http://groups.ucanr.org/sbdisplay/blogs.cfm?county=616&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed El Dorado County Blogs en-us UC ANR http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rss/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:26:21 PST Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:26:21 PST Aquatic Gardens, Not Aquatic Pests: How To Practice Responsible Water Gardening (ANR Publication 8369), has now been published online and is available FREE at the ANR CS Web site at http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8369.pdf. To view the catalog listing for this title, go to this URL: http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/InOrder/Shop/ItemDetails.asp?ItemNo=8369. Let us know if you have any trouble viewing, downloading, or printing the publication.Many gardeners are looking for aquatic plants that...... Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:57:05 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1755&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed pmelam@ucdavis.edu(Pamela Geisel) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1755 Today has been a blur.  Woke up early, dressed carefully and ate breakfast while we discussed a morning meeting with Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan and pinned down details about our White House visit. Because it’s late and has been an amazingly long day, I’m mostly going to share about our visit to the White House garden.  After attending a meeting at the USDA – and again visiting one my favorite gardens, the People’s Garden – our group walked over to the White House.  We took...... Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:02:22 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1739&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1739 This morning found me at the National Food Policy Conference.  The keynote speaker was Kathleen Sebelius, former governor of Kansas, and now serving in the Obama administration as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). In her brief tenure, Sebelius has been busy framing a response to H1N1 influenza, and dealing with a host of food system issues for the new administration, an administration that is focusing seriously on food safety. She got right to the point about...... Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:19:32 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1731&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1731 I was up early this morning, eating a breakfast with Wisconsin dairy farmer Jim Goodman, a national advocate for small organic family farms.  Each time I talk to him, I learn more about the challenges facing small family farm operators in the U.S. Immediately after breakfast, I walked to the 32nd annual National Food Policy Conference, which is being presented by the Consumer Federation of America and the Grocery Manufacturers Association.  This year’s theme is “Assuring a Safe and Nutritious...... Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:18:43 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1724&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1724 I have not posted since July on my Victory Grower blog.  It’s been – at times - a difficult and disheartening summer.  Like many Californians, I will remember this period as the “summer of our discontent” here, a period when we struggled with the realities of limitations.   Limitations imposed by a crushing state budget deficit, a dysfunctional system of state governance, double digit unemployment, furloughs, and a lack of water to support California agriculture and residents.  It’s been a......
]]> Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:04:14 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1717&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1717 Periwinkle or Vinca major is a ground cover that has been popularly planted in many areas of California.  It has also become a major pest in many coastal and valley riparian areas where it has naturalized and now out competes many of the native flora.  It is also a major pest in my garden and I am looking for great alternatives to take its place.  The good news is that there is a web link on the California Gardening website to a group called PlantRight.  (http://plantright.org)  They have......
]]> Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:28:55 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1689&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed pmelam@ucdavis.edu(Pamela Geisel) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1689 I live along an historic boulevard of beautiful Canary Island Date Palms,  Phoenix canarensis.  They are really majestic but they do drop a lot of fronds during much of the year.  Anytime there is a breeze, one can expect to see the large fronds or flower clusters littering the ground around the base of the trees and  the street.  The dropping fronds are not really a huge issue in our area because the road is quite rural, and infrequently traveled.   However, there are many plantings that are......
]]> Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:47:14 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1670&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed pmelam@ucdavis.edu(Pamela Geisel) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1670 Apricots and cherries can have a fairly short lifespan in many climate zones in California due to a disease called Eutypa.  This disease is able to invade through pruning wounds especially during the wet winter months.  This disease causes limbs or twigs to wilt and die suddenly in late spring or summer with the leaves still attached.  The bark may appear dark with an amber colored gumming on the branches.  To combate that the disease and reduce the potential for Eutypa to infect trees, you......
]]> Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:20:22 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1637&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed pmelam@ucdavis.edu(Pamela Geisel) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1637 Spotted spurge is one of those weeds that seem to defy our best efforts to control it.  It is a low growing plant that develops into a dense mat that can overgrow turf and compete with ornamental ground covers and annuals.  It can be characterized by its dark green tiny leaves, which often have a red spot about mid way down the center leaf vein.  The stem, when broken, exudes a milky latex juice. The plant has a central taproot system that is capable of extending more than 2 feet into the soil.......
]]> Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:29:30 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1613&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed pmelam@ucdavis.edu(Pamela Geisel) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1613 This time of year, it is not uncommon to see the valley oak trees (Quercus lobata) with their leaves yellowed and splotchy with numerous small seed like balls on the underside.  These are called Jumping oak galls and they are made by a small Cynipid wasp larva (Neuropterus saltatorius) that is developing inside the gall.  Don’t worry-the wasp doesn’t sting humans.  In fact, you would be lucky to actually see the critter.  While the galls do cause some defoliation, they are not particularly......
]]> Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:41:19 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1575&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed pmelam@ucdavis.edu(Pamela Geisel) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1575  The lawn, from a distance, looks lush and green.  When walking across it, however, the exploding seed pods of the densely growing oxalis spread seeds across my boots and across my lawn.  In one year the newly planted cool season turfgrass has become an oxalis or creeping wood sorrel lawn.  Creeping woodsorrel is a major weed in turf, ornamental plantings, gardens, and nurseries. Uninfested landscapes can become contaminated if infested container stock is used in plantings. As seed pods mature......
]]> Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:24:47 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1565&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed pmelam@ucdavis.edu(Pamela Geisel) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1565 I have been growing the most wonderful variety of cantaloupes called “Athena” in my vegetable garden.  This variety is to die for….sweet, firm, and longer lasting than the Tuscan varieties.  The vines were vigorous, productive and gorgeous until the aphids moved in and started curling the leaves and excreting honeydew, making everything a sticky mess.  I am partly to blame because I watched the small aphid population just explode to a huge problem.  I knew I should have done something early on......
]]> Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:27:31 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1525&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed pmelam@ucdavis.edu(Pamela Geisel) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1525 Summer is an important time not only for fruit harvest but also for insuring a good crop in subsequent years. For example, typical summer fertilizing calls for: Summer Growing Season Fertilize young trees monthly. Use 0.5 lb. urea or 25 lb. manure/tree/appl. Mature trees need 50% more. Water fertilizer in. If drip irrigated, do not exceed 1 oz. urea/emitter/mo. Drip irrigate daily or sprinkler irrigate about every 3 weeks. Maintain a weed free area around the base of the......
]]> Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:15:56 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1504&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed pmelam@ucdavis.edu(Pamela Geisel) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1504 We’ve got an exciting program coming up on August 14 at the Wolfskill Experimental Orchard. Spend the day with us learning about creating and maintaining sustainable home orchards of any size. We’ll be tasting fruit, offering a hands-on demonstrations, touring Wolfskill and much more! Your registration of $45 includes lunch, fruit tastings and a pomegranate plant. Please join us – you’ll leave prepared to start your own backyard fruit production! You can pay by......
]]> Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:00:05 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1495&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed pmelam@ucdavis.edu(Pamela Geisel) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1495 Vegetables grown in most California soils often require some fertilizer for best growth. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient and can be applied using either organic forms such as manures or compost or inorganic forms (chemical fertilizers) to supply needed nutrients. Learn More..........
]]> Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:14:35 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1469&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed pmelam@ucdavis.edu(Pamela Geisel) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1469 As a U.S. historian, I can provide examples of the many ways – both positive and negative - that patriotism has been expressed at different times in our nation’s history. There are many ways that individuals and communities can express their patriotism today. Eating local foods can be one of them. Local foods are patriotic, whether you’re buying them directly from producers in your area or growing your own. They’re good for our local farmers, our economies, our health,......
]]> Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:16:10 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1462&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1462 Mowing your lawn entails much more than just mowing on a weekly basis or whenever the lawn appears too long. For a healthy turf, you must pay special attention to: Learn more . . ....
]]> Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:40:05 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1442&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed dcseaver@ucdavis.edu(Donna Seaver) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1442 To get the most from your vegetables, harvest them when they are at the best stage for eating and store them under conditions that will keep them as close to garden-fresh as possible. Learn more . . ....
]]> Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:50:15 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1422&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed dcseaver@ucdavis.edu(Donna Seaver) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1422 Most all gardens in California will require some irrigation especially in summer. Irrigation that is inadequate will cause a significant reduction in productivity. However, water can be very expensive so creating an irrigation system that will adjust to the rooting depth of various plants is important. Learn more .......
]]> Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:37:23 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1393&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed dcseaver@ucdavis.edu(Donna Seaver) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1393   "WHY I'M A VICTORY GROWER": PLANT YOUR INDEPENDENCE! Kids, Submit Your Own "Vision Video" for Food Independence Day   Do you love growing food in your garden? Maybe your dream is to become a farmer and spend your days outside in the field? Do you hope to one day feed others with the food you grow? That makes you a Victory Grower! If you know a youth that has a green thumb, thinks growing food in your own garden is cool, or is a lover of fresh, healthy vegetables, organizers of "Food...... Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:06:58 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1388&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1388 Vegetables grown in most California soils often require some fertilizer for best growth. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient and can be applied using either organic forms such as manures or compost or inorganic forms (chemical fertilizers) to supply needed nutrients. Learn more........
]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:01:08 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1387&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed dcseaver@ucdavis.edu(Donna Seaver) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1387 California has a unique vegetable growing climate and we can grow many different types of vegetable crops throughout the year. Crops are classified as warm season or cool season crops. It is important that you plant at the right time of year for each crop for optimum yield. . . . . . Learn more...
]]> Mon, 01 Jun 2009 08:54:51 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1340&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed dcseaver@ucdavis.edu(Donna Seaver) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1340 The governor has released a list of state properties that might be for sale in this time of unprecendented budget crisis. On that list are a couple of fairgrounds, including the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The Ventura County Fairgrounds is actually California's 31st Agricultural District, and is under the oversight of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. You can visit that website to learn more about our Fairs and Expositions; they represent a great, and perhaps underutilized......
]]> Sat, 16 May 2009 10:30:31 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1293&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1293 I’ve been pondering a lot the last three weeks, trying to think outside the box, and trying to proceed as if there is no box at all. Two weeks of conferences in a row, one the Kellogg Foundation Food and Society Conference, the second sponsored by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Very different conferences, but a common theme: Food Systems All the Time. At the UC-sponsored professional conference that I recently attended, I had the opportunity to hear......
]]> Sun, 10 May 2009 14:11:02 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1271&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1271 Strong structural support is needed to support the vines and crop; this can be a trellis, an arbor, or a fence. Many gardeners grow grapes on an arbor to provide both shade and fruit. A trellis provides the easiest method . . . Learn more...
]]> Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:53:05 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1243&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed dcseaver@ucdavis.edu(Donna Seaver) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1243 Starting your vegetables indoors early can give your garden a jumpstart on spring. It also reduces the cost of seedling transplants in that a packet of seeds cost about the same as 1, 4-inch tomato plant. It also allows you to grow seedlings of varieties that may be difficult to find in the nursery as transplants. To start you will need . . . . . Learn more...
]]> Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:01:21 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1226&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed dcseaver@ucdavis.edu(Donna Seaver) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1226 I'm at the Kellogg Foundation Food and Society Conference in San Jose, where several hundred indivdiuals interested in all aspects of the food system are convening. It's busy and hectic and wonderful. This evening, The Washington Post published a story by noted writer Jane Black about a USDA announcement important to all Victory Growers. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announces the expansion of The People's Garden...and more. Per Jane Black at The Washington Post, "The garden now will...... Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:21:11 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1211&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1211 Recently, to mark the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birthday, Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack broke ground on The People's Garden at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In his speech, Secretary Vilsack set a goal of creating a community garden at every USDA site in the world. It is fitting that the USDA should choose to honor President Lincoln through the creation of a People’s Garden. When Lincoln established the USDA in 1862, at a time when more than half the population of the...... Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:22:25 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1084&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1084 Eck, Joe and Wayne Winterrowd. Our Life in Gardens. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009. Practical and prophetic, particular and poetic, and entirely personal, Our Life in Gardens is a book well worth reading. Part memoir, and part garden book, it is a completely engaging and riveting book to enjoy, perhaps while sitting in a favorite chair in the garden on a sunny afternoon, or by the fire on a cool, wet day, when gardening might be more of an intellectual pursuit. Composed of...... Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:38:30 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1056&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1056 Cardello, Hank with Doug Garr. Stuffed: An Insider’s Look at Who’s {Really} Making America Fat. New York: HarpersCollins Publishers, 2009. Hank Cardello knows a great deal about the food industry; for more than three decades, he helped some of the world’s largest companies sell their products to you. In his book, Stuffed: An Insider’s Look at Who’s {Really} Making America Fat, Cardello shares his vast knowledge about the industry in a readable, organized...... Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:08:56 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=999&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=999 I'm writing a quick note on my lunch break about one of my favorite UCCE Master Gardeners, Vance Askew, who passed away last week. Vance, a resident of midtown (and my around-the-corner neighbor) was a fixture at the Loma Vista Elementary gardening projects I ran for six years, the older gentleman with the healthy tan, great attitude and amazing head of hair. If your child attended Loma Vista with Natalie, he/she met and worked with Vance. (He always broke the safety rule about closed toe shoes...... Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:09:51 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=939&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=939 Like one of the BBQ meals described in its pages, America Eats!, by author/writer Pat Willard is tasty and completely satisfying. It’s a timely book, too: not only because of the material’s origin as a New Deal project (which the nation’s current economic situation has all of us thinking and talking about), but because of the growing interest in American food culture and sustainable food systems. America Eats! is an unusual book. It incorporates extensive pieces of regional...... Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:13:36 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=909&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=909 This week’s selection of former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture lit up sustainable food systems listservs like a switchboard. Vilsack’s nomination is not without controversy. He has been criticized for his ties to agribusiness and his support of biofuels and biotechnology. To many, Vilsack represents “agribusiness as usual.” But Vilsack also has a reputation for being a good listener and being able to work successfully with those who hold differing...... Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:00:48 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=881&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=881 I first met Marcia Eames-Sheavly, a youth program leader in Cornell University’s Garden-Based Learning Program, a number of years ago, at a garden-based education conference where she gave a wonderful keynote speech. I’ve always kept up with her work, because she’s written so much about gardening with kids that I think is incredibly good. She’s tops in our field. I’m also inclined to love Marcia’s work because she’s from Cornell (home of Liberty Hyde...... Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:26:17 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=865&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=865 The fires that raged through Southern California less than two weeks ago affected thousands of residents and destroyed hundreds of homes. California is bone dry, the result of an extended drought. Our building patterns put thousands of homes in the canyons and hills at greatest risk for burning. We have fires more frequently these days - fire season now seems to be year round - and they seem to burn more intensely and cause greater damage. One of the places destroyed in the Tea Fire that...... Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:00:09 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=824&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=824 Today marks the 90th anniversary of Armistice Day, the official end to WWI. Armistice began during the 11th month, on the 11th day, at the 11th hour (11/11/1918 at 11:00 a.m.). It wasn't until 1954 that Armistice Day became Veterans Day in the United States, as a way to honor the military service of all the nation's veterans. If you've read my blog before, you already know that Victory Gardens had their origins in WWI. These gardens had important impacts on the homefront, not only because...... Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:30:14 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=796&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=796 The election is over, and it's time to think about the future. Glass ceilings have been shattered, and all sorts of barriers we thought existed have disappeared. I've got gardening on my mind...it seems even more important now. The Victory Gardens of World War I and World War II - and the garden efforts of the Great Depression - helped Americans successfully negotiate hard times. These gardens helped the family budget; improved dietary practices; reduced the food mile and saved fuel;...... Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:41:46 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=783&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=783 When first we practise to deceive!" These oft-quoted lines, written by Scottish author Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), have a great deal of relevance when applied to the latest food system crisis. The current crisis, which involves the adulteration of dairy products originating in China, is having worldwide repercussions. The adulterating substance is melamine, which should ring a few bells for pet owners, who will certainly remember the wide recall of numerous brands of pet food in the...... Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:10:25 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=676&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=676 Last week, while the market experienced a kind of volatility that had nearly everyone drawing parallels with the Great Depression, I had the privilege of participating in the Western Regional Assembly on Farm-to-School, which was sponsored by Ecotrust. A large group gathered in Portland to share information, develop strategies and network around the issues of good food for schools, institutions and communities. To many people, farm-to-school, school gardens and attempts to create local food...... Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:52:44 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=661&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=661 Yet another example of why we need to seriously reconsider our nation's food policy has emerged. Recently, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation commissioned an analysis of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Child Nutrition Commodity Program (CNCP), and how that program impacts the nutritional quality of school breakfasts and lunches. The policy analysis, produced by California Food Policy Advocates and Samuels and Associates, focuses mostly on California, but its authors argue that it...... Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:50:32 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=640&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=640 The internet enables us to satisfy our need for knowledge. It enables us to find people who share our interests and passions. And it has recently enabled a group of Victory Garden fan(atics?) to find each other. We've formed a Victory Garden Alliance Blog (VGA) that will enable us to share information with a broader readership to grow the Victory Garden movement/revival. The VGA blog will also enable those who read our individual blogs to hear new voices, and experience different takes on...... Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:23:44 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=571&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=571 Like thousands of other schools across the nation, Cabrillo Middle School opened its doors last week. The return to school presents challenges, including busier schedules. But it also provides an opportunity to rethink food choices and particularly, school lunches. Here in Ventura, we live in the best of worlds. Our school district has farm-fresh salad bars in each of its seventeen schools. In addition, we live in an area that produces fruits and vegetables year round. Simply drive a...... Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:21:54 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=568&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=568 For food policy and public health wonks, the summer of 2008 will go down in the books, and California is leading the way. On July 27th, I blogged about the state's newly passed legislation requiring restaurants to cook without artery-clogging trans fats. http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=532In On July 29th, the Los Angeles City Council approved a moratorium on new fast food restaurants in South Los Angeles, a move that was not without controversy. And just yesterday,...... Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:30:58 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=562&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=562 Some weeks are harder than others. This week, I found myself continuously distracted and saddened by the closure of my favorite independent bookstore, Adventures for Kids (AFK). Located in midtown Ventura, AFK simply became unable to compete against megabooksellers (online and retail), and a lackluster economy. Even before I became a parent, I was a loyal customer. AFK is a two block walk from my house, just down the street and through the alley, and into their back door. I knew many of...... Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:36:37 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=543&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=543 If we're going to make real inroads into childhood obesity, and if we're really going to engage a new generation of gardeners, we need youth on board. The best way to influence youth is through the voices of other youth. They have shared experiences and often, similar perspectives. This quick post encourages you to visit two youth-authored blogs about healthy lifestyle, written by members of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. One is written by a twelve year old; the other is written by...... Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:11:39 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=533&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=533 California may be stuck in a budget impasse, but Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was able to move the state's public policy vis-a-vis nutrition and public health a big step forward on Friday, by signing Assembly Bill 97 into law. This landmark legislatation makes California the first state to prohibit restaurants from using artery-clogging trans fats in preparing food. The legislation, which takes effect in 2010, bans restaurants and other retail food establishments from using oil, margarine...... Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:53:39 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=532&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=532 Reaching youth with a healthy lifestyle message is vital. A healthy lifestyle incorporates proper eating, physical activity AND gardening. Educating youth about a healthy lifestyle is especially critical today: nearly one in three U.S. youth are obese. Using youth to reach youth with the healthy lifestyle message is essential to its success. Thankfully, there is an organization that is trying to do this in a big way. Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to Kansas City, Missouri with...... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:48:08 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=526&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=526 Remember that song??? I remember it well. Its lyrics inspired thousands of people to come to San Francisco. Written by the Mamas and Papas John Phillips, and recorded by Scott McKenzie, the song quickly became a cultural icon. At age 7, I was too young to travel to San Francisco during the summer of 1967. I won't miss my opportunity this time, though, and will be joining thousands of other like-minded people over Labor Day Weekend 2008 for what promises to be an amazing series of events...... Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:21:55 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=490&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=490 The Verde Partnership Garden is located on the campus of Verde Elementary School in North Richmond. It is a true partnership: both a school and community garden project. It's one of the loveliest gardens I've ever seen. The project's coordinator is Cassie Scott. A gentle and wise woman, she shared some of the garden's history with me. The Verde Partnership Garden project serves an extremely low income North Richmond neighborhood that despite its poverty, is rich in diversity and a sense of...... Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:38:36 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=465&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=465 I have not blogged much the last two weeks, perhaps because I've been caught up in thought and possibility. Two weeks ago, I had an opportunity to travel to Richmond, California to visit a number of school and community gardens. I met with residents, and learned about the remarkable work of organizations such as the National Park Service, Urban Tilth, and the 5% Local Coalition in this city in west Contra Costa County, east of San Francisco. My hosts, Park Guthrie of Urban Tilth, and Carla...... Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:58:22 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=449&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=449 I've written a bit about gardening as an important part of civic engagement in American life. Not only in the past, as reflected in Victory Garden programs, but in contemporary American society. Programs such as The Food Project in Boston engage youth through gardening/urban agriculture, providing not only practical skills, but valuable life skills, as well. These kinds of efforts engage youth in creating a food future that is sustainable, healthy and just. I call this "coming back out...... Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:04:29 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=427&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=427 Today I read a New Yorker Magazine article, "The Last Bite: Is the World's Food System Collapsing?", written by Bee Wilson. It's a provacative piece, mixing things those of us in sustainable food systems often talk about (agriculture, population growth, demographics) and stating the obvious, but mixing it up with some new (and old) ideas, theories, and commentary. Such as,Thomas Malthus (historic theory); the fact that food crises are currently occuring in thirty-three countries...... Wed, 21 May 2008 21:54:45 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=425&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=425 My work as an historian of wartime gardening efforts is a small piece of my larger work as an historian of the American homefront during wartime. Without understanding the battlefront, one cannot truly understand the homefront. (And one cannot understand the American homefront without comparing it to other homefronts, so I find myself studying other nations, as well). I am in the odd position of being a person adamantly opposed to war, but also its constant student. When talking about the...... Sun, 18 May 2008 20:47:22 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=415&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=415 My family continues to enjoy an abundance of riches on the fresh, local, good food front. This week's CSA box: 1 head Romaine lettuce; 1 elephant garlic; 1 lb broccoli; 1 head cauliflower; 1 lb yellow crookneck squash; 1.5 lbs Red Lasuta potatoes; 1 bunch rosemary; 1 pint strawberries; 1 lb pixie tangerines; 2 lbs Red Ruby grapefruit; and rosemary focaccia. The potatoes didn't last long: they were roasted the first night with olive oil, rosemary, and garlic. They provided a side dish for...... Fri, 16 May 2008 13:07:02 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=413&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=413 Agriculture impacts every California resident; everyone who lives in the state is a stakeholder in the industry that in so many ways, defines our state's character, and what our future holds. Now there is an opportunity for every resident to share their vision of California agriculture. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) invites every Californian to join CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura and members of the CDFA board at public listening sessions to "develop a more...... Wed, 14 May 2008 17:53:02 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=408&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=408 In an effort to increase readership, the VictoryGrower blog will now be included on Technocrati. If you are able to subscribe to VictoryGrower via RSS, please do so, or use our UC blog administration to sign up and receive notification of new postings. And tell your friends about this blog, and the linked website. http://technorati.com/claim/8iv2jmy98 Thank you! "A Garden for Everyone. Everyone in a Garden." http://ucanr.org/blogs/VictoryGrower_Blog/... Wed, 14 May 2008 11:59:47 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=409&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=409 Our family recently began subscribing to a CSA (community supported agriculture) venture. We live in Ventura, and have ready (and enviable!) access to an amazing array of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. We buy strawberries from a local farmer who operates across the street from my husband's office, or at our local farmer's market. We buy oranges from a farm stand near Santa Paula. We have our regular go-to people. But we wanted more, and we wanted to be more intentional in our...... Mon, 12 May 2008 17:48:53 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=404&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=404 UC Advisor Emeritus Dan Desmond (he was also a Food and Society Policy Fellow, Class IV) and I co-authored an op-ed that appeared last Sunday (May 4th) in the Ventura County Star. Since then, it's been referenced in a few blogs. Here's the link, and I hope you'll read it. Gardening and the food system are big news these days, and there is certainly a political aspect to that. http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/may/04/food-will-win-the-war/ I recently returned from the Kellogg Food...... Sun, 11 May 2008 18:39:28 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=402&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=402 Crank back to Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, when Democratic strategist James Carville hung a sign in the campaign headquarters in Little Rock detailing the three key messages of Clinton's campaign. Point two read, "The economy, stupid." The phrase - meant to be an internal campaign slogan - caught on, and entered popular culture. That phrase might now read "It's the Food System, Stupid." Tonight I read a breaking CNN story on the worsening international...... Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:17:12 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=343&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=343 Recently, I had the privilege to work with two sixth grade classes taught by a gifted educator in Ventura Unified School District, Anne Morningstar. Ms. Morningstar is the best kind of teacher: one who teaches superbly by inspiring her students to develop a love of learning, to think outside the box, and to apply what they learn. In the words of more than one sixth-grader, "she rocks!" I agree. I spent some time discussing the concept of sustainable food systems with each class....... Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:24:20 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=318&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=318 This week's recall of 143 million pounds of beef (much of it destined for the nation's school lunch program) inspired today's blog. Originally, I was going to plug school gardens and farm-to-school as a way to improve the school food system. I began writing about Ventura Unified School District's Healthy Schools Program, but decided that topic deserves several blog entries in and of itself. (It's a marvelous program - a real national model. Because I live here in Ventura and see...... Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:44:20 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=280&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=280 The American Public Health Assocation (APHA) recently issued "Toward a Healthy, Sustainable Food System" (Policy Number: 200712). It provides an excellent summary of the state of America's food system and the public health implications of how we're currently operating. The APHA's report explicitly links issues relating to the food system with public health, which of course makes sense. The APHA also has some interesting recommendations. Among its many and sound recommendations, the...... Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:44:10 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=273&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=273 In 1994 or so, a wise 4-H Advisor named Dan Desmond started talking to me about using gardening as a youth and community development strategy. He provided research that supported some pretty awesome claims: that gardening could improve academic performance, positively affect nutrition, improve communities, increase civic engagement, etc., etc. I listened carefully and made some notes, because if you've met Dan, you know he's a brilliant, emminently sensible and persuasive guy. Crank forward...... Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:03:35 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=272&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed rmhaydensmith@ucdavis.edu(Rose Hayden-Smith) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=272