Klamath Garden
The Klamath Garden has been growing with the involvement of students at the Klamath River Early College of the Redwoods, as well as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, Tresita DeJuilio, who has been helping oversee the garden. The garden recently hosted a Harvest Party for which about 30 people stopped by to see the garden, enjoy a potluck meal, build a scarecrow, and cook fresh salmon. There were games for kids, and a musical jam with bongo drums and a guitar. The garden was also open to the public at times during the Wild River Coast Food Days last month. The garden is in need of some tools , including hoes and ground cloth, as well as manure. If you are able to help, or for more information about the garden, please contact Tresita at tresita_dejuilio@hotmail.com.
Gardening in Orleans
The Karuk Senior Center in Orleans hosted a canning workshop on October 13 with UC-Cooperative Extension Farm and Community/Economic Advisor, Deborah Giraud. Eighteen people from Happy Camp, Somes Bar, Hoopa, and Orleans attended this hands-on workshop to learn about safe food handling and safe food preserving practices. The Senior Center provided jars and some supplies, Grant Gilkison and Babbie Peterson donated the albacore, and others brought tomatoes and blackberries. The Karuk Senior Center also has a garden onsite which grows food for seniors served by the Center. For more information about the Karuk Senior Center and Garden please contact Babbie at bpeterson@karuk.us or (530) 627-3056. If you’re interested in hosting a workshop on food preservation please contact Deborah at ddgiraud@ucanr.edu or (707) 445-7351.
Turkey Ham Challenge
Food For People, Humboldt County's designated food bank, seeks turkey and ham donations for families in need during the upcoming holiday season. Their goal is to have 200 turkeys (10-15lbs) and 200 hams (1-3lbs) to distribute to local families. Many grocery stores have sales on turkey and ham this week. Please consider purchasing one for Food For People, located at 307 W. 14th Street in Eureka. This challenge ends at 5pm on Wednesday November 21, but any later donations can be put toward the 20th Annual Holiday Food and Fund Drive (see below for more info). For more information on the Turkey Ham Challenge, please contact Laura at (707) 445-3166 ext 312.
CalFresh for Better Community
CalFresh is the new name for a federal nutrition assistance program formerly known as food stamps. The program provides eligible participants funds to spend on food at local retailers, allowing improved access to healthy foods. California renamed the program in 2010 to emphasize the nutritional benefits and benefits to California agriculture.
In addition to a new name, the program has seen several other positive changes. Due to a streamlined process and changes to requirements, it is now easier than ever access CalFresh benefits. For example, there is no longer a requirement for finger printing and intake interviews can be done over the phone. In fact, the entire application can be done online at www.c4yourself.com. In some cases, you can own your home and vehicles, and have money in the bank or savings and still be eligible for CalFresh. Another change is that most Farmer’s Markets in Humboldt County now accept CalFresh. Some of them have a match program to increase the value of CalFresh benefits. CalFresh can even be used to purchase seeds and starts to grow your own food. Doing so is not only economical but also a way to get the freshest food possible and maximize the health benefits CalFresh provides.
CalFresh benefits the whole community. Not only does the program help residents access nutritious foods but it also stimulates the local economy with over $2 million CalFresh dollars every month. This amount could be twice as high if all eligible residents were enrolled in the program. Food For People reports that around 15,000 residents are likely eligible but not enrolled. Nearly half of those currently enrolled are children.
With an easier process and fewer barriers, why not find out if you are eligible for CalFresh benefits? For more information about the program and requirements, please contact Food For People at (707) 445-3166 or the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services at (707) 269-3590. And please help spread the word to family, friends, and neighbors. Together, we can create a healthier Humboldt!
Eureka Garden Space
A Eureka resident with a large front lawn desires to grow food for the community, and is looking for gardeners to help. If you are interested in gardening but do not have the space to do so, this may be an ideal situation for you. For more information please contact Debbie at (707) 269-2071.
2oth Annual Holiday Spirit Food and Fund Drive
Food For People is soliciting donations of food and funds to benefit local families in need. Any donations will be distributed in the community from which they came. There are various drop off sites throughout the County. Food will feed hungry families during the holidays and coming months. For more information, please call Food For People at (707) 445-3166.
A canning workshop in Orleans drew participants of all ages, shown here preserving fresh albacore tuna.
Upcoming Events
- Workshop/Day on Cover Cropping and Green Manures: Friday November 16 from 3pm til dusk. Learn from the Permaculture Guild about ways to enhance your garden bed over the winter months while suppressing weeds. Help prepare unused garden plots for Winter at Bayside Park Community Garden. Bring gloves and a pitchfork if you have it. 930 Old Arcata Road in Sunnybrae just east of Arcata.
- Workday at NEW Open Door Health and Wellness Community Garden: Saturday November 17 at 9am. The new garden is the site of the former Arcata Community Garden on 11th and F Streets in Arcata. The event is all day, rain or shine, with lunch included. Please bring gloves and tools (shovels, hoes, wheelbarrows) if you have them. For more information, please call Kaitlyn at (707) 826-8610 ext 1130.
- Tattoos For Hunger: Saturday November 17. Local artists at Old Growth Tattoo in Eureka will donate 100% of their earnings that day to Food For People’s Backpacks for Kids program, which supplies eligible children with healthy food on the weekends. Old Growth Tattoo will also be having a BBQ and music by Storytime Productions, and is located at 1806 4th Street in Eureka. For more information please call the shop at (707) 476-8282.
- Winter Garden Workshop: Grow Food Year Round: Saturday December 1 from 10am to 11:30am at CCAT on HSU campus (1 Harpst St, near 14th and B Streets in Arcata). Free workshop! Learn what foods grow during Winter and what you can do now to start planning your Spring garden. For more information please call Debbie at (707) 502-9524.
- Cook and Save class: Monday December 3 from 6pm to 7pm. Eureka Co-op at 4th and B Streets. Learn fun recipes incorporating foods on sale at the Co-op, and save money for the upcoming Holiday season. Free class! For more information please call (707) 443-6027.
- Herbal Remedies for Common Ailments: Monday December 3 from 5pm to 6:30pm. Arcata Co-op. Learn to use medicinal herbs in cooking and which spices and garden plants can help alleviate a variety of common minor ailments like colds, flu, and digestive issues. Free class! For more information please call (707) 822-5947.
- Edible Gifts: Flavored Vinegars and Gourmet Herb Blends: Wednesday December 5 from 6pm to 7pm. Eureka Co-op (4th and B Streets). The Master Food Preserver program will teach ways to infuse vinegars with herbs and spices as well as how to create lively herb blends. Turn your garden harvest into easy, homemade holiday gifts. Free class! For more information please call (707) 443-6027.
Master Gardener and Food Preserver
The University of California Cooperative Extension is offering the Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver programs in the Spring of 2013. Learn valuable information and avenues for sharing it with community members. For more information or to apply please visit cehumboldt.ucdavis.edu/
Home_Horticulture/ or cehumboldt.ucdavis.edu/
Plant_Science/Master_Food_
Preserver/ or call (707) 445-7351.
CAFF is Hiring
The Community Alliance with Family Famers in Humboldt is hiring a Regional Food Systems Program Assistant to help conduct outreach and educational activities. For more information please visit www.caff.org/about/jobs-ops/.
Newsletter Input Gardening Gazette is a free publication of the North Coast Community Garden Collaborative. If you have feedback, articles, or events etc. to advertise, contact debbiep@nrsrcaa.org or (707) 269-2071.
