The celebration of light is common to our various religious traditions at this time of year. Whether it be candlelight, a roaring fireplace or twinkle lights on the tree, it is a time of celebration that the hours of darkness have reached their peak, and finally, the moments of daylight begin to lengthen and warm the world again. It is the promise that the growing times will come again. The evergreen tree as well, reminds us that the green world of plants endures and we will soon be able to plant our fields to eat and live another "new year."
Gifts of food, plants, preparation for the new "greening" of the world are a particularly wonderful way to share the bounty of this deliciously beautiful world we live in. Especially treasured are gifts that your friends and neighbors have grown, crafted or chosen within the village.
So before dashing off to the mall, consider the possibilities that abound in our valley and strengthen our local economy.
Under $10: Heirloom seed packs from All Good Things Organic
Herbs or veggie 6-packs at Flora Gardens or Ortiz
A bag of Sacred Cow biodynamic compost soil
A selection of Zhena's Gypsy Tea
Ojai Valley Honey
$10 - $20: Ojai Olive Oil and/or flavored balsamic vinegars
2 Bags of Friend's Ranch citrus fruit
One of Randy Graham's vegetarian cookbooks
A DVD of "Ground Operations" (farmer-veterans)
A hefty bag of organic pet food (Wachters - Rainbow)
$20 - $30: Casa Barranca Winery organic wine
Lunch for two at Hip or another local eatery
Kitchenware from Rains
A righteous gift certificate to Bliss
Some swell garden tool and new gloves
An annual membership to Ojai Valley Green Coalition
Relatively free: A home-cooked meal or picnic
Turning over a friend's garden for spring
A stack of family favorite recipes
Light a candle and eat well, among beloveds.
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"Let there be Bees on Earth
and let it begin with me"
(sung to the tune of the church hymn)
It wouldn't be a newsletter from me if there wasn't a piece of political action in here somewhere, so this is your PSA to complete the year.
The EU has just begun a 2-year suspension on several bee-toxic pesticides, but U.S. agencies are still refusing to step up to the plate. So this week, The Center for Food Safety and other groups are calling them out. Join us in calling on your Representative to take action to protect pollinators!
Please call Rep. Julia Brownley (202-225-5811) and urge her support of H.R. 2692.
The Saving America's Pollinators Act (H.R. 2692) calls for the suspension of several neonics until a full review of scientific evidence indicates they are safe and a field study demonstrates no harmful impacts to pollinators.
Neonics are the most widely used insecticides in the world, and exposure to neonics has become a key culprit in bee population losses. Commercial beekeepers in the U.S. have been reporting annual colony losses of 40-100%. In June 50,000 bumblebees were killed in a parking lot in Oregon by these very chemicals. We need to take swift action to protect our critical pollinators. The Saving America's Pollinators Act seeks to do precisely that.
* * *
Thanks Diane Squire for this recent Ted Talk on our bees:
http://embed.ted.com/talks/marla_spivak_why_bees_are_disappearing.html
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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 News
Ojai Valley Green Coalition
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Upcoming Events
(Mark your calendar now, so you remember)
Sat. Dec. 7
free
Winter Garden Planting
Presentation by Justin Huhn of Mano Farms & All Good Things Organic Seeds.
Flora Gardens
11:00 a.m.
Sat. Dec. 14
Holiday Community
Gathering
Hosted by the Ojai Food Co-op. Bring food, musical talent, products to sell.
For details contact:
Michelle Dohrn
https://www.facebook.com/events/599081873471351/
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Pomegranate Salsa
In Biblical style ..... from Noel, who got it from Carol, who got it from Debbie, who got it from Arizona Inn in Tucson.
2 tangerines, peeled & sectioned (reserve juice)
Seeds from 4 pomegranates
1 small red onion, dice finely
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 Serrano pepper (hot), finely chopped
1 tsp. sugar
2 limes
salt to taste
Mix all ingredients. May be served warm or chilled.
This is OMG good and beautiful on any table.
Yield: 1-1/2 cups approx.
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