The Newsletter of

Volume 1, No. 3 Summer 2000 Gardening for Respect, Opportunity, and Wellness

People and Plants Both Need Sun and Water

On a recent night at the San Leandro Shelter, a dozen children between the ages of two and fourteen worked planting vegetable seeds in the garden. Before beginning they had been asked to think about the ways plants and people are similar: Pumpkins ripen in the fall; hardy greens, onions and broccoli are harvested all winter. Separate gardens contain herbs and flowers. Children are often the forgotten survivors of domestic violence. Children who witness violence are People and likely to plants both need display sun and water. emotional, physical, and People and developplants need to be mental protected when symptoms, theyre little. which can include: Sometimes aggression, theyre scared in withdrawal, This beautiful illustration was drawn by Ashley,an 8 year old resident of the new places. anxiety, San Leandro Shelter learning and They both grow. children work in the garden. cognitive delays, destruction Older children weed and of property, and suicidal At the San Leandro prune, younger children water, thoughts or actions. For one Shelter for Women and and everyone plants seeds. In in three boys, and one in five Children, Project GROW has the spring and summer, girls, these symptoms are focused on childrens children fill the beds with Continued on page 3 gardening and horticultural corn, strawberries, tomatoes, therapy. Because the shelter beans, lettuces, and radishes.
Edited by Jennifer Martin , Occidental College Community Food Security Project: An affiliate of the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute (UEPI). Illustrations by Joe Linton. For more information or to send in letters, articles, photos, drawings, calendar listings or other entries, call (831) 466-0755. Project GROW is sponsored by the California Department of Health Services.

is urban with an asphalt backyard community volunteers built raised beds to supplement the small inground garden that already existed. Once a week,

Agencies:
Center for Community Solutions
Off-Site Garden Liz Porras 858-272-5777 (Ext. 34)-message 619-697-7477 (Liz)

Ocean Park Community Center

Horticultural Therapy Pat Butler 310-264-6645

Plumas Rural Sevices

Off-Site Garden Tina Wood 530-283-5675

The Occidental College Community Food Security Project (TAT-EC Consultants):

Susan Stuart Program Manager sstuart@cruzio.com (831) 466-0755-phone/fax Michelle Mascarenhas Director, CFS Project mm@oxy.edu (323) 259-2633-phone (323) 259-2734 -fax Robert Gottlieb Co-Director of UEPI gottlieb@oxy.edu (323) 259-2712-phone Kate Stafford Horticultural Therapy Consultant (831) 335-3250-phone katecougar@aol.com Marilyn Prehm Evaluation Consultant (916) 973-9567

Department of Health ServicesDomestic Violence Section :

Kathony Jerauld Program Consultant (916) 653-4691- phone (916) 653-2125 - fax Amy Blandford Contract Manager (916) 654-9945-phone (916) 653-8655 - fax Zipora Weinbaum Research Specialist (916) 657-3921-phone

Community Resource Center

Garden-to-Table Nutrition Education Traci Chester 760-942-5485

San Leandro Shelter for Women and Children

Horticultural Therapy Katharine Noel 510-297-6906 (2#)

Rural Human Services

Off-Site Garden/Moms & Kids Cook and Learn Claudia Frances 707-465-3013

South Bay Community Services

Job Training Joan Pelkey 619-420-5094

Blue Shield:
Marianne Balin Public Affairs Specialist (415) 229-5861-phone (415) 229-5070- fax

Kings Community Action Organization

Moms & Kids Cook and Learn Juanita Galaviz 559-582-4386 Marianne Maciel 559-583-1229

Interval House
Garden-to-Table Nutrition Education Christine Delabre and Lydia Hychong 562-594-9492

On the Web:
www.uepi.oxy.edu Please send comments or suggestions to mm@oxy. edu

A Focus on Children
San Leandro Feature1, 3 Tips for Parents Cooking with Children.......7 Project GROW Contact Information...2 The Benefits of Calcium..8 Companion Planting & Fresh From the Garden Recipes...9 Tips for Gardeners Working With Kids..4 Activity Pages Just for Kids .10, 11 San Francisco Bay Area Resources.5

Calendar of Events.....12
Cooking With Kids..6

Continued from page 1 finishing a first. Many of the children severe enough to qualify for a become deeply involved in watching significant mental health intervention. the plants development and are proud Moreover, the risk of neglect, physical of their own participation in creating abuse, or emotional abuse is 15 times the garden. greater for a child whose parents have a In spring of this year, Project violent relationship than for other GROW funding allowed the shelter to children; the risk for sexual abuse is 6.5 add a once-a-week Good Food Night times greater. When Children arrive at to the childrens schedule. Using fresh domestic violence safe houses, they are produce from the garden or farmers likely not only to have traumatic market, children make healthy snacks histories, but also to have difficulties while learning about nutrition. On two adjusting to the new environment. recent Good Food Nights, children Frequently, it is hard for children to made fresh salsa as part of a Cinco de understand why they have moved. Mayo celebration, and made all five Gardening is one way the San Leandro food group sandwiches. Shelter helps children deal with being In July, the shelter expanded, in crisis. opening a The second therapeutic location. benefits of Volunteers working with spent nine plants are hours in the diverse. The new back sense of being yard, rot responsible for tilling soil, part of the digging out garden gives stumps, and children a carting debris connection to to the dump. their new Gardening Raised beds save a lot of space in San Leandro. home. Nurturing plants, learning new continues at the first site and has just skills, and passing on skills to other begun at the second: on the Fourth of children provide chances to assume July, staff and children celebrated new esteem-building roles. Talking Independence Day by planting the new about the needs of plants can be a non- gardens first seeds. I think these threatening way to talk about personal seeds are happy, said one four-year old emotions and experiences. Even the girl, They have a new home now. simple act of working with ones hands Were taking care of them. can be therapeutic. Sometimes staff will collaborate with an angry or upset Author: Katherine Noel, 2000 child on a challenging project, such as turning over hard soil or pulling entrenched weeds. The physical labor, cooperative approach, and sense of accomplishment can calm and focus the child. Often, a child who was initially resistant will ask for more projects after

Children are often the forgotten survivors of domestic violence.

Gardening is one way the San Leandro Shelter helps children deal with being in crisis.

The sense of being responsible for part of the garden gives children a connection to their new home.

Companion Planting
Planting a diverse mix of plants in your garden can not only be beautiful, but beneficial too. Planting certain plants with others, can help (or hinder) their growth and health. Companions help each other grow- Tall plants, for example, provide shade for sunsensitive shorter plants. (For example: pair corn and cucumbers) Companions use garden space efficiently- Vining plants cover the ground, upright plants grow up. Two crops in one patch. (For example: pair sunflowers and melons) Companions prevent pest problems Some plants repel pests. Other plants can lure pests away from the edible crop plants. (For example: onions are effective repellents to many pests) Companions attract beneficial insects- Every successful garden needs plants that attract the predators of pests, such as ladybugs and praying mantis. (For example: cabbage is a good home for ladybugs, which eat aphids, but do not harm the plant) Some good plant partnerships are: a Roses and Garlic Gardeners have been planting these two together for eons. Garlic is said to repel rose pests. a Tomatoes and Cabbage- Tomatoes are repellent to diamondback moth larvae, which are caterpillars that chew large holes in cabbage. a Cucumbers and Nasturtiums- The nasturtiums vining stems make them a great companion rambling among the cucumbers and providing a habitat for predatory insects. a Radishes and Spinach- Radishes attract leafminers away from the spinach. The damage that the leafminers do to radish leaves doesnt prevent the radishes from growing nicely underground.
Adapted from www.organicgardening.com and Louise Riotte, Carrots Love Tomatoes

Collards, kale, leaf lettuce, mustard, spinach, radishes, turnips, and bok choy are all good choices for your fall garden.
-From www.bright.net

Fall Planting

* A picture is worth a thousand words. Never tell

Tips for Gardeners Working With Kids

When Leafy onion tops wither, bend them to the ground and let the bulbs cure. Three weeks later, lift the bulbs and remove the tops.
-From Sunset Magazine, August 1999

Onion Harvest

kids something that you can show them. * Young Kids have a very short attention span. Make sure that you have lots of options available so they can get started immediately and stay busy. Digging holes is one thing that seems to hold endless fascination. * Instant gratification helps a lot. Plant radishes they come up in three or four days. * Growing their own vegetables will generally get kids to try eating things they otherwise wouldnt walk into the same room with.
From - aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu

The Aloe Vera plant is known as natures own medicine plant. Easy to grow in Californias warm climate, the Aloe Vera plant is hardy, both indoors and out. The clear gel contained in the leaf makes an excellent treatment for minor surface wounds, burns, and other skin irritations. By placing a protective coat over the affected area, speeding up the rate of healing, as well as reducing the risk of infection and scarring, the Aloe Vera plant provides soothing relief. To treat a minor wound with the plant, simply cut off a leaf, slice it down the center, so that the gel can ooze out, and gently rub it on the affected area.
-Adapted from Louise Riotte, Carrots Love Tomatoes

Aloe Vera

One simple way to control weeds, is to remove their buds before they flower. This quick step helps to stop to stop the spread of their seeds.

Weeds!

It is estimated that only 1% of insects are actually pests. Some insects that you should welcome into your garden are: Ladybugs - eat aphids, white flies, and other soft bodied insects. Praying Mantis - eat mosquitoes, flies, scale, grasshoppers, Japanese beetles, and other pests Spiders - which eat crickets, flies, moths, and many other small pests Earthworms - aerate the soil around your plants and break down organic matter in the soil to provide nutrients for your plants. Bees - pollinate flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

Bee Nice to Bugs!

San Francisco Bay Area Resources For Gardening and Nutrition Information
WIC Program American Red Cross 1 (888) 942-9675 (toll free in state) San Francisco Community Health Network (415) 206-2300 CA Native Plant Society East Bay Chapter (510) 464-4977 Strybing Botanical Gardens Golden Gate Park (415) 661-1316 UC Berkely Botanical Gardens (510) 548-2570 Mothers and Others for a Livable Planet Center for Urban Education About (415)433-0859 Sustainable Agriculture (415)353-5650 Pachamama Garden Program Mujeres Unidas y Activas Berkeley Youth Alternatives Garden (415)621-8140 Patch (510)849-1402 Berkeley Community Gardening Collaborative Berkeley Food Systems Project (510)883-9096 (510)548-8838 San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners (415)285-7584 American Community Gardening Association POB 9325 Berkeley, CA 94709 Center for Ecoliteracy

A Public School Lunch and Education Program

Cooking With Kids is an experimental food education program that supports positive change in the Santa Fe Public Schools Child Nutrition Program by providing culturally diverse foods that are healthy and appealing. When children eat well, they are prepared to learn. As they become educated, they are more likely to make positive food choices. Cooking With Kids uses interdisciplinary hands-on methods to increase acceptance of nutritious foods, modeling healthy food choices in elementary school classrooms and in school dining rooms. The goals of Cooking With Kids include: (1) Providing an effective means for children to learn healthy food habits, and to acquire practical skills that will benefit children and families. (2) Improving the appeal and nutritive value of school meals that children will eat; (3) Providing children in the public schools with multi-cultural food education that is integral to the curriculum, including teaching math, geography, agriculture, art, music, and social studies. (4) Providing children with an opportunity to learn about the people of other cultures, while they are learning to work cooperatively.

Cooking With Kids

Editors Note: The cooking with kids program is a shining example of nutrition education, which should not stop inside the classroom. We have included it here as a model for Project GROW agencies, as they build their programs for families with children.

Integrating Food into the School Curriculum

I recently saw a print by Edward Gonzales entitled How my Father Learned to Read. It depicts a warm kitchen scene: a mother cooking tortillas over a beautifully ornate wood stove, while a young boy sits beside the stove comfortably intent upon reading. Food nourishes the body, the mind, and the spirit. In all of human history, food has provided a means of communicating love and caring within the context of the richness of culture. There are growing numbers of educators in our school who recognize the value of food and nutrition education. Santa Fe Principal Bill Beacham has written, Nutrition education ensures, through integrated language arts activities, that a variety of foods are sampled, and knowledge of good nutrition accompanies that experience. Encouraging, but not forcing, children to taste new foods is one simple way to integrate healthy foods into school curriculum. The benefits can be manifold. Food tastings and/or cooking offers opportunities for children to learn math, social studies, and language arts skills required by state performance standards. One kindergarten teacher commented that the monolingual Spanish speaking students in her class have show marked oral language development in response to working with food. Farmers and farmers markets are a valuable cultural community resource, providing local context of current and past agricultural practices. Presentations by farmers offer students insight into the science and art of growing food. Student field trips to local farms offer students the opportunity to participate in real scientific observation. Such field trips can inspire further study. Farmers, chefs, and parents can assist in providing food education for children in our schools. Upon tasting a new delight, one girl commented, There is joy in my mouth now! The following tasting activity takes advantage of the diversity of locally grown apples. Tomatoes, melons, and salad greens are easily sampled using a similar format. Tasting Supplies Six each of four varieties of apples (twenty-four apples). Farmers markets are a wonderful resource. Include Red Delicious as one variety, since this apple will most likely be familiar to most of the students. Twelve plates Writing paper and markers 1 Sharp knife Cutting board Napkins Instructions 1. Wash the apples and everyones hands.
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7 each student gets one slice. of eating apples. Describe Divide the class into three groups. Ask the class to observe and something new that you 1. Apple taste each apple together. Take learned about apples to day. 2. Give each group four plates. turns describing how each apDiscussion Questions: How Put two apples of each variety ple looks, smells, tastes, many students have an apple on one of the four plates in sounds, etc. Write these comtree in their yard or in their each group. (There will be ments on individual sheets of neighborhood? Why is it that three plates of each variety for paper or on the blackboard. some years the trees bear a total of twelve plates.) Repeat this process until only many apples and some years 3. Label each plate of apples with the whole apples remain. there are very few? You can the name of the variety. 6. Cut one of the remaining count the seeds in an apple, but 4. Cut one of the apples on each whole apples in half crosscan you count the apples in a plate into enough slices for the ways. Look at the star and tell seed? group (eight to ten). Put the the story of the house with no 8. Share the remaining apples slices back on the plate with windows and no doors. with someone in your school the whole apple of the same 7. Ask the students to draw or or community variety. While the apples are write about this experience. being cut ask a student to pass Courtesy of Author: Lynn Walters, How many varieties of apples out the napkins. 2000 can you name? Write a poem Santa Fe, New Mexico 5. One variety at a time, pass about apples. Write about or around the apple slices so that draw pictures of favorite ways

Tips for Cooking with Children

Cooking with children can be a very rewarding experience for all. Here are a few helpful hints: 1. Before inviting a child into the kitchen to help, prepare a list of tasks that they can do with minimal assistance. Some examples are: measuring ingredients, pouring measured ingredients, stirring, retrieving items from the cupboard, washing fruits and vegetables, etc. You should decide what is best for the childs ability level. 2. Be patient. Children are highly enthusiastic and sometimes carelessmistakes will happen. The best thing that you can do, is to turn these mishaps into learning opportunities 3. Expect a mess. Cooking wouldnt be fun without it! Make clean-up a joint effort so that the child understands that messes should not be left for others to clean. 4. Have FUN! Children are very excited to create and discover, take this opportunity to remember the magic of cooking as a child.
By: Jennifer Martin, 2000

Libros Deliciosos
(Delicious Books) These are some wonderful childrens books in Spanish and Spanish/English which tell beautiful tales revolving around gardens and nutrition. We hope that you enjoy these hearty treats for the mind and soul. A Sembrar Sopa de Verduras, (To Sow a Vegetable Soup) by Lois Ehlert, Libros Viajeros, Harcourt Brace & Company, 1987. (Spanish) Carlos y la Milpa de Maiz, (Carlos and the Cornfield) by Jan Romero Stevens and Jeanne Arnold. Northland Publishing, 1995. (English & Spanish) Los Pajaros de la Cosecha, (The Harvest Birds) by Blanca Lopez de Mariscal and Enrique Flores. Childrens Book Press,1995. (English & Spanish)

Many Thanks to Kate Stafford for these wonderful reccomendations!

Both Children and Adults Can Reap the Rewards of a Diet Rich in Calcium
Calcium is critical for the development and maintenance of strong bones and teeth in both women and children. How much calcium do my children and I need? Children and adults of all ages have different calcium needs. Age Daily Recommended Amount of Calcium (Milligrams) 0-6 Months 210 7-12 Months 270 1-3 Years 500 4-8 Years 800 9-18 Years 1300 19-50 1000 50+ Years 1200 Pregnant:<18Years 1300 Pregnant:19+Years 1000 Why do children need to consume more calcium than adults? Children need to consume such large amounts of calcium due to the fact that their bones are in the process of growing. If children receive sufficient amounts of calcium as they are developing their bones, they will be less susceptible to the bone weakening effects of osteoporosis as adults. I drank a lot of milk as a child. Does that mean that I no longer need to worry about my calcium intake? Even adults who have strong bones due to consuming sufficient amounts of calcium during their childhood need to be concerned about their calcium intake. As a child, the goal is to build strong bones; as an adult, the goal is to take care of those bones. What should I eat to provide my body with enough calcium each day? Even though milk and other dairy products are the most well known sources of calcium, many other foods, such as vegetables and bread products can serve as excellent sources of calcium. Many products, such as juice, cereal bars, and breakfast cereal, are also available calcium fortified, and can be used to supplement your daily intake.

Calcium Sources
Collards, 1 cup Milk (skim and low fat), 1 cup Dried figs, 10 figs Tofu set with calcium, cup Yogurt, 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, 1 oz Canned salmon with bones, 3 oz Turnips, cup Broccoli, 1 cup English Muffin, 1 Sweet Potato, 1 cup Celery, 1 cup Green Beans, 1 cup Kidney Beans, 1 cup Corn Tortilla, 1 Naval Orange, 1 medium Raisins, 2/3 cup Wheat Bread, 1 slice 348 300 269 258 250 183 181 125 94 92 70 64 58 50 42 56 53 18

-Sources: Institute of Medicine - Dietary Reference Intakes, 1999 and the Mayo Clinic Health Letter, May 1995.

Recipes
Super Carrot and Raisin Salad
cup of plain nonfat yogurt 1 tablespoons of honey 1 tablespoon of lemon juice teaspoon of cinnamon 2 cups of shredded carrots cup of raisins cup of pineapple crushed In a serving bowl, combine yogurt, honey, lemon juice, and cinnamon into a smooth dressing. Add carrots, raisins, and pineapple to dressing. Stir gently, making sure to coat everything thoroughly. Cover and chill for a minimum of 15 minutes. Toss again before serving and drain away liquid. Adapted from www.fatfree.com

Garden Fresh!

Fresh Salsa
Two cups of vine ripened tomatoes chopped 1 cup of purple or sweet onions finely chopped 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar Chopped jalapenos to taste (the more you add the hotter it gets) 1 clove of garlic finely minced 2 tablespoons of fresh cilantro 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper Dash of salt Place all ingredients in a serving bowl, stir gently, then chill for 1 hour. Enjoy! Adapted from www.fatfree.com

Super Smoothie
1 very ripe banana peeled and frozen 1 cup of your favorite fruit cut into chunks 1/4 cup of nonfat plain yogurt 1/4 cup of tofu Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Drink immediately. Adapted from www.fatfree.com

The great summer and fall fruits and vegetables that are growing in your garden can be used in many creative ways in the kitchen. Two of the three recipes we have featured here, include carrots, lemons, tomatoes, and onions, all of which are in season during the late summer and/ or early fall. The third recipe can be adapted to include any seasonal fruit that you prefer. We recommend that you cook in season, using produce from your garden as often as possible. This ensures that your fruits and vegetables are fresh and at the peak of their nutritive value. In addition to the nutritional benefits, it is also very cost- effective to cook straight from your garden.

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Make a Batch of Compost!

Compost is a great way to help the plants in your garden grow! It provides them with the nutrients they need to grow and be healthy. Compost Recipe: 4 part dried leaves 4 part green lawn clippings 1 part soil 1 part kitchen scraps (plant based onlyno meat or dairy) Out in your garden, find a small area (about 1 square yard) that is not near a door or a window (compost can be smelly), to begin your compost heap. First frame the area with scraps of wood to help define the heaps boundaries. Now add the compost recipe in layers sprinkling the heap with water after each layer. First the soil, then the dried leaves, next the grass clippings and kitchen scraps. Repeat the layers. You can add new kitchen scraps as the heap is composting. Approximately once a week, sprinkle the heap with water and toss it with a shovel or hoe. After a few months you will have rich, dark compost to spread around the base of the plants in your garden. *Composting bins are also available at your local hardware store for a variety of prices. -Advised by Alicia DeSoto-Foley

Activities
Did you know that A single strawberr y can have up to 20 0 seeds on it! Thats Berry Am azing!

Kids: color these delicious strawberries!

Make a Scarecrow
A scarecrow will help to scare away pesky birds who like to feast on the vegetables and fruits in your garden. Have an adult help you to hammer two narrow boards in a cross shape, this will be the stand for your scarecrow. Use some old clothes (pants, shirt, shoes, mittens, hat, etc.) to make the body. These can be stuffed full of dried leaves, straw, or old rags, and tied off at the ends with rubber bands or twine. The head can be made of an old t-shirt, stuffed and tied off. You can use your imagination to decorate your scarecrow any way that you want. Some ideas for materials to use are: buttons, paint, beads, bottle caps, feathers, small stones, and sticks - These can be attached with glue. Once you have finished decorating, arrange the body parts on the stand you created earlier with the boards and have an adult help you to nail them on. Now its time to display your scarecrow in your garden by pushing the bottom of his stand into the ground until it stands steadily on its own.

Just-4-Kids JustMilk, Yogurt, and Cheese Group 2-3 servings

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Fats, Oils, and Sweets Use Sparingly

Kids mor : Can y e fit in types o ou draw the p to each f food th yram grou a p on t id?

Meat, Poultry, Fish, Beans, Eggs, and Nuts Group 2-4 servings

Vegetable Group 3-6 Servings

Fruit Group 2-3 Servings

Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta Group 6-11 Servings

Hey kids! This is the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. It is a model that shows us how much food and what kind of food we should eat each day for good health.
Remember: Everybody has a different body. An adult eats more than you do, but a baby eats less than : you. Most kids need to eat the number of servings in the middle of each range. Kids: Color these vegetables. Do you grow any of these vegetables in your garden where you live or go to school?

September 7-11 21 st Annual American Community Gardening Association Conference (Atlanta, GA) information visit http:// For communitygarden.org September 9, 14, & 30 and October 10 Childrens Gardening workshops offered by UC Davis For information call 530) 752-7655 ( September 11 -13 Project GROW Annual Meeting SAVE THIS DATE! September 14 Los Angeles California Adolescent Nutr ition & Fitness Conference (CANFIT) October 6, 7, & 8 Taking Back Our Food, Farms, and Playgrounds A conference for the interlocking issues of pesticide reform, environmental health, genetic engineering, and co rporate influence on agriculture For information call (888) 277 -4880, or visit http://www.panna.org/octConf.html October 14-16 Growing Through Knowledge Western Regional Master Gardener Conference 2000 (Mesa, AZ)For inform ation call (602) 470-1556 x1017, or visit http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/calander/mg2000.htm October 29-31 Community Food Security Coalition Conference (Santa Fe, NM)For information call (310) 822 -5410, or visit http://www.foodsecurity.org

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Occidental College c/o PPERC 1600 Campus Road Los Angeles, CA 90041