Discovery...After so Many Years

This was one of the murals in my dining room at 2120 Jena Street 2005 created by Michele Lambert

Grow...Show... Know

 Mustard Greens photoJHM ©10

 Brussel SproutsphotoJHM ©10

 Thai Basil photoJHM ©10

Okra Pods photoJHM ©10

I read in our local paper that the Lower 9th Ward's Sankofa Community Development Corporation announced the opening on November 20th,2011 of their Sankofa Farmers Market!  I strongly encourage people to support their effort since in the Lower 9th ward Community there is no supermarket & the pioneers who have come back to re-establish their homes in this community have to travel great distances for simple things we take for granted.

I see an irony for me as I am fortunate in the sense that I can leave my home & in 5-7 minutes can access 5 supermarkets and in 10 minutes the local Wal-Mart and yet 20 minutes away the residents of this community have to travel great distances for the aforementioned markets.

So as the adage goes: "If the mountain won't come to Muhammed, then Muhammed must go to the mountain".  I say way to go to this group in still yet another venture forth by creating this farmers market so the Lower Ninth Ward + their neighbors, Bywater, Arabi,Upper 9th Ward, St. Bernard Parish,Fabourg Marigny, & Treme + others could access fresh produce and other products locally grown.

I personally plan to support them with my dollars and volunteer in whatever way I can,some of which will mean traveling past the supermarkets I have easy access to and going downtown to do my part.

Kohl Rabi photo JHM ©10

About Sankofa Farmers Market: 

www.sankofafarmersmarket.org 

The Sankofa Farmers Market was developed in response to the requests of community members for access to fresh vegetables and fruits for sale at the market. You have asked for a farmers market where you can have direct access to home grown produce. The farmers market will operate every Saturday and will offer seasonal, nutritious produce and locally caught seafood. We will accept the EBT/SNAP benefit card, credit cards, debit cards, and cash. We hope to build a viable market for both vending and shopping to thrive with healthy nutritious food. 

This farmers market will be a year round outlet for local farmers and fishermen to vend their goods in accordance with state and national goals, as well as to provide a social outlet and neighborhood meeting place for families and seniors. We are working in peer partnership with marketumbrella.orgfor consultation with technical information, regular evaluation, and the appropriate market management trainings. We believe that adding EBT access, along with a strong marketing campaign and weekly retail outlet presence, will accomplish the following: increase fresh food accessibility to low-income customers, increase sales for our farmers and fishermen, increase economic and community development in the Lower Ninth Ward. 

The Sankofa Farmers Market will be the 2nd farmers market in the city to have EBT access. This market will also be the only farmers market, not only in the Lower Ninth Ward, but also in communities adjacent  to the neighborhoods, including the Upper Ninth Ward, Gentilly, Arabi and St. Bernard Parish.

If it is to be, it is up to me.~ Author Unknown 

I'm Walkin', Yes Indeed~Exploring the neighborhoods again...

Creole "cottage" on steroids :=) (above)
Creole cottage(above)

A couple of days ago I started back to walking albeit micro-walks in order to gain strength & endurance.

Each week I will add a couple of blocks on so I can get around the neighborhood while regaining strength. It is always delightful to see what my neighboirs (or their gardeners) are doing in their yards!


I double the block from yesterday and managed 4.4 blocks. I think for this week it is my set point. It was enough to bring me into a slight sweat & took me 15 minutes to complete, but that is good considering I am re-entering after convalescing. I live in a neighborhood that has lovely architecture & lots of interesting things to look at o I always have my trusty camera with me just in case.

I've have missed a number of things while being ill. I enjoyed being outside, feeling the sun, filling my eyes with a myraid of visuals & an occasionaly chat.

I am going at it slowly as I still have healing time in front of me, but doing it with my doctor's blessing.

Right in Your Own Yard

Old rusting fence...

I saw this as I was going up my steps & had to turn back to get it...

Good thing I shot this as the lawn man came today!

In my Neighbor's back yard...

Never know what you may stumble on walking down the street

Way to Grow: This is the Way & How You Do it...

http://www.noffn.org/


I am delighted to learn that this Thursday the New Orleans Food & Farm Network will be bringing a host of volunteers in to plant. I will have container gardens chocked full of herbs veggie, fruit and floweras to boot. I am delighted as it will be my 1st vegetable garden since I was a child although I have been growing flowers for the last few years. They have been providing immeasureable service to people as the city as been moving along toward being more green.

From their website:

"The New Orleans Food & Farm Network believes everyone should have access to fresh, healthy, and sustainably produced food for the long-term health of our environment, economy, and communities. We work with individuals, organizations, growers and communities to help make fresh, healthy food more accessible to everyone. We do this by:Celebrating and supporting "what's right" in our local food systemBringing people together to identify gaps in access to fresh foodsCreating, with our partners, neighborhood and city-wide food projects that fill those gaps for all members of the community.

Find out more about how we work through:
Advocacy & Networking

Building Good Food Neighborhoods

Educating & Supporting Our Communities"



New Orleans Food & Farm Network
P.O. Box 13185 New Orleans, LA 70185-3185
504-864-2009


We have mad community gardens all over the city with more popping up. And I am delighted to be able to choose what veggies, herbs & fruit I want. I will tend to it which the side benefit with be movement, burn calories & food that taste like food. Of course the artist in me will find a way to create some art on the containers to enhance the produce...

I like their proactive weigh of ensuring that all have equal access to safe & healthy food.

Check out their website and if you are not here, perhaps you can create it in your own neighborhood.

http://www.noffn.org/


I plan to with my extra food to donate it to a local food bank.

"Each one reach one, teach one"

Also from their website (Please pass it forward):

The Oil Spill and How You Can Help
"Dear Friends of NOFFN

NOFFN is helping provide volunteers to support those in the affected areas of the oil spill. We are committed to supporting the fishers, their families and all the residents of coastal Louisiana. Currently, NOFFN is providing volunteer support to Second Harvest to prepare food boxes for those in the affected area. The first boxes will be delivered today. We also strongly urge you to donate much needed food to Second Harvest in support of emergency food assistance. Sign up with Brendan at 504 864 2009 or brendan@noffn.org to be placed on our volunteer list. You will be notified as volunteer opportunities become available. Please consider a donation of food as well as your volunteer support. Every donation counts and you will make a difference! Please contact me at any time: 504 864 2009 ext 1 or daphne@noffn.org.


Annually, Second Harvest serves approximately 262,800 people, including 82,000 children and 40,000 seniors, through 235 nonprofit and faith-based agencies across 23 south Louisiana parishes. In any given week, nearly 42,000 people access emergency food services through Second Harvest Food Bank member agencies.This is a critical time for food donations. Second Harvest Food Bank is working to ensure that families along coastal Louisiana whose livelihood may be impacted by the devastating effects of the explosion and oil spill will not go hungry. Moreover, Second Harvest is preparing for the increased need for emergency food assistance during the summer months when families in need are faced with replacing meals for children who are out of school.

Suggested food donations include:
peanut butter
soups / stews
canned fruits / vegetables
canned meats (chicken, beef, ham)
tuna fish
chili
cereal
hot cereals (grits, oatmeal)
beans
juice
rice
pasta
shelf stable milk
water
juices
baby items
toiletries


Food donations may be delivered to Second Harvest Food Bank at 700 Edwards Avenue in the Elmwood warehouse district area, Monday through Friday from 8am – 3:30pm. Food donations may also be brought to local Rouses Supermarkets and placed in red collection barrels as part of the Rouses Stop Hunger Program.

Way to Grow!NOFFN!

Moving on Up(town)

What a way to kick off the new year but to move into my more permanent dwelling. I am delighted it will be in my old neighborhood. Ironically I am just 2 blocks away from the pink apartment building & the park that was featured in Brad Pitts' love tribute to New Orleans "The Curious Life & Times of Benjamin Button" in 2008. In fact, much of this eclectic neighborhood is in the movie.

It is a walking neighborhood & if you like architecture you will be in a smorgasbord of a neighborhood even Katrina could not completely bring it to its knees,(but came close).

My place turn 100 this year, but has a 2010 face lift where it counts. But I love the cypress floors,French doors, 2 non working fireplaces that has the original ceramic tiles eye lining the hearths.

And a humongous kitchen by creolized New Orleans standards. And because of modern reconstruction, lots of closets.

So now I will itch for spring so I can put in a floral, vegetable,herb garden in (again for New Orleans), a large back yard. I will also be implementing some of my garden art for an additional lagniappe since I will be starting my Burnt Toast salons, too, in the spring.

More on that later...

Oh am I, despite a less then ideal start when took a leap of face taking a home that did not measure up to safety & health basics, am I delghted to have brought it back home!

Now to get to work...