October 2010
I have been asked by the Juvenile Detention Center to create a year-round gardening/nutrition program. I am SUPER stoked about it. For me, this is a dream job, only I wish I were getting paid to do it. So, I am starting from scratch I need to come up with philosophy, mission statement, scope, procedures, and desired outcome; oh yea and don’t forget the curriculum part. I have decided to develop a core group of people to help me do this. I have chosen my garden mentors who are super knowledgable in succession planting and organic practices and also on my team is my friend Kipp who has a ton of experience with 4-H. Now, I am really into Food Revolution and am hoping to use some of their practices. Also, there are several schools that are doing a Seed to Table program as well. But ours will be a little different since the kids are limited to the kitchen tools they can us, ie. no knives allowed. 
So I have until December 1st to come up with a rough draft. I have been brain storming ideas such as I want to show the move Food Inc, teach them Nutrition Labels, put in a hoop house and how the canning process works, etc. I have many ideas.
The director of the Juvi made a good point. She said most of these kids locked up live in the poorer parts of the city and in our city the poorer parts don’t have grocery stores. Instead they have convenience store or gas station stores. That food is typically more expensive and is usually not very nutritious. So yesterday I went to a gas station store to check it out. I found a few options such as granola, nuts, and dried fruits; and this store was unique since it had a fresh produce stand in it. I thought that was neat. The clerk said he thought they were the only ones with a produce stand. Hmmm… that isn’t good especially because this gas station is not in a poorer part of town. Anyway, I am learning. If you have any ideas I would love to hear them.
Also on my plate right now. The Costa Rica trip was approved and our group has started meeting. This is a unique trip since we will be teaching Cabecar women how to quilt and make other crafts. Right now we have a small problem (maybe it isn’t a problem) the missionaries can only hold 7 of us at their place but 18 women signed up to go. YIKES! That is AWESOME! So we are praying that God will either open another opportunity or that many of the women will choose not to go. I am co-leading this trip with the Pastor’s wife Julie. I get to teach the women Spanish which I absoloutly LOVE!
