The Vegetable Patch Goes Luxe

Start working on those business plans. Thanks in part to rising food prices and health scares with commercial supplies, some people are paying tens of thousands of dollars to have landscape architects design and install elaborate vegetable gardens. These homeowners regard their plots as edible showplaces, where they take guests on tours of manicured beds of baby bok choy and Japonica maize the way others show off their koi ponds and rose bushes. Read more here or view a slideshow here.

Found It!

A jalapeño pepper grown in Mexico and stored in a Texas border town warehouse has tested positive for the same rare strain of salmonella that has confounded federal disease investigators for nearly two months. The test on the hot pepper was the first to find the germ on any type of produce item since state and federal health authorities first warned of the stomach bug on June 3. As a result, the Food and Drug Administration issued an advisory Monday for consumers to avoid eating uncooked jalapeños from any source - another potential blow to California, which produces about $45 million worth of chile peppers annually. More here.
Follow-Up 7.30.08: The smoking Serrano patch...more here.

2nds Evacuated

As of Friday, July 11, at 5pm, the 2nd year apprentices are no longer allowed to reside in the 2nds barn. We have been evacuated. This situation came about quite abruptly, forcing us to move quickly to figure out what to do. For now, a variety of temporary solutions are being employed while we search for long term housing opportunities.

Unfortunately this puts into question what the 2nd year position and the Apprenticeship program will look like next year and in years to come. Times are challenging indeed. Thus, we are looking for help. We need to find suitable housing through November 21st. Ideally, we are looking for a nearby house (nearby to the campus), within a 20-minute bike ride, separate sleeping spaces for 4 people, maybe as many as 6. Of course, we will consider other options. This expense was not in our budget, and Diane is working to raise funds. We estimate that it would be reasonable to pay up to $400-600 per person per month. We can offer our fresh produce as partial payment, too.

We are seeking donations and fund raising assistance. If you can help, please contact Diane.

Staff and many others have offered couches, etc., as a temporary solution. Thank you – we appreciate it and we don’t need any more of those offers at this point.

In the meantime, we would gratefully accept loans or donations of large tents (e.g. 10’ x 10’ and standing room). Ditto for yomes, yurts, trailers.

Thank you for all of your support.

-Steven Munno, 2nd year apprentice

All Out Food Production!

Victory Gardens 2008+ is a pilot project funded by the City of San Francisco and supported by CASFS alum Blair Randall and his Garden For The Environment. The SF Victory Garden program facilitates the transition of backyard, front yard, window boxes, rooftops, and unused land into organic food production areas. It builds on the successful Victory Garden programs of WWI and WWII (history here) but redefines "Victory" in the pressing context of urban sustainability. "Victory" is growing food at home for increased local food security and reducing the food miles associated with the average American meal.
In an exciting development, Victory Gardens 2008+ is partnering with Slow Food Nation to create an ornamental edible garden at the San Francisco Civic Center from July through September 2008. The groundbreaking was on July 1, and they are now looking for volunteers for July 12, Community Planting Day. Volunteers are encouraged to arrive at 9:00 AM, and the day is scheduled to wrap up at 4PM.
For more information, please contact: John Bela, Civic Center Victory Garden Coordinator, john@sfvictorygardens.org, (415) 350-8257.
Follow Up 07.14.08: For the first time since 1943, the first edible garden was planted Saturday at San Francisco’s Civic Center, with the hopes of encouraging residents to eat healthy food. Mayor Newsom and Alice Waters were among those in attendance. Photos and more here.

Et tu Jalapeños?

Investigators are seeing more signs that the salmonella outbreak blamed on tomatoes might have been caused by tainted jalapeno peppers and have begun collecting samples from restaurants and from the homes of those who have been sickened, according to health officials involved in the probe. More here.