It's Thyme for an update on the Clifton Park Garden Plot

It's hard to believe that it has been six weeks since the last update.  The results of the garden have been amazing.  Since planting the garden, I have had the pleasure of visitors with expertise in gardening.  Alice, who now lives in the area but is from Africa came by to visit.  She was a wealth of knowledge.  It was truly grueling day, but I learned that I had to do a little more tilling and remove the many stones from the garden plot.  After two days of tilling by hand, I had decided to do some new school farming and leave all the stones in.  I am glad that Alice stopped by before I got my plants in the ground.  She is a wealth of experience and was a true mentor.  I am grateful.  We worked very hard that day and I can see that our work has paid off.

The farming story continues.  I planted 3 varieties of lettuce (butter crunch, romaine, and red leaf).  I also planted hot chili peppers, habanero peppers, jalapeno peppers, heirloom tomatoes, collards, cabbage, kale, broccoli, giant dinosaur kale, tatsoi, sage, oregano, basil, mint and pineapple mint.  Although I have been farming in containers for the past 4 years, I have never planted anything from seeds.  I decided to give it a try.  I planted swiss chard, beets, radishes, cherry tomatoes, green beans, carrots, summer squash and onions.  I was a little worried at first, but we had a lot of rain, and I can hardly believe my eyes, everything, with the exception of the carrots, onions and cherry tomatoes have grown very well.  Those should be out in the next month or so.  This past week, I added some new things including cucumbers, Japanese eggplant, zucchini, rosemary, more tomatoes, and I even scored an Abraham Lincoln Heirloom tomato plant from work.

The best part of gardening is giving.  When I harvested my lettuce I was able to give lettuce to 5 neighbors and 5 friends, so that they could enjoy a nice salad from my garden too.  I am really enjoying gardening!  

Visitors to the garden (below) - photo compliments of Harold E. McCray

April 29, 2012 (below)

 May 7, 2012 (below)

 May 25, 2012 (below)

Food for Thought (May 6 – 12)

Food and Health

The national hysteria over obesity has reached a crescendo this week, as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hosts the conference, "Weight of the Nation" in Washington, DC. If you couldn't make it, no worries, more fear-mongering is on the way in a four-part mini-series on HBO to air next week.  http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/05/why-i-am-not-attending-or-watching-weight-of-the-nation/

According to several different surveys and sources in North America and Western Europe, the following ten foods are generally considered to be the most healthy:  apples, almonds, blueberries, broccoli, oily fish, leafy green vegetables, sweet potatoes, wheat germ, avocadoes, and oatmeal.  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/245259.php

It is a common misconception that the majority of our salt intake is due to a heavy handed sprinkling of salt from the table salt shaker. In fact, processed foods and restaurant meals contribute to upwards of 75 percent of our total daily sodium intake.  http://www.supermarketguru.com/index.cfm/go/sg.viewArticle/articleId/1140

Five years after California started cracking down on junk food in school cafeterias, a new report shows that high school students there consume fewer calories and less fat and sugar at school than students in other states.  http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/bans-on-school-junk-food-pay-off-in-california/?ref=health

A new study has found that consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, plentiful in fish and nuts, is associated with lower blood levels of beta-amyloid protein. Amyloid plaques and tangles in the brain are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease and are known to increase the risk for mental decline; blood levels of the protein may reflect levels of its deposits in the brain.  http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/07/more-omega-3s-less-of-a-protein-tied-to-alzheimers/?ref=health

Food Safety

The Food and Drug Administration has stopped the shipment of fresh and frozen oysters, clams, mussels and scallops from Korea to the U.S. because many of these molluscan shellfish may be contaminated, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Health. The ban does not include canned shellfish. http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/05/fda-halts-shellfish-imports-from-korea/

While criticism of genetically modified foods has received widespread media attention in the past few years, consumers remain generally supportive of food biotechnology, according to an industry-funded survey released Thursday. The evaluation - conducted by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) - found that 38 percent of consumers have a somewhat or very favorable opinion towards plant biotechnology, up from 32 percent in 2010. A smaller 26 percent were neither favorable nor unfavorable, and 20 percent were either somewhat or very unfavorable.  http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/05/consumers-trust-food-biotechnology-food-safety-survey-finds/

Food Assistance

The U.S. House voted to cut food stamps, federal workers’ benefits and other domestic programs to avoid scheduled reductions in defense spending.  The chamber today passed, 218-199, a plan to cut about $310 billion in spending to replace automatic defense-spending reductions that lawmakers in both parties agree shouldn’t be allowed to take effect in January.  Democrats lined up against the measure, H.R. 5652, saying it would put too much of the deficit burden on the needy. The proposal goes to the Democratic-controlled Senate, where it is doomed to failure.  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-10/house-votes-to-cut-food-stamps-to-avoid-defense-reduction.html

The federal government is spending $4 million to help hook up farmers and low-income customers.  Currently, fewer than a quarter of the nation's roughly 7,100 farmers markets are set up to use the Electronic Benefit Transfer system, or food stamps. But Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary of agriculture, said she hopes these grants will bring another 4,000 of those outlets on line with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.  http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/farmers-markets-money-food-stamps-16308409

Farmers markets in Florida will soon be able to begin accepting food assistance cards, even if they lack telephone lines or electricity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday announced it was giving the state nearly $79,000 to help farmers markets purchase wireless equipment so they can handle purchases made with the electronic cards that have replaced food stamps. http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/12/2796035/fla-farmers-markets-to-take-food.html

Hot Pepper's Garden 2012

Strawberries and Kale

Well it's that time of year again - time to start a new garden.  A couple of weeks ago I went with Thyme to this great farmer's market in Baltimore and bought some little kale and collard plants. I went home and cleaned and prepped my raised garden box.  To my surprise last year's mint and strawberry plants came back double and the rosemary survived the winter that wasn't.  I planted my greens and today after being away for a week went out to check on them. The kale is growing and doing quite nicely.  I may even pinch some off before the week is out. My collards aren't looking too good, something is eating away at them.  And there are lots of strawberries that hopefully I'll get to nosh on before I leave for another week-long trip.

Food for Thought (Apr. 15 – Apr. 21)

Food and Health

…the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BCFN) is releasing a book, Eating Planet, highlighting the challenges facing today's food and agricultural system, as well as the myriad of benefits that reform could bring. As Earth Day approaches, it is important to appreciate the links between technology, culture, and agriculture, and how they can help alleviate hunger and poverty. Eating Planet will be downloadable for free on Earth Day, April 22, 2012 from the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition's website (http://www.barillacfn.com). http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/20/4429888/the-barilla-center-for-food-nutrition.html

A new paper which reviews the evidence from sleep restriction studies reveals that inadequate sleep is linked to obesity. The research, published in a special issue of the The American Journal of Human Biology, explores how lack of sleep can impact appetite regulation, impair glucose metabolism and increase blood pressure.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120417080350.htm

Food Safety

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin has less than two weeks to either stand with the 90 percent of his constituents who support a mandatory labeling bill for genetically engineered foods -- or cave in to Monsanto's threat to sue the state if legislators pass H.722.  http://www.naturalnews.com/035635_Vermont_Monsanto_GMO_labeling.html

The bottom line is — if you eat fresh lettuce, you're taking a small risk. An additional washing won't change the risk much, one way or the other.  http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/04/20/151034145/rewash-that-pre-washed-bag-of-lettuce-dont-bother-probably#more

Food Assistance

Forty-five million people in the United States received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits - more commonly known as food stamps, a 70 percent increase from 2007. The Congressional Budget Office declared this week that the number of people receiving the benefits would continue growing until 2014.  http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=45831

Despite its proven success, SNAP remains a consistent target at budget-cutting time. This latest assault by the House committee means two million people would be cut off from food stamps completely and millions more would have reduced benefits. Hundreds of thousands of children would lose free school meals on top of their SNAP benefits. These additional changes on top of already enacted cuts will increase child and family hunger.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marian-wright-edelman/snap-cutting-what-works_b_1441829.html

Food for Thought (Apr. 8 – Apr. 14)

Food and Health

Spring is here! It’s the time when farmers markets, green grocers and our local supermarkets experience an influx of spring fruits and vegetables.  Eating “seasonally” will allow you to diversify your diet; you may discover some fruits and vegetables that you love and didn’t even know existed! As well as offering some great flavors, spring vegetables are true nutritional stars.  http://www.supermarketguru.com/index.cfm/go/sg.viewArticle/articleId/2974

New study results indicate that where a child lives, including factors such as the neighborhood's walkability, proximity to higher quality parks, and access to healthy food, has an important effect on obesity rates. Researchers found that children living in neighborhoods with favorable neighborhood environment attributes had 59 percent lower odds of being obese.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120410163539.htm

Food Safety

Yellowfin tuna product is the likely source of the Salmonella Bareilly outbreak that has sickened 116 across 21 states and has been linked to sushi, health officials announced Friday evening. Cupertino, CA based Moon Marine USA Corporation is voluntarily recalling 58,828 pounds of its "Nakaochi Scrape" - tuna backmeat scraped off the bones of the fish and sold in a frozen, ground state - after investigators pinpointed the product as a common food source among outbreak victims. http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/04/yellowfin-tuna-product-implicated-in-salmonella-outbreak/

Cold food will have to be kept colder. Restaurant employees who have certain symptoms won’t be allowed to work. And cooks won’t touch ready-to-eat food with bare hands, but only with gloves, deli paper or tongs. These are just a few of the changes that will accompany North Carolina’s expected adoption of federal Food and Drug Administration guidelines that will replace a much-amended set of regulations dating from 1976, state and local officials said.  http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/04/08/1987616/north-carolina-food-safety-regulations.html

Food Assistance

“Hunger Hits Home,” a documentary that takes a first-hand look at the crisis of childhood hunger in America through the eyes of the parents, children, anti-hunger activists, educators and politicians on the frontlines of the battle, will air on the Food Network on Saturday, April 14, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern/7:00 p.m. Central.  http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Blog.aspx?id=17072&blogid=622

Despite a slew of news reports about the improved economy, Mark Esterbrook knows that's still not the reality for many county residents.  So the CEO of Community Action Program of Lancaster County wasn't surprised to learn that the number of households here receiving food stamps jumped 12.4 percent, from 22,398 in January 2011 to 25,185 in January 2012.  http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/620862_Food-stamp--food-bank-use-rocket-here.html

Yesterday, over 200 lunchroom workers gathered outside the Chicago Board of Education chanting, “We want to cook! We want to cook!” The rally was held to release our new report on frozen food in Chicago's schools. At the end, a delegation of workers attempted to deliver 1500 "Let's Cook!" petition signatures to Chicago school officials.  http://www.realfoodrealjobs.org/2012/04/chicago-lunch-workers-hit-the-streets-airwaves-for-real-food/

Clifton Park Garden Plot 2012

Well Spring has Sprung and it’s Thyme for gardening. I am beyond excited. After waiting 2 years, I have finally gotten a garden plot with Baltimore City Farms. The City Farms program began in 1978. Today there are seven City Farms providing 640 plots for urban gardeners. Each plot offers 150 square feet of gardening space and rents for $30 per year. All City Farms gardens have city water and hoses. Wood chips and leaf compost are also provided.

I will make frequent postings about the progress of my garden this year. I have been on a waiting list for a plot for the past two years. The park closest to my house has a seven year waiting list. Seven years, that is a long time! I am very persistent and I call every year and this year a plot opened up in Clifton Park. This is a 10 minute drive from my house, but it will be well worth it.

The farming story begins. I visit my plot and to say there is a lot of work needed is an understatement. There are weeds everywhere. But then I remember, I come from a family of sharecroppers and farmers. So armed with a rake, shovel, and hoe, I get to work. Now, this kind of work isn’t for the faint at heart. This is real work. These are the times I miss my dad the most. He would have enjoyed working in the garden with me. After 2 days, my garden begins to look really good. I am proud that I decided to put in sweat equity. I was tempted for a second to call Jim’s tilling service. But I resisted.

As always I have big plans. I plan to grow a little of everything. I have been very successful in my container garden in my backyard over the past 4 years. This is definitely an upgrade, land.  Although it is a small plot, I think I can grow just about anything in my 10 X 15 plot of earth.

I am posting pictures of the before and after of the weed removal and will post again shortly.  Notice the Spinach, there are 8 plants left over from the farmer from last year.  Now that is a bonus!  Just enough for a big spinach salad.  More to come…. Stay posted!

Before

After Day 1

After Day 2

Food for Thought (Apr. 1 – Apr. 7)

Food and Health

A new review of human brain imaging studies published by Cell Press in the journal Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism suggests that a major reason for the dramatic increase in obesity may be a heightened sensitivity to heavily advertised and easily accessible high-calorie foods. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120405131421.htm

Whilst pointing out that certain groups of the population have deficiencies, the CDC announced in a press release today, that in all, the US population has good levels of the main essential vitamins and minerals. Vitamin A & D as well as Folate and Iron got the green light in a report entitled "Second National Report on Biochemical Indicators of Diet and Nutrition". http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/243649.php

There are 8 foods saltier than potato chips: cereal, condiments, coffee drinks, tomato sauce, bread, canned vegetables, soups, and pretzels. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/04/salt-in-food_n_1398150.html?ref=food&ir=Food#s835519&title=Cereal

The best way for parents to reduce the amount of soft drinks their young children drink is to not serve it with meals, a new study suggests. The findings from researchers in Belgium showed that children from higher-income families drank less than half — about 42 percent — as much soda as children from lower-income families. However, the vast majority of the difference between the income groups could be explained by three parenting practices: not offering soda at mealtimes, not letting kids drink soda whenever they want, and not keeping soda in the house, according to the study. http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/05/11042419-3-ways-parents-can-reduce-kids-soda-intake?lite

Food Safety

Odwalla issued a nationwide allergy alert in the US and is recalling dairy-based chocolate beverages. The company warned that the beverage could cause ‘serious or life-threatening’ reactions in nut allergic consumers. http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Market/Severe-allergic-reactions-to-Odwalla-dairy-based-beverage-spark-mass-US-recall

Reusable grocery totes are a popular, eco-friendly choice to transport groceries, but only 15 percent of Americans regularly wash their bags. Most users are inadvertently creating a breeding zone for harmful bacteria, according to a new survey by the Home Food Safety program, a collaboration between the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) and ConAgra Foods. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120403135957.htm

One hundred cases of Salmonella Bareilly poisoning have been reported from 19 states and the District of Columbia while investigators still have "not conclusively identified a food source," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday. The CDC's earlier report, as well as an internal email circulated at the Food and Drug Administration, implicated sushi, sashimi or a raw dish such as ceviche as possible sources of the outbreak. The FDA email said spicy tuna roll sushi is highly suspect. http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/04/100-ill-in-sushi-suspected-salmonella-outbreak/

In a long-awaited decision, last week the Food and Drug Administration disappointed health advocates once again by allowing Bisphenol A or BPA, a known endocrine disruptor, to remain approved as a chemical additive in food containers such as plastic bottles and metal cans.While the agency says it's still studying the matter, a number of groups say the science is clear enough. http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/04/bpa-is-fdas-latest-gift-to-food-industry/

Food Assistance

Students get in more trouble toward the end of the month than at the beginning. New research suggests that’s especially true for students from families on food stamps, perhaps because life at home gets more stressful as benefits run out. Modifying the food-stamp program so that benefits are paid out twice, rather than once, a month could help eliminate these cycles. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-03/end-of-month-hunger-hurts-students-on-food-stamps.html

Over the past five years, the number of Larimer County households receiving food stamps through the Colorado Food Assistance Program more than doubled. In 2006, there were 57,105 households on food stamps, compared with 115,047 households in 2011. http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20345488/economic-woes-prompt-surge-use-larimer-county-loveland

Schools don’t serve breakfast and lunch on days they’re closed, so most of the elementary-age children in Southside’s spring break program this week eat bag lunches prepared by the city of Lansing, MI. In all, the city and its volunteers prepared and distributed 5,000 meals to neighborhood and community centers and public housing complexes across the city. And just like the school meals, these are free. http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20120405/NEWS01/304050035/Let-s-do-lunch-week-kids-eat-free-city-sites?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7C%7Cp

Philabundance provides a reliable source of food to 9 counties in the Delaware Valley, PA. They will receive $120,000 out of a $4.4M grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts to help Philadelphia’s elderly. http://www.philabundance.org/2012/04/04/pew-to-grant-4-4m-to-help-phila-s-elderly/