Chico, Sustainable

Don't let the weather stop you: the Chapman Friday Market and the Chico Saturday Market are great places to purchase your Thanksgiving fixin's

My wife and I aren't going to let the fact that we're headed to the Bay Area stop us. Hmong-farmed jicama and Pyramid farm carrots and broccoli will be the vessels for faux-artichoke dip made with Mike's locally grown sunchokes.

Check your recipes. There are plenty of other great locally grown foods at the farmers market that will be snazzy as a part of the Thanksgiving menu, even if you are planning on traveling. All of these foods will have no problem staying delicious through Turkey Day:

-Potatoes (yellow or blue) from Red Bank Farms
-Local eggs from Chaffin Family Farm, Chris's Egg Farm or Red Bank Farms
-Onions and garlic from multiple growers
-Beets and other root crops--try adding thin slices of watermelon radish to a salad
-Fresh, seasonal fruit, including mandarins, apples, and persimmons
-I saw local fejoas at the market last week, I bet they would go great in most cranberry recipes
-Winter squash galore - Bruce at the corner of 2nd and Flume has an amazing selection
-Goat cheese from North Valley Farms
-A seasonal bouquet from Marc Kessler of California Organic Flowers (like the pumpkin pepper bouquet pictured above)

Posted by jmiller at 07:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I had the opportunity to sample the new Leon Bistro a couple weeks ago, and I was impressed with its dedication to emphasizing locally-produced food in its menu items. It joins Spice Creek and Red Tavern in this regard.

Leon Bistro is also similar to Spice Creek and Red Tavern in its prices. To me, this is a meal for special occasions, and not a place the average Chicoan can afford to frequent on a regular basis.

I am still waiting for the "local eats" model to infiltrate some of our burrito joints and pizza parlors.

Posted by jmiller at 10:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I have been told that trying to grow avocados in a Chico backyard is a hit or miss prospect. This summer I found out how direct sun can scorch leaves and brown the bark of these trees. Indeed, these plants would be more at home in a humid subtropical environment than the 100 degree oven that is late July in Chico, and a few 20 degree January mornings in a row may kill off a young tree entirely.

We are having to strike a balance between not wanting to “baby” our avocado trees for the next decade with shade cloth and annual frost protection apparati and the desire to procure guacamole directly from the backyard.

There are supposedly some “hardier” avocado varieties out there, including the Stuart, Mexicola, and the Zutano, but even so my wife and I are learning (the hard way) that where and how they are planted is just as important as the heat and cold.

I am presently experimenting with the Duke avocado, and am trying to sprout the pits from a quintet of fruit purchased a couple of weeks ago at the Farmers Market from Chaffin Family Farms. My method is the ‘ole “pit-propped-in-a-cup-of-water” techinique.” What intrigues me the most about this variety is that the Duke is a Butte County native, and has been grown in this area for over a hundred years (the original pits were said to have come from Mexico). The Duke’s thin skin kept it from achieving much commercial viability, as it does not hold up to long-distance transport as much as other varieties.

But it tastes like butter.

Now if I can just get one of these dang trees to grow.

Posted by jmiller at 07:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

View Larger Map

Very quietly, the Chico Community Environmental Garden has closed up shop and disappeared. It was located on the site just south of Costco and adjacent to the Torres Shelter. To make a long story short, the California Water Service Company, which owns the land, is ready to use the property for other purposes. The lease on the land was not renewed, and that's that.

The CCEG led a relatively brief and quiet history. Its location among the big box stores was far from ideal (though it was the best they could do at the time), and like many small nonprofits, lack of funding (and lack of time to seek funding) were big challenges.

The traditional model of a community garden finds its most natural niche in urban settings, where neighborhood residents--often living in apartments--pay for the annual rental of a garden plot. The garden supplies the water, soil, and often the gardening tools while the renter provides the labor and is able to reap the bounty of his or her harvest.

There still exists in town at least one community garden that I know of, operating quietly "under the radar." While I don't think Chico is the ideal town for the type of community garden that one might see in a larger, more densely populated city, I do think that they have their place.

What if, for example, there was a communal garden space as a part of every apartment, condominium complex, or high density housing development in Chico--offered to and shared by residents in the same manner as a the pool, laundry facilities, or play structure?

Another variation of the community garden is the one that is in the planning stages at the Dorothy F. Johnson Center. A true community-oriented garden for the Chapman Neighborhood, the present idea for this space is to have different sections of the garden maintained by individuals for the benefit of the community. Ideas include a demonstration of espaliered fruit trees, and medicinal herb section, and garden plots that reflect the ethnic and cultural heritage of Chapman residents. This garden will be on the same site as the existing garden, which was planted more for the benefit of the Dorothy F. Johnson youth programs and was difficult to maintain.

Feel free to respond to this blog if you would like to get involved in this effort.

Posted by jmiller at 02:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I just spent a quiet hour at the Grange Hall this evening at the last Gardeners Swap Meet of the year. I traded a couple of home-grown butternut squash with Yoshiko, the Grange caretaker, who gave me some Green Zebra tomatoes, New Zealand spinach, and a small bunch of late-season grapes.

In case you haven't heard, the Chico Grange is slowly but surely undergoing a resurgence, with a new paint job, new members, newly finished wood floor, and plans to update the kitchen. The 100+ year-old-building is looking grand, and work has just been started on the outdoor area to create a garden and venue for various events. It is hoped that the Grange will once again become a gathering space for growers to discuss local farming issues, as well as a location to educate the public about the importance of agriculture in Chico.

Its nice to bike around that part of town. The Grange Hall faces a walnut orchard; an almond orchard lies behind it, on the other side of Rodeo Avenue. Around the corner, on Henshaw, grows one of the largest black walnut trees I have seen in Chico. A half block further down is a freshly tilled field, which I am told will be planted by students in the agriculture program at Chico High.

Posted by jmiller at 08:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

cChaos, the organization that has established the first WIC/EBT year-round Farmers Market in Oroville is starting a new year-round Farmer's Market on Friday's from 2 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at the parking lot of Chapman Elementary School, 1071 E. 16th Street in Chico. The market will begin this week, Friday October 3.

This new market will likely start off small with just a handful of vendors selling fresh, healthy, locally grown produce, but please support them.

Linking farmers markets with school sites is a big step in making healthy, local food available to everyone, as parents will be able to easily access the market as they pick up their children.

AND. . .

There will be a FREE Gardeners' Swap Table set up at the market! Yes, that's right--this is a great place to swap not only fruits and veggies, but also seeds, plant starts, and recipes. So bring your excess pomegranates or almonds and trade up for some persimmons, walnuts, or citrus, every Friday, every week.

For more information, call 624-8844.

Posted by jmiller at 02:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Fostine's Nursery, Orchard Supply Hardware and Chico Creek Gardens have generously donated their leftover 2007 seed packets to the Chico Food Network. These seeds, both vegetable and flowers, are in turn available free of charge to any school or educational program in the area that requests them. (Reply to this blog post if interested).

These donations coincide with my reading of Michael Pollan's most recent book, In Defense of Food. I will post a more detailed review when I finish it, but already a number of questions have come up. One involves the donated seeds.

The agricultural industry changed dramatically after World War Two, as companies that had produced war time chemicals realized that these same chemicals, with some slight modifications, could be used to fertilize crops. With the addition of fertilizers, more food plants were grown per acre and individual plants became more productive.

However, more recent studies, cited by Pollan, show that though these artificially fertilized crops may indeed be more productive, they are not necessarily more nutritious. For example, you now have to eat three conventionally-grown apples to get the same amount of iron as you would have gotten from a single 1940 apple. The USDA, in tracking the naturally-occurring nutrients in 43 crops since the 1950's, has seen overall declines in vitamin C by 20%, iron by 15%, riboflavin by 38%, and calcium by 16%.

So back to the seeds. A number of the donated seed packets come conventional, non-organic suppliers, and include varieties such as the "Marketmore Cucumber" and "Buttercrunch Lettuce" which were developed after WWII.

So the question is, have these post-war seed varieties been bred with the expectation that they will be planted in the presence of fertilizers, and conversely, will the growth of these plants actually be impeded if they are sown into organic soils? In other words, should one simply avoid planting post WWII seed varieties in fertilizer-free soil?

Not that this will keep me from handing the seeds off to a school garden in need--the seed variety will not diminish the educational experience for the kids who plant them--but I was just curious.

Posted by jmiller at 01:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My first attempt at "sustainable gardening" began this last November. Now that my corn stalks stand dry and brown and the first frost that will kill off the basil is just around the corner, it is a good time to take stock of my successes and failures. As this is not a gardening blog per say, this post will focus on those strategies I employed to use less water, find alternatives to chemicals, and save time.

But first, the bottom line--Which veggies did well, and which did not?

Continue reading "Summer Gardening Reflections" »

Posted by jmiller at 06:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

As a native of California, I feel that eating ripe avocados is a birthright. An avocado tree hung over my house growing up, and I think guacamole is synonymous with heaven.

That having been said, I am pleased to announce that I purchased four delicious 99 cent California avocados yesterday at Chico Natural Foods. Even better is the fact that they were less expensive than Trader Joe's organic California avocados, and they didn't come in a plastic fish-net bag.

Hopefully our own young trees will be able to grow to provide us with an even better option some year in the future.

Posted by jmiller at 09:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A reader commented that Grocery Outlet, next to K-Mart on Pillsbury Avenue, has become a viable source of inexpensive organic food. "Inexpensive organic?" Could it be true? So I went to check it out, and then biked across the North Valley Plaza to compare prices, when possible, with equivalent organic products from Trader Joe's.

So here is a list of all the organic and sustainable products that I found at Grocery Outlet:

Earthbound Organic Lettuce, 1 lb: $4.99
Earthbound Organic Lettuce, 5 oz: $2.99 (TJ's $1.99)
**Toilet Paper, 100% recycled, 80% post-consumer waste, 12 rolls: $6.99 (TJ's: $3.99)
200 Napkins, 100% recycled, 80% post-consumer waste: $1.50
*Toms' Of Maine Toothpaste: $1.99 (TJ's: $3.99 for Tom's, or $1.99 for TJ's brand)
*Organic Kettle Potato Chips, 5 oz: $0.99
Santa Cruz Organic Apple Sauce, six 4 oz cups: $0.89 (TJ's: $2.29 for four 4 oz cups)
Organic Soy Dream Soy Milk, 1/2 gal: $2.59 (TJ's: $2.99)
Amy's Indian Palak Panneer (with organic ingredients), 10 oz: $3.29
Amy's Enchilada (with organic ingredients), 9 oz: $2.99
Amy's Frozen Pizzas with organic ingredients, 12 - 14 oz: $4.99
Organic Beef Broth, 1 qt: $1.49
Imagine Organic Chicken Broth, 1 qt: $1.49
Imagine Organic Creamy Chicken Soup, 1 qt: $1.49
*Organic Wolfgang Puck and Amy's Canned Soups, 14.5 oz: $1.29 (TJ's Organic canned soups, 14.1 oz: $1.99)
Pacific Natural Organic Carrot Soup, 32 oz: $0.99 (TJ's: $2.69 - $2.99 for assorted varieties)
Organic Nutrisqueeze Wild Cherry Juice Drinks, ten 6.75 oz drinks: $2.99
*Eden Organic Canned Tomatoes, 28 oz: $1.99 (TJ's: $1.69)
*Organic Teas, assorted, 25 bags: $1.99, (TJ's: 20 bags for $2.49 - $2.69)
Organic String Cheese, six 1 oz sticks: $1.79
Organic Shredded Cheese, 6 oz: $1.99 (TJ's: 8 oz $3.99)
Nature's Path Organic Crackers, 8 oz: $1.99
Back to Nature Crackers, four 6 oz cartons: $2.99
Healthy Valley 70% Organic Yogurt Cereal Bars, 5 bars: $1.49
Nature's Path Organic Fruit and Nut Bar, 1.6 oz: $0.50 (TJ's: 1.2 oz - 2.4 oz. for $0.69 - $0.99)
Healthy Valley 70% Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, 7.3 oz: $1.49

*Item I purchase occasionally
**Item I purchase frequently

Conclusions. . .
It's nice to know that Grocery Outlet is adding organic products to their shelves when possible, and when compared to equivalent items at Trader Joe's, the average amount saved per item is about $0.45. However, the big challenge is that the nature of Grocery Outlet is that the items on their shelves vary with availability. For example, a few weeks ago I found organic cereal on the shelf, but it was missing when I took this survey. Soups, on the other hand, were present both times. The amount of packaging that goes with making Grocery Outlet it is a bit of a downer, though this is par for the course for large supermarkets.

As I have previously mentioned on this blog, I like to purchase my main staples in bulk or at the farmers market. Though there are a couple of exceptions, Grocery Outlet doesn't carry the remaining staples that I look for (such as organic yogurt, butter, and tortillas), so for my household's needs, it probably isn't the best place for me to shop on a regular basis. I can, however, see myself occasionally detouring to Grocery Outlet to save a couple of bucks on toothpaste, and then stocking up on soup and a couple other non-perishables while I'm there.

But I wonder, are budget-minded folks that shop more frequently at Grocery Outlet likely to choose the discount organic granola bars over even less expensive discount conventional granola bars?

It would be interesting to see a price comparison with Costco, which I hear is carrying more organic products. This might be a good option for larger families, though it is a bit inconvenient for bike-dedicated individuals.

Posted by jmiller at 07:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Serious kudos to Red Tavern Restaurant, which has teamed up with the Chico Food Network and Slow Food Shasta Cascade to sponsor the school garden at Chico Junior High School.

This entire summer, $2.50 from each sale of a featured appetizer has been donated to support the school garden. To date almost $500 has been donated, and the promotion continues.

Perhaps later on this year Red Tavern can serve an item that contains produce from the school garden.

The Chico Food Network is presently working to team other local restaurants with other school garden programs in town.

Posted by jmiller at 09:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Believe it or not, I can picture a moment sometime this winter when I will miss the taste of zucchini in my pasta.

Yes, I know that pretty much anything from the garden can be canned and placed on the shelf. But I have also begun to recognize that canning is a big process, especially for two people in a conventional kitchen. This is complicated by the fact that the zucchini in my garden (or any garden) do not all come ripe at the same time. (This problem is avoided with tomatoes, where certain varieties tend to ripen all at once, and are grown with home preservation specifically in mind).

We could freeze our bounty, but we don't have the space.

Then, following advice from a recipe and a friend, I sliced up a few fresh squashies and arranged them in the food dehydrator. Four hours later I had an answer to my problem.

The resulting zucchini chips taste delicious as a snack and take up very little space. I assume they can be rehydrated as needed for a winter enjoyment.

Here are recipes for zucchini chips and refrigerator dill pickles, for when you get a bunch of cucumbers at once and are not up to a full-blown canning session.

Both recipes are simple. Simple is good.

DRIED ZUCCHINI CHIPS

1. Slice zucchini into 1/8 - 1/4 inch rounds.
2. Place in food dehydrator* for about 3-4 hours at 140 degrees.
3. Finished zucchini chips should be slightly crunchy. Place in a plastic bag. For long term storage I recommend placing in the fridge or freezer.
*Zucchini can also be sun-dried, but this takes longer. I would suggest using a clean, metal window screen and covering it with cheesecloth.

REFRIGERATOR DILL PICKLES
Note: Though the resulting pickles will keep for as long as an opened jar of store-bought pickles, they must remain refrigerated.

1. Bring to a boil 6 cups of water, 2 cups white or cider vinegar, and 1/2 cup of salt. Set aside.
2. In a large glass or ceramic container (bowl, 1 gallon mason jar, etc), layer 2-4 cloves of chopped garlic, 1 bunch fresh dill weed (about 1/4 lb), 2-4 whole cloves, and as many cucumbers as you can make fit in your container (perhaps 4-5 lbs, whole or sliced lengthwise in thirds or quarters)
3. Pour vinegar solution over the top, let set on counter until cool.
4. Cover and refrigerate, ready to eat in 2 to 4 days.

Posted by jmiller at 08:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The second in a four-part series of free Urban Farming Workshops will take place this coming Wednesday evening, July 23 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the community garden at the corner of W. 16th Street and Normal. This workshop will highlight local urban farming efforts, including community gardens, school gardens, and GRUB's home-grown community supported agriculture (CSA) endeavor, and how people can get involved with each.

The presentations will accompany the regularly-scheduled Gardeners' Swap Meet.

Nani Teves did an excellent job putting together the series' first installment, "Backyard Chickens," at the Grange Hall a couple months back, and I anticipate more of the same this Wednesday.

Posted by jmiller at 01:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I planted 4 squash plants last year, including 2 zucchini. It was plenty.
I wish I had remembered this fact a couple of months ago.
I now have 20 squash plants (though only 14 are really producing, which is still 10 more than necessary).

A sustainable squash garden? I don't think so. A man can't be sustained on squash alone.

Come by a Gardeners' Swap Meet on a Wednesday evening, and I will gladly share some with you, including "Bennings Green Tint," pictured above. (I planted 7 of them.)

ZUCCHINI PANCAKES

4 cups shredded zucchini
4 eggs
1/3-1/2 cup flour (wheat or white)
1/2 – 1 cup chunks of cheese (feta, cheddar, or gruyere)
1/2 – 1 cup chopped onion
plenty of black pepper
salt to taste

Mix together to create a batter, fry in the oil of your choice (olive or vegetable oil).

Serve with yogurt or sour cream.

Posted by jmiller at 10:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It is only a matter of time before we delve into the exciting world of chicken (or possibly duck) ownership--the joy of fresh eggs, free high-nitrogen fertilizer, and garden pest control to boot. All we need to provide is a chicken coop, a water bowl, and some occasional chicken feed.

But it turns out that for us to legally keep chickens in Chico, we may also have to write the city a pretty big check.

Continue reading "Fowl Deal" »

Posted by jmiller at 02:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Chaffin Family Orchards will be offering its first ever jam making class on the evening of July 17th at Bacio Catering, 179 E. 19th Street in Chico. The cost to participate is $35 and you must bring with you 12 8oz canning jars. The fruit and all other supplies will be provided. Each person will go home with a full case of peach jam. Pre-pay and RSVP by 07/14/08 by calling Chris Kerston at 530-533-1676.

Preserving the pleasure of summer fruit for enjoyment in the winter months through canning has become a lost art. We are too used to the convenience of being able to hit up the supermarket for road-weary, fossil fuel-laden Mexican tomatoes in February, or for New Zealand peaches in November.

Continue reading "Yes, We Can" »

Posted by jmiller at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Two years ago - before we moved to Chico - my wife and I used to do much of our grocery shopping at Trader Joe's. Why not? Plenty of organic options, relatively inexpensive, convenient locations all over California, and manageable-sized stores that don't require a map. The fact that 95% of the food came from mythical "Monrovia" didn't phase us.

Recently I made a run to TJ's and noticed how little I was purchasing. Since settling down in Chico, our food-purchasing habits have certainly changed. Here is a list of what we used to purchase frequently at TJ's, and where we buy these goods now:

-Flour, sugar, nuts, rice, cereal, pasta, olive oil, honey, liquid hand soap, shampoo, and tofu are now all bulk purchases at Chico Natural Foods or S & S. Of these, the rice, cereal, tofu, olive oil, honey, and many of the nuts are locally produced or grown.

-Bottled milk is also now purchased from S & S/Chico Natural; the glass bottle is returned for its redemption value.

-Most of the bread we now purchase is from the Farmers Market.

-My daily glass of TJ's frozen orange juice has been replaced by 1-2 fresh-squeezed glasses a week from Farmers Market oranges (when in season).

-Carrots and basil are also now Farmers Market buys, when in season.

-Hummus, when we have it, is now usually homemade.

-Cucumbers, fresh tomatoes, and frozen fruit (for making smoothies) are now all sourced from our backyard or from the Gardeners' Swap Meets.

-Avocados are only bought at TJ's when the label says they are from the U.S. (which indicates that they are probably grown in California).

-Bananas are no longer a regular part of our diet.

Here are the items that we still regularly buy from Trader Joe's. We look forward to reducing this list further and continuing to liberate ourselves from the Kingdom of Monrovia.

Ak-Mak Crackers
Avocados (organic, sourced from the U.S.)
Baked Blue Corn Tortilla Chips (organic)
Bar Soap
Brown Sugar (organic)
Butter (organic)
Canned Soup (organic)
Canned Tomatoes (organic)
Canned Vegetarian Chili (organic)
Crumbled Cheese (feta, blue, goat),
Laundry and dishwasher detergent
Mayonnaise (organic) and a few other condiments
Pasta sauce (organic)
Pepperjack cheese (organic)
Pine nuts (organic)
Sour Cream (organic)
Turkey Jerkey
Toothpaste
Whole Wheat and Corn Tortillas (organic)
Yogurt (organic)

Posted by jmiller at 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Where do you begin in making a community more sustainable? I would suggest that the path to sustainability goes through the stomach--So starting a farmers' market is a pretty good first step.

But it is also not an easy thing to do.

Richard Roth, founder of the new nonprofit cChaos, Collaboratively Creating Health Access Opportunities and Services, has created Oroville's first farmers' market at the El Medio Fire Station. It is hoped to run year-round on Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the corner of Myers and D Streets.

The market is equipped with an EBT Nutrition Assistance POS device, and also accepts WIC coupons.

Heat, wind, and smoke from wildfires are giving this market a rough start in its first few weeks. If you live in Oroville, are passing through, or have friends, family, or other connections there, spread the word about this valuable new asset to the community.

We were able to stop by this past Thursday on the way back from Sacramento and grabbed some cucumbers, bell peppers, and onion starts for the grand total of $4 bucks. I found space to plant the onions at the base of some of my tomato plants. I read that the onions are good companion plants for the 'maters.

Posted by jmiller at 08:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last Wednesday's inaugural Gardeners' Swap Meet at The Cause was a lot of fun. Traded items included home-grown lettuce, walnuts, cherries, grapefruit, plant starts, apricots, onions, jam, mint, and the first summer squash of the season.

This Wednesday's Swap Meet is a twin billing, with veggies being swapped from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. at the Chico Community Children's Center at 2224 Elm Street in Mulberry neighborhood of Chapman Town, and then AGAIN from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Chico Grange Hall at 2775 Old Nord Avenue at Rodeo Avenue.

Swap meets will occurs every second Wednesday of the month at these times and locations though mid-October.

For the complete Gardeners' Swap Meet schedule (produce is swapped every Wednesday evening), go to www.chicofoodnetwork.org.

Print it out and stick it on the fridge.

P.S. I ate my first home-grown tomato of the season last Wednesday, a sungold cherry tomato. It will be a while before I have enough to contribute some to the Swap Meets.

Posted by jmiller at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This year's the Gardeners' Swap Meets will be held at five regular locations on Wednesday evenings from June 4 to October 8.

The first one is this coming Wednesday at The Cause, 727 W 4th Ave.

As with last year, please plan on going home with at least as much produce as you arrive with. Unloading seven zucchini and taking a single plum is not nice.

What is a Gardeners' Swap Meet?
Do you have an excess of eggplants and a shortage of tomatoes? A plethora of peaches but a craving for apricots? Fill your ChicoBag (or container of choice) with your extra (but edible) home-grown fruits and/or veggies and SWAP them with another grower for something you like better. The swap meets are a free, weekly, community-building event sponsored by the Chico Food Network. Don’t have a garden? No problem—wild blackberries, the fruit from neglected plum trees and the like are welcome as well, but please avoid picking from plants growing close to major roads.

2008 SCHEDULE
Biking or walking to all locations is recommended. Don't forget to bring a couple of empty bags!

1ST Wednesday (6/4, 7/2, 8/6, 9/3, 10/1)
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. @ The Cause, 727 W. 4th Ave

2ND Wednesday (6/11, 7/9, 8/13, 9/10, 10/8)
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. @ the Chico Community Children's Center, 2224 Elm Street
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. @ the Chico Grange Hall, 2775 Old Nord Ave (near Rodeo Ave)

3RD Wednesday (6/18, 7/16, 8/20, 9/17)
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. @ the Chico Peace and Justice Center, 526 Broadway

4TH Wednesday (6/25, 7/23, 8/27, 9/24)
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. @ W 16th Street and Normal Ave

Reply to this blog entry for more information.

Posted by jmiller at 04:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For backyard gardeners who live in gopher and snail-infested country, it seems like raised garden beds are the way to go.

But what is the simplest solution? What is most effective? Cheapest? Sustainable?

My first attempt at answering to these questions was to build two garden beds out of urbanite (broken up concrete) from other parts of my property. It was certainly sustainable, after 6 months it seems to be effective, and my only purchase was the hardware cloth (wire mesh) that I used to line the beds. But though breaking up the concrete, moving it, and assembling it into garden beds didn't require much technical expertise, it sure was a lot of work.

Those who are handy with the hammer and saw can, of course, construct raised beds out of lumber (scrap wood that is bound for the dump is the most sustainable option, in my opinion). However damp soil is not the most forgiving of substances when it is in contact for wood for a long period of time (some call it decomposition), and even the most well-constructed wooden garden box won't last much longer than five or ten years, regardless of the type of wood you use or how it is treated.

Recently I discovered door number three: Used tires. Barring aesthetic distaste, they make the perfect raised bed for a small, backyard garden. With a hardware cloth liner and a band of copper strip, they become gopher-proof and snail-resistant. The black rubber helps to heat the soil, so you can start plants earlier in the spring. They come in an array of sizes, are easy to handle and place, work in small spaces, are durable, and even take a coat of paint, if so desired. And did I mention that they are free?--Tire stores must pay $4 each to get rid of them.

A gentleman named Charles Sanders seems to have written the definitive internet article on the subject, where he describes how to build composters from tires, grow potatoes, and create a multi-tiered terraced tire planter. Other sites have mentioned success with onions, tomatoes, berries, pumpkins, cucumbers, and cauliflower. Carrots and corn are cited as not being able to do as well in the heated soil being generated inside the black tires.

For those concerned about the chemicals in tires, I did a bit of research. The State of California Department of Education recommends against it, while both the Clark County Master Gardeners (Washington State University Extension) and the Purdue University Cooperative Extension do not have any reservations, with the WSU folks stating definitively that used tires do not release unwanted chemicals into the ground.

I found two more websites with additional information. See comments before installing tires in your backyard!

Posted by jmiller at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I am coming up on my second summer of gardening in Chico, and I am happy to say that I don't have a problem with gophers or moles, at least not yet. There seem to be no shortage of them in my neighbors yards.

There are likely a combination of reasons why they have to this point avoided my plants, and why I have not had to resort to traps or chemicals:

1) Dogs and cats, both of which are present in our yard, I am sure provide some level of gopher abatement.

2) Two prominent weeds border our yard--Datura ("Jimsom Weed") and spurge (euphorbia). Both of these plants contain very potent chemical compounds. In fact, we have 3-4 different varieties of spurge which grow and reseeds itself including petty spurge and gopher spurge. The spurges contain a milky sap that is an irritant to gohers (and to human skin which it readily chaps).

3) As a preemptive strike, our two raised beds are lined with wire mesh (aka hardware cloth), and we likewise lined the holes we dug for our berry bushes and bare root fruit trees with wire mesh "baskets."

4) I have heard mixed reviews about using garlic as a repellent. Apparently there are some garlic concentrates out there that the critters don't like, though fresh bulbs are not strong enough.

FYI, if you can live with them, gophers can have some positive effects on the garden, including the tilling of soil and moving of nutrients.

Posted by jmiller at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So after I started bragging that I had planted over 30 varieties of veggies in my most grandiose garden ever, people began asking me for gardening advice.

Then the snails and slugs pretty much wiped out my radishes and basil seedlings, I planted summer squash, okra, and cucumbers (from seed) too early so they never sprouted, and a third of my tomatoes and peppers froze in that April 20 frost.

So no, I am not a professional at this (I never claimed to be), and luckily I am not looking to my yard to provide for the bulk of my household's nutritional needs, at least not this year.

That isn't to say that some things haven't work out the way I have planned, and apparently enough things are working (I am very proud of my corn at the moment) such that folks are still asking me for advice.

Snails, slugs top the list--How do I keep them from my plants without using poison?

Here is what I have learned (some of this may seem obvious to more experienced gardeners):

Continue reading "Gardening Challenges: Snails and Slugs" »

Posted by jmiller at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

My wife and I rented King Corn last week, a well-done, 90-minute documentary about two recent college grads who decide to learn about the corn industry in the U.S. by growing an acre of it.

I was very impressed by the documentary. The filmmakers didn’t employ “in your face” factoids to drive home their point, nor did they make the people they interviewed come across as fools a la Michael Moore.

Rather, they told the story like it is, respectfully interviewing all of the players and allowing the audience to come to their own conclusions.

My conclusions were that high fructose corn syrup, corn oil, and corn-based malodextrin do not need to be a part of my diet, and that corn should be grown as food for people rather than feed for cattle or fuel for my car.

Continue reading "King Corn" »

Posted by jmiller at 08:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

G.R.U.B. benefit concerts have outgrown the Chico Peace and Justice Center, and will instead be holding an 11-band extravaganza at the Chico Women's Club on Thursday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m.

These guys continue to rock. While the money made from the benefit will go towards the purchase of farming tools, seeds, and help fund internship programs and school garden efforts, it won't go towards fuel costs.

This is because G.R.U.B. (Growing Resourcefully, Uniting Bellies) is almost entirely a bike-dependent operation, ranging from the delivery of CSA produce boxes to the collection of food waste from 6 local restaurants for use in composting operations.

The cost is $9, and that includes a veggie-curry dinner.

Please walk or bike if you are able.

Posted by jmiller at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The other day I caught a few minutes of an NPR interview with Michael Pollan, who was promoting his new book, In Defense of Food, An Eater's Manifesto. One thing discussed was where one actually finds food, as opposed to processed soy or corn-derived "food products." Farmers markets were mentioned, as were the periphery of supermarkets--Fresh meat and produce are almost always located on the store's perimeter, while nearly everything in the middle aisles is canned, boxed, or packaged in some way: 'Not' Food. (just because something is FDA approved for human consumption doesn't mean you should eat it).

I drove a short three miles out to Pyramid Farms a few days ago to pick up some roles of t-tape that was being donated to G.R.U.B. While I was there owner Matthew Martin was kind enough to give me a tour to show me the true source of my some of my favorite foods.

I am a regular purchaser of Pyramid Farms beets and carrots in the winter and eggplants and sweet peppers in the summer.

To be frank, the first thing that I noticed was the weeds. Lots of weeds--Grass, bindweed, wild radish. As this is an organic farm, these are tolerated, and when necessary kept at bay by tilling, cardboard, and mowing. Also there was the smell of growing things everywhere--No chemicals, just plants and pollen and soil. Finally, there was the notable lack of massive farm machinery--I didn't see any John Deere combines with air-conditioned cabs hovering 15 feet off the ground, nothing with wheels bigger than my car. Sure, there was some farm-related equipment, but even so, I could tell this was very much a hands-on endeavor.

Nothing highlighted this more than the two greenhouses, packed with trays of individually potted tomato, eggplant, basil, and pepper starts. The tomatoes were due to be set in the ground later in the week.

Sadly, I wasn't able to divulge from Matthew the secret of his super-sweet carrots.

Posted by jmiller at 08:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A few folks have been asking me about the Gardener's Swap Meets--Yes, they will be happening this summer, I am in the process of working out the details. Look for them to start sometime in June. Unless folks are ready to start now--Anyone want some oregano? Chard?

For those that have seeds or plant starts that that want to trade, come by the Chico Grange Hall Open House this Sunday, April 13 from 2:00 - 7:30 p.m. Live music, potluck dinner at 5 p.m.

I'll be bringing lemon balm and feverfew.

Don't you be dissin' my feverfew.

Posted by jmiller at 08:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It would be hard to bike home from a Costco run.

Which is one of the reasons I support Chico Natural Foods.

Here are ten others:

10. There is a bike rack by the front door.

9. I can donate my 5 cent bag credit to the Chico Grange Hall or to the Butte Environmental Council.

8. I was able to bring my own jars, bottles, and bags the other day to purchase parsley flakes, hand soap, shampoo, and locally produced olive oil and honey in bulk, saving up to 25% over what the item would have cost with packaging.

7. If you request that they carry a specific item, chances are pretty good they will follow through (so long as you're not asking for Oscar Meyer bologna or fried pork skins).

6. They sell organic milk (from northern California) in glass bottles, which, when rinsed and returned for the deposit, results in the least expensive organic milk in town.

5. They carry tasty local eggs from Chaffin Family Farms in Oroville.

4. Helpful, friendly, knowledgeable staff.

3. CNF is staying true to their values by phasing out Seeds of Change products, including organic seeds and the popular Indian Simmer Sauces, because Seeds of Change is, sadly, owned by Mars, which is in turn is owned by Coca Cola.

2. In its place, they have begun to carry very reasonably-priced heirloom garden seeds produced by the non-profit Seed Savers Exchange, including the Bidwell Casaba Melon.

1. The ChicoBag Bagmonster is on the Board of Directors.

Posted by jmiller at 07:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If one were to try to identify Chico's greatest resource, the University and Bidwell Park immediately come to mind.

However, there are many that could make a strong argument that the year-round Saturday Farmers' Market deserves that top honor.

Not only is it a source of the freshest, tastiest food and produce in town--I am partial to Dave Miller's California Sun bread and the Pyramid Farm carrots--but is also has the highest concentration of smiling faces that Chico sees each week.

If I just want to get my food and go, I get there at 7:30 am. If I want to catch up with the friends and neighbors in my community, I get there later.

Very few folks are there at 7:30.

But if the Saturday Market has one fault, it is this:

It is too small.

This past week, on the first Saturday of the Spring, it was a mob scene. There was a traffic jam of bodies by Hearth and Stone breads, and another by the gentleman selling willow-cane furniture. People were lined up 4 and 5 deep to buy tomato starts.

The most successful vendors seemed to be the ones with multiple people working the stall.

Though I am still a Chico newbie (this is only my second spring), I predict that the Saturday Market's popularity will grow to record levels in the upcoming weeks and months.

More people are waking up to the importance of fresh food, and supporting local food producers.
More people are craving--and finding--community at the Farmers' Market.

Terry Givens, if you are reading this, I hope you and the vendors are ready. I predict a tidal wave is coming.

Posted by jmiller at 08:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you have a spare hour on Thursday, March 20, volunteers from GRUB and the community will be helping to put in a school garden at Chapman Elementary School at 1071 East 16th Street.

Gardening will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, no experience necessary.

Speaking of gardening, I will be doing my part to rage against the machine by planting some heirloom veggies this spring. Heirlooms are among the thousands of seed varieties that are being "lost" as big agriculture chooses instead to focus on those small handful of fruit and vegetables that grow to a uniform size and shape, ripen all at the same time, and can be packed and shipped long distances without bruising or spoiling.

Genetic diversity is nature's way of hedging against diseases that might wipe out one variety but not another. By relying on only a few varieties of each plant (like fuji apples or burbank russet potatoes) and neglecting the other thousands of varieties out there by not planting them, we place our food system at risk.

Seeds will lose their viability over time. For example, if we don't plant a specific variety of heirloom squash every few years, then that variety will simply go extinct.

One of the plants I plan to try to grow his year is the Bidwell's Casaba, a melon. I purchased the seeds from Seed Saver's Exchange:

"This melon hails from Chico California, grown by John Bidwell (1819-1900), a Civil War General and U.S. Senator who procured his stock-seed from the USDA in 1869. An enormous melon, so big that you will not believe it is true! "

Surprisingly, I haven't heard of folks having much success with them these days, at least not in Chico, and I certainly haven't seen the fruits sold at the Farmers' Market.

But I'll give it a shot. With luck, I'll post some photos in August.

Posted by jmiller at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The California Water Service Company owns a lot of land in Chico. With some exceptions, each site is home to a well, a chain link fence, and a grassy lawn, irrigated with sprinklers.

I am told that someday their lawns would be converted to drought-tolerant landscaping, but I have some ideas for the interim.

I call them up and I inquired as to whether or not the sprinklers could be used to water community gardens rather than lawn, and they mentioned that it would be a liability.

Okay, I replied. What about using the chain link fences as a trellis for raspberries, which would be there for public enjoyment?

The response was that it sounded like an interesting idea.

I would much rather the Water Company grow raspberries instead of grass. Raspberries taste better.

It could happen.

Posted by jmiller at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I haven't bought frozen orange juice for 4 months. In fact, I haven't purchased any orange juice from the supermarket that originated outside of northern California.

Some of my good friends would be shocked. I once drank frozen orange juice like it was water. It was said that it flowed through my veins.

But I've change my tune over the last few months. I can no longer stomach drinking or purchasing orange juice shipped in from Florida or Brazil, especially when I can get local oranges grown in Butte County.

Also, I was drinking up to four or five glasses of orange juice a day. I have since learned that each glass contains the equivalent of three oranges. Some call that overkill--oranges contain sugar too, even if it is fructose.

I have since been eating 2-4 local oranges a week, with a glass of fresh squeezed oj perhaps once a week.

In my opinion, it is a superior and healthier system, both for me and for the local economy.

I will continue to enjoy the oranges while they are in season, and when they aren't, I will move on to a different fruit.

Local strawberries, anyone?

Posted by jmiller at 08:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

If you are interested in local organic produce, and don't have the time to spend at the Saturday Farmer's Market/Chico Community Social Hour, then you might consider ordering ahead with Danielle and picking up some farm-fresh food on Sunday afternoons over on West 4th Avenue in Chico.

That's the distribution point for Danielle Baker's new "Easy Organics CSA" (Community Supported Agriculture), which is sourcing products from Towani Farm in Bangor (southeast of Oroville), Good Humus Farm in Capay, Pedrozo Dairy, and elsewhere in the region.

Serious kudos to those who use their bike baskets to get the food home.

Email or call Danielle at (530) 345-7636 to become of member of this new CSA.

Posted by jmiller at 01:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you want to be blown away by amazing ideas for sustainability projects, check out Keen Footwear's STAND contests. Individuals have submitted ideas to compete for cash prizes in three different categories. Two of my favorites were a proposal for a bike delivery service for the city of Cincinnati, and a mobile dishwasher trailer for use at community fairs and events in Missoula, Montana, that would provide and wash thrift-store dishes and silverware for use in place of plastic utensils and paper plates and bowls.

And yes, I also submitted an entry on behalf of Chico's GRUB program, which, by the way, is having an Interest/Volunteer/Intern meeting this coming Wednesday , February 13 at 7:00 p.m. at Woodstock's Pizza. All are welcome to attend and learn more about the many GRUB projects including upcoming work days, school education programs, restaurant compost pickup, fruit tree registry, and the GRUB CSA program.

There seems to be so many more great ideas than one has time for.

Here is a recent one, inspired by a colleague over in Chapman Town: The School Garden Salad.

In short, various local restaurants would be asked to designate a single menu item, such as a garden salad, where some or all of the proceeds of item would go towards funding a school garden at a local school. (The menu item wouldn't necessarily have to be a salad, though "School Garden Salad" sounds pretty catchy).

Different restaurants could be paired with specific schools.

Anybody interested in taking this on? Respond to this post, and I would be happy to chat.

Posted by jmiller at 09:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Does the scene depicted above look familiar?

In my mind the proper place for a ripe peach or fig is a belly, not the ground.

I find this to be a tragedy that happens all too often in Chico, with perfectly good fruit dropping forgotten and unwanted when it could be eaten fresh or canned for a winter's day, if not by the owner than by someone else.

A solution: Fruit Tree Registry has begun in Chico, where volunteers will come by and harvest the excess fruit and distribute it to the community.

Similar programs already exist in Portland, Vancouver, Victoria, and Santa Clara County.

If you know you will have excess fruit this summer and want register your tree or learn more about this program, contact Shari.

Posted by jmiller at 10:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The recent stormy weather did not keep me from the Farmer's Market a couple weeks ago, where I was proud to support the few hardy vendors that turned out.

One vendor that didn't make it was a couple from Redding that sells potatoes (70 miles away).

I thought I would go without potatoes, but at Trader Joes I spotted a rarity: Organic produce, relatively locally grown--"Frieda's Organic Klamath Pearl Potatoes" (from the Klamath basin, about 200 miles north of Chico)

I bought them immediately (an impulse buy--pitiful, I know, it used to be my impulse purchase was a packet of M&M's), but when I got home I learned that my potatoes had apparently taken a detour to Frieda's 85,000 foot warehouse in Los Alamitos (20 miles south of Los Angeles) prior to showing up in Chico.

Distance from the Klamath Basin (Klamath Falls) to Chico: 211 miles
Distance from the Klamath Basin to Los Alamitos to Chico: 1198 miles

I would have been better off supporting an organic potato grower in Idaho (Boise to Chico: 587 miles).

Or perhaps I should just flag down the Frieda's potato truck when it passes through Orland.

Or wait until the local potatoes return the market.

Or grow my own spuds.

Posted by jmiller at 08:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I can come up with a pretty good-sized list of the kind of businesses that I wish existed in Chico that would help folks to live a sustainable lifestyle. Someday I will expound on this further.

But I think it best to start off with the basics.

I would like to find a burrito joint that serves strictly organic burritos.

Nothing fancy, mind you. I am not talking about a place where you the waiter takes your order or brings the food to your table. I don't need a menu that has 50 items to choose from. And I don't need to choose between a spinach, tomato, whole wheat, or flour tortilla.

Actually, the last one would be nice.

But what I really want is an organic burrito. With tortillas made from organic flour, stuffed with organic black beans, organic rice, organic jack cheese, locally-grown in-season veggies and topped with organic salsa.

Grilla-Burrito, where are you?

Posted by jmiller at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Rice for the holidays? Why not? I picked up 7 bags to give to various out-of-town friends and family who are not blessed with having access to Greg Massa's organic brown rice, which is grown about 20 minutes west of Chico. I think it is the perfect gift for someone who cooks. It is healthy, tasty, and unique. It helps to support a good local guy who is doing good things for the right reasons. And at $3.50/bag at Chico Natural Foods or S & S (or $3.00 directly from Greg at the Chico Farmers' Market) it didn't break my holiday budget.

The ribbons were saved from gifts we received in the past year.

For more information about Massa Organics, check out the website.

How to cook rice:
1) In a pot, add twice as much water as rice.
2) Bring to a boil.
3) Stir once, cover pot, reduce heat to low and let simmer until all water is absorbed (about 45-60) minutes).
4) Rice is done.

Posted by jmiller at 01:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Our salads have gone into winter mode. Rather than purchase out-of-season veggies from south of the border, we are enjoying adding sunchokes, watermelon radishes, and grated carrots to our greens, and we have bidden farewell to cucumbers and heirloom tomatoes until next summer.

The watermelon radishes can also be sliced thin to add nice crunch and zip to a sandwich, while the sunchokes are good raw for dipping, or when boiled can take the place of artichoke hearts in most recipes.

Both veggies are grown locally and can be found at the Saturday Farmers' Market.

Posted by jmiller at 10:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I was reading that late fall is the time to start thinking about prepping one's garden for spring planting. So on a sunny 70 degree November day I went out to my compost bin with my shovel, rake, hoe, and wheelbarrow to begin work on my permaculture garden. Not that I have every planted a permaculture garden before, but I didn't let that discourage me. I can pronounce the word, and that's a start.

The first thing that I did was take stock of my compost bin, and noted that its contents didn't much look like the dark, rich brown matter you can purchase from most nurseries. The grass clippings, leaves, yard trimmings and food scraps (a half-gallon a week of apple cores, egg shells, potato peelings, etc.) that I had been piling up since May still looked like a jumble of grass clippings, leaves, yard trimmings and food scraps. But never fear: according to the experts, I had "mulch." "Mulch becomes compost." Perfect.

Next I raked up the 1/2 inch or so of wood chips that had been set down by the previous owner of my house. This exposed the bare soil. I would reuse the chips later. I seemed to recall something about laying down cardboard and/or newsprint as a next step. I used what I had, covering an area about 6' X 15' with old boxes and a couple of issues of the News and Review. My recollection was that this was to smother the weeds. The wood chips had done a fair job of suppressing the weeds anyway, but I didn't let that stop me.

I then shoveled seven wheelbarrow loads of "mulch" onto the cardboard, including beetles, centipedes, larval things, bits of eggshell, small chunks of wood, and who knows what else. Though my mixture was not warm from decomposition, I knew something had happened in the months that it had been sitting, for with the exception of some avocado peels and a few corn cobs, most the of the food scraps weren't really visible, and nothing smelled bad. I ended up with a sheet of mulch about 5" deep. It look a little dry, so I let the sprinkler water it for 45 minutes. The I topped it off by raking the wood chips back on top, as well as sprinkling a layer of straw that I had left over from an aborted art project (long story that I won't go into here).

Next step--wait until spring.

That evening, I compared my efforts with the recommended soil prep methods described in Gaia's Garden, A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture. It turns out that I didn't do half bad. For many, soil preparation is a fine art. So for the record, here is are some of the things that I could have or should have done but didn't. However, I am happy to let this serve as an experiment that I will document for the benefit of humanity.

--The soil was damp when I set down my cardboard, but I could have wet it down a bit more.
--I didn't add any soil amendments (lime, sulfur, gypsum, phosphorus etc.), however the soil in my neighborhood is considered pretty healthy to start with.
--It was recommended that I add a 1" layer of grass clippings. There were some grass clippings mixed into my mulch, but certainly not an inch worth.
--My 3-sheet layer of newspaper could have been 1/4 - 1/2" (to at least match the thickness of the cardboard)
--Mulch is recommended to be 8-12" thick, but I didn't have that much. This should be followed by 1-2" of compost and a couple inches of hay. I did my best.
--My partially decomposed mulch likely has a lot of viable weed-seeds in it, and it is likely that I did my garden a disservice by giving them a lift to a new part of the yard. We'll see.

Posted by jmiller at 08:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

My wife and I are one of seven charter households signed up for the GRUB program’s weekly box of produce, which is delivered to my house via bicycle every Sunday evening. Over the last month our box has included some combination of chard, kale, collards, walnuts, garlic, green beans, peppers, cherry tomatoes, persimmons, basil, romaine lettuce, broccoli, butternut squash, arugula, organic rice from Massa Organics. The food is grown in seven different "GRUB Gardens" around Chico by volunteers using organic methods. The garden sites themselves sit on private properties; the various landowners have graciously donated its use, and their water, for this purpose.

The produce, by the way, is all delicious.

Even though GRUB does not yet have non-profit status, it is only a matter of time, and this is not keeping them from doing good things in the community. The CSA-style produce boxes is the first step towards creating a larger infrastructure with the goal of making healthy, sustainably-grown food available to the citizens of Chico, regardless of their economic background.

For more information, or to get on the waiting list to receive a box of produce of your own, contact GRUB at 680-4543 or email them at grubchico@yahoo.com.

Posted by jmiller at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A few weeks ago I made a pitch for folks to read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, which inspires the reader to give more thought to food we eat.

A compliment to this work is The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan, which I just finished. This is a book for people, such as myself, who wish to understand the details of how food gets from the farm to our dinner plate.

Considering we are talking about items that we place into our body, I think this is a reasonable bit of information to know.

What I learned is not for the weak-of-stomach. For those that don't know what it takes to produce a Chicken McNugget, let me tell you, ignorance is bliss.

This same ignorance, however, is at the root of most of our country's health problems (which the general public ends up paying for in higher insurance premiums)

Pollan takes the reader on a guided journey to determine the origins of meals procured from four sources: McDonald's, Whole Foods, a "beyond organic" farm, and wild-harvested. He doesn't pull punches, however, and his chapters describing the history of Cascadia Farms and the "sustainably-farmed 'Rocky, the Range Chicken'" (available for purchase at S & S) and are just as eye-opening as what he reveals about genetically-modified corn and CAFO's (concentrated animal feeding operations), if not more so.

While Kingsolver's book inspires the reader to be more aware of the food we eat, Pollan has convinced me that the closer I can get to the source of my food, and the more distance that I can put between my stomach and America's supermarket culture, the better off I will be.

After reading these two books, not only do I feel justified in not allowing myself to be wooed by the discount prices of FoodMax and Winco, but I now feel convinced that supporting local, sustainable food producers such as those at the Farmers' Market is one of the best things that I can do for myself and my community.

Posted by jmiller at 07:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

When you are ready for an evening break during next week's Sustainability Conference, you might check out the 4th Annual Real Food Dinner over at Grilla Bites at 196 Cohasset, Road sponsored by the Chico Food Network. Fred Marken has set a awesome menu featuring organic, locally grown produce. Live music and a silent auction are also part of the festivities.

Dinner starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday evening, tickets are $25, and are available at Grilla Bites, the BMU lobby on November 1, or by contacting Jillian Buckholz at (530) 898-4335.

Posted by jmiller at 03:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Okay, the the photo above is a bit weird, but this post is about lettuce, and Halloween is not too far away. I felt it was a nice blend.

My wife and I like fresh green salads, augmented liberally with some combination of tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded carrots, sprouts, crumbled cheese, tofu, beets, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, walnuts, pine nuts, or sunchokes, depending on the season. Soon we will be growing our own greens, but for the time being, we are purchasers. Ideally, we prefer to buy local organic. But in the case of lettuce, we’ve found that Chico’s options are local OR organic, but not both:

For a dollar you can buy a liberally-stuffed bag of mixed lettuce (about 18-20 ounces) at Chico’s Farmer’s Market, but it is not certified organic.

Or, you can get certified organic lettuce from most of the supermarkets in town (including Chico Natural Foods and S & S) for $4.50/lb. You essentially have a choice of three brands, depending on where you shop: Trader Joe’s, Cal Organic, or Earthbound Organic.

Here are the factors I consider when making my purchase:

Continue reading "Scary Lettuce" »

Posted by jmiller at 07:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A few years ago, I collected a few pounds of acorns from Joseph D. Grant County Park by Mount Hamilton, took them home, processed them, and mixed them into my waffle batter.

They were good waffles.

As many of you may have noticed, this has been what ecologists call a “mast year” for Chico’s valley oaks (the big ones), and as a result an abundance of acorns—what the Native Californians once called “dinner”—litter the streets, paths, and sidewalks of Chico.

For the curious, collecting and processing them is pretty basic. There is a nice article explaining how in the fall issue of the magazine Edible Shasta-Butte, but here is the procedure in a nutshell:

1. Gather
2. (optional) Dry in the oven--This is supposed to make shelling easier
3. Shell
4. Chop/pound/crush into smaller pieces
5. Boil. Water will turn a dark color as the tannins leach out. Pour off dark water and repeat until water no longer changes color.
6. Acorn meat can then eaten, or it can be dried and stored as pieces or ground into a flour. (I think I used a Cuisinart, but there might be better methods).

More detailed instructions can be found on multiple websites, just type in "acorn processing" on your web browser.

Okay, it is a bit more time-consuming than picking and eating wild blackberries, but I think it is something every should try at least once. The meats are very nutritious, by the way.

I recommend gathering the acorns soon, however, as I would guess it is only a matter of time before the fall rains render the acorns less than ideal.

Posted by jmiller at 03:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I could buy bread for 66 cents. But don't let them fool you--just because it says "bread" on the label doesn't mean it is something that I want to put into my body. I can purchase a candy bar that both tastes better and has more nutritional value than a 66 cent loaf.

I buy most of my bread at the Farmer’s Market, Chico Natural Foods, and S&S, alternating between the organic options provided by Hearth and Stone Bakery, Miller’s Bake House, and Tin Roof Bakery. On occasion I will buy organic sliced bread from Trader Joe’s.

The locally made breads weigh in at 24-26 oz. and cost me around $3.75.

A Trader Joe’s 24 oz. loaf costs $2.50, and comes from an undisclosed location by way of the ubiquitous Monrovia (a Los Angeles suburb).

The $0.66 loaf is 1-lb sponge of wheat bread from Winco which is baked in a suburb of Portland, Oregon. For the sake of comparison, 24 oz would cost $0.99.

When buying the locally-made bread, here is how I justify* paying $2.75 more for my loaf:

Continue reading "Sustainable Purchasing: Bread" »

Posted by jmiller at 02:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The bad news is that I meant to plug tonight's GRUB benefit at the Chico Peace and Justice Center, and I simply forgot (it started 3 and a half hours ago). So for those of you who missed out on eating yummy food, hearing great music, and meeting some cool people because I spaced out, I extend my most sincere apologies.

The good news is that there were still well over 100 smiling folks in attendance (perhaps 200?), as Francine the publicity queen did a terrific job of getting the word out via flyers, radio, and word of mouth.

GRUB is a homegrown (and growing), Chico movement with the simple goal of feeding the community by planting local vegetable gardens.

And they are succeeding.

Getting involved is easy: GRUB volunteers are out working in a garden every day of the week. No green thumb necessary. All you need is a smile on your face and a willingness to get your hands dirty.

They are also looking for donations any garden-related equipment, including seeds, tools, drip-line, or garden space.

For more information, email grubchico@yahoo.com

Posted by jmiller at 10:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here is a link to a brilliant post that serves as an excellent link between the paper/plastic/cloth bag debate , issues of energy conservation, and the sustainable food discussion.

Key highlights of the article:

--From an energy standpoint, using a canvas bag is 39 times better than paper and 14 times better than plastic, assuming the canvas bag is used 500 times during its lifetime.

--But more important than the choice of grocery bag is what you decide to put in it. A family of four choosing a veggie-based diet over a meat-based diet for one day will save 186 times the energy conserved by choosing to use a canvas bag over plastic one.

Post