tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035055035561961422024-03-05T20:00:20.109-06:00Tarrant County Good Food BlogTarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-87458457293583620262020-06-09T11:42:00.001-05:002020-06-10T08:40:44.069-05:00Strengthening Local Food Systems by Harrison Gibson, TCFPC Board Member<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0K7PZEo393au0De8noxGQRhf-CKG2apMNMp345Ks24Se_w-AHbnV2OXC8dltq1BMSSL7sIqrTx7sw2gmR5tXPzVBdsYlpi_ezeLh7y9U54gO7jIoHXurC-_P97xYF2AncNFp6BmXQfrPR/s3264/IMG_5196.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0K7PZEo393au0De8noxGQRhf-CKG2apMNMp345Ks24Se_w-AHbnV2OXC8dltq1BMSSL7sIqrTx7sw2gmR5tXPzVBdsYlpi_ezeLh7y9U54gO7jIoHXurC-_P97xYF2AncNFp6BmXQfrPR/s320/IMG_5196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">"These are strange
times” is an often heard refrain these days, and it certainly applies to our
food system right now. Crops are being turned under or rotting in the fields,
milk is being poured down dairy drains, and feedlot animals are being
euthanized for lack of a processor. Meanwhile, hungry people are encountering
bare grocery shelves and longer than ever lines at food pantries. How can we be
destroying food while we’re seeing record numbers of unemployment and hunger?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This juxtaposition of
abundance and need is not new to our society, but the coronavirus pandemic has
laid bare the inequities in our food system and perhaps its fundamental
problem: distribution. The roots of the problems now visible in our food system
are not unique to this moment in time, only especially evident due to the unique
stresses of our circumstances. Given this unusual situation, we’re offered a
unique perspective to view and address systemic deficiencies, recognize the
good being done, and consider our own role and power in our greater food
network. Before we can consider steps toward change, it’s worth taking a frank
look at the situation and why we might be here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In the past several decades, we have seen a
considerable consolidation of the food industry. Small farm-centric communities
and a diverse network of smaller food players have given way to an
industrialized food system with concentrated ownership, global interest, long
supply chains, and maximized profits for those large enough to reach the
economies of scale. Most of this has been done with efficiency in mind, but it
has come at a cost of overall resilience. Despite maximizing efficiency and
producing record quantities, the system falls short in the face of our
distribution problems and rising food insecurity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The food industrial complex has struggled to
divert products as typical supply streams have shifted along with consumer
demand. Restaurants, where Americans formerly spent roughly half of their food
budget, have closed and struggled to reopen. This has placed a remarkable
burden on grocery stores to try to meet customers' needs. Food banks have done
well to help bear increased strain and demand, and more Americans are turning
to food pantries for help for the first time amidst record unemployment.
Meanwhile, many industrial food producers are having to destroy product with
their processing and distribution hindered by the pandemic and unable to adjust
to the shifted demand. While everyone in the industry is facing hurdles and
looking for solutions, some local producers are finding ways to get food into
the hands of people that need it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Throughout this crisis, local members of the
food community have found solutions. Some have made creative changes to their
business models, while other have stayed their course and increased
productivity to meet the new demand. Here in Fort Worth, farmers markers have
been full and some vendors have reported their best weeks of sales and
increased demand for CSAs. Restaurants and entrepreneurs are coming up with
innovative solutions, with restaurants selling to-go boxes of farmer's fare,
chefs creating pop-up meals, and entrepreneurs canning, pickling, and
fermenting excess produce from farms. The resiliency and success of these
purveyors highlights the benefits and importance of building up our local food
system.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">While these times are strange, they offer
everyone an opportunity to reevaluate our food networks and our roles in them.
No matter our occupation, background, or diet, we all exist in our food system
as consumers, and shifting consumption from a passive act to an engaged one can
have a powerful effect. Wendell Berry championed re-establishing eating as an
agricultural act, and he summed it up well with, "Eating ends the annual
drama of the food economy that begins with planting and birth." So,
honoring Mr. Berry's good sense and good writing, it's worth suggesting a few
things anyone can do in this chaotic moment to tip the scales in favor of a
robust local food system.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">1.
<b>Buy local! </b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Buying local can help ensure your food’s
quality, reduces its carbon footprint, and you can know where your dollars are
going.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">2.
<b>Grow your own food.</b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> Participate in food production, whether it
be in your own yard, a community garden, or lending a hand at a local farm.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">3. <b>Prepare your own food.</b> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">You
can ensure your own quality, add your own value, learn about produce, nourish
yourself and others, and inspire the culinary arts in your own home.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">4.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b>Learn
about our local food system.</b> Explore the economy of it, the people
involved, the variety of foods produced, their seasonality, and all of its history.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">5.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b>Participate
in the decision-making process.</b> Learn about laws and policies that affect
this system, vote, and voice your opinion to legislators. A good starting point
could be getting involved with the Tarrant County Food Policy Council.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">6.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b>Share
it.</b> Now is the time share your food, your time, your gifts, or your passion
with a neighbor, especially if they’re struggling in this crisis.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Focusing
on local food systems alone won’t fix our nation’s problems with food
insecurity, but it can help nurture resiliency into a larger and more diverse
network. Together, through small intentional acts, we can build a stronger
local food community.</span><div><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><br /></font><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFsX5Js_DgSGUjb0QUOFhRtQfU-OKH56zMSM9uKV_FTyR1GBdNSKHwmSo1O1ds-kFaSQnCKKbP3lIctdk79r2yXnXYGyV9c_JMNflniOsHPWRCDdwsxGmOQlL6YrHs0rq35Yq18zLvzPZ/s4032/20200606_083435.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFsX5Js_DgSGUjb0QUOFhRtQfU-OKH56zMSM9uKV_FTyR1GBdNSKHwmSo1O1ds-kFaSQnCKKbP3lIctdk79r2yXnXYGyV9c_JMNflniOsHPWRCDdwsxGmOQlL6YrHs0rq35Yq18zLvzPZ/s320/20200606_083435.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div></div>Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-10023424060248962382019-01-25T11:52:00.000-06:002019-01-25T12:38:28.945-06:00Starting a Good Food Business in Your Neighborhood<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking for opportunities to start your own small mobile food business? The City of Fort Worth has changed two policies reducing required permit fees to help you do just that! With relatively low start-up costs, launching a produce cart or mobile market is a great way to bring fresh produce directly to neighborhoods that are underserved or unable to sustain a multi-vendor farmers market. This guide will give you the facts on what’s allowed and where to find additional resources to get your fresh and healthy business started!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Produce Cart</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The new policy allows:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pushcarts that offer whole, uncut produce in residentially zoned neighborhoods</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Produce carts may be up to 4’X3’X6'</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cut fruit prepared in a commissary kitchen, a licensed, commercial kitchen often rented to caterers and food truck operators</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sales can be made from residential sidewalks and from property used for non-residential purposes with permission from the property owner</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Operation between 7 am and sunset in residential neighborhood</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mobile Food Market</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The new policy allows:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For sales from a truck, bus or other vehicle that sells fresh fruits and vegetables along with other food items</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No permit fee is required if selling only whole, uncut produce</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Permit fee is reduced if 75% of its goods are whole, uncut produce</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sales can be made:</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As a transient vendor in one place for up to 60 minutes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From non-residential lots with permission of the property owner. Examples include churches and schools.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From a vacant lot in nonresidential districts with a valid Vendor Certificate of Occupancy. Examples include commercial, industrial or mixed-use districts. </span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Resources</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Starting a new business and steering it toward success can be daunting. There are never any guarantees, but there are resources and support available to guide you along the way. Here’s a few organizations that can help:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>City of Fort Worth Consumer Health Department </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Provides guidance and permitting for food businesses and mobile food vendors. fortworthtexas.gov/health or 817-392-7255</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Fort Worth Business Assistance Center</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Provides business plan assistance, workshops, loan assistance. fwbac.com or 817-392-2622</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>SCORE Fort Worth</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Provides expert volunteer mentors, free workshops and resources. fortworth.score.org or 817-871-6002</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Small Business Administration</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Provides resources and support to help you plan, launch, and manage your business. sba.gov or 1-800-827-5722</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Chambers of Commerce</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Local business associations dedicated to supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs as well as advocacy, talent development and more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> Fort Worth</b> <b>Chamber</b> fortworthchamber.com or 817-336-2491</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> Fort Worth Metropolitan Black</b> <b>Chamber</b> fwmbcc.org or 817-871-6538</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber </b> fwhcc.org</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(817) 625-5411</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TCFPC Community Gardens & Urban Ag Working Group</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Provides support and expertise for garden and agriculture initiatives. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">bit.ly/TCFPCworkinggroups</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This material was developed by the Tarrant County Food Policy Council and Blue Zones Project Fort Worth. For more information on these organizations and their efforts to support good food in our region, please visit http://www.tarrantcountyfoodpolicycouncil.org/ and https://fortworth.bluezonesproject.com/. </span></i></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-39720175229113958182018-12-19T15:59:00.001-06:002018-12-19T15:59:20.652-06:00Waste Not...<i style="font-size: x-small;">by Dorothy Cadet, TCFPC Intern</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Up to 40% of food produced in the United States
goes uneaten, is thrown away, spoils or is dumped into landfills across the
country. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This amount of food waste that sits and rots
in landfills could have been used to feed families, animals or turned into
nourishing compost to enrich the soil for more produce to grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">With nationwide
focus, the U.S. Department of Agriculture launched the </span><a href="https://www.usda.gov/oce/foodwaste/faqs.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">U.S. Food Waste Challenge</span></a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> to challenge
retailers to reduce their waste and loss by 50% by the year 2030.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many large retail companies have taken on the
challenge and embraced it: </span><a href="https://www.usda.gov/oce/foodwaste/Champions/index20161108.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Ahold
USA, Blue Apron, Bon Appetit, Campbell’s, ConAgra Foods, Kellogg’s, PepsiCo,
Sodexo, Unilever, Walmart, Wegman’s, Weis and Yum! Brands</span></a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">, have all
stepped up to help prevent, recover and recycle loss and waste of food and
food-related waste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Local Focus</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://sodexoinsights.com/partnership-leanpath-food-waste-tracking/"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Sodexo</span></a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> has partnered
with Texas Christian University (TCU) to prevent food waste by recovering and
redistributing excess food to a local homeless shelter, Union Gospel Mission,
through </span><a href="https://www.tcu360.com/2017/11/tcu-food-recovery-network-impacts-community-by-eliminating-waste/"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">TCU’s
Food Recovery Network</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">
(FRN)</span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.
The recovery and redistribution effort between Sodexo and TCU is led by FRN
President Lexi Endicott and fellow students. Endicott states that at present, </span><a href="http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article183419891.html"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">TCU
FRN</span></a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">
recovers food weekly from two campus dining halls and delivers it to the
partner agency on Mondays and Fridays. Food from Sodexo’s other retail and
entertainment locations, such as basketball and football arenas, is also
collected and delivered to </span><a href="https://www.ugm-tc.org/"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Union
Gospel Mission</span></a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.
TCU FRN has also partnered with Einstein Bros Bagels to collect landfill-bound
bagels each week and divert them to a food pantry – Northside Inter-community
Agency (NICA).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Endicott reports
that the efforts of dozens of student volunteers has prevented over 12,000
pounds of food from going to the landfill in just the last year and a half.
Instead of being thrown away, this food was diverted to those in need. This
program is a team effort that takes approximately three volunteer hours per
week, many hours serving at Union Gospel Mission, and countless administrative
hours. Students have been impacted by becoming more aware of their own personal
food waste, and FRN has been an important catalyst for increased understanding
of the impact of nationwide and global waste, loss, and recovery.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrfnagMyNHvrdV5Z025ruPDK6O7nWmZpim1iMBQvFee7cvp8H0cqD_bAyCduz3dmnizt1ugisVZvz6x26kqRdpgrVUel8H3uWO7hQGCA6VNuHAD1C2wvNfFDuDZVYTt_NftJF9E9tYpxq/s1600/_MG_4840.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifH4FFPMp6aynTgf0DYtAtnq4xdtubx3cAJ2RJXgoCREi6Cqssw7BsUfGpOjsPiuwMcD2XYM0UNMe1ZGzyUGgcVDXikZ7uZ5QR7HbJkl7fgIzwrjsnn0xhBNK9w8MLDtWM2qv3udWQvrk/s1600/Collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifH4FFPMp6aynTgf0DYtAtnq4xdtubx3cAJ2RJXgoCREi6Cqssw7BsUfGpOjsPiuwMcD2XYM0UNMe1ZGzyUGgcVDXikZ7uZ5QR7HbJkl7fgIzwrjsnn0xhBNK9w8MLDtWM2qv3udWQvrk/s640/Collage.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TCU students get fresh, leftover food from Sodexo ready to transport to Union Gospel Mission.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“I have seen
people transform from volunteers into food waste champions.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FRN has been a great motor for education and
awareness on our campus, it has been a great outlet for students to serve their
community, and the food donations have certainly benefited our recipient
organizations,” Megan McCracken, TCU FRN’s former president said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle</span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://cowboycompost.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Cowboy Compost</span></a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> has pioneered
the effort to reduce and recycle waste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They provide individuals with composting services which include education,
compost buckets, and reasonably priced biweekly home pick up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the retail, sporting, and entertainment
venues, they can craft a plan to help that location become a “zero waste” zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surprisingly, as part of their reasonably
priced marketing package, anyone can contact them to coordinate a “Zero Waste
Party” and purchase compostable plates, cups and utensils, which encourages all
items be sent for composting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Local Impact</span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It isn’t just
our partners that have the power to stop food waste. You have the power to
impact not only Fort Worth through prevention of over-purchasing or wasting of
food, but you can recover food by donating uneaten food directly to those in
need or recycle food waste and loss to composting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If every individual reduced their personal
waste and loss, along with retail business commitment to reduce wastes by 50%, we can all impact hunger, our environment, and our planet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">If you are
interested in learning more about how you can become involved in learning about
food waste, click on any of the links above or contact </span><a href="http://www.tarrantcountyfoodpolicycouncil.org/home.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #4472c4; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-themecolor: accent5;">Tarrant County Food Policy Council</span><span style="color: #4472c4; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-themecolor: accent5;"> </span></a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">to find out what our Food Recovery Working
Group is doing to prevent food from being wasted and how you can help. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-53794972295400513252018-11-01T10:07:00.000-05:002018-11-12T10:11:16.539-06:00Sowing Food Justice with the Community Gardens & Urban Agriculture<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>by Dave Aftandilian, CGUA Working Group Leader and TCFPC Board Member</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h4>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Making Fresh Produce More Accessible to All in Tarrant County</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">If people in a community lack affordable access to healthy, nutritious produce, they can pursue a range of remedies:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They might try to convince a full-service grocery store to locate in their community. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They could work with the city to help local convenience stores stock more healthy produce, or to locate a farmers market in their community. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or they might decide to grow their own.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That’s where Community Gardens & Urban Agriculture (CGUA), the Tarrant County Food Policy Council’s CGUA Working Group, comes in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Plant Your Produce<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipY7WWEOZl0JJe7znCQJHKJO-L5vFpmnpkptFXMDw9tqM3hsDgCCnfOdGG_JSdb_OiKzXVm_TuQTbvv98BhTfTKhCb6Qvf9Gp46WLQvp0ZJu3dHQH7nC19rLOJUdeg7be6TeFavOSONsiw/s1600/SouthsideGarden_StudentSharonFronkAndGirlWorkingTogether_April2012_DaveAftandilian.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1086" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipY7WWEOZl0JJe7znCQJHKJO-L5vFpmnpkptFXMDw9tqM3hsDgCCnfOdGG_JSdb_OiKzXVm_TuQTbvv98BhTfTKhCb6Qvf9Gp46WLQvp0ZJu3dHQH7nC19rLOJUdeg7be6TeFavOSONsiw/s320/SouthsideGarden_StudentSharonFronkAndGirlWorkingTogether_April2012_DaveAftandilian.JPG" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">TCU student, Sharon Fronk, assists a<br />volunteer in the Southside Community Garden.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CGUA helps people grow fresh produce, both for themselves and for others, and we especially want to assist people who are living in areas that lack affordable access to healthy produce. We have created the following how-to-garden curricula that we offer for free on the TCFPC website:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Backyard Gardening Curriculum</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Soils and Composting</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Planning and Planting</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tending and Harvesting</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Container Garden Curriculum </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All the curricula are specific to North Texas. Our backyard gardening curriculum also has summaries in Spanish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Community Efforts</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the biggest challenges Tarrant County faces in terms of our local food system is that there are not enough farmers growing here to supply the demand for fresh produce. To help address this gap, CGUA:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Helped develop and publish a new urban agriculture ordinance that lets people sell extra produce they grow in their own neighborhood and establishes guidelines for larger-scale urban farms along with Blue Zones and the City of Fort Worth’s Planning Department.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is currently writing and promoting a garden/farm-based entrepreneurship curriculum for high school students—partly with the hope that some of them might decide to start urban farms here when they graduate.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is developing and promoting various programs to assist existing local farmers reach wider markets for their produce, including supplying local restaurants and institutions.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also offer a free monthly newsletter, <i>How’s It Growing?</i>, that shares news about upcoming garden-related events, seasonal planting tips, and recipes for simple but tasty dishes that feature seasonal produce.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And maybe, most importantly, we support folks who want to start new community gardens or urban agriculture projects by connecting them to existing resources, to knowledgeable people and institutions who can advise them, and to each other, so that we can all work together to make Tarrant County a greener, healthier, and happier place.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you’d like to join us, please email the CGUA Working Group’s Chair, Dave Aftandilian, at <a href="mailto:d.aftandilian@tcu.edu">d.aftandilian@tcu.edu</a>, or come to our next bimonthly meeting on Thursday, November 29, 3:00-4:30 p.m. at Tarrant Area Food Bank’s administration building, 2525 Cullen St. in Fort Worth.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i></i></span></span>Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-12280772741747472242018-09-01T14:37:00.000-05:002018-11-12T19:16:36.815-06:00The State of Our Local Food System<h3>
<em style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">What Every Citizen Should Know About Food From North Texas</span></strong></span></em></h3>
<em style="background-color: white; color: #938b8b; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #7e896f; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">by Micheline Hynes, Chair, Tarrant County Food Policy Council</span></span></span></em><br />
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; color: #938b8b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="color: #7e896f; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><br /></span></strong></span></em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">To improve access to healthy foods, you have to have a community that produces it. The North Texas region needs more farmers and gardeners to meet the needs of our community. Most local growers are family run small businesses. When you buy local, it can often mean fresher, more variety, and foods that are more nutritious than those that have been transported hundreds of miles, and your dollars stay in the community where you live.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCKdkHMMGZA4kPlZ7yA_wreWAO0s-ksU1bWMWPt6-TMeLm6waSXAhrfqiO2xEOmNWazPu022h40MpAEzbPkUj2QlZMb38Xq1jJW8W4-fum6qZjPDAeEzH0qJK-aBB2wahAH1F_DPuMJlb/s1600/BRIT+pic+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCKdkHMMGZA4kPlZ7yA_wreWAO0s-ksU1bWMWPt6-TMeLm6waSXAhrfqiO2xEOmNWazPu022h40MpAEzbPkUj2QlZMb38Xq1jJW8W4-fum6qZjPDAeEzH0qJK-aBB2wahAH1F_DPuMJlb/s640/BRIT+pic+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></em>
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></em><br />
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></em>
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">While buying local is great in many ways, it may require a little adjustment to consumer expectations. Here's the real deal about locally grown in North Texas: </span></span></strong></span></em><br />
<br />
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></em>
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">1. </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Locally grown is not cheaply grown. </b>Small-scale, local farmers typically have higher costs and sometimes shorter growing seasons than large-scale farmers or suppliers from other regions (or even other countries). Many times, local farmers are not using the expensive, mechanized equipment or cheap labor that can significantly reduce operating costs like large-scale producers do.They're also not as likely to farm exclusively in massive hoop houses, greenhouses, or other climate and pest-controlled environments which increases yield and sometimes lowers the sticker price on their inventory. Comparative length of growing season is a factor, too--while we can grow some truly lovely, tasty little strawberries here in North Texas between March and June, we cannot compete with southern California's twelve month growing season of gorgeous, large (albeit relatively flavorless) mass-produced fruits. Locally grown is not cheaply grown, <a href="https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/why-you-should-eat-local-even-though-it-can-be-more-expensive" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">but it is worth the difference</span></a>. </span></span></span></span></em><br />
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></em>
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></em>
<br />
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">2. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">North Texas has unique soil fertility and microclimate. </span></span></strong></span></em><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">This presents both some opportunities and challenges for our farmers. E</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">astern parts of DFW, boast the more fertile <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://texasalmanac.com/topics/environment/soils-texas" target="_blank">Blackland soil</a> </span>which drains relatively well and is quite conducive for vegetable production. Western parts of DFW, like Tarrant and Parker counties have <a href="https://texasalmanac.com/topics/environment/soils-texas" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Grand Prairie soil</span></a>, which has comparatively inferior drainage and is more suitable for ranching, although vegetable production is certainly possible. This is one factor in why there are more produce growers circling the eastern edge of the metroplex and the western side leans toward beef.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> Whether you're growing in the east or west of our region, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">our shared microclimate gives the advantage</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> of extended growing seasons for all of us compared to our northern neighbors</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">--we can grow something in the soil all year long. We typically have a long season for things like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and okra, but you'll only find table staples like broccoli and cauliflower for a short while in spring and late fall and never in mid-summer at your farmers market. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Droughts, deluges, hail, and the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">occasional</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> 85 degree day followed by a 45 degree night is rough on plants and can result in some significant crop loss for area market farmers. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Our extreme weather events can simply break a farmer's heart, but amazingly, they just get out there and start again!</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></em>
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">3. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Sometimes ugly or weird vegetables taste better than pretty, standard ones. </span></span></strong></span></em><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">What makes something beautiful to behold (and transport well from field to distributor to grocer to consumer) is rarely also the best tasting. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Flavor comes from compounds present in any given plant cultivar, the nutrients in the soil, and the interplay of sun, wind and rainfall on the crop. We've become accustomed to all the perfect looking produce at the grocers and have let our eyes fool us into thinking what looks best, tastes best, too. T</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">here are 10,000 varieties of tomato plants alone, each with a unique flavor profile and I promise you that the vast majority of them taste better than those pale-but-perfectly round hothouse sandwich slicers you can get all winter. So, trust your farmer and take a chance on something different, for they know <a href="https://www.growveg.com/guides/the-secret-to-growing-great-tasting-vegetables/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">the secrets</span></a> to great flavor. </span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></em>
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">4. </span></span></strong></span></em><em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Your patronage really does matter, but more markets may not be the solution. </span></span></strong></span></em><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">One recent study in California discovered that, “for every dollar of sales, direct marketers are generating twice as much economic activity within the region, as compared to producers who are not involved in direct marketing.” There's some <a href="https://farmersmarketcoalition.org/education/stimulate-local-economies/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">good evidence</span></a> that farmers markets and other types of direct-sales benefit local farmers and stimulate their local economies. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Adding new farmers markets in our region is always a popular idea and <i>could</i> be a great thing, but not if there aren’t enough farmers to fill them. At this moment, we don't have enough small-scale farmers in North Texas and the ones we do have on average aren't able to effectively scale up their production to support multiple weekend markets. Small neighborhood markets seem like a good idea, but the past few years have demonstrated they tend to have few vendors, limited product diversity, low sales, and typically close within a year. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">For the time-being at least, there is more overall benefit from the presence of a few, well-run, large markets with robust traffic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">So whenever you can, make the effort to get out to our region's farmers markets, stop by the on-farm road stands, get your harvest share through a CSA or dine at restaurants featuring locally grown food. When you do, you can be proud to know that you're supporting our hard-working growers who in turn, not only put great food on your table, but create jobs and spend their money supporting local, too. They're right at the heart of the local food movement and what makes food grown right here in North Texas something to treasure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></em>
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></em>
<em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><strong style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></em>Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-47129836322358040932018-08-01T11:07:00.000-05:002018-11-12T19:11:28.824-06:00Passionate about Child Health and Wellness<i style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">by Noah Drew, JD and Vahista Ussery, MS, MBA, RDN</i><br />
<i style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Co-leaders of the TCFPC Children's Working Group</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the United States, the percentage of children and
adolescents affected by obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s. Data
from 2015-2016 shows that <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/obesity/facts.htm">nearly 1 in 5
school-age children</a> and young people (6 to 19 years) in the United States
has obesity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As of 2018, <a href="http://fitworth.org/about-us/issue/">more than 44 percent of children</a>
in the Fort Worth Independent School District were overweight or obese.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While genetics and physical activity play a part, a healthy
diet is the keystone for maintaining a healthy weight. <a href="https://stateofobesity.org/childhood-obesity-trends/">More than 90
percent</a> of American children have poor diets. Some children have it harder than
others, living in food deserts, where there are few nearby places for their
parents to purchase healthy foods. Despite their economic situation, our
overall environment sets a child up for failure when it comes to health. To
help combat this problem, our mission is improving access to healthy foods for
children at home, restaurants, schools and in the community.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykea1KjswFW_YdAOxD9C5L6eKC_3SWdRGJ_exIma1S29mmf9JxIYHldE_aml3QjU_hmfB_AWq53Q3NLW530VW9bCF4EfZuhuy6QUT2tLwU9Gy7Idh7pb6X84zlQSH1oJYUEw-PWyyprDM/s1600/children+eating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykea1KjswFW_YdAOxD9C5L6eKC_3SWdRGJ_exIma1S29mmf9JxIYHldE_aml3QjU_hmfB_AWq53Q3NLW530VW9bCF4EfZuhuy6QUT2tLwU9Gy7Idh7pb6X84zlQSH1oJYUEw-PWyyprDM/s320/children+eating.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our Children’s Working Group is made up of members from a
variety of backgrounds and areas of work, but all of us share a passion for
children’s health. We are currently working on the following initiatives:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Children’s Menu Program:</b> We want to ensure
children have healthy dining options when visiting restaurants in Tarrant
County. Currently, many menus feature popular “kid foods,” but these foods do
not provide the nutrition kids need. We hope to help increase fruit and
vegetable options, decrease soda and other sweetened beverages, and promote
healthier cooking techniques.</span></li>
<li><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Summer Feeding Promotion:</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Many kids rely on the
National School Lunch Program and other feeding programs throughout the school
year. When summer begins, many have nothing to eat at home. Through the
Seamless Summer Program and Summer Food Service Program, free meals are offered
to children under age 18 throughout Tarrant County. Unfortunately, many
families do not take advantage of these programs, so we hope to increase
awareness and ensure we have less hungry kids in our county.</span></li>
<li><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Vended Meal Food Quality Improvement:</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Many
afterschool programs rely on vended meal companies to provide nutritious snacks
and supper meals to children. We unfortunately have discovered a lack of
quality with these meals, and plan to help improve the acceptability. The
Tarrant Area Food Bank has already taken steps to ensure their vendors
understand the importance of quality. They have modified their procurement
procedures to require vendor sample meals, and are working with their current
vendor to improve their offerings. We hope the Food Bank’s story will help to
lead others to encourage other food vendors to make changes to their meals.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If
any of these initiatives sound like something you would like to get involved
with, please consider attending our next working group meeting. We would also
love to hear feedback and other ideas! </span></div>
<div style="mso-element: comment-list;">
<div style="mso-element: comment;">
<div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_1" language="JavaScript">
<!--[if !supportAnnotations]--></div>
<!--[endif]--></div>
</div>
<br />Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-11745531448655415622018-07-02T10:57:00.000-05:002018-11-12T19:17:45.513-06:00Local Partnership Reduces Food Waste<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>by Becca Knutson, TCFPC Board Member</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since January 2014, Tarrant Area Food Bank (<a href="http://www.tafb.org/" target="_blank">TAFB</a>) has
operated their demonstration garden, <a href="https://tafb.org/services/nutrition-services/community-garden/">The
Learning Garden</a>, on a residential lot owned by Ridglea Christian Church in
the Ridglea North neighborhood. The garden serves the purpose of demonstrating
several different types of growing methods, different materials that can be
used and different watering techniques. From this garden, volunteers and staff
work hard to grow fresh fruits and vegetables to donate to local food pantries.
They also maintain a robust composting program that provides enough organic
material to nurture the entire garden, year-round.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Community Composting</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Composting is a very useful process that can be implemented
in any garden. It involves taking garden waste, kitchen scraps, yard clippings,
leaves and other discarded organic materials, combining them with water and air
to encourage the process of decomposition. After a couple of months, the
finished product is beautiful, organic material that will provide nutrients to
the garden crops and help improve the soil tilth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TAFB’s Learning Garden has been able to produce enough
compost to supply all of its needs for the last two years, resulting in thousands
of dollars in savings. While the composting program has been successful using
contributions from the community and the garden, not having a consistent source
of high-nitrogen “green” materials was the only thing keeping it from producing
at capacity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXqfYdfRYTl4QUVROzEZIWya5LYesyvF0tEUPB5Pjyo7aV_fVYjaGLm58Wkdb7AMg6Hs8Z8kidHbmPOQRid3V6VyKd7tRxiMb_M6ZmK6lZUu5woaENolYoXsu2IUIT3XxVYgwSgAB6r9f/s1600/Composting+Composite+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXqfYdfRYTl4QUVROzEZIWya5LYesyvF0tEUPB5Pjyo7aV_fVYjaGLm58Wkdb7AMg6Hs8Z8kidHbmPOQRid3V6VyKd7tRxiMb_M6ZmK6lZUu5woaENolYoXsu2IUIT3XxVYgwSgAB6r9f/s640/Composting+Composite+1.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Gardener Marshall Harris adds vegetable scraps from the CSFW to the worm bin at TAFB's Learning Garden. Vermicomposting is one of several methods of breaking down organic matter like vegetable scraps into useful soil amendments for the garden. </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Clever Collaboration</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On January 10, 2018, Edward Gutierrez of the Culinary School
of Fort Worth (<a href="https://www.csftw.edu/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">CSFTW</span></a>) contacted Lauren Hickman, gardener at TAFB to find out if
the two organizations could work together to reduce food waste. Edward
suggested that CSFTW’s students start saving their compostable kitchen scraps
to donate to TAFB’s compost piles. CSFTW is located on Camp Bowie Boulevard,
less than a mile from TAFB’s Learning Garden which makes the relationship
simple and convenient.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a few conversations to work out the logistics, the two
partners came up with an effective program that would benefit both organizations.
Each week, students at CSFTW use small buckets at their workstations to collect
any unused food scraps. When the buckets are full, the students empty their
buckets into larger bins stored by the dumpsters. Then, each Tuesday before the
regular volunteer workday at the Learning Garden, TAFB staff picks up two
33-gallon tubs full of fruit, veggie and grain scraps that will be used by
volunteers in the compost piles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zdAJyNTulRIRNs0Ta5oig2UwNWwBi4DZ45oagNvJ0C9QkMm87W6iiz0_xrcLYLHQDgaKo4m2-Qu5SGmjGlWGzMIaqaDZwRn_yUs7-Cw2S5Jx8k4JVXgmp_rPiIgBD5AzfRjl8Dp_QgYC/s1600/Composting+Composite+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zdAJyNTulRIRNs0Ta5oig2UwNWwBi4DZ45oagNvJ0C9QkMm87W6iiz0_xrcLYLHQDgaKo4m2-Qu5SGmjGlWGzMIaqaDZwRn_yUs7-Cw2S5Jx8k4JVXgmp_rPiIgBD5AzfRjl8Dp_QgYC/s640/Composting+Composite+2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Food scraps are added to a newly built compost pile and turned in, to the delight of billions of microbes. These bacteria, fungi, and other microscopic animals will transform the pile into useable compost over about 8 weeks using the hot composting meth</span>od. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As of June 2018, TAFB’s Learning Garden has incorporated
approximately 790 gallons of food waste donated by CSFTW. The food waste is
used by volunteers to build new compost piles during almost every workday. It
also allows opportunities for Master Composters to earn volunteer hours by
teaching others how to compost. The increased amount of compost produced will
benefit TAFB’s Learning Garden by increasing production of fruits and
vegetables and allow us to share compost resources in the future.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CSFTW also benefits from the partnership. Saving food scraps
in separate containers facilitates instructor and student awareness of food
waste. Instructors are also able to use the discarded produce to critique the
student’s methods and provide teachable moments. Removing the food scraps from
the waste stream also saves on dumpster space and diverts organic material from
the landfill where it would not break back down into usable materials.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As TAFB and CSFTW continue to work together, the culinary
students hope to be able to volunteer their time at the Learning Garden to
learn more about growing their own fruits and vegetables. Eventually, the
culinary school would like to have a garden of its own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>To find out more about TAFB’s Learning Garden and volunteer
opportunities, please visit <a href="http://www.tafb.org/volunteer">www.tafb.org/volunteer</a>
or register for a garden workshop at <a href="http://www.tarrantareafoodbank.eventbrite.com/">www.tarrantareafoodbank.eventbrite.com</a>.
Information about the Culinary School of Fort Worth can be found at <a href="http://www.csftw.edu/">www.csftw.edu</a>.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-15583789627269132952016-06-06T15:54:00.001-05:002016-06-06T15:54:28.748-05:00What We're Planting Now - June 2016Gardens all over North TX are booming with all of the rain and sunshine we have been getting this Spring and early Summer. Tomatoes are beginning to ripen, peppers are starting to take off, and those who grow beans are not for a lack of the delicious legume.<br />
<br />
Take a look at these DFW gardens and how well they are doing!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBFg22RGlYtKyamUPLaDyfUl_0d0BeH5DwOeTjeQi9fRly-tljRQtssgFN6oPWajNYkRDLkX4HmzW5By7UgCFcF6GbNFhtJi3X0_Y2PEl0JVzlICZ44n7Lbk5HDCiqaGCsRzNt-3VNL8k/s1600/2016-05-12+09.50.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBFg22RGlYtKyamUPLaDyfUl_0d0BeH5DwOeTjeQi9fRly-tljRQtssgFN6oPWajNYkRDLkX4HmzW5By7UgCFcF6GbNFhtJi3X0_Y2PEl0JVzlICZ44n7Lbk5HDCiqaGCsRzNt-3VNL8k/s320/2016-05-12+09.50.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomatoes and Peppers doing well growing in rows!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroS7evfSRz79TE7y7JP06pWfwZ5V2J3sf6onJVjP7Zq3GmEYr17jFrSoI2Cu5OhCZXu-mRd2j6P6v4lQldKrp3P5ea9UFne2Q-h11DARZQ3Qp-XdnTT3bmSFArmksW6wg5ZNCr35IC_hw/s1600/2016-05-12+17.43.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroS7evfSRz79TE7y7JP06pWfwZ5V2J3sf6onJVjP7Zq3GmEYr17jFrSoI2Cu5OhCZXu-mRd2j6P6v4lQldKrp3P5ea9UFne2Q-h11DARZQ3Qp-XdnTT3bmSFArmksW6wg5ZNCr35IC_hw/s320/2016-05-12+17.43.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garlic is finally ready!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFkCKh-DyNpiq7PnvXrHZWpFP6XoRj41DFndeN5pJd7S1F8d_aOkBmrpeepwDuy0UniMryM6iUQdH3KRVE1z0ItS2AD5lIp1kBnyL-EEbRe0OXV4FKBu2j3Bt6B4M3hePNdHhGSog4ZAU/s1600/2016-05-23+19.01.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFkCKh-DyNpiq7PnvXrHZWpFP6XoRj41DFndeN5pJd7S1F8d_aOkBmrpeepwDuy0UniMryM6iUQdH3KRVE1z0ItS2AD5lIp1kBnyL-EEbRe0OXV4FKBu2j3Bt6B4M3hePNdHhGSog4ZAU/s320/2016-05-23+19.01.14.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malabar spinach season is a great time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQY9lnDerIjkhM3KLNtwKuwg2GaJ97RZzLBEEO0dYnRDpQLvXXqvHj6I1IenGjtg_A0hT4aa_4_rYD8eC0n65-q5ocoGBTDm6NaomgBy6xkS17-8kkFVeMz3HRhqzj8QmxvlhHeIjxd1Gr/s1600/2016-05-25+14.17.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQY9lnDerIjkhM3KLNtwKuwg2GaJ97RZzLBEEO0dYnRDpQLvXXqvHj6I1IenGjtg_A0hT4aa_4_rYD8eC0n65-q5ocoGBTDm6NaomgBy6xkS17-8kkFVeMz3HRhqzj8QmxvlhHeIjxd1Gr/s320/2016-05-25+14.17.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The native flowers are looking nice, too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Stay up to date with the Community Garden and Urban Agriculture working group by visiting our <a href="http://www.tarrantcountyfoodpolicycouncil.org/cgua-working-group.html">website</a>!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Join in on these local gardening events:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=25135220120">Master Composter Class</a> - June 9-11 (Fort Worth)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=21734802379">Organic Pest Control Workshop</a> - June 18 (Fort Worth)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=24602726417">Dig Deep: A Conference for Growers</a> - July 16th (Fort Worth)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/elizabeth-annas-farm-school-2016-ages-6-12-tickets-25168373282?aff=ebrowse">Elizabeth Anna's Farm School</a> - June 2016 (Fort Worth)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/food-our-community-tickets-25607130617?aff=ebrowse">Food & Our Community</a> - June 25 (Fort Worth)</li>
</ul>
<br /></div>
Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-1257600786746077732016-05-16T12:05:00.000-05:002016-05-17T09:01:16.316-05:00Garden of the Month - Multiple YMCA Locations (Fort Worth)<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In September of 2013, the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth
received a grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture to create three
community gardens and enhance an existing garden. The purpose of these gardens
was to implement wellness and garden-based learning for three early learning
centers and two Y branch afterschool programs for school age children. The Amon
G Carter Jr Downtown YMCA’s social responsibility committee had discussed
having a roof top garden for a few years.
With this grant, the rooftop garden was created as well as gardens at Amaka
Childcare Center in the Butler Housing Community and the Eastside YMCA. As well, enhancements were made to the
existing community garden at the McDonald Southeast Y. Two of
our gardens are in food deserts.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEHXyIccbqFSyQ3plE6Gv8kY7YsDZv7Oj7CcP9Rb06B7yCsv_IANnnj1UTHwT728Pyn_uB5SRAeC-4JTmIzeXuRJu5xL4xdHsteXz1AEPdsTdLJQU3dwaEELpc4FbVudTidgcsdK-aR_p/s1600/160216LWW115349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEHXyIccbqFSyQ3plE6Gv8kY7YsDZv7Oj7CcP9Rb06B7yCsv_IANnnj1UTHwT728Pyn_uB5SRAeC-4JTmIzeXuRJu5xL4xdHsteXz1AEPdsTdLJQU3dwaEELpc4FbVudTidgcsdK-aR_p/s320/160216LWW115349.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kyle Amato of Community Cultivators has helped us forge the
creation and sustainability of the Downtown Y rooftop gardens, and the
additional gardens at the Eastside Y and McDonald Southeast Y. He created classes for three branches and has
weekly work times to help recruit and encourage volunteers to sustain these
gardens. Lorie Grandclaire-Diaz created
the Amaka Garden and is working with the children as part of her yearly Master
Gardener Project. Four volunteers from
the Master Gardner Mod Squad have taken on McDonald Southeast Y in Southeast
Fort Worth for their project. Their commitment
and work is creating a beautiful space out of the existing garden to bring the
predominately senior community together over food and cultivation. We are seeing the fruits of our work. Each community
is different so the process of each garden becoming its own unique culture is
evolving. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV71n7I-mo00-BpAEBb7iVK7WyYonAvb61tngrA7OmYbBvuJKPe5s1Exurlm1v7aAifmzYw_rfU2IEJNnGvfQiFX97aj6VdekjZ5rVgqZ_4ANuA1Vm7BatefGjGeLZMkLdt_NxcpFZG7Ss/s1600/160216LWW115753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV71n7I-mo00-BpAEBb7iVK7WyYonAvb61tngrA7OmYbBvuJKPe5s1Exurlm1v7aAifmzYw_rfU2IEJNnGvfQiFX97aj6VdekjZ5rVgqZ_4ANuA1Vm7BatefGjGeLZMkLdt_NxcpFZG7Ss/s320/160216LWW115753.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This work has brought great joy and energy to
our children and members that are involved.
Please come bring your expertise and ideas to our gardens. We would love for volunteers to come teach us
more as we walk this path. For
information please call me; Karen Kelly 817-566-1066.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPoE0kWHlMJdPtNNUOPWFpRBO9r1dbf3mKf5Yz4Ez4-0dqE73DrdPS77e_y0DKUptNWc0G2WBeRiWu8SWUiHfN2pC7NJPh4aI9r8_KY5RICv3C-zdnoAspr2QpABcfOZFJ5e1sZoZi0XP/s1600/MDSE+PLANTING%252CSALAD%252C+and+AMAKA+067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPoE0kWHlMJdPtNNUOPWFpRBO9r1dbf3mKf5Yz4Ez4-0dqE73DrdPS77e_y0DKUptNWc0G2WBeRiWu8SWUiHfN2pC7NJPh4aI9r8_KY5RICv3C-zdnoAspr2QpABcfOZFJ5e1sZoZi0XP/s320/MDSE+PLANTING%252CSALAD%252C+and+AMAKA+067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Youtube: <a href="https://youtu.be/j4pCPRpD3GU">https://youtu.be/j4pCPRpD3GU</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Website: <a href="http://ymcafw.org/programs/communitygardenproject/">http://ymcafw.org/programs/communitygardenproject/</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-48850715223326188062016-04-29T20:15:00.000-05:002016-04-29T20:15:27.098-05:00Garden of the Month - Alliance United Methodist Church (Fort Worth)In far north Fort Worth, just south of Keller, where
crazy-busy commutes intersect with rushing to kids’ sports and school and
shopping, Alliance United Methodist Church anchors a small corner, traditional
white steeple atop a red-brick sanctuary. If you drive up Park Vista, just
north of Basswood, and look between the baseball backstop and the children’s
playground, you’ll see Alliance’s community garden, where church members and
neighbors have been donating more than 600 pounds in 2015 to 1,100 pounds of
food in 2014 to the Keller Community Storehouse.<br />
Ellen Neff, who coordinates Alliance’s community garden
activities, says the garden does far more than just provide fresh vegetables.
“I’ve talked with the staff at the Community Storehouse, and they have to teach
some of their clients how to cook the fresh vegetables. It’s a wonderful
feeling to know that we’re helping shape new lifestyles for people who needed a
little help, kind of like we all do sometimes. It’s just one small way we can
quietly share the love of Christ by feeding His people.”<br />
The vision of Alliance United Methodist Church is to
“connect, share and grow,” and the community garden has provided the perfect
venue for all three. The garden contains about 21 plots, each tendered by
church members, neighbors and small groups like the Boy Scouts or the church’s
youth and children’s programs. It also features a small herb garden and a
larger, circular community garden, where everyone pitches in for
higher-producing crops for the Community Storehouse.<br />
At the back of the property, the gardeners maintain a large
compost bin, and at the back corner of the church’s Family Life Center, barrels
collect rainwater for watering the gardens. Alliance’s gardeners are committing
to using only organic fertilizers and weed and pest deterrents. On almost any
evening, spring through fall, gardeners will be chatting about best practices for
better-producing plants and the never-ending battle with birds and varmints
that sample vegetables before the harvest.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">The Alliance community garden has brought
previously unconnected friends together, plus the church uses it for Easter and
special mid-week worship. Last month, children from the church’s Wednesday
night FaithWorks program planted vegetables, “made dirt” from the compost pile
and took home hand-made Rosemary saches. And, in the midst of hectic suburban life,
it’s become a quiet place for prayer, meditation and a little therapeutic
digging in the dirt.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUg-AWSkTWQU-qLLcoC9p1KdnkSpfnURCXuc-AR82hE8U1BURhO7p1k6dNtU_1wYHExhsO3WnU6CjU2jPzlvADGVIkHINm6Op1TlkcTGcouyMao_lNIhLeBWGWfOTxVFxc-1QwVErMe_tT/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUg-AWSkTWQU-qLLcoC9p1KdnkSpfnURCXuc-AR82hE8U1BURhO7p1k6dNtU_1wYHExhsO3WnU6CjU2jPzlvADGVIkHINm6Op1TlkcTGcouyMao_lNIhLeBWGWfOTxVFxc-1QwVErMe_tT/s320/1.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nkCP8B0pyFaVAC4Es0Wz-E5X523Q46Ajt1d47Sx5E87xSyNc3Pt5CGKORlnl5r1Gtkr9r2wRtgFGPMfQQ5MolpY72tEp96_pPbZsP9ujFAF6WmIv19Ki2G-ignj93f9Vy_5_NFal_DI1/s1600/2016-04-13+18.46.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nkCP8B0pyFaVAC4Es0Wz-E5X523Q46Ajt1d47Sx5E87xSyNc3Pt5CGKORlnl5r1Gtkr9r2wRtgFGPMfQQ5MolpY72tEp96_pPbZsP9ujFAF6WmIv19Ki2G-ignj93f9Vy_5_NFal_DI1/s320/2016-04-13+18.46.50.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Rr1yjbyLmqRkTxj6ObvlvWXfcAWvENs0bmiIfZ5Qs1HHsCrjUjCCNnvDZOAJnG3aJVSmHr8uVMFocL0g_yBjnZrDltSUNXnr4nDiNJRNQmIGyZStGrxqgQXFr3NQ35VfXiM-03pYUhv_/s1600/2016-04-13+18.47.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Rr1yjbyLmqRkTxj6ObvlvWXfcAWvENs0bmiIfZ5Qs1HHsCrjUjCCNnvDZOAJnG3aJVSmHr8uVMFocL0g_yBjnZrDltSUNXnr4nDiNJRNQmIGyZStGrxqgQXFr3NQ35VfXiM-03pYUhv_/s320/2016-04-13+18.47.34.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdtfwQNVbgP6KCs-qqKyhKnNY1vIrB1VdB8kptJL1hJrPPkC9113MxVXuIar4oJhKEOQc62I6ZuP5DU6GnGUfU6scY46OCdRJVrv4rQqt5AUSDFmlXX_MZ30zEY5xFF3A2NiQA-STkggz/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdtfwQNVbgP6KCs-qqKyhKnNY1vIrB1VdB8kptJL1hJrPPkC9113MxVXuIar4oJhKEOQc62I6ZuP5DU6GnGUfU6scY46OCdRJVrv4rQqt5AUSDFmlXX_MZ30zEY5xFF3A2NiQA-STkggz/s320/Picture1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-39243796106458841082016-04-25T21:58:00.001-05:002016-04-26T08:29:50.885-05:00Advent Lutheran Church Community Garden Update<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">To celebrate Earth Day, we had a
Community Garden Workday with Tucker Street Head Start Center on Saturday April
23. Several staff and family members
from the Head Start Center came and helped us weed, plant and water our garden. We planted more peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes,
herbs and loofah seedlings. Our loofah seedlings
were started from last year plant’s seeds.
Head Start families were eager to plant seeds and water the
gardens. It was a great day spent
outside together! Tucker Head Start Center receives the produce harvested from
this garden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hK4z-h91crzI5hQqfdxJoBRvTikNCJ2sOYgpag0X-QMRHattAG2YO3vexiN3MWNdpVeWbbr3wzNE1S1f9IfQd_piL5bM7L5GLwaRgWn0AWUlrePDIPhP9vUA8Ni6xLsqdyxaf98ZmRtZ/s1600/EarthDay1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hK4z-h91crzI5hQqfdxJoBRvTikNCJ2sOYgpag0X-QMRHattAG2YO3vexiN3MWNdpVeWbbr3wzNE1S1f9IfQd_piL5bM7L5GLwaRgWn0AWUlrePDIPhP9vUA8Ni6xLsqdyxaf98ZmRtZ/s320/EarthDay1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbHoCueNSb91dFd3Vwx-Rj7VHsOzCxiV4E7G00cXlzoJl4czij6i13p8TrrcAKscsxzoMNxeYqtJnl4OWvkDFQ-wpgu7fCm34N8NCZ9yrNwczHHXKQQmkYB536jovRZQEryOPxnc0naxP/s1600/EarthDay2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbHoCueNSb91dFd3Vwx-Rj7VHsOzCxiV4E7G00cXlzoJl4czij6i13p8TrrcAKscsxzoMNxeYqtJnl4OWvkDFQ-wpgu7fCm34N8NCZ9yrNwczHHXKQQmkYB536jovRZQEryOPxnc0naxP/s320/EarthDay2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9E1sw3h-HkB6FUVlj8UNwpGmFqQUSImYGQChuFgcWsHkxt1tc0nuGKnkvCUKc9kqF9uWCWZURn1eyEu5xAY9VJTEam7KxClO9VxPgYLLI1y8ImCTPZlGphyC0J0Z_wn34XP8yIii0nTA/s1600/EarthDay3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9E1sw3h-HkB6FUVlj8UNwpGmFqQUSImYGQChuFgcWsHkxt1tc0nuGKnkvCUKc9kqF9uWCWZURn1eyEu5xAY9VJTEam7KxClO9VxPgYLLI1y8ImCTPZlGphyC0J0Z_wn34XP8yIii0nTA/s320/EarthDay3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8Yq9U-ZlzZOXdOtdN6bgdalFG_B7yyJuCA2AtuOa0RlbQe1NgDYbwFiwbam9GrAxzUT4GeTlG2ZHeKsIGAwziQevfqwuWEgvjmtDvo1CwTeXBqIILRwUBDtwbDoryfo2cDCUbzmihntl/s1600/EarthDay4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8Yq9U-ZlzZOXdOtdN6bgdalFG_B7yyJuCA2AtuOa0RlbQe1NgDYbwFiwbam9GrAxzUT4GeTlG2ZHeKsIGAwziQevfqwuWEgvjmtDvo1CwTeXBqIILRwUBDtwbDoryfo2cDCUbzmihntl/s320/EarthDay4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f"
stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_s1029" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='position:absolute;margin-left:47pt;margin-top:13pt;width:152.45pt;
height:156.75pt;z-index:251661312;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;
mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;
mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;
mso-position-vertical-relative:text'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Rebecca\AppData\Local\Temp\OICE_15_974FA576_32C1D314_3500\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="IMG_1054" cropleft="11985f" cropright="7075f"/>
<w:wrap type="through"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;
margin-left:242.25pt;margin-top:13pt;width:171pt;height:156.75pt;z-index:251658240;
visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;
mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;
mso-position-vertical-relative:text'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Rebecca\AppData\Local\Temp\OICE_15_974FA576_32C1D314_3500\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="IMG_1057" cropleft="11980f"/>
<w:wrap type="through"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-76208069031777772052016-04-12T13:29:00.000-05:002016-04-12T13:29:46.531-05:00What We're Planting Now - April 2016April has been quite the busy month in North TX! Some of us got our tomatoes and peppers planted earlier in the year, because of the mild winter, only to be set back by several different hail storms which seem to happen once a week, in some areas.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgtWerQ-BOJUDZUhWjOYfna6mBLWL4rO-xi_aO0iY84MhsekzuESajPS8vGPh-xz-7nFmDlefjvlfh32qVE04tctmKMMu09hFpikIn-BPYLzsa4b5Oi_cU3okJp0OZzHLeEe8JoyBrZpK/s1600/2016-03-17+08.40.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgtWerQ-BOJUDZUhWjOYfna6mBLWL4rO-xi_aO0iY84MhsekzuESajPS8vGPh-xz-7nFmDlefjvlfh32qVE04tctmKMMu09hFpikIn-BPYLzsa4b5Oi_cU3okJp0OZzHLeEe8JoyBrZpK/s320/2016-03-17+08.40.48.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTz3y3z14xxby5EOaX1jgM8XjovYaOqWAODXIPbyAKxQJZ30jwNl8dTLoCvgVrv1_UgZ5fdKYyOLlhL9MXtSz4jzVajgZX8K2hLMBs1_rFxSokteGfOHp6k9PSrJ-tf-46l89uegJe2yiY/s1600/2016-03-17+09.55.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTz3y3z14xxby5EOaX1jgM8XjovYaOqWAODXIPbyAKxQJZ30jwNl8dTLoCvgVrv1_UgZ5fdKYyOLlhL9MXtSz4jzVajgZX8K2hLMBs1_rFxSokteGfOHp6k9PSrJ-tf-46l89uegJe2yiY/s320/2016-03-17+09.55.38.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Bouncing back from the almost instant destruction the hail caused seems like it is taking forever. So, we plant on! Gardens all over North TX are planting - or replanting - their spring crops. Tomatoes, peppers, beans and melons. You can grow a little bit of everything in Texas!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQN6gIZXP6ktLn9k4ewEmw1z3XV-onP8hP8gCIHuTmTjY9qX0AIgVa8AK3xqnW1HTHSdug2dIDdKPIQq4uw2ColcFDz0ORcnzrBtTgg4Kv3zHF-B1BBEk-SOpDdgJS2v4rJDu_5EhhyGxi/s1600/2016-04-05+Gary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQN6gIZXP6ktLn9k4ewEmw1z3XV-onP8hP8gCIHuTmTjY9qX0AIgVa8AK3xqnW1HTHSdug2dIDdKPIQq4uw2ColcFDz0ORcnzrBtTgg4Kv3zHF-B1BBEk-SOpDdgJS2v4rJDu_5EhhyGxi/s320/2016-04-05+Gary.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFacFmbUrjWEpD3ixLxW07BJ0Hx0kg0mFUHuBjHyqlUHKAVK90C_iAy0TO-IiuPl9wXtgGXq5FLhp-l6-4z2YnyIHxyu5n86IgM4Tv3Tglxhq712e90NPKAVJzdDYTwc96MgZCXZ-s4p1n/s1600/2016-04-05+Tomatoes+and+peppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFacFmbUrjWEpD3ixLxW07BJ0Hx0kg0mFUHuBjHyqlUHKAVK90C_iAy0TO-IiuPl9wXtgGXq5FLhp-l6-4z2YnyIHxyu5n86IgM4Tv3Tglxhq712e90NPKAVJzdDYTwc96MgZCXZ-s4p1n/s320/2016-04-05+Tomatoes+and+peppers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIBCi-yc4itlN21kfZYnT0g54mCPr6FXWzHJZsRMW7W6iu02y496BnN2K8bp3UsZvJc-gqkCzaL5vFo7NPj4sIVwT5-X5DAd2-Pe7a_Gbtv9n-5GoE8jx8_Hw-QXnUpHl4v-y88NrALbl/s1600/image3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIBCi-yc4itlN21kfZYnT0g54mCPr6FXWzHJZsRMW7W6iu02y496BnN2K8bp3UsZvJc-gqkCzaL5vFo7NPj4sIVwT5-X5DAd2-Pe7a_Gbtv9n-5GoE8jx8_Hw-QXnUpHl4v-y88NrALbl/s320/image3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtlEuWM1pPv4q6ReN2-i_3-Qv2QsKQp6YMJbv7tUM6WMmaTdM1ANdCSVNERRmvFhohEAuPSm5Xme8Vh6M2UTDRsNLfSgrEZ_wIp0bKa94iZRSOqe_4oYs6NOE2IqPG5XkHdgkg0QOSnoZ/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtlEuWM1pPv4q6ReN2-i_3-Qv2QsKQp6YMJbv7tUM6WMmaTdM1ANdCSVNERRmvFhohEAuPSm5Xme8Vh6M2UTDRsNLfSgrEZ_wIp0bKa94iZRSOqe_4oYs6NOE2IqPG5XkHdgkg0QOSnoZ/s320/image2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-soeb_OfkeP_gKkchu-ueeO843WFAq3LHh8mbiS82Fqv2x8FSz-bQinqcOBcxvqPtfxGSD4ajiDtu48gw3FBMqWK4-HyAkGu_rrXu3pc8yUEqE76QLC2oCZujVSVTRb95XGMUkcCLSOB/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-soeb_OfkeP_gKkchu-ueeO843WFAq3LHh8mbiS82Fqv2x8FSz-bQinqcOBcxvqPtfxGSD4ajiDtu48gw3FBMqWK4-HyAkGu_rrXu3pc8yUEqE76QLC2oCZujVSVTRb95XGMUkcCLSOB/s320/image1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Spring also means getting our support systems in place and even seeing the first of the artichoke crop coming in. What a fantastic place spring in North TX is!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4gCA2q15dQZ5Lhcq2Lf1TSNubJFqlQG2tJFMuxi1gSCbmgsRynzGlsnTXw8ozR7UE1jRM1NVJTkdsnujtWPRz2NgFlXr_Prxi17JLMU4qwGpc0hk6DbNvPKhwDhhm82mC51G9-k_snse/s1600/2016-03-29+15.45.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4gCA2q15dQZ5Lhcq2Lf1TSNubJFqlQG2tJFMuxi1gSCbmgsRynzGlsnTXw8ozR7UE1jRM1NVJTkdsnujtWPRz2NgFlXr_Prxi17JLMU4qwGpc0hk6DbNvPKhwDhhm82mC51G9-k_snse/s320/2016-03-29+15.45.37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJITePCJFDTsu15N3JplTyUIrURS_q6-1olkmkHyVCIvAu_IUY_A8ZU2XFOnpMhntd-t3IerCNPrKjWWcQxgNWFDFp98gzW66PuwSBm4JsONKMMCwJlQbGO5ZhFV0-xd6ql1zep7G6y87Y/s1600/2016-03-29+Marshall+and+Marc+building+trellises.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJITePCJFDTsu15N3JplTyUIrURS_q6-1olkmkHyVCIvAu_IUY_A8ZU2XFOnpMhntd-t3IerCNPrKjWWcQxgNWFDFp98gzW66PuwSBm4JsONKMMCwJlQbGO5ZhFV0-xd6ql1zep7G6y87Y/s320/2016-03-29+Marshall+and+Marc+building+trellises.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Keep us up to date with what is going on at your community garden by visiting our <a href="http://www.tarrantcountyfoodpolicycouncil.org/cgua-working-group.html">working group page</a>!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Don't forget to check out these local gardening events - stay connected to your gardening community!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yoga-in-the-gardens-tickets-24032168864?aff=ebrowse">Yoga in the Garden</a> - April 17th (Dallas)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/diy-succulent-garden-class-tickets-24238593285?aff=es2">DIY Succulent Garden Class</a> - April 19th (Colleyville)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/create-your-own-indoor-herb-garden-tickets-24515253784?aff=es2">Create Your Own Indoor Herb Garden</a> - April 20th (Dallas)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-a-raised-bed-registration-21733558659">Building a Raised Bed Workshop</a> - April 30th (Fort Worth)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/painting-the-garden-workshop-hydrangeas-tickets-22706239975?aff=ebrowse">Painting in the Garden: Hydrangeas</a> - May 7th (Dallas)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/attracting-beneficial-insects-registration-21733800382?aff=ebrowse">Attracting Beneficial Insects</a> - May 21st (Fort Worth)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-7900629807756713552016-03-28T15:45:00.001-05:002016-04-07T14:06:58.748-05:00Garden of the Month - Village Garden, First United Methodist Church (Hurst)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Village Garden Begins Sixth Season<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dHEnmYBt0kSjNKbxlSqOzVM4LISzYQNmiHmDf63wYs1qjo5OaQ7xSIGCl5weDiAc6kFpECmu0vzCcWitAgm5NnrUNiO7rVimaacaKJex_H41WEM4cShta8KFy7AUYNTo7cr0_wwhPdKV/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dHEnmYBt0kSjNKbxlSqOzVM4LISzYQNmiHmDf63wYs1qjo5OaQ7xSIGCl5weDiAc6kFpECmu0vzCcWitAgm5NnrUNiO7rVimaacaKJex_H41WEM4cShta8KFy7AUYNTo7cr0_wwhPdKV/s320/photo+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When FUMC and Mission Central began
the Mobile Food Pantry in 2011, Hurst Harvesters built the first four raised
beds for the Village Garden. With those
four beds, we grew 250 lbs. of fresh, organic produce for our neighbors at
Mission Central. In subsequent years,
we grew 512 lbs., 663 lbs., 644 lbs., and 388 lbs. respectively. Initial funding for supplies and materials
came from a grant through Tarrant Area Food Bank. Currently, we fund the Village Garden through
spring and fall bedding plant sales.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-6VOoKLV3Zl_KpumH_eUaKmoyHiesK4bpJejSiPfVn0zu-5p2ziMrPdOl8Y47MC_gNHTE3F41FfvnAxwPo8BR3wBuDLS6FT1RnWkDtLpDCdEpqJB1x-hhuYbv0bEQfpOgTo59zWwqA5p/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-6VOoKLV3Zl_KpumH_eUaKmoyHiesK4bpJejSiPfVn0zu-5p2ziMrPdOl8Y47MC_gNHTE3F41FfvnAxwPo8BR3wBuDLS6FT1RnWkDtLpDCdEpqJB1x-hhuYbv0bEQfpOgTo59zWwqA5p/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> In addition to growing fresh
produce, the Village Garden provides educational and missional opportunities
for various groups. For example, three
Eagle Scouts have earned their badges completing projects in the Village
Garden. Each year, VBS children learn
and work in the garden; and several youth and student groups from churches and
colleges have completed mission projects.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyW3ghEadlidRX72IsiF4O02-vHDezJzM_gYw-_Q45qX3xbr_z3xfBIwTCTpOt5z5dyC5b8gviIAyOTe0-rZPnhrKUC9nBBS7G2Pk4EQDyFLzlqjiduOC0CuomEFWUmYgBR9dNmaaBkaR/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyW3ghEadlidRX72IsiF4O02-vHDezJzM_gYw-_Q45qX3xbr_z3xfBIwTCTpOt5z5dyC5b8gviIAyOTe0-rZPnhrKUC9nBBS7G2Pk4EQDyFLzlqjiduOC0CuomEFWUmYgBR9dNmaaBkaR/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> This year, we begin our sixth
growing season. By sharing our expertise with African friends and area
churches, we help others who are constructing raised beds for the 2016 growing
season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTZ4Kii3cNNj08sGhCheRpjkHKU5TT1fGKc1hcZsOAWMSGmigjB9ayBODxI1DTm3kwuvQZBsNc7lEoZyGr6tLrfK4gqGcXhffFzliHHDzafS3YRbSYTdYPhkoeWC7qvnHV2zADEtI68du/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTZ4Kii3cNNj08sGhCheRpjkHKU5TT1fGKc1hcZsOAWMSGmigjB9ayBODxI1DTm3kwuvQZBsNc7lEoZyGr6tLrfK4gqGcXhffFzliHHDzafS3YRbSYTdYPhkoeWC7qvnHV2zADEtI68du/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> You can be part of our exciting
ministry. Learning from co-leader,
Master Gardener, Mike Goode; you can help us grow fresh, organic produce for
Mission Central. It’s time to plant for
2016! Prayerfully consider joining Hurst
Harvesters in the Village Garden. We are
waiting to welcome you! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> For more information, contact Mike
Goode at: </span><a href="mailto:mtgoode@att.net"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">mtgoode@att.net</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> or Vicky Otterman
at: vickyott@swbell.net. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsa1V9EnPrkVXMRCsgXlx484hO7BkHtZewHFmsuSOssMhZfWeMt4IHGfN3hZwLrrwLINKo99-1vVHy7ZpqPdb7p3IM-bTgm3d8quYVUqVQwf2x9ukpABtT67qbXnD1Fs8fRMLPGeljHnq/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsa1V9EnPrkVXMRCsgXlx484hO7BkHtZewHFmsuSOssMhZfWeMt4IHGfN3hZwLrrwLINKo99-1vVHy7ZpqPdb7p3IM-bTgm3d8quYVUqVQwf2x9ukpABtT67qbXnD1Fs8fRMLPGeljHnq/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNilqZHix7tnann_0aj_jIQX2jbvK5HHnqFxdkbJnmgXCfF4hwvyJ1tPb0-DAO3ATYd60VD1WjVx_FKHRVQvZh8TRCppM5Z_sed6k2-MjvDUJuaWKaAX-jxl0gf5aUcG38e9e1b_Ejt2g/s1600/IMG_0881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNilqZHix7tnann_0aj_jIQX2jbvK5HHnqFxdkbJnmgXCfF4hwvyJ1tPb0-DAO3ATYd60VD1WjVx_FKHRVQvZh8TRCppM5Z_sed6k2-MjvDUJuaWKaAX-jxl0gf5aUcG38e9e1b_Ejt2g/s320/IMG_0881.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-57448238829387564602016-03-01T13:34:00.003-06:002018-09-04T14:27:28.653-05:00What We're Planting Now - March 2016It appears as if spring has sprung in North TX! We can continue to debate about the last freeze date and when to put out our tomato starts as long as we like, but the near future forecast looks warm and sunny.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG080kVJqUza1vtcfzrsepQxQSRrI_IHdtrYlIsflc-qHWtur3Pv5NFQY7-bwRYbPleEmqjrFirtvkMLLO7FeBWNSQNpRZoYtr6p5EasSxoLSSRDJVgSY5rwYeWWCkikqVOQtGnIuiYa9E/s1600/2016-02-18+13.28.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG080kVJqUza1vtcfzrsepQxQSRrI_IHdtrYlIsflc-qHWtur3Pv5NFQY7-bwRYbPleEmqjrFirtvkMLLO7FeBWNSQNpRZoYtr6p5EasSxoLSSRDJVgSY5rwYeWWCkikqVOQtGnIuiYa9E/s320/2016-02-18+13.28.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6e96HrtGCtWfjR6RDIRxe4t-iL5-0vtp2uuUXdW8fkGOUzHgFKeneUmSWYmhR2FfNTmifuPCKQ47wbu1vJ_vRywZEK66eJ79icsMdIbWMrSOWKkxsX_w5IAU2XAC9T7D2FBPr2v0oCEL/s1600/2016-02-19+16.40.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6e96HrtGCtWfjR6RDIRxe4t-iL5-0vtp2uuUXdW8fkGOUzHgFKeneUmSWYmhR2FfNTmifuPCKQ47wbu1vJ_vRywZEK66eJ79icsMdIbWMrSOWKkxsX_w5IAU2XAC9T7D2FBPr2v0oCEL/s320/2016-02-19+16.40.49.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixq8t5U9WvGVzeafocpHIwqJT-3jomxLQUJ133BD8gsDnFdv8wLlyeJKIKILnzuD6XS3wY5tL56Ag3UXxgdF8uN7ZAw-xIcZyyQbIZ9oLkZLR1H6w6S4ku5U_aj6q14Ih2MDmi9uzJhspV/s1600/2016-01-31+11.25.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixq8t5U9WvGVzeafocpHIwqJT-3jomxLQUJ133BD8gsDnFdv8wLlyeJKIKILnzuD6XS3wY5tL56Ag3UXxgdF8uN7ZAw-xIcZyyQbIZ9oLkZLR1H6w6S4ku5U_aj6q14Ih2MDmi9uzJhspV/s320/2016-01-31+11.25.46.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Our gardeners have been busy putting in new garden beds, refreshing the soil with compost in our existing beds, cutting down cover crops, and taking care of the seedlings that will be ready to put out in the next couple of weeks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilS6_JbjMfzHvcyCIwIHYzDUi_KODIKnnL9WHdL5LwDFRTzwGiG8E2okxHDaAxpocH4EdZ1LNG1fcl7xbwfVmDbxtt5_X9GvPU1h4RR_ChGg2BRZaVAB3sKWYJ09FbIik1Z4jtDi17KCZi/s1600/KIMG0966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilS6_JbjMfzHvcyCIwIHYzDUi_KODIKnnL9WHdL5LwDFRTzwGiG8E2okxHDaAxpocH4EdZ1LNG1fcl7xbwfVmDbxtt5_X9GvPU1h4RR_ChGg2BRZaVAB3sKWYJ09FbIik1Z4jtDi17KCZi/s320/KIMG0966.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35TqntNcUyxUkKx-bcdG3-Fzsak1bIW9kB6YYUROFwBq_3eYob7lhHw-QxohtJzpdghTfuE7-FkLBJCjxN41uXJh5wwaRmQ-pw_6dJwVVQ59H5DAgs0_qK6zIhN983T3eI7JJXViHgBvR/s1600/KIMG0969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35TqntNcUyxUkKx-bcdG3-Fzsak1bIW9kB6YYUROFwBq_3eYob7lhHw-QxohtJzpdghTfuE7-FkLBJCjxN41uXJh5wwaRmQ-pw_6dJwVVQ59H5DAgs0_qK6zIhN983T3eI7JJXViHgBvR/s320/KIMG0969.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVspqFAxNlHnD_E95UGKuPz_KTDNfvg4gqHmeRHvD_w_JIKeCfUDgtBe704hcrHEtETNJXKBJmDm0GWtnqM11BCpTzbs0BXpITGgkVVEfD5s7uU8MHa99TEyZoKXZPreVrbyMoPM5-EwAB/s1600/KIMG0974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVspqFAxNlHnD_E95UGKuPz_KTDNfvg4gqHmeRHvD_w_JIKeCfUDgtBe704hcrHEtETNJXKBJmDm0GWtnqM11BCpTzbs0BXpITGgkVVEfD5s7uU8MHa99TEyZoKXZPreVrbyMoPM5-EwAB/s320/KIMG0974.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZy5tzB3slVdAcJebdrWBFhMuRtqO7f8d4CDcUVbwKWE2k6fFyNrcmp7-ACaF7EjKZzjtCnLjTGVJlaHSk2lWNWYriF8OsbqyP3BFN0uZd26tDuaEcAtF6kP0S5_yigcdHcLSGxUsxoKt/s1600/2016-02-26+15.47.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZy5tzB3slVdAcJebdrWBFhMuRtqO7f8d4CDcUVbwKWE2k6fFyNrcmp7-ACaF7EjKZzjtCnLjTGVJlaHSk2lWNWYriF8OsbqyP3BFN0uZd26tDuaEcAtF6kP0S5_yigcdHcLSGxUsxoKt/s320/2016-02-26+15.47.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LRQ1uXgTqvo99cmxvmXh_R_B56KSQmU-HGTN73AhSTmQrd8iWWpMIYYOWkpokPUH_wa9Y-88lrvBcAnQ583WclCHDJFeCnCRG7DvKqpdO490oRdfsXB8CU_NMcnj3TnREoRK7lS3Xysy/s1600/2016-02-26+15.47.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LRQ1uXgTqvo99cmxvmXh_R_B56KSQmU-HGTN73AhSTmQrd8iWWpMIYYOWkpokPUH_wa9Y-88lrvBcAnQ583WclCHDJFeCnCRG7DvKqpdO490oRdfsXB8CU_NMcnj3TnREoRK7lS3Xysy/s320/2016-02-26+15.47.25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "molengo" , serif; font-size: 13pt;">Keep us up to date on what you've been doing at your
garden. Visit our working group page </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.tarrantcountyfoodpolicycouncil.org/cgua-working-group.html"><span style="color: #993322; font-family: "molengo" , serif; font-size: 13.0pt; text-decoration: none;">here</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "molengo" , serif; font-size: 13pt;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "molengo" , serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
Sharpen your gardening skills at these local workshops:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tomatoes-tickets-21895396721?aff=ebrowse" style="font-family: Molengo, serif; font-size: 13pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: blue;">Tomatoes! </span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "molengo" , serif; font-size: 13pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">- Dallas - March 12th</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "molengo" , serif; font-size: 13pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/raising-chickens-in-the-garden-registration-20082130192"><span style="color: #993322; text-decoration: none;">Raising Chickens
in the Garden</span></a> - Fort Worth - March 19th</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "molengo" , serif; font-size: 13pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/composting-101-registration-20082295687"><span style="color: #993322; text-decoration: none;">Composting 101</span></a> -
Fort Worth - March 31st</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "molengo" , serif; font-size: 13pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/recycled-seed-paper-making-workshop-registration-20143520813"><span style="color: #993322; text-decoration: none;">Making Recycle
Seed Paper</span></a> - Fort Worth - April 2nd</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pclda-pool-garden-tour-tickets-21736735160?aff=es2" style="font-family: Molengo, serif; font-size: 13pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: blue;">PCLDA Pool & Garden Tour</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "molengo" , serif; font-size: 13pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> - University
Park - April 21st</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-81425208388141207792016-02-02T13:22:00.000-06:002016-02-02T13:22:13.565-06:00What We're Planting Now - February 2016As the mild winter continues here in North TX, our gardens continue to produce beautiful fall vegetables - cauliflower, broccoli, kale, cabbage, herbs and greens! Our dedicated and enthusiastic gardeners have begun to plan for their spring and summer gardens. Garden planning classes at TAFB's Learning Garden have been full of eager gardeners who have networked and planned for spring.<br />
<br />
TAFB's Learning Garden also hosted a Vermicomposting project day where volunteers helped assemble two different styles of worm composting bins.<br />
<br />
Keep us up to date on what you've been doing at your garden. Visit our working group page <a href="http://www.tarrantcountyfoodpolicycouncil.org/cgua-working-group.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Sharpen your gardening skills at these local workshops:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-to-plant-and-when-to-plant-tickets-20633289725?aff=es2">What to Plant When</a> - Fort Worth - February 11th</li>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/planning-your-spring-garden-registration-20082070012">Planning Your Spring Garden</a> - Fort Worth - February 20th</li>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-garden-that-heals-tickets-20825342159?aff=es2">The Garden that Heals</a> - Dallas - February 27th</li>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/raising-chickens-in-the-garden-registration-20082130192">Raising Chickens in the Garden</a> - Fort Worth - March 19th</li>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/composting-101-registration-20082295687">Composting 101</a> - Fort Worth - March 31st</li>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/recycled-seed-paper-making-workshop-registration-20143520813">Making Recycle Seed Paper</a> - Fort Worth - April 2nd</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKDXzNRXpdfgNabLMOUKYlaeuPYJ1VV7jQ4Yr2QovOO3tlt-xUPvKympxej7WGL75wSr6mp_Rj7U36ceh2fojhSK0vWbjbty7xn4RrRCk5Bh4wtNSILo70ymoBBER8w1JYBl8scdtLhov/s1600/2016-01-26+11.07.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKDXzNRXpdfgNabLMOUKYlaeuPYJ1VV7jQ4Yr2QovOO3tlt-xUPvKympxej7WGL75wSr6mp_Rj7U36ceh2fojhSK0vWbjbty7xn4RrRCk5Bh4wtNSILo70ymoBBER8w1JYBl8scdtLhov/s320/2016-01-26+11.07.29.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of good produce still<br /> growing in North TX!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2o7dZwrv0vddnCIAAOdWTK3SDM08uCJXqLitkoMdQUDcpifczK6xtMRl2aySymKm78-SUHFqYXbCb55Mws0sU-8CkjBFeLukDy_b5t6Vl3SA1ESNnFj6FYfXb78ROjp42ECqZxpIdpHZn/s1600/Q1+Garden+Leader+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2o7dZwrv0vddnCIAAOdWTK3SDM08uCJXqLitkoMdQUDcpifczK6xtMRl2aySymKm78-SUHFqYXbCb55Mws0sU-8CkjBFeLukDy_b5t6Vl3SA1ESNnFj6FYfXb78ROjp42ECqZxpIdpHZn/s320/Q1+Garden+Leader+Collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get your spring garden planned now!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQAlR_0D1DcGLkh79cSpgESSkjcK4MnWfSVGtAHUcqadPP2WNxNnLmYISrHaVLT677D6cQcgbKYmh0WzIwTaSpmaySV48obIzAcFyoPoK8P89lVl6B88BwrZhpJgic6HG4IInEEJOM9l2/s1600/Vermicomposting+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQAlR_0D1DcGLkh79cSpgESSkjcK4MnWfSVGtAHUcqadPP2WNxNnLmYISrHaVLT677D6cQcgbKYmh0WzIwTaSpmaySV48obIzAcFyoPoK8P89lVl6B88BwrZhpJgic6HG4IInEEJOM9l2/s320/Vermicomposting+collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If it's cold outside, start a worm bin inside!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFfJVygceLZz7OqeaHWYh5lrWCSSxk-9y5UJUWXZOyzuljErWnlTQ9ZogO8FDqwUf6_AHMCUoJqvQvPoHSqVWExR_zKSHGYRde05oKwyB15rqlGsq4PaEjJqXo9vM9Bjzg7kVY9wtE1B_/s1600/Workday+Collage+12616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFfJVygceLZz7OqeaHWYh5lrWCSSxk-9y5UJUWXZOyzuljErWnlTQ9ZogO8FDqwUf6_AHMCUoJqvQvPoHSqVWExR_zKSHGYRde05oKwyB15rqlGsq4PaEjJqXo9vM9Bjzg7kVY9wtE1B_/s320/Workday+Collage+12616.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of work left to do in garden! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-5960663588696798972016-01-15T09:40:00.000-06:002016-01-15T09:40:43.510-06:00Garden of the Month - Farming the Sprawl (Fort Worth)<div style="border-top: solid #515151 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #515151 .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
A tiny but mighty movement to promote urban farming and homesteading in </h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Fort Worth, Texas</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjUBDh0wg-wVbBqqvOIMQpaucZBje3FeIt7BJJKqTc-5ElNGwG6tRg6g51zmIE3-nGSeGtR2_KSVw4mtVbtvqRGHu88irojvZOLgH5vwDcNpJDwUEBwS41VIRV7PIIrh3GEkmPfKOhDWu/s1600/11150289_10206253309721971_5444244846580545282_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjUBDh0wg-wVbBqqvOIMQpaucZBje3FeIt7BJJKqTc-5ElNGwG6tRg6g51zmIE3-nGSeGtR2_KSVw4mtVbtvqRGHu88irojvZOLgH5vwDcNpJDwUEBwS41VIRV7PIIrh3GEkmPfKOhDWu/s320/11150289_10206253309721971_5444244846580545282_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="Body">
FORT WORTH — The allure of homegrown heirloom tomatoes and fond
memories of a grandparent’s garden often lead many people to give gardening a try.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
But a lot of folks give up after a season of Texas’s
unpredictable weather, the largest green caterpillars you’ve ever seen, or
unproductive but luscious tomato plants.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
That is where Tina Arons and her husband Austin Caraway come in
to attempt to coax the most reluctant gardener with delicious concoctions from
their own garden — from salsas and green tomato relishes to peach jalapeño jams
and blackberry lemongrass kombucha. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Urban farming has grown in popularity over the last decade but
many people don<span lang="FR">’</span>t know where
to start, Arons said. Or they have given it a try without enough success to
want to keep going. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
“Sometimes the problems are easy to fix but the main component
missing is a network of other gardeners to help troubleshoot,” Arons said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
With the help of her husband, she started Farming the Sprawl in
2014 to create momentum for a local urban farming and homesteading movement. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
“I believe gardening is the key to creating healthy, active and
happy lives,” she said. “My goal is to make getting started as easy as
possible.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Arons has taught classes throughout Fort Worth in connection to
other local groups as well, including the Tarrant Area Food Bank, the Fort
Worth Botanical Garden and Elizabeth Anna’s Urban Farm.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Now she offers free classes through Farming the Sprawl to teach
people in her community various aspects of farm life: backyard chicken keeping,
canning and preserving, container gardening and more. Her husband shares his
own knowledge as well, including how to assemble a rainwater harvest system,
build raised garden beds, and ferment kombucha. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Anyone interested in learning more can follow their Facebook page
for upcoming events or keep up with the blog on <a href="http://farmingthesprawl.com/"><span class="Hyperlink0">FarmingTheSprawl.com</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
"In a time in which we never truly know where our food comes
from or what's done to it, and in which we are becoming less and less connected
with the things that bring us life,” Austin said, “it is more important than
ever to dig our fingers in the soil and help everything grow.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<b><i>Tina Arons is a high school English teacher and farming
activist in Fort Worth. She grew up on a ranch in the Hill Country but
currently lives with her husband and four stepchildren in a quiet suburban
neighborhood. With her husband Austin Caraway, she helped create an
ever-expanding mini farm in the backyard.</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3CBomub1f8B7y3yNe5StpYPPrT7f9AdJVDM_QP1r8VLc93mewMjQuBaFs2JSNNwJVZ34Yy0tVic22DRTXhQQYU-JpuwH0mVbvBM73wMTukA69VbZ2mEH_gDLa3GIFXFE48znZzMUPYHf/s1600/11014911_506501686185900_8249499575268092067_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3CBomub1f8B7y3yNe5StpYPPrT7f9AdJVDM_QP1r8VLc93mewMjQuBaFs2JSNNwJVZ34Yy0tVic22DRTXhQQYU-JpuwH0mVbvBM73wMTukA69VbZ2mEH_gDLa3GIFXFE48znZzMUPYHf/s320/11014911_506501686185900_8249499575268092067_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiteIDVcwSslku3ltgfJKyDfN5NChrpTdO9wEzT_QPfM2fnI5X4u7pIvvGPQb4r-iXg2te3PvTE7ZqKRsza2HjYESlxhBdxKbfwpPINVnzA23VqNj5EhYQ2F1GpE78rgkd9ledtRyTkln/s1600/IMG_4669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiteIDVcwSslku3ltgfJKyDfN5NChrpTdO9wEzT_QPfM2fnI5X4u7pIvvGPQb4r-iXg2te3PvTE7ZqKRsza2HjYESlxhBdxKbfwpPINVnzA23VqNj5EhYQ2F1GpE78rgkd9ledtRyTkln/s320/IMG_4669.JPG" width="240" /></a>Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-52343460757381291102016-01-06T13:00:00.000-06:002016-01-06T13:00:22.290-06:00What We're Planting Now - January 2016It's the beginning of January and we haven't had a bad freeze yet in North TX. The holidays brought some cold nights and a dusting of snow that caused many gardeners to prepare for the worst. Without a lot of planting to do, local gardens have been covering (and uncovering) their crops, enjoying the continuous winter harvest, and starting to think about the seedlings needed for the next few months.<br />
<br />
Let's take a peek at what our local community gardens have been up to for the last month!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7i3hYxhmiB6dVWuJtMzMOdKz4J0ZzvBiXrFBOWmtJzoPH8hIezqI9D4zfrBKxS72tNLMXyJ9vUFK3PjdkpJOWBOLNx7g_I8Hk1RkMt_pVQ0BeswLg8pfjWgrgvnKVYtmk9H3AHeQjlgpF/s1600/Worday+Collage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7i3hYxhmiB6dVWuJtMzMOdKz4J0ZzvBiXrFBOWmtJzoPH8hIezqI9D4zfrBKxS72tNLMXyJ9vUFK3PjdkpJOWBOLNx7g_I8Hk1RkMt_pVQ0BeswLg8pfjWgrgvnKVYtmk9H3AHeQjlgpF/s320/Worday+Collage+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Adding black, water-filled buckets<br />and covering with frost blanket will help<br />protect plants in the winter!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0CdKLW-UOl2HtywHLMRJNx01BqOaXlleFEwbAekpHbYt5nI_UJeYX7Vo1El00QIeJGv8FMB2BTLgBY4rH5_htvfZFc0RJ8ZLCib-4_jZbhO0Vzq_SNxDUqlUFrMv41Ht2IIdZ2oYAxxb/s1600/Workday+Collage+1-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0CdKLW-UOl2HtywHLMRJNx01BqOaXlleFEwbAekpHbYt5nI_UJeYX7Vo1El00QIeJGv8FMB2BTLgBY4rH5_htvfZFc0RJ8ZLCib-4_jZbhO0Vzq_SNxDUqlUFrMv41Ht2IIdZ2oYAxxb/s320/Workday+Collage+1-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Don't forget to water and add<br />slow-release fertilizer - even in winter!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOe-Sk2OTLti-n2gzw8jDSAYCZZ8sKxY-Ayfq5vxdYhDJaUsljwqoq6lLIuQ6mGZggwOgOkehbRQDRJIrU81i7hIx1yH_24hWXenh1Q2B6906dlEvJJDD47bzizMluWUXuOOdQZfjB8sB/s1600/Workday+Collage+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOe-Sk2OTLti-n2gzw8jDSAYCZZ8sKxY-Ayfq5vxdYhDJaUsljwqoq6lLIuQ6mGZggwOgOkehbRQDRJIrU81i7hIx1yH_24hWXenh1Q2B6906dlEvJJDD47bzizMluWUXuOOdQZfjB8sB/s320/Workday+Collage+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Saving last year's seeds and asking<br /> for leaf donations is a great way to save money!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDw25cbMv17B3N2o0LbNqjrgjy8lN-zxRFiduAF8czZMSd7uXwyOqtk9or6g6ssR9fVguMwoncLZCRsP_YZuSUflQ0AROiKugvXBuXweAlF5ebCdJ-Tq-ZTUOxzIhgP_YSRptKzDYeDkRj/s1600/Workday+Collage+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDw25cbMv17B3N2o0LbNqjrgjy8lN-zxRFiduAF8czZMSd7uXwyOqtk9or6g6ssR9fVguMwoncLZCRsP_YZuSUflQ0AROiKugvXBuXweAlF5ebCdJ-Tq-ZTUOxzIhgP_YSRptKzDYeDkRj/s320/Workday+Collage+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Even the cold, winter months can be very <br />productive in Texas!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Keep up with the Tarrant County Food Policy Council and our Community Garden and Urban Agriculture working group <a href="http://www.tarrantcountyfoodpolicycouncil.org/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
And check out these local gardening events:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>TAFB's <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-garden-leader-gathering-registration-20081452164?aff=cat">Community Garden Leader Gathering</a></li>
<li>TAFB's <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/planning-your-spring-garden-registration-20081177342?aff=sim">Planning Your Spring Garden</a> workshop</li>
<li>TAFB's <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/raising-chickens-in-the-garden-registration-20082130192?aff=sim">Raising Chickens in the Garden</a> workshop</li>
<li>TAFB's <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/planning-your-spring-garden-registration-20082070012?aff=ebrowse">Planning Your Spring Garden (Feb.)</a> workshop</li>
<li>TAFB's <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/composting-101-registration-20082295687?aff=cat">Composting 101</a> workshop</li>
<li>Several MLK Day Events Hosted by <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/o/heart-of-texas-urban-gardening-coalition-1752432757">Heart of Texas Urban Gardening Coalition</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-52221451032020422662015-12-15T15:06:00.000-06:002015-12-15T15:06:59.854-06:00Garden of the Month - Refugee Services of Texas (Fort Worth): Growing Hope<div class="MsoNormal">
Since 2012, the Refugee Services of Texas (RST) Fort Worth regional office has
developed a community garden by which their clients can cultivate their own
culturally appropriate foods. The gardens could not have been made possible without
the help of Tarrant Area Food Bank, Tarrant County Public Health, dedicated
volunteer support, and the Master Gardeners Association of Tarrant County,
conveniently located next door. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the past 4 years the garden has reached a total of 33 growing
plots with plans to add additional plots due to increasing interests expressed
by clients. On November 21<sup>st</sup>, RST hosted a workday where all of the
gardeners gathered to help with the expansion, clean-up, and beautification
efforts. A special thank you is also in order for Community Cultivators LLC who
came out to provide support. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition to the workdays, one of the many goals of the
garden program is to create opportunities for the greater Fort Worth community
to get involved. Over the years in partnership with TCU, students have been
able to complete service projects in the garden and this collaborative effort
is something that RST would like to continue in the future.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The garden provides an important outlet that allows clients
to get back to their roots and grow produce that they are accustomed to from
their countries of origin. The cultural dynamism reflected through the plants
makes the garden a truly magical place to be immersed in. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you are interested in
participating or contributing to this worthy project please contact RST Fort
Worth at </span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="mailto:fortworth@rstx.org" target="_blank">fortworth@rstx.org</a></span></b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6E3DnpOlEv61Hc-vCTcRkCphZDEAm2FHjX32PQXgJACX7lS0Xol9nbxxBY7LzOXJoaVWsP2ddc9S2EF6uY0WpBOZDq5wqauUnRVGwFebkZUUEqcpEVrPOhTMRRQhzEW3Vey8AfEsrXhuw/s1600/278189_10151085026802975_2111364295_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6E3DnpOlEv61Hc-vCTcRkCphZDEAm2FHjX32PQXgJACX7lS0Xol9nbxxBY7LzOXJoaVWsP2ddc9S2EF6uY0WpBOZDq5wqauUnRVGwFebkZUUEqcpEVrPOhTMRRQhzEW3Vey8AfEsrXhuw/s320/278189_10151085026802975_2111364295_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkv0MyX0rip6ybwqQOo_S6h9J_RjYLdnaW5JCCOgcmSBBoORcZ9VOMj2J_BX4S5kjlxaFVq0eD1zzyanoQLRnQCSOC8KFExr1rSCXKoLmRvwRDESMjhd2SgB1Pf_U-5yRhqG4Dj3wy7BS/s1600/12347727_1673873496158835_7145812543105875951_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkv0MyX0rip6ybwqQOo_S6h9J_RjYLdnaW5JCCOgcmSBBoORcZ9VOMj2J_BX4S5kjlxaFVq0eD1zzyanoQLRnQCSOC8KFExr1rSCXKoLmRvwRDESMjhd2SgB1Pf_U-5yRhqG4Dj3wy7BS/s320/12347727_1673873496158835_7145812543105875951_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGYnmxz79vTWd2W7NHuegun8IJwztl6fm_7wPGv3xwiQR58Het7yzBecECqJcLWVv6-qBY92qHrf2kM1L4u7Ya6yrHK3IvTliRdFvIunA0VubzCrruQKB0R8W4C6om8OyQnr1V3no6iGw/s1600/473936_10151085015762975_59522903_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGYnmxz79vTWd2W7NHuegun8IJwztl6fm_7wPGv3xwiQR58Het7yzBecECqJcLWVv6-qBY92qHrf2kM1L4u7Ya6yrHK3IvTliRdFvIunA0VubzCrruQKB0R8W4C6om8OyQnr1V3no6iGw/s320/473936_10151085015762975_59522903_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b><br /></b></span>Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-16329036038467547802015-12-01T15:41:00.001-06:002015-12-01T15:41:46.267-06:00What We're Planting Now - December 2015The first frost of the year claimed most of the remaining tomatoes and peppers left uncovered in the gardens of North TX. Brassicas, root vegetables and leafy greens remained mostly unharmed but most active planting has come to a pause.<br />
It is time to put on another layer of mulch, organize our frost blanket, and start thinking about starting seeds for the spring.<br />
Let's see what some of our local community gardens have been up to lately!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsU0gceqLba6LM0RPqzyjdjbKURXGZNypCQqE3B-0j1aBlVSGhEwOl-MgrQFX_qjDzK5m-px03ePT3TiCIOzvJWwFGqw48FJ6dQGmTgPqUVSPBr6nKIlgKOj6l-CJXn_4JDXNh-EQoeZZ/s1600/2015-11-30+14.17.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsU0gceqLba6LM0RPqzyjdjbKURXGZNypCQqE3B-0j1aBlVSGhEwOl-MgrQFX_qjDzK5m-px03ePT3TiCIOzvJWwFGqw48FJ6dQGmTgPqUVSPBr6nKIlgKOj6l-CJXn_4JDXNh-EQoeZZ/s320/2015-11-30+14.17.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Testing out new seed starting shelves at The Learning Garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQWuR51OiziMvtFU-IWnoXxaBEoDQv-N7_eryOrwHHUu7zh-apruFgr74UJZ3xu6OEJ62ZormPaDBLXKwGDiwZhgRdP0AnA7D5lKfoHSSommGbRpAHx5G-AtA2a05juwPG_lTTzk8_DLW/s1600/2015-11-30+14.16.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQWuR51OiziMvtFU-IWnoXxaBEoDQv-N7_eryOrwHHUu7zh-apruFgr74UJZ3xu6OEJ62ZormPaDBLXKwGDiwZhgRdP0AnA7D5lKfoHSSommGbRpAHx5G-AtA2a05juwPG_lTTzk8_DLW/s320/2015-11-30+14.16.11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think we got it to work!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_b4khYcDCkv_IAURMguVU47S8Ey8TRwWU-TjMB2rUtSH4NkmA_OH2aBpiWCZAW7wEeR1KAhKj9-OQRUwMzAo10rn_5YwWjgkoJFclRYXVS8APEzswj20Obt5Uhr9Mhor8fX59kGUMLbx/s1600/2015-11-19+15.56.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_b4khYcDCkv_IAURMguVU47S8Ey8TRwWU-TjMB2rUtSH4NkmA_OH2aBpiWCZAW7wEeR1KAhKj9-OQRUwMzAo10rn_5YwWjgkoJFclRYXVS8APEzswj20Obt5Uhr9Mhor8fX59kGUMLbx/s320/2015-11-19+15.56.02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kales, mustards, and herbs are usually winter-hardy in North TX</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hcQpDXmpgHIZR_GjsHgNnZfTulkMfoqL-59sjdIuRiVwpnVSz5PQs-_J-_k52FHEYXe_AuxZjxHLvtYXDEPFxqLdZlObwRe_NP-3MWCuxbdyGuY9fY6xvgn-IZePCsg0EWLhGnoaoOzg/s1600/2015-11-19+15.55.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hcQpDXmpgHIZR_GjsHgNnZfTulkMfoqL-59sjdIuRiVwpnVSz5PQs-_J-_k52FHEYXe_AuxZjxHLvtYXDEPFxqLdZlObwRe_NP-3MWCuxbdyGuY9fY6xvgn-IZePCsg0EWLhGnoaoOzg/s320/2015-11-19+15.55.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herbs and Ornamental Kales have been added at TAFB's new Kitchen Garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoZAUQq17FnJ9N0LDmkQNuSbPL3w6A3j-2DJR9ZwL-i0f5Bg317Yk0hnGZQEUbaXYOrYzd0oDVVYMM-NgPkzpCAq58xkWTKFEbqH5i5n9Eg8jPqOT9aOxmNnnWl1o-6R4kShIYxCnL2CV/s1600/2015-12-01+11.21.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoZAUQq17FnJ9N0LDmkQNuSbPL3w6A3j-2DJR9ZwL-i0f5Bg317Yk0hnGZQEUbaXYOrYzd0oDVVYMM-NgPkzpCAq58xkWTKFEbqH5i5n9Eg8jPqOT9aOxmNnnWl1o-6R4kShIYxCnL2CV/s320/2015-12-01+11.21.21.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many winter greens <br />left to harvest!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NJIrRfsPHOtTP8ULgmBYJkI7LorogWddbdfn9C8r8jMNwoTcGF8TwQIBSC5tjlrbebxbUzcj6_Ufc2Q9GgfuC96p8P0e17zAQUydgjt30Whb2g9jCAOddqfyfVwDZSKjPgIr2YmlrYAD/s1600/2015-11-24+15.30.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NJIrRfsPHOtTP8ULgmBYJkI7LorogWddbdfn9C8r8jMNwoTcGF8TwQIBSC5tjlrbebxbUzcj6_Ufc2Q9GgfuC96p8P0e17zAQUydgjt30Whb2g9jCAOddqfyfVwDZSKjPgIr2YmlrYAD/s320/2015-11-24+15.30.29.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A thick layer of leaf mulch can <br />
help protect against frost!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_Y7vKr5e_yDenIziwCjH9S2sGPUHtCjq8TMBcZ8uwvCdJiDktTHlwvFRwC2h60fTsPAk80XAP-7HONWQr3QJ0sUh7LstOeTNQUpaot2Gi14X_tylYGwGMtsv07vCNHGa02b84pG6lFPj/s1600/2015-12-01+11.21.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_Y7vKr5e_yDenIziwCjH9S2sGPUHtCjq8TMBcZ8uwvCdJiDktTHlwvFRwC2h60fTsPAk80XAP-7HONWQr3QJ0sUh7LstOeTNQUpaot2Gi14X_tylYGwGMtsv07vCNHGa02b84pG6lFPj/s320/2015-12-01+11.21.16.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvesting beets and greens! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusYjj_08N_9trdj4F14nVrY6G8LtYm6NTUCwQ8wADRapwx0l5UeNwrtZOzv2saSaKY63RJbtg9ugudwZPdK1moUkTe_SXX0HhHJTTfSAvDVi1gkRMsEtIEKW9kEHu9Svg-AOGfHId3FCo/s1600/2015-11-24+15.04.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusYjj_08N_9trdj4F14nVrY6G8LtYm6NTUCwQ8wADRapwx0l5UeNwrtZOzv2saSaKY63RJbtg9ugudwZPdK1moUkTe_SXX0HhHJTTfSAvDVi1gkRMsEtIEKW9kEHu9Svg-AOGfHId3FCo/s320/2015-11-24+15.04.07.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pick those green tomatoes before<br />
the <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">frost and ripen them inside!</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhqNnD4W4GP7-Mx5ldDI8ulSGcegp3dXgIXVUKvVkK2P079yhgCfChC4UqwkmgH4Dh1p9nINeOKL0_l6Y-s-C1Vjy4w7KraRW8qiCzZRqFysE01rG6wrIf6KINyXMUk4ViLnUk4FFvJkg/s1600/2015-12-01+11.21.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhqNnD4W4GP7-Mx5ldDI8ulSGcegp3dXgIXVUKvVkK2P079yhgCfChC4UqwkmgH4Dh1p9nINeOKL0_l6Y-s-C1Vjy4w7KraRW8qiCzZRqFysE01rG6wrIf6KINyXMUk4ViLnUk4FFvJkg/s320/2015-12-01+11.21.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh herbs are the best!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Keep up with the Tarrant County Food Policy Council and our Community Garden and Urban Agriculture working group <a href="http://www.tarrantcountyfoodpolicycouncil.org/">here</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Check out these local events:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li>Canning Workshop: <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gifts-in-jars-canning-crafting-homemade-holiday-gifts-tickets-19515760164?aff=ebrowse">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gifts-in-jars-canning-crafting-homemade-holiday-gifts-tickets-19515760164?aff=ebrowse</a></li>
<li>Make & Take Herbal Vinegars (Johnson County): <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/208489142816602/">https://www.facebook.com/events/208489142816602/ </a></li>
</ul>
<div>
Happy Gardening!</div>
</div>
Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-43471468702542195142015-11-12T13:44:00.000-06:002015-11-12T13:44:01.063-06:00Garden of the Month - Planting Seeds, Growing Faith (Advent Lutheran Church Community Garden, Arlington)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For the past
5 years or so, Advent Lutheran Church in Arlington has been developing a
community garden with the help of several community partners. Currently there are 7 raised beds that have
been built by local Boy Scouts and Eagle Scout projects. Other school and youth groups have also
contributed at various times. There are
3 other growing beds, several fruit trees and a compost pile. For the past several years there has been an
ongoing relationship with the Tucker Head Start Center of the Tarrant County
Child Care Associates. Families and
staff from the Head Start Center help to plant, maintain and harvest produce
grown in the garden. The produce from
the garden is shared with the families at the Head Start Center. This year Advent received several flats of
seedlings including tomatoes, squash, peppers and broccoli through the Tarrant Area Food Bank which were shared with the Head Start Center. The goal of this partnership is to offer an
opportunity for pre-school children and their families to experience the
planting, growth and harvest of fresh vegetables; particularly when they have a
limited opportunity for this experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maintaining a garden is a constant
challenge. There is a small group of
church members who loyally weed and water the beds. For more information about this garden or how
you may help, please contact Karen Riley: kriley18@outlook.com.</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DbMZYNnnWsHGn5V9kLuMWo6iFF7XgUjpVhAXEkin9hsLkeM0Xds4du6kbozS1TveWEmMFCuFqiBoRk_4dtrb58aRVHq-X8TaiaufQwhK6hO9IiBH-QoZr31tU4WcUZj8iU0k1p3jQNHH/s1600/Advent+Lutheran+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DbMZYNnnWsHGn5V9kLuMWo6iFF7XgUjpVhAXEkin9hsLkeM0Xds4du6kbozS1TveWEmMFCuFqiBoRk_4dtrb58aRVHq-X8TaiaufQwhK6hO9IiBH-QoZr31tU4WcUZj8iU0k1p3jQNHH/s320/Advent+Lutheran+1.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWebGEB3uL2Zl7_AyZNY3T-NbXEhnf8QsbIMhh_HCGl1VNjgYrs9WENrcbV-XfRG1JAlxLlotYerug2mZFM7mFFHVP5W168LG4ovhoNebgkyr4wWVOb2NGZtBhn0qgPknPgM8bw0XykCA/s1600/Advent+Lutheran+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWebGEB3uL2Zl7_AyZNY3T-NbXEhnf8QsbIMhh_HCGl1VNjgYrs9WENrcbV-XfRG1JAlxLlotYerug2mZFM7mFFHVP5W168LG4ovhoNebgkyr4wWVOb2NGZtBhn0qgPknPgM8bw0XykCA/s320/Advent+Lutheran+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DbMZYNnnWsHGn5V9kLuMWo6iFF7XgUjpVhAXEkin9hsLkeM0Xds4du6kbozS1TveWEmMFCuFqiBoRk_4dtrb58aRVHq-X8TaiaufQwhK6hO9IiBH-QoZr31tU4WcUZj8iU0k1p3jQNHH/s1600/Advent+Lutheran+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DbMZYNnnWsHGn5V9kLuMWo6iFF7XgUjpVhAXEkin9hsLkeM0Xds4du6kbozS1TveWEmMFCuFqiBoRk_4dtrb58aRVHq-X8TaiaufQwhK6hO9IiBH-QoZr31tU4WcUZj8iU0k1p3jQNHH/s1600/Advent+Lutheran+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DbMZYNnnWsHGn5V9kLuMWo6iFF7XgUjpVhAXEkin9hsLkeM0Xds4du6kbozS1TveWEmMFCuFqiBoRk_4dtrb58aRVHq-X8TaiaufQwhK6hO9IiBH-QoZr31tU4WcUZj8iU0k1p3jQNHH/s1600/Advent+Lutheran+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiC_wHEjVqV_9q-HrD8LvmL4dS-3UxS4U_bphcYFgYfORPMqx5wN2WIf2-zTKSbizjVhnabcpkLFmYv43oVz67qkmOoluNdct1SnLtfVt3nMYj-hAq8Y1gkguMGRLAwVXUv3qjNxq1rsua/s1600/Advent+Lutheran+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiC_wHEjVqV_9q-HrD8LvmL4dS-3UxS4U_bphcYFgYfORPMqx5wN2WIf2-zTKSbizjVhnabcpkLFmYv43oVz67qkmOoluNdct1SnLtfVt3nMYj-hAq8Y1gkguMGRLAwVXUv3qjNxq1rsua/s320/Advent+Lutheran+3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-YNfly9QfGH7fBfnyXKbaeZ7UXd0M9Am05S-uHnIIUmr-gTB-jiqs3_vREt_TS9j7xQRaHNjfgpy1wzsrraPrCEJncPPH2vPo42H8iE0GyhmuKkvOPAV-In93aJC9aqyFzJBVQIfJtKS/s1600/Advent+Lutheran+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-YNfly9QfGH7fBfnyXKbaeZ7UXd0M9Am05S-uHnIIUmr-gTB-jiqs3_vREt_TS9j7xQRaHNjfgpy1wzsrraPrCEJncPPH2vPo42H8iE0GyhmuKkvOPAV-In93aJC9aqyFzJBVQIfJtKS/s320/Advent+Lutheran+4.jpg" width="238" /></a>Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-27744902013132961262015-11-02T12:59:00.000-06:002015-11-02T12:59:53.461-06:00What We're Planting Now - November 2015The ever-elusive first frost date is approaching in the next few weeks and it is getting close to the end of the fall planting season. Check out what our local community and school gardens are working into the ground before it gets too cold!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMgGqN9N1oZsQ5nlklsyFhV7iBFEA4c9wXxiNGoXUpIDwDBQHtZivZ1G7XNXle8MXaZPeqlFqioHi16e-dtInRpNklg-VM5Q3UtbVfGxppduAAkPSorjYPk50AS7pmitoRU_d9ykyI8iH/s1600/2015-10-27+11.01.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMgGqN9N1oZsQ5nlklsyFhV7iBFEA4c9wXxiNGoXUpIDwDBQHtZivZ1G7XNXle8MXaZPeqlFqioHi16e-dtInRpNklg-VM5Q3UtbVfGxppduAAkPSorjYPk50AS7pmitoRU_d9ykyI8iH/s320/2015-10-27+11.01.29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katie and Lauren re-seed some root vegetables and greens in raised beds at The Learning Garden (FW)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Many root vegetables and hardy greens do well over the winter in North TX - especially if you have the means to cover them when frost is predicted.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSfEoA_QrgwsTR8p5Wlzy5IbgnZL_fRSZ9XxY2ecLfe4DDwb2jjR37WS4wRLNj_lOza0CPew536yhSTjCFqEcAU8G2RN27zlE7_hlqdvCpskgCErYuQ9NCvCIs4kGtDA8SeriMpzOXZis/s1600/2015-10-27+10.37.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSfEoA_QrgwsTR8p5Wlzy5IbgnZL_fRSZ9XxY2ecLfe4DDwb2jjR37WS4wRLNj_lOza0CPew536yhSTjCFqEcAU8G2RN27zlE7_hlqdvCpskgCErYuQ9NCvCIs4kGtDA8SeriMpzOXZis/s320/2015-10-27+10.37.31.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surround your fall crops with onions, <br />
garlic and herbs!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QOT9iAgHwcC-S_53demLFCHu6ZruBvI05zHpdZo9LlC1YcUz2pHrSaCHNKNSTNd-qoHCrCVGKdQpdkSEd8DrPOB-_iRWkWJTN_X9rGr-H8FTsfuP9lLKr9YvU7DBAdgkdMqPx7GS2fXy/s1600/2015-10-27+10.37.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QOT9iAgHwcC-S_53demLFCHu6ZruBvI05zHpdZo9LlC1YcUz2pHrSaCHNKNSTNd-qoHCrCVGKdQpdkSEd8DrPOB-_iRWkWJTN_X9rGr-H8FTsfuP9lLKr9YvU7DBAdgkdMqPx7GS2fXy/s320/2015-10-27+10.37.58.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snap Peas peeking up through the mulch!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3inyTy8tjZX-FUH9WscKxv7S2gu5nPOLZ0_s-_azgEeKbePPM5eDUBwHAHv1EO0dqhar211t_45nMTCCHuUGU39G7aVjOTT4vVDAMLlerL1ltG7b5A-jUq8CoBafNB3wOaJVgD25QgVTM/s1600/2015-10-29+11.40.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3inyTy8tjZX-FUH9WscKxv7S2gu5nPOLZ0_s-_azgEeKbePPM5eDUBwHAHv1EO0dqhar211t_45nMTCCHuUGU39G7aVjOTT4vVDAMLlerL1ltG7b5A-jUq8CoBafNB3wOaJVgD25QgVTM/s320/2015-10-29+11.40.45.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some fall veggies are already<br />
starting to produce!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Check out these local events that can help guide you to a successful fall and winter garden:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/winter-gardening-putting-your-garden-to-rest-for-the-winter-tickets-19271850624?aff=es2">Winter Gardening: Putting Your Garden to Rest for the Winter</a> (Bedford)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/protecting-your-plants-from-frost-registration-18963304755?aff=es2">Protecting Your Plants from Frost</a> (Fort Worth)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
REAL School Gardens (local office in Fort Worth) works to install and utilize learning gardens in schools with majority low-income students. The gardens are used for outdoor, hands-on learning that benefit all children. Check out what they have been up to this fall!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgil7dPPvqA8LF5dJP-MPoorWfnbAInz5kS-06vuzN3zX-qzpTQm5l7Rl7pzGDz41DGyDXr17DMFNvVnuuKd-eQtN2GcaOro1S250lO5xvH7FLSNPDF4EbR_EX4f7Msxdh69UrmffkoaQNw/s1600/Teachers+at+Cannon+Elementary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgil7dPPvqA8LF5dJP-MPoorWfnbAInz5kS-06vuzN3zX-qzpTQm5l7Rl7pzGDz41DGyDXr17DMFNvVnuuKd-eQtN2GcaOro1S250lO5xvH7FLSNPDF4EbR_EX4f7Msxdh69UrmffkoaQNw/s320/Teachers+at+Cannon+Elementary.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teachers at Cannon Elementary in Grapevine make observations and take notes about how they can use the garden for their students!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIgnneluR_ISd19hNLw_kXDGbqQrg7u8N0yspsc64ybzKoE3eaJaLJwCcUPoLcAkTZe-rGwwl9Y7AXOOGLktK8w6XVK_6_MLI60AcjMHnFuZKfIwdVVgZe8vEQ-Pe9tsQQgJmJkNyg6NC/s1600/Kramer+Elementary+-+REAL+School+Gardens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIgnneluR_ISd19hNLw_kXDGbqQrg7u8N0yspsc64ybzKoE3eaJaLJwCcUPoLcAkTZe-rGwwl9Y7AXOOGLktK8w6XVK_6_MLI60AcjMHnFuZKfIwdVVgZe8vEQ-Pe9tsQQgJmJkNyg6NC/s320/Kramer+Elementary+-+REAL+School+Gardens.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This BEAUTIFUL garden at Kramer Elementary in Dallas will make a wonderful teaching and learning environment! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLVLyWZmX4aeEz5792hpnRNBGHcnY7GkFOq1ZfSOk5M9oqWZ_eB2Gas95RCjDYOfZRb84IOyyDfaoPwPSXvdf2Fro_MMiJs31r0V-hvZV68ndm9Enr3z7nlthyTlXDnm-AADOEBHU4WSy/s1600/Time+Warner+Volunteers+at+DeGoyler+ES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLVLyWZmX4aeEz5792hpnRNBGHcnY7GkFOq1ZfSOk5M9oqWZ_eB2Gas95RCjDYOfZRb84IOyyDfaoPwPSXvdf2Fro_MMiJs31r0V-hvZV68ndm9Enr3z7nlthyTlXDnm-AADOEBHU4WSy/s320/Time+Warner+Volunteers+at+DeGoyler+ES.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteers from Time Warner help to revitalize the beds at DeGoyler Elementary in Dallas! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For more information about the Tarrant County Food Policy Council or our Community Garden and Urban Agriculture working group, visit our <a href="http://www.tarrantcountyfoodpolicycouncil.org/cgua-working-group.html">website</a>!</div>
Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-81990699534277751812015-10-14T15:27:00.000-05:002015-10-14T15:27:32.279-05:00Garden of the Month - The Learning Garden (TAFB), Fort Worth<div class="MsoNormal">
The Learning Garden, a program of Tarrant Area Food Bank,
truly has something for everyone. Visitors will immediately notice the variety
of beds at the demonstration site, including in-ground, raised, and container
beds bearing a variety of leafy greens, eggplants, tomatoes, okra, herbs, broccoli, kale and
more. You can see traditional farmer’s rows and raised beds as well as
permaculture models, such as keyhole and hugelkultur beds. The garden utilizes
organic practices and plants native or heirloom species as much as possible. Tarrant
Area Food Bank believes that teaching people from all walks of life how to
garden—and to share the excess—can make a significant difference in alleviating
hunger in our community. Further, the skills developed, along with improved
access to resources, also benefit hungry families that participate in the
program. While the garden exists to support the surrounding Ridglea
neighborhood, ultimately, the goal is to inspire and support social service agencies,
faith-based organizations, and families in starting their own community and
backyard garden projects.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0H1HLFkysNbxTIPCw4-zIv6peUfTLU04Zf4y5cJR76jXR_-BjW6f8TXJyXYkh9B7sMiQfD15sZYbYyfkYQ6aagWigJL9G6qAzlLPutTtilyQV-F-0WxeLBw3QN_3Qewt1ME5bzpd6RGF/s1600/P1210919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0H1HLFkysNbxTIPCw4-zIv6peUfTLU04Zf4y5cJR76jXR_-BjW6f8TXJyXYkh9B7sMiQfD15sZYbYyfkYQ6aagWigJL9G6qAzlLPutTtilyQV-F-0WxeLBw3QN_3Qewt1ME5bzpd6RGF/s320/P1210919.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are many ways to enjoy The Learning Garden. We
recommend starting with a tour of the garden. Currently, tours are available on
Fridays from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, excluding holidays and private tours are available by request. The garden began
offering training for adult beginning gardeners in January 2015. Upcoming
topics for adults include Cover Crops & Winter Gardening and Protecting Your Plants from Frost. In the coming months,
additional tracks for organizations, families, and children will be offered. Tools,
including a Tool Lending Library, and planning resources are available to leaders
of community garden projects and the Seed Bank is open to the public. Community
members are always welcome at Work Days held on Tuesdays and select Saturdays
from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSf-tNcJx-f9hbqtkScveYJGqE8IqIM6NNY5pkMgc5tBYy3ALMwQQ_gAe9QlF4nvH4d3rDvYM9vWShSDQEK3Cb8Qkv3dG-ISMUvj1uF-0PoNqalqTR5drh2a9Io5qBoVtoWA695yv72vOD/s1600/FullSizeRender-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSf-tNcJx-f9hbqtkScveYJGqE8IqIM6NNY5pkMgc5tBYy3ALMwQQ_gAe9QlF4nvH4d3rDvYM9vWShSDQEK3Cb8Qkv3dG-ISMUvj1uF-0PoNqalqTR5drh2a9Io5qBoVtoWA695yv72vOD/s320/FullSizeRender-21.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0gP314oXPEbX7BnxUNg3WTWOsI1EaUau7sHEMYnVKAp3VUgbQv5VbLiZCX5xlZzQnNQ_U_1FfcQmBXfFmbl78Kf3vnq_bHZ_lyXuPIx4k1VQqd4Bu6NRq_l57V3tDI5f4DCJ6Kan0b66/s1600/FullSizeRender-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0gP314oXPEbX7BnxUNg3WTWOsI1EaUau7sHEMYnVKAp3VUgbQv5VbLiZCX5xlZzQnNQ_U_1FfcQmBXfFmbl78Kf3vnq_bHZ_lyXuPIx4k1VQqd4Bu6NRq_l57V3tDI5f4DCJ6Kan0b66/s320/FullSizeRender-17.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaViRC636dneoLxoHYfuKHiPDjDWogwtvF1BBNJJuNiKuuwOrIu6JroEd5ooluDQgqWFEJFfK6OAOkgJAqnXSOHBIXqTMZYh4sbRQWaSlYIlE86f2sYGeQdWPsI8pZaHBWvppLU2t-Kob/s1600/FullSizeRender-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaViRC636dneoLxoHYfuKHiPDjDWogwtvF1BBNJJuNiKuuwOrIu6JroEd5ooluDQgqWFEJFfK6OAOkgJAqnXSOHBIXqTMZYh4sbRQWaSlYIlE86f2sYGeQdWPsI8pZaHBWvppLU2t-Kob/s320/FullSizeRender-23.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tarrant Area Food Bank is very grateful for Ridglea
Christian Church for providing the property and facilities, water and
electricity, and leadership, as well as for Archie’s Gardenland for providing
materials, plants, expertise, and labor. These relationships are key to the
continued success of The Learning Garden. For more information and to
volunteer, please visit www.tafb.org.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyIrbl3GukgEUeo65qHJlRKHgFXUhMgSEE1enlVVuG0Ek25PVbzD852tGlo_47d9z0dyxeL4uS55ywr6xjrXHMv6-utkVSxBFn54v7-o6my57uqIH-7QBMxMUFbr0X_6lXf0jCyJLG-JM/s1600/IMG_3227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyIrbl3GukgEUeo65qHJlRKHgFXUhMgSEE1enlVVuG0Ek25PVbzD852tGlo_47d9z0dyxeL4uS55ywr6xjrXHMv6-utkVSxBFn54v7-o6my57uqIH-7QBMxMUFbr0X_6lXf0jCyJLG-JM/s320/IMG_3227.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903505503556196142.post-61768191475925751132015-10-01T12:11:00.001-05:002015-10-01T12:12:47.742-05:00What We're Planting Now - October 2015<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>The daytime highs are finally starting to stay below 90 degrees and the nights are getting cooler. That means it is time to start planting fall veggies! Fall and winter can be the most productive seasons in a North Texas garden. Diseases and pests are less of an issue than in summer and fungal issues are not as problematic. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b>
<b>Let's take a look at some of the veggies that are being planted in our local gardens right now!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA4cc63NRVMw9PqLJjBaYsiOoOLs6zVMyRb29MaOZ8qUMilOa8ilVr9RK3qMUCrui1RrJcGncWO9OUH4yi_BhmvYRj2zLiRQk7huGMSzqAIkoaUEE92iePW736ZYLDFFl5C-3A2S_tyCU/s1600/2015-09-22+08.35.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA4cc63NRVMw9PqLJjBaYsiOoOLs6zVMyRb29MaOZ8qUMilOa8ilVr9RK3qMUCrui1RrJcGncWO9OUH4yi_BhmvYRj2zLiRQk7huGMSzqAIkoaUEE92iePW736ZYLDFFl5C-3A2S_tyCU/s320/2015-09-22+08.35.56.jpg" width="180" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Many nurseries sell larger plants </b><br />
<b>than can help your garden get a </b><br />
<b>head start on winter!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1A05aQqjkGqHGd-WF8uZYGGpNwnFk8b2nI8W4etBV8W5R_2tZCkEW61QA7nI6Qzu7qkUzuQcyYdOXATeeeE1AyrI6nliQzUJNcnQPN_8oaoehmJDgNHJcGb7mSKesSHFRt4b1LUvpUAZb/s1600/2015-09-22+08.35.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1A05aQqjkGqHGd-WF8uZYGGpNwnFk8b2nI8W4etBV8W5R_2tZCkEW61QA7nI6Qzu7qkUzuQcyYdOXATeeeE1AyrI6nliQzUJNcnQPN_8oaoehmJDgNHJcGb7mSKesSHFRt4b1LUvpUAZb/s320/2015-09-22+08.35.50.jpg" width="320" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Herbs, broccoli and kale make fantastic additions </b><br />
<b>to any fall garden!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-f6vBynatBZCeQkl7p0LIGGzllCxVNTPu-oJqcG-3bJb2UxI6aO9Gg3BT8Xlg-JuSfsyqkXjOZgBq0c_zKmvEgOh8lKbUh69ijsOMZUHiLmfl9_xWjbvhK8AwWHnjXa3Jgq6FUemzLL_/s1600/2015-09-22+08.42.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-f6vBynatBZCeQkl7p0LIGGzllCxVNTPu-oJqcG-3bJb2UxI6aO9Gg3BT8Xlg-JuSfsyqkXjOZgBq0c_zKmvEgOh8lKbUh69ijsOMZUHiLmfl9_xWjbvhK8AwWHnjXa3Jgq6FUemzLL_/s320/2015-09-22+08.42.09.jpg" width="180" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mulching lettuces with straw can help</b><br />
<b> keep the soil moist, </b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">keep your leaves clean, </b><br />
<b style="font-size: 12.8px;">and protect the plants from the elements!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSrSxIUGc0EU-ClHvga62cKgbyY38u73DibS3Dytnlk5D35IIUrYB3vonIIsdvVFZDnC5doGKU4UT5FjT_2oRLqLExyzV8Th4y3wGy58iWFpcsBMG2PPLL7UDhSMBiYqpD3DMBX_vsoFT/s1600/2015-09-22+08.59.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSrSxIUGc0EU-ClHvga62cKgbyY38u73DibS3Dytnlk5D35IIUrYB3vonIIsdvVFZDnC5doGKU4UT5FjT_2oRLqLExyzV8Th4y3wGy58iWFpcsBMG2PPLL7UDhSMBiYqpD3DMBX_vsoFT/s320/2015-09-22+08.59.56.jpg" width="180" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Volunteers at TAFB's The Learning Garden in </b><br />
<b>Fort Worth plant Swiss Chard and Kale</b><br />
<b> in their Hugelkultur beds! </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLOxMjM80NJPR9NOmIXHVJzLcEpLsn6LFazNuJh9XwybL-X-plxH_sbWO_5k0vJ5ULfbaXC0T50F5Brv0hSRDIpPR_g4uu3U00ZzAifTXZb-FYzh3m-AdGbGM6n8l5AaY2eOoejWkPMm_/s1600/2015-09-22+09.01.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLOxMjM80NJPR9NOmIXHVJzLcEpLsn6LFazNuJh9XwybL-X-plxH_sbWO_5k0vJ5ULfbaXC0T50F5Brv0hSRDIpPR_g4uu3U00ZzAifTXZb-FYzh3m-AdGbGM6n8l5AaY2eOoejWkPMm_/s320/2015-09-22+09.01.05.jpg" width="180" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Katey Rudd (TAFB) is getting ready to </b><br />
<b>plant dill and other herbs to attract good bugs</b><br />
<b> and keep away the bad ones!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b>
<b>Many fall vegetables prefer to be planted from seed. If your beds aren't quite ready to make a great home for seeds, you can make seed tapes! At The Learning Garden, volunteers use a cornstarch/water glue and paper towels to create their seed tapes. These tapes help protect smaller seeds from washing away, create an easy system that ensures proper spacing and can be a great activity for days when it is too hot to plant or too rainy to be outside. Follow these instructions to make your own seed tapes today: <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Own-Seed-Tapes/">http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Own-Seed-Tapes/</a> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_9H92-tJB7bosMBkXAQ3J-mJFunIXa2PHNBcd0bpbIStlI2JpRUyKuroUZbXBh8WONjLu6hSqpdMOTROPtirD_SIx0ZIYL-XAPbJmAuD3cWwLFQ6aVxFLL1cYm8A9UGbuedNTF7dvHqy/s1600/FullSizeRender-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_9H92-tJB7bosMBkXAQ3J-mJFunIXa2PHNBcd0bpbIStlI2JpRUyKuroUZbXBh8WONjLu6hSqpdMOTROPtirD_SIx0ZIYL-XAPbJmAuD3cWwLFQ6aVxFLL1cYm8A9UGbuedNTF7dvHqy/s320/FullSizeRender-20.jpg" width="240" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Elaine and Becca make carrot seed tapes using a <br />square-foot gardening template, paper towels, and a cornstarch/water glue.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiyOR5txvLvrnYq7lVVWGBRzrjSggmyEXiaVASYIqu9Aj-L5UHvvnzfcsufBq1qqNnnr32ILsOcSsjGwwAlMkznOMZKFn0S_vL9NfufaMLECIAkW5GD5j7zgkQjRCGg5-33SNzxwfOaVj/s1600/FullSizeRender-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiyOR5txvLvrnYq7lVVWGBRzrjSggmyEXiaVASYIqu9Aj-L5UHvvnzfcsufBq1qqNnnr32ILsOcSsjGwwAlMkznOMZKFn0S_vL9NfufaMLECIAkW5GD5j7zgkQjRCGg5-33SNzxwfOaVj/s320/FullSizeRender-22.jpg" width="320" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Seed tapes are easy to make and can be stored in the fridge until it is time to plant!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Stay tuned for more updates on our local North Texas vegetable gardens! For more information or to be a part of our Community Gardens and Urban Agriculture working group, please visit <a href="http://www.tarrantcountyfoodpolicycouncil.org/">http://www.tarrantcountyfoodpolicycouncil.org/</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Happy Gardening!</b></div>
<br />Tarrant County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06875435465106781856noreply@blogger.com0