Cascadian Farm Organic Goodness

Gardening is a therapeutic past time. The fresh air and sunshine; the time spent focusing on the well-being of another living thing (that never talks back). It can be exhausting but it is always satisfying. Unfortunately, not everyone has a piece of land or even a balcony where they can have a garden. That's where community gardens come in. Community gardens allow groups of people to come together and grow plants and vegetables on a plot of land that is not being used. A community garden benefits the gardeners as well as the community in a variety of ways. Community gardens have been shown to have psychological benefits, provide food at a low cost, beautify urban areas, bring neighbors together and reduce crime! (Source: Surls, UCCE)

Some community gardens are in vacant lots, others on school or government grounds. Most gardens have at least 15 plots to which gardeners are assigned. There is typically a small fee to cover water and other miscellaneous expenses. Each gardener is responsible for the care of their own plants as they would be in their own yard. Some community gardens also have rest areas where neighbors can take a break and get to know each other, while other gardens include a children’s garden and/or play area.

If you are interested in being a part of a community garden you can visit the American Community Gardening Association's website to search for gardens in your area. If there are none, the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources has a fantasticCommunity Garden Start-Up Guide that thoroughly outlines how to start one. It requires a bit of work but can be an amazing asset to your community. Whether in your community or in your yard - get out there and grow!

Photo Credit: “The Gardens Community Garden, Haringey” by Department for Communities and Local Government

It's grilling season, and we're breaking out the grill for the upcoming weekend.  However, this season I've been excited to try on a few less typical barbecue flavors on.  With the recent addition in my life of naan and pitas, Indian foods and flavors, traditionally baked in extremely hot tandoor ovens are a natural first step. 

A slew of strong spices come together and are mixed with yogurt to produce a strong spice and keep this skinless grilled chicken dish moist and full of flavor.  We serve ours on a bed of grilled fresh green beans, straight from the garden and alongside steamed rice or homemade naan.

Grilled Tandoori Chicken

1 whole fryer chicken cut into pieces or 4-6 pieces bone-in chicken with the skin removed
3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 lemon, juiced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
1 dry red chili, crushed

1 tablespoon sweet paprika
3 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons turmeric
2 teaspoons coriander
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns, crushed
3 tablespoons olive oil

Heat grill to medium-high heat. Place chicken pieces in a shallow bowl or dish and prick the flesh with a fork on both sides. In a separate bowl mix together the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger and all of the dry spices into a thick marinade. Pour marinade over chicken and spread to coat both sides. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes.

Place the chicken on the grill and cook over a medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Brush with olive oil before flipping. Continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes, flipping one more time before pulling off the grill. Juices should run clear.

Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with grilled or steamed vegetables and naan.

Makes 4 - 6 servings. 

Photo by Shaina Olmanson

Recycling is a simple way for consumers to help the environment by taking a product that has reached the end of its useful life and transforming it into another product. Recycling helps to preserve valuable resources, and is essential for the health of our environment and communities.

Many of you are probably already utilizing curbside recycling bins for household paper, glass, aluminum, and plastic recycling. However, recycling goes well beyond the curb—there are recycling services available for an array of other common household products, from electronics and prescriptions to automotive parts and hazardous waste.

Read on to learn how to find recycling facilities in your area for products that you aren't sure how to dispose of properly.

1. Electronics: Electronic waste, or e-waste, is a huge problem for our environment, because if it isn't disposed of properly it can be hazardous. You can find an e-cycling center in your local area at E-cycling Central, which offers a huge array of electronic recycling services.

2. Rechargeable Batteries and Cell Phones: Although rechargeable batteries and cell phones do last quite some time due to their recharging abilities, they will eventually no longer work or become obsolete. Call2Recycle offers the only free rechargeable battery and cell phone collection program in North America. You can find a drop-off location in your areahere.

3. Hazardous Materials: Have you wondered how you should recycle that leftover paint from your kitchen remodel, or those toxic household cleaners? Earth 911 offers a database that allows you to find recycling centers in your area that can dispose of hazardous material properly.

4. Automotive Parts: If you have an automobile that is inoperable, or are wondering what to do with used auto parts that you no longer need, contact the Automotive Recycling Association (ARA). The ARA offers automotive recycling to help conserve the future. You can find an ARA recycler in your area here. 

5. Plastic Bags: The best option when it comes to plastic bags is to refuse them. However, if you have some that you are looking to recycle, PlasticBagRecycling.org can help. PlasticBagRecycling.org recycles the plastic bags into composite lumber and “new” plastic items. You can find a drop-off location in your area here.

What items do you need to recycle?

Photo Credits: “Trash Recycling with Disposable Containers” by epSos.de, ”7^th Street e-Waste” by greenbk, “Beautiful Junk” by Rainy City.

Many beginning gardeners believe that all you need to grow healthy plants and vegetables is water and sunlight. However, plants also need healthy soil rich in nutrients to be able to grow properly. And composting is a great way to do just that.

But before you start composting, there are a few things to keep in mind. Like what can and cannot be composted.

The IN List:

• Animal (cow or horse) manure
• Cardboard rolls
• Clean paper
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Cotton rags
• Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint
• Eggshells
• Fireplace ashes
• Fruits and vegetables
• Grass clippings
• Hair and fur
• Hay and straw
• Houseplants
• Leaves
• Nutshells
• Sawdust
• Shredded newspaper
• Tea bags
• Wood chips
• Wool rags
• Yard trimmings

The OUT List:

• Black walnut tree leaves or twigs
  • Release substances that might be harmful to plants
• Coal or charcoal ash
  • Might contain substances harmful to plants
• Dairy products (e.g., butter, milk, sour cream, yogurt) and eggs
  • Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
• Diseased or insect-ridden plants
  • Diseases or insects might survive and be transferred back to other plants
• Fats, grease, lard, or oils
  • Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
• Meat or fish bones and scraps
  • Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
• Pet wastes (e.g., dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter)
  • Might contain parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens, and viruses harmful to humans
• Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides
  • Might kill beneficial composting organisms

Source: “Create Your Own Compost Pile” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Photo credit: "Bac a compost communautaire et bac a compost normal" by solylunafamilia 

Hi friends! This past Saturday, we held our Change Flows cleanup of the DuPage River in Illinois, and it was a huge success. Hundreds of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds showed up to lend a helping hand. The volunteers spent three hours on a Saturday morning pulling all sorts of junk out of the DuPage River and its tributaries.

The volunteers were armed with Cascadian Farm T-shirts, trash bags, gloves, garbage pokers, water, and our Cascadian Farm granola bars to keep them going.

When this river was cleaned in previous years, it wasn’t unusual for volunteers to collect as much as 11 tons of debris. Now, that number has dropped to about seven tons. Part of the decline can probably be traced to a greater public awareness of our environment, but persistent cleaning also keeps junk from piling up.

It was amazing to see all the debris that was pulled out of the river. We found a grocery cart, a playhouse door, coils, and even a public hand-washing sink. Everyone left with a real sense of accomplishment seeing all the debris that was cleaned up. It’s truly remarkable what people can accomplish when they come together with a common goal.

Brett Adams, the Pioneer Park Cleanup Coordinator, had this to say:

“This is such a great project for people of all ages! We have a mix of middle schoolers, high schoolers, and adults, and they all have fun and get something out of it. It’s amazing the types of items we found, and it’s awesome to see the difference you can make in just a few hours.”

Andrew Fahlund, Senior Vice President of Conservation for American Rivers, said:

“With the help of Cascadian Farm, we were able to raise awareness of the issues facing our rivers, and help people learn how important they are to a healthy community. Simple steps like participating in a local river cleanup can help our waterways thrive for generations to come.”

Thanks again to everyone for your support. We couldn’t have made this big of an impact without you! In the next month, we will have more details on how much debris was actually taken out of the river. Stay tuned…