Raising food, connecting cultures

(Editor’s note: This is the main story reprinted from our July 2011 Groundviews newsletter. To read the complete newsletter or past issues of Groundviews, please visit our Publications webpage.)

On a cool, drizzly June day, Sudi convinced his 7-year-old brother to join him at a work party at the new farm nestled within their housing complex. They helped move the last load of dirt into neat rows, soon to be planted. Scott Behmer, Seattle Community Farm Coordinator, says that when he started in the fall of 2010, the Farm was little more than “a grass field and a parking lot” near Rainier Vista (a mixed-income housing community just off MLK Way in South Seattle). Today, after two+ years of planning, community meetings and “a lot of physical work moving in 200 cubic yards of soil and tens of thousands of pounds of other materials,” the 1/3-acre Farm is fully planted and celebrated its official Grand Opening on June 25.

The Giving Gardener: Plant your cool weather crops!

Giving Gardeners –

If you haven’t yet planted a seed this season, do not fear, there is still time! In fact, if your garden beds are not too soggy, this is a great time to get started. March was kind enough to water our garden beds almost daily, and though April feels as cold as winter, spring is here.

This is the time of year to plant cool weather crops — lettuces, carrots, beets, pak choi, gailan, kale, chard, collards, spinach, mustards, broccoli, radishes and onions. The radishes and onions, if harvested when young, can be the first crop you donate.

Though food banks often get many storing onions, they do not always have a fresh supply of green onions. Practically any onion variety can be harvested young with the green shoots above ground and the small bulb below ground. Green onions or scallions are appreciated by cooks from diverse culinary traditions and can easily be interspersed in your garden, taking up very little space.

Planting from seed usually results in hardy plants as only the strongest make it to maturity. Planting from starts helps you keep ahead of the weeds. Either way, if you’re growing for donation, you can request seeds and starts from Lettuce Link.

You can also make a donation to support Lettuce Link or keep up-to-date with them through the Lettuce Link Blog.

Happy Gardening!

Detangling the Farm Bill – part 2 (a history)

Editor’s Note: The urban agriculture experts at Solid Ground’s Lettuce Link program are detangling the federal Farm Bill in a series of posts. We are reposting Amelia Swinton’s post here to help get the word out.

Author’s Note: This is a macro-history of U.S. farm policy organized around the price and income support programs for farmers and conservation initiatives that have been retroactively labeled “farm bills.” Though nutrition assistance programs do account for more than half of our present Farm Bill’s budget, these are not the principle focus of this post.

Putting the "dust" in industrial farming

Our story picks up in 1933, when rural economies across the United States were caught in a downward spiral. Under conditions of extreme heat and drought, desperate farmers overworked land to squeeze out maximum yields, bringing prices down and further wrecking the land (to become the Dust Bowl). Recognizing that an unregulated market was depressing the rural sector, the Department of Agriculture proposed several safety nets to be funded by taxpayers under The Agricultural Adjustment Act (read: our very first farm bill). This act set a price floor for agricultural goods so that farmers were guaranteed fair pay for their products. It also set up a system to store grains so they wouldn’t flood the market and depress prices during harvest season. Finally, soil conservation policies funded farmers to leave land fallow and to protect finite groundwater reserves.

World War II brought enormous international demand for American food, and as market prices in the agricultural sector skyrocketed, conservation programs were abandoned to meet demand. However, the government’s main role was still to limit production and champion farming interests over big business — that is, until the 1970s and true industrialization of agriculture under the “get-big-or-get-out” mantra of Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz.

Deeming conservation policies anti-business, Butz ordered all arable land into production.  Skeptics remembered the Depression’s disastrous experience with overproduction, but Butz calmed fears through free trade agreements that opened foreign markets for the vast surpluses that American farmers were now generating. The food stamp program provided another avenue for the Department of Agriculture to unload the extras — onto the plates of hungry Americans.  Crop yields of the 70s truly dwarfed those of earlier eras thanks to noxious cocktails engineered by companies like Dow and Monsanto, who rerouted the chemicals they had produced for the Vietnam War onto American farmland. Retooled “subsidy” programs (funding from the government to make an industry economically viable) grew certain calories — namely corn and soy — cheaper than ever before. Meanwhile, funding for so-called “specialty crops” like fruits and vegetables remained minimal, and methods of cultivation devastated land and water systems. These subsidies continue to provide the animal feed to keep meat and dairy cheap and have spawned an era of foods largely processed from derivations of corn.  Small-scale, sustainable farmers are indebted and unsupported — and we’re losing them.

And so the curtain opens on the food landscape we see today. Congress authorized nearly $300 billion for the 2008 Farm Bill, which continues to favor industrial over sustainable farms, quantity over quality, and processed foods over whole ones. But at least it’s cheap, right?

Amidst compounding crises of diabetes, obesity, and environmental degradation, nearly everyone is paying dearly for low-cost food.  So next time, we ponder: Where exactly do those $300 billion go (and where do they not)??

Thanks for reading, and please consider supporting Lettuce Link this holiday season as we continue to envision a city with fresh, nourishing, and affordable food for all.

Harvesting goodness at Marra Farm

Another wonderful set of harvest photos from our good friends at Marra Farm.

Mustard greens, chard, radishes and some happy honey bees!

Radishes

Honey bees

The entire sets can be viewed here.

Thanks once again to Marra Farm volunteer Steve Tracy for his beautiful photographs.

Inspired? Come join us on Fridays (only 3 left for 2010!) from 10am-2pm at Marra Farm (9026 4th Ave S) for harvesting, washing and being outside on a crisp fall day. Call Sue at 206.694.6746 x1 for more information.

Detangling the Farm Bill (from the urban ag experts at Lettuce Link)

Editor’s Note: The urban agriculture experts at Solid Ground’s Lettuce Link program are detangling the federal Farm Bill in a series of posts. We are reposting Amelia Swinton’s post here to help get the word out.

 Since you’ve wound your way to Lettuce Link’s corner of the blogosphere, it’s safe to say that you have a stake in how we interact with food in this country. Maybe you’re fed up with high prices at farmers markets, alarmed by skyrocketing rates of diabetes, or just totally grossed out by what kids eat in their school cafeterias. Regardless of your motives, we probably all agree that many of our food policies have broken.

Sustainable farming. Photo courtesy of Grow Food (c) 2005 (see link at bottom)

Over the next few months, this series will set out to situate our frustrations in specific policies, budgets, and farms so that we can understand why dinner tables look like they do. Cause eating has become political, and the health equity of our edible landscape will be determined by how we choose to consume it.

So! We’ve got our work cut out for us. The star of this series is a web of legislation called the Farm Bill that determines the funding and  policies for food and agriculture in the United States.  Rolling in at nearly 1,300 pages of dense legal jargon, our aim here is to pick (pieces of) it apart so that we can put them back together in a healthier, more equitable, and tastier way.

This is the first post of our Farm Bill series, which will be oriented around the following questions (& any others you suggest!):

1. What did the Farm Bill originally aim to do? What does it do now?
2. How does the bill influence spending and policies?
3. Who does the bill affect?
4. What type of agriculture does the bill promote?
5. How does the bill affect our nation’s schools: nutrition education, fitness initiatives, lunch offerings, and garden projects?
6. Can we discuss the language of food, especially terms like “organic”, “sustainable”, “agribusiness”, “obesity”, “food deserts”, “commodities”, and “eating well”?
   So that we can eventually sink our teeth into a much juicier question:
7. How can we reform the bill to support a food system that is just, affordable & nourishing, from seed to table?

We hope that this series helps cut up the formidable Farm Bill into pieces that we can actually chew. Anyone who’s ever heard Sue McGann’s epic introduction to Marra Farm has learned that the interconnections between agriculture, food, health, immigration, and foreign aid are shocking.

So, keep voting with that fork, keep recognizing the political charge of each bite. Things taste a whole lot better that way.

We’ll update you with meeting information for the Community Alliance for Global Justice’s Farm Bill Action meetings. Until then, you can investigate their wealth of online resources at http://www.seattleglobaljustice.org/food-justice/farm-bill/ .

Photo courtesy of Grow Food (c) 2005.

Ground broken on new Seattle Community Farm

An earthmover in action

On Tuesday, September 28 at 7am, a long-awaited dream began to take shape as construction workers broke ground for the new Seattle Community Farm – tucked behind the Rainier Vista housing community on MLK Drive in South Seattle. To some, it may look like a big pile of dirt right now – but those who have been planning this farm for over a year know it’s future manna.

Seattle Community Farm is the latest project of Solid Ground’s Lettuce Link program, which has engaged the South Park community in sustainable food production at Marra Farm since 1998. The new farm is primarily funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Community Food Project. The City of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods also supports the project.

Construction worker at groundbreaking

Groundwork for the new Seattle Community Farm was carefully laid over the past year by Lettuce Link staff, VISTA volunteers Leslie Heimer and Jamie Robinson, and landscape designer Eric Higbee, in partnership with the Department of Neighborhoods. They conducted thorough outreach in the Rainier Vista community (representing seven different language groups). They gained valuable feedback and participation in finalizing the design for the new farm from the very people who will utilize and nurture it.

On Saturday prior to the groundbreaking, Lettuce Link joined a Rainier Vista Multicultural Celebration to bring the community together in anticipation of the new farm. Seattle Community Farm Coordinator, Scott Behmer, posted this story about the event on the Lettuce Link. blog.

The vision for the new farm is that it will turn unused urban land into an educational farm for local residents and volunteers. Produce grown at the farm will go to residents with lower incomes, the Rainier Valley food bank, and the children who participate in Lettuce Link programs. The farm will model a shared garden environment rather than individual plots, and will help teach children and youth about gardening and eating healthy foods.

Future Seattle Community Farm

The Seattle Community Farm is a partnership between Lettuce Link, Seattle Housing Authority, and the City of Seattle P-Patch Program. For more information, contact Farm Coordinator Scott Behmer at scottb@solid-ground.org or 206.694.6828, or Lettuce Link Manager Michelle Bates-Benetua at michelleb@solid-ground.org or 206.694.6754.

Nourish your ears, nourish hungry people

Cool: KBCS Community Radio is teaming up again with Solid Ground’s Lettuce Link program, this time for their Fall Fund Drive, which takes place October 1 through October 10.

Donors to the Fall Fund Drive who give at the $52 level and above can chose to have a portion of their gift passed on to Lettuce Link to support its efforts to get nutritious organic produce to hungry people. This past Spring, a similar effort raised some much-needed support for Lettuce Link and provided great exposure as well.

As the only community radio station in the Seattle area, KBCS aspires to be the radio station of choice for adventurous listeners who are passionate about music, curious about our world, and who value social justice, says their website. We love them for featuring local reporters like Martha Baskin’s Green A.C.R.E. Radio and Sable Verity Commentary as well as socially conscious local musicians, such as Jim Page and Bill Frisell. Plus KBCS is the local home of Amy Goodman and  Democracy Now!

For years, community-based media have used “premiums” to encourage donors to commit to giving at higher levels. These gifts to the donor typically include things like CDs or DVDs, T-shirts, tote bags, etc. KBCS wanted a way to move beyond just offering stuff to giving their members a way to make an impact in the community.

“One of the roles of community radio is to amplify what is working locally,” Sabrina Roach, the station’s Development and Outreach Director, told me. “This year we wanted to highlight a local program focused on urban food issues and farming in Seattle. Lettuce Link has a long track record of doing this, and of adding new programs that respond to the changing needs of our communities.” Honestly, we couldn’t have tooted that horn any better ourselves!

Community Fruit Tree harvest needs you!

Apples for Providence Regina Food Bank, South Park

 

As of August 24, Solid Ground’s Community Fruit Tree Harvest volunteers have harvested 1,530 pounds of fruit – mostly apples and Asian pears. The fruit has gone to a variety of organizations, including Mary’s Place, U-District Food Bank, Ballard Food Bank, CAMP Food Bank, Providence Regina House Food Bank, Hopelink Shoreline and our Sand Point Family Housing. A big thank you to those harvesting, scouting, organizing and donating! 

For folks who are picking on their own, we’ve updated our Where to Donate fact sheet. For meals programs and housing units, it’s a good idea to call ahead and verify that they can process your donation. Note, few locations are open over the weekend – North Helpline is a good option for Saturday mornings. 

If you would like to assist with a harvest, contact Sadie Beauregard to get put on the harvest email blast list. Then just reply to the emails announcing a harvest or trees that are ready for picking! If you’re not comfortable getting things sorted out on your own but would like to pick, let Sadie know. We’ll get you set to pick and out harvesting. Make sure to let her know what you harvested, how long it took, where the fruit was donated, and how it went!

Seeing what it is all about

For the past eight weeks, I have been contacting local businesses procuring auction item donations for Chef’s Night Out, which will be held on October 3, 2010 to benefit the Operation Frontline (OFL) program that Solid Ground operates in partnership with Share Our Strength. From examining Operation Frontline’s website and blog and listening to my coworkers describe the delicious inventive recipes they learned in an OFL class, I could deduce that it was a great program. However, it seemed silly to me that I was asking businesses to invest in a program that I in fact had never even witnessed myself. So last Thursday I got the privilege of attending a class and witnessing firsthand just how great OFL is.

Healthy eating is no joke, still Operation Frontline classes have a good time learning about how to practice good nutrition!

The class was held at a domestic violence shelter. It’s an ideal setting in which to learn how to transform the way one shops, prepares, and thinks of food, because these women are in the process of rebuilding their lives. Six young women, of different ethnicities and backgrounds who share the common thread of suffering and now overcoming domestic violence, sat around a large rectangular table as the volunteer chef and nutritionist discussed and demonstrated everything one needs to know about whole grains. As the women skeptically ate their appetizer of tabouleh salad, the volunteer nutritionist, using depictive diagrams and tangible examples, discussed the health benefits of whole grains and the variety in which they come. Next, the chef introduced the recipe that they were learning to cook: stir fry with brown rice. As she went through the steps of making the sauce, rice, and vegetables, she asked questions to keep the students involved. After the explanation, the women chopped, stirred, and mixed the ingredients to create the meal. As we enjoyed the delicious and nutritious stir fry, the nutritionist passed around different food packages and discussed how to identify whether an item is actually made from whole grains.

At the end of the course, each woman was given a bag full of groceries, their reward for coming to class. It was evident that not only were their hands and stomachs satiated, but also, they had gained knowledge that will alter the way they feed themselves as well as their families. The OFL class exceeded my expectations; I too learned about nutrition and cooking and was reassured that my work this summer will benefit a sustainable program that is truly contributing positively to the Seattle community.

(Editor’s note: Emily has been interning with Solid Ground this summer. She is returning soon to Duke University to complete her studies. We’ll miss her! And we hope she continues doing social change work!)

Bike to dinner and help feed hungry people

Next Tuesday evening June 29th, join the first ever Spoke & Food event to celebrate summer cycling and healthy food for hungry people! Spoke & Food is a volunteer-led event to promote bicycling to dinner and to engage the community in good works! Bike with your friends and family to and from any of the participating restaurants for dinner and a percentage of your bill will be donated to Solid Ground’s Lettuce Link program. One of the participating restaurants, Dad Watsons, will be donating 50% of the evening’s proceeds to Lettuce Link.

Lettuce Link strives to nurture healthy communities in the Seattle area through distributing fresh, organic produce, seeds and plant starts to low-income families. The program promotes self-sufficiency through gardening education, teaching sustainable food production, and raising awareness about good nutrition and food security. Lettuce Link also coordinates donations of fruits and vegetables grown and harvested in Seattle.

Garett Slettebak, a founder of the event, commented on why Spoke & Food chose to support Lettuce Link: “We were looking for a well-deserving, local non-profit or program whose focus involves food, health, and service. Our planning committee researched a handful of non-profits in the Seattle area who we felt would match up well with and benefit from the Spoke & Food event and the Lettuce Link program landed on top of our list.”

Please join Garett and others and participate in Spoke & Food. Have fun, be healthy, and support a great cause!

Here is a partial list of participating restaurants. For the complete list, bike maps and more information about the event go to Spoke & Food’s website.
Dad Watsons
The Scarlet Tree
Montlake Alehouse
The Stepping Stone
Snoose Junction Pizzeria
Naked City Brewery & Taphouse
Fiddler’s Inn
Mulleady’s Irish Pub
Cantinetta
The Hi-Life
Barking Dog Alehouse
Louisa’s Cafe & Bakery
Porterhouse
Blue Star Cafe & Pub

Farm talk with Sue: spring harvest, greenhouses and more

Our Lettuce Link program has posted another Session with Farmer Sue. Check it out for the latest news about our Giving Garden at Marra Farm.

To see previous videos go to Solid Ground’s YouTube channel.

Undead to help feed hungry people

Supernatural powers of philanthropy will converge at the Fremont Outdoor Movies on Saturdays July 3 and 10 to support Solid Ground’s efforts to feed hungry people and shelter homeless families.

In partnership with The Fremont Outdoor movies, CoHo Team of Windermere Agents is hosting what could be a world record Zombie walk in conjunction with a food drive to support hungry folks.

Bloody Zombies photo by Hank Graham

It all happens Saturday, July 3 at 3501 Phinney Ave N. Festivities begin at noon and culminate at 9:30 pm with a screening of the classic Zombie film “Dawn of the Dead.”  The day-long “Red, White and Dead Block Party” hopes to attract 10,000 of the fun-loving undead to Fremont in an attempt to reclaim Fremont’s Zombie world record. See all the gory details here.

Zombies and spectators are asked to bring nonperishable food items to support Solid Ground’s Partners in Caring Program, which distributes food to elderly folks and people living with disabilities in Seattle Public Housing. Tickets can be purchased online.

Then on Saturday, July 10, the CoHo team will try to bust its own record of donations to Solid Ground by matching all gate fees and donations for that night’s film, “Ghost Busters.” Donations will be taken at the gate, or before the event online (type “CoHo Team” in the comments section). And while the suggested donation is $5, there’s no limit to what you can give! So come and join the legendary Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver in this ghost and gut busting film. Donations will support Solid Ground’s Family Shelter program.

KBCS Community Radio supports Lettuce Link

Cool: What sounds great and tastes great, too? KBCS 91.3FM! The community-based radio station, which is renowned for its coverage of social justice issues, is using its June membership drive to support Lettuce Link’s efforts to get fresh organic produce to people who are hungry.

As the only community radio station in the Seattle area, KBCS aspires to be the radio station of choice for adventurous listeners who are passionate about music, curious about our world, and who value social justice, says their website. We love them for featuring local reporters like Martha Baskin’s Green A.C.R.E. Radio and Sable Verity Commentary as well as socially conscious local musicians, such as Jim Page and Bill Frisell. Plus KBCS is the local home of Amy Goodman and  Democracy Now!

For years, community-based media have used “premiums” to encourage donors to commit to giving at higher levels. These gifts to the donor typically include things like CDs or DVDs, T-shirts, tote bags, etc. KBCS wanted a way to move beyond just offering stuff to giving their members a way to make an impact in the community.

“One of the roles of community radio is to amplify what is working locally,” Sabrina Roach, the station’s Development and Outreach Director, told me. “This year we wanted to highlight a local program focused on urban food issues and farming in Seattle. Lettuce Link has a long track record of doing this, and of adding new programs that respond to the changing needs of our communities.” Honestly, we couldn’t have tooted that horn any better ourselves!

Here’s how this will work: During the June 4-June 13 KBCS pledge drive, KBCS supporters will have the option of forgoing the pledge drive mug and instead, dedicating 5% of their KBCS donation to Lettuce Link. (To be fair and square, KBCS supporters can also choose to direct 5% to Mountains to Sound Greenway, to support their youth stewardship program.)

So tune in to 91.3 FM for great public affairs, great music and to support a growing community!

Words from the Front: Maggie McKelvy of HomeStreet Bank reports on Solid Ground’s Building Community Luncheon

Our good friend Maggie McKelvy of the Crown Hill branch of HomeStreet Bank hosted a table at Solid Ground’s Annual Building Community Luncheon last week. Here is her report on the event:

I had the pleasure of attending Solid Ground’s Annual luncheon this past Friday and what a great event it was! I was joined by a group of fellow bank employees, customers, and community partners.

Maggie McKelvy, Solid Ground Luncheon table host and Manager of HomeStreet Bank's Crown Hill branch

The highlight of the luncheon, for our table, was truly the keynote speaker, Bryant Terry. Mr. Terry has obvious passion for his work and as he sang to us, holding a cooking spoon as a microphone, told tales of his grandparents and talked about his personal journey, I watched the faces around our table light up. I saw some smiles and nods when he demonstrated his technique for preparing collard greens. I, personally, was feeling flashbacks from my childhood, spent watching my dad cook the foods enjoyed during his childhood years in the South.

I bought Bryant Terry’s cookbook on the way out and test drove several of his recipes over the weekend, including his collard greens. The coconut rice was awesome, by the way, and there are some great tips for cooking with alternatives to milk. Apparently, I was not alone!  My coworker, who also sat at our table, told me that he too spent the weekend in the kitchen, freshly inspired to enjoy whole foods, good health and quality time with his family.

Even if you missed the Solid Ground Luncheon, you can still get Bryant's recipes.

I think that Bryant Terry’s message about connecting through food, looking back in time, and respecting the wisdom of our grandparents and bringing joy, bringing “soul” to the kitchen are at the core of much of the work that Solid Ground does. I am so happy that I was a part of a wonderful event!

Operation Frontline in the news

The Fremocentrist blog ran a nice column about our Operation Frontline program, which helps folks who are living on low incomes get cooking skills and nutritional education so they can feed their families in a healthier way. Check it out! 

P-Patch volunteers take ending hunger into their own hands… and gardens

Every Tuesday evening from mid-April to October, a group of dedicated volunteer gardeners gather at the Interbay P-Patch to plant, weed and harvest food for people who are hungry. 

Foodbank garden plot at Interbay P-Patch

Supported by Solid Ground’s Lettuce Link program, the Giving Garden at Interbay has several P-Patch plots dedicated solely to growing fresh fruit and veggies for local food banks. These food bank plots yield approximately 5,000 lbs of fresh, organic produce each season—all of which is donated to the Ballard Food Bank, Mary’s Place and St. Martin’s on Westlake. 

Master gardeners Deb Rock and Jude Berman both garden at Interbay and co-coordinate the Food Bank Gardening Program there. They also spearhead the Tuesday night work parties—enthusiastically sharing their passion for “gardening while doing good” with a core group of volunteers. Rock has been a food bank gardener at Interbay for more than a decade, and Berman joined the program in 2004. 

Last Tuesday, about a dozen volunteers braved the temperamental spring Seattle weather to help plant a huge donation of lettuce starts that had come in earlier that day. 

Berman says that volunteers show up each week for a variety of reasons. Some live in apartments and have no garden of their own. Some are new gardeners eager to learn from seasoned pros. Some are students from Ballard High’s horticulture program; others have their own P-Patch plots at Interbay and simply want to be part of the good work going on. 

“No matter what brings them here, after they are here, they fall in love with the garden, and they stay,” Berman said. “This isn’t just about growing food for a salad. There’s a critical need in this community—especially now. We’re feeding people.” 

Interbay Food Bank Garden co-coordinator Jude Berman (left) and Lettuce Link's Sadie Beauregard (right).

Lettuce Link supports P-Patch food bank gardeners with seeds, starts and volunteer support, as well as with help coordinating delivery to the food banks. Lettuce Link works with more than 40 P-Patches like Interbay throughout the city. Combined, these Giving Gardens bring in nearly 28,000 lbs of produce each year. 

Work parties at the Interbay P-Patch are held every Tuesday evening from 5:30 until sundown throughout the growing season. At the end of each work party, the food bank gardeners usually gather in the beautiful Interbay patio space to share ideas, a glass of wine and perhaps a nibble of something fresh from the garden. 

Everyone is welcome, whether you are a master gardener or a novice just starting out. Just stop by anytime after 5:30. The Interbay P-Patch is located at 2452 15th Ave W (15th Avenue W. and W. Wheeler Street). 

You can email Jude about volunteering on Tuesday evenings at Interbay, or about food bank gardening in general. 

To get involved with other P-Patch Giving Gardens throughout the city, contact Lettuce Link.

Gear up for an evening of biking, dining and doing good

Cool: Bikers and Lovers of Food, some Solid Ground supporters asked us to invite you to participate in the premier Spoke and Food Event on Tuesday, June 29th, 2010! This event will combine bicycling and dining into one evening, while also raising funds for Solid Ground’s Lettuce Link program. This is a great opportunity to give back to the community and have some fun on one of those beautiful Seattle summer nights!

The main goals of Spoke & Food this year are to support Lettuce Link and to motivate members of our local community to use their bicycles as a mode of transportation to and from dinner. Lettuce Link (an innovative food and gardening program growing and giving since 1988) creates access to fresh, nutritious and organic produce, seeds, and gardening information for families with lower incomes in Seattle. They work to educate the community about food security and sustainable food production.

So get out and bike on the night of Tuesday, June 29th and help support a healthier community! Bike to any of the following restaurants and they’ll donate 15-20% of their proceeds to Lettuce Link!

Participating restaurants as of April 30th include:
Dad Watsons (Fremont)
The Scarlet Tree (Ravenna/Green Lake)
Montlake Alehouse (Montlake)
The Stepping Stone (Ballard)
Snoose Junction Pizzeria (Ballard)

If you are interested in becoming a participating restaurant, please contact info@spokeandfood.com.

Gardening open house benefits Lettuce Link

How can you scratch your itchy green thumb and help feed hungry people at the same time? Head on down to Madison Valley on this coming Saturday, April 24th, from 11:00am to 3:00pm, where City People’s Garden Store is holding a Spring Open House in partnership with Café Flora and Full Circle Farm. The event benefits Lettuce Link!

You can learn how to grow your own heirloom vegetables from Bill Thorness, author of Edible Heirlooms. Learn about organic produce from Full Circle Farm. Take a cooking lesson from the chefs of Café Flora. Get advice on starting your own vegetable garden from City People’s Landscape. Enter the raffle to win a gift basket.

10% of the day’s proceeds will go to Lettuce Link, Solid Ground’s program that partners with the City’s P-Patches to grow/harvest fresh produce for Seattle area food banks.

As an added treat, enjoy Old Time music in City People’s outdoor nursery by members of The Tallboys and Klezmer music by Harvey Niebulski & Sarah Funke & Friends.

For all the details, including the workshop schedule, go to the City People’s Garden Store workshop website.

Marra Farm featured on KUOW

KUOW 94.9 FM ran a great story this morning about Marra Farm, where Solid Ground’s Lettuce Link program operates a Giving Garden. You can read the transcript on KUOW’s website.

You can donate to support Marra Farm and our Lettuce Link Program! Thanks.

Strike Out Hunger 2010: Good fun in the fast lanes

The Strike Out Hunger Bowl-a-thon raises money to help Solid Ground’s Food Security for Children (FSC) program feed thousands of infants and toddlers — and supports other Solid Ground efforts to end poverty. On March 27th, 150 people had a blast bowling to strike out hunger! We’re still tallying the amount raised, but we know it will go a long way to support families and children through these difficult economic times. The West Seattle Herald published a short piece highlighting the event.

The Pinkies

Our extra-spirited teams included:

• The Big Lebowski’s Hunger Action Team
• Finance Kids Team
• Google
• Mini but Mighty
• Not A Number
• Pinkies
• Selena’s Guadalajara
• Team Paul Haas
• Team Bridget Perry
• The Untouchables (Advisory Council)
• Verity Credit Union

And many thanks to our In-Kind Sponsors!

• Athletic Awards
• Cupcake Royale (West Seattle)
• Fainting Goat
• Garlic Jim’s Famous Gourmet Pizza
• Hawaiian Breeze
• Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream
• Nickerson Street Saloon
• Not A Number
• Paige Collins
• Papa Murphy’s (Jefferson Square)
• QFC (Wallingford)
• Safeway (Jefferson Square)
• Selena’s Guadalajara

It’s not too late to give to the Bowl-a-thon! Click here to Strike Out Hunger NOW! Interested in participating in next year’s Bowl-a-thon? Please contact Anna Ramos at 206.694.6857 or annar@solid-ground.org.