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Good Food Project Garden Newsletter

September 2014

Good Food Project Values its Partnership with the Rapides Soil and Water Conservation District

Ms. Gina Gilchrist's First Graders at Poland Junior High

A new school year is in full swing and The Good Food Project staff is moving quickly to install more school gardens so that students can experience growing their own food using sustainable, organic gardening practices. As we add new schools each year, we know that we would not be as successful with this part of our strategic plan without the assistance of great partners like the Rapides Soil and Water Conservation District. The GFP has had an ongoing partnership with the RSWCD almost from the inception of the project. RSWCD is an organization that falls under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Their mission is to support soil and water conservation in Rapides Parish. RSWCD also partners with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service in assisting land owners conservation of the land and water. Its board is comprised completely of individuals who are farmers; they have extensive knowledge on a diversity of crops ranging from forestry to rice, and sugar cane farming. GFP is grateful for their continuing support of our program, and especially with the generosity of their monetary donations, which helps to defray the costs to install gardens at Rapides Parish Schools. Special thanks must also go to Max Johnston of the RSWCD who serves on the GFP Advisory Council. With this support, GFP has now installed gardens at 8 Rapides Parish Schools. This committed organization understands the importance of positively influencing young people to learn the importance of soil and water conservation practices and any topics related to protecting our natural resources. Together, we hope to teach children how to grow a garden so that they may feed themselves and their families for generations to come.

For information about starting a school or community garden in your area contact the Good Food Project staff at 318.445.2773 or via email: fboudreaux@fbcenla.org and on the web: www.goodfoodprojectcenla.org

Recipe of the Month

Super-Fast Stir Fry Recipe

Ingredients:

2 Cloves garlic, chopped or smashed

1/2 Cup chopped onions

2 Tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

1 Bunch of broccoli (about 1 lb.)

2 Tablespoons olive oil or grape seed oil

1/2 -1 Cup water or beef broth (can substitute beef or chicken broth as well)

2 Tablespoons corn starch

1-2 Cups mixed fresh vegetables of your choice-Ex: Sugar snap peas, mushrooms, red and green peppers, carrots, celery asparagus, bean sprouts, shredded cabbage

Seasonings of your choice

Optional: pre-cooked beef or chicken

Directions:

Wash and pre-cut all vegetables and have them nearby as you prepare this dish (about 1/4 inch thick slices)

In a deep skillet or wok, over high heat, saut� the onions and garlic in oil until transparent

Add broccoli, stir-fry for 2 minutes, add peppers and other firm vegetables, stir-frying for about 2 minutes each time. Finish with softer veggies like sugar snap peas and mushrooms. Add extra soy sauce as needed during cooking

Mix water or broth with corn starch, stir well. Add to veggies, cook and stir occasionally, until sauce thickens.

Add meat if desired

Serve over brain rice or quinoa

Super-Fast Stir Fry

In September plant:

Beans, Bush, Lima, Snap, Pole
Beets
Broccoli (Seed)
Brussels Sprouts (Seed)
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Chard, Swiss
Chinese Cabbage
Collards
Cucumbers
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mustard Greens
Onion, Leek (Seed)
Peas, English
Potatoes, Irish
Pumpkin
Radishes
Shallots
Turnips

In October plant:

Beets
Cabbage
Celery (Seed)
Chard, Swiss
Chinese Cabbage
Collards
Garlic
Kohlrabi
Onion, Leek (Seed)
Radishes
Shallots
Spinach
Turnips

Forest Hill Elementary Students Planting their Fall Garden

Garden News

The Good Food Project is on the march to get fall vegetable transplants and seeds to our school garden, off-site, and community garden partners. It has been a real pleasure to work with them all!

Mrs. Dorothy Juneau's Class at St. Anthony's Bunkie, LA

Workday Wednesday

You are invited to join us at the GFP demonstration garden on Workday Wednesdays. In the garden, you will experience learning to grow food in a sustainable, organic way, while getting an opportunity to meet new people, and to help those in need in the community. If you, your organization, or work place would like to be involved, please give us a call. We would love to hear from you!

Each Wednesday from 7:30-11:30 AM all adults and children are invited to come out for a fun day of learning and giving back to the community. Let's grow together! Learn more.

If Wednesdays aren't good for you, call us to set up another volunteer day! 318-445-2773

Garden Quote

"Food is our common ground, a universal experience." James Beard

Master Nutritionists Breta LaCaze and Sherrell Bozeman

Volunteer of the Month

Jen Sharbono and little friend, Asher

Jen Sharbono is a take-charge kind of woman who came to the Good Food Project as a volunteer this past month so that she could learn more about gardening. It didn't take long for her to become a valuable member of our volunteer team. Jen says she has enjoyed every aspect of volunteering in the demonstration garden as well as getting to meet new people. As a home gardener, for the last five years, Jen felt she needed a little more guidance as to when to plant certain crops and to learn more about natural fertilizers and pest treatments. Like many of us who garden, Sharbono says, "I've had some successful years and some next to nothing." She further stated that she practices organic gardening "for the most part," but wants to learn more about it by volunteering at the GFP demo garden. Jen is originally from Thibodeaux, LA and came to Cenla as a student at Louisiana College. There she met her husband, who was from Jena; they later decided to settle in Pineville. Jen is a stay-at-home mom of four who loves to cook and garden, and is passionate about baking, working with her church, the Gathering Place, and being a mom. We, of the GFP, have enjoyed getting to know Jen and hope she continues to join us with her infectious smile, energy, and enthusiasm.

To become a GFP volunteer like Jen, join us on Wednesday mornings in the GFP demonstration garden, Good Food Project - Food Bank of Central Louisiana 71301 - 318-445-2773

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