Saturday, October 10, 2009

Fresh Abundance Weekly News - October 10, 2009

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For me birth and death always create a necessity to reflect on life's meaning. My grandson Tao was born on Wednesday, so I have been reflecting on my life, and what kind of life this new angelic being has to look forward to. Being an Activist I often think about the Native American saying that we borrow the earth from our grandkids but the way I see it our grandparents reeked the havoc that we are now trying to figure out how to clean up, live in, and change. From my vantage point it seems like more people are asking hard questions about their personal consumption choices creating a spirit of community as we try to recycle, buy local, work together to clean up the river, make our way to Green Bluff, and delve into growing our own food. I believe Tao's generation will be the first to reap the benefits of our efforts to create sense out of the chemical madness that came out of WWII. As we eat local, value gifts made by local artisans, consume less, walk and ride our bikes more, get out to community events, and spend our money at local businesses we create the community wellbeing we crave. Thanks to each and every one of you who make daily choices that will create a beautiful world for Tao.

Speaking of buying local Community Roots Market has moved back inside so come down and support the artisans, crafters, and farmers on Sundays between 11-4 located behind Fresh Abundance 2015 N Division. Bring a friend!

p.e.a.c.h. Community Farm Update Thanks to all who supported our Farm to Fork and Grape to Glass fundraising dinner. It was a fun party with wonderful local food and stellar music. The energy at the event was palpable, as we talked about how to create a community farm and farm school to train local farmers and then match them with farmland right here in Spokane. We have moved on to working through the details of creating a fair and equitable local food system. So along with training farmers we will facilitate a program that will employ low income youth to work on the farm and to market the produce to low income residents in Spokane. We believe this full circle will be a win-win as these younger members of our community learn the skills of growing and marketing food and then selling it to their neighborhoods. Two major barriers exist for low income eaters. One is that fresh produce is expensive the second is that there is very little fresh produce available for sale in these neighborhoods. We will tackle both of these by putting p.e.a.c.h. farm stands in low income neighborhoods and reducing the cost of the produce to people who use their food stamps to buy fresh local farm goods. We will also have foods produced on the farm available for on farm purchase, CSA, and through Fresh Abundance.

Buy a raffle ticket yet? It will cost a lot of money to get the new p.e.a.c.h. Community Farm set up so we will be doing on-going fundraising. Currently we are raffling off a hand made (no power tools used) replica of a Shaker no. 7 rocking chair. This chair is amazing to touch as well as a delight to the eyes. The chair was a donation from member Curtis Michael to help raise money for the farm. The value of the chair is $800 and we are raffling off 32 tickets at $25 each. So far we have sold 11 tickets. You can order a ticket with your box or stop by the store to look at the rocker and buy a ticket at the counter. Check out other one of a kind furniture made by Curtis at www.cmrfurniture.com

p.e.a.c.h. Farm Wish List We are looking for an Alice Chalmers tractor that will get converted into an electric tractor. Here is a link to a funny video that was produced by a farm that has an electric Alice Chalmers Tractor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJUtTvZQGpM&feature=player_embedded

Currently available from the Rx Café, our truly gluten free kitchen, you can now get fresh salsa, fresh cashew milk, espresso made with raw milk, organic pasteurized milk, or cashew milk, and of course Green Smoothies. Did you really think you would get away without a mention of this life enhancing delicious green drink! Yes, I am still swilling a half gallon daily. I have been exposed at least 10 times now to sick people and have yet to get ill. This is my big experiment to see if I can get through the winter without getting sick. So far so good☺

Next Green Smoothie class is at the Rx Café on October 20th at 6 PM ~ $10 for prepaid and $15 at the door. All money for classes supports our fabulous p.e.a.c.h. work on our local food system.

We are looking for volunteers to help finish painting and floor sanding the body movement/class room that is upstairs at Fresh Abundance. Once we get the painting and floor finished we will start a Saturday morning yoga class. We will also launch a series of classes taught by various members of our community on topics related to health, local food and simple living. Email Brightspirit@freshabundance.com if you want to lend a hand.

See you at Community Roots Market, Eden Brightspirit Hendrix

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