CSA Farm, Food Revolution and the IS Foundation...

Hi Everyone!

Another busy week around here. The garden looks AMAZING!! My corn is looking fabulous, although the storms did knock it around a bit. LOTS of tomato plants! The squash is looking big...big leafy leaves that (cross our fingers) should produce some nice looking yellow squash! The walking onions, raspberries, radishes, carrots, cucumbers and peppers are doing well. The peppers seem to be small, but we'll see!

Now on to my herb garden...I have a TON of dill and basil!! Which thrills me completely. I love basil and have a lot of recipes for it. I also freeze a good portion for use throughout the summer. I have never really gotten a lot of dill before, so I am looking for recipes with that as well.

I have let the cilantro on the side of the house go to seed and I will save the seeds and plant them either in the fall or save them until spring.

My thyme is struggling. I will get a little but not enough to really do anything significant with. Rosemary is minimal. I may get enough for a couple dishes. It's quite disappointing with the rosemary and thyme. I may have planted it in the wrong place. I will adjust for next year!

Now on to the GREAT stuff!! We had our first pick-up at the CSA farm in Naperville! So exciting!!! We ended up with a lot of greens...swiss chard, chinese cabbage, tasoi and kale. We received some thyme, Hakurei turnips, garlic scapes, scallions and peas!!!

I ended up grilling some kale and swiss chard. Put the leaves on the grill and drizzle with balsamic vinegar and garlic powder. Leave them on only for a couple minutes. If you leave them on any longer they WILL burn!! Take them off and sprinkle with some shredded cheese (my choice was a nice hard cheese from Ireland) and this makes an awesome side dish. We happened to have it with a nicely grilled steak!:)

A word about the Green Earth Institute and the CSA farm: The mission statement reads, "The mission of the Green Earth Institute is to promote nutritional health and ecological sustainability. Using our organic farm as a demonstration and learning center, we grow healthful vegetables in an earth-friendly way and educate about nature, nutrition, and caring for the earth." 

This is completely in line with the way I think, and they do an amazing job at the farm in Naperville. I highly suggest checking out their website and even volunteering at the farm when you have some time. I am pretty sure you cannot get a share for this year; however, be sure to keep them in mind after January and possibly purchase a share for next summer/fall...I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed!

Their email is: csa@greenearthinstitue.org, and the farm is located at 10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd. in Naperville. The phone number is 630-664-5681.

I am happy so say I visited Brookhaven this week and saw they now put packaged by and sell by dates on their prepackaged veggies!!! WOO HOO!!! Way to go Brookhaven!!! Thanks for "stepping up"!!!!

Finally, I would like to take a moment to bend your ear on a couple of issues I support. One of them is Jamie Oliver's "Food Revolution." This is a very hard task for this guy...changing the way we feed our children in our schools. It's all about giving them healthier choices in food and drinks.

Lately, the focus has been on eliminating flavored milk from the school menus. I believe we need to take a look at EVERYTHING they are drinking. These fruit juices and "flavored" water have just as much, if not more sugar than the milk.

While I support his initiative, we also have to remember that some schools don't have cafeterias and they have to bring in their food. What we should look at there is bringing in HEALTHY food...not McDonald's...not Wendy's...not Boston Market and not "hot dog day." How about the schools form partnerships with Whole Foods or Trader Joe's? Ask them to help you give these kids some decent, healthy lunch options? I don't know...just a thought! If you want to check out the Food Revolution go to http://www.jamieoliver.com/us/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/home.

The other cause I believe in wholeheartedly is the IS Foundation. I mentioned this in my last blog and I wanted to mention it again because it is going to do great things!! It's mission statement reads, "The IS FOUNDATION aims to empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures."

Most recently this organization has been involved in freeing Tony the Truck Stop Tiger. This was a Siberian-Bengal tiger who was an attraction at a truck stop in Louisiana. He lived in a cement cage with bars. The ISF was instrumental in getting a judge to rule in favor of freedom for this animal. When this beautiful animal is released he will live his life in a big cat sanctuary that will meet his needs and take care of him properly.

The IS has also formed a partnership with the Detroit Dog Rescue. This proves to be an extremely beneficial partnership and I look forward to seeing what happens!

Check out the IS Foundation at http://www.isfoundation.com/

I would love to hear everyone's opinion on these two causes. Check out their sites and let me know!!

Have a great week!! Eat well and enjoy your food!!!!