Seeds For Young Farmers
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When Jesse Kuhn started Marin Roots Farm at age 28, he already had dirt
under his fingernails. He’d studied ag in college, managed a student farm,
and work...
2/28/10
Sorting Through the Claims of the Boastful Egg - NYT 9
Hat tip to @jambutter
First, the basics:
egg grades — given by the United States Department of Agriculture or other agencies — depend mainly on the firmness of the whites. AA eggs hold their shape in the pan a bit better than Grade A eggs. (Grade B eggs, for processed foods, are rarely sold in stores.) Egg sizes, like large or jumbo, are based on the weight of a dozen eggs. Then things get confusing.
The easiest way to ensure truth in labeling is to look for cartons bearing the National Organic Program emblem (a circular seal with “U.S.D.A.” over what looks like a field), any of the animal-welfare-related labels described below, or the U.S.D.A. shield (which looks like an interstate highway sign and which indicates the eggs’ grade). The organic and animal welfare programs require that producers be audited by third-party certifiers. The U.S.D.A. shield, which can be found on about 35 percent of eggs in the market, means that the agriculture department is auditing the eggs’ producers at least once a year to verify that their claims are true.
Definitions for some other common terms on egg cartons are below. Keep in mind that the agriculture department’s rules apply only to eggs with the department’s shield. For eggs that are not a part of its grading program, either state rules apply or the use of the phrase is unregulated.
How Birds Are Raised
CAGE FREE The agriculture department says this means that the chickens were kept out of cages and had continuous access to food and water, but did not necessarily have access to the outdoors.
FREE RANGE The agriculture department says that in addition to meeting the cage-free standards, free-range birds must have continuous access to the outdoors, unless there’s a health risk present. There are no standards, though, for what that outdoor area must be like. (A concrete lot could do.)
PASTURE-RAISED There is no regulation of this term, which implies hens got at least part of their food from foraging on greens and bugs, which adherents say can improve flavor. Some studies have found that pasture-raised eggs have more nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin E and beta carotene, and less saturated fat and cholesterol.
ANIMAL CARE LABELS Four main terms indicate the level of care hens received.
For eggs from chickens that live in the sort of utopia conveyed by the images on most egg cartons, look for “animal welfare approved.” Available in limited markets, it is a new label by the Animal Welfare Institute that is given only to independent family farmers. Flocks can have no more than 500 birds, and chickens over 4 weeks old must be able to spend all their time outside on pesticide-free pasture with a variety of vegetation. They must have access to dust baths and cannot have their beaks trimmed (a practice on crowded egg farms) or be fed animal byproducts.
READ MORE HERE
IT used to be, an egg was an egg.
Now they can be cage free and free range, vegetarian and omega-3 fortified, organic, “certified humane” or “American humane certified.” The incredible, edible egg is becoming unintelligible.
Some claims on egg cartons are regulated by the federal government, some by the states and some not at all. Some affect consumers’ health, some touch upon ethics and some are meaningless.
All purport to describe how the hens were raised, or what they were fed, or what extra benefits their eggs might provide.
So, what do these terms mean?
egg grades — given by the United States Department of Agriculture or other agencies — depend mainly on the firmness of the whites. AA eggs hold their shape in the pan a bit better than Grade A eggs. (Grade B eggs, for processed foods, are rarely sold in stores.) Egg sizes, like large or jumbo, are based on the weight of a dozen eggs. Then things get confusing.
The easiest way to ensure truth in labeling is to look for cartons bearing the National Organic Program emblem (a circular seal with “U.S.D.A.” over what looks like a field), any of the animal-welfare-related labels described below, or the U.S.D.A. shield (which looks like an interstate highway sign and which indicates the eggs’ grade). The organic and animal welfare programs require that producers be audited by third-party certifiers. The U.S.D.A. shield, which can be found on about 35 percent of eggs in the market, means that the agriculture department is auditing the eggs’ producers at least once a year to verify that their claims are true.
Definitions for some other common terms on egg cartons are below. Keep in mind that the agriculture department’s rules apply only to eggs with the department’s shield. For eggs that are not a part of its grading program, either state rules apply or the use of the phrase is unregulated.
How Birds Are Raised
CAGE FREE The agriculture department says this means that the chickens were kept out of cages and had continuous access to food and water, but did not necessarily have access to the outdoors.
FREE RANGE The agriculture department says that in addition to meeting the cage-free standards, free-range birds must have continuous access to the outdoors, unless there’s a health risk present. There are no standards, though, for what that outdoor area must be like. (A concrete lot could do.)
PASTURE-RAISED There is no regulation of this term, which implies hens got at least part of their food from foraging on greens and bugs, which adherents say can improve flavor. Some studies have found that pasture-raised eggs have more nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin E and beta carotene, and less saturated fat and cholesterol.
ANIMAL CARE LABELS Four main terms indicate the level of care hens received.
For eggs from chickens that live in the sort of utopia conveyed by the images on most egg cartons, look for “animal welfare approved.” Available in limited markets, it is a new label by the Animal Welfare Institute that is given only to independent family farmers. Flocks can have no more than 500 birds, and chickens over 4 weeks old must be able to spend all their time outside on pesticide-free pasture with a variety of vegetation. They must have access to dust baths and cannot have their beaks trimmed (a practice on crowded egg farms) or be fed animal byproducts.
READ MORE HERE
Chicken Housing Crisis Hits U.S. From Wall Street Journal
"Thanks to last year's bankruptcy filing by poultry giant Pilgrim's Pride Corp., scores of farmers suddenly find themselves unable to make hefty mortgage payments. WSJ's Lauren Etter reports."
Our Bee School Text book
"Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile have revised and expanded their clear and comprehensive guide to cover changes in beekeeping. They discuss the crisis created by the parasitic bee mites. In less than a decade, for example, Varroa mites have saturated the North American honeybee population with disastrous results, devastating both managed and wild populations. The new edition of The Beekeeper's Handbook covers mite detection and control as well as the selection and testing of bees that may have some tolerance to mites."
2/27/10
Guest Blog Post from Dan Courtois (Farmer Dan)
Farmer Dan knows about chickens and lives in CaliforniaCHICKEN CHOW
Chickens are a “bottomless pit” when it comes to chow. I have seen, on many occasions, chickens with their craws near bursting but continuing to eat voraciously at the feeder or bugs and weeds as if they have not had a meal in days! Their breasts have large swellings from their constant binging and they appear to have a large tumor which almost causes them to list to one side. Chickens will eat just about anything. Even you if you were unfortunate enough to trip and fall in the coup they would eat you up. Remember they are omnivores. Their varied diet includes bugs, feed pellets, scratch, weeds, fruit, vegetables, and sometimes even parts of other chickens. Last Summer I watched, with some amusement, a four foot long gopher snake wandered into the chicken yard thinking he was after a little easy chow. He realized when he had only invaded about two feet of the chicken compound that a hungry hoard was after him in short order. He would try to make it to the nest boxes only to be jumped on by our big rooster. It soon became apparent to me that they wanted to eat him but they just were not able to get a hold on him. He slithered and crawled at a frenzied pace looking for any route of escape with the hens in hot pursuit.
I do not usually feed snake, or any other living or dead animal for that matter, to them as I do not think that is what they need. I like to feed the girls some sort of “laying feed” as this has the appropriate amount of protein, fat, and carbohydrates needed to keep the girls healthy and keep the eggs rolling on out. Laying feed comes in three forms being lay mash, lay crumbles, and lay pellets. I prefer to use lay pellets as the chickens waste less feed when I use them. Crumbles and mash are easily thrown out of the feeder to be trampled and wasted by the girls who are less than frugal eaters. I like lay pellets because I know that even if the hens knock the feed out of the feed trough it will be visible and will more than likely be eaten at some point.
As chicks start to need food, which begins two days after hatching, I like to grind up or wet down lay pellets to feed them. I know that people say that you need to start chicks out on chick starter or else they would have problems later on but I do not agree with that. I just take some pellets and mix them with a little water in the feed bowl and let them have it.
For Calcium supplementation I like to use crushed oyster shells. I am sure that this is not a new idea, using oyster shell with their chicken feed in order to strengthen egg shells and to prevent bone loss from laying eggs. I have read that if you place some oyster shell in the chicken water bowl with some vinegar that will bring the Calcium into solution making it easier for the hen to use. I also like to occasionally give the chickens something called “pigeon grit” which contains some things other than oyster shell. I like pigeon grit as it provides some trace minerals to the chickens to maintain their health.
Scratch is a mixture of several grains and usually a large amount of ground corn. I like to give them scratch as something to compliment the lay pellets in my hen’s diet. The girls like to dig and scratch at the seeds as this is in their nature. As the bags of scratch will tell you, scratch grains are not to be the only source of chicken chow as the grain is not supposed to be a complete diet. I have read several accounts of folks about 100 hundred years ago where they just fed some scratch grains to the hens and left the hens to fend for themselves in the barn yard. Chickens need all of these supplements and feeds because for the most part they are raised in barns or in rather tight coops.
Chickens need to get out and graze, this is the best way! I let them out when ever I can and they appear to be all the better for it. I know that I will lose the occasional bird to a fox, hawk, or coyote but it is so good for them and they really enjoy it. I see the hens roaming the yard filling their craws with grasses, seeds, and bugs and I realize that their egg yolks will stand up firm and will glow dark orange. I see my feed bill decrease dramatically as I put them out in the yard to free range. My hound dog kind of follows them around the yard slowly herding them in this direction and then another.
There are foods that I will not let my girls into or give them. I cannot go into the all the various things toxic to chickens so I have enclosed a great link at the end of the article. I do know that you should not feed things that are heavily moldy to them or that may contain any questionable materials. Potato sprouts and Night shade leaves are also toxic and celery will upset their digestive tracks. Again for a better list visit the below site as it is much more through. Poultry Help
Guest Blog Post from - JJgonson @EnLocale
I think a lot about what kids are eating in public schools
I didn't always. In fact, it is only relatively recently that I've given any thought at all to what people eat in schools, or the military and prisons for that matter.
For me, it started with milk, before I had my first baby. I was hearing so much about artificial hormones and precocious puberty, and about the side effects of unnecessarily used antibiotics, and I became afraid for the development of the child I was going to have. I made arrangements to get dairy from a small, local dairy farm. It came in glass bottles. I felt safer.
When my kids came of school age I took an initial look at the options in their cafeteria and I felt that same fear. But this time it wasn't a simple matter of calling the local dairy truck, and so I tried to convince myself that my kids had good eating habits and that there were things about the lunchroom offerings that were ok.
In point of fact, a lot of good work has been done around food, already, in my district. We are lucky, and owe a great debt to the diligence of a few very dedicated people. Our yogurt is hormone and antibiotic free, as is the milk the kids are offered. In our district we have an occasional vegetarian lunch entree appearing regularly, which is unusual in the US, what with the crazy protein-heavy nutritional guidelines, and we buy local apples that are made available to the kids all year long, whenever they might need a healthy boost. I was so happy when I discovered these things, and so I have let my kids eat at the school cafeteria, and hoped that the choices they made would be good ones. Ones I could feel good about, anyway.
This morning, at the breakfast table, while my kids were eating their oatmeal (made with locally grown oats, maple syrup, butter and milk) I asked what they had for lunch yesterday. "A sandwich", says my son with food in his mouth, "I didn't want to have Fluff, so I had the peanut butter and jelly."
There.
That's where it all breaks down, right there.
Let's rewind.
What was on the menu at our cafeteria yesterday?
It would appear they had the option to eat macaroni and cheese with carrots and peaches. I can get this information any time, from the school district website. This is a fixed menu, all the schools have the same one, so we are looking at a lot of meals. Thousands a day. I would like to think that someone is getting up early in the morning to melt the butter for the roux to start the cheese sauce, but there is no chance of it. That mac and cheese is a product that is made up of a lot of things that are not food. There is sure to be horrible sweeteners in it, and most likely in the peaches as well. The carrots are going to be 'peeled baby carrots' in a little plastic bag. And, even though they are the fibrous core of big carrots cut down, soaked, transported and wrapped in plastic, and they have retained a whopping %20 of their original nutrition, most of which is fiber and beta-carotene, they are possibly the least offensive of those offerings. Not that it matters, because my children (yes, both of them, his younger sister was happy to pipe up with, "I have that everyday!") aren't eating the hot lunch, apparently. My kids are eating good old PB&J.
This is not new to me. I have suspected for a while now that my kids, and a lot of others like them, are most frequently by-passing the hot lunch in favor of the alternate- peanut butter and either jelly or Fluff (yes, seriously, marshmallow cream) on whole wheat bread. Doesn't sound so bad, really. But if we are potentially feeding thousands than that PB&J has to be one the school can afford, so I did a little bit of digging, and I got my hands on the ingredient lists for those three key items. I couldn't get the ingredients for Fluff. No one seems willing to admit that Fluff is still served in the cafeterias here. If it isn't then there is a very enterprising middle-schooler selling it on the side, cuz I don't' think my kids are making it up when they tell me they had it for lunch.
You can probably guess where I am going with this. Yes, there are hydrogenated fats, high fructose corn sweeteners and unnatural colors in this interpretation of that most traditional of simple sandwiches.
No surprises really. If you are reading this kind of writing you might already be activated, yourself, around food-related issues. Perhaps you have also investigated what your kids are eating at school, and are feeling a fear similar to mine. Maybe you are wondering what sorts of evils are being perpetrated on their hormonal development? Obesity is the side effect of eating unhealthful food that we can see. What we cannot see is malnutrition, hormonal disruption, and inability to focus and therefor learn properly.
The meat in our school lunchrooms is tainted with ammonia to kill the bacteria.
The kids are offered sweet drinks instead of water.
And the simplest, most unoffensive sandwich on earth is a transmission device for saturated fats and unpronounceable chemistry.
Now what?
The way I see it there are two very obvious answers.
1- Pack lunch
2- Talk to my kids, keep helping them to make choices that are the least horrifying, and get involved with the system to make change.
Or perhaps even a combination of the two, but it is the second I want to focus on, because I think that most people choose #1, and that is why the problems we have are not going away.
It is not easy to understand what has happened in this country to have created a distribution system that sends the food of the lowest quality to the sprawling, hungry populations in our schools and other public programs. At the end of the day it is about money. In most simplistic terms, the government subsidizes farms, who in turn dump surplus on the government, who then make is available as "commodities" to the aforementioned programs.
What "commodities" really means is "free food". The commodities list is critical to public schools in this country because they have no money to pay for the food to feed the kids. Budgets have been cut so severely that schools have had to turn to their own cafeterias, and their student bodies, to pay for the lunch program. The appearance of soda machines and candy snacks in public schools is completely revenue driven. The money made from selling junk food pays for most of what the kids eat. The rest is "commodities". When soda machines are removed from the school lunchrooms the revenue stream disappears and so does the food services ability to purchase ingredients.
Many schools have rooms for the children to eat in, but no real kitchens in which to cook, in a real sense. Those that are lucky enough to have the facility to cook food often do not have the personnel to do so. Prepared foods come out of big bags made of thick plastic. Chicken, and other meat, is pulverized, fried and frozen to be reheated. Most commonly, little, if anything, is made from 'scratch', and the majority of vegetables are not remotely fresh. The long-suffering district employees who have to order the things that the kids then eat are dealing with a complicated set of offerings and no money to speak of. Where does a parent even begin to attack this monster?
Having put some energy into this when I first encountered these concerns I conscientiously attend meetings where parents have the opportunity to address the food service management directly. I am usually one of a small handful of parents who show up, even though there are twelve public grammar schools in my district. I think I am one of the more concerned and more agitated parents in this area, and I want to make change. I want a forum, and I want to help. One meeting, at 8:30 in the morning, twice a year is the platform I have found thus far.
And that is why I was stunned when I recently learned that there is a federal mandate that each school district has to have a "wellness committee" that oversees school food and suggests a wellness program. I know that our idea of wellness has become rather skewed in the past decade, but I care about what kids are eating and this is something I have never been aware of. Fundamentally, it doesn't matter what we moms think, we are not only not being told what our kids are eating, we are not even being told that we have the right to be concerned.
If you are, like me, agitated by the idea that what kids (as well as soldiers and prisoners) are eating is the worst kind of cheap food you do not have to sit silently by. You can investigate the options in your area. You can join with other concerned people in asking questions, and demanding first answers, and then solutions. Call the schools, ask who is on the mandated wellness committee and what are they doing. Go to the cafeteria and read ingredient lists. If you don't know what something is, look it up. And most importantly, talk to your kids. Talk to your kids friends, and your friends kids. Do you really know what they are eating?
"It's muffin day!" my son reminds his sister as they are eating that super-healthy breakfast. "I'm going to have two!" My daughter puts her spoon down, locavore, organic hot breakfast barely eaten, and announces that she is finished. It's an uphill battle, the fight for good food, made fresh from whole ingredients against the processed, sweetener laden, artificially flavored garbage that is everywhere. It's uphill all the way, and I'm going to keep climbing because I'm too scared to do anything else.
2/24/10
Guest Blog Post from @containergarden!
This may sound ridiculous, but I truly think that everyone should grow plants. There is mounting evidence that growing stuff is good for you psychologically – plants make people happy and more productive, and plants can actually clean chemicals out of indoor air.
I’m particularly fond of growing plants in containers. This is partially due to my extreme aversion to weeding and also because I’m a huge fan of instant gratification. I find immense satisfaction in buying seedlings at a farmers’ market; popping them into a container and watching them grow.
I believe that anyone can grow plants, but also that they are kind of like chickens, or any other living thing - you need to pay attention to them and learn what your plants need – which actually isn’t much.
If you want to grow plants in containers there are only a few things you need to know to get started.
-You can use almost anything for a container. I use everything from juice boxes to colanders to re-usable grocery bags. However, I only use containers that either have, or that I can pound, drill or nail drainage holes into, because most plants will die if their roots sit in water.
-The bigger your container, the better because the bigger your container, the larger your margin of error is for watering. Small containers dry out fast and that can mean that some you will have to water, in the heat of summer, many times in one day – which is just not in my joy spectrum.
-Use potting soil, not garden soil. I use an organic potting soil.
-Most potting soil has no nutrients for your plants and they won’t thrive if you don’t add some food. Mix a slow release fertilizer into your potting soil before you plant anything in it – worm poop is great for this. Then feed your plants regularly with a liquid, diluted plant food. I use a combination of fish emulsion and seaweed.
-Read your plant label and pay attention to what it says in terms of how much sun your plant needs and how much water. That said, most plants want to be in slightly damp soil – not wet, not dry but damp.
To be honest, gardening is a crapshoot and sometimes your plants will die. That said though, there are few greater pleasures than eating something you have grown yourself or watching a flower unfurl. And like chickens, plants can be a pain, but most of the time they are well worth it.
2/22/10
Guest Blog Post from - my friend @redwhiteandgrew, Pamela Price
Victory Gardens Are Here Again!
"Victory gardening" is an old-fashioned term for what many people are undertaking these days--garden for self-sufficiency and sustainability. The phrase dates all the way back to the 1600s, when a British writer encouraged his fellow citizens to garden to protect themselves from hunger in the face of war. In the early 1900s, the term was embraced in the United States at the end of WWI, when "liberty" or "war gardens" became "victory gardens" after we won the conflict. A couple of decades later found millions of Americans--including children and teens--gardening during the Second World War. Because this was long before YouTube.com and Twitter helped spread ideas, government agencies encouraged gardening (together with recycling, fuel conservation, composting and canning) through colorful poster campaigns. Note that it was at this point--the mid-century mark--that the "victory garden" phrase took deep root in American culture. Later in the twentieth century, PBS started a popular, long-running show called "The Victory Garden," which is still on television.
Today, whether they garden out of need or simply to be good environmental stewards, many young people are rediscovering that fresh food--be it veggies or eggs--simply taste better. That's a fact that Mrs. Obama has decided to emphasize in connecting her First Garden at the White House with her new Let's Move initiative, designed to promote healthy lifestyles for young people.
With spring on the horizon in many parts of the country, now is a great time to start thinking about planting a garden at your house. If this is your first time to raise vegetables, you've got all kinds of options. If you live in an apartment, you can grow tomatoes in pots or hanging planters on your patio. Or, if you've got a bit more space at home or in a community garden plot, you can plant a pizza garden (oregano, tomatoes, basil, onions, and garlic), a Peter Rabbit-themed garden (mint, parsley, thyme, radishes and lettuce) to delight your younger siblings, or even a New Orleans Saints-themed garden (okra, tomatoes, peppers, squash, scallions). The possibilities are endless and limited only by your imagination and creativity. (And, yes, chickens can be a part of your overall plan! The manure makes wonderful organic fertilizer.)
Whichever option you choose for your garden--and whatever you choose to call it (be it kitchen garden, potager, dinner garden, victory garden), my best advice is for you to start small and let your garden grow as you develop and hone skills over time. Gardening is a life skill, which means you won't learn everything overnight. Keeping a calendar, blog or notebook of your progress is a marvelous learning tool, something that you can refer back to year after year to chart your progress and note lessons you've learned about your particular garden. I also suggest that you work with your family to identify successful gardeners in your neighborhood who can tell you which plants and plant varieties will grow best where you live. Farmers at your weekly market (if you're lucky enough to have one!) can be helpful. Your local county extension office can be a big help, too.
Finally, if you're interested in learning more about the role of victory gardens in WWII, I'd recommend that you locate a copy of Lee Kochendorfer's book, "The Victory Garden" (Yearling, 2003). In it, the author tells an engaging fictional story about an 11 year-old girl from Kansas who grows, you guessed it, a victory garden of her own.
2/21/10
Sign this petition to have a garden outside City Hall in NYC!
Plans for Real Growth at City Hall By KIM SEVERSON, NYTimes
A garden on the White House lawn is one thing, but organic vegetables growing outside New York’s City Hall? That could be a much tougher sell.
Still, the people behind a new effort are undaunted.
“The hope is that a vegetable garden can be planted in front of City Hall in time for a nice tomato harvest this summer,” said Daniel Bowman Simon, who is organizing a petition drive to hand over to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
The petition says: “This garden will represent New Yorkers’ commitment to education, public service, healthy eating, and environmental stewardship. This garden will be tended by NYC public school students, in collaboration with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and our region’s talented gardeners and farmers. The harvest will be donated to a nearby food pantry to feed the hungry.”
It might seem that Mr. Simon is just another sustainable food fan with a dream, but he has a track record. Almost as soon as Barack Obama was elected president, Mr. Simon began a petition to have an organic garden planted on the White House lawn. About 15,000 people signed it, including several well-known chefs.
Of course, the first lady planted a garden for lots of reasons, but the petition probably didn’t hurt the cause. And now Mr. Simon, a graduate of New York University who is working on a masters in urban planning, believes he can lead a similar effort in his hometown.
“New York City likes to be ahead of the curve, but following the first lady’s good example would suit New York just fine,” he said. And he says he thinks it fits in nicely with Mrs. Obama’s recent anti-obesity campaign called Let’s Move.
Several other cities, including Baltimore; Milwaukee; and Portland, Ore., have put various kinds of vegetables gardens in front of their city halls. In New York, the idea is to plant raised beds in the paved area right in front of City Hall that is kept empty largely for security purposes. The area is between the City Council parking lot and the western steps of City Hall.
“We’re just asking that a tiny little slice of concrete be turned into a bountiful, beautiful symbol of what is right in this city and the world,” Mr. Simon said.
The timing might actually be good, in terms of political support.
The Manhattan borough president, Scott M. Stringer, just released “FoodNYC: A Blueprint for a Sustainable Food System.” The report, developed from a gathering of experts in agriculture, nutrition and environmental sciences held in December, was put together with the help of the nonprofit organization Just Food.
It lists a wide range of goals, from reducing plastic bottles and food waste to mandating a food curriculum for public schoolchildren and offering meatless Mondays in school cafeterias.
The document also makes a case for improving local food systems and supporting urban agriculture. And what could be more local and more urban than a garden at New York City Hall?
New Research Reveals Why Factory Farms Have Become Superbug Factories–and Why Worse is yet to Come
from Politics of the Plate
Posted by Barry on February 19, 2010
Several scientific examinations of pork and poultry operations in this country have shown that anti-microbial-resistant “superbugs” such as flesh-eating methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and certain tough-to-kill strains of E. coli are showing up, not only in farm animals, but in the humans who tend them—and even in members of their families who don’t work on the farms.
Now, a group of researchers at Boston University has discovered a mechanism that causes these superbugs to develop. It could mean that the problem with antibiotic-resistant bacteria is even worse than previously imagined. Their results are reported in the current issue of the journal Molecular Cell.
2/20/10
Guest Blog Post from - my friend @sarahnow Sarah Newman
How to be a Cool Kid
I recently returned from a conference in Northern California sponsored by a group called Teens Turning Green. I was a bit apprehensive to attend because I wondered what I could say to teens who probably view me as an older person who isn’t in touch with their generation. Upon entering the conference though, I immediately felt at home. These kids were much the way I was when I was there age. They were activists, questioners and committed to making lifestyle changes for the health of our planet. While I might have been a bit intense, serious and not a “cool kid” when I was a teen, I saw myself in so many of these teens. And, what was even better is that times seemed to have changed because they were also cool!
So many things that were still rather “fringe” elements when I was a kid are commonplace now. It takes thousands -perhaps millions- of people, to push issues so that they are eventually accepted by the broader public. It’s hard to be the person who challenges the status quo, who lives a bit differently and questions the actions of our collective, but it’s also important. Without people’s commitment to living out their beliefs and values, we would not be able to improve our society.
One behavior that I adopted when I was pretty young was becoming a vegetarian. I don’t know exactly how old I was but I think I was about 10. It was a gradual process; I was finally a full vegetarian by about eighth grade after I forsake tuna fish. I didn’t have any other friends (aside from my mom) who were vegetarians at the time but it felt like the right thing for me to do. I realized that I didn’t want to eat animals anymore and I haven’t looked back (25 years later!). Even today, people question my being a vegetarian despite it being pretty commonplace now.
I’m still challenging myself. I only eat eggs that I buy at my farmers market. I’ve tried to be vegan but that didn’t work out. I sometimes think about going vegan again but also try to just limit my dairy consumption to reputable companies with humane animal practices (there aren’t many).
I’m inspired by young people today, like Orren, who are boldly embracing sustainble food practices and helping to make them mainstream. These kids are mentors to their generation and mine. It requires devotion and self-confidence. I know growing up, especially the high school years, can be hard. But, practicing what you believe in, despite all of the possible social norms you might be breaking, is the coolest thing you can do.
Sarah Newman
I recently returned from a conference in Northern California sponsored by a group called Teens Turning Green. I was a bit apprehensive to attend because I wondered what I could say to teens who probably view me as an older person who isn’t in touch with their generation. Upon entering the conference though, I immediately felt at home. These kids were much the way I was when I was there age. They were activists, questioners and committed to making lifestyle changes for the health of our planet. While I might have been a bit intense, serious and not a “cool kid” when I was a teen, I saw myself in so many of these teens. And, what was even better is that times seemed to have changed because they were also cool!
So many things that were still rather “fringe” elements when I was a kid are commonplace now. It takes thousands -perhaps millions- of people, to push issues so that they are eventually accepted by the broader public. It’s hard to be the person who challenges the status quo, who lives a bit differently and questions the actions of our collective, but it’s also important. Without people’s commitment to living out their beliefs and values, we would not be able to improve our society.
One behavior that I adopted when I was pretty young was becoming a vegetarian. I don’t know exactly how old I was but I think I was about 10. It was a gradual process; I was finally a full vegetarian by about eighth grade after I forsake tuna fish. I didn’t have any other friends (aside from my mom) who were vegetarians at the time but it felt like the right thing for me to do. I realized that I didn’t want to eat animals anymore and I haven’t looked back (25 years later!). Even today, people question my being a vegetarian despite it being pretty commonplace now.
I’m still challenging myself. I only eat eggs that I buy at my farmers market. I’ve tried to be vegan but that didn’t work out. I sometimes think about going vegan again but also try to just limit my dairy consumption to reputable companies with humane animal practices (there aren’t many).
I’m inspired by young people today, like Orren, who are boldly embracing sustainble food practices and helping to make them mainstream. These kids are mentors to their generation and mine. It requires devotion and self-confidence. I know growing up, especially the high school years, can be hard. But, practicing what you believe in, despite all of the possible social norms you might be breaking, is the coolest thing you can do.
Sarah Newman
2/17/10
The White House needs Happy Chickens #HCWH10
http://301.to/hhb
Please feel free to pass along this petition to all of your friends [:^
CLICK HERE to sign the petition
Please feel free to pass along this petition to all of your friends [:^
CLICK HERE to sign the petition
My new, reviesed letter to the WH - thx for all the edit suggestions!
Dear President Obama, Mrs. Obama, Sasha, Malia, Chef Comerford and Chef Kaas,
Hello, my name is Orren Fox. I live north of Boston in Massachusetts's's smallest city. It is an awesome place where the Merrimac River and the Atlantic Ocean come together. Oh! I think President Washington often visited Newburyport and maybe even went bowling in the basement of The Dalton House on State Street. Really. We have a little downtown, a beautiful beach, and some ocean cooled farmland. In fact one farm was founded in 1683! I have met with some of our local farmers to understand their methods and I often take my most social birds to our farmer's market, so that I can introduce these cool birds to more people. I think farmers are awesome, actually one of my hero's besides Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics is Will Allen. I know he was at the White House last week to help with Let's Move. He is great isn't he! Congratulations.
I first became interested in chickens when I was in fifth grade. I think I just woke up one day and loved chickens. A little different, I know. Well, in fifth grade at my school we have to prepare a year long research project. Not surprisingly mine was on chickens. I find them fascinating animals and have over the last 4 years have learned so much. When I first started raising chickens I kept an online journal. That journal has now evolved to a blog. My blog is - happychickenslayhealthyeggs.blogspot.com. I have so much to learn, I have made mistakes, but I am doing my best and I would be happy to share what I know. Oh, by the way I am also going to be raising bees starting this spring. Bee School starts in about two weeks.
I am so happy that you have a White House garden and White House bees. It is really inspiring. One thing though. You are missing something: happy chickens.
I believe that adding a small chicken coop to the White House garden would provide you and your chefs with tasty, nutritious eggs, and I am sure all of you would love the hens. Aside from super tasty eggs, the hens could help "weed" and fertilize your garden and hoop houses. I let a few of my hens into the garden and they like to eat the weeds and sometimes the pear tomatoes... It is really fun to listen to them march around the garden while I am working. Actually they are all really hilarious. I have one hen, Paprika, who is The Boss. I do whatever she says. They all have very diverse, interesting and individual personalities. I have some shy chickens, some bossy ones and one very protective rooster.
For the White House garden I would recommend about a dozen hens. If all goes well, most days you'd go out to the coop and have a dozen eggs! Collecting the eggs is awesome. I actually think it is sort of like treasure hunting. Somehow, despite the fact that I have had hens for 4 years now, I still find collecting the eggs really exciting. A few of my hens lay blue eggs. Yup, blue. Those hens are called Americaunas (also a similar breed you may have heard of are Arucaunas). Obviously there are many interesting breeds to consider for the White House garden. I would choose one heritage breed and focus on that one breed - I suggest Buff Orpingtons. Orpingtons first came to the United States in 1890, they lay large brown eggs, are very mellow, quite durable and very beautiful. While I didn't know to do this when I was starting out, I have learned that this is a good thing to do. The reason is, each breed is a little different and may have different requirements. It is good to become an expert at one breed. Once you are comfortable raising hens you might consider branching out and adding a few fancies.
There are many great fancy breeds such as Polishes, Hamburgs, Cochins, Sultans, Sumatras, Silkies, Modern Games and many more. Those are better when acquired after the farmer has had chickens, because by limiting the number of breeds one can learn the specific needs of each breed. I actually think it is very respectful to just have one breed. Heritage breeds are breeds that have been around forever. These breeds are all reflected in The Standard of Perfection, the American Poultry Association's book of pure breeds, - Many Heritage breeds are actually very rare, so it is worthwhile to try and help these breeds.
There are many details about keeping chickens that I would be happy to discuss with you - the coop, the food, perching, dust bathing, health, etc. There are many people who know a lot more than I do, so we can ask them for some advice, too. I wish I knew everything, but I don't. What I do know is that eggs from happy chickens will make you happy, the chefs happy, your garden happy, and honestly, me too. I think when the chickens are happy, their eggs must be healthier (http://www.gourmet.com/foodpolitics/2009/04/egg-prices)
(There is a bit of confusion currently as to whether chickens are legal in DC, however, officials in the Mayor's office say there is currently no law prohibiting raising chickens within city limits if residents follow guidelines on proper animal care and shelter. Washington, D.C. Section 902 of the Animal Control Code requires hens to be 50 ft. from any residence.)
Thank you for reading this letter, I sure hope you will consider this. It is bound to make the White House organic garden very happy.
Sincerely,
Orren Fox
@happychickens
@happyhoneybees
Hello, my name is Orren Fox. I live north of Boston in Massachusetts's's smallest city. It is an awesome place where the Merrimac River and the Atlantic Ocean come together. Oh! I think President Washington often visited Newburyport and maybe even went bowling in the basement of The Dalton House on State Street. Really. We have a little downtown, a beautiful beach, and some ocean cooled farmland. In fact one farm was founded in 1683! I have met with some of our local farmers to understand their methods and I often take my most social birds to our farmer's market, so that I can introduce these cool birds to more people. I think farmers are awesome, actually one of my hero's besides Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics is Will Allen. I know he was at the White House last week to help with Let's Move. He is great isn't he! Congratulations.
I first became interested in chickens when I was in fifth grade. I think I just woke up one day and loved chickens. A little different, I know. Well, in fifth grade at my school we have to prepare a year long research project. Not surprisingly mine was on chickens. I find them fascinating animals and have over the last 4 years have learned so much. When I first started raising chickens I kept an online journal. That journal has now evolved to a blog. My blog is - happychickenslayhealthyeggs.blogspot.com. I have so much to learn, I have made mistakes, but I am doing my best and I would be happy to share what I know. Oh, by the way I am also going to be raising bees starting this spring. Bee School starts in about two weeks.
I am so happy that you have a White House garden and White House bees. It is really inspiring. One thing though. You are missing something: happy chickens.
I believe that adding a small chicken coop to the White House garden would provide you and your chefs with tasty, nutritious eggs, and I am sure all of you would love the hens. Aside from super tasty eggs, the hens could help "weed" and fertilize your garden and hoop houses. I let a few of my hens into the garden and they like to eat the weeds and sometimes the pear tomatoes... It is really fun to listen to them march around the garden while I am working. Actually they are all really hilarious. I have one hen, Paprika, who is The Boss. I do whatever she says. They all have very diverse, interesting and individual personalities. I have some shy chickens, some bossy ones and one very protective rooster.
For the White House garden I would recommend about a dozen hens. If all goes well, most days you'd go out to the coop and have a dozen eggs! Collecting the eggs is awesome. I actually think it is sort of like treasure hunting. Somehow, despite the fact that I have had hens for 4 years now, I still find collecting the eggs really exciting. A few of my hens lay blue eggs. Yup, blue. Those hens are called Americaunas (also a similar breed you may have heard of are Arucaunas). Obviously there are many interesting breeds to consider for the White House garden. I would choose one heritage breed and focus on that one breed - I suggest Buff Orpingtons. Orpingtons first came to the United States in 1890, they lay large brown eggs, are very mellow, quite durable and very beautiful. While I didn't know to do this when I was starting out, I have learned that this is a good thing to do. The reason is, each breed is a little different and may have different requirements. It is good to become an expert at one breed. Once you are comfortable raising hens you might consider branching out and adding a few fancies.
There are many great fancy breeds such as Polishes, Hamburgs, Cochins, Sultans, Sumatras, Silkies, Modern Games and many more. Those are better when acquired after the farmer has had chickens, because by limiting the number of breeds one can learn the specific needs of each breed. I actually think it is very respectful to just have one breed. Heritage breeds are breeds that have been around forever. These breeds are all reflected in The Standard of Perfection, the American Poultry Association's book of pure breeds, - Many Heritage breeds are actually very rare, so it is worthwhile to try and help these breeds.
There are many details about keeping chickens that I would be happy to discuss with you - the coop, the food, perching, dust bathing, health, etc. There are many people who know a lot more than I do, so we can ask them for some advice, too. I wish I knew everything, but I don't. What I do know is that eggs from happy chickens will make you happy, the chefs happy, your garden happy, and honestly, me too. I think when the chickens are happy, their eggs must be healthier (http://www.gourmet.com/foodpolitics/2009/04/egg-prices)
(There is a bit of confusion currently as to whether chickens are legal in DC, however, officials in the Mayor's office say there is currently no law prohibiting raising chickens within city limits if residents follow guidelines on proper animal care and shelter. Washington, D.C. Section 902 of the Animal Control Code requires hens to be 50 ft. from any residence.)
Thank you for reading this letter, I sure hope you will consider this. It is bound to make the White House organic garden very happy.
Sincerely,
Orren Fox
@happychickens
@happyhoneybees
2/16/10
How Gass-Fed Beef Could Save the Planet - Time
Jason Grow for TIME
"On a farm in coastal Maine, a barn is going up. Right now it's little more than a concrete slab and some wooden beams, but when it's finished, the barn will provide winter shelter for up to six cows and a few head of sheep. None of this would be remarkable if it weren't for the fact that the people building the barn are two of the most highly regarded organic-vegetable farmers in the country: Eliot Coleman wrote the bible of organic farming, The New Organic Grower, and Barbara Damrosch is the Washington Post's gardening columnist. At a time when a growing number of environmental activists are calling for an end to eating meat, this veggie-centric power couple is beginning to raise it. "Why?" asks Coleman, tromping through the mud on his way toward a greenhouse bursting with December turnips. "Because I care about the fate of the planet."
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1953692,00.html#ixzz0fjjuBRsq
2/15/10
Open Letter to The White House Garden
I am so happy that you have a White House Garden and White House bees. It is really inspiring. One thing though. You are missing something. Happy chickens. I believe that adding a small chicken coop to the White House Garden would provide you and your chefs with tasty, nutritious eggs and I am sure all of you would love the hens. Aside from super tasty eggs, the hens could help "weed" and fertilize your garden and hoop houses. I let a few of my hens into the garden and they like to eat the weeds and it is really fun to listen to them march around the garden while I am working. Actually they are all really hysterical. I have one hen Paprika who is The Boss. I do whatever she says. They all have very diverse, interesting and different personalities. I have some shy chickens, some bossy and some very outgoing.
For the White House Garden I would recommend about a dozen hens. If all goes well most days you'd go out to the coop and have a dozen eggs! Collecting the eggs is awesome, I actually think it is sort of like treasure hunting. Somehow, despite the fact that I have had hens for 4 years now, I still find collecting the eggs really exciting. A few of my hens lay blue eggs. Yup, blue. They are called Americaunas (also Arucaunas). Obviously there are many interesting breeds to consider for the White House Garden. I would also choose one heritage breed hen and focus on that one breed - Orpingtons. While I didn't do that myself when starting out, I have learned that this is a good thing to do. If you do have your good egg laying hens you could then spice up your flock with a few fancies. This is what I have done in the past and it has worked out well because I still get very tasty eggs but whenever people come to see my birds there jaws always drop with amazement and are naturally more interested in chickens. There are many great fancy breeds such as Polishes, Hamburgs, Cochins, Sultans, Sumatras, Silkies, Modern Games and many more. Those are better when acquired after the farmer has had chickens. Heritage breeds are all reflected in The Standard of Perfection, the American Poultry Association's book of pure breeds, they are breeds that have been around forever. In fact, there are many Heritage breeds that are actually very rare, so it is worthwhile to try and help these breeds.
There are many details about keeping chickens that we can discuss later - the coop, the food, perching, dust bathing, health. There are many people who know a lot more than I do so we can ask them for some advice too. I wish I knew everything, but I don't. What I do know is that eggs from happy chickens will make you happy, the chefs happy, your garden happy, and honestly me too.
There is a bit of confusion currently whether chickens are legal in DC, however, officials in the mayor's office say there is currently no law prohibiting raising chickens within city limits if residents follow guidelines on proper animal care and shelter. Washington D.C. Section 902 of the Animal Control Code requires hens to be 50 ft. from any residence.
Thank you for reading this letter, I sure hope you will consider this. It is bound to make the White House Organic Garden very happy.
Sincerely,
Orren Fox
@happychickens
Eliot Coleman Presents the Story of the Winter Harvest
In this video, Eliot Coleman, author of the recently released The Winter Harvest Handbook: Year-Round Vegetable Production Using Deep Organic Techniques and Unheated Greenhouses, presents the story of the winter harvest. He speaks about how he came to become the nation’s leading four-season farmer and the shock of the industrial establishment when his all-organic cold-weather growing methods proved to be not only possible—but more productive than “traditional” (chemical) methods.
From ChelseaGreen.com
Low Hoops for Winter Crops - by Eliot Coleman (my new hero)
Illustration by KRISTIN HURLIN
As a farmer, I’m always looking for new ideas and simple, low-cost solutions to improve production and efficiency. I have never found any activity that cannot be improved (and then improved again) by a diligent process of critical evaluation. Long before my wife, Barbara Damrosch, and I came up with the design for our low tunnels (miniature greenhouse tunnels), we had already improved our greenhouses by making them moveable, first on skids and later on wheels. But innovation is a never-ending process. The ideal solution is always less expensive, simpler to build and less complicated to manage. We consider it pleasant mental exercise to refine all aspects of our agricultural production to the essentials.
For a harvest of mature onions in early summer to sell at our farm stand, we were interested in growing the fall-planted onion varieties listed in seed catalogs. ‘Olympic,’ an overwintering onion from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, has become our favorite variety. It only keeps in storage for a few months, but that’s no problem because they all sell by the time later onions are harvestable. Because the low temperatures here in Maine are too harsh for overwintered onions to survive, we needed to grow them with protection from the weather. We decided to grow them in one of our unheated moveable greenhouse rotations.
CLICK HERE to read entire article from Mother Earth News
2/14/10
Gristle
One of the best things that modern animal agriculture has going for it is that most people . . . haven’t a clue how animals are raised and processed.
PETER CHEEKE, PROFESOR OF ANIMAL AGRICULTURE, OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
"Where’s the beef? In the news, that’s where. More than ever, meat is making the headlines and growing numbers of people are becoming more informed and passionate about what they eat. The facts are compelling: contamination cases are on the rise, obesity has become pandemic in the United States, and the animal agriculture sector is responsible for more human-induced greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation sector. It’s no wonder that millions of people are thinking twice about meat."
PETER CHEEKE, PROFESOR OF ANIMAL AGRICULTURE, OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
"Where’s the beef? In the news, that’s where. More than ever, meat is making the headlines and growing numbers of people are becoming more informed and passionate about what they eat. The facts are compelling: contamination cases are on the rise, obesity has become pandemic in the United States, and the animal agriculture sector is responsible for more human-induced greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation sector. It’s no wonder that millions of people are thinking twice about meat."
Now we need Happy Chickens in the White House
I'm going to write / call and suggest the White House add Happy Chickens to the WH Organic Garden and WH Bees. I'm absolutely sure I am not the first to think of this...who else?
Also starting a hashtag on twitter. #HCWH10 (Happy Chickens White House 2010).
Step 1
Write Senator and Mrs. Kerry
Step 2
Write the President, Mrs. Obama and White House Chef Comeford
Step 3
Call the WH (yikes, a little intimidating)
Step 4 5 6 7 8...?
2/13/10
Guest Blog Post from - my friend @hyperlocavore Liz McLellan
You like pizza, right?
Here's a cool project for you and your buds and BFFs to take on this Spring - a pizza garden! There may be no more spaghetti trees left in the world but, you can grow a pizza...kind of!
There are a few things you guys need to know before starting a new garden, so let's start this right. Great gardens depend on gardeners who know what zone they live in and what kind of soil they have. We all live in different zones. A zone is about the kind of weather you have, how early fall frost comes and how late you might get a killing frost in spring. Where I live, it's not a good idea to plant until after Memorial Day. If you plant too early you may lose all your baby plants to a bad night of frost! That is a huge drag so figure this out before you start planning your pizza garden.
Find your hardiness zone then come back here...
OK got it? Write that down in your garden notebook! It will be important when you are finding seeds. Keeping a garden notebook is useful to you if you keep gardening. You can use it to remember what works best where you live. Now let's learn how to test your soil type. You can start seeds inside way before that though.
It's a good idea to get a jump on the season and have strong teenager plants who can handle the summer much better than the babies.
There are three main types of soil: clay, sand and loam. So go to the area in your yard where you want to plant your pizza garden. Dig down about 2 inches and grab a hand full of soil. Try to roll that hand full into a ball.
Here's a cool project for you and your buds and BFFs to take on this Spring - a pizza garden! There may be no more spaghetti trees left in the world but, you can grow a pizza...kind of!
There are a few things you guys need to know before starting a new garden, so let's start this right. Great gardens depend on gardeners who know what zone they live in and what kind of soil they have. We all live in different zones. A zone is about the kind of weather you have, how early fall frost comes and how late you might get a killing frost in spring. Where I live, it's not a good idea to plant until after Memorial Day. If you plant too early you may lose all your baby plants to a bad night of frost! That is a huge drag so figure this out before you start planning your pizza garden.
Find your hardiness zone then come back here...
OK got it? Write that down in your garden notebook! It will be important when you are finding seeds. Keeping a garden notebook is useful to you if you keep gardening. You can use it to remember what works best where you live. Now let's learn how to test your soil type. You can start seeds inside way before that though.
It's a good idea to get a jump on the season and have strong teenager plants who can handle the summer much better than the babies.
There are three main types of soil: clay, sand and loam. So go to the area in your yard where you want to plant your pizza garden. Dig down about 2 inches and grab a hand full of soil. Try to roll that hand full into a ball.
· If you have sandy soil you won't be able to form a ball at all, it will just fall apart.
· If you can make a ball about the size of a big grape you have clay soil.
· If your ball holds together a bit but, is kind of crumbly and comes apart when you stop squeezing it's loam soil.
Here's a way to fix most soil types - but this fix takes months so you need to plan in advance. Sometimes you need to add a little bit of this or a little bit of that to make the soil ready for planting. If you don't have a lot of time do some research on sustainable and organic methods to correct your soil type. OK, there's no such thing as a pepperoni bush and most of you don't have your own cow to milk to get your mozzerella. But you can grow most of the veggies that make it taste so crazy good! So what do you need to grow in a pizza garden?
Let's make a list:
· the alliums: onion and garlic
· herbs: parsley, oregano and basil
· bell peppers
· tomatoes
Sounds very doable! Garlic is important and onions as well, even if you don't like them on top, they make the sauce sweet. When you sauté onions they "caramelize" which is a fancy way of saying they become a sugar. When sugar is heated up but not burned it turns to "caramel," which is what those chewy candies actually are - cooked sugar!
Onions and garlic are the more complicated part of the garden. Usually people plant most onion and garlic "sets" in the fall of the previous year, so it's a little late for 2010. Mushrooms are a whole other project. NEVER pick them from your yard. They can be poisonous! Here are some onions you can grow from seed in some zones: Italian Red Onions (Flat of Italy) or Ringmaster Onions (Great for onion rings too!)
Plant them about four feet or more from your tomatoes and herbs. For now you might want to just pick up garlic at the store, unless your parents already know how to grow it. For next year, make a note you will want to find a good seller for garlic "sets," and plant them in October.
You might want to find a organic seed grower that is close to you.
Try Local Harvest for seed sellers near your zip code!
Most of the links for seeds here are from Botanical Interest.
So where does all that red sauce come from?
The lycopene in tomatoes makes them red, and it's also really good for you. It's the same stuff that makes carrots orange, and watermelons pink. But it's not in cherries. It helps your cells repair themselves and keeps your eyes strong.
Growing tomatoes is pretty easy and they taste SO much better than the ones you get at the store. There are three types of tomatoes: slicing tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and paste tomatoes. Paste tomatoes are the kind you use to make thick yummy spaghetti and pizza sauce.
So here are the top paste tomatoes. San Marzanos are from Italy home of spaghetti and pizza! Amish Paste tomatoes will also work. If you can't find either of those, look for a "paste" type tomato that grows in your hardiness zone.
OK onto the herbs, herbs are a big part of making pizza so tasty. You'll want to grow oregano, parsley and basil. The best oregano for pizza is "True Greek Oregano." It's a perennial which means it comes back every year if you live in zones 4-9.
Basil is an awesome annual. Annuals need to be planted with new seed every year. You can use it in the sauce or on top of the pizza in big whole leafs. A classic real Italian style pizza is just mozzarella, big basil leaves, some great fresh mozzarella, slices or small cherry tomatoes and a little olive oil. A green pizza sauce called "pesto" is made with tons of fresh basil a little olive oil and a cup or so of roasted pine nuts. We grow a lot of basil every year and freeze tons of basil pesto sauce. Just put a ton of basil and a little olive oil in a blender or food processor and blend it up, then put it in small containers in the freezer. Tastes like summer in the middle of winter! YUM!
There are a ton of basil types to grow but, for pizza, you really want one of these types: Genovese or Italian Leaf Basil. Growing tomatoes and basil close together is a classic "companion planting" combo. Basil and tomatoes kind of love each other. Maybe it's a just a serious crush. Who knows really? They are happiest when they are hanging out. Folks see them together all the time! Plant three basil plants for every one tomato plant.
Don't tell basil but, parsley likes tomatoes too! You can plant this in between to your tomato plants, as well. We just hope it's doesn't make basil jealous! There are a few kinds of parsley. One kind usually ends up on the side of the plate to make it pretty and the other kind is the stuff that tastes so good. Parsley also is a good breathe freshener so if ever Uncle "Bad Breath" Bob needs a bit of something to make their breath sweeter, you can sneak him a sprig of parsley without telling them "Hey Dude, you really need a breath mint." - because that's pretty rude.
Bell Peppers are a controversial topic. Some kids love em, some kids hate em. They are easy to grow and love a hot climate. Fire roasted red bell peppers are to delish on pizza. The peppers caramelize like the onions and garlic do and become very sweet! Try that technique ONLY with your parents close by.
If you live in a hot place by the sea you may be able to grow an olive tree and make your own olive oil. That's kind of a long time to wait for pizza though!
Here are some more links to help get you growing!
Seed List (Follow link then scroll down - seeds are low on these pages)
San Marzanos Tomato
Amish Paste
Tomato Cherry Rainbow Mix Seed
Oregano True Greek Seed
Genovese and Italian Leaf Basil
Italian Flat Parsley
Italian Red Onions
Ringmaster Onions
More Helpful Links
Pizza Crust Making Video
Pizza Crust Recipes
Pizza Sauce Recipes
Pizza Stone for the Oven Method
Build a Pizza Oven
No yard? No problem.
Visit hyperlocavore.com a yard sharing community. We work to hook neighbors and friends up in yard sharing groups - makes gardening more fun and less expensive!
We're here to help you get going. Join us. It's free. Then send an invite out to your friends (with your parents permission of course!) on the site and set up a pizza garden group! You can even post blogs, pictures and videos to show off your pizza garden project!
Happy Digging!
Liz McLellan
hyperlocavore.com a yard sharing community because everyone love a homegrown tomato!
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