A Thoughtful Good Friday

Good Friday is a day of reflection about life and what one should do with it. It's also a day to think about improving other's lives and the surrounding world.

One way is, as always, donating to your local food pantry .This could mean buying cans of food and boxes of cereal, but they more obvious is apportioning your garden and growing extra fruit, vegetables and even herbs This way families, especially those with children will get the nutrition, vitamins and mineral they so desperately need for growing.  There is also nothing like the taste of fresh produce to improve any dish or dessert too.

  The way to improve your world is to try to buy local and shrink your carbon footprint. Luckily, we are coming into the Spring growing and summer harvesting season. It will be easier to buy fruit and veggies from local farms and farmer's markets. Also joining organizations to help clean up land and waterways is another good deed. We can also push for turning our abandoned factories and warehouses into urban farms, where not only is there food but also jobs.

Today is a day of reflection. Think about what you can do to improve the lives and world around you. Then act on it.

Celebrating Dr.King's Legacy

We celebrate Dr. King's legacy today with service acts. It should be do ne all year long in small and big ways.There are so many in which foodies can to help the community and make people's diets better and  more nutritious.It's not about spreading the good, it's about spreading the good food.

Again I can not emphasize the importance of volunteering at a soup kitchen especially throughout the year.Many tend to only remember the homeless and destitute  during the winter months and holidays. Poverty is 24/7  as is need. Contribute as much as you can when you can.Also volunteering at nursing homes, along with helping to arrange parties to break the boredom is always needed. If you're a restaurant owner ask if you  can  donate any leftover foods such as soups and salads. emphasize to your staff how great it would be  if all of you worked at the local soup kitchen. Even bakeries can help by donating overage. It's a sin to waste day old rolls and cakes when they'd be a big plus adding to lunches and dinners.

Home gardeners and farmers can also contribute. Depending on how the summer goes  donate any bumper crops you may have  . Tomatoes are always appreciated  because they can be turned into everything from salad to sauce. Onions and garlic are also welcomed because they ,too , are versatile as well can be kept for a substantial amount of time. Even herbs can be donated. They are perfect for seasoning sauces and meats. Vegetables can also be used in creating soups which can be made in the summer and then frozen for the fall and winter. Any garden produce can be donated via Ample Harvest (www.ampleharvest.org) to food pantries in your area. This organization is great because it allows home farmers to contribute as well as providing fresh fruit and veggies to families in  need.

Dr. King envisioned a world where everyone could reach out and help each other. Continue that dream by helping your community. It could be a Sunday morning at a soup kitchen.It could be donating your garden's bounty . As long as it's reaching out to give your community nutritious ingredients and healthy meals.

The Hungry Of Summer

Even though it's summer, there are still the hungry and needy.So many people tend to forget them because most feel they"ll be OK.That's far from the truth.The weather may be fine, and in their favor but they still lack good and proper nutrition.Their children don"t even have the luxury of a treat of ice cream or Popsicles. Surprisingly homeless shelters are still packed in summer.Though not surprisingly the amount of volunteers decreases.If you can and have the time, then help out.If you have a garden, and fruit trees, feel free to share.Anyone would appreciate a juicy ripe tomato, and it's bursting with much needed antioxidants and vitamins.The same goes for carrots and peppers.Another kind idea is buy extra on your next trip to your local farmer's market and donate some.Also help out and cook at the shelter.Try to get local companies involved as well to donate for a barbecue.Everyone needs a fun afternoon ,full of hot dogs, homemade Cole slaw and watermelon slices. If there are kids, and there always are, then try to have a sundae bar as an extra treat or the healthier home made ice pops. Food pantries need supplies all year round.Again donate cans as well as any fresh veggies and fruits you're growing.Parents will appreciate these along with the usual canned and boxed goods.Print up recipes and vitamin charts for any fresh sauces or stuffed peppers or onions.If you're into canning , and preserving ,ask your pantry if you can donate these too as well as homemade, pasta sauces,ketchups and salsas.Any bakery owners can also give extra buns and rolls for hamburgers and hot dogs.Try to work with the pantry to ensure that there is a large variety of fresh picked fruits and veggies. Encourage your local pantry sell more fresh juices and waters which are better than all that soda and sugary teas and energy drinks.If you can arrange with farmers markets as well as with any local farms to possibly sell at cost or donate whole wheat baked goods as well as naturally processed honeys that did not sell. Hunger doesn't. Care what season it is. Neither does poverty.Help those who can't afford a meal of fresh picked veggies or a food filled barbecue.It will not only be a good day for them but for you as well.