Fun Farm Fun

Our trip to holcomb

I enjoyed working with the younger kids. It was fun meeting new people that were not from Hartford. It was also fun to lead a work project in the garden. In my group I taught kids how to pull out weeds from our bed of cabbage. I would like to work with younger kids because it was a fun experience. When we went to city fare I had fun zesting lemons and also making lemonade. I’m learning hoe to cook with fresh ingredients. It is important because It’s a healthier way to eat and eating healthy helps you live a better and longer life. At the Holcomb farm csa we harvested onions and also helped cut the onions and to me that was my favorite part of the trip. Also we went to the salmon river and I enjoyed swimming at the river. The five tenants are economy, irrigation, labor management, pest management and diversity. Yes I liked working with the little kids because they were nice and respectful. The lead project was to dig in the dirt to make a new bed. Yes I think it is important for younger people to know how to work in the garden. It is important because they need to know how to work and plant food. The most interesting thing is seeing rabbits every day. The five tenants are irrigation, economy, labor, pest control, diversity. The best thing was to swim in the salmon river.

desmond

Wat sup it's me Desmond.On Thursday some of us went to work in the Huntington Garden. I don't think community gardens are important because if you put a garden in hartford people are going to mess it up. It is also not important because if you grow gardens in the community people like bums are going to pick everything off it and there wont be a garden.If that happen we are loseing money to put up gardens that should just stay far away from the community for nobody to mess with it.If people don't listen when others people say don't do drugs and go to school they most likely are going to turn out to be bums.Why should we grow a garden for those same people that we told to go to school and don't do drugs? If the people don't want to listen and think that they going to be all right that they don't have to work hard and could do drugs, let them face the conseqenses when they relize they are making a mistake then they will see life is not easy.

Billigisher Sesay

Hi my name is Billy. Yesterday my group and I went to visit City Fare. Yes I think people need to learn how to cook with fresh ingredientes because it is good for people to eat fresh foods. My experience yesterday was good. I learned how to make the lemonade. What else I hope to learn is how to make the blueberry cobbler and also learn from Fran to make American food.

Whats Up

Whats up, this is Michael again. Last week we took a mini field trip to the Huntington Garden which is owned by the Asylum Hill Congregational Church. There we meet with Fredd who attends the church and works on the garden. When we had first walked in the garden, I thought to myself that it needs some work but it looked alright for a new garden. This makes me think is a community garden important in Hartford? What I would say is yes it is important because there is easier access to fresh fruits and vegetables. As I checked out the American Community Garden Association website it said, "The Association recognizes that community gardening improves the quality of life for people by providing a catalyst for neighborhood and community development, stimulating social interaction, encouraging self-reliance, beautifying neighborhoods, producing nutritious food, reducing family food budgets, conserving resources and creating opportunities for recreation, exercise, therapy and education." And this is why they think that a community garden is important because of how it improves the community and provides them with fresh foods. Yesterday we also went to our first culinary training at City Fare. At the City Fare we had worked with the chef Ms. Fran Reale. I also think that it is important to learn how to cook with fresh ingredients. It is what is more healthy for you it may not taste as good but as you eat it more you should get use to it. At the City Fare my favorite experience yesterday was making the lemonade. It was the most interesting cause I never had made lemonade like that before and what I also hope to learn is how to cook certain foods and prepare them the right way.

I truely believe that people should learn to cook with fresh ingredints. It would help our body to recieve the proper nutrition and vitamins our body need. From yesterday my favorite experience was when Fran Reale taught us how to make a blueberry dessert. It was weird how so many ingredients like brown surgar, butter, salt and oatmeal could make a tastey topping. I also enjoyed how we're getting the chance to prepare a lunch for a least forty people. We actually have the chance to serve people food that we prepare with our own hands to other people. I only perpared a lunch for one and that was me. For a person who can't cook it would be very exciting. I can't wait. It'll be fun

culinary training experience(khadijah)

On Monday , July 24, 2006 we visited City Fare which is a catering company on Franklin Avenue in Hartford CT. It was a very interesting we learned how to zest lemons which I never experienced. Also we made lemon juice which I make all t he time but not from scratch. Moreover we made blueberry cobbler and added pecans and oatmeal on it. It was so good I had to be greedy and ate 4 . (if you would've had one one you would've ate 4 too). the whole purpose of us visiting that catering business is because in about 2 weeks we will be having a luncheon with other gardening groups from New Haven and Boston.

Billigisher Sesay

Hi my name is Billy. Yesterday my group and I went to visit City Fare. Yes I think people need to learn how to cook with fresh ingredientes because it is good for people to eat fresh foods. My experience yesterday was good. I learned how to make the lemonade. What else I hope to learn is how to make the blueberry cobbler and also learn from Fran to make American food.

Alisha Eats the Healthy Sweets

Oh my times does fly! It seems like it would've took me ages just to learn how to make a healthy snack. But no, it only took a few minutes.With just a few items we prepared a nice dessert with a nice cold sweet drink to go along with it. I know you are wondering what we prepared and who helped us prepare it, well I'm going to tell you right known. The nice chef whom helped us was Ms.Fran Reale and she helped us make a nice blueberry cobbler and a fresh homemade glass of lemonade. Yeserday I experienced alot but what I really liked most was when me and my partner khadijah helped juice the lemons to make a natural cup of lemonade. I also learn how to cut properly and how to ZEST the lemons properly. UM UM GOOD!!! The smell of the lemons were so Fresh smelling and all I could think about all day was the smell of the lemons. Through this I experince I hope I could learn alot about cooking healthy so I could teach someone who's willing to learn. ~Alisha Thomas~

Working the Food System

Alisha having fun on the run!!!

As you know my name is Alisha. First of all what I'm going to tell you is I had a great time at the ropes course on Friday the 14 of 2006. I really overcame one of my fears when I went on this exciting field trip. when it was my turn on the flying squirell I was very scared and I went up first so I really felt scared that moment. Well here we go,putting on our harnest getting ready to go upin the air. I ran one way and my team ran the other way.UP UP I go. WOW!!! I was high in the air my legs and arms, just swaying back and forth like a beautiful bird. Last week we learned some plant botany and it was okay only thing I liked about it was the time we played twister. It was a great experienced and to show what we knew about plants and fruits etc. ~Alisha Thomas~ my favorite vegetable is Brocolli

KHADIJAH' S time at the ropes corpse

Its me again(khadijah) I just wanted to let you now about the great time I had at the Polaris ropes corpse. Its funny cause I never been to a ropes corpse but when I went there I was truly amazed we played several games like the Mohawk walk , in which we had to try to keep our balance on a thin cable wire and try to find a strategy in which everyone can make it across safely . ALSO we went on the flying squirrel. Now this game was really scary. We were raised all the way in the air sort of like a rollercoaster but you was attached to a rope and a group of kids were pulling you. it made you feel all tingly inside especially when your feet were no longer on the ground .doesn't sound like alot of fun but wednesday we went to many regional markets like Fowler and we seen how the food get transported from diferent countries and citys to the market we also went into a freezer where they store some of the food at to keep it fresh . seriously it was like 30 degrees in there several people even had on coats . _Khadijah_

Hi, its me Tanaya again and my favorite game at the ropes course was the lifting.This was my favorite because in order for the game to work correctly we had to work as a team.I think that grow hartford worked well together because we all get along and know what makes each other mad and what makes us happy.I believe the ropes course was a good thing to do because it helped us to better ourselves as a team.I learned that its harder to do something by yourself then it is as a group. When Shannon taught us about plant botany we played a game twister but it consisted of leaves,plants,vegetables and seeds.This helped me learn about how plants are alot like us we need certain things in order to perform right.The plant that I eat the most is chards and corn.I think it is important to learn about the plants that we are eating to know if its really healthy and the process it took to get it where it is at.The purpose of the Summer Food Kick-Off event was to get everybody aware of GROW hartford and what we do.I enjoyed my self.The first plant that I planted was called a tomatoes plant, I planted it using organic fertilizer and it was very interesting. Wasa with Warm Feta,Tomatoes, and Herbs 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced Salt to taste Freshly ground pepper to taste1 teaspoon olive oil ½ teaspoon chopped oregano ½ teaspoon chopped marjoram ½ teaspoon chopped thyme ½ teaspoon chopped sage 1 ounce reduced-fat feta cheese 2 pieces WASA Light Rye Place tomatoes on a flat plate and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Remove from microwave, sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss. Sprinkle tomatoes with herbs and feta. Return to microwave for 1 additional minute. Spread onto crispbreads. Prep time: 10 minutes

Hi my Name is Billy.My favorite game at the Ropes Course was the name games. I like it because it was fun. During plant botany we played twister and it was good game. I learned about the difference between a vegetable and a fruit. My favorite fruit is watermelon. My favorite vegetable is carots. In the lesson I planted peppers during the class. During in Summer food Kick event, I enjoyed the people coming over to the table to guess the plant and smell it. The plant was oregano. Deep Dish Mexican Pizza Recipe Ingredients:1 thick pizza crustnonstick cooking spray1/2 small onion -- diced1 teaspoon chili powder1/2 teaspoon ground cumin1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon15 ounces black beans -- rinsed and drained2 ounces diced green chiliescornmeal1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese3/4 cup diced tomatoes1/2 cup frozen whole kernel corn -- thawed1/2 green bell pepper -- diced2 ounces sliced ripe black olives -- drained1/2 teaspoon olive oilsalsa -- optionalsour cream -- optional Directions: Prepare Pizza Crust. Preheat oven to 500°F. Spray 2- to 3-quart saucepan with cooking spray. Place over medium heat. Add onion, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon and 1 tablespoon water; stir. Cover and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until onion is crisp-tender. Stir in beans and chilies. Transfer 1/2 of the bean mixture to food processor or blender; process until almost smooth. Spray 14-inch deep-dish pizza pan with nonstick cooking spray; sprinkle with cornmeal. Press dough gently into bottom and up side of pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand in warm place 15 to 20 minutes or until puffy. Bake 5 to 7 minutes or until dry and firm on top. Spread pureed bean mixture over crust up to thick edge. Top with half the cheese, remaining bean mixture, tomatoes, corn, bell pepper and olives. Top with remaining cheese. Bake 10 to 12 minutes more or until crust is deep golden. Brush crust edges with olive oil. Cut into wedges. Serve with salsa and sour cream

*~LIZBETH~*

My favorite ropes course activity is the flying squirrel because everyone worked together in a group. In the activity you really had to have trust on the people that were with your group because they were the ones that lift you up almost thirty feet up in the air. Learning about seeds and their different parts was a fun thing to do because of the game that we played, which was twister but instead of the dots being colored they had names of a vegetable, root, stem, flower and fruits. The game really helped me memorize the difference between a stem and a root. The first seeds that we planted in the ground were cilantro seeds. We planted them by placing each seed in hole that we made and covering it with dirt. A good recipe that can be made with cilantro is Cilantro Chicken. CILANTRO CHICKEN 2 tsp. garlic1 tbsp. paprika1/4 c. chopped cilantro1/2 tsp. cumin1/2 tbsp. oil1 tsp. saltFreshly ground pepper3 1/2 lbs. cut up chicken1 chopped onion1 c. chicken broth Combine garlic, paprika, cilantro, cumin, salt and pepper. Make a paste in food processor. Rub paste all over chicken. In large roasting pan, pour broth, place chicken pieces, and cover with onions. Cover with foil and bake 1 1/4 hours at 400 degrees. I really enjoyed the discussion we had with the Hispanic health council. We talked about food that’s healthy for us and we also reviewed the food pyramid. FOOD PYRAMID

Summer Food kick-off event

Field work

crew leader

Hello every body! My name is Jerica Sandiford. Welcome to Grow Hartford. I am the crew leader of the program and will be working with you when you start on Friday. I know we will have fun on this day. I can not wait until we meet. See you then.

I enjoyed the trip to the park. It was fun giving out the seeds to the kids and seeing them guess what kind of plant that we had out on the table. Many people guessed that it was a pepper, mint, and even sausage plant and were suprised when they found out that it was Oregano.

DESMOND

My name is DESMOND. I 'am 15 years. I go to Buckeley.My favorite subject is math.On my free time I play sports. Money makes me happy. I want to learn how to plant to make more money. My favorite thing to eat is fry chicken with french fries. The most important Grow hartford community standard is to be respectful. I will uphold this standard by not interrupting others while talking. Desmond

Lorenzo

Hey, what's going on my name Is Lorenzo. I am sixteen years of age,and currently attend Crec polaris in East Hartford.I will be goinging to the eleventh grade this year.I think that my favorite subject is math,because i'm good with numbers, I like to make equations, and solve problems. On my free time I like to watch video's,play video games,write lyrics,go to studio,and make my own beats.Just sitting back chillin joking with my friends makes me happy.Learning agriculture is what I hope to get out of this program.Lobster is the favorite thing to eat. The most important GROW Hartford community standard is honesty. The way i will uphold this standard is by telling the truth. Lorenzo

Our Talk On real Vegies

Today we meet Angie she showed us that healthy food can be creative and also taste good.Shannon and the reat of the group went into the field and hand picked broccoli,some spices,chards and onions. It was very interesting especially since I've never ate a vegetable that was picked from the ground right in front of me. She took our BMI and our body fat percentages that was cool too. Today I've learned more than one lesson and Iam very appriciative. THANK YOU ANGIE! From kids at GROW Hartford

Whats up out there my name is Tanaya White, I am an African American female of Hartford Connecticut.I attend a school located on Granby Street called Weaver High.My favorite subject in school is black history. I enjoy this class because it enhances my education about my ancesstors and all the pain they went through to get me here. On my free time I enjoy hanging out with my friends and going out to partys. The thing that makes me happy is when I make people around me smile, I enjoy making people laugh. While being in this program I hope to get a better understanding of agriculture and tips on how to better my environment. Personally, I enjoy eating chinese food.The most important Grow hartford standard is BEING TO WORK ON TIME.The way I will uphold this standard is by taking the bus a little earlier so that I get here earlier and I don't have to worry about being late.

My name is Lizbeth, I am 15 years old and go to SMSA. My favorite subject in school is math. Things that I like to do on my free time is watch TV and eat. The thing that makes me happy is being with my twin. I hope to learn how to plant. My favorite thing to eat is a BLT sandwich or chocolate chip cookies and hot fries. The most important GROW hartford community standard is to be on time. The way I will uphold this standard is to come early and wake up early.

Alisha

Hi.....my name is Alisha Thomas and I am a teenager from Hartford, Connecticut. To start my summer off I signed up for a summer job to stay out of trouble. So they ended up putting me in this Grow Hartford program which is turning out alright. Well anyways I go to Classical Magnet in Hartford and I enjoy playing basketbhall, soccer, track and most of all I enjoy dancing (from hip Hop to Reggae). I also love the competition!!! My favorite subject in school is math and latin. The only thing that makes me happy is seeing my friends and family. Evertime I wake up or come home from whatever I was doing. Just by seeing their face puts a smile on my face! By me being in this program I hope to learn a lot even if I'm not feeling to great. My favorite food is BBQ chicken and Curry Shrimp. The most important GROW Hartford community standard is to be RESPECTFUL because that takes up for everything we went over, because thats the most important rule to me.The way I will uphold this standard is to make sure my attitude and my day is going great. ~Alisha Thomas~

Hi My Name Is Billigisher Sesay Im 15 years old I go to Q.m.s. My favorite subjects is math and science. In my free time I like to dance. What makes me happy is to be with friends. I want to get money for the summer to shop. I like rice and soup. The most important Grow Hartford Community standard is be on time and come prepared. I will try to be on time. Billigisher Sesay

Hey....My name is LaToya im fifthteen years old and I attend Hartford Public High. My favorite subject is biology because I received the highest grade in that class. However durning my free time I'll go to the movies, the mall, or just chill out with my friends making sure we stay out to trouble. What makes me happy is family and friends. If they happy we're all happy. From this program I hope to get money so that I fly for school this year. In conclusion my favorite food is every thing . I'll eat anything that I think I would like and had before no other. I believe the most important grow Hartford is community standard is TO BE ON TIME. The way I uphold this standard is that if u want to be responsible for your own actions. If you really want to succeed you must rely on your own. LATOYA...

Wassup my name is Khadijah , I'm from Hartford CT, I'm a junior at Weaver High, I really enjoy working at GROW hartford . Its a very good learning experience we learn various things like how to plant food and how to work with diffrent tools . Sometimes in many cases it may get tiring but at the end of the day you feel good that you planted something thats going to grow into something that can be useful for the animals, people. But not only that, you can use these planting skills with you in the long run of life, also you earn money! When you work at grow hartford there are many rules . Exspecially when working in the garden there are 4 main rules 1. no picking things in the garden . 2. don hurt any living things. 3. dont step on the flower beds 4,be motivated.

HI,I AM JELANI MANSON. I GO TO AI PRINCE TEC . MY FAVORITE SUBJECT IS CULINARY ARTS. IN FREE TIME I PLAY BASKET BALL. BASKETBALL MAKES ME HAPPY.I HOPE TO GET TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY B-BALL. I WOULD LIKE TO BE A COOK AND LEARN MORE ABOUT COOKING. MY FAVORITE FOOD IS CHICKEN AND FRIES. THE MOST IMPORTANT GROW HARTFORD COMMUNITY STANDARD IS NOT TO STEAL.THE WAY I WOULD UPHOLD THIS STANDARD IS BY HANGING WITH GOOD PEOPLE. JELANI MANSON

Hi my name is Michael. I am 15 years old. I go to Classical Magnet. My favorite subject in school is Art. With my free time I like to hang out with my friends, listen to music, play sports, and video games. What I hope to get out of this program is to learn how to work in the garden and money. My Favorite thing to eat is barbaque ribs from Ruby Tuesday's. The most important GROW Hartford community standard is to be honest. The way I will uphold this standard is by telling the truth.

Michael