Long Beach Grows

Please vote for Long Beach Grows' Seeds of Change project to receive a 20k grant.

2014-04-06T13:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends of Long Beach Grows,

Please vote once a day as often as possible through April 21st, at this link.

Long Beach Grows has served the Long Beach community as a resource on all things urban ag in our city for >4 years. We are all volunteers-we receive no salaries or stipends to do what we do.

LBGROWS began Long Beach’s first community farm co-op, Unity Farm, to grow food together on shared land for a shared harvest—shared among the growers and others in the community, including homeless. We believe the local food movement should be about food for people, not for profit. We advocate for what we think is best, growing food locally—in a manner that fosters cooperation and sharing of resources—such as we accomplished at the original Unity Farm.

We will be relocating the farm co-op and ask for your daily vote so that we might get this grant, much needed financial assistance. A Seeds of Change grant will also help with our educational mission and with ours and Long Beach's first heirloom vegetable seed library, freely available and shared at workshops and community events.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED INTEREST AND SUPPORT OF LONG BEACH GROWS, INCLUDING YOUR DAILY VOTE IN THIS CONTEST.

Best wishes,
Donna Marykwas
Long Beach Grows
Growing a more sustainable future
Long Beach's urban agriculture resource hub for >4 years
562-912-3364

2013-11-24T20:15:00.001-08:00

Long Beach Grows' year end request.

Please donate to Long Beach Grows.

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving.

Please become a sustaining member of Long Beach Grows

2013-09-27T14:18:00.001-07:00

Long Beach Grows advocates for just and equitable food access that includes food security through urban agriculture. We have been a member of Catalyst Long Beach Network of Communities since the beginning of 2010.

LBGROWS' mission is to promote green, healthy, environmentally sustainable urban agriculture in Long Beach, CA, and other activities that educate, enhance, and grow our communities by ensuring and safeguarding local food security.

Our vision is a city that feeds itself. Long Beach is far from this. Quality real food is accessible primarily to the wealthy. This has to change.

We advocate for systemic change, change in policy so people can grow their own food at home including eggs and milk, and change in the community garden paradigm to shift from the I to the we cooperate mindset. The city as a whole needs more cooperation from city and private owners of vacant land so it can be put to good use producing quality food.

For two years, our farm co-op Unity Farm was the first community garden of its kind in Long Beach, where we grow food together on shared land for a shared harvest. We teach people how to achieve personal food security, providing the education and hands-on opportunities for people to grow their own.

Because the Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach has decided they want to use the land we were on for their own purposes (a parking lot), we are currently looking for a new location within Long Beach to relocate our community farm co-op. If you know any property owner who will support our mission and vision by allowing us to use their land, please put them in touch with us. (562-912-3364; info@longbeachgrows.org)

Long Beach Grows also offers the largest heirloom, GMO-free seed library in LA county. Although we don't have a brick-and-mortar location to make it available 24-7, we will try to make it available to the public as often as possible.

Please become a Sustaining Member or a Supporting Member by contributing to the cause so that we can continue working towards food security, food justice, food freedom, and urban agriculture in Long Beach.

Long Beach urban agriculture rules to be discussed at public meetings next week - Long Beach Urban Agriculture | Examiner.com

2012-06-07T13:18:00.001-07:00

Long Beach urban agriculture rules to be discussed at public meetings next week - Long Beach Urban Agriculture | Examiner.com

2012-04-27T12:26:00.002-07:00

Seed starting workshop by Long Beach Grows at Center Space

Center Space Long Beach in Admiral Kidd Park is back again this Saturday April 28 after its successful debut last weekend. Tomorrow’s free Growth & Learning Space activities include an 11 A.M. workshop on seed starting offered by Long Beach Grows, a local organization that promotes food security through urban agriculture. Steve Passmore, the Farm Coordinator of LBGROWS Unity Farm, will be the instructor.

The best food that you know and can trust is home grown or grown by you in one of our Long Beach community gardens. Long Beach Grows’ seed starting workshop will help you get started.

Starting your vegetable garden from seed is much more economical than buying plants from a retail store. In addition, you get to choose the exact varieties of zucchini or other vegetables to grow, compared to the small selection that is available at even the most well stocked of garden centers.

Steve will talk about preferred sources and the different types of seed, including heirloom seed, genetically modified or GMO seed, open-pollinated seed, F1 hybrid seed, and which of these are compatible with sustainable organic gardening.

The discussion will cover the advantages and disadvantages of direct seeding compared to preparing sets that will need to be transplanted, and the utility of greenhouses.

Your choice of seed depends on the season and where you live. Steve will discuss which plants are appropriate to grow now in Long Beach given our temperate climate. Considerations to be covered include the effects of temperature on germination and on time of emergence.

Workshop participants will go home with a souvenir, seeds they have sown for their home gardens.

Other Center Space activities this Saturday include a 1 P.M. workshop on preparing for green career opportunities with Stella Ursua. The seed starting workshop and the green careers workshop will be held beneath the trees on the north side of the Boys and Girls Club building.

Recurring Center Space events include the Greener Good Farmers Market, hot food vendors, zumba, yoga, live music, and a soccer clinic. Center Space is a project of the Catalyst Network of Communities.

Enjoy this? Then share the link and comment below, even if only to say "Hi!"

You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner, and founder and director of Long Beach Grows™.

Copyright © 2012 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.

The Growing Experience Urban Farm to celebrate Earth Day 2012 next Thursday

2012-04-19T10:35:00.003-07:00

The Growing Experience is to hold it’s third annual Earth Day celebration next Thursday, April 26 from 3:00-6:00 pm in North Long Beach, 750 Via Carmelitos. The event is free and open to the public.

This ~ 7 acre farm located in the Carmelitos Housing Development boasts a wide variety of naturally grown heirloom vegetables all year long. In addition, over 200 fruit trees offer fresh figs, peaches, nectarines, plums, apples, and citrus.

The local farm fresh produce and fruit can be purchased through the Growing Experience’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program via a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly subscription that costs $17 per week. This is one of the few true local CSA’s currently selling produce actually grown on site in Long Beach. The only drawback is that the CSA boxes are not delivered to your home, instead you must pick them up at the farm.

This Earth Day celebration will give you the opportunity to tour the farm, taste the harvest, and learn about sustainable urban agriculture. The Growing Experience has recently ventured into aquaponics to grow tilapia and edible aquatic crops, also to be demonstrated at the event. Arts activities will keep the kids entertained.

Jimmy Ng, the urban farmer and director of The Growing Experience was recently interviewed for Bryant Terry’s online show with international reach, Urban Organic. Watch the interview here

More Information

The Growing Experience is a project of the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles. For more information, contact:

Jimmy Ng
The Growing Experience
750 Via Carmelitos
Long Beach, CA 90805
Jimmy.Ng@lacdc.org
562-984-2917
www.growingexperiencelb.org

Enjoy this? Then share the link and comment below, even if only to say "Hi!"

You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner and director of Long Beach Grows™.

Copyright © 2012 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.

Feinstein Foundation $1 Million Challenge

2012-03-19T15:20:00.003-07:00

The Feinstein Foundation $1 Million Challenge is on!

Donations to Long Beach Grows through April 30 will be matched up to $35k. Please mention the Feinstein Foundation.

Read more about Growing Long Beach with Long Beach Grows and the Feinstein Foundation here.

Dear Long Beach City Council Environmental Committee

2012-03-13T10:51:00.002-07:00

Dear Long Beach City Council, Our current municipal code interferes with the wholesome education of our children with practical how-to skills about real food and sustainability so that there will be safe and wholesome food, and KNOW-HOW, to feed THEIR kids in the future. Plus, it's just plain FUN.

Sincerely,

Donna Marykwas
Long Beach Grows
Growing a more sustainable future, or at least trying

Long Beach Grows Goats

2012-03-06T00:48:00.000-08:00

Our goats Dinkey & Bumper are symbols of food justice in our community. Read more about them here.

National soup month advice: make chicken bone broth part of your food secure diet

2012-01-21T10:35:00.000-08:00

A bowl of velvety chicken bone broth

Everyone should know that chicken soup is good medicine, a nourishing tradition passed on from one generation to the next within many families. Good chefs also know that chicken broth forms the backbone of exceptionally delectable sauces, stews, and other culinary delights.

Although restaurant chefs might use whole chicken to prepare their broth, a more frugal approach takes advantage of the bones from previous chicken meals. It is amazing how much substance and nutrition is left in these often-discarded remains.

Chicken bone broth is rich in minerals, amino acids, and gelatin, the later being especially good for maintaining skin and digestive health. In fact, the sign of an exceptional broth is one that gels once finished cooking and in the refrigerator.

Here’s how I do it. If you can’t cook without following a recipe with precise ingredients, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

My husband never thought I would actually use this enormous stock pot.

Collect the carcasses of chickens in the freezer in freezer bags until you run out of room. Use all parts of the bird including organs, except the liver, which you can reserve for some other use. Also save carcasses, necks, hearts, and gizzards from other poultry, including your Thanksgiving turkey. The more bones used per batch of soup, the richer your broth will be.

Fill the pot with as many bones as you have saved.

Place the bones in a large stock pot and cover with cold water. I use an All Clad 24-quart stainless steel stock pot, my one extravagance.

Bring the water to a boil and then lower the heat. Skim off and discard any scum that has surfaced to the top.

Add one large onion (peeled and cut in half), several sticks of celery including any leafy tops, a couple of carrots, a bunch of Italian flat leaf parsley (minus the rubber band), a couple of large bay leafs, a few peppercorns, and a dried hot red pepper such as chile de árbol. A few sprigs of thyme make a nice addition if available.

Simmer on low heat just high enough to keep the surface of the soup bubbling, for several hours. My broth-in-the-making usually simmers for at least 12 hours, overnight. Long slow cooking extracts all the flavor from the ingredients, making for a rich and savory soup.

Once cooked, strain the liquid into a new pot.

Once off the stove, let the soup cool enough to handle. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve such as a Chinois and refrigerate. The chicken grease will rise to the surface of the pot and congeal. Scoop this off and discard (or if you're really frugal, save it for cooking).

If there is too much soup for you to consume before the batch sours, freeze the chicken bone broth in smaller batches. I have had good luck freezing broth in 1-quart-sized wide-mouth mason jars, provided that each jar is filled up only to the point where the sides of the jar are still straight, not tapered. Otherwise, the frozen contents will expand and crack the glass in the freezer. Alternatively, doubled up freezer baggies work, but they are awkward to handle full of liquid and might end up on the floor.


Typical yield from one batch of chicken bone broth

Now you are left with a pile of cooked bones. If you have a pet that eats meat, it is well worth the effort to separate and reserve everything that is soft and edible (the large bowl on the right) from everything that is still hard and inedible and to be discarded (the smaller bowl). You will find that many small bones are soft enough to crumble between your fingers. Do so and add to the bowl of pet food. My dog is best behaved when she knows I am preparing this food for her.

As for dinner, the broth is delicious as is; just add salt to taste. Or add your favorite soup fixings and you’re ready to go. Plus, if you’re home sick with a cold, just thaw one of the frozen jars of broth for a comforting, nutritious, and tasty remedy.

This recipe is not just for National Soup Month. Advocates of Nourishing Traditions recommend making chicken bone broth part of your daily diet.

Enjoy this? Then share the link and comment below, even if only to say "Hi!"

You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as National Food Security Examiner, National Science News Examiner, Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner, and founder and executive director of Long Beach Grows.

Copyright © 2012 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.

Join Long Beach Grows today to support urban agriculture and local food security!

2011-12-29T16:43:00.000-08:00

Join Long Beach Grows today to support urban agriculture and local food security!

Announcing a new community farm in Long Beach: Unity Farm

2011-11-09T11:27:00.000-08:00

Long Beach Grows (aka LBGROWS) is a grassroots organization that advocates for a just and equitable food system that includes food security through urban agriculture. The group is building a network of urban farm co-op sites where people can grow food together while building community. LBGROWS has recently partnered with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach on Atherton Street to use some of their land for their first site. Food grown will be shared among the gardeners and with the homeless and other underprivileged Long Beach residents.

Unity Farm, as it is called, is not your typical community garden. The operative terms are community and co-operation. In a typical community garden, individual garden plots are rented to and tended by individuals on a seasonal basis. Some community gardeners make better use of their alloted land than others. Some community gardeners never even meet the person gardening right next to them. Where is the community in that?

Long Beach Grows’ community farm co-ops promise to be different. Members will work together in teams on land that they all grow together. There will be scheduled work days, scheduled harvest days when crops ready to be picked are divvied up amongst co-op members and the underprivileged of the community, and other scheduled gatherings, celebrations, and fundraisers.

The Farm Coordinator, Steve Passmore, who helped start the farm, says

“We will strive to keep the division of labor as equal and fair as possible, while trying to accommodate the special strengths, interests, and assets that individual members have to offer.”

All members are asked to pledge to uphold and abide by the mission and vision of Long Beach Grows.

Organization mission. LBGROWS’ mission is to promote green, healthy, sustainable urban agriculture in Long Beach, CA & other activities that educate, enhance & grow our communities by ensuring & safeguarding local food security.

Organization vision/goals. LBGROWS is the first organization of its kind in Long Beach, with a mission to advocate for change & to educate the public on issues of local food security & urban agriculture. The current food system in Long Beach, particularly as it pertains to local food & real food, really caters to the wealthy of our residents. LBGROWS plans to change this. The ultimate goal of LBGROWS is to grow a network of urban farm co-operatives for food production in the heart of urban Long Beach, with at least one community kitchen and urban farm site per city district, where people can grow & harvest real food together while building community & relieving hunger.

The goal is for everyone to work in harmony together as peacefully, joyfully, and stress-free as possible, for the benefit of all.

There will be a modest fee to join Long Beach Grows to farm at The Unity Farm. People will be contacted to join in the order they have signed up on the LBGROWS co-op wait-list. To join, add your name here. Volunteers are also welcome.

More farm co-op sites are in the works. The group is actively seeking other underutilized properties in Long Beach that LBGROWS could transform into productive community farm co-op sites to help relieve hunger in our community.

Youth unloading mulch to prepare a vegetable bed
at Unity Farm.

Enjoy this? Then share the link and comment below, even if only to say "Hi!"

You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner, National Food Policy Examiner, National Science News Examiner, and founder and director of Long Beach Grows™.

Copyright © 2011 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.

Petition asking Obama administration to legalize raw milk sales on federal level - National food policy | Examiner.com

2011-10-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

Petition asking Obama administration to legalize raw milk sales on federal level - National food policy | Examiner.com

Steer clear of the terrible ten worst things about food in America - National food policy | Examiner.com

2011-10-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

Steer clear of the terrible ten worst things about food in America - National food policy | Examiner.com

The past, present, and future of agriculture and food security in Long Beach - Long Beach Urban Agriculture | Examiner.com

2011-10-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

The past, present, and future of agriculture and food security in Long Beach - Long Beach Urban Agriculture | Examiner.com

A sustainable Long Beach must achieve food security

2011-10-03T10:58:00.000-07:00

Local Community Harvest Dinner @ T's Space, Fall 2011. Photo by Peter Phelps.

If the City of Long Beach wants to be truly sustainable, in deed as well as in word, it has to let its residents feed themselves as they see fit. We are always one natural disaster away from food insecurity.  

Food security is

“affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate* food for all people at all times”

as defined by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

*Who is to determine what is culturally appropriate? This must be determined by the individual, not by the government or by others.

The Community Food Security Coalition states that,

“at a basic level, Community Food Security is about making healthy food accessible to all, including low-income people. It’s about making nutritious and culturally appropriate food accessible, not just any food. It is about promoting social justice and more equitable access to resources, and building and revitalizing local communities and economies. It’s about supporting local, regional, family-scale, and sustainable farmers and businesses. It’s about empowering diverse people to work together to create positive changes in the food system and their communities... and much more.”

When it comes to food security through urban agriculture, we are falling way far behind other municipalities including San Francisco, Seattle, Portland in Oregon, even New York City. If these big cities can do it, what’s holding us back? Our municipal code is! Let’s change it!  

Let’s not waste our time and money and other resources by reinventing the wheel. Other cities have already done this. Other cities have already done the impact reports and health assessments. Let’s just adopt the best of the best from Seattle’s, San Francisco’s, and NYC’s respective municipal codes.  

Enjoy this? Then share the link and comment below, even if only to say "Hi!"

You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner and founder and executive director of Long Beach Grows™.

Copyright © 2011 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.

Fairview Farms at the Los Angeles county fair, a short drive from Long Beach

2011-09-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

The LA County Fair is in full swing. It began September 3 and runs through October 2, 2011.

For those involved in the urban agriculture movement, the Big Red Farm at Fairview Farms is the highlight of the fair. There are numerous hands-on educational activities for everyone to enjoy.

Children in attendance may have the opportunity to cradle and feed a baby goat or sheep with Farmer Sky and his friends from Zuckerman’s Nursery at the exhibit.

A variety of dairy goat breeds are on display. Visitors have the opportunity to milk the animals while they snack on grain to keep them occupied. The does are amazingly cooperative despite being yanked on by inexperienced and clumsy milkers.

Milk can of course be turned into a wide variety of dairy products including cheese, which you can learn how to do at the Curds & Whey Barn.

The Petting Barn features 150 animals to pet, mostly goats. This is a must see to experience how truly docile, lovable, and friendly these animals are. Goats have been domesticated for over 10,000 years and make great outdoor pets for people who are allergic to dogs, cats, and other more common domestic animals. They are truly dual-use animals that can provide companionship even in an urban setting, as well as feed you if you have the time and inclination to breed them so that the mothers produce milk to be shared with you once their little ones are weaned.

It would be wise to research the many attractions available at the Fair before you go, lest you miss out on something of special interest to you. For example, at California’s Heritage Square, you can visit a 1920’s farm house and learn to spin wool. If only I knew. But the rides were calling my daughter, and I couldn’t disappoint her. At least we avoided all the Fair food.

Some proceeds from sales at the Fairplex contribute to agricultural education through donations to the California State University Pomona Foundation. Cal Poly Pomona is one of the few CSUs that offer an education in the field of agriculture. Cal Poly Pomona’s is particularly noteworthy, with seven departments in the College of Agriculture.

More Information

LA County Fair
1101`W. McKinley Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768
General Information website
909-523-3111

Cal Poly Pomona
College of Agriculture
3801 West Temple Avenue
Pomona, CA 91768
agriculture@csupoma.edu
888-2DAYS AG
website

Enjoy this? Then share the link and comment below, even if only to say "Hi!"

You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner, National Food Policy Examiner, National Science News Examiner, and founder and director of Long Beach Grows™.

Copyright © 2011 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.

Government raid of Rawesome food club in Venice

2011-08-04T22:53:00.000-07:00

For the second time in two years, the Rawesome raw foods buying club was raided and ransacked, the morning of August 3, 2011.

This was a multi-agency sting that involved the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the California Franchise Tax Board, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Milk and Dairy Food Safety Branch, the CDFA Division of Measurement Standards, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, the Ventura County Department of Public Health, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety.

James Cecil Stewart, the owner/operator of Rawesome, was arrested and charged with seven misdemeanors and six felony counts of conspiracy. His bail was set at $123,000.

Sharon Palmer, who operates Healthy Family Farms, LLC, in Santa Paula, Ventura County, CA, was arrested and charged with three of the misdemeanors and the six conspiracy charges. Her bail was set at $121,000.

Eugenie Victoria Bloch, LA chapter leader of the Weston A Price Foundation and part-time employee of Healthy Family Farms, was arrested with three counts of conspiracy. Her bail was set at $60,000.

All for daring to sell Healthy Family Farms’ raw goat milk and raw goat milk dairy products (and raw cow milk from Pennsylvania) to their loyal club members and shareholders.

People who belong to the “Right to Choose Healthy Food’s Rawesome Club” sign a membership agreement that states

“I completely reject and refuse all governmental food standards. I fully trust the board members of this club to properly oversee and manage the preparation, handling and packaging of the food in this club, including but not limited to raw meat, raw eggs, raw produce, raw juices, raw dairy...”

The FDA sent a message today, this is not the land of the free, certainly not when it comes to deciding what healthy food one consumes. The “officials” threw away $10,000 worth of food, not only the raw milk and dairy products but also fresh fruits and vegetables, just to send this message. They also confiscated cash, computers, and more.

Besides the felonies “to conspire,” the misdemeanor charges were for processing milk without pasteurization, operating an unlicensed milk plant, selling milk or milk products that don’t “conform to the standards,” selling milk that had been produced or handled using unsanitary conditions, operating an unlicensed milk business, operating a food facility without a permit, selling unlabeled and improperly labeled food, selling food from unapproved sources, failing to store eggs at the proper temperature, and removing a notice of closure.

But it is legal to sell raw milk in California. Organic Pastures in Fresno sells throughout the state and online.

And with the evidence now down the drain, is there any physical proof that the milk had been contaminated, as surely it must have been had it been treated without concern for sanitation?

Have there ever been any cases of illness due to consumption of raw food products from Rawesome? If not, this is all a big show.

Note the identity of the second official stakeholder, the California Franchise Tax Board. That’s the real story. Money. The money it takes to comply with all these licensing requirements. Money the state wants but hasn’t received because the farm has been operating without a license since 2007, and Rawesome for more than six years.

Licenses and permits are supposed to protect the public health, for example by requiring proper cleaning and sanitizing of equipment and proper veterinary care for animals. It seems clear that Rawesome and Healthy Family Farms have been breaking the laws requiring such licenses. However, the absence of a license does not make food prepared without one inherently unsafe. It is unconscionable to dump $10,000 of food for a technicality. If this was to punish Rawesome and the farm, at least the food, including the milk and other dairy products, could have been donated to a food bank.

The Felony Complaint for Arrest Warrant reveals some details of the undercover investigation that led to this arrest, involving informants disguised as buyers. Healthy Family Farms and Rawesome were set up. Isn’t this entrapment?

One person at the recent raid told the raiders:

“Drink your milk from Monsanto and poison your own children.”

I say “survival of the fittest” will determine who is right and who is not.

There was a Rawesome protest at the LA Courthouse this morning at 8:00 AM. The three “co-conspirators” had their day in court. Victoria Bloch was released without bail, still charged with one felony count. James Stewart’s bail was reduced to $30,000 provided he doesn’t sell unpasteurized milk without a license. Sharon Palmer will be arraigned Friday 8-4-2011 in the same courthouse. Rumors have it that her pro bono attorney will be Christopher Darden who worked on the prosecution side of the O.J. Simpson murder case.

More Information

Government Data Proves Raw Milk is Safe. June 22, 2011. Press Release by the Weston A. Price Foundation

Three Arrested on Charges of Illegally Producing, Selling Unpasteurized Milk. August 3, 2011. Press Release by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Rawesome Farm Buying Club Raided Again. August 3, 2011. Press Release by The Weston A. Price Foundation.

Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund. Defending the rights and broadening the freedoms of family farms and protecting consumer access to raw milk and nutrient dense foods. website

Ann Marie Michaels. Weston A. Price Foundation Activist Award 2010. Cheeseslave on Facebook

Enjoy this? Then share the link and comment below, even if only to say "Hi!"

You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as National Food Security Examiner, National Science News Examiner, Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner, and founder and executive director of Long Beach Grows.

Copyright © 2011 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.

UB Safe Safety & Resource Fair poster

2011-07-13T12:43:00.000-07:00

Jamie Oliver’s food revolution victory with Los Angeles Unified School District sets a national example

2011-06-16T16:10:00.000-07:00

From Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution is transforming the food security scene in Los Angeles and by extension the rest of the nation and the world.

Tuesday June 14, 2011, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board voted in favor of eliminating flavored milk from the city’s public schools. This school food policy goes into effect July 1 to improve the nutrition of the 680,000 students in the second largest school district in the nation. LA students will be drinking real unflavored milk with their meals from now on.

This change is in response to Jamie’s Food Revolution efforts that currently have LA in the spotlight and his Milk Day of Action campaign that inspired food revolutionaries across the nation to demand only fresh wholesome food for schools, starting with real milk.

In Jamie Oliver’s TED award speech given February 2010 in Long Beach, California, Jamie highlighted flavored milks in schools as an issue “epitomizing the trouble that we’re in." He said,

“School food is something that most kids, 31 million a day actually, have twice a day, more than often, breakfast and lunch, 190 days of the year, so you could say that school food is quite important,really, judging the circumstances."

After dumping a wheelbarrow of sugar, the amount consumed by a single child during 5 years of elementary school, just from milk, Jamie said,

“Judging the circumstances, any judge in the whole world would look at the statistics and the evidence and they would find any government involved guilty of child abuse, that’s my belief.”

In response to his recent LAUSD victory, Jamie said,

“With flavored milk, kids are getting loads of sugar and other food additives they simply don’t need to grow and learn. In the Food Revolution the little battles set us up for the next win. All these little battles count; they matter. It’s not just milk. It’s caring about what we feed kids 180 days a year.”

Perhaps your school district did not get on the Milk Day bandwagon this year. That’s OK. You can use your summer away from school to organize your school food policy campaign. It’s never too late to make our schools accountable for the good or bad food choices they offer our children.

More Information

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution milk factsheet

Jamie Oliver Foundation website

Join the Food Revolution Community on facebook

Watch Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, season 2, Fridays at 9PM/8C on ABC. This Friday’s episode is “Feed them healthy food with 77 cents,” June 17, 2011.

Books by Jamie Oliver

Enjoy this? Please share the link and comment below, even if only to say "Hi!"

You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as National Food Security Examiner, Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner, Long Beach Restaurant Examiner, National Science News Examiner and founder and executive director of Long Beach Grows.

Copyright © 2011 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.

Join the Long Beach Grows™ real food security coalition to help fight hunger in Long Beach

2011-06-14T04:46:00.000-07:00

Long Beach Grows™ is a grassroots organization that promotes food security through urban agriculture. The current food system in Long Beach, particularly as it pertains to local food and real food, really caters to the wealthy of our residents. Long Beach Grows plans to change this.

We are in the midst of one of the worst recessions ever. A recent report prepared by LAANE for the Coalition for Good Jobs and a Healthy Community indicates that one in five Long Beach residents are living in economic hardship and over 50% of our children are living in poverty. HealthyCity.org, an authoritative source of demographic data, indicates that 62.3% - 66.19% of LA county residents cannot afford enough food to eat. The remaining 33.81% - 37.7% remain hungry.

Long Beach Grows recently established the LBGROWS™ Real Food Security Coalition to advocate for a just and equitable food system in Long Beach, and to empower the low income Long Beach communities to establish their own food security, independence and freedom from hunger. The Coalition will work to identify Long Beach’s populations at greatest risk of food insecurity, the reasons for this, the strengths and weaknesses in our food system, and long term solutions to create a future of food security for all. While the main focus of the Coalition is community organizing, outreach may influence positive change on regional, state and national policy and will include reporting and documenting on food issues.

The Coalition will attempt to connect all sectors of the community and local food system. All Long Beach residents are encouraged to join. Low-income residents who need access to better food are especially welcome. So whoever you are, whether you are rich or poor, an adult or youth, an individual with only personal interests or a community organizer leading a group with a mission, your input and help is wanted. Local growers, environmentalists, non-profit food distributors, grocers, restauranteurs, dieticians, artisanal food crafters, city employees, big consumers such as Long Beach Unified School District or Long Beach Memorial, all are invited.

The Coalition will assemble at least once a month and is currently scheduled to meet the first Thursday of each month from 6 - 8 PM at the Catalyst space at 430 East 1st Street in the arts district of downtown Long Beach. Mark your calendars. As the Coalition grows, so will the venue.

Spread the word. Join the Coalition today.

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You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner, Long Beach Restaurant Examiner, National Food Policy Examiner, National Science News Examiner, and founder and director of Long Beach Grows™.

Copyright © 2011 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.

New City Public Schools Farm in Long Beach celebrates urban agriculture and education at Farm Festival this Saturday

2011-06-03T13:06:00.000-07:00

Saturday June 4, 2011, New City Public Schools Farm in Long Beach presents their Inaugural Farm Festival and fundraiser this Saturday, June 4, 2011 starting at noon.

Just one year ago, on June 10, 2010, was the first New City Schools Farm Build Day. Volunteers from throughout the city, including Mayor Bob Foster and 1st District Councilman Robert Garcia, came to help build an urban farm on a quarter-acre lot in the heart of the city at 15th Street and Long Beach Boulevard. This location is within walking distance of both campuses of the progressive New City Public Schools charter school. This also appears to be part of the same location where the former Long Beach Ostrich Farm was located circa 1907-1910.

Kathleen Irvine is the energetic Farm Manager who understands the challenges of gardening with children and has used her insight to create the kid-friendly farm that the site has become. For example, the planting beds are narrower than usual to allow the children’s short arms to reach what is being planted and later harvested. In addition, to minimize hurt feelings, no one is allowed to eat a crop unless there is enough for every student.

The garden is visited by two to three classes of students three days a week. Fridays are also busy with field trips. It serves as a living laboratory where the students learn all about plants, what is necessary to keep them alive and to make them thrive, and where their food comes from. Kathleen said that prior to this opportunity to grow an urban farm, some of her students mistook a yellow squash (still on the plant) for a banana. Now they know better.

School gardens and farms can make a big difference in our kids’ appreciation of nature, their understanding of where real food comes from, and their present and future healthy diet and lifestyle decision.

Come celebrate the success of this urban school farm this Saturday beginning at noon. Entertainment will include music, dancing, a drum circle, crafts, and face painting. Green vendors and information booths will also be available for you to enjoy.

Be sure to return to this article to view the slideshow of the event.

New City Public Schools Farm Fundraiser
Date: 06/04/2011
Time: 12:00 - 4:00 P.M.
Location: 225 East 15th St., Long Beach, CA 90813
Contact: Kathleen Irvine, Farm Manager (818) 470-0005

More Information

Long Beach School Gardens & Farms, Long Beach Grows website

New City Public Schools website

Enjoy this? Please share the link and comment below, even if only to say "Hi!"

You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner, Long Beach Restaurant Examiner, National Food Policy Examiner, National Science News Examiner, and founder and director of Long Beach Grows.

Copyright © 2011 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.

Mexican food at Los Compadres in Long Beach is nothing special

2011-05-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

Hard shell chicken tacos

Los Compadres in Long Beach seems to be a popular spot for Mexican food. Reviews on yelp are consistently good. The place was crowded for lunch on the afternoon of this review. Perhaps our party of about 40 had something to do with it.

The atmosphere was certainly festive. Colorful balloons decorated our tables. The dark wood interior was comfortable.

Of course, it is difficult to feed a crowd so big, and perhaps the hosts of the event were mostly responsible for the very limited selection options, but still.

Diners chose between either hard shell chicken tacos or hard shell potato tacos, that’s it. Aren’t hard shell tacos passé? California is the land of the luscious soft taco; hard shell tacos belong to the inferior realm of Taco Bell. Although the shells were tasty deep fried tortillas, all one could taste of the taco was the greasy shell.

Side dishes were rice and beans. The rice was too soft and tasted just like Rice-a-Roni. The beans were pintos and tasted overwhelmingly like chicken stock, not bad but not beany.

The guacamole was fresh but could use more spice, and at least one refill per table of four hungry diners.

The best part of the meal was the orange slice garnish.

Other diners who have more experience with Los Compadres said they come for the delicious ceviche. It did look good.

For now, though, this Long Beach restaurant reviewer and food critic gives Los Compadres just 1 thumb up.

Los Compadres
3229 East Anaheim Street
Long Beach, CA 90804
(562) 961-0061
www.loscompadreslbc.com

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You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as Long Beach Restaurant Examiner, Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner, National Food Policy Examiner, National Science News Examiner and founder and director of Long Beach Grows.

Eggs, eggs and more eggs: a Long Beach Unified School District Science Fair project

2011-05-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

Maya, a 4th grader from Minnie Gant Elementary

Eggs, eggs and more eggs: a Long Beach Unified School District Science Fair project

Home grown eggs have tall bright orange yolks.

Store bought eggs have dull yellow yolks that break easily.

Old eggs float.

Measuring the height of an egg yolk isn't as easy as it looks.

The Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) Science Fair was held Saturday May 21, 2011 at Cabrillo High School located at 2001 Santa Fe Avenue in West Long Beach near Admiral Kidd Park.

LBUSD students have been anticipating this event since conducting their projects and submitting them almost two months ago. A total of 1,100 students (the number of registrants) represented 56 LBUSD schools, including 34 elementary schools, 10 K-8 schools, 10 middle schools, and 2 high schools.

A total of 125 reviewers, including Boeing employees, LBUSD teachers, CSULB professors and students, and community volunteers, volunteered their Saturday morning to support and inspire our future generation of scientists and science-literate citizens. Each student presenter had the opportunity to speak with at least two reviewers.

In addition to the student posters, there were numerous interactive exhibits including an 80 pound cobra to pet, solar boats, wind energy devices, and robots made by student engineers.

Eric Brundin, the School District’s K-12 Science Curriculum Leader, said of the Science Fair

“It is a testament to our great schools and families that in spite of all the economic and employment challenges people face, our district Science Fair has stayed strong. We are still huge, one of the largest such events in the nation, and the excitement of our students is as strong as ever. That, after all, is what keeps us going.”

At least one of the projects was relevant to urban agriculture. Maya, a 4th grader from Minnie Gant Elementary, raises chickens at home and told all about her experiments to test the differences between store bought eggs and fresh home grown eggs. Onlookers were impressed with her knowledge of chickens and the obvious differences in egg shell integrity that could be seen as she “candled” eggs with a bright LED flashlight. Excerpts from her poster presentation and report are given in the slideshow.

Maya said of the experience

“I really liked doing a science fair project. I think I was actually lucky to be picked to go to the fair. It was cool doing it on eggs.””

Next year, maybe you too will decide to do a science fair project based on something to do with agriculture.

A gross store bought egg with a thin transparent shell.


A gross store bought egg that let the dye in.

For more information about future LBUSD Science Fairs

Eric Brundin
K-12 Science Curriculum Leader
Long Beach Unified School District
997-8000, Ext. 2963

Karen Connors
LBUSD Science Fair Steering Committee
(562) 997-8000, Ext. 2963


A mess of eggs.

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You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner, National Science News Examiner, National Food Policy Examiner, and founder and executive director of Long Beach Grows.

“Most hens are usually raised in crowded not very nice factories in small cages. Only some ever see the sun or go outside. These are called pastured. My hens are pastured and they have names and I love them.”

What is food security?

2011-05-26T23:01:00.000-07:00


Community Food Security Coalition

Our government* defines food security as "affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for all people at all times."

For some people, food security means to not have to worry about where their family's next meal is coming from, whatever that meal might be and for whatever reason, including poverty, homelessness, or absence of food even if money is no object.

Some communities are considered food deserts because they lack access to grocery stores. A food desert could be a small town in a remote rural location, or it could be a neighborhood within a big city.

However, food security is not merely freedom from hunger. One's diet might fill the belly but still be nutritionally inferior and actually cause harm.

Even access to a full service grocery store does not ensure food security, if one takes into account whether the food is stripped of its nutritional value by over-processing, whether it contains antibiotics, hormones, drug-resistant bacteria, or other contaminants that don't belong in our food. Food security requires that our food be safe.

Long term food security on a global and even local scale requires that we preserve the natural resources necessary to sustain our food supply.

With food insecurity comes serious health problems and other socioeconomic issues.

Food insecurity has been responsible for the demise of entire civilizations.

Without food, we die.

Earth is fast approaching its capacity to feed a global population expected to reach 9 billion people in just under 40 more years.

Thus, food security is the most important social issue of the 21st century.

I will address these and other issues relevant to the loaded term "food security." Stay tuned for more details to come.

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture

More information

Community Food Security Coalition
Food Deserts
USDA Food Desert Locator
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Enjoy this? Please share it and comment below even if only to say "Hi!"

You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as National Food Policy Examiner, National Science News Examiner, Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner and founder and executive director of Long Beach Grows.

Copyright © 2011 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.