Changing of the guard in the Grand Plaza and surrounds. Lots of color and lively energy!
Quito Ecuador
Changing of the guard in the Grand Plaza and surrounds. Lots of color and lively energy!
farmgirl in Ecuador
Wahoooo! Farmgirl is in Ecuador. So, what does that mean? Well, we arrived last night for a restful stay in our hotel, the JW Marriott. Today, after breakfast we took off for a city tour of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. We saw several churches and much of the city. One of the churches had 7 tons of gold in it! It was pretty amazing. We saw the changing of the guard at the presidential house. People watching was amazing - the colors, the styles, the buildings. So much eye candy.
As for food and organic agriculture, there were signs of growth everywhere. Several times we saw chocolate bars, restaurants, cafes all advertising for USDA or organic food. The movement is growing.
Tomorrow we head to Banos and Luna Runtun. I am most psyched to see more of this beautiful country.
In the high country they grow mostly potatoes and corn. The hills are very steep but these products grow relatively easily.
One of my favorite products was Coca Tea - designed for all sorts of inflictions. It has a gentle flavor and all sorts of benefits.
Pork is big here and so are empanadas. The food is wonderful and so are the people. Everyone had a smile and is very gracious and helpful.
Although much of my notes are not organic or food in nature, the colors and love in this country are unmatched.
I am looking forward to reaching Banos, Luna Runtun, Cuenca and then Galapagos. Luna Runtun has an organic farm - YUM!
Actually, all of the food has been great. Today we had Locro sopa - potato soup with cheese and avocado. Yum again.
OK - so the big thing in Luna Runtun is that we might see a tapir. OMG. a tapir. wowza. maybe some monkeys and more. We might even see a spectacled bear. That would be awesome. Its' all pretty incredible.
I'll share more - getting ready to leave the free wireless.
As for food and organic agriculture, there were signs of growth everywhere. Several times we saw chocolate bars, restaurants, cafes all advertising for USDA or organic food. The movement is growing.
Tomorrow we head to Banos and Luna Runtun. I am most psyched to see more of this beautiful country.
In the high country they grow mostly potatoes and corn. The hills are very steep but these products grow relatively easily.
One of my favorite products was Coca Tea - designed for all sorts of inflictions. It has a gentle flavor and all sorts of benefits.
Pork is big here and so are empanadas. The food is wonderful and so are the people. Everyone had a smile and is very gracious and helpful.
Although much of my notes are not organic or food in nature, the colors and love in this country are unmatched.
I am looking forward to reaching Banos, Luna Runtun, Cuenca and then Galapagos. Luna Runtun has an organic farm - YUM!
Actually, all of the food has been great. Today we had Locro sopa - potato soup with cheese and avocado. Yum again.
OK - so the big thing in Luna Runtun is that we might see a tapir. OMG. a tapir. wowza. maybe some monkeys and more. We might even see a spectacled bear. That would be awesome. Its' all pretty incredible.
I'll share more - getting ready to leave the free wireless.
Victory against Hunger Awards
Check out the latest from Farm to School:
The National Farm to School Network is extremely honored to have the 2008 Victory Against Hunger (VAH) Award’s theme be Farm to School. Take advantage of this incredible opportunity to advocate for your program and be nominated for a VAH Award. It’s not about the money (even though every cent helps), it’s about raising awareness of a farm to school program to your Congressional representative for future supportive farm to school policy and press.
Get Nominated!
The nomination period is April 1st through June 6th, 2008 for organizations building innovative “farm to school” programs including anti-hunger and community food security groups, food banks and schools. Awards will be announced on July 1st.
Congressional offices send nomination letter to:
Victory Against Hunger, c/o Congressional Hunger Center
Hall of the States Building
400 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite G-100
Washington, DC 20001
CLICK HERE
Cal Poly CSA - a model of agricultural success
Cal Poly does it again. If you haven't seen it yet check out the PBS series with Huell Howser click here (and scroll down a bit) to buy the video California's Green #122 - ORGANIC FARM
"Huell's visits Cal Poly to see their student-run, certified organic farm which consists of approximately 11 acres of land."
www.calpoly.edu/~sarc/farm.htm
805-756-6139
to Purchase this Video
or call 1-800-266-5727.
to Purchase this DVD
or call 1-800-266-5727.
click here to check out Cal Poly's organic farm.
The Cal Poly Organic Farm (CPOF) provides students and the community a place to experience and explore organic and sustainable farming and gardening techniques. Furthermore, it serves as a classroom and laboratory to several Cal Poly courses and research programs. Faculty, staff and students jointly manage and steward the farm. The farm is also supported by grants, community members, the Horticulture and Crop Science Department and the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. CLICK here for more
These kids will inspire you to better health.
Rock on!
Blog Entry dated 4/22/08 5:01 PM
Interesting article in the Los Angeles Times about Food's effect on the atmosphere. Did you know that a cow belches about 145 pounds of methane per year? This isn't new but it's eye-opening. A reminder of what our food purchases mean to our future. Written by Kenneth R. Weiss, I have yet to find an online edition. The gist is about the total energy used to produce our food, such as one hamburger patty. I know that folks will find fault but I enjoy the simplicity of it. The article reminds us of a basic concept forgotten these past couple of generations, but food costs us something - we can either pay the extra 25 cents to our local farmers or save 25 cents and apologize to our grandchildren for the distruction of our environment.
Alma Rosa tops wine and organic industries
on my last trip wine tasting to the Santa Ynez valley I fell in love with Alma Rosa winery. Their wines were a true experience of delicacy for even the most hardened taster. Check them out: http://www.almarosawinery.com/club.html
Alma Rosa Winery - Keep up the great work!
Alma Rosa Winery - Keep up the great work!
Blog Entry dated 4/18/08 11:22 AM
Check out what our friend Bill sent us:
Tomatomania is here!
This is a website for true tomato lovers.
TomatoMania Schedule of events
Tomato seedlings - available now
Check it out!
Things considered
Farmgirl here, one of them at least. 2008 has already topped previous years but is moving by in a whirlwind. I can barely focus. My multiple sclerosis (MS) has been subdued BIG time. I attribute this to a variety of factors, one of which is nutrition. How can I talk about my improving health and not mention ShenTrition. You know me - no frills. I can barely take vitamins except if they are chewables. So what do I do? get hooked on a green drink called ShenTrition. I've taken it faithfully since Oct. 22, 2007. An odd thing to remember but I guess if you remember when you got sick why is it so odd to remember when you started to heal?
"The healthy snack food for stress". Someone called it that the other day. And I agree. I drink it every morning. I'm one of those that can live off coffee and run through the morning. I also get very sick. I drink coffee on occassion, but often it's herbal tea. Feeling the affects of ShenTrition remind me that my health is worth some changes.
Nutrition must be at the forefront of my life - I depend on it. I have become aware of what I'm ingesting and digesting. My body has changed. My illness is at bay. Nutrition and a little help from ShenTrition have helped me reach a new level in life.
With that in mind, I leave 4/27 for Ecuador and Galapagos. I will be checking out the agriculture and nutrition while I'm there and report back with my findings.
Keep me posted on your activities!
Taxes and the Equator
So, taxes are over basically and the Equator is coming up. Ecuador, Galapagos, here we come! watch this spot...
Food program brings together schools, farmers
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald, Special for USA TODAY
ORANGE, Mass — As lunchtime winds down on a snowy March day at Fisher Hill School, second-grader Kayla Lafrennie is taking tiny bites to savor every morsel of her dessert: a crisp apple from a nearby farm.
"They're sweeter than the ones you get at the grocery store — and no bruises," Kayla says CLICK HERE for MORE
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