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Outpost News Archive 2005
1/27/2005 Hello! Here's the latest from the Last Organic Outpost:
2/23/2005
Howdy All - Ready for Spring? Spring is bustin' out all over the Last Organic Outpost Gardens. The three in one apple tree is in bloom, the beds are full of Arrugula, Dinosaur Kale, Dill, Cilantro, Heirloom Lettuces (15 types), Micro Greens and little green sprouts coming up all over. Saturday Work Days in the Garden - Two different church groups will be working in the garden this Saturday. Joe will be out in the garden with visitors all day Saturday (10 am to 4 pm) Feel free to stop by to pitch in. We will be creating potato beds using old discarded tires. Linda Paisley and Amigos de las Americas will be back to work in the Garden on Saturday, March 5th. The Amigos have done great work in the garden and are featured in a fantastic documentary video produced by our good friend Dorman. Our thanks to Linda and the Amigos for your dedication and support. Thanks to Dorman as well for taking time to film and produce such a wonderful documentary video. Downtown's Market Square,
which was home to an open-air market from 1840 to 1929, is open once again
Saturdays from 9am to 2pm. Downtown shoppers can enjoy the outdoors as
they peruse the wares of various vendors set up in this revitalized market.
Look for the Last Organic Outpost volunteers when you stop by, as soon
as we can sell it, we will be out there with salad mix. Go Bananas - that convenient yellow fruit with the famous slippery peel may help keep your kidneys healthy.New evidence suggests that eating bananas regularly may help reduce the risk of kidney cancer. New evidence suggests that eating bananas regularly may help reduce the risk of kidney cancer. Root vegetables, such as carrots and beets, and leafy green vegetables also appeared to have a protective effect. Raw Food A-Z; Learn Essential
Techniques, Raw Food A-Z is a comprehensive class that teaches you the building blocks of raw food preparation. After this class, you’ll have all the information you need to prepare dozens of raw food recipes, including sprouts, juices, smoothies, breakfast cereals, non-dairy milks and cheeses, dehydrated cookies and crackers, creamy soups,salad dressings, and guilt- free desserts.To register, visit www.learnrawfood.com/register.htm or call 773-347-1215. Raw Food A-Z can be taken as a stand-alone course, or as the first step in a certification program, which includes the following courses: •
Raw Food Made Easy For more information about certification courses,
visit www.learnrawfood.com/courses.htm
CLEAN PRESENTS SERIES ON
BUILDING A BETTER WORLD The project is offering education and information that can bring a perspective of hope and inspire action employing solutions to environmental problems available today. The project also offers ideas for sustainable living in an area in dire need of protection and care. Topics to be included are green building, permaculture, biomimicry; the art of recycling, and creating healthy spaces for children to learn, live and play. Presentations for the community, based on the series, will be given by speakers who include scientists, activists, and other professionals from CLEAN¹s executive board and board of advisers, as well as experts interviewed for the series. To read more about this project visit cleanhouston.org
Announcements: Our condolences to Perri - our web wrangler who's mom passed away last week. Perri has done, and continues to do, a great job with our website. For those of you trying to reach Joe - his new e-mail address is joenelsonicet@yahoo.com. If you would like to schedule a visit to the garden please give us at least 24 hours notice. You can call (956) 793-5903 to set up a time for your visit. That's it for now.... Remember to Grow What You Eat and Eat What You Grow! -Lezlea
3/4/2005
Howdy Y'all! Happy Texas Independence Day! Working this Weekend! This weekend, will be a busy one for the Last Organic Outpost. Saturday the Amigos de Las Americas will be back out to work with Carol Burton on various projects in the garden. Thanks to the church groups and all who came out to help last weekend - especially Carol, Melinda, Jim, Zoli, Joe, Arlene, Keldren, Liberty and Indica. Picking Greens Take a Peek at Houston's
Market Square Presenting Village Agriculture Come and Get It! Nancy's Marinated Kale Salad - by Nancy Sorenson
I'm a raw foodist and vegetarian, so my favorite recipe is to simply marinate garden fresh kale (torn from the stems into bite size pieces) in several tablespoons of Nancy's Naturally Vitality Dressing. Let it sit several hours, or overnight for best flavor. Voilá - one of the easiest salads and most nutritious ways to eat kale. Kale is is a high protein green super rich in sulphur-residues important for fat digestion!
Houston's FIRST Texas State Certified Market! Houston Farmers Market
3/18/2005
Hi All - Welcome to Spring! WORK WITH
THE AMIGOS PICKING AND PACKING GREENS GREENS TO SELL
COOKING RAW - EASY ENTREES No matter how delicious a raw soup or salad is, it can't replace a good "main dish". When most people sit down for a formal lunch or dinner, they like to see an entrée, something impressive in the center of the plate that can stand on it's own. You don't have to spend hours making dehydrated mock pizzas or mock burgers to make a raw entrée. With only a few common greens or vegetables and some leftover paté or dip, you can use the techniques of stacking, stuffing, and rolling to create an elegant entrée in a matter of minutes. Stacking transforms tomatoes and pesto into elegant "Tomato Stacks", and transforms zucchini slices, marinated mushrooms, and Marinara into Lasagna. If you have a paté or guacamole on hand, you can make Stuffed Bell Peppers or Tomatoes, or Stuffed Mushrooms in 5 minutes. Rolls are the classic entrée, Stuffed Chard Leaves, Garden Wraps, and Spring Rolls make delicious, satisfying rolls, which can either be picked up and eaten as a finger food, or cut with a knife and a fork. If you place the entrée on the center of a plate, leaving some white space around the food, you will keep portions smaller and make the dish appear more elegant. AYURVEDIC COOKING CLASS Saturday, April 2, 2005 at 10 AM At
GREAT AMERICAN MEATOUT PICNIC Join us in the Park, Sunday, March 20, from 1-4 at Christia Adair Park at the Great American Meatout. for free vegan hotdogs, interesting speakers, great music & educational booths. March 20th each year vegans & vegetarians across the country ask our fellow citizens to give up meat for a day. This year we make it easy for you by supplying free vegan hot dogs with all the trimmings. Pack a picnic lunch. Enjoy a Sunday picnic in the park. WHEN: Sunday, March 20 from 1-4pm Directions from downtown:Take Hwy 59 south to Hwy
288 south. Continue on Hwy 288 to Beltway 8 (10 miles).
BLOW THE WHISTLE ON ASTHMA WALK Early Registration 8:00 a.m. Walk Begins at 9:00 a.m.Distance: 3 Miles Help Make Strides for Finding a Cure for Asthma at the 2005 Blow the Whistle on Asthma Walk on Saturday, April 2 at Tom Bass Regional ParkJoin Mothers for Clean Air and the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention (GHASP) and raise money to fight asthma and clean the air. Bring your family for a fun way to get some exercise. The walk is a three-mile loop that even kids can complete. Asthma Walk is not a race or test of fitness. This is a chance for people who care about asthma and other lung diseases and clean air to gather together, meet each other, and have fun! There is no registration fee, but if you raise $100 you will get a free T-shirt. Throughout the morning, there will be complimentary food and beverages for all participants, live music, costumed characters and other activities and games for kids. There will also be free lung screenings and asthma education. Tom Bass Park is just south of Beltway 8 and east of 288. The Walk will be in Section 1 of the park. Every year approximately 5,000 people die from asthma. It is the leading cause of school absenteeism and number one cause of hospitalization in children. In fact, this disease affects more than 20 million Americans. Money raised will support the American Lung Association efforts to reduce people's suffering from asthma and search for a cure through research, community and school programs, and state and federal advocacy. Mothers for Clean Air is proud to be a part of this important community event and hope that you will make a donation to support this cause that affects more than a million Texans. We hope to see you there!
TIDBITS Organic Hing Update Su writes in response to Loren's question about Organic Hing in the Houston area: "In response to Loren, I buy all my hing or asafetida at indian grocery markets. No promises that it's organic, but I trust the source more than others. Whole Foods has it overpriced in a fancy container. At the indian stores you get a big bag of it for little. Here's a tip: I buy all my soap there: Neem and sandelwood all for 99cents! I like Patel brothers the best on Hillcroft at Harwin on South side." Garden Party and Lettuce Tasting March 20 - Camille Waters’ annual Garden Party/Lettuce Tasting will be held 1 to 4 pm at 603 Blossom (at Jackson Hill) and benefits the Chef’s Collaborative and Urban Harvest. Tickets are $30 at the door. Local chefs will be using Waters’ produce in their food samples, plus there will be a garden craft market, Texas wines and organic beer. Garden party dress and prizes for "Totally Fun and Crazy Garden Hats." Spring Cleaning Class Spring Cleaning Class, taught by wellness consultant John Rose, will take you through his 9-point program on fasting, cleansing and rebuilding your body at Casa Azul,this Saturday March 19 from 11 to 2. Since this is not a cooking class but a valuable health seminar, it will include a demonstration on how to grow and juice wheat grass, we will prepare nutritious snacks for you and provide hand out recipes. John Rose will guest host Hitaji Aziz' Earth 101 show on KPFT Tuesday (10-noon) on Men's Health (March 22) Happy Birthday to our Outpost friend Justin - who will turn 17 years old on March 24th. Thanks to all who have helped this week: Indica, Liberty, Carol, Zoli, Joe, David, Greg and all who helped pick and bag greens! Volunteers like you make it all happen! That's it for now...Remember: Grow What You Eat and Eat What You Grow. Lezlea
3/25/2005
Hi All - Wow - Easter weekend already! Tonight Carol Burton, Joe, Indica and others will be in the garden to harvest the last of the cool weather lettuce. The harvest is scheduled to begin at 5:30 and will end with a bonfire and cookout. After the cool weather lettuce is harvested - we may not have another crop for a while. The weather is just getting too warm for the tender greens we have planted right now. Joe has been researching warm weather lettuces and greens for a spring and summer greens mix. If you have any suggestions, Joe would love to hear them. You can reach him at (713) 875-9569. Joe will have dirt - Joe's Magic Mix at the Garden this weekend. You can also find Joes Magic Mix at Wabash Antiques and Feed , Buchanan's, and Market Square Market. We want to thank all the volunteers that made last weekend a success. Carol, Indica, Joli, Monty, Glen, Camille and their children all helped with the pick. Janice Blue harvested greens from the garden for the class on cleansing held Saturday morning. From what I hear the class was a great success! The following is a note Janice recently forwarded to me in response to someones question about organic foods in the area: We are so fortunate to have a great Coop movement and organic farmer's markets in this area. The Central City Coop (2115 Taft in the same building
as the Taft Street Cafe) is open Wednesdays from 9 to 6 and Saturdays
from 9 to 1. There are also three popular Farmer's Markets on Saturday
mornings: Also, we are doing a raw foods class and field trip to the Last Organic Outpost on Saturday, April 16, calling it the Garden of Vegan class...We will carpool from Casa Azul, 1708 Rosewood, I hope you can come to this. It is so wonderful seeing what one person can accomplish... Joe Icet turned an abandoned lot into an organic paradise of bountiful greens. We will pick them and Nancy Sorenson will prepare all sorts of neat recipes... so we will picnic there. How cool is that? Thanks for the nice words Janice... and for all of your great support! Greg sold greens for us at Market Square Market and Carol took greens for sale to the Urban Harvest Market. After dropping off greens, Carol rushed over to the Garden to meet Linda Paisley and the Amigos de las Americas. The Amigos helped clean out the beds, harvest lettuce we took to Market Square Market and to a local food pantry. Some was reserved for sale on Wednesday night too. Look for photos of the Amigos in the Garden, of Joe at Market Square Market, and of the Garden's bounty to be posted on the website soon. We wish Keldren a Happy Birthday - We hope it was a great one! Have a great Easter Weekend!! See Ya in the Garden - Lezlea
3/31/2005 Hi All - It's that time of year again - this weekend we all need to remember to "Spring Forward" and set our clocks ahead one hour. It's time to "Spring Forward" in the garden as well. Wanted: Bed Builders! Joe has been working hard in the garden this week preparing for our warm weather crops. He has 44 yards of dirt and is looking for volunteers to help build out new beds in the back part of the Outpost Garden. We are still looking for suggestions for things to plant, so if you have any, give Joe a call at 713-565-9569, he'd love to hear from you. Picking Party We'll be out picking again this Friday night. Come by and we'll make it a picking party. Bring your family, something to take your own greens home in, and mosquito spray - just in case. We'll have the campfire out there again as well - bring blankets and marshmallows. Fixin' Up The Outpost Play Ground Joe reports that Monty has volunteered to help "fix up" the Outpost Playground area. If any of you have any small playground equipment you'd like to donate - give us a call or drop us a line. Toys that are good for playing in the dirt would be great too. Juice It Up! For those of you who are juicing - there are plenty of greens for juicing in the garden right now. Come by and pick some this weekend. Thanks Janice Blue for letting us know about that great juicing and cleansing class a couple of weeks ago. The following are more great classes Janice sent in: This Saturday, April 2 Spring Break but...we will host a Two Day Raw Foods Certification Workshop, April 2 & 3 from 10am to 7pm to be presented by Lynda Carter, certified Nutritional Consultant & Live Food Chef (www.aliveandraw.com) Alive and raw two day workshop will empower your life. This two day live food preparation workshop will teach you how to prepare delicious and nutritious Live Soul Foods that heal, asthma, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, emotional disorders . And so much more. Enjoy new found energy and wellness. Learn what foods and juices improve your eyesight, lower your glucose levels and rejuvenate your body. Learn To Prepare - Live Bread - Cake, Crackers - Pies,
Live Cheese, Milk &Ice Cream, Pizza & Lasagna, Bar B Q ... 3 meals
daily Please bring your appetite.
April 9 - Raw Vegan Sunday Brunch Buffet Raspberry Mint Tea more classes to come in April and May... You may register for class by calling (713) 522-6899 or sending an email to: info@govegantexas.org. Please include your home/work/cell phone numbers and indicate the class or classes you wish to register for. If it is a gift for someone else, please include both your and their contact information. You will receive a set of typed recipes for each class. To Market, To Market To Buy Substantial Greens: Market Square Market: Joe and Greg will be out at Market Square Market again this Saturday. Historic Market Square Market is located at Travis and Preston in the heart of Downtown Houston. Bayou City Farmers Market, 3000 Richmond, is the market sponsored by Urban Harvest where Carol takes the Last Organic Outpost Substantial Greens salad mix! They actually outsold the downtown Market Square Market in salad mix. The Bayou City Farmers Market features only local growers that directly market their own produce and products, produced within a 150 mile radius of downtown Houston. They have a section called the Gardeners Corner, for small growers. The larger vendors have their own tables. Starting Wednesday March 30th, visit our Bayou City Farmers' Market on Wednesday evenings from 4-7pm for fresh organic produce. Visit their website at: www.urbanharvest.org/farmmarket/
Festivals and Events:
Devonshire Apothecary of Austin sent in the following info about upcoming herb festivals:The Rockport Herb Festival this Saturday, April 2nd in Rockport, TX. For more information call (361) 729-5046 or visit the website at www.rockportherb.com
There will also be a Herb Festival in Woodville on April 9th. For more information call Nelda's Herbs and More (866) 699-4372.
Art Festivals:
Market Square Market - Every Saturday Market Square Market is not just a place to get your greens! Market Square Market has a variety of vendors and live entertainment.
Check it out Saturdays - 9am to 4pm. Travis and Preston in the Heart of Historic Downtown Houston.
This Saturday at market Square Market you can pick up your Substantial Greens from the Last Organic Outpost booth, walk a few feet and get a massage, see a variety of entertainment including Flamenco Guitar, Bellydancers, Drummers, Bagpipers, Clowns and more.
RioFest - April 15th, 16th & 17th On behalf of the RioFest Board of Directors, I invite you and your families to visit the Rio Grande Valley to attend RioFest, Harlingen's Annual Festival Celebrating the Arts. This year's theme is Art Through the Eyes Of Children.
See Houston's Jim McKenzie performing his juggling feats on the Art in Action Stage and stop by to see the infused oil demo at Market Square Market vendor Brandi McNallen's Endless Natural Products Tent located near the Art in Action Stage. Additional entertainment includes: Kachunga & the Alligator Show, Hypnotist Ken Whitener, Dr. Skateboard, Creatures Great & Small petting zoo a laser light show and the musical talents of Just Plain Trouble, Raven's Own, Key West, Thomas "Big Hat" Fields and a Salute to Bill Haley starring the original Comets. ,
For photos, directions, and more, visit www.riofest.org
3rd ANNUAL ARTIST SANDCASTLE SOCIAL , April 24th Dorman - a great friend of the Outpost - invites us all to come play in the sand at the 3rd ANNUAL ARTIST SANDCASTLE SOCIAL 3.2 miles down the beach just north of Surfside, TX .
rules are few: a team is one or more people.
Well that wraps it up for this week - remember grow what you eat and eat what you grow! - Lezlea
4/08/2005 Happy Friday All! Here's this weeks news - Picking Party This Friday Garden Makeover - No, It's Not Another Reality Show! Monty and Zoli are working on a playground makeover - donations of toys and playground equipment are still needed. If your children, grandchildren, friend's children, etc. have any outdoor toys that they have outgrown or do not play with we can put them to good use here! All kinds of outdoor toys are welcomed. Thank You Ngon Kau for the chinese beans to plant. Any one else with a specific herb, vegetable or fruit you would like to see planted please send us your suggestions and/or seeds. Joe could use the help if you'd like to stop by this weekend and get your hands in the dirt. Just give him a call he'll be out there working Saturday and Sunday. His number is 713-875-9569 (this number is correct - I printed the wrong number last time - sorry!) Get Your Greens! Carol Burton sends this note: Part of the procceeds from sales at the Bayou City Farmers Market will go towards the purchase of hand tools for Port Houston Elementary! So, come out to the Bayou City Farmers Market, 3000 Richmond, to support the green market and school youth in gardening! Bayou City Farmers' Market is open Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings for fresh organic produce. Check them out at:www.urbanharvest.org/farmmarket/.
A Fruit for Lung Health? Eating a couple of apples per week could reduce the
risk of developing asthma and improve overall lung function, new research
has revealed. Apples contian a variety of health-promoting phytochemicals,
including quercetin, which may be the reason for the lung-boosting benefits.
Don't Forget - Raw Cooking in the Garden with Nancy
Sorenson This one of three articles Janice sent to me this
week re: Whole Foods to Label GMO-free Products A coalition of six social responsibility funds controlling a combined $21 million in Whole Foods stock had introduced a proxy ballot proposal to require the company to label its brands GMO-free, but the measure failed to garner sufficient votes. Although the company did not present a timeline, Mackey said Whole Foods would move forward on the initiative despite the failed vote, and was already in the early stages of re-evaluating its ingredient auditing processes. "I think this is a terrific, farsighted act on the part of the company, and we're very pleased that they decided to do this," Shelly Alpern, assistant vice president and director of social research for Trillium Asset Management, told SN. In a review of the company's most recent annual report, Mackey noted that Whole Foods had its best year ever in 2004, with 14.9% comparable-store sales growth leading to a 23% increase in sales over 2003, to just under $4 billion. Matthew Enis See ya next week - That's it from the Outpost for now... - Lezlea
5/20/2005 Good Afternoon All - There will be a Spanish and Construction 101 tomorrow in the Outpost Garden. Joe and Jose will be working to construct a shed for the cistern that the Egineers Wthout Borders constructed in the Outpost Garden. Jose is a master at building utilizing recycled materials and he will be teaching us to how to do the same. Jose's primary language is Spanish - so we'll get a little lesson in Spanish as a bonus! Time: 8:30am to 4:30pm
A Message From Joe Nelson: "I have bween working the garden every since I left work. I have the garden by the house looking good. I plan on planting watermelons and summer lettuce. I have been working in the garden by the house in the mornings and in the afternoon after 2 working at the Outpost. The Outpost Garden had 5 people out Monday night and 6 Tuesday night for the juicing. The last couple of evenings have been great." Joe and Co. were on Janice Blue's radio program Monday to help with fundraising for the show, the station and public radio in general. We appreciate all who called in to show their support during the show! Janice is and has been a great friend of the Outpost. And Public Radio... in my opinion... is something we should all appreciate! That's it for today... Have a Great weekend and be sure to stop by the garden this weekend to participate in the workshop, enjoy the scenery, or learn more about juicing. Lezlea
5/25/2005 Hello All! Joe's retirement and full time attention to the Last Organic Outpost Gardens has been a blessing! The Garden is gorgeous right now with flowers in bloom, plants sprouting, and fruits ripening. If you haven't been by lately, don't miss the garden in it's spring splendor! A recent visitor called the garden "romantic". We have young arugula and cherry tomatoes ready for picking in the Garden this week. Cheryl, from Conroe, was out there yesterday and could not believe the size of the cherry tomato vines, she said "They look like they are 10 feet tall and they're full of tomatoes!" She and her daughter-in-law Wendy had a great afternoon in the Garden picking and and sampling the bounty. There's nothing better for a springtime salad than a few sprigs of spicy arrugula and some juicy red cherry tomatoes. Keeping the garden beautiful and healthy requires a lot of effort and elbow grease. Joe asks that anyone interested in helping to water in the mornings, or in helping with any of the other chores in the Garden, such as weeding, planting, mixing compost, etc. please e-mail him at joenelsonicet@yahoo.com. Thanks to the Amigos de las Americas who helped plant watermelon, corn and squash and to begin work on the Garden Shed project with Jose on Saturday. Thanks also to Dorman, Nancy,Indica, Liberty, Monica, Wanda and everyone else who came throughout the week to support urban agriculture in the Historic Fifth Ward of Houston.
Events Come Juice with Us!: Juicing for Health with Joe Nelson Icet in the Outpost Garden every evening this week from 6 to 8 pm. If you are a juicer, or are just interested in learning more about juicing, this is a great way to network with others and enjoy a relaxing evening surrounded by the beauty of nature. Spanish and Construction 101: Building continues in the Garden this Saturday, May 28th. Joe and Jose will begin work to finish construction of the garden shed at 8:30 am. Thanks again to the Amigos that gave us a hand in beginning this building project. Raw Food Pot Luck: Taft Street Coffee House will hold a Raw Pot Luck Dinner tomorrow night (Thursday). For directions to Taft Street Coffee House and more information on the event write to Joe at joenelsonicet@yahooo.com.
Protein
for the Pancreas In a recent study, people who ate the most processed meats, such as hot dogs, bacon, cold cuts, and sausage, had as much as a 67 percent increase in their risk of pancreatic cancer. Protein choices such as fish, poultry, and eggs were not associated with an increased risk of the disease. Wake-up Call Breakfast eaters consume fewer calories throughout the day and have better blood lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity than breakfast skippers, a recent study concludes. Low-fat yogurt with fruit, granola with skim milk, or whole-grain toast with peanut butter are all great choices to start your day. That's the news for today - Please let me know if you have any news, events, recipes, or anything that may be of interest to the friends of the Last Organic Outpost. -- Lezlea
6/10/2005 Hi All - Keeping Cool? I sure hope so! Whew it's hot and Summer hasn't even begun. If you are planning to spend time outdoors - perhaps visiting the Last Organic Outpost Gardens, be sure to dress appropriately and drink lots of water. Appropriate attire for visiting the garden is cool and casual. You may want to wear long pants and a long sleeved shirt to protect you from mosquitos and poison ivy. Unfortunately we do have both out there, but that does not take away from the beauty and bounty of the garden. Joe reports: The tractor is still down and we need help getting it up and running. We have a lot of compost ready for the garden key to movinhg it. The tractor is the key to getting it moved to the garden to develop the back area. The shed is completed thanks to Nancy, Ginger, Dr. Jackie, Jose and everyone else. Soon, we will begin a workshop to build a compost toilet. Joe also talked to Daniel about a workshop to convert an engine to run on vegtable oil. We need help in watering the garden in the afternoons and morning. Anyone interested in helping can contact Joe at joenelsonicet@yahoo.com. Also if anyone needs Joe to check out their Air Conditioning, just contact him at the same e-mail address. Joe also reports that the garden by the house is up and running with watermelon and corn, the Outpost has a new sheld and the entire garden is planted. Joe still hasn't used the cistern for water storage but maybe with good help we can make that happen soon. We have bagged mushroom compost at the Outpost in the front entrance. Support urban agriculture, support a local garden. Joe knows of very few crops to grow in the summer hot weather and would like to pursue the idea of a international garden with food from all over the world grown in similiar climates or mirco climates. Please send in any suggestions.
A Message From CLEAN - "I noticed on your website there was some information on one of our organization's latest projects, Building a Better World. As it turns out, the latest installment of our series of articles is on the benefits of locally grown foods." The article is available online at: http://www.cleanhouston.org/living/better_world/localfood.htm.
REMINDER AND CORRECTION: Saturday, June 11, 2005 9:00 am – 11:30 am
The City’s Role in Industrial Inspections Dan Hoyt, P.E.
AGENDA 8:45 Continental Breakfast Remember to attend the Mothers for Clean Air Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 11 from 9:00 - 11:30 AM. Come early to enjoy a free continental breakfast! From Janice Blue: Have you all seen this delightful little video about organic farming? It would be great to show to kids. Store Wars: www.storewars.org
A Note From Jules: This is to let you know that if you are taking Cody's Herb class at Tranquil Thymes, they need you to call them and reserve your space and to let them know if you are taking the July 30th class or the August 20th class. The number for Tranquil Thymes is 281-528-9419 . This is one class you will not want to miss!! The price will be $45.00 so let Linda/Enola know as space is going to be limited to 25 or so people per class. Cody will be sending out a description of the class
to all and for Tranquil Thymes to put in their news letter. To be honest
with you, I have not seen any class like this in Houston...or in all my
years with BMS. So act now and sign up.
Real Age Tips Apricot Delight A small handful of apricots contains 480 milligrams of potassium, a mineral found in many fruits and vegetables. Research shows this mighty mineral helps control blood pressure. Mix dried, chopped apricots with a handful of nuts and seeds for a high-protein, mineral-rich trail mix. Brimming with Health Compounds in green and black teas have a healthful impact on several markers of heart disease risk, but debate continues as to which kind of tea is healthiest. Recent research suggests it may be a dead heat. In a study, green and black tea appeared equally protective against fatty arterial plaque buildup. Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Remember, Grow what you Eat and Eat what you Grow! -Lezlea
6/23/2005
Hello All- Welcome to Summer! During this time the Gardens at the Outpost need extra attention - especially watering! Volunteers are welcome to come out and help Joe water in the mornings and evenings. Just give him a call at 713-261-5903 or e-mail him at joenelsonicet@yahoo.com and let him know when you would like to come out to the Outpost. Those of you who have not seen the Gardens in a while will be amazed at the progress. The shed built by Jose, Joe and other friends of the Outpost is a great addition. The rocking horse swing is up for the little garden visitors and there are hooks up for grown up garden visitors to hang a hammock and relax in the beauty of our little oasis in the heart of Downtown Houston. I would like to send a BIG thanks out to Deborah Wrigley and he crew at KTRK Channel 13 who spent all day with us in the garden to shoot a story on the Outpost which aired last Thursday at 4pm. I would also like to thank Nancy Sorenson who spent Sunday in the Garden with Joe sprucing up for the shoot on Monday. Nancy was back on Monday for the Channel 13 story, along with several other volunteers who helped water, pick and who appeared in the story - Thanks to all for your help and support! Speaking of support...here comes the money part... Our web wrangler Perri has added a Pay Pal link to the website to make it easier for those who want to contribute to the continuing growth and success of the Last Organic Outpost - which is a 501c-3 tax deduct able non-profit organization. All help is appreciated. If you missed the News last week - Joe turned the big 50 on June 14th. Happy Birthday JOE!!!
A Tip from RealAge: Seek out a handful of almonds for a serving of a potential Parkinson's fighter. A diet packed with vitamin E may help protect against Parkinson's disease, recent research concludes, and almonds are a good source. Parkinson's is a chronic neurological condition that hampers motor function. Other good food sources of antioxidant vitamin E include hazelnuts, wheat-germ oil, sweet potatoes, and peanut butter. That's the News for this week. Thanks to those of you who sent in suggestions for hot weather crops - keep them coming. I would also love to have you send in your favorite summer time recipes for peaches, berries, tomatoes, and more. Have a great week! -Lezlea
6/27/2005 Hello All - The Outpost Gardens are looking great thanks to a lot of hard work by Nancy, Joe, Jose and a few other helping hands. Thank You! Blues Legends Guitar Shorty and Calvin Owens,
stopped by, along with vocalist Mark Capps, for a tour of the Last
Organic Outpost Gardens. Shorty and Owen's, both originally from Houston,
were pleased to see a place like the Outpost, in the heart of the inner
city. For Joe and I, it was great honor to have these great music veterans
visit the Guitar Shorty, Rock Blues Master Guitarist, was born to perform! As a child, he drove his grandmother, who raised him, crazy throwing tantrums out of frustration that could not play the guitar like her son, his uncle did. Finally, at about age 4, his grandmother convinced her son, to teach Shorty ... so she wouldn't have to kill him. As a teen, Shorty joined with Ray Charles right out of High School and played with his band for a year. At age 17, Shorty recorded a single under the direction of Willie Dixon on the Cobra Label. Shorty later moved to New Orleans to play with Guitar Slim and eventually to front his own band, which became the house band for the legendary Dew Drop Inn. There he played with greats such as T-Bone Walker and Little Richard. At 19, Shorty took a job with Sam Cooke and headed west. Shorty married Marcia Hendrix (Jimi's sister) after moving to the west coast. The young Jimi Hendrix came to see his brother-in -law Shorty play often. Hendrix fans will definitely recognize Shorty's influence in Jimi's music. Shorty is currently on tour and recording with Alligator Records. His hit album "Watch Your Back" received two WC Handy nominations this year and was listed by Living Blues Magazine as Number 1 for airplay for the year 2004 beating out Eric Clapton's "Me and Mr. Johnson" which ranked 50th on the list. Learn more about Guitar Legend, Guitar Shorty, at www.guitarshorty.org. Calivin Owens, noted Composer, Arranger, Conductor and Trumpet Player recently relocated to his hometown - Houston. What a treasure to have back in town! Owen's professional history includes more than I can
mention here... Since his return to Houston, Calvin has formed his own Blues Orchestra and on "True Blue" his latest CD, He uses twenty-four musicians all told with special guest appearances by Blues Legends such as Johnny Clyde Copeland, David "Fat Head" Newman, and B. B. King. Calvin Owens credentials as artist, producer and director have earned him the well deserved title "The Maestro". From recording credits including arranger for A & M Recording Studios in Los Angeles, touring with B. B. King as trumpet soloist and music arranger, serving as arranger, conductor and trumpet soloist on various B. B. King albums, including B. B. King's "Live in London" with Owen's conducting London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Owen's arranging and conducting services have been featured on TV shows that are familiar to many of us including Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, the Merv Griffin Show and Austin City Limits. Today, Owens' provocative performance makes it clear that his reputation is indisputable. Find out more about this Houston Treasure, Blues Legend, Calvin Owens at www.calvinowens.com.
Important News About Mad Cow From Janice Blue: News Breaking Story over the weekend: "Second Case of Mad Cow Found in the US...Meat that tested positive said to be from Texas, but no beef thought to be in the food supply ...potentially doing short term damage to the nation's $37.8 billion cattle industry... Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns pointed out on Friday that US cattle "move across the country. They might be born in one state, they might be fed to a certain weight in another state, they might be fed out in another state and slaughtered yet in a fourth state." USDA officials declared the downer cow to be free of the disease in November but seven months later, a new round of tests in the UK came out positive... The government hopes DNA analysis can pinpoint the herd of the cow that tested positive. Genetic testing is needed because of mistakes in how the beef cow was labeled and how its tissues were stored. Today's guest on Go Vegan Texas - Mad Cow Expert Michael Greger, MD, & author "Carbophobia! The Scary Truth About America's Low-Carb Craze"
Go Vegan Texas! Mondays @ 10am (CDT) on "Carbophobia is a form of nutritional misinformation infused into the American psyche through advertising, infomercials, and best selling diet books." - S.N. Cheuvront, author "The Zone Diet Phenomenon: A Closer Look at the Science Behind the Claims," Journal of the American College of Nutrition "In 1929, the Institute of Meatpackers paid to see what would happen if people lived on an all meat diet. The blood plasma of the unfortunate subjects was so filled with fat 'it showed a milkiness.' and one of the subjects cholesterol level shot up to 800." - Michael Greger, MD in "Carbophobia" reporting on E. Tolstol's article "The Effect of an Exclusive Meat Diet on Chemical Constituents of the Blood," Journal of Biological Chemistry (1929) "We worry about this because many of the people who love these (high protein) diets are men, aged 40-50, who like their meat. They may be five years from their first heart attack. This couldn't be worse for them. Did you know that 50% of men who die from heart attacks, the fatal attack is their first symptom. They will never know what this diet is doing to them." --- James W. Anderson, MD, professor of medicine & Clinical Nutrition, University of Kentucky, School of Medicine
Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution, broke all publishing records when it was first published in 1972, and was centered on a diet of meat, eggs, heavy cream and fried pork rinds. "For Atkins, bacon and butter were health foods and bread and bananas were poison, says Dr. Greger. Although Dr. Atkins died in 2003, and his cardiologist divulged Atkins' coronary arteries were "perhaps 30-40% blocked," a fact even his widow, Veronica Atkins, was forced to acknowledge, his billion dollar empire didn't die with him. Dr. Greger says, "Millions of Americans continue to risk their health on Atkins-like diets. In the first six months of 2004, no fewer than 1,864 new "low carb" products were launched. We will examine the fad of low carb diets espoused by Dr. Robert Atkins, a cardiologist, with Houston cardiologist, Baxter Montgomery, MD, who will co host today's show. Dr. Montgomery is a Rice graduate, received his medical degree from the University of Texas and is founder of the Houston Cardiac Association. He is also a member of the Go Vegan Texas! Collective, Committee on Health and Nutrition. Thank you for listening with an open mind and heart to Go Vegan Texas! on Pacifica Radio/ KPFT. Janice Blue Listen Live on www.GoVeganTexas.org Contact for Today's Guests/Co Hosts: Michael Greger, MD to order copies of Carbophobia, visit: to learn more about the dangers of the Atkins diet,
visit: Please feel free to copy, post, distribute or use Atkins Facts in any (nonprofit) way. All of the proceeds from the sale of Dr. Greger¹s books, CDs, and DVDs are donated to charity. To subscribe to Dr. Greger's free once-a-month newsletter "Latest in Human Nutrition," send a blank email to: DrGregersNewsletter-subscribe@lists.riseup.net Michael Greger, MD, is the Mad Cow Coordinator for
the Organic Consumers Association He has contributed to many books and articles on the subject and continues to lecture extensively. Dr. Greger is a graduate of the Cornell University School of Agriculture and the Tufts University School of Medicine. Baxter Montgomery, MD, www.houstoncardiacassociation.com 10480 Main Street
The Tractor is almost back in service. After a few more adjustments, Joe will be busy moving dirt and working on building out the back area. Volunteers for this project needed, wanted and greatly appreciated! To volunteer to help - a great idea for teens on summer vacation - just e-mail Joe at joenelsonicet@yahoo.com. He will gladly work you into the schedule at your convenience.
Our Condolences this week to Kenneth and Tre - both good friends of the Outpost. Kenneth's grandmother passed away after a long fight with diabetes. Tre's best friend Mary was killed last week when she was hit by a car while riding her Moped. Please keep Kenneth and Tre in your thoughts and prayers. The support of friends is important during this difficult time.
Events: A Message From Michael Bettler: MARS IS IN ITS HOUSE, coming to a movie theater near you on June 29...get your pop corn ready. Now we have another celestial event to contend with: the possible collision of MERCURY, VENUS and SATURN! It they weren't in orbits kajllions of miles apart, they would collide this coming Monday night, June 27th. Not to be aligned like this again until 2070, the three planets will hold their own accord, appearing to be just light-seconds from a collision, the three will appear as the separated at first, looking like a cluster until Monday night when two will join so brightly as to seem to be one new larger planet: MERVENUS! "Having the planets visible at the same time is quite a sight...but it happens, no big deal," said Allan Treiman, senior staff scientist at the LUNAR AND PLANETARY INSTITUTE OF HOUSTON. "What makes this observation fun," says Jack Horkheimer of Miami, Florida, Star Gazer, on P.B.S. is that these three planets will be able to be seen without instruments, with the un-aided eye. (Best viewing will be about 30-45 minutes after sunset, in the western sky.) VENUS will be "sandwiched between Mercury and Saturn." (Sounds like a car wreck on the freeway.) * SATURN (on Venus' left) will give off a VERY BRIGHT
WHITE LIGHT. (And on the 27th Athos, Pathos and Aramis, the "Three Musketeers" blend their swords to form D'Artagnan, "Mervenus" in the Celestial Winds...) Or, if this is too obscure: visible Saturday night (June 25) through Monday night (June 27), they are a precursor of and celestial ushering in of the Christmas Season for 2005, reminding us that we have only six months more till the bright lights on the houses all appear, illuminating presents for all under the brightly glowing tree. (So, begin your gift buying now...it's a omen!) The Floor of Heaven is lit with wonders...without the invasion of Mars, turn instead to these Three Musketeers (made by the Mars Candy company) and wonder upon their wonder. Send in YOUR stuff! I'm still looking for great summer recipes - Peaches, are ripening - Peach Smoothies? Peach Sorbet? Peach Salads? Mmmm - I'll have to find my Grandmother's old recipe for Peach Cobbler! That's the News for this Week - Eat What You Grow and Grow What You Eat! -Lezlea
Continue to 2005 Archive, July-December
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