Earth Month eCards, Biodynamic Wine and More

April, 2007 AFT's bimonthly Farm Fresh News features ways you can help to protect farm and ranch land and keep your life and the land healthy. This Spring, Get Growing to Your Nearest Flower Farm A Harvard study shows that flowers release compassion in people, relieve anxiety and increase energy, which can only mean more business for a Malta, New York, flower farm. Suzanne Balet Haight and AFT's David Haight run the farm that sells annuals, perennials and more than 80 varieties of vegetable and herb plants—all produced on the farm—direct to consumers at local farmers' markets!   Congress Is Talking About Your Food This year, Congress is rethinking policies for the 2007 Farm Bill—policies that will set the course for America’s food and farming system. Farm policy is poised to help family farms and ranches, encourage organic and sustainable agriculture and support land and water conservation—if we work together to change it. It’s not just about farms. It is your farm and food bill. Join the discussion>>   Support Us April Is Earth Month...Give Back to the Land Show your commitment to saving the land and rewarding farmers and ranchers who use healthy practices by joining AFT.  Find out how>>   Send an Earth Month eCard Today! Celebrate Earth Month and send an eCard with tips for what you can do to help protect our water, air and land. Send an Earth Month eCard today>>   Take Action! Farm and Food Policy for All Americans   Ask your legislators to focus on farm and food policies that meet the needs of farmers and ranchers, the environment and the public! Send a message today>> Farming with the Moon? Some grape growers and others are trying biodynamic farming, a 'super-organic' approach that works with the rhythms of nature. Biodynamic farming is a holistic approach to organic agriculture, where planting and harvesting follow the cycles of the moon, and the soil is viewed not simply as a growth medium for crops but as an individual organism that is part of the larger process. Biodynamic products are grown free of fumigants, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides—all of which can harm local eco-systems. So raise your wine glass and give three cheers to agriculture that protects the planet!  Chicken and Spring Vegetable Pasta Thank you to Dr. Preston Maring of Kaiser Permanente for sharing this fresh and healthy spring recipe. 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into small, bite-size pieces 1 bunch spring onions, light red, white and light green parts thinly sliced 1 bunch spring garlic, white and light green parts thinly sliced 2 regular cloves garlic, minced 3 small leeks, white parts thinly sliced 3 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup chicken broth or white wine 8 ounces whole wheat linguine Small handful fresh parsley, chopped Salt and pepper to taste 1. Cook the pasta per instructions and drain. 2. Sauté the onions, garlic and leeks in the olive oil until fragrant and soft—set aside. 3. Sauté the chicken until cooked through. 4. Add the vegetables back to the pan with the chicken broth. 5. Toss vegetables with the pasta and warm through. 6. Season to taste and add the parsley for flavor and color. Dr. Maring, WK Kellogg Food and Society Policy Fellow, physician administrator and Ob-Gyn at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland, California, helped launch one of the nation’s first hospital-based farmers’ markets and more recently, helped the hospital start sourcing in-patient fruits and vegetables from local small family farms. His goal: promote healthy eating by connecting Kaiser Permanente employees and patients with farmers who sell locally grown produce. Support AFT  |  http://www.farmland.org/ © Copyright 2007 American Farmland Trust. All rights reserved.

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