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The Evangelists for Heirloom Vegetables


Sasha, Emilee and Jere Gettle at the recently revived Comstock, Ferre & Company seed business in Wethersfield, Conn. Photo by David La Spina for The New York Times.

“Let’s rock the food supply in 2010!”

By Christine Muhle
New York Times
August 11, 2010

Excerpt:

Seed catalogs are what sustain most gardeners in the pit of winter, the pictures of bright blooms and fleshy melons stoking their fantasies. When my mother-in-law sent me the beautiful Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds catalog in February, it reanimated me, but it befuddled me too. There was an “olde tyme” painting of a melon on the cover, while the editor’s letter — “Let’s rock the food supply in 2010!” it implored — showed an attractive young family whose father has a thing for overalls and loud shirts. What followed was the cutting edge of heirloom seeds: 1,400 varieties from 70 countries, including vegetables yet to appear in any canvas market bag.

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August 15, 2010   1 Comment

Garden thrives at homeless shelter – Honolulu, Hawaii


About 75 volunteers helped spruce up the Institute for Human Services men’s and women’s shelters in Iwilei yesterday, planting gardens as part of the organization’s urban farming initiative. Volunteer Kendra Neipp helped Autumn Ingalls, 2, left, and Gwyneth Landau, 7, plant beets. Photo by Bruce Asato.

Volunteers help spruce up the IHS facility in Iwilei to celebrate its Founder’s Day

By Rob Shikina
Honolulu Star Advertiser
Aug 15, 2010

Excerpt:

A homeless shelter has become a garden in the city.

Community members planted malabar spinach, papaya trees, grape tomatoes, banana trees, corn, Okinawan and regular sweet potatoes, and various herbs yesterday as the Institute for Human Services celebrated its Founder’s Day. The event drew about 75 volunteers from the shelter and community to spruce up the men’s and women’s shelters in Iwilei.

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August 15, 2010   No Comments

Pizzeria’s herb wall grows basil, oregano and thyme

Green Pizza by Cer Té

Crafted by Kari Elwell Katzander of Mingo Design, this pizzeria’s herb wall spans 2 x 8 feet and grows basil, oregano and thyme, which are used in the restaurant’s dishes. Pizza by Cer té is also Manhattan’s first “green” pizzeria, using locally grown ingredients, recyclable boxes and biodegradable utensils.

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August 15, 2010   No Comments