchial passages and lungs.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1u41sCRiVU/VtR1O8phBfI/AAAAAAAAEKM/n8T7YKoeCks/s1600/Coltsfoot009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1u41sCRiVU/VtR1O8phBfI/AAAAAAAAEKM/n8T7YKoeCks/s320/Coltsfoot009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Comfrey-
</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Comfrey
relieves swelling and produces </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">mucous
to sooth scratchy sore throats. In a steam, </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Comfrey
is a lung tonic and used for colds, bronchitis </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and
laryngitis.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1d8ILyHqzY/VtR1R5ely6I/AAAAAAAAEKU/eG8dObaYLmU/s1600/comfrey%2Bherb%2B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1d8ILyHqzY/VtR1R5ely6I/AAAAAAAAEKU/eG8dObaYLmU/s320/comfrey%2Bherb%2B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Eucalyptus</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">-
Eucalyptus is an aromatic herb with </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">disinfectant
properties. Used in a steam, Eucalyptus</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">will
reduce the inflammation of colds and flu, </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">decongest
the airways, and help bring down a fever. </span></span>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-06ZB7G7m28E/VtR1SQw-08I/AAAAAAAAEKY/sVv7644klPg/s1600/eucalyptus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-06ZB7G7m28E/VtR1SQw-08I/AAAAAAAAEKY/sVv7644klPg/s320/eucalyptus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Goldenrod</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">-
In a steam, Goldenrod is used to reduce </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">inflammation
in upper respiratory conditions such as colds</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">or
flu. (Contrary to the myth, Goldenrod does not cause hay</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">fever,
in fact it reduces bronchial inflammation.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6QHOhCLKbZ0/VtR1R-EFqCI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/erwKM0kDme0/s1600/Golden-Rod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6QHOhCLKbZ0/VtR1R-EFqCI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/erwKM0kDme0/s1600/Golden-Rod.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Mullein</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">-
Mullein reduces inflammation in the respiratory </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">system.
Use Mullein in a steam to relieve congestion and</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">tone
the lungs, as this plant is good for colds, bronchitis, </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">laryngitis
and flu. Turn your ears to the steam and Mullein </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">will
help to relieve earaches.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-ii_R9fgQ8/VtR1NJW_X4I/AAAAAAAAEKI/s5UsuanPV6Q/s1600/mullein_100419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-ii_R9fgQ8/VtR1NJW_X4I/AAAAAAAAEKI/s5UsuanPV6Q/s320/mullein_100419.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Peppermint</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">-
Peppermint is an aromatic plant with strong </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">oils
that relieve congestion in the sinuses, chest and lungs</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">when
used in a steam. Peppermint will also bring down </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">fevers
by promoting perspiration.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txaU7IcnscU/VtR1M8dUxXI/AAAAAAAAEKE/kusa0RZ0DoE/s1600/peppermint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txaU7IcnscU/VtR1M8dUxXI/AAAAAAAAEKE/kusa0RZ0DoE/s320/peppermint.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Sage</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">-
Sage is an aromatic plant used for cleansing and </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">purification
by the Native people. When used in a steam, </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sage
soothes inflamed mucous membranes and helps </span></span>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">relieve
congestion in the sinuses, chest and lungs.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YNwATj5T-Uo/VtR1TrfdtuI/AAAAAAAAEKc/5k3nc_8Wn_0/s1600/sage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YNwATj5T-Uo/VtR1TrfdtuI/AAAAAAAAEKc/5k3nc_8Wn_0/s320/sage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Stinging
Nettle</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">-
Stinging Nettles strengthens and supports </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the
entire body through a high concentration of vitamins </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and
minerals. In a steam, Stinging Nettles stimulates </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the
respiratory system and helps rebuild damages tissues.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HVcfS8CI21M/VtR1V-Y8Y5I/AAAAAAAAEKg/BRxkfiE77aM/s1600/stinging-nettles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HVcfS8CI21M/VtR1V-Y8Y5I/AAAAAAAAEKg/BRxkfiE77aM/s320/stinging-nettles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-7542583939330490292015-05-13T15:01:00.000-04:002015-05-13T15:01:22.517-04:00Healthy recipes for you and your family. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DVjPydxPGfw/VVOOE2pVz5I/AAAAAAAAEEM/i_N2izqy-wY/s1600/summer%2Btine%2B.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DVjPydxPGfw/VVOOE2pVz5I/AAAAAAAAEEM/i_N2izqy-wY/s640/summer%2Btine%2B.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Now that the days are getting longer and the kiddos will be out of school soon, picnic's, play dates and fun times outdoors will be common. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's easy to make cold cut sandwiches or get take out for these days but here are some healthy options and ideas to bring along with you to the beach park or anywhere else you might be headed. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t_bCTxUlYuk/VVOZHtQeL1I/AAAAAAAAEEc/9mRyd0GMLpo/s1600/healthy%2Bsnacks%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="520" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t_bCTxUlYuk/VVOZHtQeL1I/AAAAAAAAEEc/9mRyd0GMLpo/s640/healthy%2Bsnacks%2B.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Healthy snacks are great for kids and adults alike on fun days out. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some helpful hints to make heathy snacking a breeze.<br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">1. <b>Packing your snacks in snack size bags</b> makes them easy to grab and go and also helps with portion control. You can even snag some reusable sandwich bags or snack containers which are great, that way you wont have to worry about tossing them if there isn't a trash can around and its better for the environment. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">3.<b> Keep healthy snacks and treats in separate areas</b> that way kids can help themselves to the healthy snacks but have to ask you for treats. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. <b>Planning ahead</b> will make a healthy day out a breeze. Prepping your snacks beforehand will help make sure you don't have to stop and grab unhealthy snacks on the run. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. <b>Rethink left overs</b> and plan todays meal for tomorrow's day out. This can be a creative way to use the day before's left overs to help you with a healthy meal for your day out with the family. For example you could make chicken for dinner and use your leftovers to make a healthy chicken salad. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wRynSi3w1AI/VVOcjo4ujYI/AAAAAAAAEEo/EzYAPyFG8M0/s1600/IMG_7312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wRynSi3w1AI/VVOcjo4ujYI/AAAAAAAAEEo/EzYAPyFG8M0/s640/IMG_7312.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is a great recipe to use for a healthy version of egg salad.</span></div>
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<div align="CENTER" style="widows: 4;">
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Home
Made Egg Salad </b></span></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">8 Large Eggs</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2/3 cups plain
Greek Yogurt </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1 tablespoon
mayonnaise </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1 teaspoon paprika</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kosher salt &
fresh ground black pepper to taste </span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">( feel free to
leave this out )</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="zlrecipe-instruction-0"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="zlrecipe-instructions-list"></a>
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">-</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Place
eggs in a large saucepan and cover </span></span></span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">with
cold water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil and </span></span></span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">cook
for 1 minute. Cover eggs with a tight-fitting lid </span></span></span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and
remove from heat; set aside for 8-10 minutes. </span></span></span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Drain
well and let cool before peeling and dicing.</span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="zlrecipe-instruction-1"></a>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">-In
a large bowl, roughly mash eggs with Greek yogurt, </span></span></span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">-mayonnaise, seasoning, salt and pepper, to taste.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OMdF8O8B5Q8/VVOeqR_JiCI/AAAAAAAAEE0/k34IdIfG4ts/s1600/NutritionLabel%2B(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OMdF8O8B5Q8/VVOeqR_JiCI/AAAAAAAAEE0/k34IdIfG4ts/s1600/NutritionLabel%2B(1).png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have fun and be healthy! </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span>
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Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-10772017232626113462015-05-08T15:29:00.002-04:002015-05-08T15:29:20.992-04:00Community Gardening <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uPrH8LC2YdI/VUzaycKkyPI/AAAAAAAAEDg/59OZuyJUkII/s1600/IMG_7273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uPrH8LC2YdI/VUzaycKkyPI/AAAAAAAAEDg/59OZuyJUkII/s640/IMG_7273.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The day is so beautiful that it had me thinking about gardening! If you don't have the space or time to commit to a full garden of your own community gardening is a great program to get involved with. There are many ways to get involved with community gardening . </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TEfFvo_tkto/Usq1LCaFwuI/AAAAAAAAAJc/BHLBSprhydw/s1600/porter%2Band%2Bboces%2Bgarden%2B2013%2B005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TEfFvo_tkto/Usq1LCaFwuI/AAAAAAAAAJc/BHLBSprhydw/s320/porter%2Band%2Bboces%2Bgarden%2B2013%2B005.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">1. <b>Volunteering is great!!</b> Volunteers make these gardens possible. This doesn't even have to be structured volunteering. Basically if you see a weed in a community garden feel free to pull it, just make sure its not actually a plant someone planted there ;) As always if you are interested in volunteering with the CCRM feel free to call our offices at 716-366-1787.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Start seeds-</b> for your local food pantry or other organizations in the community, such as a church or school program.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3.<b> Grow a row. </b>This a great thing to do to help your local pantry have healthy local fruits and veggies to offer to those in needs. You can do this by simply donating a row of the crops you grow to support healthy nutrition in your community. This can really make a difference to a family that would otherwise go without fresh food. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. <b>Spending family time-</b> Gardening is a really great way to get outside with your kids and enjoy the sunshine, while teaching them where their food comes from and how it grows. This is also a great way to disconnect from their technology and reconnect with nature. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, now go enjoy the beautiful sunshine & garden :). </span></div>
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Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-17549850293780102182015-05-04T11:58:00.000-04:002015-05-05T08:41:42.243-04:00Tis the season Tis the season to being getting your gardens ready to plant ( up north anyway, I know you southerners have been enjoying the bounty of your gardens already.)<br />
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We have been working hard at the CCRM getting our community gardens in shape for this season.<br />
We worked with the local Boys and Girls Club and cleaned the gardens as well as turned over soil to get our garden boxes ready to plant.<br />
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Check out these hard workers!<br />
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We also began some work on the BOCES garden with their hardworking students. We tilled the garden, added in some much needed manure and built some raised bed. </div>
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Check out the before and after photos. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vM5llRseNQs/VUeU4csNbRI/AAAAAAAAECw/vM6DoOLhUw8/s1600/image5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vM5llRseNQs/VUeU4csNbRI/AAAAAAAAECw/vM6DoOLhUw8/s640/image5.JPG" width="480" /></a> (Before)</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eJXGe95x1qY/VUeU7ILUGbI/AAAAAAAAEC4/8p_3cp13Emw/s1600/image4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eJXGe95x1qY/VUeU7ILUGbI/AAAAAAAAEC4/8p_3cp13Emw/s640/image4.JPG" width="640" /></a> (During) ( excuse my finger ) </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tfVRK4JXMfg/VUeVJRUz9jI/AAAAAAAAEDA/Gjjz2By_sfs/s1600/image3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tfVRK4JXMfg/VUeVJRUz9jI/AAAAAAAAEDA/Gjjz2By_sfs/s640/image3.JPG" width="640" /></a> (After) </div>
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Using garden beds are great to grow an abundance of vegetables in a small space. These are also most effective in areas with contaminated soil or where flooding is common to allow for drainage. </div>
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These beds are also great for your little ones because it allows a trench or path for them to admire the garden without stepping on or harming the plants. </div>
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Hope you are all having a wonderful spring and are working hard on getting your gardens ready for planting. </div>
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<br />Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-8613262919357040382015-04-07T11:46:00.000-04:002015-04-07T11:49:45.484-04:00Upcoming Events in April!<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>Greetings Everyone!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">It is finally APRIL and the weather report promised me above freezing temperatures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Seeds are started, nestled away in their little pots and snow drops are emerging amid tufts of brown grass and <b>we have a slew of workshops and events coming up this season.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>April 7th </b>- <i>Starting Seeds and Gardening Basics</i> at BOCES Fredonia with Jack Dugan's class. His class has their own garden right next to the school so all the students can watch the progress of growth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>April 9th</b> - <i>Preserving Food Through Dehydration</i> at Lake Shore Family Center in Silvercreek. We will be teaching families how to dehydrate gleaned garden goodies and to make the dried food into delicious meals and snacks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>April 21st</b> - <i>Homemade Granola Bars </i>at the Boy's & Girl's Club in Dunkirk at 3:45 P.M. We will be making enough healthy granola bars from scratch to give all the kids there a wholesome snack. This way, we can teach the children what's in their food and how to make it better for them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>April 22nd</b> <b><i>- EARTH DAY! Get out and play.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>April 25th</b> - <i>Adopt-a-Beach Clean Up Day</i> at Point Gratiot in Dunkirk at NOON, hosted by Dr.Sam Mason of SUNY Fredonia. Get out and show your support for your community and the environment by helping to clean up the beach. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>April 26th </b>- <i>Backyard Salsa Cooking and Nutrition Workshop </i>3:00 - 4:30 P.M at the Friendly Kitchen in Dunkirk (131 Central Ave.). Sarah, Kelsey, and Kathleen from Enactus Greenwave at SUNY Fredonia will be hosting a workshop on growing a salsa-themed garden and we will be sampling various typed of salsas made in our kitchen! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>If you would like to volunteer at any of these events, please email me at ccrmgleaning@gmail.com</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>Take care!</b></span></div>
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Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-20816944866327903832015-03-25T13:35:00.000-04:002015-03-25T13:42:01.728-04:00Teaching Kids to Garden (& Surviving to Tell the Tale)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SeQE4hErGxc/VRLiq-sVE2I/AAAAAAAAD_Y/ISsEA4bzUGM/s1600/nature%2Bwalk%2Band%2Bpicnic%2Bworkshop%2B067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SeQE4hErGxc/VRLiq-sVE2I/AAAAAAAAD_Y/ISsEA4bzUGM/s1600/nature%2Bwalk%2Band%2Bpicnic%2Bworkshop%2B067.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Q:</b> WHY TEACH KIDS TO GARDEN?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>A:</b> Because we can't afford <strike>another </strike>generation of children who grow up without the essential knowledge of how things work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Q:</b> DOES IT REALLY MATTER IF KIDS KNOW HOW TO GROW FOOD? I MEAN, WHEN WILL THEY ACTUALLY <i>USE </i>THAT KNOWLEDGE? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>A:</b> Whether they have a garden or not when the grow up, it is SO IMPORTANT to give them an appreciation of their food and a respect for the people who grow it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">This being said, there is nothing more <b>TERRIFYING </b>than teaching a room full of 23 children (all under the age of twelve) how to plant seeds. Sounds pretty simple, right? All you have to do is fill up </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3GH-7VH7VRc/VRLnUtkLwsI/AAAAAAAAD_0/wL2_bV_ExtM/s1600/2014-05-09%2B03.26.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3GH-7VH7VRc/VRLnUtkLwsI/AAAAAAAAD_0/wL2_bV_ExtM/s1600/2014-05-09%2B03.26.54.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">a cup with wet dirt, put a seed in it, and take care of it. Easy, right? ... RIGHT?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Wrong***</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Recently, <b>I visited one of the after school day care programs to teach children there how to start seeds </b>and take care of them. I do this each spring and it is always a very rewarding experience because the kids appreciate trying something new and getting a little messy in the process. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>***It is also important to note that kids have the amazing, incomprehensible ability to amplify their voices 20x's louder than mine while thrashing about in a massive swarm of arms, legs, and dirt. Children travel in swarms, did you know that? </i></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sm7YuTQP74Y/VRLiufpdRRI/AAAAAAAAD_o/kbv2wqPSkgw/s1600/nature%2Bwalk%2Band%2Bpicnic%2Bworkshop%2B049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sm7YuTQP74Y/VRLiufpdRRI/AAAAAAAAD_o/kbv2wqPSkgw/s1600/nature%2Bwalk%2Band%2Bpicnic%2Bworkshop%2B049.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">This is not to assume that children are always crazy and difficult teach! They absorb information like little sponges and remember every. thing. you. say... so be careful. Besides, <b>kids are generally interested in how things work as well as what it takes to grow a big pumpkin, an itty bitty pepper, or a pretty petunia. </b> Out of the massive swarm of children, a few of the kids took a big interest in gardening and asked me all sorts of questions about how things grow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Children who had experience with gardening told me stories of growing cucumbers with their grandmas, picking oranges from their old backyards in Puerto Rico, and finding HUGE worms in between carrots and beets. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uq9zyfKTnRs/VRLitpOLoRI/AAAAAAAAD_g/MPC8S_U5jGw/s1600/nature%2Bwalk%2Band%2Bpicnic%2Bworkshop%2B057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uq9zyfKTnRs/VRLitpOLoRI/AAAAAAAAD_g/MPC8S_U5jGw/s1600/nature%2Bwalk%2Band%2Bpicnic%2Bworkshop%2B057.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Gardening has a lasting affect on kids </b>which (hopefully) carries on into their adulthood.To this day, I still remember weeding around the hostas with my mom and carrying stones from the woods and laying them around the garden beds. <b>Gardening is a life long process and you never stop learning and teaching others about it. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>IN CONCLUSION.</b> Teach your kids how to grow food. Teach your friends' kids how to grow food. Teach your friends', friends' kids how to grow food! And don't be scared of swarming children as it is just their natural habitat... but do bring earplugs. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An image from Penrose Kid's Art Garden in Detroit. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>ALSO! Encourage kids to make art in the garden. Have then paint stones to look like bugs, beetles, or bundt cakes. Cut up old garden hose and paint them to look like snakes! Make sculptures out of paper and mud and watch as the water washes them away. Use old broken dishes and make a mural. There are so many ways to engage children in the garden; all we have to do is use our creativity! </b></span>Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-736271057166015722015-03-17T15:11:00.002-04:002015-03-25T09:38:18.573-04:00Growing Food in Containers<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I grew up in the boonies. There were hundreds of acres to choose from where I could pick a little plot to grow anything under the sun. Needless to say, the concept of container gardening is somewhat new. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from my parents' home.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Now, after 5 years of moving around from apartment to apartment, I have begun to understand that <a href="http://www.pbs.org/fmc/book/1population6.htm#popchart6">most people living in the United States do not have the access to land in which to grow on. </a> <a href="http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode219/">Community gardens and yardsharing</a> are all great answers to this problem, but what if there are none around you? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Lo and behold container gardening!!!! </b> Maybe not the perfect solution, but it is a great and super simple way to supplement your grocery bill and bring a little greenery into your life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Here are some basics on container gardening to help you on your conquest to world peace!!! Or where ever it is you're going next.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="http://www.thesill.com/pages/plant-care">Figure Out Where You're Going to Grow:</a> </b> Plants need light (in case you didn't know) so pick the sunniest spot in the house if your starting (and/or staying) indoors. Preferably, choose a south facing window or invest in grow lights in case you're home is lacking in natural vitamin </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_yTGiNu7A1Y/VQhwhOKRi-I/AAAAAAAAD-s/-92DsxSIJMY/s1600/garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_yTGiNu7A1Y/VQhwhOKRi-I/AAAAAAAAD-s/-92DsxSIJMY/s1600/garden.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Picture gleaned from MyClimateChangeGarden.com</span></td></tr>
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D. You can actually use normal <a href="http://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-grow-houseplants-in-artificial-light/">houselights to supplement natural light</a>, but they are not effective as lights made specifically to mimic the sun. </span><br /><ol>
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<a href="http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/urban-gardening-with-vegetables/5491.html" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;"><b>Choose the Right Container for the Right Plant:</b></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> The container must be large enough to support the plant you're growing, and it must allow for drainage. Don't feel restricted to using store-bought pots: You can use 5-gallon buckets, cracked coffee mugs, window boxes, etc...</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;"><a href="http://www.bhg.com/gardening/houseplants/care/homemade-potting-soil/">Pick a Good Soil Mix:</a></b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> Purchase a good quality soil mix from a local provider or make your own by following the link in the heading. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.homegrownfun.com/natural-fertilizers-around-house/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;"><b>Create or Purchase an Eco-Friendly Fertilizer:</b> </a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">There are recipes all over the internet for </span><a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/homemade-fertilizer-tea-recipes-zm0z11zkon.aspx" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">compost tea </a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">and other useful fertilizers. Or make friends with farmers who have animals or a horse backing riding establishment to glean manure from them. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">Water</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">: It's a pretty simple concept. If you don't water often then your plants will die but if you water them too much then they will also die. If you don't understand this then you don't deserve to have plants. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Illustration by Elayne Sears of Mother Earth News</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Please click on the links throughout this post to get a thorough understanding of container gardening! Container gardening is a great way to bring the outdoors inside and to create a healthy environment to live in. </span></i></div>
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Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-44111272678654015732015-03-02T12:12:00.002-05:002015-03-02T12:12:55.183-05:00How to Start Seeds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PZ7Wy-0VGs8/VPSZ1vP0K_I/AAAAAAAAD9o/c7BkdIuuAlI/s1600/Seed%2BStarting%2B101.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PZ7Wy-0VGs8/VPSZ1vP0K_I/AAAAAAAAD9o/c7BkdIuuAlI/s1600/Seed%2BStarting%2B101.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-29472435412695349262015-02-16T11:10:00.000-05:002015-02-16T11:26:37.594-05:00THE ARRIVAL OF SEEDS!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ps33B4fpry0/VOIT8J5AuMI/AAAAAAAAD80/s7-y-zpUdbk/s1600/WIN_20150216_103503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ps33B4fpry0/VOIT8J5AuMI/AAAAAAAAD80/s7-y-zpUdbk/s1600/WIN_20150216_103503.JPG" height="327" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Evidence that the holy grail exist and that Monty Python's knights were looking in all the wrong places. Yes... I'm talking about the seeds.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The seeds are in and we are so happy to once again have them available for those looking to garden and grow their own food in their backyards, community gardens, and windows boxes or patios. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>We will also be using them for garden education once again this year, with a SEED STARTING WORKSHOP coming up in March which will be held at the Fredonia Farmers Market. </b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5_DLl0EReLA/VOIT7AN5WiI/AAAAAAAAD8c/7OSQvBr6Jnk/s1600/WIN_20150211_143718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5_DLl0EReLA/VOIT7AN5WiI/AAAAAAAAD8c/7OSQvBr6Jnk/s1600/WIN_20150211_143718.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pole and bush beans donated in bulk by<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Park Seed Company</span></b> of Greenwood, South Carolina. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>If you live in a tiny apartment without room to grow your own, please contact me at ccrmgleaning@gmail.com and I will help to hook you up with a community gardening partner. </b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wealth of vegetable and flower seeds donated to the Gleaning Project from <b><span style="font-size: large;">Burpee!</span></b> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>If you have a wealth of land to plant on, think about growing a few beds or rows of edible plants to donate to a soup kitchen or food pantry nearest you! </b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQyDOwiJ3VE/VOIT8rRHZUI/AAAAAAAAD84/uq319xWitkU/s1600/WIN_20150216_103711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQyDOwiJ3VE/VOIT8rRHZUI/AAAAAAAAD84/uq319xWitkU/s1600/WIN_20150216_103711.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even some <span style="font-size: large;"><b>organic seeds </b></span>for our community and educational gardens.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>And finally, if you work for a non-profit or other human services/mental health agency; please contact me to acquire seeds for your clients.</b></span></div>
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Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-4697379244446364242015-01-28T11:30:00.003-05:002015-01-30T09:59:04.167-05:00Getting Ready to Garden<h3>
Yes. I know it is only January. And yes. I am aware that the high temp. for the day is 20 degrees F. but I CANNOT HELP thinking about our 2015 gardens. </h3>
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<a href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/dunkirk-ny/14048/weather-forecast/334732">Dunkirk Weather Report >.<</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5BuWtxrRN0g/VMkJdkQDynI/AAAAAAAAD7w/AjSYSNAs48k/s1600/WIN_20150118_201417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5BuWtxrRN0g/VMkJdkQDynI/AAAAAAAAD7w/AjSYSNAs48k/s1600/WIN_20150118_201417.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cat, he's cute, no?</td></tr>
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<h3>
Will there be rows of beans or carrots, or both? Will I have to fend off ravenous deer, mega rude rabbits, or old people who can't remember taking all the tomatoes? Will the kids at BOCES and the Boy's and Girl's Club want to grow potatoes, peas, or gigantic pumpkins? SO MANY QUESTIONS... maybe that's why I can't sleep. <i> Actually, no, the reason I can't sleep is because my cat is an extraordinarily vocal jerk. </i></h3>
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So, back to the gardens.</h3>
Some commonly asked questions:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1.) Why Do We Grow Food?</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here in Dunkirk, there is a fresh food scarcity due to the small number of groceries, ridiculous amount of convenience stores, and lack of transportation and funds from the people who live in this area. <a href="http://www.city-data.com/poverty/poverty-Dunkirk-New-York.html">38% of the overall population lives in poverty</a>, while the childhood poverty rate is 48%. The county average is 18%, which coincides with NYS poverty rate. Point being, Dunkirk needs more access to fresh, organically grown food and we are happy to provide that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2.) How Do We Do It on a Tight Budget?</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Honestly, it requires a lot of mailing, a few too many phones calls, and a TON of thank you notes to make the Gardening Program what it is. This time of year, I mail over 30 seed companies across the country asking for seed donations from their excess supplies. In mid-June, I call greenhouses to see if they have any extra vegetable and flower plants that are overgrown and not-selling. Then, when all the supplies are acquired, I head out to the garden plots armed with my shovel and allergy medicine to grow food for the soup kitchen and food pantry. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fugn7Co8NXc/VMkNGycz2nI/AAAAAAAAD78/GBRQm6UB6UM/s1600/2014-05-08%2B02.09.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fugn7Co8NXc/VMkNGycz2nI/AAAAAAAAD78/GBRQm6UB6UM/s1600/2014-05-08%2B02.09.46.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students at the BOCES Education Garden incorporating soil amendments (i.e. goat poop) into the garden.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3.) Is This REALLY My Job?</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, yes it is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As gardening season draws closer and I get more obsessive about where exactly I am going to plant the tomatoes, feel free to drop a call at (716) 366-1787 asking for gardening tips, sourcing ideas, and extra seeds and plants. </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rlpIjALO7Ds/VMkNyOM14wI/AAAAAAAAD8E/tJb8S738CrI/s1600/2013-12-02%2B00.25.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rlpIjALO7Ds/VMkNyOM14wI/AAAAAAAAD8E/tJb8S738CrI/s1600/2013-12-02%2B00.25.58.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A box of seed donations from Heirloom Seed Company!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">We ALWAYS have free seeds to hand out starting in April, as well as free plants to giveaway around early July. Whether you're a home gardener in Chautauqua County, or you work for an agency that you think would benefit from gardening supplies, you qualify for free seeds! </span></h3>
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<br />Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-79681539525083498952015-01-23T11:13:00.002-05:002015-01-23T11:13:54.744-05:00Looking Back on 2014<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lQmsZ6AJxRw/VMJvhoaZRZI/AAAAAAAAD7E/I5J9GoTCiZE/s1600/grapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lQmsZ6AJxRw/VMJvhoaZRZI/AAAAAAAAD7E/I5J9GoTCiZE/s1600/grapes.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gleaning grapes in Fredonia.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2014 was a big year for gleaning. Farmers from all over the county contributed to helping those in need by donating portions of their farms and fields to feed the hungry.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Below are our year-end statistics for 2014.</span></b></div>
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TOTAL POUNDS OF PRODUCE GLEANED</div>
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35,915 lbs.</div>
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FOOD RECOVERED (from bakeries)</div>
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2,278 lbs.</div>
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COMPOST RECOVERED</div>
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1,300 lbs.</div>
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AND A TON OF FLOWERS!!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G_5TX2pdbbk/VMJvrRfubYI/AAAAAAAAD7M/sz6eVVBmw-A/s1600/flowerdonations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G_5TX2pdbbk/VMJvrRfubYI/AAAAAAAAD7M/sz6eVVBmw-A/s1600/flowerdonations.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;">Flower donation from Westfield Nursery in Chautauqua County.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Here in Dunkirk, NY, we also hosted over 40 cooking and nutrition workshops reaching out to low-income families and individuals. </span></b></div>
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TOTAL ATTENDEES</div>
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620 persons</div>
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WORKSHOP TITLES</div>
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-Cooking out of the Cupboard</div>
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-Preserving the Harvest: Canning and Christina</div>
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-Going Gluten-Free: Part I & II</div>
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-Springtime Cooking</div>
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-Eating Local in Chautauqua County</div>
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-How to Make the Perfect Quiche</div>
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-Real Food Fall Time Favorites</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Eating with Type II Diabetes</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-How to Make Applesauce</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-How to Make Grape Juice</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-What's in Season? Ratatouille</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
AND MOOOOOOORE!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21iG85nKRqQ/VMJzCj9hZ3I/AAAAAAAAD7U/7IgEI35s7QI/s1600/2013-11-17%2B04.39.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21iG85nKRqQ/VMJzCj9hZ3I/AAAAAAAAD7U/7IgEI35s7QI/s1600/2013-11-17%2B04.39.54.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easy as Pie Workshop with Christina Jarvis and Jeanne Frerichs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-80735433005209832902014-09-29T09:20:00.001-04:002014-09-29T09:21:57.518-04:00No Better Time than Pumpkin Time<div style="text-align: center;">
It's the time of year where all you want to do at the end of the day is sit down with a steaming mug of hot cocoa and a darn good book to read. Perhaps you imagine yourself in an oversize snuggie, or maybe cuddling with your cute, fluffy, semi-evil cat. Where ever your imagination takes you, it should be a mission of yours' to keep this recipe in mind.</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Pumpkin-y Goodness Cocoa Full of Yummy-ness and Sunshine</b><br />
<b>Serves 1</b><br />
Ingredients<br />
-2 tbsp. pumpkin<br />
-3/4 cup soymilk, cowmilk, or whatever milk you like<br />
-2 tsp. cocoa<br />
-3-4 drops liquid stevia (you can use 3 tsp. of sugar in place of stevia)<br />
-1 tsp. molasses<br />
-a dash of nutmeg<br />
<br />
<i>Heat up milk in a saucepan. Add remaining ingredients and heat through. Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy. </i><br />
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<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And this one! Don't forget this recipe!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is my favorite recipe in the whole wide-world for when company comes over. It is soooo tasty and it tricks my friends and family into eating more good-for-you garlic than what they know! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Go to your local farmers' market and stock up on winter veggie staples like potatoes, onions, garlic, and squash for this recipe.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<b>Roasted Winter Veggies</b><br />
<b>Serves 8 to 10</b><br />
-5 to 6 cups chopped potatoes, red. yellow, purple, fingerling, whatever<br />
-3 large carrots<br />
-2 large yellow onions<br />
-1 large red onion<br />
-1 to 2 bulbs garlic<br />
-5 to 6 large beets<br />
-2 to 3 delicata squash (the small yellow squash with green stripes)<br />
-1/3 cup olive oil<br />
-1/3 cup balsamic vinegar<br />
-2 tbsp. dried Italian herbs<br />
-salt and pepper, to taste<br />
<br />
<i>Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Chop everything up to around the same size and place into a large, preferably glass baking dish. Pour olive oil and vinegar on top and toss to coat. Sprinkle herbs, salt, and pepper, to taste. Place in oven and set timer for 15 minutes. After timer goes off, stir veggies and place back in for another 15 minutes. Repeat 2 to 3 times until veggies are tender. </i><br />
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<br />Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-80812647803121692232014-08-28T08:58:00.001-04:002014-08-28T09:02:14.247-04:00Gleaning: Our Numbers So Far<div style="text-align: center;">
We are halfway through the gleaning season, busily racing to pick aging corn, softening melons, and mammoth zucchinis. Already, I have tapped out my volunteer list serve with notifications of gleaning opportunities, and the few volunteers that do occasionally show up appear haggard and impatient for the season to be over. I can't blame them! </div>
<h3>
As of today, <span style="font-size: x-large;">we have gleaned 21,681 lbs of produce in Chautauqua County from farm fields and gardens this year,</span> <span style="font-size: large;">with 74% of the total from the month of August alone! Needless to say, August has been a busy month!</span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-94SuVFGKoJw/U_8nbUN1d2I/AAAAAAAABqE/4Vt4BJqtQT4/s1600/gleaningbeans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-94SuVFGKoJw/U_8nbUN1d2I/AAAAAAAABqE/4Vt4BJqtQT4/s1600/gleaningbeans.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gleaning beans at Anderson's Produce in Jamestown</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h4>
<b><i>So... What are we doing with all this food?</i></b></h4>
Here's the list:<br />
-Freezing it<br />
-Handing it out to soup kitchen visitors<br />
-Distributing it in our food pantry<br />
-Cooking it into the soup kitchen meals<br />
-Dropping it off at other soup kitchens, food pantries, and human services agencies<br />
-Giving aging produce to farmers for their livestock<br />
-And handing it out to anyone who will take it!<br />
<br />
And even though our numbers are great and we are constantly busy with gleaning, distributing, and preserving produce, we can always use new places to glean! If you have a fruit tree, a garden, or a farm where some of the food goes to waste now and then, please let us know! <b>We are always happy for a call to glean, no matter how big or small the job.</b>Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-31423425545000114042014-06-25T11:51:00.002-04:002014-06-25T11:51:40.896-04:00Know What You're Buying<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3zGDPqetLyg/U6rvqbbv6BI/AAAAAAAABpA/U__0Fhz46tg/s1600/5+digit+code.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3zGDPqetLyg/U6rvqbbv6BI/AAAAAAAABpA/U__0Fhz46tg/s1600/5+digit+code.jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found this awesome information for buying produce at a grocery store!!!!! Write this down on a piece of paper and slip it into your wallet or post it on your refrigerator at home to help you remember!</td></tr>
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<br />Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-1375921308800323382014-06-18T10:34:00.001-04:002014-06-18T10:34:48.817-04:00Chautauqua County Farms VS NYS Farms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IHvtoLhnBPk/U6GjZuz2jWI/AAAAAAAABos/2J5aqrr6ea4/s1600/Eat,+Drink,+and+Support+Our+Local+Farmers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IHvtoLhnBPk/U6GjZuz2jWI/AAAAAAAABos/2J5aqrr6ea4/s1600/Eat,+Drink,+and+Support+Our+Local+Farmers.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-33658607966195839732014-05-21T09:23:00.001-04:002014-05-21T09:23:22.771-04:00Roots and Wings Family Farm Recipe for Garlic Scapes<div style="text-align: left;">
It is almost GARLIC SCAPE SEASON! Let's celebrate this joyous time with a little recipe from a local farm in Cherry Creek, NY. Check out the farm's website <a href="http://rootsandwingsfamilyfarm.com/">here.</a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ETRbEmc-WDw/U3yorrNRGNI/AAAAAAAABls/uqnNUMsPPBc/s1600/scapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ETRbEmc-WDw/U3yorrNRGNI/AAAAAAAABls/uqnNUMsPPBc/s1600/scapes.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GARLIC SCAPES!!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<br /></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Grilled Garlic Scapes from Roots and Wings Family Farm </h3>
<h3>
<ul><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
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</i></span></ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Garlic Scapes, as many as you desire</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>olive oil</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>salt</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>what ever seasonings you desire</i></span></span></li>
</h3>
<h4>
<ul></ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">1. Toss garlic scapes in olive oil, salt, and seasonings.</span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2. Wrap loosely in tin foil and place over the grill or at the edge of your camp fire. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">3. Roast until tender (10-15 min) depending on how hot your grill or fire is.</span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">4. Enjoy!</span></span></h4>
Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-6232540114777042842014-05-19T13:50:00.000-04:002014-05-19T13:50:08.982-04:00Green Cleaning Supplies: Do It Yourself<span style="font-size: large;">Ever wonder what's in Windex? Or perhaps in your toilet cleaner, sink cleaner, shower curtain cleaner, counter cleaner, tile cleaner, wood cleaner, drain cleaner, linoleum cleaner, dish and clothing detergent? No? </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ubND8a-75EE/U3pEB6dqZSI/AAAAAAAABlQ/qg-XucAEgy8/s1600/cloro.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ubND8a-75EE/U3pEB6dqZSI/AAAAAAAABlQ/qg-XucAEgy8/s1600/cloro.png" height="210" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you know what's in here?...<br />Do you WANT to know what's in here?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here in the states, cleaning products (in fact, ALL of our PRODUCTS including personal care products, medicines, childrens' toys, and even our food) follow the <strike>super logical, morally-incorrupt</strike> principle of "Innocent Until Proven Guilty". This means that chemicals used in the production and synthesis of our products do not undergo rigorous, unbiased testing for the sake of the consumers health. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What is the Gleaning Project's reaction to this? BOYCOTT!!! I know it may be hard for our consumer-based society to wrap our brains around this idea, but believe me, it's for our own good! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So put down that toxin-laden sponge and squirt bottle full of mysterious blue liquid, and pick up a rag, a bottle of vinegar, a box of baking soda, and hey, why not an apron? Let's get started.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Here are some go-to recipes for all-around the house cleaning.</h2>
<h4>
P.S. You can purchase Borax (a mined mineral) essentially at any grocery store and it is super cheap and lasts for a long time. </h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3 style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Scouring
Powder</span></span></strong></h3>
<ul>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<em><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1
C baking soda</span></span></em></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<em><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">¼
C borax</span></span></em></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<em><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></em><em><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Drops
of essential oil (optional)</span></span></em></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="LEFT" style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;">In a bowl,
mix the borax and baking soda with a few drops of essential oil.
Store in a shaker and shake onto that pesky soiled surface slated for
cleaning.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: large;">All-Purpose Cleaner</span></h3>
<div align="LEFT" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.239999771118164px;"><i>A spray bottle (if you don't have an empty one, just go to the dollar store and pick one up)</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.239999771118164px;"><i>1 cup apple cider vinegar</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.239999771118164px;"><i>1/2 cup water</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.239999771118164px;"><i>10-20 drops of essential oil (if you'd like, I use lemon or peppermint)</i></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.239999771118164px;">Put the lime in the coconut and mix it all up. Meaning, just mix it all together in the spray bottle.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alice’s
Wonder Spray</span></span></span></strong></h3>
<ul>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><i>2 t borax</i></span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><i>32 oz. hot
water</i></span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><i>¼ C white
vinegar</i></span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><i>20 drops
essential oil (optional)</i></span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><i>¼
C liquid dish soap </i></span><em><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">(look
for a biodegradable, non-petroleum based product from a company
above. We used Dr. Bronners Castile soap. Find it in Tops’ natural
cleaning section.)</span></span></span></em></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="LEFT" style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;">Dissolve
borax in hot water. Add to a 32-oz spray bottle along with the
vinegar and water. Then add the liquid dish soap and essential oil
(optional). Shake it up and apply to sinks, tubs, tiles and floors.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqYL9M_moc8/U3pBggWk5aI/AAAAAAAABlE/BV9yAMRzzy8/s1600/baking-soda-and-vinegar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqYL9M_moc8/U3pBggWk5aI/AAAAAAAABlE/BV9yAMRzzy8/s1600/baking-soda-and-vinegar.png" height="142" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What cleaning your drain looks like at the molecular level</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: large;">Drain Cleaner</span></h3>
<div align="LEFT" style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.239999771118164px;"><i>Baking Soda</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.239999771118164px;"><i>Apple Cider vinegar</i></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.239999771118164px;">Fill your drain with baking soda. Pour down apple cider vinegar. Watch the magic happen. If you need to, take a plunger to your drain (it helps!).</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.239999771118164px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.239999771118164px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-18316744337201653252014-05-12T14:50:00.004-04:002014-05-19T15:23:30.624-04:00Beans, Beans, They're Good For Your Heart... And They're Also Super Easy to Grow!mmmmm...beans. They are quite literally one of my favorite foods <3 and most versatile veggie. You can saute them fresh in a stir fry, add them to a soup, dry them and make curry, chili, southwestern bean salad, or stuff them up your nose if you are a one year-old. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GWg8H2o9JqM/U3EWhyNqIeI/AAAAAAAAAuw/zr9aXENXVMk/s1600/garden1+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GWg8H2o9JqM/U3EWhyNqIeI/AAAAAAAAAuw/zr9aXENXVMk/s1600/garden1+008.JPG" height="400" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bean plants growing in our Cornerstone garden<br />
in Dunkirk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Fortunately for us, they are also ridiculously <b>easy to grow</b> (and I'm hoping most of us have matured to the point where we don't care for sticking miscellaneous objects up our noses)! Which brings me to the subject that I'd like to talk with you about, and that is...<br />
<h3>
TODAY IS THE DAY WE PLANT BEANS FOR THE SOUP KITCHEN!!!!! </h3>
and then blog about it ^_^ mwhahahaha<br />
<br />
So, truth is, is that I just got back in from planting beans (and peas) and completely forgot to take pictures that I wanted to show everyone! Argh, life, don't I have it hard? Anyway!! Today was a great day to plant them because it's about to raaaaaaain! Why is this good? I will explain if you continue reading... if you give up on this blog post then you are a lost cause and NO BEANS FOR YOU!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yc6U-flaxWA/U3EPxrxC6OI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/e_fJGSM6cHY/s1600/beans!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yc6U-flaxWA/U3EPxrxC6OI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/e_fJGSM6cHY/s1600/beans!.jpg" height="356" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heirloom variety of beans gleaned from Greystone Nature Preserve<br />
in Brocton, NY. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I like bullets and numbers. I'm assuming you like bullets and numbers. SO>>> Here is a 'how to' guide to planting beans using bullets AND numbers!<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>HOW TO PLANT BEANS</b></span> <span style="font-size: large;">(for dummies, or post-graduate students, or mothers, or over-ambitious, plant-killing fathers, or children who decide that their noses are in fact NOT a grand place to grow beans)</span></h3>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">1. <b><u>Get yo' beans.</u></b> We glean all our beans from local, organic farms and nature preserves who let their extra beans go to seed. Here at the Gleaning Project, we then have volunteers shuck the thousands of beans picked. Beans that we don't plant are distributed throughout the county to food pantry, soup kitchen, community, and personal gardens.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">2. <b><u>Soak yo' beans.</u></b> It's good to let your beans soak in water for at least two hours before planting. This loosens up the skin and re-hydrates your sad, little parched bean friends.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">3. While your beans are soaking;<b> <u>Prep yo' soil!</u></b> Loosen up the soil with a hoe (or whatever) and draw lines with the end of the hoe (or whatever) about 2-inches deep and 8-inches apart.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">4. <b> <u>Plant yo' beans</u></b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;"><u>.</u></b><span style="font-size: large;"> Drop your beans into the little baby trenches 6 to 8-inches apart then gently cover them with about 1.5-inches of soil. </span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">5. <b> <u>Water yo' beans. </u></b> Soak 'em. Like, super soak them. Soak them so much that you find yourself on the edge of an existentially crisis. Only then will you achieve inner peace, I mean, have your beans successfully planted.</span></li>
</ul>
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<div>
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<div>
<b><i>TADA! Now get out and PLANT THOSE BEANS!!!!! </i></b></div>
<div>
<b><i>You have until late June...</i></b></div>
<div>
<b><i>now GO!</i></b></div>
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<br />Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-52748333930864733642014-05-07T09:21:00.001-04:002014-05-07T09:21:21.331-04:00Prepping the Soil for Planting<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy May Everyone!!!!</span></b> No snow, no frosts, no winter jacket, no digging out the car, and oh! Did I mention NO SNOW!??? I have been happily riding my bicycle to work nearly everyday and loving it. ^_^<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XLNS4uDCVmY/U2otcoNY0oI/AAAAAAAAAtU/7H2UbxAc8Nk/s1600/Hannah+Farley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XLNS4uDCVmY/U2otcoNY0oI/AAAAAAAAAtU/7H2UbxAc8Nk/s1600/Hannah+Farley.jpg" height="320" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend Amanda and pretending to be happy with snow on Mardi Gras in Buffalo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Okay, now let's get down to business. I'm here to talk about the gardens and what I (personally) have been doing to prep them for planting this season. This is the "Hannah Approved" method that<b> requires no tiller, no black plastic covers, <strike>no sweat inducing/blister causing labor,</strike> and yields magnificent results! </b><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvb3J3us3qY/U2ouhzjulaI/AAAAAAAAAto/WyJYHPpEW7A/s1600/wormmms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvb3J3us3qY/U2ouhzjulaI/AAAAAAAAAto/WyJYHPpEW7A/s1600/wormmms.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WORMS... and their poop (castings is the correct term :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You may be asking, "Why bother improving the soil? Isn't soil just soil?" Answer: NO, IT'S NOT, Duh. Well, we can leave out the 'duh' I guess. <b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If your soil isn't healthy, then your plants will not be healthy and consequently, you will not be healthy. </span></b><br />
<br />
Soil needs a balance of vitamins and nutrients (just like humans!) for your veggies and fruits to thrive. In addition to this, it also needs plenty of <b><i>worms;</i></b> My favorite little environmental engineers that work dutifully to break down the organic materials in the soil and turn it into super, uber, rich poop that the plants absolutely love. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJjw94b5xXg/U2ov3ngMJlI/AAAAAAAAAt0/NjoeigBr94U/s1600/crop+rotation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJjw94b5xXg/U2ov3ngMJlI/AAAAAAAAAt0/NjoeigBr94U/s1600/crop+rotation.jpg" height="320" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">General 4-year layout that is easy to follow <br />and keeps your gardens' soil healthy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Also! It's important to remember that <span style="font-size: large;">different plants need different nutrients</span> (which is why we practice crop/bed rotation). As an example, plants from the Nightshade Family (Tomatoes, Potatoes, Eggplant) are greedy for potassium while most herbs do not care for nitrogen-rich soil. <br />
<br />
Here are some common plants categorized by whether or not they are <i>heavy or light feeders, or soil improvers</i> to help out with your garden planning.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Heavy Feeders:</b></span> Asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, collards, corn, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, parsley, potatoes, spinach, squash, tomatoes.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Light Feeders: </span></b> Carrots, garlic, leeks, mustard, onions, parsnip, peppers, radishes, rutabagas, shallots, Swiss chard, turnips.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Soil Improvers:</span></b> Beans, beans, and beans.<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
How to Improve Your Soil</h2>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
In three simple steps...</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
***As a note before we begin! The following method is <b>difficult if you are starting up a large new garden (and breaking into new ground)! </b>And if this is your first time gardening, I recommend starting small so your not overwhelmed!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qtWrTpDFGQ/U2ougFRD84I/AAAAAAAAAtg/qraZ6_9Q_SI/s1600/Creative+Spring+Cooking+WKSP+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qtWrTpDFGQ/U2ougFRD84I/AAAAAAAAAtg/qraZ6_9Q_SI/s1600/Creative+Spring+Cooking+WKSP+007.JPG" height="640" width="624" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Porter Ave. garden this spring after we flipped, added manure, and chopped up the soil. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;">1.With a shovel, flip the soil in large chunks so that the grasses and weeds growing on top now are on the bottom.</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />2. After flipping ALL of the soil, add your soil amendments! I use manure and compost, but you can use fish meal, seaweed, worm castings, fallen leaves, saw dust, peat moss, etc....</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />3. With a hoe, chop up and mix your soil and fertilizer until it looks ready to be planted in! </span></h4>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3tXo1l3-DG4/U2oySyiybNI/AAAAAAAAAuA/iuLOCIzOHcY/s1600/082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3tXo1l3-DG4/U2oySyiybNI/AAAAAAAAAuA/iuLOCIzOHcY/s1600/082.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garlic!!!!!!!!<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Easy as that! The only flaw in this method is that it requires A LOT of work, but it is well rewarded with a beautiful crop during harvest season. </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
This is the poor-mans method, requiring no expensive machinery, fertilizers, or covers. </div>
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There is SO MUCH MORE that I could talk about when it comes to the soil (because soil SERIOUSLY is the MOST important part of the garden... ever). But because I am limited by your attention span, I will refer you to the book<b> "Start with the Soil" by Grace Gershuny.</b> She gives a good (and very in-depth) overview of soil and how you can improve yours.<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
Good luck and happy gardening!</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
-Hannah</div>
<br />Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-60082570451193973272014-04-18T09:47:00.000-04:002014-04-18T09:47:14.579-04:00Kitchen Composting<h3>
A super simple guide to composting your kitchen scraps at home! </h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vS8HjtSBS8Y/U1Ei3cu_tqI/AAAAAAAAAq0/QDgezHnQhAs/s1600/Steve+with+poop!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vS8HjtSBS8Y/U1Ei3cu_tqI/AAAAAAAAAq0/QDgezHnQhAs/s1600/Steve+with+poop!.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve with a mixture of poop and compost.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now, if you're like me and you have a tendency to throw your cooking scraps on the side of the house in a raccoon infested neighbored, then Good Luck! But if you live in a place without coons and perhaps only the occasional brave possum that enjoys knocking over your garbage can, then you should be fine!<br />
<br />
<h4>
Home Composting</h4>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NsN-tSU-V4Q/U1Ejyw_atuI/AAAAAAAAArA/J4EKvlbRdi8/s1600/compost-pallets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NsN-tSU-V4Q/U1Ejyw_atuI/AAAAAAAAArA/J4EKvlbRdi8/s1600/compost-pallets.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wooden-flat compost bin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Composting is a great way to turn your kitchen and yard waste in a valuable resource for your garden, or someone else's! First things is first; <b>Create a compost pile</b> in a bin, hole in the ground, or other isolated area of your yard. To keep varmints out, place a wooden flat or tight mesh chicken wire over the hole. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If</span> you are using a composting bin. make sure to keep the lid on<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> tight</span>, unless you want your compost growing legs and leaving you, only to return in the form of digested goop.<br />
<br />
**Digging about a 2-ft deep by 4-ft wide hole for a composting area is my favorite way to do it because if you need to expand your compost bin, all you have to do is dig a little more!<br />
<br />
I like to think of composting as making a delicious and moist layer cake. Complete with sprinkles, frosting, <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--6IAZ5o8-to/U1Ep7DCc0oI/AAAAAAAAArQ/wlQPv7khDqI/s1600/chocolatecake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--6IAZ5o8-to/U1Ep7DCc0oI/AAAAAAAAArQ/wlQPv7khDqI/s1600/chocolatecake.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mmm...cake.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
and dark Belgian chocolate as a filling. A ratio of 3-4 parts brown to one part green is needed to assemble your cake. After you add a layer of brown, you then want to top it with a layer of green, then a layer of brown, then a layer of green, then a layer or brown... well, you get the point.<br />
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<br />
<h3>
Here are some examples of green and brown goodies to fill your compost cake with:</h3>
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<h4>
Greens</h4>
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<ul>
<li>Vegetable and Fruit Scraps<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NvN_HFJEn0c/U1EqtVYjReI/AAAAAAAAArY/wwgJR1bwXmo/s1600/greens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NvN_HFJEn0c/U1EqtVYjReI/AAAAAAAAArY/wwgJR1bwXmo/s1600/greens.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An assortment of acceptable greens for your compost.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
<li>Grains, Pasta, Bread (without a ton of oil or butter on it)</li>
<li>Grass Clippings</li>
<li>Fresh Manure</li>
<li>Coffee Grounds</li>
<li>Tea Bags</li>
<li>Hedge Trimmings and Weeds</li>
<li>Seaweed</li>
<li>Feathers</li>
<li>Plant Cuttings</li>
<li>Hair (try to avoid dyed hair)</li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FkEUh8L4XbI/U1ErjuRMUNI/AAAAAAAAArg/xrgz5RqHp2E/s1600/browns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FkEUh8L4XbI/U1ErjuRMUNI/AAAAAAAAArg/xrgz5RqHp2E/s1600/browns.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Straw is a great material for the compost.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
Browns</h4>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Dead Leaves</li>
<li>Hay and Straw</li>
<li>Newspaper and Cardboard</li>
<li>Woody Tree Trimming Scraps</li>
<li>Eggshells</li>
<li>Corn Cobs</li>
<li>Sawdust</li>
<li>Paper napkins and towels</li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5wUkcRSkIMs/U1EsfBPXCYI/AAAAAAAAArs/3cTaUGhe5rc/s1600/bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5wUkcRSkIMs/U1EsfBPXCYI/AAAAAAAAArs/3cTaUGhe5rc/s1600/bones.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some bones are great... for dogs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
Things that you should never, ever, EVER even think about putting in your compost pile.</h4>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Meat (cows, fish, pigs, chickens)</li>
<li>Cheese</li>
<li>Butter</li>
<li>Diseased Plants</li>
<li>Oily Foods</li>
<li>Milk Products</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Having your own compost is necessary for garden health and in return, your own personal health!</span>Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-90721505642579086582014-04-16T10:14:00.003-04:002014-04-16T11:25:35.623-04:0010 Reasons to Buy Local<h3>
Although there are limitless reasons to buy local, let's start with the top 10. </h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9KiFJzu4osM/U06P6wNCvrI/AAAAAAAAApA/UQEfOimANJA/s1600/fredoniafarmmarket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9KiFJzu4osM/U06P6wNCvrI/AAAAAAAAApA/UQEfOimANJA/s1600/fredoniafarmmarket.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FredoniaFarmersMarket">Fredonia Farmers' Market</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZ1H_62SWdc/U06bBGisPjI/AAAAAAAAApQ/3_VU6Ehvkfo/s1600/localfood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZ1H_62SWdc/U06bBGisPjI/AAAAAAAAApQ/3_VU6Ehvkfo/s1600/localfood.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Thomas Annear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><u>1. Local food tastes better.</u></b> The crops are picked at their peak, and farmstead products like cheese are hand crafted for the best flavor. Food imported from far away is older, has traveled on trucks or planes, and has sat in warehouses before it finally gets to you. Check out some seasonal recipes <a href="http://www.grownyc.org/greenmarket/epicurious-recipes">here</a>.<br />
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div>
<b><u>2. Local produce is better for you</u></b>. The shorter the time between the farm and your table, the less likely it is that nutrients will be lost from fresh food.<br />
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<b><u>3. Local food preserves genetic diversity.</u></b> In the modern agricultural system, plant varieties are chosen for their ability to ripen uniformly, withstand harvesting, survive packing and last on the shelf, so there is limited genetic diversity in large-scale production. Smaller local farms (such as <a href="https://www.blogger.com/(likehttp://www.gonggarden.com/">Gong Garden</a> and <a href="http://tobogganhillfarm.com/">Toboggan Hill Farm</a>) , in contrast, often grow many different varieties to provide a long harvest season, in an array of colors and flavors.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eg2vWPaBljo/U06b06WoAII/AAAAAAAAApc/c8dA7V6T_XA/s1600/heirloom+tomatoes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eg2vWPaBljo/U06b06WoAII/AAAAAAAAApc/c8dA7V6T_XA/s1600/heirloom+tomatoes.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mixture of heirloom tomatoes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b><u>4. Local food is safe</u></b>. There's a unique kind of assurance that comes from looking a farmer in the eye at farmers market or driving by the fields where your food comes from. Local farmers aren`t anonymous and they take their responsibility to the consumer seriously.</div>
<div>
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<b><u>5. Local food supports local families</u></b>. Wholesale prices that farmers get for their products are low, often near the cost of production. Local farmers (such as Margaret and Gary from <a href="http://www.roohavenfarm.com/">Roo Haven Farm</a>) who sell directly to consumers cut out the middleman and get full retail price for their food, which helps farm families stay on the land.</div>
<div>
<br />
<b><u>6. Local food builds community.</u></b> When you buy direct from a farmer, you are engaging in a time-honored connection between eater and grower. Knowing the farmer gives you insight into the seasons, the land, and your food. It gives you access to a place where your children and grandchildren can go to learn about nature and agriculture.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nhp5BgvApwg/U06eiEswtFI/AAAAAAAAApk/6EzJPnPqoS0/s1600/vendors+at+market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nhp5BgvApwg/U06eiEswtFI/AAAAAAAAApk/6EzJPnPqoS0/s1600/vendors+at+market.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple of cheerful vendors at the Fredonia Farmers' Market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<b><u>7. Local food preserves open space.</u></b> When farmers get paid more for their products by marketing locally, they are less likely to sell their farmland for development <a href="http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/sections/news/local-news/gmo-corn-grower-spurs-protest.html">(or to large growers that come in and plant GMO corn).</a> When you buy locally grown food, you are doing something proactive to preserve our agricultural landscape.</div>
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<b><u>8. Local food keeps taxes down.</u></b> According to several studies, farms contribute more in taxes than they require in services, whereas most other kinds of development contribute less in taxes than the cost of the services they require.</div>
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<u><b>9. Local food benefits the environment and wildlife.</b></u> Well-managed farms conserve fertile soil and clean water in our communities. The farm environment is a patchwork of fields, meadows, woods, ponds, and buildings that provide habitat for wildlife.<br />
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<u style="font-size: x-large;"><b>10. Local food is an investment in the future.</b></u><span style="font-size: large;"> By supporting local farmers today, you are helping ensure that there will be farms in your community tomorrow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Adapted from With an Ear to the Ground by Vern Grubinger, published by Northeast Region SARE, 2004.</i></span></h4>
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Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-20301977744042561482014-01-22T14:38:00.000-05:002014-01-22T14:38:09.777-05:00A Page From the Roo Haven Fine Dining and Cuisine Memory BookRoo Haven is a small, family-owned farm here in Chautauqua County that specializes in raising heritage chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese on their picturesque 10-acre farm. All their methods are NOFA-certified organic and their poultry essentially have the run of the place. In addition to all of this, the owners Margaret Bruegel & Gary Phahl are some of the nicest people I've ever met! Which puts them close to No.1 in my book. <br />
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Anyways! Here is a recipe from the great minds of Roo Haven:<br />
<span style="border: 0px; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Candara, serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></span></span></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e8LoQBnRLfI/UuAd6XYvsUI/AAAAAAAAALM/c9H0x1lbRxs/s1600/August+2009+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e8LoQBnRLfI/UuAd6XYvsUI/AAAAAAAAALM/c9H0x1lbRxs/s1600/August+2009+015.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkey Party at Roo Haven: Photo courtesy of Roo Haven Farms </td></tr>
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<ul><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></ul>
<ul><span style="font-size: large;">Easy No-Crust Quiche from Roo Haven Farm workshop </span></ul>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">1 dozen eggs beaten</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">1 C milk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">8 oz cheese, grated (sharp cheddar is best)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">1 clove garlic, chopped, or 2 tsp garlic powder</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">1 tsp salt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">1/2 tsp black pepper</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Vegetables (as available; our favorites include chopped spinach, onions, diced fresh tomatoes, and<br />diced green or red pepper)<br /><br />Preheat oven to 325F. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients. Grease a 9×11 baking pan with butter or cooking oil. Pour in pan and bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>enjoy</i></span></div>
Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-88833340830265853622014-01-21T15:56:00.000-05:002014-01-22T13:08:39.619-05:00Why Volunteering is Really Awesome (and Why You Should Be an Awesome Volunteer)<h4>
We all know volunteering is important... don't we?</h4>
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Think about it. When was the last time you volunteered? And no, helping your mom wash the dishes doesn't count. Every year, <b>61,800,000</b> people in the US volunteer at one of their local, or global not-for-profits'. After crunching some numbers, that's nearly<i><b> 20% of the population </b></i>of the US! So 1 out of 5 people volunteer in their lifetimes in the US, and I don't know about you, but that doesn't seem like much...</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ck_CZExnPR0/Ut7PNX9jvoI/AAAAAAAAAK8/uFBH5giei1g/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ck_CZExnPR0/Ut7PNX9jvoI/AAAAAAAAAK8/uFBH5giei1g/s1600/085.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteers at the BOCES garden in Fredonia.</td></tr>
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Here in Chautauqua County, there are many non-profit agencies that absolutely depend on those individuals who take a little time out of their lives to help their communities become great places. The CCRM is one of those agencies who are so<b> grateful </b>for their volunteers that we are nearly <span style="font-size: large;">bursting at the seems with gratitude!!! </span> Yes... that really is how happy we are to have all these awesome volunteers that come in and out of the CCRM on a daily, weekly, even yearly basis!<br />
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So I would like to talk for a moment about why people volunteer: Why should we take time out of our busy lives of washing our hair, flossing the dog's teeth, and making sure the kids are wearing underwear only to help someone out who we don't even know?<br />
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<li><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">REASON 1: </span></b><span style="font-size: large;">The world needs all the help it can get!</span></li>
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<li><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">REASON 2:</span> </b><span style="font-size: large;">The economic value of volunteering here in the US?... $162,000,000!!! That's a lot of money! Unless you're a millionaire, but honestly... are you really? And if so, you should definitely donate to local charities.</span></li>
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<li><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">REASON 3:<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: large;">It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Harvard actually did a study on this and bequeathed it, "The Happiness Effect."</span></li>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Helping others kindles happiness, as many studies have demonstrated. When researchers at the London School of Economics examined the relationship between volunteering and measures of happiness in a large group of American adults, they found the more people volunteered, the happier they were, according to a study in Social Science and Medicine. Compared with people who never volunteered, the odds of being “very happy” rose 7% among those who volunteer monthly and 12% for people who volunteer every two to four weeks. Among weekly volunteers, 16% felt very happy—a hike in happiness comparable to having an income of $75,000–$100,000 versus $20,000, say the researchers. Giving time to religious organizations had the greatest impact.</b><br />
<b>Adapted with permission from <em><a href="http://www.health.harvard.edu/special_health_reports/simple-changes-big-rewards-a-practical-easy-guide-for-healthy-happy-living" style="color: #97350e; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Simple Changes, Big Rewards: A Practical, Easy Guide for Healthy, Happy Living</a></em>, a special health report published by <span class="harvard-color" style="color: #990000;">Harvard Health Publications</span>.</b></blockquote>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>REASON 4:</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> It might get you a job. Volunteering helps you develop a skill set you may have previously not had which can totally nail you a good job (or at least good reference!).</span></li>
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<b>P.S. Volunteering is also an awesome way to <span style="font-size: large;">boost your self-confidence, fight depression, keep you in shape, and connect you with other people!!!!! </span></b><br />
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<i>"Why not volunteer?" I think is a better question! There are so many places near you that need the help and all you need to do is give them a call!!!!</i></div>
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P.S.S. Here at the Gleaning Project, we can ALWAYS use help. :)<br />
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<br />Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-18301442002381068302014-01-09T11:03:00.000-05:002014-01-10T08:32:24.958-05:00Muffins in Mind<span style="font-size: large;">Now that I can finally open the door to my cottage without having to chip off ice first; I have muffins on the mind. Cranberry muffins. Warm and nutritious and delicious nut and cornmeal and applesauce filled cranberry muffins. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8FbTTCFXT-I/Us_2BtojHZI/AAAAAAAAAKU/87gpwsbRBlQ/s1600/cranberry+cornmeal+muffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8FbTTCFXT-I/Us_2BtojHZI/AAAAAAAAAKU/87gpwsbRBlQ/s1600/cranberry+cornmeal+muffin.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pretty, pretty muffins</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This recipe for cranberry muffins spawns from what is available in the Emergency Food Pantry here at the Chautauqua County Rural Ministry. It uses ingredients that are easy to find, affordable, and nutritious while still tasting good. </span><br />
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<h4>
Cranberry Cornmeal Muffins</h4>
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>1 box corn muffin mix (gold star if you have non-gmo muffin mix)</li>
<li>1 cup whole wheat flour</li>
<li>2 tsp. baking powder</li>
<li>1 tsp. salt</li>
<li>1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries (or frozen)</li>
<li>2 cups applesauce</li>
<li>1/2 cup water</li>
<li>1/4 cup vegetable oil (I like to use extra virgin olive oil)</li>
<li>juice and zest of one small orange</li>
<li>1/2 cup maple syrup, stevia, honey, or sugar</li>
<li>pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon <i>(optional)</i></li>
<li>2 packets of maple and cinnamon oatmeal <i>(optional)</i></li>
</ul>
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<b>Directions</b></div>
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1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a medium bowl, combine corn muffin mix, whole wheat flour, baking powder, spices, and salt. Add cranberries and toss until they are coated with the dry ingredients. </div>
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2. In a large bowl, combine applesauce, oil, water, orange juice and zest, and sweetener and whisk well. </div>
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3. Slowly while mixing, add your dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until well combined. </div>
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4. Pour mixture into parchment lined muffin pans and sprinkle with the oatmeal.</div>
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5. Pop it in the oven and bake for about 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick (I use my chopsticks) inserted into the center comes out clean.</div>
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6. Enjoy!</div>
Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408706778211760576.post-46840301894170911132014-01-06T08:51:00.002-05:002014-01-06T09:12:11.316-05:00Winter Weather Garden Musings<h4>
As record lows threaten the North East in the United States, here are some happier things to think about...</h4>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-koxl53f1MJk/Usq5QnVUTaI/AAAAAAAAAJs/YzjV82gZcVI/s1600/Dunkirk+Weather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-koxl53f1MJk/Usq5QnVUTaI/AAAAAAAAAJs/YzjV82gZcVI/s1600/Dunkirk+Weather.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow Day in Dunkirk, NY: Photo by Morgan Burns</td></tr>
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-Gardens<br />-Gardening<br />-Green Stuff<br />-More Gardening</h4>
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AND...</h4>
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How to (realistically) plan for your garden this year in the depths of winter?</span></h3>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 1:</span> </b><span style="font-size: large;">Figure out where you want to plant your garden</span> if you don't have one already. Think about how much <i>sunlight </i>your plants need, if <i>water </i>is accessible to your site, if the <i>soil </i>is full or rocks or clay, and if animals are likely to ransack it. All these factors play into where you should plant your garden.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TEfFvo_tkto/Usq1LCaFwuI/AAAAAAAAAJY/8vK7K3OE3Vo/s1600/porter+and+boces+garden+2013+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TEfFvo_tkto/Usq1LCaFwuI/AAAAAAAAAJY/8vK7K3OE3Vo/s1600/porter+and+boces+garden+2013+005.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porter Ave. Garden in Fredonia in 2013</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 2:</span></b> <span style="font-size: large;">Plan your garden layout.</span> Is it going to have raised beds or be tilled? Would you like to design a "<a href="http://lancaster.unl.edu/hort/youth/pizzagdn.shtml" target="_blank">pizza</a>" garden or a traditional vegetable garden. Also, think about which plants need shade and water more than others and which plants have <a href="http://bristen.com/natureshop/gardenjournal/CompanionPlantingChart.htm" target="_blank">symbiotic relationships</a>. For example, you don't want to plant a tall plant next to a short plants that needs a lot of sunlight.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 3:</span></b> <span style="font-size: large;">Think about what you're going to grow. </span> If you love parsnips and tomatoes, then plant parsnips and tomatoes! If you love flowers, plant a border of flowers around the garden. And think now about which plants must be started inside early as well as which plants can be sown directly into the ground. It is as simple as that!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EoiAsYiSKQc/Usq1vh3aVMI/AAAAAAAAAJg/o25AGHogThk/s1600/garden1+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EoiAsYiSKQc/Usq1vh3aVMI/AAAAAAAAAJg/o25AGHogThk/s1600/garden1+004.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CCRM Kitchen Garden in 2013</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 4: </span></b>Make a goal to set aside a portion of your garden to grow food for the local soup kitchen and food pantry. Soup kitchens all over the nation are always in need of fresh and healthy food. You can help meet this demand by <span style="font-size: large;"><b>growing a little extra this year to donate to the impoverished and chronically under-nourished in your locality. </b></span><br />
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<i>Unfortunately, this is really all the planning you can do when the weather is -10 degrees Fahrenheit outside. But think <b>now </b>about maybe joining a gardening group, or even starting one yourself! And maybe you live in an apartment or low income housing area where you can't grow a garden on the property: Then check out community gardens around the area and see if they have room for one more. </i>:)<br />
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<br />Gleaning Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361042778754242821noreply@blogger.com0