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Archive for February, 2010

The end of an era?

Posted in people, politics, tagged on February 5, 2010|

Katy Sorenson has long been a friend to the farmers. She is best known for fighting attempts to move the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) which has restrained urban sprawl; for promoting zoning changes that would allow struggling family farmers to have alternative streams of agriculture-related income; and for promoting agri-tourism. Without her on the Commission, some farmers I’ve talked to fear their voices will no longer be heard, and the last remaining farm land will be devoured by waiting developers. Is this the end of an era, or will somebody as strong stand up and take Katy’s place?

Read the official announcement on the District 8 site, where you can also download her statement.

Read the Miami Herald article published on Friday, Feb. 5, 2010:

Miami-Dade Commissioner Katy Sorenson won’t seek 5th term

Miami-Dade Commissioner Katy Sorenson won’t seek a fifth term, closing a noteworthy career and opening the door for a new commissioner for South Miami-Dade.

BY MATTHEW HAGGMAN
mhaggman@MiamiHerald.com

Miami-Dade Commissioner Katy Sorenson will not seek reelection this fall, ending a 16-year run on the county board distinguished by her advocacy for the environment and social equality.

The commissioner announced plans to collaborate with the University of Miami to develop a leadership initiative on public service for people aspiring to run for local and state elected office. The effort, she said, will have the backing of the Knight Foundation and Dade Community Foundation.

Read more here:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/1463960.html

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CSA share: week 10

Posted in csa, tagged on February 5, 2010|

CSA share: week 10

Hey kids, we’re aready at the halfway mark of the season! Ten weeks down, and ten to go…

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Waiting for kids

Posted in animals, photo, tagged , , on February 4, 2010| 1 Comment »

A very pregnant doe

Hani Khouri of Redland Mediterranean Organics is waiting for his kids to arrive. Actually, his does (female goats) are pregnant and due to deliver their kids (baby goats) in mid-February or early March. Giving birth to a baby goat is called kidding, I was told. Really, I’m not kidding.

Cleopatra takes a sip of water

Hani keeps a small herd of Nubian goats, six pregnant does and one buck, and they’re all about one to two years old. This is the first kidding for the goats. This is also Hani’s first kidding and he’s excited, nervous and watchful of his herd. One doe named Cleopatra (whose picture you might have seen in the CSA newsletter last Saturday) is huge and very round. She started standing off to one side and went off her feed, which goats do when they’re sick, and that gave Hani the worries. But the vet checked out Cleo and said she’s ok, that’s also what pregnant goats do. So it’s watch and wait for now.

All this family excitement means no cheese and no ice cream in the CSA shares and at market. Too bad for us humans! The does need to save their milk for their kids. Hani can start milking three to four days after the births, after the kids get the colostrum. But even then he can’t milk as frequently or as much, until the kids are weaned at about two months age. Only then will Hani be back into full production.

Can all you hungry cheese fans wait until April or May? Looks like you’ll have to. Hani checked with other goat cheese producers in the state, and all their does are pregnant too. No fresh, local goat cheese to be had anywhere. Eating with the seasons — including goat seasons — is part of eating local food supplied by local growers, so you’ll have to be patient!

Goats love alfalfa

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Chilling out

Posted in csa, food, tagged , on February 3, 2010| 2 Comments »

I’m starting to get overwhelmed by my CSA share. Opened the refrigerator door and all I saw is a sea of green in plastic zipper bags. What was I thinking when I signed on to eat a full share all by myself?? (In full disclosure, I eat what I shoot. The share I photograph goes home with me as compensation.)

Every other week I make “clean out the frig” soup. Last weekend it was a good way to use up the bunch of Greenwise organic celery bought at Publix only three days before the share. (Really, what was I thinking? During season, Publix is best for non-veg staples.) Chopped up that whole bunch to make celery soup, threw in a few stray potatoes and carrots, and chopped up an onion, too. Simmered it in homemade vegetable stock. Was pretty good topped with chopped tofu, cilantro and a drizzle of sesame oil and a dash of hot sauce.

Don’t laugh! Gourmet chef I’m not, nor pretend to be. Just trying to keep ahead of things wilting or going bad. When they do, and it’s happened a few times already, I can hear Margie’s voice or Eva Worden’s voice scolding me about how hard they worked to grow that food for me. (No, I don’t usually hear voices. That’s some leftover Catholic guilt rattling around.)

Made room in the freezer next to leftover soup, and am starting to fill it with plastic zipper bags of blanched veggies. Found information on the UF IFAS Extension website, including a chart of detailed instructions on how to handle various vegetables. First you blanch (or cook briefly in boiling water), chill, then pack and label and store in the freezer. (If you have a garden, or have been a serious cook for a long time, you already know how to do this.) Doesn’t take that long, either. As my dad would say, waste not want not. I think I’m ready for the next share!

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