Food & Gardening Happenings

Another great contribution from Data Freeman. Thanks Dana!

Dear Foodie Friends,

Check out the explosion of happenings around our favorite topic--food!

• SOCIAL IMPACT FORUM OMAHA

Held Friday, February 26 from 8AM to 4PM at Creighton University. Numerous session including a panel entitled "Thinking Globally, Eating Locally: Effecting Change One Bite at a Time." During this informative session, you will hear from local experts including John Birge, Ingrid Kirst, Jim Knopik, Andrea Comiskey Lawse, & Billene Nemec. Learn & share ways in which you can change your food choices and impact your world. For more details: http://www.socialimpactomaha.org/

• Gifford Park's TEEN MARKET GARDEN
  

2010 Informational Meeting on Saturday, February 27 from 10AM to 11AM at Benson Public Library (6015 Binney St.). Library doors open at 10AM.

Year 2 is upon us for our pilot project: Teen and Young Adult Market Garden. In addition to interested your people, we are also seeking mentors to work one-on-one with teens and young adults to develop and implement business plans. Experience not necessary; just a willingness to teach and learn with a mentee.

Dive into the basics of entrepreneurship from product selection, to marketing, to pricing and selling. Interested mentors (anyone!) and young people (between the ages of 14 & 25) are welcome to join us to discuss the program concept, possibilities, and questions. Parents welcome and encouraged to attend! Contact Cynthia Shuck (402.556.2090) or Kate Bodmann (402.496.8419) for more information.

• BEEKEEPING WORKSHOPS
  

Everything You Need to Know to Succeed in Apiculture!

Beginning Beekeeping Workshops:
Hastings, NE – February 27, 2010
Nebraska City, NE – March 13, 2010

Beginning Beekeeping Field Day:
Ithaca, NE – April 17, 2010

For a complete program brochure go to http://entomology.unl.edu/beekpg/2010workshops.pdf

• NO MORE EMPTY POTS FOOD SUMMIT
  

Saturday, February 27 from 8AM to 4PM at Family Housing Advisory Services (2401 Lake St.). Registration is $20 per person, including lunch and materials. Want more info? Contact Nancy at nomoreemptypots@gmail.com or (402.320.5349).

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nomoreMTpots
Blog: http://nomoreemptypots.wordpress.com/

• GARDENING AS SPIRITUAL EXERCISE Lecture
  

Daniel Deffenbaugh will present "Gardening as Spiritual Exercise" on Sunday, February 28 at 1:30PM at 7300 Holdrege St. in Lincoln. This event is free & open to the public. Hosted by Common Good Farm & First Mennonite Church Lincoln. Doors open at 1 PM. Parking on north side. Questions: Call First Mennonite at (402.467.1526) or Common Good Farm at (402.783.9005).

• 6th Annual FOOD SAFETY TASK FORCE CONFERENCE: Focus on Local Food
  

Tuesday, March 2 @ Lied Conference Center in Nebraska City. Complete program brochure at www.eatrightnebraska.org/wfData/files/FoodSafetyTaskForceBrochure2010.pdf

• COMMUNITY GARDEN NETWORK MEETING
  
  
  When: Thursday, March 4 at 4:15PM
  Where: Extension Office located at 8015 West Center Road
  

The purpose of this meeting is to create a place for dialogue and plan some joint activities.

For more information please contact: Mary Balluff at mary.balluff@douglascounty-ne.gov or (402.444.1773)

• "EXPANDING NEBRASKA'S LOCAL FOODS" CONFERENCE

The Nebraska Rural Initiative and the Nebraska Local Foods Network invites you to attend "Expanding Nebraska's Local Foods" Conference on Tuesday, March 9 from 8AM to 3:30PM at UNL's East Campus Union. At the conference you can discover ways to enhance and increase the production and consumption of Nebraska Local Foods within various distribution channels.

Conference highlights include: Dr. Robert Gravani Professor of Food Science and Director of the National Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Program at Cornell University; Lynn Fallon the Midwest Region Farm-to-School Network Coordinator, and Chris Kirby the Oklahoma Farm-to-School Coordinator.

In the afternoon, there will be breakout sessions for anyone interested in the following: Marketing/Distribution Center, Farm-to-School, or Beginning Producer Education and Curriculum.

To register for this conference, please click the following link: http://go.unl.edu/localfoodconference

Price: $25 per person for those who register before March 5 ($30 for late registration)

• OMAHA COUNCIL OF GARDEN CLUBS MEETING
  

Tuesday, March 9 6:30PM to 7PM at Douglas/Sarpy County Extension Office (8015 W. Center Rd.)

At 7 PM, Jan Riggenbach will present "Fifty Fabulous Finds." She will share her 50 current favorites and tell you how to use them in your garden. Jan is best known locally for her column in the Omaha World Herald. She writes for Midwest Gardening. Jan has written books (and is writing another).

• 1st FNS FARM-TO-SCHOOL Webinar

USDA Farm to School: Opportunities to Increase Local Food in School Meals on Wednesday, March 10 from 2 to 3PM CST.

Description: Are you interested in Farm to School? Have you been involved in Farm to School activities already? The USDA Farm to School Team is holding its first Webinar to introduce the Farm to School Team. We welcome state agencies, school food service administrators, farmers and others interested in learning about the commitment USDA offers to Farm to School. USDA will discuss the Farm to School Team's mission and goals for 2010, available resources, grant opportunities, and answer questions you may have about Farm to School.

Target Audience: State CN Program Directors and nutrition staff; FNS regional office staff; Farm to School Coordinators, and non-profit organizations involved in Farm to School programs.

Webinar Presenter: FNS Farm to School Team

Registration: To participate in this Webinar, please indicate your intent by COB, Monday, March 8 by registering online at: http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/17fb9g42e15

• STARTING A COMMUNITY GARDEN WORKSHOP
  
  
  When: Wednesday, March 10 from 6:30 to 9PM
  Where: Extension Office located at 8015 West Center Road
  

This training is for individuals who want to start community gardens. The training is free; anyone who is interested is invited and must pre-register by calling Patty Falcone at (402.444.7146).

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity 2010 Webinars
  

Please join The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity and your colleagues in the field to discuss: childhood obesity research, best practices for addressing childhood obesity, and strategies for using policy and environmental change to reverse the epidemic of childhood obesity.

The center's first round of webinars in 2010 is focused on "Making Schools the Model for Healthier Environments." Each webinar will be held bi-monthly on Thursdays at 1PM CST and will discuss initiatives currently underway to ensure that schools become the standard for healthy eating and active living.

From preschool through 12th grade, schools can make a significant contribution to reversing the childhood obesity epidemic by enacting policies that promote the availability and consumption of nutritious foods and beverages, and by teaching healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

These webinars will feature researchers, advocates, and policymakers discussing solutions to problems that schools face in providing healthy food and opportunities for physical activity. These sessions will also provide resources to help make schools healthier.

Register for any or all of the four webinars in this series:

• February 25:
  Seizing the Moment: Efforts Underway to Improve our Schools
  
• March 11:
  Sowing Seeds: Improving Food Quality with Farm-to-School Programs
  
• March 25:
  Setting the Standard: What Schools Are Doing about Competitive Foods
• April 8:
  Let's Get Physical: Being Active to Reverse Child Obesity
  

For more information about this webinar series visit: http://reversechildhoodobesity.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbac5f26ad18ac67959e871d&id=696bff6a5b&e=19b78b10be. Stay Informed: Sign-up for RWJF Center Updates. Follow us on Twitter: http://reversechildhoodobesity.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbac5f26ad18ac67959e871d&id=c346955c99&e=19b78b10be.

• GREEN GARDEN WORKSHOPS
  

The City of Omaha, with funds provided by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, is sponsoring three Green Garden Workshops in March 2010 to provide information to residents about rain gardens. If you are interested in a brief presentation on the upcoming workshops at your next club/group/association meeting, please email greengardens@lovgren.com with your request or call Nancy at (402.397.7158).

Workshop dates:
Saturday, March 20 from 9AM to Noon at MCC, Fort Omaha Campus Bldg. 7 (30th & Fort Sts.)

Thursday, March 25 from 6:30 to 9:30PM at MCC, Fort Omaha Campus Bldg. 7 (30th & Fort Sts.)

Saturday, March 27 from 9AM to noon at Douglas County Extension Office (8015 West Center Rd.)

Description: The workshops are designed to educate area residents about the benefits of sustainable garden design and specific plants you can grow which will enhance your landscaping. The workshops are presented by the City of Omaha and feature the expertise of horticulturist Steve Rodie, Ted Hartsig, a soil scientist with Olsson Associates and sustainable landscape designer Andy Szatko.

Register: greengardens@lovgren.com or (402.397.7158)

• THE REAL FOOD CONNECTION 2010

Sunday, March 21 from 1 to 4PM at Douglas County Extension: We (people like you!) will be sharing what we do with the people, organizations, and businesses to make Slow Food actually happen in the Omaha area. The idea is for you to educate and promote what you do, so that we can share resources with one another and the community of eaters looking to learn more about what the Omaha food region provides.

Setup starts at 11.30AM. Bring along any informational and/or promotional materials. If you have a table please bring it, otherwise one can be provided for you. Contact Terra Sorensen

• RECIPE TO REALITY SEMINAR

Iowa Western Community College Entrepreneurial Center and Small Business Development Center is offering the University of Nebraska Food Processing Center's nationally recognized "From Recipe to Reality" seminar on Tuesday, March 23 from 8AM to 5PM in Council Bluffs. The seminar is the first phase of the Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program. This program, which has existed since 1989, is the only program in the nation that provides complete assistance to individuals wanting to start a food business.

For more information:www.iwccecenter.com/pdf/RecipeReality.pdf

• RAIN BARREL MAKING WORKSHOPS

There will be rain barrel making workshops on Saturdays March 27 and April 3 from 9:30 to 11:30AM at the Council Bluffs Community Hall (205 S. Main St.). Bobbi Holm of the UNL Douglas/Sarpy County Extension office will be presenting the program.

Registration information: http://pottswcd.org/wp_index_files/Rain%20Barrel%20Workshop.pdf

• STARTING A VEGETABLE GARDEN WORKSHOP
  
  

When: Monday, March 29 at 6:30PM
Where: UNL Douglas/Sarpy County Extension Office located at 8015 West Center Road

Description: This class is for people with no experience growing vegetables. It will provide the basics on planning, planting, and care through harvest. Included will be hints on how to conserve water while caring for your garden, and what vegetables to grow. Promote sustainability through recycling by using compost and newspapers in the garden. Good gardening practices will minimize use of insecticides, fungicides and fertilizers.

Registration deadline: March 25; Cost: $15

For more information please contact Mary Anna Anderson at: manderson7@unl.edu or 402-444-7804.

• 2nd Annual SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE CONFERENCE

Held on Dana College's campus on Wednesday, March 31 starting at 9AM. Throughout the day, there will be opportunities for participants to hear from leaders in the field of sustainability, meet with exhibitors in the industry and network with business, civic, education and non-profit representatives concerned with issues of energy, the environment and sustainability. This conference also aims to heighten local and regional awareness and understanding of sustainability concepts and enterprises in the Blair, Omaha and surrounding areas.

Exhibitors and Sponsors: If you'd like be an exhibitor or help sponsor the conference, please contact Janis Enenbach at 402.426.7237 or mailto:enenbach.janis@dana.edu?subject=Sustainable%20Enterprise.

Keynote Speaker: We're pleased to announce that "No Impact Man" Colin Beavan, Ph.D. will be the keynote speaker at this year's conference!

Check out the website for more information.

• ALL-SEASONS PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE

Glacial Lakes Permaculture will be offering an All-Seasons Permaculture Design Course, starting in April 2010. The course will meet one weekend day per month and run through March 2011. More details, including a flyer, topics, and costs can be found at:http://glaciallakespermaculture.org/permaculture_design_courses_pdc

A message from Terra Sorensen. Chair, Slow Food Omaha

Hello from the new Slow Food Omaha!

Toward the end of last year, we formed a chapter to link the pleasure of food with a commitment to the Omaha community and the environment. We held one event last fall, a long table next to a farm field where folks could eat a meal made from what they could see growing.

As you know, there are ever-increasing local food options in the Omaha area. The local growers, artisans, purveyors, chefs, and markets provide so much for the locavore looking for flavorful food that also reflects the region and treads lightly on the earth. Slow Food Omaha would like to invite you to a spring open house, The Real Food Connection, which celebrates these options.

On Sunday, March 21st, from 1-4pm, at the Douglas County Extension, we will be sharing what we do with the people, organizations, and businesses that are making Slow Food actually happen in the Omaha area. People like you.

The idea is for you to educate and promote what you do, so that we can share resources with one another and the community of eaters looking to learn more about what the Omaha food region provides.

Setup starts at 11.30am on Sunday. Bring along any informational and/or promotional materials. If you have a table please bring it, otherwise one can be provided for you.

Its going to be great to have so many amazing local food providers in the same room! Contact us with any questions or ideas, and we hope to see you in March,

Terra Sorensen
Chair, Slow Food Omaha

Signup form...

Michelle Obama's new child obesity initiative

a message from Gordon Jenkins...

Earlier this week, Michelle Obama launched a new initiative to solve the epidemic of child obesity. "Let's move to get healthier food into our nation's schools," she said. More than 31 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program. Many consume as many as half their daily calories at school. Helping schools serve real food may be the most promising way to end child obesity - but it simply can't happen unless Congress invests in healthier food in the upcoming Child Nutrition Act. Will you send an email to your legislators to help schools serve real food? Now that the First Lady is leading the charge to combat obesity, Congress will start debating the Child Nutrition Act this month. It's more important than ever that legislators hear directly from citizens back home. On a conference call this week, USDA Secretary Vilsack said that the most important thing citizens can do to get healthier food into their local schools is to urge Congress to pass a strong Child Nutrition Act. This issue has broad public support, he said, but it isn't appearing in the news - so we need to make sure Congress gets the message. That's where you come in. Even if you've already signed the Time for Lunch petition, please take a minute to email your legislators today. Thank you, Gordon Jenkins Advocacy Manager Slow Food USA

National Farm to School Network

The following message was sent by dana freeman...

See below for information on how you can be a part of changing the way children eat in the US.

National Farm to School Network on the Move

The National Network has been very busy these days gearing up for the 5th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Taking Root, in Detroit, MI May 17-19, 2010. In line with the First Lady's Let's Move initiative, the Network has two great youth contests planned for the National Conference, both focused on nourishing kids and communities. The first is a national healthy cooking contest for youth, Cooking Up Change, and the second is a national video contest titled Real Food Is.

Cooking Up Change challenges teams of high school and college students to create a healthful and delicious school meal that meets the Institute of Medicine nutrition standards, incorporates a local food item, draws from ingredients commonly available to food service, and can be easily prepared in a school kitchen. Finalists will prepare their recipes in Detroit for a prestigious panel of judges. Conference participants will sample the teams' delicious creations. Submit your recipes online by March 26, 2010. For contest guidelines and information, visit www.cookingupchange.org.

For the Real Food Is video contest, students are challenged to define what real food means to them by creating a short video that completes the phrase "Real Food is..." Created by the National Farm to School Network and sponsored by the Lunch Box Project, this contest is open to K-12 and college students and runs until March 29, 2010. The winners will receive $1,000 and an all expenses paid trip to the conference to show their videos at the opening plenary. More info is available at video.farmtoschool.org

The conference website will go live shortly; and registration will open Feb. 22^nd. We hope to see you there!

And, lastly, here's a way for you to help the National Farm to School Network!

The Network has been entered into Campbells' Sunday Supper Challenge, an online voting competition. If folks vote for Diane Cu's Ginger Chicken Egg Drop Soup, the National Network will win $10-$50k. Please circulate widely and encourage your colleagues to vote for the National Network and Diane Cu's Ginger Chicken Egg Drop Soup.

Dundee Community Garden Winter Update

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and Friends,

The ground is covered with two feet of snow, so naturally our thoughts are turned towards spring and digging in the garden! We have set April 1 as our target date for having the garden space available.


1. PLOT RENEWALS
If you had a garden plot last year, and would like to continue with a plot this year, but have not already renewed, please send $20 to our treasurer Deb Hickman at 1227 N. 53rd St., Omaha, 68132.
All plots must be renewed by March 1. After March 1, we will open up available plots to people on our waiting list.




2. CHANGE OF PLOT LOCATION
If you had a plot last year, and want a DIFFERENT plot this year, please let us know... even if you told us last year. We are assuming renewals are for the same plot UNLESS you let us know differently. Please e-mail me at megreen4@cox.net if you want to change your plot location.




3. PLOT DISCONTINUANCE
If you had a plot last year, but do not wish to continue with a plot this year, please let us know.




4. BOARD MEETING FEB. 22, 7 p.m.
Our first board meeting for 2010 will be on Monday Feb. 22, 7 p.m. at Dundee Presbyterian Church, in the Parlor, which is UPSTAIRS and towards the Underwood end of the church. All garden members and friends are invited to participate in our board meetings.




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Other items of interest:


1. Sierra Club Program: "The Road to Black Sheep Farms"
Thursday Feb. 25, 7 p.m.
First United Methodist Church, 69th & Cass Streets (Enter north door Education wing)


You may have read about the experiences of Brian and Kelly Smith in the World-Herald last year, when they moved from Omaha to Bennington in order to start a an organic family farm. Join the Sierra Club to hear Brian and Kelly discuss the triumphs and challenges of their first year, as well as the importance of buying locally and knowing how your food is produced. For more information, go to http://sierranebraska.org/?p=432

2. Slow Food Potluck and Meeting

When: February 21st at 5pm

Where: Amy and Tom Yaroch's (9499 Broadmoor)

Potluck style dinner and conversation from 5-6 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 6 p.m.

For more information email: slowfoodomaha@gmail.com.

3. Green Garden Workshops

Is there a better way to manage your yard?

The City of Omaha is offering a series of workshops on how to create and maintain rain gardens and other sustainable landscapes in March. Participants will learn the ins and outs from experts in the fields of landscape horticulture, soil science and landscape design.

The cost is $20 per person, which includes a take-home rain garden manual developed by the City of Omaha through a grant from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. The workshop dates, times and locations are as follows:

Saturday, March 20
9:00am to noon
Metropolitan Community College, Fort Omaha Campus, Building 7
30th and Fort streets

Thursday, March 25
6:30 to 9:30pm
Douglas County Extension Office
8015 W. Center Road

Saturday, March 27
9:00am to noon
Douglas County Extension Office
8015 W. Center Road

To register, email greengardens@lovgren.com or call Nancy at 397.7158

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If you would like your name removed from the Dundee Community Garden list, please send an e-mail to megreen4@cox.net and ask to be removed from the list!