Field Trip #2: Growing Power

Growing Power is a non profit organization that tries to educate communities on the importance of good tasting, fresh, and chemical free food. The only way to have a healthy community is to eat the right foods that you know are not contaminated with chemicals that are bad for your body. They not only sell fresh produce but they also raise healthy, virus free fish, that would probably be hard to find any where else.

                                         Left to Right: Rosalyn, Jacqueline ,Madeline, Areza, Samantha

Aquaponics: They not only sell fresh produce but they also raise healthy,virus free fish, that would probably be hard to find any where else!

We volunteered to help with projects that needed to be done such as weeding and moving compost.

We were also able to see the goats and chickens here!

-Written by: Areza, G&N Intern 2015

Children's Activities Have Started Once Again!

We had a wonderful time learning, planting and painting with the kids this past Saturday at Pete's Community Farm! They did a great job making signs to mark each plant and vegetable in the garden. 

Children's activities will continue throughout the summer, every other Saturday, from 10-11:30 am. Please  join us for some free educational and environmental fun! Or, join us during the week to spend time in the garden relaxing and enjoying the sun. Check out the pictures from Saturday, as well as our weekly open hours, below!

Stop by during any of the times listed above!

We had lots of help to plant all the bell peppers, hot peppers and strawberries.

What masterpieces! Now all can name which plants are growing in the garden.

Madelines International cooking classes

   On June 4th ,11th, and 18th our Garden and Nutrition intern Madeline gave a cooking class based on different cultures around the world. We made Vietnamese, Chinese, Mediterranean, American, and Peruvian food. Some vegan,some vegetarian, and others recipes with meat (used for only an optional choice).

 Madeline's second cooking class,

 In process of making the vegetarian burger patties from scratch with her .

A healthy burger choice packed with quinoa,black beans,kale sandwiched in between cucumber slices in stead of your average beef patty in a bun. Partnered with a three bean Mediterranean salad, replacing the fries.

                                          

       Madelines first cooking class

 First cooking class, Madeline mad fresh Vietnamese spring rolls made with raw vegetable and 3 dipping sauces.Next we cooked some vermicelli noodles dressed with spring onions ,ginger, and soy sauce. Also made a Chinese-Peruvian hybrid of fried rice.

- Written by Madeline, G&N Intern

Kompost Kids

Kompost Kids is a nonprofit organization which outreaches to help the public how to make compost, which eventually turns into dirt for the plants and by doing this act, it also helps the environment. The compost is known as "waste", but it's really food that has been used and just broken down as it slowly becomes into dirt. How exciting! Not as exciting of how it smells, because it honestly smells bad, but hey, that's the beauty of nature. You will get used to the smell, like I did.

Kompost Kids is also a safe environment where children and families can interact with each other, as they educate themselves to learn how to keep our earth clean, for example; reduce, reuse, and recycle. But other than that, I enjoyed myself when I went to Kompost Kids, because it was in the outdoors and I learned more about compost. That's also another thing, many people don't know about compost. So I think Kompost Kids is a great educational place to start. So personally, I think it would be a good opportunity to go to Kompost Kids so you can educate yourself and educate others.

-Written by Samatha, G&N Intern

ROOFTOP FARMERS MARKET OPEN!

Welcome! It’s the perfect time of the year to enjoy Core El Centro’s Rooftop farmers market’s comfortable atmosphere and have a blast with vendors, locals, family, or friends!

Open every Monday night 4:00pm-8:00pm through October 13^th the roof top market enables people to relax openly, appreciate food, and share delicious recipes or preparation tips with our farmers!(We even host cooking demonstrations throughout the season as well!)

We offer people the opportunity to take the time to enjoy the garden as a whole, search through the variety of goods and services at the market, eat a snack, read a book, converse with friends or folks around, and enjoy the great view!!

Most importantly, we believe the rooftop farmers market to be an important element towards our mission at Core/El Centro which is to give the opportunity for the community to seek locally grown nutritious food and live a more prosperous and healthy lifestyle. We also believe our farmers market to be a place where people can learn from one another, share new ideas, and take time to appreciate the world around us. Our farmer’s market utilizes the beautiful rooftop space we have to celebrate food, healing herbs, community gifts, and more!

We now have an exciting and new Roof top Farmers Market Rewards Program and the purpose of the program is to thank community members for their use of the market! As a member of the rewards program, an individual will receive one stamp on their Edible Skyline: A Rooftop Revolution card for attending the market and making a purchase. Also there will be a secret “code word” that will be included in our Facebook page in our Newsletter which offers the chance to receive a second stamp on your card!

*Once an individual accumulates 10 stamps, they can exchange the card for a $5 voucher to use towards CORE/El Centro produce.*

Plus receive one raffle ticket per week to be entered in a drawing in June, August and October.
Raffle ticket prizes include:
(Food processor---> Raffle Drawing June 29th)
(Chocolate and Cheese basket---> Raffle Drawing August 31st)
(Mystery Prize---> Raffle Drawing October 13th).

(Also thanks to a generous sponsorship from United Healthcare we will match EBT/SNAP purchases up to $20/week and we accept EBT/SNAP, credit, and debit cards!)