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Elijah’s Promise Turkey Trot 2012 Hosted By DonorPages.

The Princeton Public Library once again hosted the Terra Momo series Princeton Eats. Eno Terra Chef Christopher Albrecht was at the helm this month with lots of herbs on hand, and shared a great technique.

There was marjoram, thyme, sage, basil, oregano, rosemary, spearmint and more for us to smell. Some of the best tips were:

• Cook with herbs by layering flavors. Use some early for a subtle flavor, and add others at the end so the oils can release, and have a bolder finish.
• Store herbs in the refrigerator, wrapped in a paper towel with only a few drops of water in a zipper lock plastic bag.
• Herbs like rosemary can be stripped of its leaves and the sturdy stems can be used as skewers.
• Tender stems have flavor and can be used in soups and sauces. Albrecht passed around fennel and coriander seeds.These were premium seeds due to the amounts of oils still within them. Supermarket products that have some dents are drier and have fewer oils, thus less flavor. It’s best to buy fresh seeds that are aromatic. Avoid buying ground spices whenever possible. It’s preferable to buy whole spices like nutmeg and grate (or grind) it as needed. read more:  Princeton Eats – October 2012 « Princeton Found.

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey (NOFA-NJ) is presenting a fall Harvest Dinner on Sunday, Oct. 21, at Duke Farms Coach Barn in Hillsborough.

This year’s Harvest Dinner will feature a key note address by Gary Hirshberg, co-founder, past CEO and chairman of Stonyfield Farm. He speaks frequently about sustainability, climate change, and the profitability of ‘green’ business and organic agriculture. He is also an advocate for change in national food and agriculture policies, including those regarding the labeling of genetically engineered foods. He will be joined by honored guest, Meg Hirshberg, founder of NOFA-NJ and freelance magazine writer. She has authored two Stonyfield Yogurt cookbooks and is a celebrated food activist.

via NOFA-NJ to host annual fall Harvest Dinner on Oct. 21 | NJ.com.

Slow Food’s Carlo Petrini gives a message about Prop 37. on Vimeo on Vimeo

via Slow Food’s Carlo Petrini gives a message about Prop 37. on Vimeo.

37Genetically modified food labeling

Here’s the doc: Proposition 37

If it passes
Proposition 37 would require raw and processed food that has been produced entirely or in part through genetic engineering to be clearly labeled as such on the front package or, if there is no package or label, on the shelf or bin where it is displayed for sale.

It would require retailers to ensure that food offered for sale is correctly labeled or document that the product is exempt. Restaurant food and other food that is intended for immediate consumption would be exempt. Products from animals that may have consumed genetically engineered food but were not themselves genetically engineered would be exempt.

It would ban the word “natural” and similar words from being used on genetically engineered food labeling and advertising. State and local governments and private parties could sue to enforce the measure.

— Los Angeles Times

Proposition 37 go to Prop. 37 – 2012 Voter Guide – Data Desk – Los Angeles Times.

Genetically-Modified Cow Produces High-Protein Milk

October 1, 2012

Scientists have altered the genes of a dairy cow to produce milk that’s rich in a protein used in numerous food products and lacking in a component that causes allergies in humans.

Using a process called RNA-interference that turns certain genes on or off, scientists from New Zealand produced a cow whose milk had increased casein, a protein used to make cheese and other foods, and almost no beta-lactoglobulin, a component in milk whey protein that causes allergies. The female calf was also born without a tail, according to the report today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The study can be seen as a proof-of-concept that tinkering with nutritional content genetically is possible, said William Hallman, director of the food policy institute at Rutgers University. More testing will be needed to determine the milk’s full dietary content, and scientists must consider the effects of breeding gene-altered animals, he said. The field has been controversial because of safety and environmental concerns.

via Genetically-Modified Cow Produces High-Protein Milk – Reason 24/7 : Reason.com.

Iconic Organic Industry Giants Missing in Action

Thursday, September 13th, 2012
UPDATE: We are pleased to report that Stonyfield Organic’s Gary Hirshberg contacted us and made a personal contribution and committed to supporting the Yes on 37 California ballot initiative. We are happy to remove him from the updated Missing in Action poster. For more details, click here.

Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Hain Celestial AWOL in GMO Food Labeling Fight

Sacramento, CA – Major players in the organic food market have been conspicuously silent in what has become the food fight of the decade.  This November, voters in California will have the opportunity to approve a ballot initiative (Proposition 37) that would require the labeling of all food products containing genetically engineered (GE) ingredients, commonly called GMOs

Major agribusiness and biotechnology corporations, like Monsanto, and food manufacturers, like Pepsico and General Mills, are spending tens of millions of dollars in their effort to deny the consumer’s right-to-know what they are eating.

via Cornucopia News | Cornucopia Institute.

Fall Festival
Sunday, October 14
12pm – 4pm

Join us to celebrate this years

Garden theme “Gardening For The Senses” at the festival.

Sensory Challenge – Take the sensory challenge where young and old will be challenged to identify natures touch, sounds, smells, tastes and sights>
Scavenger Hunt – Use your 5 senses to solve the clues that will lead you on a hunt through the Gardens.
Garden Games – Join Dennis Groomes in the Evergreen Garden for  games that will excite your senses.
Pumpkin Painting
Apple Tasting
Plant and Bulb Sales
Farm Market – some of the vendors from our weekly market will be here for your sense of taste.
Scarecrow Contest -Enter Here

via News from Rutgers Gardens.

Unsurprisingly, Big Food in general — and particularly companies like Monsanto that produce genetically engineered seeds and the ultraprofitable herbicides, pesticides and other materials that in theory make those seeds especially productive — have already thrown  tens of millions of dollars into defeating Prop 37. On the other side is a relatively underfunded coalition led by California Right to Know, which collected the necessary million-plus (yes!) signatures to get the proposition on the ballot. Although television advertising has just begun and its advocates would never say so, at the moment the bill seems assured of passage. Excellent. read more here G.M.O.’s: Let’s Label ‘Em – NYTimes.com.

The NOFA NJ Beginner Farmer Incubator by Eve Minson — Kickstarter

HI KICKSTARTER!!   Our tradition at NOFA-New Jersey has always been to promote local, organic agricultural products, for healthy environments and healthy communities. The demand for local, organic foods is high. But New Jersey farmers are retiring and all over the state, development continues to push out dwindling farmland. This is not a good situation. But we are doing SOMETHING about it!

To help address this, NOFA-NJ is launching the Beginning Farmer Incubator Program at Duke Farms in Hillsborough, NJ with the help of the USDA Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program Grant, bringing small scale farming back to New Jersey by helping train new farmers.

This is where YOU come in. We need YOUR HELP acquiring some basic and essential tools to make this program happen!

We need a Tiller – For field and bed preparation, to get fields ready for planting and to incorporate organic matter into the soil.

We need Irrigation – To get water out the farm fields, and to expand the irrigation to the (farm) fields to insure availability of water when needed.

We need a Vegetable Wash Station  – The proper washing of Vegetables in post-harvest handling will ensure food safety and freshness.

And finally we need a Cooler – We plan on building a low cost cooler so crops can be properly cooled and stored before being delivered to market.

This adds up to a project total of $15,000

We need this funding for equipment to build a viable community of future farmers. There should always be room for more farms so that there is value for everyone: on the land, and in your belly! Farming is everyone’s business. read more: The NOFA NJ Beginner Farmer Incubator by Eve Minson — Kickstarter.

Thank you for supporting our project!  Come visit our incubator soon.