Fresh Abundance Weekly News - June 6th, 2009

Fresh Abundance - Bringing Local Food to Local People
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Jacque's Blog
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One Mother's Thoughts

I have a lot to smile about this week. The LOCAL farm season has begun! Bring on the LOCAL lettuce, Japanese cucumber, and salad mix. The bat (farmer) phone has been ringing off the hook as our LOCAL farmers begin the scramble of getting their fresh treasures to your fork. Next on the smile meter, under our PEACH program Everybody Grow Food, we had our first annual plant giveaway. For those of you who are new or have not made the connection, P.E.A.C.H. is the non-profit parent of Fresh Abundance LOCAL & Organic Foods.

P.E.A.C.H. MISSION
P.E.A.C.H. is dedicated to creating a sustainable local economy and increasing food security with the production of fresh local safe food, and making this food accessible for all residents, regardless of income.

I learned this week that when people pick up a tomato plant, they smile. We helped hundreds of low-income people, many with children, pick-out free plants to take home. We also let them know that if they save their tomato seeds they will be able to start their plants from seed next year. I can't think of a better way to increase our LOCAL food supply than by getting everyone to grow some food, and what a bonus if they can grow tomatoes for years to come by saving their seeds.

COMMUNITY ROOTS MARKET GOES WEEKLY on JUNE 14th from 11-4
Buy LOCAL and know your LOCAL producers who create the products you love to use the most. Make the market a regular part of your shopping week to support a vibrant community. We have many wonderful local farmers and producers who have committed to showing up each week. In addition to supporting ALL THINGS LOCAL, visit the market to enjoy LIVE music and take part in the weekly hoola hoop at 1pm with prizes and all. Don't have a hoola hoop? Well guess what, you can buy one at the market. Hoola hooping is a great way to build your core muscles the same muscles you use in yoga, palates etc. Come join the fun and get fit. I have been practicing everyday; let's see who can beat me.

WHO'S YOUR LOCAL FARMER?
Introducing Quail Ridge Ranch & Harvey Creek Boer Goats, two LOCAL farmers who happen to be friends and will share a space at Community Roots Market. These two LOCAL producers will be at every market. Stop by and tell them you are glad they are making the trek from Fruitland Washington.

Harvey Creek Boer Goats will bring to the market each week a wide variety of frozen cuts of goat meat: ground burger, country breakfast sausage, sweet Italian sausage, steaks, chops, roasts, kebobs, and stew meat. For opening day of the market, they will be bringing spinach, lettuce, radishes, green onions, arugula, and rhubarb.

Quail Ridge Ranch will be offering Homemade Jellies made from some of our local wild berries. They are introducing Gluten Free Breads, snacks and individual cakes for those of us who are wheat intolerant. Rhubarb is in season and they'll have some heritage rhubarb, radishes, and other fresh vegetables if ready.

FRESH NUT MILK RECIPE
This is a follow up on the milk write up I did several weeks ago. Soy Milk, Rice Milk, and any aseptic containers sitting on a store shelf are dead food. Yes we do sell it but it is a bridge food so that you can come in and find what you are accustomed to then we can have your ear so you can move to better ideas about how to eat live food!

Nut milk is SO easy to make so why buy dead nut/rice/soy milk etc when you can make it yourself for cheaper with no aseptic container to through in your trash. Plus, it tastes so much better. Cut your trash bill, cut your food bill and feed your body live food!

2 cups raw organic almonds, soaked in fresh water for 24-48 hours (rinsing
water periodically)
4 cups fresh water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon agave nectar

After the almonds are done soaking, rinse, and place them into a blender with 4 cups fresh water, blend for several minutes until fully smooth. Pour almond milk through a cheesecloth over a large measuring cup or bowl, and allow to drain. Use your hands to help "milk" the last of the liquids from the cheesecloth. To the strained milk, add vanilla extract and agave nectar, whisk well. Refrigerate until cool. Use for cereals, smoothies, or with organic chocolate cookies. It is surprisingly good, and satisfying to know how your "milk" has been processed, and what ingredients have been used.

VOLUNTEER
We are looking for more volunteers on the farm on Saturdays between 10 and 2 so that we can have a better mix of teen to other volunteers. These kids can be a handful and we want them to experience not only getting their hands in the dirt, but the feeling of being with well rounded folks who love the idea of LOCAL food. This is a great way to advance the well being of the at risk youth who are part of your community.

SUPPORT LOCAL FOOD
Remember that when you shop at Fresh Abundance, order online, and buy from vendors at Community Roots Market your money goes back into your community in the form of all our non-profit work.

If you love what we do, and you do charitable giving please consider P.E.A.C.H. If you use the charitable giving work out of your paycheck please give me a call so I can help you get it set up so you can give to P.E.A.C.H. Also, we are now asking our avid supports to donate by setting up automatic withdrawals to P.E.A.C.H. from your account each month. These consistent smaller donations help us with the regular occurring expenses like rent, phone & lights. If you would like to set up giving in one of these ways I have mentioned then just give me a call 435-5210. Thanks for supporting the P.E.A.C.H. in any way you can.

I'm off to the FBC's annual Prom Full Moon Bike Ride ☺

Till Next week,
Eden Brightspirit Hendrix