Juanita Rivas-Raymer

http://www.painterdoula.com/Home_Page.php

S.A.Y Sunflower Community Garden, Santa Rosa

Sunflower forest down main garden path, mostly volunteer plants

sub-irrigated native plant area with artwork from a youth in another S.A.Y program

keyhole beds planted out with greens, pepper grass and Three Sisters planting

polyculture planting of greens

http://www.saysc.org/programs/sunflower-community-garden/

Soothing Beginnings Doula Services

Stephanie Knol, CD(Dona)

Birth and Postpartum Doula

doulastep@soothingbeginnings.com

soothingbeginnings.com

707-595-0161

Pregnancy, labor, birth, and new motherhood are life changing events that will be remembered for a lifetime. Childbirth is the beginning of a new phase of life for the parents, whether it is the first baby or the fifth. During such a profound journey into the unknown, the support of a birth doula, or professional labor companion can be very comforting and helpful. Whether you choose to give birth in a hospital, birth center, or at home, using pain medications, “naturally”, or surgically, a doula can help make the experience a positive one by helping you relax and be more comfortable, giving encouragement and support, and helping you clarify your own needs and desires. After the baby is born, the support of a postpartum doula can be invaluable in recovering from the birth and transitioning through the postpartum period into this new phase of life. A postpartum doula can help both parents have time for bonding, resting, and self-care, while giving invaluable tips and education on babycare, breastfeeding, local resources, and more.

As a doula, I am dedicated to helping women and their partners feel empowered, listened to, and supported, physically and emotionally, during their birth experience and postpartum. I also hope to help parents understand their choices for birth and postpartum so that they can make informed decisions for themselves and their baby.  I look forward to working with women and couples of all ages, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

Serving Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Petaluma, and the surrounding areas in Sonoma and Marin Counties.

Jam on: California Homemade Food Act goes into effect in January (LA Times)

By Betty Hallock

December 10, 2012, 2:52 p.m.

As of Jan. 1, the California Homemade Food Act will go into effect, allowing people in Los Angeles to sell certain foods and baked goods they've made at home to stores, restaurants and directly to customers.

Permaculture Neighborhood Center, Sebastopol

Pedal Powered Produce, West End-Santa Rosa

Pulled in some fresh produce from Sebastopol last night. Had some storing beets, kohlrahbi, chard, kale, lettuce, sorrel, radishes, baby turnips.
More to come.

Cuatro Caminos Collective
ivcaminos@gmail.com
ivcaminos.blogspot.com
707-595-0757

Sanger Garden Pics, May 17 2012

Photos of the progress of garden in Sanger.  Hot day today.  For next year, Cabbage should be seeded 2nd week of February.  Great Success using plastic soda bottles to start seedlings, may have to set up a small greenhouse next year.  The sheet mulch is working amazingly well, the soil has a nice darkness to it wherever we sheet mulched

Springtime in Sanger

Here are some pictures of all the activity going on in Sanger.  The broken down straw and local compost, coupled with some good spring rain have helped to make this once barren plot really come alive.

--

"la accion es la madre de la esperanza."

-Pablo Neruda

Winter Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop in Pomona, Friday January 20th, 9am to Noon.

Where: 
Tri-City Rehabilitation Orchard and Garden
2008 North Gary Avenue
Pomona, CA 91767

The orchard is located in the lot directly north of Tri-City building. This is a workshop and lecture. Learn by doing. Bring clippers and loppers and be prepared to prune trees. Wear warm cloths and comfortable shoes.

Info: email Tom Spellman or call 909.931.2458

--

"la accion es la madre de la esperanza."

-Pablo Neruda

Cuatro Caminos CSA Volunteer Sign Up Form

We Need Some Volunteers!

Come out and help your local CSA grow!

Budding gardeners or experienced veterans! Cuatro Caminos Gardens can use some help in tending or support. A new volunteers schedule will be posted on the blog site for interested parties to help out. Time slots will be through out the week and weekend. For more information please email: ivcaminos@gmail.com I will send out a time sheet and instructions for the garden. Simple stuff, weeding, watering and some planting.

Work day this sunday in whittier. prepping and planting beds at scotts and veronica

Raised Bed Installation @ Iris's place

We just finished installing two raised beds at Iris's place.  One we made from Redwood purchased at Home Depot, the other from scrap wood salvaged in Whittier.

The Box above is the scrap wood box (Two-2"X12"X8'/ Two-2"12"X4/Four-4"x4"x2').  Each box has two 180 degree microsprinkles and a small shutoff valve.  When the summer crops come in, the system can be adapted to drip emitters or drip tape.

In each box we planted a polyculture mix of  transplanted beets and brassicas (collards, gai-lan), undersown with lettuce, scallions, and carrots.

The Surprising Reason People Do Good Work (Animated Short Video)

Scott's Yard (One Year Later)

The Front yard is sprinkled with kale, dormant eggplant, lettuce, and california lilac.

The Back Yard is full of Bok Choy, Tatsoi, Chinese Kale seedlings, beets, and dormant fruit trees ready to be pruned.  The plastic sheeting below is a makeshift greenhouse built up against the brick wall to take advantage of the extra heat to germinate tomatoes and peppers for early starts.

Making Progress at the Glendora Site

Church of the Brethren
150 South Vermont Avenue

Glendora, CA 91741

Here we are-- a few weeks into working this little plot of land that was begging for cultivation. Bursts of green are now visible even from across the street (a frequented spot of mine nearly every Friday-- the Glendora Public Library).

Arugula is abundant, and so are those red radishes into which Eddie enjoys crunching.

A few more weeks are sure to bring us a grander array of organic goodies.

Check out the seedlings: Diamond Eggplant and Beef Steak Tomatoes.

Which reminds me: I can not believe that I forgot to take pictures of the sweet Fern-leafed Lavender. First of all, I am thrilled that this herb, with which I have never personally had much luck, is coming up. Secondly, if one could ever refer to a seedling as "cute," then this is the one. But, I digress.

One can always find ways to improve. Here, Annette is trying to figure out how to make the drip irrigation system a bit more effective.

 We realize that the trip out to Glendora may not be the most convenient for many of you Cuatro Caminos supporters, but we would love to see your faces one of these days. Please come on by.

We are, however, trying to make our presence known locally. We set up a last-minute (very, very last-minute) booth at an Earth Day event in the neighboring city of San Dimas.

The locals have expressed interest in a CSA, and some of the city workers have mentioned available plots of land. Let's keep the fingers crossed as we continue to work toward this vision together.

Thank you for reading.

Isela Pena-Rager, Secretary

Make it yourself

Dearest Supporters,
   You really came through for us! We made over $100 at the first dinner and are on the verge of ordering seeds for an upcoming project (more to come on that). We plan on getting seed for flowers (poppies, zinnias, sunflowers, etc), herbs, and veggies (peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, greens, brassicas, corn etc). What do you think? Is there anything you think is a must-have? Tell us what and why.

   It seems like you all enjoyed the food, so we've decided to share some of the recipes..you know, for the weekends when we aren't there to personally feed you.

Cauliflower and Chickpea (aka Garbanzo bean) Curry

The secret to this is making your own curry powder. This means you might have to "invest" in some spices. It also means you should plan on making curries more often.

Curry Powder

2 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp cardamom seeds (open the pods to extract seeds. Pods can be found at Indian stores)
1 tbsp whole black peppercorns
1 tsp   fennel seeds
1/2 tsp whole cloves
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
2 dried chiles, broken in pieces, take out seeds (didn't put in because I didn't have them)
1 tbsp turmeric (yellow powder to be added directly to pot)

-Throw the whole spices into a pan (coriander, cumin, fennel, cloves, mustard, cardamom, peppercorns) and TOAST over med-low heat. Don't leave them while you finish ironing your pants because they're bound to get burned. It should take a few minutes.
-GRIND in a coffee grinder which doesn't give off the intoxicating aroma of coffee. Aim for a pretty fine powder. (You can make more and store it!)

The Actual Stew

1/4 cup ghee (clarified butter) OR coconut oil (I used coconut oil)
1 onion (finely chopped)
2 tbsp curry powder (that you made!!) I added all the powder I made..didn't measure.
1-inch piece of ginger (peel and cut)
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 head cauliflower (about 1 pound), cut into florets
3 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed. (I used dried chickpeas which I cooked beforehand)
2 tbsp tomato paste
salt
cilantro leaves (I didn't garnish)

Heat ghee or oil in pot, med heat. Add onion, curry powder, and ginger. Cook for a few minutes (prob 6-8) and stir a few times. The onion should be softened. Add tomatoes until they break down and soften. Mix in cauliflower, chickpeas, tom. paste, and 1 cup of water. Stir. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until cauliflower is tender (15-20 minutes). Uncover. Finish cooking until there is a thick gravy. Season with salt.
Pairs well with brown rice. Serves 4, maybe more.


Vegan Persimmon-Apple-Walnut Cake
(Steph made this with a baby strapped to her so you really have no excuses for not making this)

3/4 cup sugar (brown or sucanat/raw)
1/2 cup coconut oil (or other oil)
2 cups persimmon puree ( you prob don't have this so use an apple puree instead)
2 cups flour (whole wheat or other)
1.5 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 to 1 cup apple slices

Prep 9 x 13 pan. Preheat oven to 350F.
Cream sugar and oil. Add puree and mix. Combine dry ingredients and then add to wet mix. Stir in raisins, walnuts, and apple. Turn batter in pan and bake for 30-35 minutes.

You're in for a tasty treat!!!!!! Bring me some; you don't need it all!!

     A smattering of pictures from the dinner

   Well, it's time to sign off. You should expect to hear about our February dinner soon!!

   Happy eating,
      Cuatro Caminos

Papalo Seeds Available

We have a harvest of Papalo seeds available, locally grown.  Give us a call if you're interested in growing this amazing herb.  We can send you a small packet at $3 per, or $30 per ounce (plus shipping)

562-448-2619

M.E.S. site no.1

Microfarm Exchange Services site no 1.   As you can see, this plot is a lot smaller but has so far shown strong signs of life. Behold!:

   We turned the soil, composted, turned again and then planted....or, rather, scattered seed. What should be      coming up: broccoli (2 types), kale, red cabbage, snap peas, lettuce.
   Sprouts, sprouts, everywhere! And a net to keep the little birdies from eating the goods!

Lettuce sprouts!!!!!!!!!

Upcoming events: Cuatro Caminos meeting on November 22nd at 10am at Scott's house

plus movie and potluck with Dervaes family in Pasadena at 6pm. Cost: $10-15

Scott's Yard

Here are some pictures of Scott's house before we started our project. Here is his front lawn.

This was the back yard...

here are the same spaces underneath a foot of mulch.  This past Saturday we were able to cover this up with compost.  The idea is to create a rich topsoil and grow stuff immediately without pulling out what's underneath.  Maybe transplant some brassicas, direct seed some lettuce and onion.  We'll be out at Scott's Tomorrow if anyone is interested in coming out