Bill's Tomatoes - So Cal Style

Last year, Chris and I grew 34 tomato plants. One of 'em never fruited, but 33 did, producing around 11,000 tomatoes. No joke.

Chris (my wife) thought this too much and wanted around 25 or so this year.

So, our maid of honor, Karin, grew some from seed. Only about a half dozen made it. We had bought and planted several as well.

We volunteered at the Tomatomania event (http://www.tomatomania.com) earlier this month. As part of volunteering, both Chris and I got 16 tomato plants. Once we started planting them, Karin came back with another tomato seed batch!

As opposed to 25 or so, we've got 43 in the ground so far (though one or two may not make it) and we're going to plant at least five of Karin's latest batch.

One thing led to another led to another led to another...

If 11,000 sounded silly, that may be low compared to this year. We'll see.

The two documents are fairly, but not entirely, complete. I'll update them as time permits and when we plant the rest.

Bill Anderson

2008 Front Yard Tomatoes
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhmdr5w4_2gqh827hn&invite=nj9fdz

2008 Back Yard Tomatoes
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhmdr5w4_1fh78g9f3&invite=d97g47


Tomatoes - and what you need to know to grow them in Southern California:

http://socaltomatoes.blogspot.com/

Click Here

Bill's Tomatos

From Bill direct:

I've shared this item with you using Google Docs. To open it, just click the link below.

Note: There's no raw data in the spreadsheet as of yet.

2008 tomatoes
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pYG77XPs88cG4kZ8LSUL7Sw&t=468275552950923936&guest

Farmgirl will confirm, Bill knows how to grow tomatoes! Keep up the great work!

Center for Food & Justice UPDATE

Hello Farm to School Enthusiasts,
See the information below for a Victory Against Hunger Award for Farm to School programs,



TO: ALL FARM TO SCHOOL ENTHUSIASTS

FROM: THE CONGRESSIONAL HUNGER CENTER AND NATIONAL FARM TO SCHOOL NETWORK

RE: FUNDING FOR FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS

DEADLINE: JUNE 6TH and NO APPLICATION REQUIRED!


Farm to school programs are eligible for this year’s Congressional Hunger Center’s Victory Against Hunger Awards! If you know of a school nutrition program or organization, that incorporates locally grown, farm fresh foods into their meals, and/or offers hands-on nutrition and agriculture programs, they are eligible for this funding. (Examples of such programs include children visiting farms, involvement in a school garden or farmer-in-the-classroom.) Please forward this e-mail to qualifying programs.

All we need is a two-page nomination letter from the Representative or Senator of the district or state where the program is located. Just follow the 3 easy steps listed below to qualify for this award.

Attached is a press release and two sample letters for your review. One can find information about the VAH Awards and our organization at www.hungercenter.org . If you would like more information on Farm to School at please visit www.farmtoschool.org

3 Easy Steps to Winning a Victory Against Hunger Award
Contact your local or Washington, DC office of the House or Senate member who represents your area and ask for the staff that handles nutrition, hunger, and/or agriculture issues. (This is a great relationship to start if you haven’t already!) To find your elected official, visit: www.congress.org and enter your zip code in the upper left corner.

2. Explain to the Congressional Office how the VAH awards program is a “win/win” situation in that members of
Congress get an opportunity to recognize (with a private sector donated cash award) the valuable work of one
of their constituent organizations. (Make sure that you give the Congressional office all the information it
needs to clearly demonstrate that your organization is effectively developing and/or implementing a Farm to
School program.) A member of Congress then simply submits a one or two page letter describing how your
organization has been engaged in a Farm to School effort.

3. Complete the letter by including the necessary contact details! Consideration is only given to nomination
letters which include the name, address, and telephone number of a contact person in either the local or
Washington, DC, Congressional office willing to accept the VAH award check.


Contact for more info: Ed Cooney or Angelina Pérez: Phone: (202) 547-7022; www.hungercenter.org

Feel free to contact Angelina Pérez for more information or any further questions at aperez@hungercenter.org .


-Moira Beery


Center for Food & Justice
Urban & Environmental Policy Institute
Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA
Ph. (323) 341-5099 | Fax (323) 258-2917
www.farmtoschool.org
www.uepi.oxy.edu

Galapagos Islands

Farmgirl survived Isla de Galapagos in great fare. Despite her extreme sensitivity to heat with her multiple sclerosis, her cooling vest from Arctic Heat worked wonders. She was able to get some good pictures and posted them here:

galapagos pictures


http://flickr.com/photos/41737155@N00/sets/72157605257525765/

ACRES - The voice of eco-agriculture

"When the soil is gone, men must go; and the process does not take long." -Theodore Roosevelt

Check out some of these new books distributed through ACRES:

Cancer, Nutrition and Healing by Jerry Brunnetti

Weeds - control wihtout poisons by Charles Wlaters

Foundations of Natural Farming by Harold Willis


And many other titles. Starting your first farm? Improving your current Farm? You will find the answers in one of the many books offered by ACRES.

Check it out! www.acresusa.com

organic food at Luna Runtun Ecuador

The food in Ecuador was exceptional. Our guides, Sofia Flores from Quito, driver, Freddy immediately took us to experience the flavors of their country. We arrived in Luna Runtun, the adventure spa and it was above expectations. They grow their own vegetable using natural, organic methods. Which fits the country and the folks you meet. They are natural and organic.

Our guides, Sofia Flores and Freddy, organized through Carmen at Luna Runtun near Banos, Ecuador, provided an excellent experience with their knowledge and personalities. We experienced the Pan American Highway through the farmland and high country happily landing in Cuenca safe and sound. It was May Day. Big stuff and lots of traffic.

Our digs were the Santa Lucia. An old governor's home turned hotel. Colonial and quaint - what I was hoping for on this trip. We watched daily as the food was being harvested and purchased at market. The doors open to the kitchens, pots in use. The Indians of the highlands brought color to the landscape with a brightness not seen in our natural dyes.

more to come...

Farmgirl in Galapagos

Farmgirl is wrapping up a week in Galapagos
Check out our daily reports - CLICK HERE