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Summer's finally here in full force!
Did anyone else have sunflowers showing up willy nilly in their garden? I don't even remember planting them for years, but several volunteers are preening their sunny heads in random spots.
My April starts of lettuce (always a gamble) made it all the way til this week when I harvested the last heads. I boldly stripped off the shade cloth to give the cukes & tomatoes the sun they needed, but the whole garden shriveled back from the 90 degree furnace... and I quickly replaced it. It's a mystery what to do.
And the frigging birds ... they managed to get my apricots and pluots! Fingers are crossed that the netting saves my nectarines & apricots. But I am triumphing with the gopher cages on all my squash and tomatoes... so far!
Between the weather, birds, bugs & critters, growing your own food gives you a deep respect and awe for commercial farmers. How the heck do they grow such big delicious produce????????
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Co-Op Anyone?
A "Discussion Course on Cooperatives" is being offered by Michelle Dohrn for those who'd like to learn about & discuss co-ops with a goal of starting one here in Ojai. Developed by the NorthWest Earth Institute in Portland, Oregon, the 8--session course is a fun & innovative way to get ramped up; 6-12 people meet weekly for about 2 hours to discuss short readings, practical suggestions & ideas.
For info: quinospt@earthlink.net or 805-421-3047
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Fun with FermentationNoel reports that the recent demo on lacto-fermentation from the Weston A. Price Foundation was impressive and convinced him to get started with this new/old rage for food preserving.
"Sue prepared a fermented vegetable recipe for us. For under $10 she prepared all of the veggies she and her husband need for over a month. And they will stay fresh because they're fermented, bottled & refrigerated (lasting over a year if stored)."
If you're in the dark about this (like me) I suggest we all get on down to Carpinteria for the upcoming Fermentation Festival (see Upcoming Events). Some top people in the field will be there.
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 GMO Update: 4 easy things you can do
1. Come by my house (206 So. Blanche) & pick up a bumper sticker for your car or bike.
2. Endorse or get endorsements for the ballot initiative with the name of your business, church, school, health professioinal etc. (send to jdietrick9@gmail.com). We're compiling the list now.
3. Call Rep. Elton Gallegly (I know,I know) and ask him to support the DeFazio amendment to strike the "farmer assurance provision" (Rider #733) from the Ag Appropriations Bill (House version of the Farm Bill). This provision would allow industry (read, Monsanto) to continue to sell & plant GE seeds even when a court of law has found they were approved illegally. This is an attack on judicial review. Let's play fair guys.
Rep. Gallegly's office is taking public input. Call 202-225-1100.
4. Keep it simple: Californians have the right to know what we're eating!
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Thanksgiving Coffee:
 "Not just a cup, but a just cup of coffee"
Okay, I can't keep this a secret any longer. This is the best cup of coffee I've ever had. "Delicious Peace" is grown in Uganda by previously warring religious groups who got together to grow coffee. They've just been awarded a sustain-
ability grant for a 2-year program to develop permaculture practices to deal with climate change. Totally cool story and one of many outrageous coffees available on-line from the FIRST fair-trade importer, a California company in Mendocino.
www.thanksgivingcoffee.com/
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Montessori School of Ojai Gardens for us all
The Montessori School of Ojai is deep in the process of developing a self-sustaining school garden program. We currently have Mulch for sale at $35/yard including delivery. We have veggie and flower starts for sale ranging from $1.00 to $3.00. We are also seeking volunteers to help in the garden in exchange for fresh produce, families are welcome as volunteers. Our garden is growing and we also have a fruit orchard of over 30 fruit trees. For more information about any of these opportunities please call Jon Ellis at (818) 388-7364. |
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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 Council
Ojai Valley Green Coalition
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Upcoming Events
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Sat. June 30Free
Ojai Produce Exchange
Share your excess garden produce at this new event. Produce, herbs, flowers, plant cuttings, organic or label that it's not. 418 San Antonio St.
(across from Mormon Church off Bristol) 10:00-11:00amBYOB: (baskets that is)
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Free
Water Harvesting & Re-Use
With Leif Skogberg from the Ojai Foundation.
Save 15% on everything at the nursery as a bonus!
Flora Gardens Nursery
245 Old Baldwin Rd.
10:30am
Sun. July 8
Free
"How to Give a GMO Presentation" We need all hands on deck to pass this measure. Jan, Ron & Nilufer make it easy!
Potluck to follow
RSVP: jdietrick9@gmail.com
Sat. July 14
$20/25 non-members
Canning & Preservation
Back by popular demand, Cecil Baumgartner of
Thunderbird Farms
For invitation pdf:
ojaiculinaryclub@gmail.com
669-8445
Sun. July 15
Free
Fermentation Festival
S.B. Weston A. Price
Demos, speakers, music, great food, vendors, the whole enchilada!
Tom Shepherd's Farm
6701 Casitas Pass Rd
Carpinteria
12:00-4:00pm
Wednesday nights
"How to make" classes
Laundry detergent, toothpaste, bread, canned veggies, you name it!
First Baptist Church
For schedule: Facebook:
Summer "How to" Classes
Herb Walks with Lanny
Kids free, $15-25
July 8: Potrero John Creek
July 14: Sespe River Trail
July 29: Ventura River
for more info:
www.herbwalks.com
646-6281
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Tomato Mango Salsa
1 c. chopped tomatoes
f1/2 c. chopped mango
2 Tbl. chopped cilantro
1 green onion, diced
1 Tbl. honey**
2 Tbl. lime juice
3 Tbl. plain yogurt
Mix the tomatoes, mano, cilantro & green onion in a bowl.
In a separate, small mixing bowl, combine the honey, lime juice & yogurt until smooth.
Toss the two bowls of ingredients together. Refrigerate until chilled.
** Remember to buy local, organic honey. Much of "American" branded honey is actually coming in from China and has been found to have heavy metals, antibiotics & other crud!
Recipe compliments of foodrenegade.com
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