Spring Gardening with Kids
03.20.10
It’s the first day of spring and we spent the beautiful day selling books for the “Village Green” event at the University Village in Seattle.
Ciscoe Morris reminded us to get the family out in the garden again and plant. (Oh, and, weed too!)
Simply the best gardening book for kids is Roots, Shoots Buckets, and Boots by Sharon Lovejoy. Perfect for home and school gardens, Lovejoy’s voice is inviting and her activities are inspiring.
Says my good friend Rick Swann, an elementary school librarian, “While there are practical gardening tips, my favorite chapters are about creating theme gardens that kids can practically move into and live in (and will want to): a garden of giants, the flowery maze, the moon garden, the sunflower house, the snacking and sipping garden, and the pizza garden to name a few.”
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My list of stars is short: twenty old-fashioned favorites that are more than pretty faces. They have personality, fragrance, texture, and color—vibrant color. They grow quickly—something kids need in response to their work. And they’re versatile; they can be used as jewelry, toys, clothes, musical instruments, and household utensils.
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Talking to Teens about Food
03.15.10
Last weekend our mobile bookstore traveled to the Washington State Science Teachers Association Conference in Everett. It was wonderful to learn that many schools across the state are planning to start a school garden. However, the best part about the conference for me–even more than making sales!–was having a conversation with a group of high school volunteers about what they eat and learning how much they care about it. Yet, they seldom have these discussions about food at home. Usually, meals simply show up at the dinner table for them. I believe young people are hungry to know what they eat and where their food comes from. They are starting to make their own food purchasing decisions and experimenting with cooking for themselves. While many books on food for teens focus on eating disorders, we want to promote the pleasures of healthy eating through good food reads. I urge families to have more conversations about our foodways at home. We do with our kids, and it always makes for a lively discussion.
Celebrating Women’s History Month
03.12.10
March is Women’s History Month and it’s a good time to acknowledge the work of women farmers, a growing population in the United States. According to the USDA, “approximately 165,000 farms are run by women, and demographic, social, and economic factors indicate that the number will keep rising.” According to the USDA, many women farmers inherited their land as widows and face many challenges. Nearly 70 percent of women farmers have less than 140 acres, and nearly 80 percent report annual sales under $25,000. And while “men tend to own large, commodity-crop farms…women usually operate small, diversified farms.”
In Washington State, the number of women-owned farms soared nearly 44 percent between 2002 and 2007 according to the Seattle Times.
There have been many noted titles by women writers reporting on their farming experience. Among our personal favorites is Novella Carpenter’s Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer, written with such humor and insight. We’re happy to announce that the paperback edition will be released this May. Please email us with your advance order.
“Eat It to Save it!”
03.08.10
Last week I was at the Seattle Chef’s Collaborative Farmer Fisher Chef Connection. It’s a wonderful event connecting local food producers and buyers, and is certainly the tastiest conference we’ve ever attended!
One of the highlights was handling the book signing for the keynote speaker, New Orleans master chef and food activist Poppy Tooker, who founded the local chapter of Slow Foods.
In Poppy’s Crescent City Farmers Market Cookbook, she tells the history of the New Orleans market, beginning from the 1600’s up through the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The book is a remarkable mix of regional recipes, culinary history, and a celebration of the human spirit.
Poppy’s motto is “Eat It To Save It,” which captures her commitment to revive endangered foods that have fallen out of favor or become too expensive to grow, yet carry great cultural value.
Two examples she gave were Calas, which originated from Africa, and Creole Cream Cheese, abandoned by large factory producers. Both recipes are featured in the Crescent City Farmers Market Cookbook, which you can order directly from us to support Chef’s Collaborative Seattle.
(Alas! Our online bookstore is still under construction, but you can order the old fashion way by phone or email.)
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It’s been a long, hard road back for the Crescent City Farmers Market. Not all of our vendors have been able to return. The original Downtown market at Magazine and Girod streets reopened on Saturday, March 4, 2006. Now, we operate only two weekly markets instead of four, but the sense of community that the market brings to the city is back, stronger than ever. It’s no wonder that we’re known as ‘The Happiest Place in New Orleans.’
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Get Cooking: 150 Simple Recipes to Get You Started in the Kitchen
