I've just been looking back over what I have written about gleaning, because I am preparing my midpoint grant report (thank you again, Episcopal Community Services - but what a month for someone involved with ministries of gardening, gleaning and preserving to have to write a report!) and am gearing up to mentor my first senior project (SVUSD) in gleaning.
It seems like an annual occurrence and a perennial problem - getting down to writing about food at the most food intense time of the year!
Two gleaning days this week, and the challenge of placing apples in a year when things are early and plentiful. I've been feeling I must make something every evening with produce - what I call my squirrel complex - and I lost every weekend evening to one event or another - or just tiredness from two many different schmooze opportunities in one week, beginning with the Heirloom Festival. Oh well - I've seen lots of friends and colleagues in the last week - and do have my supply of applesauce in the pantry, and 30 jars of jam and chutney in the hall closet for the holiday fair at Trinity.
Tonight I made pesto for the freezer. I read a recipe that subbed pecans for the worth-their-weight pine nuts, so tried that. Not quite sure what I think. But I wasn't quite sure about sunflower seeds or cashews either. Nothing has quite the combo of sweet and resinous that pignolis do.
At the garden, so far the thieving vandals are ahead of the gophers in reducing the numbers of my winter squash crop. Tomatoes are at their peak now. Every time I do something with three or four pounds, I bring home as many two days later. Mountain Magic, with it's ping pong to golf ball sized fruit, is most productive and has been a hit with everyone I gave a plant to on Rogation Sunday. The romano pole beans have waned, but the late crop of french horticultural beans are racing the waning days to produce - and looking good.
I keep telling myself it's good to be tired because you are surrounded by produce. And that's about as profound a reflection as I can manage...
Showing posts with label gleaning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gleaning. Show all posts
Monday, September 16, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Nice graphics
Here are some of the best representations of what's in season I have seen.
http://chasingdelicious.com/produce-calendars/
They need a little tweaking for climate and weather but the circular design seems a lot easier to read than the usual bar chart - and there is more variety on these. If I had a kitchen or cooking school to decorate I would definitely choose the prints from "Chasing Delicious". The nutrition by color pie chart is fun, too.
As for the tweaking - most plums have passed their prime here, but we have been gleaning figs for several weeks. Pears are just beginning, and gravenstein apples are rolling in. Most everything is a few weeks early this year, due to our warm dry spring. Unfortunately I did not push to get things into my garden early, so I still have no ripe tomatoes here in the night-and-morning-fog part of the county. Lots of grey mornings and cool evenings since the protracted heat of late June and early July. But the hedgerow blackberries are plumper than I expected, thanks to the midsummer (John the Baptist) rain storm.
A small grant from Episcopal Community Services in our diocese is funding some more equipment for Sonoma Valley Gleaning, good to meet our increasing opportunities to glean. Word of mouth in the community is a wonderful thing. When my car is not filled with fruit, it is filled with boxes collected from Trader Joe's (wine boxes for firm pomes), Imwalle's, Raley's, even dumpster diving (shallow boxes for the fragile fruit like figs). And a good detective could always tell the last thing I gleaned from the lingering smells in my little red wagon (Subaru).
http://chasingdelicious.com/produce-calendars/
They need a little tweaking for climate and weather but the circular design seems a lot easier to read than the usual bar chart - and there is more variety on these. If I had a kitchen or cooking school to decorate I would definitely choose the prints from "Chasing Delicious". The nutrition by color pie chart is fun, too.
As for the tweaking - most plums have passed their prime here, but we have been gleaning figs for several weeks. Pears are just beginning, and gravenstein apples are rolling in. Most everything is a few weeks early this year, due to our warm dry spring. Unfortunately I did not push to get things into my garden early, so I still have no ripe tomatoes here in the night-and-morning-fog part of the county. Lots of grey mornings and cool evenings since the protracted heat of late June and early July. But the hedgerow blackberries are plumper than I expected, thanks to the midsummer (John the Baptist) rain storm.
A small grant from Episcopal Community Services in our diocese is funding some more equipment for Sonoma Valley Gleaning, good to meet our increasing opportunities to glean. Word of mouth in the community is a wonderful thing. When my car is not filled with fruit, it is filled with boxes collected from Trader Joe's (wine boxes for firm pomes), Imwalle's, Raley's, even dumpster diving (shallow boxes for the fragile fruit like figs). And a good detective could always tell the last thing I gleaned from the lingering smells in my little red wagon (Subaru).
Monday, December 31, 2012
2012 in review
How instructive to look back through my calendar and this blog and see what was accomplished (and not) this year. Seems like I have not been paying as much attention to issues at the national and global levels, but I have also done more than in any previous year locally.
In January I did a late glean of some persimmons, and not much else.
In February the meeting schedule heated up. I planted some peas in my plot and started tomato and pepper seeds inside. Our clergy conference on wellness left a whole lot to be desired from the food perspective. What we ate was pretty good and some local, but the information about diet was devoid of any eco-justice awareness.
In March I began helping with stakeholder interviews for the Food Action Plan, and the communication committee of the Food System Alliance began meeting. Joe Valentine contacted me about his interest in gleaning, and I had a first meeting with Steve Schwartz about interfaith plans. I wondered why there were so few people from ag advocacy and food system organizations at the Volunteer Center's non-profit conference.
In April interviews and communication planning for the Alliance continued, and I gave away lots of plants, mostly tomatoes, for Earth Day at Trinity.
May was meeting heavy. I found myself missing a lot of meetings at my community garden because of so many other Saturday commitments.
June brought the beginning of meetings with folks forming the county Community Garden Network, lots of meetings and interviews for the gleaning project, and some writing of introductory materials for the Food Action Plan.
July was filled with still more meetings, interviews and schmoozing activities to drum up interest in gleaning. We enlisted the support of the Community Center and the Sonoma Valley Granged. I made my debut on Mornings in Sonoma as part of the launch.
In August we finally had an introductory meeting with gleaners and formally launched the Sonoma Valley Gleaning Project - on a way too hot evening for a room with too few fans and no A/C. First gleans were backyard table grapes and model vegetable plots at Cornerstone. August also was the beginning of tabling season, promoting the Alliance and its members at the county fair and Gravenstein Fair. I wrote some quiz questions about Sonoma County ag which we used to attract attention. Meanwhile, we began our preserving parties at Trinity with zucchini pickles and relish.
The first day of September El Dorado County Master Preservers did a demo on canning fall fruit at Trinity, and late in the month we had a jam session. We tweaked the recipe I'd found last year for tomato apple jam, and between church and home kitchens probably made way too much of it! Definitely the food trend of the year among Sonoma Episcopalians. We continued gleaning - mostly apples. I volunteered at the second annual Heirloom Expo. I met with some others in the deacon community and inspired some more gleaning and other food justice efforts around California. The Food System Alliance approved the Food Action Plan. The Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative was launched. And I wrapped up the month by cooking for a small retreat in 100 degree weather.
Gleaning moved from late apples to figs and walnuts in October. I created a display for the produce swap at the Sonoma Valley Grange (a partner in the gleaning project) Harvest Fair. The Food Action Plan was approved by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. It's hard to say what was the most fun: gleaning on beautiful autumn days, enjoying the harvest from my garden, or attending the sustainable food and wine hearing which State Senator Noreen Evans convened. I looked around that large hearing room at the city offices and, realizing how many I knew, thought, ah, these are my people.
In November the gleaning of harder to place produce began - things like persimmons and quinces. When you have to cook something it is not nearly as attractive to food programs and their clients and guests. I applaud Sonoma Valley Teen Services, where the teaching of cooking and nutrition has educated a group of young people who accept the challenge of trying anything in their small commercial kitchen. November also brought an opportunity to talk with a realtor friend about how the real estate community might cooperate with gleaning efforts around the county. I wonder what will happen with this? I was more successful at connecting folks from Gridley involved with agriculture development in Liberia with Ecology Action interns. Seems significant that this happened at a deacon's ordination. But again, I wait to see what happens next. How will these seeds grow?
As December began I realized that we had completed one full year of Food of the Month at Trinity. I noted today that I didn't always post my copy on each month's item here. We wrapped up November with masa harina, and began again with peanut butter. December is also the season of never leaving home without food - something baked with local fruit or nuts, or a preserve and some local cheese for the cheese board. And as we look to the new year, the Food Action Plan roll out begins to pick up speed as we seek endorsements from municipalities, businesses and organizations.
The Sonoma Valley Gleaning Project ended its first year (five months, really) with 1129 pounds gleaned, by 17 different volunteers, from 16 donors, on 20 occasions, to 6 local organizations.
What a year of local activity. But as I checked just now (could it have changed at the last minute?) the U.S. still doesn't have a farm bill, or even the extension of the 2008 version set to expire at midnight (in which time zone?)
In January I did a late glean of some persimmons, and not much else.
In February the meeting schedule heated up. I planted some peas in my plot and started tomato and pepper seeds inside. Our clergy conference on wellness left a whole lot to be desired from the food perspective. What we ate was pretty good and some local, but the information about diet was devoid of any eco-justice awareness.
In March I began helping with stakeholder interviews for the Food Action Plan, and the communication committee of the Food System Alliance began meeting. Joe Valentine contacted me about his interest in gleaning, and I had a first meeting with Steve Schwartz about interfaith plans. I wondered why there were so few people from ag advocacy and food system organizations at the Volunteer Center's non-profit conference.
In April interviews and communication planning for the Alliance continued, and I gave away lots of plants, mostly tomatoes, for Earth Day at Trinity.
May was meeting heavy. I found myself missing a lot of meetings at my community garden because of so many other Saturday commitments.
June brought the beginning of meetings with folks forming the county Community Garden Network, lots of meetings and interviews for the gleaning project, and some writing of introductory materials for the Food Action Plan.
July was filled with still more meetings, interviews and schmoozing activities to drum up interest in gleaning. We enlisted the support of the Community Center and the Sonoma Valley Granged. I made my debut on Mornings in Sonoma as part of the launch.
In August we finally had an introductory meeting with gleaners and formally launched the Sonoma Valley Gleaning Project - on a way too hot evening for a room with too few fans and no A/C. First gleans were backyard table grapes and model vegetable plots at Cornerstone. August also was the beginning of tabling season, promoting the Alliance and its members at the county fair and Gravenstein Fair. I wrote some quiz questions about Sonoma County ag which we used to attract attention. Meanwhile, we began our preserving parties at Trinity with zucchini pickles and relish.
The first day of September El Dorado County Master Preservers did a demo on canning fall fruit at Trinity, and late in the month we had a jam session. We tweaked the recipe I'd found last year for tomato apple jam, and between church and home kitchens probably made way too much of it! Definitely the food trend of the year among Sonoma Episcopalians. We continued gleaning - mostly apples. I volunteered at the second annual Heirloom Expo. I met with some others in the deacon community and inspired some more gleaning and other food justice efforts around California. The Food System Alliance approved the Food Action Plan. The Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative was launched. And I wrapped up the month by cooking for a small retreat in 100 degree weather.
Gleaning moved from late apples to figs and walnuts in October. I created a display for the produce swap at the Sonoma Valley Grange (a partner in the gleaning project) Harvest Fair. The Food Action Plan was approved by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. It's hard to say what was the most fun: gleaning on beautiful autumn days, enjoying the harvest from my garden, or attending the sustainable food and wine hearing which State Senator Noreen Evans convened. I looked around that large hearing room at the city offices and, realizing how many I knew, thought, ah, these are my people.
In November the gleaning of harder to place produce began - things like persimmons and quinces. When you have to cook something it is not nearly as attractive to food programs and their clients and guests. I applaud Sonoma Valley Teen Services, where the teaching of cooking and nutrition has educated a group of young people who accept the challenge of trying anything in their small commercial kitchen. November also brought an opportunity to talk with a realtor friend about how the real estate community might cooperate with gleaning efforts around the county. I wonder what will happen with this? I was more successful at connecting folks from Gridley involved with agriculture development in Liberia with Ecology Action interns. Seems significant that this happened at a deacon's ordination. But again, I wait to see what happens next. How will these seeds grow?
As December began I realized that we had completed one full year of Food of the Month at Trinity. I noted today that I didn't always post my copy on each month's item here. We wrapped up November with masa harina, and began again with peanut butter. December is also the season of never leaving home without food - something baked with local fruit or nuts, or a preserve and some local cheese for the cheese board. And as we look to the new year, the Food Action Plan roll out begins to pick up speed as we seek endorsements from municipalities, businesses and organizations.
The Sonoma Valley Gleaning Project ended its first year (five months, really) with 1129 pounds gleaned, by 17 different volunteers, from 16 donors, on 20 occasions, to 6 local organizations.
What a year of local activity. But as I checked just now (could it have changed at the last minute?) the U.S. still doesn't have a farm bill, or even the extension of the 2008 version set to expire at midnight (in which time zone?)
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Flea Market, Harvest Fest, and Produce Swap
Reflecting on Gleaning
A few weeks ago I began to wonder if gleaning wasn't a way of participating in redemption. "Redeem," after all, means to buy back. And there is a sense in which when we glean we buy back with our sweaty work of picking and hauling that which would otherwise be lost or wasted.
Does that make it sound joyless? I hope not. I have moments of pure joy, even when my hands are sticky and stained and my back or hips or knees hurt - just to be out and participating in the economy of creation. We had just such a day last Friday, just warm enough to cause some perspiring, but with the sun autumn gentle, picking figs from 70+ year old trees, and gathering walnuts, on an old property in Sonoma which has been inhabited by members of one extended family for over 150 years.
The walnut trees had already had the long stick treatment, so we were invited just to gather what we could from the ground. Lots of bending, especially if you are tall! But we got 9 pounds in a short time.
There were nuts still popping from the trees, and I hope to go back this weekend and glean some more to deliver to non-profits which cook, like the Teen Center. Weather will determine whether or not I do.
Does that make it sound joyless? I hope not. I have moments of pure joy, even when my hands are sticky and stained and my back or hips or knees hurt - just to be out and participating in the economy of creation. We had just such a day last Friday, just warm enough to cause some perspiring, but with the sun autumn gentle, picking figs from 70+ year old trees, and gathering walnuts, on an old property in Sonoma which has been inhabited by members of one extended family for over 150 years.
The walnut trees had already had the long stick treatment, so we were invited just to gather what we could from the ground. Lots of bending, especially if you are tall! But we got 9 pounds in a short time.There were nuts still popping from the trees, and I hope to go back this weekend and glean some more to deliver to non-profits which cook, like the Teen Center. Weather will determine whether or not I do.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
First Big Glean
The complex is well worth a visit to see all the gardens - some useful and some frivolous, but all beautiful.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Let the gleans begin
It seems strange that the title of this blog finally has a solid referent. Last Thursday I picked up bags of gravenstein apples from a backyard in Temelec and took them to the Teen Center in the Springs - the first actual traffic in produce for the Sonoma Valley Gleaning Project. We are having our orientation for gleaners Monday evening, August 13 at 7:00 p.m. at Trinity Church in Sonoma. Woo-hoo!
BTW - the Valley of the Moon Teen Center is a great place. Very responsive to the needs and interests of the youth it serves. They have a small commercial kitchen, and a young woman, with a little help from the boys who were at the center that afternoon, was making brownies on contract for the Impact 100 luncheon the next day. The baking program is called "Lovin' Oven". http://www.svteens.org/programs/ They may do a preserving workshop this fall, and I hope there is a way we can hook up interest at Trinity with the Teen Center.
BTW - the Valley of the Moon Teen Center is a great place. Very responsive to the needs and interests of the youth it serves. They have a small commercial kitchen, and a young woman, with a little help from the boys who were at the center that afternoon, was making brownies on contract for the Impact 100 luncheon the next day. The baking program is called "Lovin' Oven". http://www.svteens.org/programs/ They may do a preserving workshop this fall, and I hope there is a way we can hook up interest at Trinity with the Teen Center.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
dumpster diving
Back in Santa Cruz at "Friends of St Francis" (home of the cooks of the Free Dinners) we had a friend from L.A. Catholic Worker who began dumpster diving - until grocers gave him what he wanted out the back door instead. Now, out of Britain...
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/a7517354-6a2a-11e0-86e4-00144feab49a.html#axzz1KO6oXAfS
'I serve waste food to strangers at dinner parties'
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/a7517354-6a2a-11e0-86e4-00144feab49a.html#axzz1KO6oXAfS
'I serve waste food to strangers at dinner parties'
Thursday, April 21, 2011
gleaning
http://godspace.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/gleanings-for-the-hungry-leftovers-or-best-fruits/
from Christine Sine's blog ... she has really got us thinking here at dear old St Albans
we are having a gradual awakening of the gardening impulse
as the weather gradually awakens to spring!
from Christine Sine's blog ... she has really got us thinking here at dear old St Albans
we are having a gradual awakening of the gardening impulse
as the weather gradually awakens to spring!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
More than just gleaning
Sunday's reading from Hebrew scripture will be from the 19th chapter of Leviticus, including these verses:
19:9 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest.
10 You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God.
(NRSV)
What struck me on first reading these again was that the poor were actually allowed onto the fields to glean; the leftovers were not managed by the landowners and distributed according to the landowner's policies, but the gleaners came onto the land, and their labor yielded their gleanings. Somehow, this seems more dignified and just than the ways we in our place and time usually manage our charitable activity. Perhaps it shows more trust, and more of a relationship, between the poor and the rich than we experience.
And here is something else - the Hebrew word and its variations for glean is the same word usually translated "gather" in the story of manna in Exodus. So these same folks who are being exhorted to leave something for the gleaners have themselves been dependent on gleaning.
The Israelites in transit have been dependent on gleaning that which was provided by God for their sustenance. They know this radical dependence.
In effect, then, they are doing what has been done for them when they leave the grain at the edges, and the grapes which are not quite ripe, and the windfalls of their fruit. Their awareness of radical dependence helps them understand and act generously toward others - to give not just of their stuff, but out of their own lived experience.
19:9 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest.
10 You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God.
(NRSV)
What struck me on first reading these again was that the poor were actually allowed onto the fields to glean; the leftovers were not managed by the landowners and distributed according to the landowner's policies, but the gleaners came onto the land, and their labor yielded their gleanings. Somehow, this seems more dignified and just than the ways we in our place and time usually manage our charitable activity. Perhaps it shows more trust, and more of a relationship, between the poor and the rich than we experience.
And here is something else - the Hebrew word and its variations for glean is the same word usually translated "gather" in the story of manna in Exodus. So these same folks who are being exhorted to leave something for the gleaners have themselves been dependent on gleaning.
The Israelites in transit have been dependent on gleaning that which was provided by God for their sustenance. They know this radical dependence.
In effect, then, they are doing what has been done for them when they leave the grain at the edges, and the grapes which are not quite ripe, and the windfalls of their fruit. Their awareness of radical dependence helps them understand and act generously toward others - to give not just of their stuff, but out of their own lived experience.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Gleanings on gleaning
If I were a fundamentalist this could be an illustration for a lesson on original sin, but there is nothing original about confusing charitable activity with justice.
I've been struggling for two weeks with how to say that without sounding harsh, and maybe there is no way to do so.
It was a wonderful day of gleaning, though a bit hot by late morning. As part of a Slow Food Russian River initiative we gleaned a private small orchard in Sebastopol, and got 676 pounds of apples which eventually went to the Redwood Gospel Mission and a public school in north county.
The team I worked with were great - good conversation along with the sun and scent of an apple orchard and rewarding work - marred only by the chain saws across the farm track where Dutton were taking out another orchard to put in grapes.
But I think it was the conversation with some of the gleaning leaders in the county at the luncheon celebration afterward (great fresh local food eaten in the shade at Bayer Farm) that really made me pause.
I have had an idea for some time that we need to get young people involved in gleaning. I've been thinking particularly about high school students doing service learning. But it seems like the gleaning being done now is by people who already know the food system in order to supply charities with produce. I'd so like to see both a learning component, and an involvement of those who could benefit from more fresh, local produce, and often can't afford it, in the gleaning effort itself. If that means that volunteers who are experienced and trusted by growers to glean their fields and orchards need to companion others, well, that's fine. I wish I were sure they were willing to. But I am questioning whether gleaning which is done to redistribute surplus by those who don't need the gleaned produce is really gleaning as I understand it. And whether such gleaning efforts can really be called food justice actions.
Give a person an apple, or teach a person to pick an apple, or help low income people form an apple gleaning cooperative? which is the just thing to do?
Is it those Hebrew bible images of gleaning getting in the way? Perhaps I am a bit of a fundamentalist?
(Thanks to Michael Dimmock for the photo.)
Thursday, December 24, 2009
movie reviews en francais
The movies, not the reviews, are in French.
In the television dead zone that is Advent I have been happy about the existence of Netflix and Hulu. So much so that I may, after a dozen years, go back to being without a television.
The Gleaners and I is a 2000 treatment, with a 2002 update, of gleaners in France, inspired by Millais's painting. Agnes Varda documents her own attempts at gleaning and those of others. Not limited to fields, vineyards and orchards, gleaning goes on at farmers' markets, at the shore, in dumpsters and metaphorically. Vargas also explores the legal framework that permits gleaning.
I found Vargas' discoveries charming and never condescending - and I felt encouraged to see what more I might do to undertake some organized gleaning here. But I'm not sure I have the courage or the fitness levels required for dumpster diving!
The problem with watching French movies, of course, is that while I catch some of the language, I do depend on the subtitles, and that means I don't get much knitting done while watching them. Food Beware: the French Organic Revolution did leave me some moments to tune out a bit - it's a very heavy health and food-caused illness emphasis, which for me is not the primary reason to eat organic food. What I really liked, in this movie centered on reforming a school lunch program in an agricultural area of France, was watching the children eat. They sat at tables for eight or so, mixed ages, with the food served family style. The cooks actually came out of the kitchen, prodding some children to eat their vegetables, interviewing others about their reactions to what was being served. Oh that we would have a little more of this human community around our institutional food here in the U.S. Or even our family meals, dare I say it. Seeing the kids in their vegetable patch, watching the whole community get behind the transition to organics, and listening the challenges of agriculturalists in the area did hold my interest for much of the movie.
This coming week I will mostly be doing "my own work" which will include more blog updates including movie reviews.
In the television dead zone that is Advent I have been happy about the existence of Netflix and Hulu. So much so that I may, after a dozen years, go back to being without a television.
The Gleaners and I is a 2000 treatment, with a 2002 update, of gleaners in France, inspired by Millais's painting. Agnes Varda documents her own attempts at gleaning and those of others. Not limited to fields, vineyards and orchards, gleaning goes on at farmers' markets, at the shore, in dumpsters and metaphorically. Vargas also explores the legal framework that permits gleaning.
I found Vargas' discoveries charming and never condescending - and I felt encouraged to see what more I might do to undertake some organized gleaning here. But I'm not sure I have the courage or the fitness levels required for dumpster diving!
The problem with watching French movies, of course, is that while I catch some of the language, I do depend on the subtitles, and that means I don't get much knitting done while watching them. Food Beware: the French Organic Revolution did leave me some moments to tune out a bit - it's a very heavy health and food-caused illness emphasis, which for me is not the primary reason to eat organic food. What I really liked, in this movie centered on reforming a school lunch program in an agricultural area of France, was watching the children eat. They sat at tables for eight or so, mixed ages, with the food served family style. The cooks actually came out of the kitchen, prodding some children to eat their vegetables, interviewing others about their reactions to what was being served. Oh that we would have a little more of this human community around our institutional food here in the U.S. Or even our family meals, dare I say it. Seeing the kids in their vegetable patch, watching the whole community get behind the transition to organics, and listening the challenges of agriculturalists in the area did hold my interest for much of the movie.
This coming week I will mostly be doing "my own work" which will include more blog updates including movie reviews.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Gleaned Clean
An AP article, November 23, from Platteville, Colorado, was picked up by the NY Times, which is where I spotted it. A farm family opened up their 600 acres north of Denver. People were invited to glean potatoes, carrots and leeks.
40,000 people showed up.
Seems to me this reflects the increasing hunger in our land, especially hunger for fresh produce, as incomes decline and jobs are lost.
I noticed early this fall that on the west county bulletin board here there were only one or two offers of free fruit and produce. Last year there were so many. Either people are learning to dry or can themselves, or they are getting their surplus to food banks, or they are inviting programs that serve the hungry to glean. Or maybe the folks who took their surplus last year remembered and called them up at the right time. Whatever. The need is greater, and connections to get the surplus to those who can benefit seem stronger. No need to offer up those apples or potatoes anonymously. And beware what happens when you do!
I wonder if the Millers in Colorado will try an open invitation again...
40,000 people showed up.
Seems to me this reflects the increasing hunger in our land, especially hunger for fresh produce, as incomes decline and jobs are lost.
I noticed early this fall that on the west county bulletin board here there were only one or two offers of free fruit and produce. Last year there were so many. Either people are learning to dry or can themselves, or they are getting their surplus to food banks, or they are inviting programs that serve the hungry to glean. Or maybe the folks who took their surplus last year remembered and called them up at the right time. Whatever. The need is greater, and connections to get the surplus to those who can benefit seem stronger. No need to offer up those apples or potatoes anonymously. And beware what happens when you do!
I wonder if the Millers in Colorado will try an open invitation again...
Friday, September 14, 2007
tomato tyranny and zucchini exuberance
I've been neglecting writing because I seem to be spending too much time with my own harvest and (literal) gleanings. As long as I have the oven on to bake zucchini muffins, I might as well roast the excess grape tomatoes for the freezer - that kind of thing.
I've also made muffins with the first pumpkin and grated some zucchini for the freezer, for more muffins later. And frozen some single portions of marinara and giardiniera sauce.
And as long as I have enough green tomatoes and a donation of some backyard pears, why not say yes to an ad for free apples? So tomorrow I can make and can green tomato mincemeat.
But I might have to make applesauce, too - there are so many. They are a beautiful variety - pink pearl (no, no - not erasers, apples) and would make beautiful sauce - or a galette or kuchen.
And with the apples came some tomatillos - and the poor woman was so tired of canning, I could not say no, take them home! No more produce! So instead of sitting with my knitting and watching a ballgame this evening, I made a small batch of salsa verde.
The apples also came with a copy of a recipe for zucchini relish. Frankly, I don't eat much relish - but I suppose it could be a novelty for the fantasy league reunion next winter. But as long as I can find anybody to take zucchini and crooknecks - still producing like their lives depended on it - and, of course, they do (since summer squash are harvested immature, they keep making new ones in pursuit of seeding the next generation) - I think I will keep giving them away.
One of the wonderful things about the garden project is the happy responses of people to whom I give extra produce. I don't know which is more edifying - to look at a colorful basket of tomatoes you grew yourself, or to see the happy smiles of people with whom you share them.
But really plants - time to slow down, and relax into fall, so I can get out of the kitchen in the evenings before the 10:45 weather report. I do want to extend the harvest, with local food put by to enrich winter meals. But I don't want to be building bigger barns.
I've also made muffins with the first pumpkin and grated some zucchini for the freezer, for more muffins later. And frozen some single portions of marinara and giardiniera sauce.
And as long as I have enough green tomatoes and a donation of some backyard pears, why not say yes to an ad for free apples? So tomorrow I can make and can green tomato mincemeat.
But I might have to make applesauce, too - there are so many. They are a beautiful variety - pink pearl (no, no - not erasers, apples) and would make beautiful sauce - or a galette or kuchen.
And with the apples came some tomatillos - and the poor woman was so tired of canning, I could not say no, take them home! No more produce! So instead of sitting with my knitting and watching a ballgame this evening, I made a small batch of salsa verde.
The apples also came with a copy of a recipe for zucchini relish. Frankly, I don't eat much relish - but I suppose it could be a novelty for the fantasy league reunion next winter. But as long as I can find anybody to take zucchini and crooknecks - still producing like their lives depended on it - and, of course, they do (since summer squash are harvested immature, they keep making new ones in pursuit of seeding the next generation) - I think I will keep giving them away.
One of the wonderful things about the garden project is the happy responses of people to whom I give extra produce. I don't know which is more edifying - to look at a colorful basket of tomatoes you grew yourself, or to see the happy smiles of people with whom you share them.
But really plants - time to slow down, and relax into fall, so I can get out of the kitchen in the evenings before the 10:45 weather report. I do want to extend the harvest, with local food put by to enrich winter meals. But I don't want to be building bigger barns.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Why Just Gleanings?
"Gleanings" sprang to mind because sometimes I feel like I am running a home for unwanted fruit. So much backyard fruit, or fruit in untended orchards, or fruit in orchards where the owners are too cheap to pay a fair wage to pickers, goes to waste here. We need more gleaning and more gleaners, to distribute this bounty to those who are hungry for fresh local produce. "Gleanings" has that wonderful other meaning, too - the bits of surprising information or wisdom we pull from our experiences.
"Just" has two meanings, too. It may may mean "only", or "limited to" - and I do intend to limit this blog to gleanings about food and food systems. But I hope here it will always carry a connotation of "righteous," "equitable," etc.
For some time now I've been wanting to start a blog. But I didn't want a blog that was all opinion. And it became clear to me after checking out a number of them that the world did not need another cozy blog about knitting and cats - though I could certainly do that.
I've loved food in all its aspects all my life: gardening, harvesting, preserving, cooking, eating, serving food to others. I've worked to gather, cook and distribute food for the hungry, too. And I have a deep concern for how we might develop sustainable food systems which will foster the health of the planet and all people.
As an Episcopal deacon, a meal is at the heart of my religious practice. Table fellowship, good bread and good wine, is for me where the sacred and the mundane intersect.
I'm also at heart a teacher. I love to share information, provoke reflection, encourage action. So why not, I asked, a blog where I could reflect on the many aspects of food, share resources, and invite others to share.
This won't be a recipe blog, but don't be surprised if one sneaks in from time to time.
"Just" has two meanings, too. It may may mean "only", or "limited to" - and I do intend to limit this blog to gleanings about food and food systems. But I hope here it will always carry a connotation of "righteous," "equitable," etc.
For some time now I've been wanting to start a blog. But I didn't want a blog that was all opinion. And it became clear to me after checking out a number of them that the world did not need another cozy blog about knitting and cats - though I could certainly do that.
I've loved food in all its aspects all my life: gardening, harvesting, preserving, cooking, eating, serving food to others. I've worked to gather, cook and distribute food for the hungry, too. And I have a deep concern for how we might develop sustainable food systems which will foster the health of the planet and all people.
As an Episcopal deacon, a meal is at the heart of my religious practice. Table fellowship, good bread and good wine, is for me where the sacred and the mundane intersect.
I'm also at heart a teacher. I love to share information, provoke reflection, encourage action. So why not, I asked, a blog where I could reflect on the many aspects of food, share resources, and invite others to share.
This won't be a recipe blog, but don't be surprised if one sneaks in from time to time.
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