Local Foods Connection has been receiving lots of good press this summer. You may have read the blog post here about the LFC feature that appeared in Today’s Dietitian last month. This month, be sure to pick up a copy of the relatively new journal Farmers’ Markets Today for more information about LFC.

The Farmers’ Markets Today feature, entitled “Local Foods Connection Combats Hunger and Supports Small Farmers” was written by yours truly and points to the many linkages between Local Foods Connection, farmers’ markets, local farmers, and low-income individuals. We’re thrilled that the folks at Farmers’ Markets Today were interested in spreading the news of a program like LFC in their pages.

Speaking of “yours truly,” though, this seems like a good chance to offer a brief introduction.

We’ve realized that because Local Foods Connection is so closely connected to the work of Laura Dowd - and for good reason! - many of our readers assume that Laura maintains the LFC blog. While Laura does write occasional posts, she has wisely delegated this task to one of LFC’s many volunteers so that she can continue to focus on the millions of other tasks she has to accomplish on a weekly basis. And that volunteer happens to be me - Hello!

My name is Caroline Gottschalk-Druschke and I have been volunteering for Local Foods Connection for about a year now. I lived in Iowa City during the 1990s, but I actually heard about LFC when I was living in Chicago working on a PhD in rhetoric at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I was searching the Local Harvest database for CSAs in the Iowa City area, and I stumbled across the listing for Local Foods Connection.

Happily for me, but sadly for the world, LFC’s description made it stick out like a sore thumb! I had never heard of a program whose purpose was, as the LFC description explains, to “purchase[] produce, bread, eggs, meat and other products from local earth-friendly farms and donate[] these goods to families who cannot afford such nutritious, tasty and fresh food… With your support, we assist families in need of a helping hand, strengthen our local foods network and empower the farmers who live and work just outside of your neighborhood.”

Wow! I immediately contacted Laura and offered to help her in any way that I could. She invited me to take over the blog after that, which seemed like a natural fit since it didn’t require being on site.

That was back in November and now, some nine months later, I’m still posting to the blog, spreading the word about LFC, and planning a move back to Iowa! My husband, Drew, and I will be back in Iowa City at the end of this month, where I will begin working on my field-based dissertation about - not surprisingly - local food, food security, and sustainable agriculture. Keep your eyes open for a post about my dissertation and school work and how it relates to LFC and to you! More to come on that, but, for now, thank you for reading!

Volunteer of the Week: Francoise Gourronc. Francoise Gourronc has taken on a large database entry project for LFC. She is also working exhaustively helping her friends and neighbors who have been affected by the flood.

Sponsor of the Week: We thank the wonderful restaurants that have donated gift certificates to Iowa City Flood Victims, including: Lou Henri, Olive Garden, Bennigans, Outback Steak House, Bostons, 126 Restaurant, Jimmy Jacks Rib Shack, Papa Murphys, The Wedge, Perkins, Zmariks, Three Samurai.

And, of course, thank you to everyone out there who has stepped up during this rough month.

Each year on the first Saturday in August, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Association celebrates Herbert’s Hoover’s birthday at Hooverfest. Visitors enjoy entertainment, food, arts, crafts and fun throughout the day. The event ends with a wreath-laying ceremony, a special tribute to Iowa’s Everday Heroes, and fabulous fireworks display choreographed to music.

Local Foods Connection will be one of the service organizations recognized as an “Everyday Hero.” During the day at the celebration, we will staff a booth to promote our work and we will include a homemade video with those from the other service organizations being shown inside the library-museum.

The evening event begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be hosted by Bruce Aune, news anchor at KCRG-TV Channel 9. The program features a performance by the Celebration Iowa Singers and Jazz band, patriotic music and the fireworks display. Admission is free.

To learn more, visit the Hoover Association website at:

http://www.hooverassociation.org/hooverfest.html

The June 2008 issue of Today’s Dietitian featured a great article on Local Foods Connection written by David Yeager.

Yeager interviewed LFC Executive Director, Laura Dowd, and the resulting feature story, “Local Foods Connection: Matching Needy Families with Healthy Resources,” focuses on the specific challenges faced by low-income families in accessing fresh, local produce. Yeager was quick to pick up on the fact that LFC does more than simply provide CSA shares to low-income families; just as essential are the educational opportunities provided by LFC for its clients. As Laura explains in the feature, “I found that [clients] don’t recognize so many of the vegetables, they don’t have the equipment to prepare the vegetables, they haven’t really cooked much fresh food in their life, and their neighbors and their families don’t have experience doing this. And so they were calling me and saying, ‘Laura, what the heck do I do with this stuff?’ So we had to slowly integrate more and more educational opportunities.”

What really comes across in the Today’s Dietitian feature is the spirit of fun and enthusiasm that runs through Local Foods Connection; it’s important to everyone at LFC that our clients enjoy their relationship with LFC, as they learn alot of useful information, try new foods, and have new experiences. Yeager also keyed in on the fact that LFC cares as much about local farmers as we do about our clients. As our name implies, that magic of LFC comes from connecting eaters, farmers, and advocates to promote healthy eating and support local food systems.

Thank you to Today’s Dietitian for featuring our work!

Dear Friends of Local Foods Connection:

1. Next time you go shopping, purchase something for a flood victim.

If you purchase goods for the Johnson County Crisis Center to distribute to flood victims and other clients, LFC will come to your house to pick up the donations and bring them to the center. So you don’t have to worry about your donation being too small; combined with the gifts from other friends of LFC, your gift will have a big impact! Next time you go shopping, purchase something for a flood victim. These items are in high demand:

All items hypoallergenic please! (such as the brands found in the organic or natural section of a store, or products designed for babies:

A. Shampoo

B. Conditioner

C. Liquid soap for hands and body

D. Lotion

E. Toothbrush (travel and regular size)

F. Toothpaste (travel and regular size)

G. Laundry detergent

H. Fabric softener

I. Dish soap

Also in demand are:

A. Paper towels

B. Paper napkins

C. Tissue paper

D. Diapers

E. Cleaners – such as 409 or Pine Sol

The Johnson County Crisis Center, as well as the local chapter of the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, need cash donations as well! (see below)

2. Next time you eat out, buy a meal for a flood victim!

LFC has been asking restaurants for donations of gift certificates for victims of the flooding in the Normandy / Eastmoor/ Manor Drive area of Iowa City. Many of those families did not have insurance and they are spending long, exhausting days cleaning out their homes. LFC volunteers thought the families could use a break and have a good meal prepared for them. We began handing out coupons this weekend and the families were happy to receive them.

So far, eight restaurants have donated over $300 in certificates! Thanks to Olive Garden, Boston’s, Domino’s Pizza, Jimmy Jack’s Rib Shack, Papa Murphy’s, Bennigan’s, Outback Steakhouse and The Wedge.

If you will be dining out during the next few days, considering purchasing a gift certificate for a flood victim. LFC will pick up and distribute them for you. And if you are familiar with the Idyllwild neighborhood, please contact us. We would be happy to have an escort take us around to those homes.

3. First pickup this Thursday, July 3.

If you have donations for the Johnson Crisis Center or for flood victims, LFC will be coming around on Thursday July 3 to pick them up. The earliest we will start picking up is 8:00 a.m. We will work through the day as needed.

If you have something to donate, please email us your address, phone and location where we can find the donation. If you will not be home, you can leave them on a porch or back step in a grocery bag marked “Flood Donations.”

Donations for Iowa City Area Flood Victims:

Prepared June 25, 2008

American Red Cross Grant Wood Area Chapter
PO Box 10375
Cedar Rapids, IA 52410-0375

(319) 393-3500

http://grantwood-redcross.org

serves Iowa City and Cedar Rapids

Johnson County Crisis Center

1121 Gilbert Court

Iowa City, Iowa 52240-4528

Crisis Center Business Related: 351-2726

Dawn, Development Director

Food Bank: 351-0128

Crisis Line: 351-0140

http://www.jccrisiscenter.org/

serves Johnson County

The Salvation Army

1116 Gilbert Court
Iowa City, IA 52240
phone: 319 337 3725
fax: 319 337 7114

http://www.icsalvationarmy.org/

serves Iowa City/Coralville

Local Foods Connection arranged a field trip to Sass Family Farm in Riverside this past Saturday for Prairie Brownie Troop #8715 of the Cedar Rapids College Community School District. Ali Alldredge is the leader of the troop and brought several children to the farm along with their siblings, cousins and mothers.

The brave and inquistive children ate fresh leaf lettuce taken straight from the plant, crushed dill stems in their fingers to release the aroma, and feed grain to pigmy goats. Maury Sass helped Laura Dowd give a tour of the farm to the Brownies, let them pet a baby rabbit, and roused two beautiful peacocks from their naps so that the children could see them. The children learned that male peacocks posses the amazing and colorful tail feathers so as to attract the attention of female peacocks.

The Prairie Brownie Troop has decided to volunteer for Local Foods Connection. This month they will be making small pots of herbs for each client, so that our families can experience growing food even if they don’t have a garden. Leader Ali Alldredge is also the web designer of the site: www.corridorlocavore.com. We are so glad Ali contacted us and look forward to working with the troop for years to come!

Thank you to Marlene Jessop and Francoise Gourronc for much of the following information:

FEMA Information:

DISASTER ASSISTANCE INFORMATION

Homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes, as well as private non-profit organizations affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding beginning May 25, can get the application process started. The toll-free number is open 24 hours, and online registration is available.

To apply by phone call 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362)

(TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired) Or apply online at www.fema.gov

IMPORTANT: Please have the following information available when you call:

• A phone number and a reliable alternate in case we need to call you back

• Address of the damaged property

• Brief description of damages

• Social Security number

• Insurance information (if you have insurance)

• Current mailing address

• Bank Account Information (if you are eligible for disaster assistance, you may choose to have the assistance check deposited directly into your bank account)

Government disaster assistance covers basic needs only and will not normally compensate you for your entire loss. If you have insurance, the government may help pay for basic needs not covered under your insurance policy. Some disaster aid does not have to be paid back, while other assistance may come in the form of loans.

For information on the process, or to register online, visit http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm

A Few Ways to Give:

New Pioneer Co-op is now accepting monetary donations to be routed to the Red Cross’ flood relief efforts. To make a contribution, visit any check-out lane at the Iowa City and Coralville locations.

The University of Iowa has also established a Flood Relief Fund. Visit http://www.givetoiowa.org/floodfund to lend your support. As the UI President Sally Mason explains,

“Gifts of all sizes are needed and appreciated, and our first priority is to assist UI students and employees who have been displaced from their homes by the flooding. After addressing these most immediate human concerns, we will use contributions to the fund (as available) at my discretion to address other areas of flood-related need throughout the campus.”

Go to www.corridorrecovery.org to find more opportunities for contributing to flood relief efforts.

Disease Prevention:

Health departments, health professionals, and the general public are making health inquiries about recent storms and flooding. The purpose of this web page is to highlight some precautions during flooding. Links and resources listed contain a variety of health and enviromental precautions. For any additional questions contact the Iowa Department of Public Health at 515-281-7689

The following links will provide you with additional information:

• ISU Flood Resource Information
• CDC Flood Resource Information
• Safety Information About Mosquito Repellent Use

Additional Resources:

• Flooding of Private Sewage Systems
• Cleaning Basements after a Flood
• Cleaning and Disinfecting
• Flood Contaminated Foods
• In an Emergency Discard or Salvage?
• Water Storage Containers
• Flooding and Child Care
• Mold Fact Sheet
• Mosquito Control Spraying — 5/27/04
• Deciding What to Salvage
• Immunization Issues

For more information:

· Call 1-800-362-2736

· Environmental Health Concerns contact (515) 281-0921

For International Students:

Assistance in Flood Recovery. OISS is preparing information on resources that can assist international students who have had a loss from the flood. While students here as nonimmigrants (F-1 and J-1) do not qualify for US or State government assistance unless they have US citizen children, other agencies will have assistance available. As soon as we can obtain accurate, complete information we will distribute this via our listserve and put the details on our website. We will also have some limited funds available through the OISS Emergency Fund, and are developing procedures for students who need to apply for this assistance. Please do not contact us about Emergency Funds applications until we announce the process; we will give everyone sufficient time to apply and be considered.

Several groups, both on campus and off campus, have volunteered time and effort to assist students in any way needed—taking you to the store, moving items, cleaning up, or even just watching your children while you take care of necessary business. We are waiting to confirm contact information for these groups and we will send that out in a future message (probably tomorrow) and post this on our website. These are honest, open, and generous offers to help so please contact these volunteers for any type of help; nothing will be too little or big to assist with.

There may be University resources available to all students and that information will be distributed as it is received.

Class Resumption, Withdrawals and Immigration. Summer session classes will resume this coming Monday and all students will be able to complete this term. Classes may be moved—check ISIS to see if that is the case with your schedule. Provost Lopes has announced the continuation of classes and processes for withdrawal should students wish to do so. This is on the web at http://uiflood.blogspot.com/2008/06/interim-provost-lopes-issues-statement.html. Should you choose to withdraw, if you were enrolled in spring 2008 at UI you are not under an immigration obligation for enrollment and thus can withdraw without an immigration problem. If you are new to UI this summer, immigration law does require you to be enrolled, but we have contacted the Department of Homeland Security to request a waiver of that requirement and expect to have an approval given. Students who are new this summer and who plan to withdraw must see an OISS advisor before withdrawing.

Contact Information. Until we reopen, you can contact Scott King via our emergency number, 319-384-2229. When we reopen on Monday, we will have extended advising hours from 9 am to 12 noon and 1 to 4 pm.

International students who are here in F-1 or J-1 status cannot receive assistance from FEMA, unless they have a US citizen child. But assistant is available through private sources. The Crisis Center is providing significant financial support to cover those people and circumstances that FEMA does not cover. Applicants must make an appointment to see a counselor, and right now there is a two week wait for an appointment, which can be made at 351-0140. We will have more information on resources that will be available next week.

Several groups have come forward to volunteer assistance to students and scholars who need help with such things as transportation, cleaning, moving, etc. COGS can be reached at cogs@cogs.org, mark-salisbury@uiowa.edu, or 337-5074; Grace Community Church of North Liberty is offering assistance, call them at 626-2040. Other groups that have volunteered include the Graduate Student Senate, OASIS, and UI Ambassadors. The volunteer groups are meeting this coming Monday at 1 pm in the International Commons next to OISS offices. Anyone who would like to join this meeting to help coordinate efforts is invited to attend.

OISS will reopen Monday with extended advising hours of 9-12 noon and 1-4 pm.

]]> http://localfoodsconnection.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/flood-relief-donations/feed/ caroline@LFC Adobe Acrobat Logo Adobe Acrobat Logo Adobe Acrobat Logo Adobe Acrobat Logo Adobe Acrobat Logo Adobe Acrobat Logo Adobe Acrobat Logo Adobe Acrobat Logo Adobe Acrobat Logo Adobe Acrobat Logo Adobe Acrobat Logo http://localfoodsconnection.wordpress.com/2008/06/16/a-message-from-lfc-director-laura-dowd/ http://localfoodsconnection.wordpress.com/2008/06/16/a-message-from-lfc-director-laura-dowd/#comments Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:33:19 +0000 caroline@LFC http://localfoodsconnection.wordpress.com/?p=189

Dear Friends of Local Foods Connection:

Iowa City is suffering from historic levels of flooding. Here is a link to an Associated Press story:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080615/ap_on_re_us/midwest_flooding

The main office of Local Foods Connection in Iowa City is dry and is not threatened by flood waters. However, a handful of our families have been displaced by the flood and are at-risk at losing almost everything they own. In addition, some of our volunteers have been forced to evacuate their homes.

All of the CSA farms which serve Local Foods Connection clients in Iowa City are still operating but the farmers are under a great deal of stress. Harvesting in the mud and rain is exhausting and it can damage the soil – their most valuable asset. Some of their crops are suffering from overwatering and are becoming more susceptible to disease and pests, and might even die. In addition, the farmers’ still-unplanted fall crops are threatened. Farmers cannot till wet soil, nor can they plant seeds or seedlings in the water-logged fields. Our farmers need several days of dry, sunny weather to get their operations back in order.

Local Foods Connection also serves families and farmers in the Cedar Rapids and Des Moines areas. Both of these cities are also experiencing tremendous flooding. I worry that our whole program in Cedar Rapids might be cancelled this year. Our CSA Farm there, Moser’s Wildwood Gardens, run by Virginia and Marion Moser, began suffering from the rainy spring nearly two months ago and has not yet been able to even start its CSA. The Center for Fit Families at Mercy Hospital is our main contact in Cedar Rapids and we do not know yet how much they have suffered from the floods.

Our mission at Local Foods Connection is to serve sustainable ag farmers and low-income families. In the coming days, we hope to find news ways to help our friends suffering from the flooding. If you have needs or suggestions for how we can help, please email or call our office.

Laura Dowd, Executive Director

Contact via email

(319) 338-2010

News Release
For Immediate Release
June 12, 2008

Contact: Sally Worley, Practical Farmers of Iowa, (515) 232-5661
Susan Jutz, (319)929-5032

Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day will Highlight Organic Vegetable Seed Treatment, Farmer Networking Group, and Conservation Security Program

Susan Jutz, owner of ZJ Farms, is hosting a Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day at her farm near Solon on June 29 at 5:00 p.m. The field day will involve a tour with a light dinner and discussion to follow. The event will include an organic essential oil seed treatment demonstration for peas. Traci Bruckner from Center for Rural Affairs will give a presentation about the new Conservation Security Program (CSP). Susan Jutz will talk about an effort funded by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) to create a farmer-led networking group in Eastern Iowa.

“More and more people are looking for food that is locally grown. We don’t have enough farmers to grow the food, specifically the vegetables to meet this expanding market demand,” said Susan. “The SARE project will create a farmer-led networking group where experienced farmers will provide one-on-one support to new or transitioning farmers. These groups will help new and potential growers be successful thus helping supply the growing demand for local food.” If you are interested in joining the farmer support group, attend the field day or contact Susan at (319) 929-5032.

ZJ Farms is an 80-acre diversified farm. Susan direct markets organically raised lambs from a 45-ewe flock, direct markets organically raised hogs, and is a principal partner and vegetable grower for a Community Supported Agriculture program in the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids area that serves 250 members.

Directions to ZF Farms: 5025 120th St, Solon. From Solon, 3 miles north on Hwy1; 3 miles east on 120th St.; large white house and barn beside road. Space for tents available.

This field day is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Sustaining sponsors for Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Days are the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University Extension, Iowa Pork Producers Association, American Natural Soy, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service, Midwest Organic Services Association, Henry A. Wallace Endowed Chair for Sustainable Agriculture, and the CROPP Cooperative of Organic Valley/ Organic Prairie Family of Farms. Major sponsors for the Field Days are Wheatsfield Cooperative Natural Foods Grocery, Hubbard Feeds, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Iowa Forage and Grasslands Council, King Corn and Mosaic Films, and the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.

PFI is a non-profit sustainable agriculture group dedicated to farming that is profitable, environmentally sound, and healthy for consumers and communities. Founded in 1985, PFI has over 700 farmer and non-farmer members throughout Iowa. For more information, call 515-232-5661 or visit www.practicalfarmers.org.

Resources:

The Press-Citizen • June 10, 2008