Let's make it a "Green" Saturday

By Kate Krajnik

Most of you already know about "Small Business" Saturday, the day after Black Friday when consumers make a concerted effort to buy from local small businesses as opposed to massive national retail chains.  Well, I propose we take it a step further.  Let's make it a "Green" Saturday.  Let's buy handmade items from local artists and artisans.  Let's buy items made from recycled materials, and those with minimal packaging.  Let's give a gift back to the earth this holiday season by reducing wasted resources.

The Appleton Winter Farmer's Market is located inside the City Center on College Avenue, and will be open Saturday November 24 from 8am to 12:30pm.  The Winter Market has expanded this year to include many new vendors.  From handmade soaps, to hand knit hats, to locally grown produce, you'll surely find what you're looking for when you make it a "Green Saturday".

Chalk the Town 2012

By Kate Krajnik

 In an effort to encourage support of local foods and agriculture, the theme for this year's Chalk the Town in Downtown Appleton was "Field to Plate."  Businesses and individuals were encouraged to use the theme when designing their sidewalk chalk drawings on College Avenue on Friday, July 20. 

I had the opportunity to participate with Time On Our Hands Craft Store.  My drawing took about two hours, and I must say, I had a lot of fun.  Here is Time on Our Hands entry:

From July 24 toAugust 1, the public can go to Downtown Appleton's facebook page and vote for the "People's Choice" drawing.  Here are some more highlights from the event.

Be sure to vote!

"Pick Your Own" Farms

"Pick Your Own" or "U-pick" farms have been growing in popularity in the United States in the past few years.  Perhaps the growing public interest in sustainable locally produced food is the cause.  Millions of Americans are realizing how important their local farmers are to their community, and Pick Your Own farms provide a way to support local agriculture.  In addition to bringing local produce to the table, these farms provide a great family outing, as well as learning opportunities for children.

Pick Your Own farms can offer anything from fresh strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries in the summer, to pumpkins, apples, and squash in the fall.

Some Pick-Your-Own farms around the Fox Valley are:
Oakridge Farms
125 County Road CB
Neenah, WI  54956
920-725-1541
http://www.oakridgeberries.com/
strawberries, raspberries

Cuff Farms
N2299 Ledge Hill Rd,
Hortonville, WI 54944
Farm Hotline: 920-779-4788
http://www.cuffarms.com/
asparagus, strawberries, pumpkins

Porter's Patch
W4314 State Hwy. 156
Navarino, Wi 54107
715-758-8162
or
715-584-2070
http://porterspatch.com/
asparagus, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, beans, pumpkins

Horseshoe Hill Orchards
N3040 HWY 141
Chilton, WI
920-849-9348
apples, pumpkins, squash, gourds

Hofacker's Hillside Orchard
W 3964 Wege Road
Appleton, WI
920-734-0780
http://www.hhorchard.com/
apples, pumpkins

Blueberry Haven
W9967 County Road XX
Bear Creek, WI 54922
715-823-4091
http://www.blueberryhaven.net/
blueberries

CSAs: Community Supported Agriculture

What is a CSA?

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Local CSA farms produce food and distribute it locally to residents who buy "shares" in the farm, or become "members" of the CSA. Joining a CSA can be a great source of homegrown fresh produce for those in which gardening themselves is not an option. Typically CSAs take subscriptions from February though May, depending on how fast their shares fill up.

The History of the CSA

CSA farms are a fairly new idea in local agriculture. The first CSA farms can be traced back to Switzerland, Germany and Japan in the 1960s, although the ideas had developed separately in Europe and Asia. In the 1960s, consumers in Europe were concerned about the ecological aspects of modern forms of farming, and developed community partnerships in order to counteract the negative aspects of the urbanization of farmland. In 1965, mothers in Japan created Teikei, the first Japanese CSAs, in response to the rising cost of importing food.

In the United States, the idea of CSAs first developed in the mid 1980s, a concept brought to the country by Jan VanderTuin of Switzerland, and Trauger Groh of Germany.

How it works

With a typical CSA, a farmer will offer a limited number of "shares" of his crop to the public. Local residents will then receive a weekly box of produce, which includes a variety of crops, usually depending on what the farm has harvested in that particular time frame. Boxes are generally seasonal produce, and include a wide variety of different fruits and vegetables. The money from memberships is received early in the season, which helps the farmers focus on growing and quality, rather than marketing, selling, and financial security.

A main theme of CSAs is the idea of "shared risk" between farmer and consumer. By signing up to become a member, consumers "share" in the bounty of the farm, but also the hardships that the farm may fore go. If a pest takes out all of the pepper crop, consumers will not receive that particular item in their box. Likewise, if there is a bumper crop of cucumber and tomatoes, members may find the need to learn to make pickles or can salsa for the winter.

In addition to fruits and vegetables, many CSAs also offer additional farm products such as fresh eggs, locally raised meat, and home baked bread.

Some CSAs that service the Fox Valley area are:

Triple B Produce (New London, WI)

In 2010 members received about 200 pounds of produce for a 14 week season. We do our best to grow a variety of vegetables for our members. It is a great way to try things you wouldn't normally buy. In 2012 we will be offering work shares. Call for details.

Brenda Thyssen
920-596-3923
www.triplebproduce.com

Good Earth Farm (Oakfield, WI)

Join us for a delicious seasonal CSA experience! Our practices are to farm responsibly and, as we call it, live lightly on the Earth. We are an environmentally responsible farm using sustainable methods to grow a large variety of produce. On-farm events and worker shares are available to our CSA members. We offer several different share options and deliver to Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, the Fox Valley, and surrounding areas.

Nicole and Joe Schauer
920-583-2121
www.goodearthfarm.net

Park Ridge Organics (Fond Du Lac, WI)

Our Vegetable Share Program is a 20 week season of seasonal produce grown at or near Park Ridge Organics Farm. We have 8 drop off locations throughout the Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton and
Neenah-Menasha area. Our members receive 8-12 different items per week in their box. We grow over 30 different items and over 100 varieties. Our half share size is portioned to feed a 1-2 person
household per week and the full share size a 3-4 person household. It varies depending on eating styles. We do offer a worker share option.

Robyn Calvey
920-979-9658
www.parkridgeorganics.com
Olden Produce (Ripon)

Here at Olden Produce our goal is not only to develop life, long relationships with our customers, but also educate you on more than where your food is coming from, but also how it is produced. Our CSA is a scheduled 20 week program starting the beginning of June and going until the middle of October.

Tracy Vinz
920-379-9004
www.oldenproduce.com

Ways to Save Money on Gas

by Kate Krajnik

With gas prices rising again, everyone is worrying about how the cost of gas is going to affect their family budget. Some economists even predict gas prices to rise to $5 dollars a gallon by mid-summer. With the turmoil in the Middle East and specualtion in the stock market, no one really knows how this situation is going to end. In the US many people feel they are helpless when it comes to rising gas prices. However, there are some things you can do about it.

#1 Drive Less

This is the most obvious solution to the inflation we are experiencing in the price of gas lately. Reduce the amount of time you use your vehicle, and you reduce the cost of gas it uses. Make a point to walk or bike to the local store or market for the things you need on a daily basis. Give your car a rest and exercise those leg muscles.

#2

Organize a carpool to and from work. If your place of employment is further away than it is possible to bike or walk to, talk to your coworkers. Do they live near you? Do they live in a place where you could drive to their house and park your car to co-drive to work? Taking turns on the cost of driving could save a significant amount of money for all those involved in your carpool.

#3

Drive more effiently. Reduce your speed on roadways and do some research on routes to and from work that will avoid your vulerability to traffic jams. Drive slower. According to www.fueleconomy.gov "You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.31 per gallon for gas." Avoid idling your car for excessive amounts of time. Use your cruise control to keep a constant speed.

Be aware of the things you do everyday. Think about how you can rework your daily plans and errands to save gas, and money.

Are Your Old Seeds Any Good?

by Tracilyn Moon
Goodwill Community Garden

Many people purchase new seeds every year because they don’t know if the ones
left from previous years are still good. There is an easy way to determine this. First,
dampen a thick paper towel with warm water and spread 10 seeds on half the towel. Then
fold the paper towel over and place it in a sealed plastic bag. Use a marker to write the
name of the seed and the date. Place the bag in a warm place such as the top of a
refrigerator. After two weeks count the number of seeds that have germinated and
calculate the percentage. The lower the percentage, the more thickly the seeds need to be
sown. This method will help you determine which seeds you need to purchase for the
season.

Of course the way that seeds are stored each year will also affect how long they
stay dormant and viable. At the end of the season seal the seed packets or place seeds in a
paper envelope with their information written on it. Make a small packet out of tissue and
1 tablespoon of powdered milk. The powdered milk will help to absorb any moisture.
Place the seed and milk packets into a glass jar and seal the jar. The jar should be kept in
a cool dark place. The back of the refrigerator is ideal. Replace the powdered milk packet
halfway through the winter and the seeds will be ready for planting in the spring.

Heckrodt Wetland Reserve

by Tracey Koenig

Heckrodt Wetland Reserve (HWR) is a 76-acre urban nature reserve with habitats including
forested wetland, cattail marsh, open water, open field, and upland forest. Persisting despite
the urbanization that continues to grow around it, the Reserve is home to numerous species
of reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. Migrating songbirds and waterfowl nest and feed in
its protection. On any summer day you might see rafts of turtles, flocks of birds, boatloads of squirrels, and if you’re really lucky, a speckled fawn or two. In winter Great Horned owls, flocks of songbirds, many deer, and evidence of our resident otters can be found. These animals rely on us to provide them a home in a quickly developing urban area – to them, we are an oasis.

 In winter Great Horned owls, flocks of songbirds, many deer, and evidence of our resident otters can be found. These animals rely on us to provide them a home in a quickly developing urban area – to them, we are an oasis.  HWR was founded as a private nonprofit nature reserve in 1992, and has experienced tremendous growth since building our Nature Center in 1999. We have provided
environmental education programming for more than 124,000 people since we started
programming in 1997. We welcome more than 50,000 people each year who visit the Nature
Center and walk our trails. We are Your Nature Center for all Seasons! General admission
to the Reserve is always free.

Our Nature Center is home to live reptile, amphibian, and fish displays as well as mounted specimens of Wisconsin mammals and bird species. The indoor Discovery Den and outdoor children’s play area, The World Beneath Your Feet, were designed with kids in mind. Other features include a life sized bald eagle nest – on the ground and people accessible. You never guessed a nest could be so BIG!

Our trail system is well marked and perfect for family exploring. Our wheel chair and stroller
friendly 3+ mile trail system includes boardwalk that allows access to the wetland without
getting wet feet! While strollers and wagons are welcome, please leave your bicycle and your pet at home. Be sure to add your critter sightings to the "What did you see at Heckrodt today?" board in the Nature Center. In the Nature Center, you’ll always find a naturalist who is excited to hear about your adventure or give you some tips on "where the action is today".

We’re here all year long, but summer is especially busy – Summer 2012 is gearing up to be our busiest. We participate in the Fox Cities Passport to Nature program, a free program designed to get families outside and having fun. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, be sure to stop in to get your starter kit or shrinky dink tag. This year to help promote reading, we’ll host free Sit and Read Brown Bag programs monthly – so bring your lunch and your favorite book and join us.Borrow an Explorer’s Companion Pack or Digger’s Companion Pack to help guide your exploration on the Reserve. Check out the Animal Track Trail on the boardwalk – can you figure out "who went there"? Take your own personal naturalist on your hike using our Wireless Wetland cell phone tour! Can’t get here during the day? Visit our website after June 1 to learn which weekday evening the Nature Center will be open with fun, hands-on activities for your enjoyment.

For a small fee, HWR provides an active family program schedule lead by a naturalist to
enhance your experiences with nature. Join us for our weekly Family Nature Club programs
on Thursday afternoons this summer for an hour long guided hike with a weekly theme. We’ll also celebrate our prairie this summer with bi-weekly family programming, and opportunities for you to be a citizen scientist to help us collect information about what critters live there. Our monthly Community Programs feature lots on hands activities and Turtle Tots Preschool Adventures is designed for kids 2-5 accompanied by a parent.
Program Schedule
May 19, 2012 Frog-Tastic Celebration; 1-3 PM. Join us to celebrate all things froggy! Lots of hands on fun, hikes, and stories. $3/person.
May 15 or 16, Turtle Tots Preschool Adventures (Who Lives in a Tree), 9:30 – 11 AM. Kids 2-5 years accompanied by an adult. Preregistration and prepayment required. $5/adult-child pair.
June 2, 2012 Free Fishing Day; 8 AM – Noon. Fishing fun includes a small scale tournament for kids 12 and under. We supply the bait and have some rods and reels to loan. Prizes. Free food for ALL. This event is FREE but requires preregistration.
June 5, 2012. Sit and Read Brown Bag; Noon – 1 PM. Bring your lunch and your favorite book and we’ll sit outside to enjoy. FREE.
June 14, 2012. Family Nature Club (5 Senses) 1 – 2 PM. Families learning about nature together. $2/child (adults are free)
June 19 or 20, Turtle Tots Preschool Adventures (Fishing Fun!), 9:30 – 11 AM. Kids 2-5 years
accompanied by an adult. Preregistration and prepayment required. $5/adult-child pair.
June 21, 2012 – Family Nature Club – 1-2 PM. Families learning about nature together. $2/child (adults are free)
June 28, 2012 – Family Nature Club, 1-2 PM. Families learning about nature together. $2/child (adults are free).
Wow! How do we do it all? We couldn’t do all of this without the help of our wonderful volunteers. Our volunteer application is available at our website, or stop into the Nature Center to pick one up. After your application is on file, you’ll receive Calling All Volunteers, our monthly newsletter of volunteer needs. Families are welcome to volunteer with children 8 and up, but youth under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers help us with programs, prep craft materials, assist with habitat management, and help take care of the Nature Center during programs.