Monday, October 17, 2011

Hi Long Beach urban agriculture agvocates,


From Donna at Long Beach Grows. If you are interested in keeping backyard chickens, bees or goats I suggest you attend this meeting.

Our lease for the farm is also up this night on the City Council agenda. We are #16 on the list so bring a snack. See you on the steps of City Hall-
-Sasha Kanno

Hi Long Beach urban agriculture agvocates,

This is a final reminder that your help is requested at tomorrow's Environmental Committee meeting to be held October 18th starting at 3:30 PM at City Council chambers, 333 W Ocean Boulevard.

The City of Long Beach will be addressing the suggestions made by Long Beach Grows and by the city’s Sustainable City Commission and Office of Sustainability, to allow urban agriculture, including small scale animal husbandry and beekeeping, without the current restrictions imposed by our municipal code.

Let's fill the house! with PRO URBAN AG supporters and speakers!

Please try your best to attend, even if it means rearranging your busy schedule. Although it is not required, each member of the audience who wishes to speak is usually given 1-2 minutes to do so.

In addition, whether or not you plan to attend, please it would be very helpful if you could send your supportive comments to your City Council representative as well as to each member of the Environmental Committee.
The Chair of the Environmental Committee is Dr. Suja Lowenthal: district2@longbeach.gov, Suja.Lowenthal@longbeach.gov
The Vice Chair is Patrick O’Donnell: district4@longbeach.gov, Patrick.ODonnell@longbeach.gov
The third city council member of the committee is James Johnson: district7@longbeach.gov, James.Johnson@longbeach.gov
 If you don’t know who your City Council representative is, you can find that information here: http://www.longbeach.gov/council/default.asp
I would appreciate being cc'd on your emails: donna@longbeachgrows.org

A set of Talking Points was provided in a previous email. If for some reason you didn't receive that message and wish to see it, please let me know.

Thanks again for your support. I look forward to seeing you this Tuesday, that's tomorrow.

Best wishes,

Donna Marykwas
Long Beach Grows
Growing a more sustainable future
www.longbeachgrows.org
donna@longbeachgrows.org
1-562-912-3364

Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner
www.examiner.com/urban-agriculture-in-long-beach/donna-marykwas






Sunday, October 16, 2011

Tuesday, October 18th at city hall

This Tuesday, October 18th in the City Council chambers the lease for Farm Lot 59 will be up for a vote. The item is number 16 on the agenda, meeting starts at 5 so I'm sure you have plenty of time to come by after work. If you are unable to attend that's ok too, just keep us in your thoughts. The recommendation is for a full approval but you just never know!

Also happening same day, same place but at 3:30 in the afternoon:

Message from Donna of Long Beach Grows:
This Tuesday, October 18th starting at 3:30 in the City Council chambers the City of Long Beach will be addressing the suggestions made by Long Beach Grows and by the city’s Sustainable City Commission and Office of Sustainability, to allow urban agriculture, including small scale animal husbandry and beekeeping, without the current restrictions imposed by our municipal code.

It would be very helpful if you could attend the upcoming meeting, with as many PRO URBAN AG supporters and speakers that you can muster up. Although it is not required, each member of the audience who wishes to speak is usually given 1-2 minutes to do so.

In addition, whether or not you plan to attend, please it would be very helpful if you could send your supportive comments to your City Council representative as well as to each member of the Environmental Committee.

The Chair of the Environmental Committee is Dr. Suja Lowenthal: district2@longbeach.gov, Suja.Lowenthal@longbeach.gov

The Vice Chair is Patrick O’Donnell: district4@longbeach.gov, Patrick.ODonnell@longbeach.gov

The third city council member of the committee is James Johnson: district7@longbeach.gov, James.Johnson@longbeach.gov

If you don’t know who your City Council representative is, you can find that information here: http://www.longbeach.gov/council/default.asp




You can join her mailing list or find out more at http://www.longbeachgrows.org

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Farm Box

Farm Box: Arugula, Potato, Zucchini, Chard, Tomato, Beets, Green Beans, Cilantro, Parsley, Melon, Apples.

Monday, October 10, 2011

The next California Gardens tour is scheduled for Saturday, October 15th, 10am-12pm

The next California Gardens tour is scheduled for Saturday, October 15th, 10am-12pm. The tour will be the kick-off to monthly California Gardens Tours to be held every 3rd Saturday of the Month. These tours will be led by volunteers, and each tour will focus on a different aspect of the property (history, wildlife, plants, developments, etc). If you are interested in leading an upcoming tour, please email Grace Lorentzen at gracelorentzen@netscape.net.

This month's tour will be led by:
-Grace Lorentzen, 7th District Resident
-Mary Parsell, El Dorado Audubon Society

Plenty of parking and meeting location will be in the lot along Orange Ave., just south of 28th St (between Spring St. and Willow St.).

"The need for recreation opportunities and open space continues to grow in northern, central, and western portions of Long Beach," said Councilmember Johnson. "California Gardens is an opportunity to develop 40 acres of City-owned land into a natural oasis the whole region can enjoy. The proposed park at California Gardens is located at the highest accessible point in Long Beach, offering a 270-degree view of the Pacific Ocean to Palos Verdes to the mountains and Downtown Lost Angeles. After more than 100 years of City ownership, the time has come to start opening this property to the public to enjoy this natural open space in the middle of our city."

The monthly tours are open to the public and are are free of charge.  Contact the 7th District office if you have any questions: (562) 570-7777 or district7@longbeach.gov.

Link to the Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=269686493063430

Please feel free to forward this email to family, colleagues, and friends.


Ed Aramburo
Office Manager/Scheduler
City Council 7th District
Councilmember James Johnson
Phone: (562)570-7777 Fax: (562)570-6954
Website I Facebook

Storage tips from beachgreens

My good friend Aliye over at beachgreens put together this wonderful storage and tips list for her customers. Since the seasons are changing I thought it would be a great time to share her list with you.


Beets:Store refrigerated without a plastic bag. Be sure to separate the greens and store separately in a plastic bag.
Broccoli:Store broccoli unwashed in a plastic bag in the crisper section of refrigerator.

Carrots:Cut off tops and store roots in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.
Cauliflower:Store unwashed in a plastic bag in the crisper section of refrigerator.
Corn: Store in refrigerator in a plastic bag.
Grapes: Store in refrigerator in a plastic bag, or airtight container.  Do not wash until ready to eat.

Greens: (e.g. spinach, kale, chard) Store in plastic bags and refrigerate. You may wash them before storing, but remember to dry them WELL (in a salad spinner preferably); washed greens won’t last as long as unwashed.

Leeks: Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.

Lettuce: Store unwashed in plastic bags in the refrigerator. Or store washed in a bowl with a tight fitting cover. A salad spinner is made for this. Store lettuce mix unwashed in a plastic bag with a knot tied at the top, with plenty of air.

Peas:Store in plastic bags, with plenty of air.
Peppers: Store in refrigerator in a plastic bag

Potatoes:If refrigerated, potatoes will have a waxy consistency when cooked, so store them in a dark, well-ventilated, cool place away from onions.

Summer squash: Store in the refrigerator, in a plastic bag.

Tomatoes: Store at room temperature.  They can be refrigerated if need be, but this might change their text slightly. 

Avocados:Leave out at room temperature to ripen and then refrigerate. If you want them to ripen faster, put them in a paper bag with an apple. Once they are ripe, you can put them in the refrigerator so that they won’t become overripe. Do not put an unripe avocado in the refrigerator, as this will make their texture strange.

Blueberries: Are best stored in the refrigerator. They actually get sweeter!  Don’t wash them until you are ready to use them.

Citrus: Can be stored in or out of the refrigerator, but it will last longer in the refrigerator. No need to put them in a bag.

Stone Fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums, etc): Store at room temperature until just ripe, and than refrigerate to prolong their life.  (If they haven’t been eaten already!)

Strawberries: Sort through the berries and remove any soft ones for immediate consumption. Gently wash in a colander and pat dry. Store in a glass bowl with a glass lid in the refrigerator.