[ShareTompkins] Spring, Pesto CSA, field trips, new staff, maple syrup in schools & more!

Wed Apr 30 23:03:40 UTC 2014

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http://us3.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=1268f0c8d8&e=caf1159c2a
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** A project of the Center for Transformative Action (http://woodsearth.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=2fa197a5ad&e=caf1159c2a) :

Wood's Earth Living Classroom
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Our Mission: Engaging youth and commnuity to grow and source fresh, local produce for school food.

Our four programs include School Food production, Community Gardens, the Living Classroom, and the farm to School Program.

We grow organic crops throughout the growing season for district-wide school lunches, fresh elementary school snacks, and other school food programs. Field trip groups, interns, teen workers and volunteers make up our crew.

** Community Gardens:
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We offer garden plots (http://woodsearth.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=091685d76c&e=caf1159c2a) of varying sizes! Several things included in the price of the plot are drip irrigation, usage of available tools, and various composts and mulches. You have have the choice to decide how big your plot is! Plots sizes come in 250 square foot increments.

Discounts!
There is a 20% discount of plots of over 1,000 square feet in size, which is great for groups!

** Join Our Pesto CSA!
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Bulk basil and garlic throughout the summer!
Love the idea of pesto in your freezer, ready to pop into meals all winter and spring? Just need a bulk source of basil to inspire that date with the food processor (plus some fresh garlic to give it that zest)?

Pesto CSA members enjoy 1 large grocery bag of bulk basil leaves and 1 head of garlic every two weeks, July through August, for a total of 4 shares. This allows you to spread out your pesto processing sessions throughout the summer.

Purchase your Pesto CSA share using this secure online payment site (http://woodsearth.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=248e53100c&e=caf1159c2a) . Or get in touch to pay cash or check - woodsearthclass at gmail.com.

Convenient pick up locations:
(1) downtown at the Just Be Cause Center, 1013 W. State Street, OR
(2) At the farm on Rt. 327 off Rt. 13 South from Ithaca

All proceeds support our nonprofit farm-to-school organization.

Our basil is also used in school meals and snacks - Our summer team processes and freezes gallons of pesto the district's central kitchen for use in school lunches all year!

** Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe:
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* Combine these ingredients (or your own variation) in a food processor, until chunky or smooth, as you like it:
* 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
* 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
* 3 medium sized garlic cloves, minced
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
* [1/3- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese]
* [1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts]
* [1 teaspoon lemon juice]
* FREEZE in ice cube tray, then pop out cubes into a freezer bag. Throw cubes into pasta or veggies at the last minute of cooking; serve over baked potatoes; or thaw cubes in the fridge for a sandwich spread all year long.
* Makes one cup.

** Sponsors and Funders:
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Business Sponsors:
Mama Goose (http://woodsearth.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=1f61b94b8b&e=caf1159c2a)

Red Feet Wine Market (http://woodsearth.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=e50af38fbb&e=caf1159c2a)

The Drain Brain (http://woodsearth.us3.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=4c481b4ba7&e=caf1159c2a)

Major Funders

Tompkins Charitable Gift Fund (http://woodsearth.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=8ffc244a0d&e=caf1159c2a)

Park Foundation (http://woodsearth.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=e81c00d814&e=caf1159c2a)

Sustainable Tompkins (http://woodsearth.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=1541c38615&e=caf1159c2a)

Community Foundation of Tompkins County (http://woodsearth.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=011d287116&e=caf1159c2a)

Nutritional Wellness Center (http://woodsearth.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=d3ab7df61d&e=caf1159c2a)

** The Growing Season is Here!
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Phew, it's been a busy couple of months. Starting seeds in the greenhouse, preparing the soil for planting, hauling compost, planting seedlings and seeds, and welcoming field trip and volunteer groups to the farm for hands-on learning about school food and organic farming. Hundreds of pac choi, kale, and romaine lettuce seedlings are in

**
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the ground at the farm along with carrot seeds, and hundreds of basil and tomato seedlings are growing strong in the warm and toasty TST Boces greenhouse.

Thank you to the TST Boces Career and Tech Center for letting us use their greenhouse and helping us take care of our little seedlings!
TST Boces runs a fantastic plant sale every year, with veggies, flowers, annuals and perennials - Check it out Sat. May 3rd, 9a-12p, and May 5th-9th Mon-Fri from 8a-3p - 555 Warren Road. See our Community Partner Spotlight below.

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Welcome two new staff members
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Wood's Earth is beyond thrilled to welcome two new members to our staff - Sarah Kelsen, Farm Manager and Liz Coakley, Operations Manager!

Sarah Kelsen has worked with organic vegetable production on small-scale, farmily-run CSA farms throughout New York and Maryland. In addition to CSA production, she has developed and implemented an annual plan for all related aspects of school food production in collaboration with school cafeteria staff at New Roots Charter School. In conjunction with school food production, Sarah has developed a seasonal curriculum for the engagement of diverse youth in various aspects of the Regional Food System, primarily through hands-on experiential education, in collaboration with community partners. As a Regional Organizer of a dynamic and multi-faceted statewide nonprofit, Sarah excels at creating and leading community outreach, education, and capacity building programs and events focused on the critical importance of healthy local food, fresh water, clean air, and thriving communities. Sarah's experience with ecological design and permaculture bring a balanced approach to sustainable
production on our farm.

Liz Coakley has been farming in the Ithaca area since 2005, always with an eye on local food justice initiatives. In 2010, Liz leased land land in Nova Scotia, Canada, and ran a one-acre market garden. In 2012, she was able to use much of what she learned in Canada to grow a variety of crops for a small collaborative enterprise with Good Life Farm in Ithaca. Liz is focused on efficient food production at Wood's Earth and the soil maintenance, farm supplies, equipment needs, and infrastructure necessary to make it all happen sustainably and productively. Liz loves working on a farm that engages a diverse community of youth and adult volunteers for labor and learning, and markets to a diverse community of students and teachers for the consumption of healthy and locally grown food. During the past year Liz has farmed only part-time in order to learn carpentry skills and build her own "tiny home" with the help of the Carpentry for Women initiative.

** Radio Spot
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Audrey Baker, co-founder and director at Wood's Earth, was recently interviewed on the local radio program Talk of the Town, hosted by WVBR. Listen to the podcast here (http://woodsearth.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=d5b095190a&e=caf1159c2a) . Award-winning Talk of the Town host Juliana Garcia says, "Audrey has a lot of stimulating ideas and commentary about our current food system. She also gave us info about what Wood's Earth is doing to help educate and improve the choices we make about our food."

** Field Trip Menu
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Are you an educator in the Ithaca area? Consider taking a field trip out to Wood's Earth this Spring or Fall.  We welcome all age groups and tailor to your group's needs.

Our field trip menu offers hands-on, curriculum-based learning experiences for classrooms interested in exploratory learning of the food system - especially through the lens of our school food system.

Learn to Grow: School Food
May-June, 1st grade & UP

Farm Salad & The Food System
May-June; Sept.-Oct, 1st grade & UP

What's for Lunch? Cafeteria Harvest
June; Sept.-Oct, 3rd grade & UP

Check out more details on our website (http://woodsearth.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=307e197fb0&e=caf1159c2a) , and contact us at woodsearthclass at gmail.com to schedule a visit.

We also offer Buddy Up (http://woodsearth.us3.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=a9a295fae1&e=caf1159c2a)  field trips for elementary school classrooms in Ithaca City Schools, funded by the Ithaca Education Initiative.

Wood’s Earth is located on Route 327, just off Route 13 South in the Town of Ithaca, across from Lower Robert Treman State Park. Our learning farm grows food for school district meals and snacks on 2 acres, on a sunny field with beautiful views tucked in among the trees.

** Farm to School Spotlight
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Pure local maple syrup has made its way into the Ithaca City School District! Guernseyhill Maple Farm in Pottersville, Pa - just an hour away from Ithaca - delivered the first 5 gallons of syrup to the district's central kitchen this week. Wood's Earth's Farm to School Hub program facilitated and brokered the sale for the Child Nutrition Program.

The syrup will be used most for Maple Mustard Vinaigrette, a new recipe from the Cool School Food Program, Ithaca, of the NY Coalition for Healthy School Food. This salad dressing recipe, along with a few other delicious, health-focused, plant-based dressings to be taste-tested (and named by students!) in May in the middle schools and high school, will be used to replace traditionally procured dressings in the district.

The salad dressing and all Cool School Food recipes are created and menued as a collaboration with Moosewood Restaurant and the Ithaca City School District. Cayuga Pure Organics and Wood's Earth are farm-to-school partners. Wood's Earth is growing basil and chives for other dressings like basil vinaigrette!

** Community Partner Spotlight
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TST Boces is a local organization that focuses on a lot of different things. Educator Tina Sevola operates a Supervised Work Experience Program with a greenhouse program and Snack Shack. Tina is feature in a great article about the program - check it out here (http://woodsearth.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b32e109ba1caab34201757c79&id=d725a5f9a7&e=caf1159c2a) . Tina has been kind enough to give us space in the greenhouse each spring and help us care for our seedlings.

TST Boces also has an adult education program that helps adults prepare for college or another career, or to receive a GED. They also have a Career and Tech Center that helps high school students from Tompkins, Seneca, and Tioga counties learn valuable skills pertaining to many different professions, they organize the state testing for this area, and even more beyond that.

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Copyright © 2014 Wood's Earth, All rights reserved.
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Wood's Earth
1013 W. State St, Ithaca, NY, United States
Ithaca, NY 14850
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