Recent Goings-on
The quarterly Recipe Swap & Tasting Social
was a big hit. About 30 folks came with fresh homemade taste treats & recipes. There were garden tours and then everyone ate and ate and more people kept coming, and we talked about all kinds of food wisdom, gardens & the prevelance of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) which led to:
 The Anti-GMO Rally
on Sunday in L.A., at the Westwood Federal Building, drew a decent crowd. But with all the passion against Monsanto & GMOs at my picnic table, I was surprised when Carolyn was the only other Ojai rep at the rally. Tsk tsk. The issue is the lack of labeling with GMO food products since it is estimated that 75% of the grocery store food is GMO and isn't labeled, eliminating our right to know and choose. The sterility studies give one ample reason to abstain from GMO crops. See OCA article: www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_22625.cfm
Carolyn's requesting that we download petitions from organicconsumers.org and take them to Earth Play and other events to collect signatures. If you return them to her, she will forward them to the OCA for counting. carolynhernandez@netzero.net
Or, if you simply want to sign onto a petition with Food Democracy Now, they are asking the Dept. of Justice to follow through with their investigation into Monsanto's abusive monopolistic practices. A series of hearings went on nationwide, but have been stalled. http://action.fooddemocracynow.or/go/357?akid=305.16297.fJ_GO4&t=9
BREAKING NEWS - YESTERDAY: "ORGANIC COMMUNITY FILES SUIT AGAINST MONSANTO CHALLENGING GMO PATENTS" on March 29, 2011. On behalf of 60 family farmers, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations, the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) filed suit today against Monsanto Company to challenge the chemical giant's patents on genetically modified seed. The organic plaintiffs were forced to sue preemptively to protect themselves from being accused of patent infringement should they ever become contaminated by Monsanto's genetically modified seed, something Monsanto has done to others in the past. http://www.pubpat.org/assets/files/seed/OSGATA-v-Monsanto-Complaint
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Bumper Crops Have a Home at Curly Willow
Jodi Brandt has opened the big cooler at her flower shop to include extra garden produce to be shared with others. That generosity inspired Randy Graham to offer to pick up the excess crops from peoples' homes (and even help you pick it), and then deliver it to the Curly Willow shop on Signal (across from Wells Fargo). Don't know the protocol for taking food, probably just be polite, not too much.
Contact: rgraham33@mac.com
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The Food Council Gathering
April 19th, 7:00pm (see Upcoming Events)
As many of you know, the Food & Agriculture committee is morphing into the Food Council, still under the O.V. Green Coalition, but with someone new (yet to be found, so step right up) taking the lead, and a new structure. The idea is lots of independent projects operating under the umbrella of the Food Council. So if you've got a salsa business waiting to happen, or want to be part of the Community Garden group, or have a hankering to help teens start a backyard business, or any other food related project, come share your ideas along with some fun people and good food.
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GREAT News: ECO-FARM Director Heads to USDA
Poppy Davis, longtime ecological farming advocate and leader who just recently took over the Executive Director role for Eco-Farm Conference has been given a new opportunity. She is headed to Washington DC to become the Program Leader for the USDA's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program. That means we've got one of our team in a pivotal position for the farmer-veterans in my film, A Greater Mission, as well as other young men and women who want to become organic farmers.
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Edibles & Herbs Walks
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Free Compost Bin - First come, first serve
Dianne Bullard is passing on her plastic compost bin. Contact: dubullard@gmail.com |
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Maine Town Passes Landmark Local Food Ordinance
SEDGWICK, MAINE - On Saturday, March 5, residents of a small coastal town in Maine voted unanimously to adopt the Local Food and Self- Governance Ordinance, setting a precedent for other towns looking to preserve small-scale farming and food processing. Sedgwick, located on the Blue Hill Peninsula in Western Hancock County, became the first town in Maine, and perhaps the nation, to exempt direct farm sales from state and federal licensing and inspection. The ordinance also exempts foods made in the home kitchen, similar to the Michigan Cottage Food Law passed last year, but without caps on gross sales or restrictions on types of exempt foods.
Local farmer Bob St.Peter noted the importance of this ordinance for beginning farmers and cottage producers. "This ordinance creates favorable conditions for beginning farmers and cottage-scale food processors to try out new products, and to make the most of each season's bounty," said St.Peter. "My family is already working on some ideas we can do from home to help pay the bills and get our farm going."
St.Peter, who serves on the board of the National Family Farm Coalition based in Washington, DC, sees this as a model ordinance for economic development in rural areas. . Up until the last couple generations, we didn't need a special license or new facility each time we wanted to sell something to our neighbors. Small farmers and producers have been getting squeezed out in the name of food safety, yet it's the industrial food that is causing food borne illness, not us."
"And every food dollar that leaves our community is one more dollar we don't have to pay for our rural schools or to provide decent care for our elders," adds St.Peter. "We need the money more than corporate agribusiness."
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Thanks for your continuing interest in making the Ojai Valley a more delicious place to live. Our food system is a vital part of our resilience and strength.
Growing food, growing community!
Dulanie Ellis, Food & Ag Committee
Ojai Valley Green Coalition
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Upcoming Events
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April 5
free
Ojai Valley Community Garden Things are looking very well for the start up of the Ojai Valley Community Garden on a one-acre site at the W. Campus near Help of Ojai. We are currently cleaning up the site, as weather permits, and are hoping to get started with leasing plots and planting later this month. West Campus Office
3:30
Robin Graham: 640-0569
April Walks w/Lanny
Herbs & Edibles $10-20
4/9: Wheeler Gorge Herb Walk
4/17: Horn Canyon (by Thacher)
4/30: Ventura River Preserve
lannykaufer@sbcglobal.net
(see article)
RSVP: 646-6281
9:00 -12:00
April 16
$65 sliding
Garden Party
Garden to Kitchen Basics
Includes Al fresco Spring lunch & handouts from Chef Evan Rilling
info@studio-landscape.com
RSVP 646-7385
10:00am-1:30pm
April 16
free
Ventura Earth Day Eco Fest
Seaside Promenade Park, Vta
10am-5:00pm
April 17
free
Sneak Peak
"A Greater Mission"
& Veterans Sustainable Ag
Chalk Los Angeles gallery
12513 Venice Blvd, Mar Vista
5:00-8:00
April 17
free
Weston A. Price Foundation
Local Chapter: Intro to benefits & characteristics of a traditional diet
907 El Centro St. #302, Ojai 1:00-3:00pm
April 19
Free
Food Council Gathering Come cook up an idea. Join us for food, fun & sharing ideas for new community food projects.
(Location to be Announced)
7:00pm
April 23
free
Earth Play
Not to be missed celebration of every green & sustainable, family and fun, arts & activities
Oak Grove School
220 West Lomita (near Ranch House Restaurant)
11:00am-4:00pm
Bike valet & Free Trolley Rides
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Call Your Friends in
L.A. & the Westside
Chalk Los Angeles
a new gallery
12513 Venice Blvd., Mar Vista
Free Film Preview
"A Greater Mission"
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Produced by Yours Truly and Raymond Singer, "A Greater Mission" tells the story of Iraq veterans who are going into organic farming - to recover & de-escalate from war, and also to find a positive new mission: Food Security for America
 Meet Colin & Karen from Archi's Acres (featured in the film).
See their amazing home-sized hydroponic "Green Machine." Meet other farmer-veterans who've graduated from their Veterans Sustainable Ag Training program.
The event is free but we are both looking for funders:
They are looking for donations to their scholarship programs for vets who can't afford training.
We are looking for donors & corporate sponsors so we can complete the feature film. Lots of big Karma Points and other more temporal benefits.
News Flash: Ray and I are headed to Washington DC next week to meet and film people on Capitol Hill about the benefits of organic agriculture. Can't name drop yet, but stay tuned for what promises to be exciting news.
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