Forbidden Fruit: Improving Access

We share many interests. We are busy planting vegetable starts. Currently we have leeks, pak choi, gourmet lettuces, mesclun, edible pod peas, and more in addition to  many types of herbs, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, currants, grapes. We also have delphinium and hollyhocks germinating. Gardening and eating fresh is a way of life for us-one we would like to pass on. 
Historically one to three of us have participated in a plant swap. This year it is early May. This allows us to plant more diversely and minimize cost.
For gardeners forbidden fruit is tantamount to that which is just out of their reach. 
One of today's projects is propagating lemon grass. Who can resist Asian food? Lemon grass plants from a nursery are costly, however lemon grass cuttings put on shoots in 1-2 weeks and can be planted outdoors in 3-4 weeks. A single stalk makes a good container planting, or plant 3 or more stalks in the garden. Lemon Grass does not tolerate cold temperatures below 45 degrees, so when we transplant it, we will need to provide protection from the cold. Lemon Grass multiplies rapidly, but is not invasive. It can be purchased inexpensively at an Asian grocery store. We paid $1. for bunches of four to five stalks. To use lemon grass cut back the outer green leaves. Crush the bulb and a most wonderful aroma fills the air. This is the valuable part of the plant.
Forbidden fruit has another meaning. Lack of access. Obesity, nutrition education, food security, buying fresh, locally sustainable food, and helping the poor become more self sufficient are important topics. As our company grows we hope to do our part by passing on over 200 years of combined gardening experience. In the interim we continue to network with others. Today this writer donated fresh parsley, and a large volume of culinary sage and rosemary to Meals on Wheels, a program that helps senior citizens with affordable access to nutritious meals, and decrease social isolation.  

Five Produce Sharing Ideas

Years ago we coordinated an informal garden produce exchange at a local church. People brought in their extras, and those who needed or had use for it took what they wanted-no questions asked.

Years later we began sharing our abundance with others. What we didn't grow we picked at local farms. Since we were picking for ourselves, and were already there, we began asking for donations to share at church. We obtained a receipt book from the church. At the height of the season we brought in two pick up trucks filled with boxes of produce. We washed, trimmed and displayed it. Anything that remained was taken to Blanchet House. Blanchet house is downtown Portland. They prepare meals 365 days a year for anyone that comes through their doors. We always appreciated their willingness to make use of anything we brought in.

In a recent post we added a picture of a raised bed. All the produce in this raised bed is free. The US Marines grow this garden. Many small businesses have room to grow a raised bed. Produce can be used to prepare group meals to improve nutrition at work. Moreover working together in the garden builds relationships.

One church near downtown has historically grown a row in their community garden for the food bank.

Finally, many nonprofits serve persons in need. There are many ways to share produce. One is through a work share. Rather than a hand out, a person requesting assistance could volunteer at a garden and receive part of the bounty.

Neighborhood Sharing - Part 3

This post is a continuation of neighborhood sharing. A local business man opened his facility to thirty two faith-based nonprofits. This allows for collaboration, creativity and resource sharing. David Madore, owner of US Digital Outreach, provides a secretary, and facilities manager. He provides a lunch room, conference rooms, an exercise room for their use. Downstairs there is a cafe. He stocks the cafe and 100% of proceeds helps to support these nonprofits on a rotating basis. This allows nonprofits to cut operating costs, and funnel their finances to provide services. There is a wide range which includes home schooling, school mentors, youth theater, missions organizations, and more. His willingness to provide space for nonprofits, brought resources to one location which has improved schools, helped local neighborhoods, provided needed resources for families, and opportunities to work with local churches, nonprofits and businesses to magnify the benefits. His business which has to do with solar panels has flourished. There is a big push for public-private relationships. Building relationships with the city, community organizers, and other groups may allow for creative use of public spaces and resources to benefit neighborhoods. In the absence of these partnerships, neighborhood associations may promote the idea by asking local churches and businesses to make room for business start ups and small nonprofits, particularly those with a neighborhood focus. Extend these agreements and grow gardens in the space between the sidewalk and street. This is a popular trend in low income and wealthier neighborhoods. Those who have no interest in gardening, can make the space available for those who have no access to land, have too much shade to grow a garden, for a produce sharing arrangement, to build community relationships or to donate the produce to neighbors in need. This can also be done block by block. Residents can commit to a single task (such as building planting boxes, adopt a planting box to maintain, or a block of time. Water is furnished by the homeowner. It doesn't require much water to garden on this scale, however making use of this space can produce a lot of food to help build relationships, improve neighborhood food security, nutrition, education and foster creativity. High school youth now need service credits to graduate. What better way than to serve those in their own community.

Food and Health-Prevention

Here are a few things we have learned.

Gum Pain
Add fresh organic cinnamon and freshly ground organic nutmeg stored in a 2-4 ounce jar. Add it to your natural toothpaste and brush teeth as usual to stop throbbing pain until you can have the condition evaluated by a dentist. They are a natural analgesic. A member or our team tried this and was effective. Individual results may vary. This should never be used as a substitute for dental care since this will not cure an underlying problem.

Migraines
Consuming a lime a day with juice and pulp prevents some forms of migraine headache. This was recommeded by someone else, and it worked for a member of our team that had suffered from migraines for forty years.

Diabetes
Coconut sugar is lower on the glycemic scale. It can be substituted for cane or beet sugar and is used in the same amount. We use it to prevent the onset of diabetes.
Cinnamon and green beans help reduce blood sugar. Cinnamon leaf extract may be helpful. A family member has found green beans very effective and eats them every day.
This is not medical advice. Always seek assistance of a qualified medical doctor.

Macular Degeneration
Kale, blueberries and huckleberries are protective against macular degeneration.

High Protein Tips During and After Radiation
Cancer patients undergoing radiation are ususally advised to eat a lot of protein to help rebuild healthy cells.
Ak-mak crackers have one gram of protein in each cracker. They are low in sodium and sugar.
1/2 cup of cottage cheese has 14 grams of protein.
Lentils are an excellent low fat source of protein and fiber.
Follow the advice of a qualified doctor. Evaluate dietary recommendations. Consider co-occuring medical conditions or risk factors such as sodium restriction or diabetes.

The next post will be on Food and Health-General Tips

Free Enrichment Courses

Our last post was on a designing a debt-free education. This post directs readers to information about free music education. Music has been described as a universal language.

Obesity is on the rise in the United States. Type 11 diabetis is a major health condition that increases the risk of blindness, kidney failure, heart attach and stroke. See our resource page for information on free music and nutrition classes.

Relatonship-based Nutrition Practices

In a culture of over indulgence, fast food, emotional eating and busyness, self-care and good nutrition have taken a back seat. Obesity levels have reached every age group. Exhausted working mothers may serve up hamburgers or pizza and receive applause. Employers can help by promoting relationship-based, hands-on nutrition practices in the work place. This can range from a demonstration on sprouting grains, to bread making, healthy nutrition bars, juicing or dehydrating foods.

Have you considered adding just one raised bed? Employees with gardening knowledge can teach others how to grow anything from salad greens and annual herbs to tomatoes or cabbage for kraut. 

Try offering a fruit dehydrator. It takes only a few minutes before a shift to add fruit to a dehydrator and many items such as apples or pears would be dry by the end of an eight hour shift. These snacks may be eaten on the way home to help boost energy, before work for those who skipped breakfast or as a mid-day pick me up. Think about providing a vacuum pack machine to keep a portion of dehydrated food as part of an emergency food supply for disaster preparedness.

How does this improve nutrition practices? Instead of a coke machine, consider adding a self-serve smoothie bar stocked with fresh fruit. Provide refrigerator space for fresh prepared vegetables or salads. Nuts are also a good option for those who are not allergic. When employees participate in growing and food preparation at work, they may be more likely to try it at home. The social benefits are just as important. Consider the relationships that can be built by planting a few seeds, harvesting, sharing meals, exchanging information or recipes and gaining new skills.

One of our traditions is pressing cider each Fall. We purchase 1-2 orchard boxes of apples, wash and sort, fill the hopper, press the cider, pasteurize and bottle it. This press is an original design



Hydraulic Cider press

Pressing Cider