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Montgomery Victory Gardens Weekly Update - December 5, 2010


In this update:

* Food Safety Bill Passes the Senate - But Will It Become Law?
* The Child Nutrition Action, on the other hand, Will Become Law
* Panel Discussion on Selecting the New MCPS Superintendent
* First Lady Pushes School Salad Bars - and MCPS Pushes Back
* TP Screening of "Fresh, The Movie" - Wednesday, Dec. 8
* Have Your Ordered Your Seed Catalogs Yet?
* Why Not Grow Your Own Greens This Winter - With Cold Frames!

Don't forget - you can comment on any or all of these articles on our new Facebook page! (And don't forget to "like" us while you're there!)

 
Food Safety Bill Passes the Senate - But Will It Become Law?


A few days ago I was prepared to write that the Food and Drug Administration would finally, for the first time in history, have the power to order a food recall, or to mandate food safety plans at suspect food facilities.


That's because the Food Safety Modernization Act passed the Senate last week  - a victory which you helped make happen with your calls.  The bill is far from perfect and posed potentially significant hazards for small and family farmers as it was originally written, but thanks again to your activism the bill was improved with the Tester amendment, which helps to protect those farmers and others who sell direct to consumers on the local level.


ErnieBut now, these scant few days later, it appears the bill might die before becoming law.  Why?  Apparently an arcane Constitutional provision on tax-law was violated in the bill, the House Democrats are being snits about it, and the lame duck session of Congress might end before the problem is resolved. You can read about this latest, insidious development here.  Big Ag continues to try to kill the bill, now that the small farmers are protected... do we sense their dark presence in back of all this?


Keep your eyes peeled to this update or on the MVG Facebook page for developments in the coming days.


And for a much funnier take on the bill, as well as a good reminder of the problems we currently have in our national food system, click here to watch The Daily Show's Jon Stewart on "The Food, the Bad and the Ugly."

 


The Child Nutrition Act, On the Other Hand, Will Become Law


Also in the same week, the House finally passed - and will send to the President to sign - the long delayed Child Nutrition Act.


Once again something of a mixed bag, the Child Nutrition Act will, according to this Washington Post report, "enable more poor children to recieve free meals at school, raise the nurtitional quality of cafeteria fare and reduce the junk food and sugary beverages sold in school vending machines." It contains $50 million to fund farm to school programs, and would boost woefully inadequate federal spending on child nutrition by $4.5 billion over 10 years.


Regrettably, it would get about half of that money by cutting $2.2 billion from food stamp benefits to needy families.  Why must Congress cut one nutritional program to fund another?


Still, overall, a step in the right direction.  Click here to read a press release on the bill's passage by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, for whom the farm to school funding has been a top priority.

 


Panel Discussion on Selecting the New MCPS Superintendent


As anyone who has followed MVG's campaign to get vegetable gardens in Montgomery County's public schools knows, MCPS Superintendent Jerry Weast, who is leaving the post in June, has been... um... somewhat less than helpful.


MVG, the Master Gardeners and others are currently working with MCPS staff to develop a new and much more open policy about edible gardens on school property, Civic Federationand we can't help thinking how much easier this would all be if we had a top MCPS official who was actually enthusiastic about it.  Well, you can make your voice heard on this issue, and any other priorities you have for the new Superintendent (how about more fresh food for school lunches?) at "Choosing a New Superintendent," a panel presentation and community discussion sponsored by the Montgomery County Civic Federation.  The event will take place on Monday, December 13, starting at 7:45pm, a the County Council office building 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville.  Click her for more information, including a list of panelists and directions.


There might be few such opportunities to join a public discussion over what our next MCPS Superintendent should be like - please join us if you can for this important evening!

 


First Lady Pushes School Salad Bars - and MCPS Pushes Back


Just before Thanksgiving, First Lady Michelle Obama took the next step in her "Let's Move" initiative to combat childhood obesity and diabetes, and announced plans for a national "Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools" campaign, to place up to 6,000 salad bars in schools.


Michelle Obama.salad barsPutting salad bars in schools is a wonderful follow up to other components of the First Lady's program, which also notably includes promoting school vegetable gardens so kids can learn about healthy eating lifestyles and where food comes from.  And the First Lady is doing everything she can to promote it, telling kids, among other things, that "more veggies equals more brainpower."


Who would object to such a common-sense addition to their school lunches?  I regret to report this, but...  our own Montgomery County Public School system has once again distinguished itself, as one of just three school districts in the nation that are rejecting this new campaign for its elementary schools, according to Ed Bruske in his "Slow Cook" blog post.  Lord help us. 


So it appears we might have another battle on our hands when it comes to getting fresh, local healthy food in our public school system.  Need any more reasons to come to that Civic Federation panel discussion on the next Superintendent?


(p.s. - Ed also reports that the USDA has just removed a perceived legal barrier to the salad bar initiative.  Could this be enough to move recalcitrant MCPS officials?)


 


TP Screening of "Fresh, The Movie" - Wednesday, Dec. 8


For those of you who haven't seen it, "Fresh, the Movie" presents the delightful and uplifting antidotes to our current industrial food system.  As EcoSalon.com raved, "If Food Inc. was your wake up call, Fresh, The Movie is your call to action. Fresh's strength is that it shows the incredible creativity of individuals who are devoting their lives to producing food differently."  Amen to that!


FreshAnd we're delighted to report there will be a special holiday home screening of "Fresh," with light seasonal refreshments (yum!), at the home of new MVGer Vincenza Kamwendo in Takoma Park.  Refreshments will start at 6pm this coming Wednesday, December 8, with the movie to follow at 6:30.  RSVPs are requested to [email protected]


So if you haven't seen it yet, this Wednesday is the time to check out the sustainable food movie that farmer Joel Salatin calls "absolutely masterful," author Michael Pollan calls "bracing, even exhilirating," and nutritionist Marion Nestle calls "a must see for everyone who eats."

You can check out great trailers of the film here.  Then send your RSVP to Vincenza!


 


Have You Ordered Your Seed Catalogs Yet?


Looking to order seeds for the coming year, but not sure which companies - and catalogs - are the best? Well wonder no longer!  Here, courtesy of MVG Advisory Board Member and Master Gardener Erica Smith, are two excellent articles on the subject. 


Seed catalogsThe first, "Finding Great Garden Seeds," is an article on Mother Earth News' "Sustainable Seeds Honor Roll," which includes their choices of the top 20 companies for organic and sustainable seeds.  The article is from 2005, but the info is still relevant.  And second is Erica's own very useful blog post from just last year, "What to look for in a seed catalog." 


You'll find a wealth of exciting varieties and plenty of great advice in these catalogs, and most of them are free for the asking, so don't delay in ordering yours - and thanks for the guidance,  Erica!

 


Why Not Grow Your Own Greens This Winter - With Cold Frames!


Does this recent spate of blustery cold weather make you think about growing your own greens?  Well it should, and you don't have to wait until next spring to start!


Kolya w cold framesMVGer Kolya Braun-Greiner (at right) and her family decided to wean themselves off California-grown greens this year, so they built these oh-so-simple cold frames to grow lettuce throughout the winter. It doesn't take more than a few boards of wood, some old windows, a couple hinges  and some nails or screws.  They can be stationary if you've got just the right spot, or movable if you don't, and with just a little insulation (for the coldest of cold snaps), and a stick to hold them open (during those warm winter days) you can be eating your own homegrown salad greens, even in the dead of winter.


You can probably figure it out on your own, but for some directions and lots of helpful tips, just Google "making a cold frame"... and you'll get all the information you need and then some!



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That's it for this week folks!  We're preparing shortly to put the MVG Update to bed for the holidays (next week should be the last for 2010), but keep sending us ideas for stories, and visiting our Facebook page to comment, post items, and engage with other MVGers!

For the Montgomery Victory Gardens Team,

Gordon Clark, Project Director