Grants for Haywood

I am so excited for tomorrow to come! I'm going to go to the test farm. They are going to be collecting data and harvesting the lettuce. One closer step to making it all happen here in Haywood County.
I spent some time this evening sending websites to Dr. Garrett. I imagine that they probably apply for grants for gardening at each school but decided to locate some and send them on their way. What better way to teach children math and science? What better way to assure them that there are ways to help fill their own tables both now and in the future?
Today we picked more Concord grapes. The grapes are on the stove now cooking down and then I'll strain them, add 2 parts water to 1 part grape juice and sugar to taste. Put it into quart canning jars and seal in the pressure cooker.
Supper table at our home is a light meal. Tonight it was potato pancakes. Potatoes that we grew ourselves in our own garden. The potato was the Kennebec. What a wonderfully delightful tasting white potato. Haven't ever tried potato pancakes? Here's a good recipe, both quick and easy.
Approximately 1 average size potato for each person
Grate that either in a food processor, or by hand.
Add 1-2 eggs (depends on the amount of potatoes)
Add chopped onion to taste, I prefer a small green onion
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
And then add some flour to eliminate most of the juice produced by the potatoes.
In a frying pan, add enough vegetable oil, olive oil or your choice oil to cover the bottom.
Drop potato mixture by spoonful into the grease, being careful not to burn yourself.
Brown on each side. Remove from frying pan.
Place on plate and serve with your choice of catsup, sour cream, cooked ham, or even syrup.
This makes a lovely light supper or part of the main daily meal.

As each new day appears, there are ways to encourage growing a better tomorrow.

Take the time to help someone in your neighborhood. Seniors sometimes are reluctant to ask for help. By you knocking on their doors and remember by putting them first for only a few minutes you might be giving them the only smile for the day! Help someone, anyone enjoy the day more!

Thanks for reading. I truly would love to know who you are and what you are thinking about gardening. Please take a few moments to contact me. I'd love to hear what you have to say! Your opinion counts with me!

Getting A Lot Of Clicks Here

Wow!!!!
A lot of clicks here. Evidently people are interested in finding about about Feeding Haywood.
This week should be interesting. Hope to meet with some people. The local newspaper contacted me and want to publish an article. Ask to put that on hold until later in the week so we can add what is decided on at the meetings.
Local people, don't forgot to eat at Canton Senior Center. They really need the $$ and support. Do you realize how much money seniors are expected to live on? Trust me, I know, it isn't very much. So please, please help the Center help others. Looks like they have a good menu for Saturday's breakfast. Come see us and let's eat breakfast together~
Plant a smile. Enjoy a fresh fruit or vegetables.
If you'd like any strawberry plants or mint plants please contact me. I have extra to give away.
Thanks for reading. I truly would love to know who you are and what you are thinking about gardening. Please take a few moments to contact me. I'd love to hear what you have to say! Your opinion counts with me!

Canton Breakfast for Senior Center

In conjunction with the Canton Heritage Day celebration, the Canton Senior
Center will host a fundrising country breakfast Saturday, September 5, 8 am
until 10 am at the center. The menu includes homemade biscuits, eggs, bacon,
sausage and gravy. Due to cutbacks in funding the Canton Senior Center needs to
raise funds for the overall operating budget to maintain services to the senior
population in Canton and the surrounding community.

The Canton Senior Center involves, enriches, and empowers seniors. It provides a
nutritionally balanced meal, socialization, medical information promoting health
and wellness, opportunities for community interaction, educational information,
field trips, and other activities for seniors in Haywood County.

For additional information contact Eddie Wells, Program Manager at 828-452-1447.

Thanks for reading. I truly would love to know who you are and what you are thinking about gardening. Please take a few moments to contact me. I'd love to hear what you have to say! Your opinion counts with me!

Click on Hantz Farms/Intro Below

For those of you who haven't read about Hantz Farms, please do click on the information below. You'll be amazed!
Thanks for reading. I truly would love to know who you are and what you are thinking about gardening. Please take a few moments to contact me. I'd love to hear what you have to say! Your opinion counts with me!

Hantz Farms | Introduction

Hantz Farms | Introduction

Thanks for reading. I truly would love to know who you are and what you are thinking about gardening. Please take a few moments to contact me. I'd love to hear what you have to say! Your opinion counts with me!

Here's Another Person Wanting It To Succeed!

Tell me how or where to start!!!!!!!!!!!





Maria


Thanks for reading. I truly would love to know who you are and what you are thinking about gardening. Please take a few moments to contact me. I'd love to hear what you have to say! Your opinion counts with me!

Here's A Start In The Right Direction!

I admire your will, enthusiasm, and am intrigued by your dream. You are on the same wave length as a lot of other people in America. What you are talking about is really what our grandparents lived everyday. They grew their own food, sold it to the town folks and fed anyone who was hungry.



Local food production is busting loose all over NC and the nation. We are right in the middle of it here at the station. We are doing field trials and research on local grown bread wheat so we can make our own flour and bread. We are working on heirloom (old fashion) tomatoes. We have been growing and researching for the last 3 years local grown leaf, Romaine, and Iceberg lettuce (why should we have to ship lettuce into Haywood County all the way from California?). We are also working on organic production of tomatoes.



These are just some quick ideas. I can put you in contact with a lot of folks who might share your dream. One place to start is with Bill Skeleton at our local Cooperative Extension Office. He is really good with ideas like yours and has a lot of information that he can share with you. I also can give you some researcher’s names and websites that you can contact.






Thanks for reading. I truly would love to know who you are and what you are thinking about gardening. Please take a few moments to contact me. I'd love to hear what you have to say! Your opinion counts with me!

Beginning to hear from others in Haywood County

Oddly enough, emails were still coming in as late as 10:30 pm on a Friday night. That's surprising to me that people are wanting to garden and feed the Multitudes here in Haywood County. Can you imagine that?
I am anxious for Monday to roll around so that I can continue to work on all of this. I'm not sure yet who all, or what all will take place over the next few months but I do know now that people want it to happen.
HURRAH!!!!!!
I'd love to see no more poverty. I'd love to see full bellies. I'd love to see everyone whether they be rich, white collar, or single Moms, or inmates of our county taking an active role in this effort.
I think that it can grow from not only heirloom tomatoes and different types of lettuce that the test farm is working on but on to business and enterprise. Mills, farms, meat packing industry. Fill up those industrial parks with business, big business that is by the people and for the people of Haywood County. Let's not wait for the economy to get back to where it was. Let's not wait for big business to come from some other place and just happen to want to put their roots down in Haywood County. But.....let's use the "roots" that are already here and grow.
Thanks for reading. I truly would love to know who you are and what you are thinking about gardening. Please take a few moments to contact me. I'd love to hear what you have to say! Your opinion counts with me!

Thanks for reading. I truly would love to know who you are and what you are thinking about gardening. Please take a few moments to contact me. I'd love to hear what you have to say! Your opinion counts with me!

Feeding Haywood

I began my idea of feeding Haywood about 2 years ago. Then a few months ago the rage built me up enough steam to contact local Commissioners. It didn't go anywhere but "south" as they say. But, I didn't want to give up, just give it a rest.
I didn't say that I took a rest. My husband and I planted and cared for more than ever before in our gardening season. We dug, planted and gave more than before. Gave to the local soup kitchen, needy and neighbors. Those who have physical problems were high on our list along with the soup kitchen. And yes, we found time to sell a few vegetables in our driveway to passer-bys.
But.....back in the wee spaces of my brain, I never once gave up on the idea of feeding the county of Haywood. Wouldn't it be something to find a way to make it work? A co-op? A meat packaging? A bread bakery? Is it possible that all and more could be made possible by first one, then another and so on until we have the whole county of Haywood working together.
It's reported that there is 10% without work in our county. Well, that's not probably accurate. What about seniors? What's the count when you figure those that are here for the summer months? How about adding in those who just don't want to, or can afford not to work? But....don't they all need to eat? Well, then, add again.
There is no flour mill in our area. Can't buy 25-50 lbs. of popcorn anywhere? Will the money last that our schools use to feed the children? What about our seniors too proud to ask for Meals on Wheels, are they eating fresh foods? I could ask you questions all day but no one would have all the answers.
So I began again and I'll keep on. I'm 62 years old this year and if I can be given 20 more years I've got to time leave something to everyone that lives here. Not just talk about it, but really leave something. Oh, I can sit back and wait for big business to drop in and hire 50-250 people but is that what it'll take? I doubt it very much. Use your math skills, will it work? Nope! A procrastinator will put off until the tomorrows and still there will be nothing done.
I've made phone calls and sent emails. Put a bee in people's bonnet. So now, what's next? Will it come to be or are we all just going to sit and wait for a company to come in, set up shop and hire a few?
Tune in throughout the Fall and Winter and by Spring let's see if Feeding Haywood has bottomed out again or if people care enough to bring it out to the fullest.