Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Can You Eat Raw Okra?



Once again I am taking you with me on my Wednesday morning outing to the farmers market. Today's market was especially buzzing because this week is Local Food Week in Tulsa, Oklahoma. If you live in my area (Green Country) you can read about all of the activities on my last blog post. If you don't live near me, perhaps you may get some ideas for your own community on how to promote and encourage public awareness of local foods and the slow food movement.

Most of the ingredients I picked up at today's market will be star players in my upcoming project so you'll be seeing more of them in the days and weeks ahead. One food I especially wanted to mention today is Okra. I grew up on fried okra, which clearly isn't part of my dietary program now, but none the less, I have fond memories of it.


Did you know that okra is a rich source of beta-carotene, B-Complex vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, iron, phosphorous, potassium and sodium? It is an very hydrating food due to its rich electrolyte content and it helps preserve the body's balance of fluids which is necessary for nerve impulse transmission. The pectin in okra is known to lower blood cholesterol levels.

Because okra is very alkaline, it helps to neutralize acids and provides a temporary protect coating for the digestive tract. It has a mild laxative effect as it lubricates the the large intestine. For centuries okra has been used to treat lung inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome, sore throat, ulcers and as a remedy in keeping the joints limber. Topically, an okra poultice can be applied to heal burns, soothe poison ivy & psorasis, and okra juice is suggested as a gargle for sore throats. (Who knew??)

I had never eaten raw okra until I changed up my diet. I was actually kind of scared to try it raw. I've found that if you get young, tender okra (no longer than 4 inches long), it is really good. I have sliced it into salads, I have tossed it into a combination of fresh tomatoes, corn and onions w/ a little olive oil, salt & pepper (yum). I have also sliced it, tossed it with olive oil and dredged it in a little mixture of almond & flax meal, salt & pepper and dehydrated it a bit for a "faux" fried okra.

Do you have any additional suggestions for eating raw okra?

I encourage you to go out around where you live and explore your local farmer's markets, farms, CSA's and co-ops. If you're a member of Raw Food Rehab, we'd all love to see photos and even see some videos of your local food outings!! Let us know how you are adding fresh, locally grown foods into your diet.......

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Local Food Week - June 13 - 20


2010 Local Food Week Schedule

Created by Sustainable Green Country's Buy Fresh Buy Local initiative, Local Foods Week festivities will highlight local family farms and farmers' markets hosting a variety of events, a farm table dinner, cooking demonstrations, a scavenger hunt for children, a salsa festival, canning classes and seed saving workshop encouraging their fellow Oklahomans to join them in celebrating Local Foods Week during the week of June 13-20, 2010, pronouncing that local food is a valuable economic asset for the state of Oklahoma. Gov. Brad Henry has made the event official by means of a proclamation. 2010 Local Food Guide now available for download Buy Fresh Buy Local Oklahoma Food Guide 2010 or pick up a print copy inserted in the June issue of the Current publication.

Saturday, June 12

8:00 am – 12:00 pm



Eufaula Farmers Market

A local Home, Community and Education group will provide a children's craft in addition to other vendors. Stay connected for more information to come on this event. Eufaula Public Library.

Eufaula Farmers Market
301 S 1st St
Eufaula, OK
918.452.3648
cricket@crosstel.net



Sunday, June 13

12:00 – 10:00 pm



Blue Jackalope Family Farms 2nd Annual Block Party





The Blue Jackalope Family Farm is a community project that teaches willing hands how to grow food, and teaches the importance of growing and consuming local, pesticide-free produce. The garden is partnered with and located near The Blue Jackalope, a small coffee and grocery store, just West of downtown, Tulsa. Together, they will host their 2nd annual Block Party as a kick-off celebration of Local Food Week with a BBQ cook-off using only locally produced meats from Blakely, Natural farms, D.A.R.P. with local community garden produce, featuring four local bands,local wine, local food and art vendors in addition to the market. The event will have local music all day, community garden tours, a seed-saving workshop, community potluck and kids events.

Blue Jackalope
306 S. Phoenix
Tulsa, OK
918.582.5344
Scott Smith, scott@bluejackalope.com
www.bluejackalope.com



Raw Food Tulsa Picnic

Woodward Park

6 pm

Picnic in Woodward Park! Please bring a raw dish made w/locally grown ingredients and include the recipe. We also need plates, utensils, napkins, cups and drinks...so for those who don't know what to bring or don't have time to prepare food, you can totally contribute!! Please indicate if you will be bringing any of these items when you RSVP. The Kombucha Cowgirl is planning to give a presentation on making kombucha! She should also have some kombucha and scobies to sell.

21st and Peoria
Tulsa, OK 74114
Faith Minier and Kat
www.meetup.com/rawfoodintulsa to RSVP



Monday, June 14

3:00 – 5:30 pm Mon - Fri



Swan Brothers Dairy

The Swan Brothers Dairy is a family owned business, and has been part of the Claremore, Oklahoma community, for more than three generations. You can always be assured, of the highest quality milk and dairy products. 100% natural cheese and milk products. No pesticides, no herbicides, no chemicals. Only the freshest milk, from the family farm, to your home!

The Swans have designed their milking barn with a full wall of windows that face to their driveway/parking area. Bring your children and watch the cows being milked! Sorry, tours are not available.

Swans Brothers Dairy
938 East 5th St
Claremore, OK
918.341-2298
www.tiawah.com/swandairy.htm



Newsome Community Farm presents the film – DIRT!

7 PM

The movie is simply more than about dirt. The real change lies in our notion of what dirt is. The movie teaches us: "When humans arrived 2 million years ago, everything changed for dirt. And from that moment on, the fate of dirt and humans has been intimately linked." But more than the film and the lessons that it teaches, DIRT the Movie is a call to action. "The only remedy for disconnecting people from the natural world is connecting them to it again." What we've destroyed, we can heal. Read more on the blog at www.dirtthemovie.org.

Newsome Community Farms
918.955.8559
2620 E 56th St N
Tulsa, OK 74130
newfars777@aol.com
www.newsomecommunityfarms.org


Tuesday, June 15

8:45 am – 1:00 pm


Child Watch 2010 – Healthy Food-Healthy Children

Attendance for the charter bus tour is limited to 56 slots. Invitations will be mailed and confirmed by phone. Pre-registration is required. Additional spaces will be available for those who would like to attend the final debriefing and next steps session occurring at the Tahlequah Armory at approximately 12:20 pm. Pre-registration is necessary for this session also. This is a free event co-sponsored by Smart Start Cherokee County and Smart Start Muskogee.

City of Tahlequah Armory
100 N. Water Street
Tahlequah, OK 74100
Smart Start Muskogee, Carrie Colburn
918.683.9541 x 233
Smart Start Cherokee County, Bridget Tobey
918.456.3032
bridgettobey@cablelynx.com


Cooking Demonstration – Downtown Tulsa Farmers Market

10:30am – 2:00 pm

Cooking demonstartion featuring green beans and zucchini squash by Charlotte L. Richert, OSU Extension Educator. Downtown Farmers Market - giving downtown employees an experience they find so much fun they all come back week after week to purchase fresh tomatoes, onions and peppers as the season brings those to the market. DTFM is Oklahoma Grown, OK Dept of Ag sactioned farmers' market serving only that which is grown or made in Oklahoma.

Downtown Tulsa Farmers Market
Williams Green, 3rd St and Boston
Tulsa, OK 74100
918.224.5337
okiedragon@yahoo.com


Symphony of Food – Bartlesville Farmers Market

4:00 pm – 6:30 pm

We will orchestrate (ouch) several events. Tim Tucker will grill vegetables on his open-air wok, both Tuesday evening and Saturday morning. Fran Stallings will sing from her latest CD, 'Stories and Songs for a Green Earth'. We will have music at both markets. 3 pm Delaware Day Care will read Blue Potatoes, Orange Tomatoes: How to Grow a Rainbow Garden by Rosalind Creasy and Ruth Heller. 4 -6 pm Corky Davis and The Country Swing Band will perform at the grand opening of Bartlesville's Tuesday Evening Farmers Market.

Bartlesville Farmers Market
Frank Phillips Park, Frank Phillips Blvd at Keeler
Bartlesville, OK 74100
918.346.9677 or 331-3766
bartlesvillefarmersmarket@yahoo.com
www.bartlesvillefarmersmarket.org


"Fresh" the movie – Bartlesville Farmers Market

7:00 pm – 8:15 pm

The Bartlesville Farmers Market, Sustainable N.O.W., The Delaware Child Development Center and Nancy Gilliam of Fusion Massage and Wellness Center are combining efforts to show the film, 'Fresh'. This film event will introduce new thinking about what we're eating. The evening is open to the public, and will be a program for the regularly scheduled meeting of day care parents.

Sustainable NOW
5110 Tuxedo Blvd
Bartlesville, OK
918.327.9341
charles.moll@gmail.com


Wed. June 16

8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Grillin' with Hasty Bake at the Cherry St. Farmers Market at Brookside


Father's Day Grillin at the market with Adam Myers of Hasty Bake. Buy Fresh, Buy Local representatives will be on hand during Local Food Week for more information.

Cherry St. Farmers Market at Brookside
39th and Peoria
Tulsa, OK
918.789.3881
info@cherrystreetfarmersmarket.com
www.cherrystreetfarmersmarket.com


Muskogee Farmers Market

8:00 am – 1:00 pm

Grilling demonstration with live music. Stay connected for more information to come on this event. At the Market Square in front of Civic Center.

Muskogee Farmers Market
5th St and Okmulgee
Muskogee, OK
918.686.6939
doug.walton@suddenlink.net


Cafe' Samana Wednesday and Friday Chalkboard local specials

11:00 am– 9:00 pm

Chalk board special, serving fresh and local food from the farmers market specials on their lunch and dinner menu Wednesday and Friday. 'We are dedicated to being a conscious cafe. What does that mean? Well, I'm happy you asked. We recycle and compost which reduces our waste by 80%. We use post-consumer recycled to-go containers, that are also compostable. Nearly all of our plates, bowls, glasses, vases, napkins, tablecloths, chairs and tables were bought second-hand to reduce our consumption of resources. All of our meats are farmed locally and we buy locally farmed produce when possible.'

Cafe' Samana
3807 - F. S Peoria
Tulsa, OK 74105
918.742.3559
cafesamana@care2.com
www.facebook.com/cafesamana


Oliver's Vegetables book reading

4:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Book reading of Oliver's Vegetables by Vivian French at the Delaware Daycare Center.www.vivianfrench.co.uk/index.php/vivian_french_book. Copies of this book are being purchased in cooperation with Delaware Success by 6 and Early Childhood Development. These books are to be given to the 10 day care centers involved in their new community garden at The Delaware Center.

Serenity Keeling, Delaware Child Development
123 S. Avenue
Bartlesville, OK 74100
918.337.6513
skeeling@delawarechild.org



Thurs, June 17

4:00 – 7:00 pm


Pearl Farmers Market


Pearl Farmers Market will celebrate Local Food Week with an exhibit of farm animals provided by market vendors, a fresh vegetable cooking demonstration, free blood pressure checkups provided by Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa and live music.

Pearl Farmers Market
Centennial Park, SW corner of 6th St and Peoria
918.527.6548
President@pearlfarmersmarket.org
www.pearlfarmersmarket.org/


Global Gardens Local Food Art Show at Blue Moon Bakery

5:30 – 9:00 pm

The Global Gardens students from Eugene Field and Rosa Parks are growing food and cooking up their favorite garden-inspired recipes. Feast your taste buds to the dishes, and your mind to the creations of featured artist Annie Ferris. Add your own creation in the form of a Hope Flag that will hang in the restaurant! A portion of the evenings sales will benefit Global Gardens. Two of the students' recipes, which have been featured in a national publication, White House Garden Cookbook selections will be served.

Ayschia Saiymeh at Global Gardens
918.381.6390
gardenayschia@gmail.com
Blue Moon location
3512 s. Peoria Ave
918.749.7800


Central Buy Fresh Buy Local Annual Local Food Fair

6:00 – 9:00 pm

The Sierra Club Cimarron Group and Buy Fresh Buy Local - Central Oklahoma will host their annual Local Food Fair in the barn of the Harn Homestead, 1721 N Lincoln Blvd., in Oklahoma City. Farmers and producers will offer their locally-grown produce, meats, cheeses and beverages for sampling and purchasing. Admission is $5.00 for those 18-64 and free for veterans all other age groups.

Harn Homestead
1721 N Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 74100
405.235.4058
www.oklahoma.sierraclub.org/cimarron/



Friday, June 18

8:30 – 11:00 am

Cooking to Music – Bartlesville Farmers Market


The vendors will interact with our Market customers while Jerry Freeman plays to the crowd. Gwen Harris a regular vendor will open his urban garden to the public at 12:00 noon following the market.

Bartlesville Farmers Market
Frank Phillips Park, Frank Phillips Blvd at Keeler
Bartlesville, OK 74100
918.346.9677 or 331.3766
bartlesvillefarmersmarket@yahoo.com
www.bartlesvillefarmersmarket.org


Cafe' Samana Wednesday and Friday Chalkboard local specials

11:00 am– 9:00 pm

Chalkboard special, serving fresh and local food from the farmers market specials on their lunch and dinner menu Wednesday and Friday. 'We are dedicated to being a conscious cafe. What does that mean? Well, I'm happy you asked. We recycle and compost which reduces our waste by 80%. We use post-consumer recycled to-go containers, that are also compostable. Nearly all of our plates, bowls, glasses, vases, napkins, tablecloths, chairs and tables were bought second-hand to reduce our consumption of resources. All of our meats are farmed locally and we buy locally farmed produce when possible.'

Cafe' Samana
3807 - F. S Peoria
Tulsa, OK 74105
918.742.3559
cafesamana@care2.com
www.facebook.com/cafesamana


Experience the Miracle! Catch the Spirit! Turley Area Free Festival for Juneteeth Friday and Saturday

12:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Partnering with O'Brien Park and OU Social Work Program to make whole foods, local foods a theme for our healthy communities annual celebration. Everyone Is Welcome! Be a Part of Local Foods Week.

Schedule of Events June 18, Friday with a free lunch noon-1, music and games 1-2, history presentation and Turley Tour 2-4, free supper with music: Turley and Area Jammers 4:30-6:30, Hands on History Project 7-8, music and games 8-9, Juneteenth Display.

A Third Place Community Center
6514 N. Peoria
Tulsa, OK
794.4637, 430.1150, 691.3223
RevRonRobinson@aol.com
or
thirdplaceturley@aol.com
www.turleyok.blogspot.com/


SalsaFest

5:00 – 10:00 pm

SalsaFest is a free outdoor festival where the main attraction is a salsa-making/tasting contest. Local restaurants and home cooks are invited to compete and see if their salsa really is award-winning. Salsa contestants will use at least one Oklahoma-grown ingredient for the public and celebrity judges. SalsaFest is a fundraiser for Sustainable Tulsa, a 501(c)3 organization that promotes responsible economic growth, environmental stewardship, and quality of life for all. In additional to the salsa contest, SalsaFest will feature a chili pepper-eating contest, live Salsa music, Salsa dancing lessons, children's activities, local art booths and, this year's exciting new addition, a Chihuahua costume contest and race. View their press release.

SalsaFest
1028 E 6th St
Tulsa, OK
918.808.6576
info@sustainabletulsa.org
www.sustainabletulsa.org/pages/salsafest


Saturday, June 19

7:00 am – 11:00 am


Scavenger Hunt with Cook Time with Remmi Show at the Cherry St. Farmers Market

Child friendly scavenger hunt on Cook Time with Remmi. Remmi is a 10 year old child chef, who encourages healthy eating through cooking demonstrations. Remmi and the Cook Time Team would love to have you to participate in a scavenger hunt. The whole family can participate and even young children will enjoy looking for and finding Cook Time Tips and Treasures. When you get to the Brookside Farmers Market, visit the Cook Time with Remmi booth to pick up your instruction bag. There will be members of the Cook Time Team to help you get started! For more information about Remmi, visit www.cooktimewithremmi.com. Buy Fresh, Buy Local representatives will be on hand during Local Food Week for more information.

Cherry Street Farmers Market
15th St, just east of Peoria
Tulsa, OK
918.789.3881
info@cherrystreetfarmersmarket.com
www.cherrystreetfarmersmarket.com


Saturday Seminars at the Tahlequah Farmers Market

8:00 am – 12:00 pm

The Tahlequah Farmers Market and Tahlequah Community Garden are partnering to host a series of educational seminars related to Sustainable Agriculture, Gardening and Homemaking. We'll host two classes - 9:00 am Sewing with Sally, Class 2: Students will be continuing work on a hand-bag made from new or re-purposed material. Students will assemble and baste pieces together in preparation for sewing at this class, instructor: Sally Lewis. 10:30 am Cooking with Tom: Strawberry and Peach Desserts, instructor: Tom Lewis.

Tahlequah Farmers Market
2111 Mahaney Ave
Tahlequah, OK
918.316.4572
jcorbin10@gmail.com


Fossil Week at the Stilwell Farmers Market

8:00 am– 12:00 pm

Fossil Week-Farmers toil the soil and find amazing fossils on the land. This makes a wonderful show and tell event. Could these minerals be the secret to those tasty strawberries grown for the famous Stilwell Strawberry Festival?

Stilwell Farmers Market
Stilwell Public Library, 5 N 6th St
Stilwell, OK
918.696.2329
dboecher@windstream.net


High-Fence Farm Tour

9:00 am– 4:00 pm

High-Fence Farm would like to invite you to come out and tour our 'budding' farm. When visiting our farm you can view Sassafras, Witchhazel, American Chestnut, and Pawpaws. Our goal has been to maximize the use of a small piece of property (relatively speaking) while creating an inviting arboretum filled with a large and varied plant collection.

Our main crop for starters (barring large hail storms) will be pick your own blueberries. Later in the summer we hope to have a variety of apples in season. You can see for yourself what small amount of space is required for a large variety of food crops in your own yard.

Rhubarb, asparagus, garlic, strawberries, raspberries, grapes, herbs, and a small vegetable garden can supply many fresh foods to supplement your grocery needs while providing education, enjoyment, and oftentimes great humor in family life.

We are located five miles west on the Sand Springs/Keystone Expressway; exit 177th West Ave. (near Mock Brother's Saddle Shop), turn left/south, (past Daylight Donut) follow the Y on Wekiwa Road right/west a little over a mile (passing Mohawk Sand and Calvary Baptist Church). Continue west about a half mile to 193rd West Avenue, turn right/north continuing up under the expressway about 1/2 mile. We are on the left/west, second drive where the 'High Fence' appears.

High-Fence Farm
19401 W 6th St.
Sand Springs, OK 74063
pwhatcher@sbcglobal.com


Experience the Miracle! Catch the Spirit! Turley Area Free Festival for Juneteeth Friday and Saturday

10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Partnering with O'Brien Park and OU Social Work Program to make whole foods, local foods a theme for our healthy communities annual celebration.

Schedule of Events June 19, Saturday - 10-noon Tye Dye Tshirt Making, 10-noon Turley Community Renewal Projects, Noon-2 free lunch and music by Johnny and the Oklahomans, 2-4 tye dye T-shirt making, 2-4 community presentations by State Rep. Seneca Scott and University of Oklahoma followed by Panel Presentation: Our Healthy Community Future: Plans and Visions, 4:30-6:30 free dinner and music, 7-10 Your Voice for 'Tulsa North Turley' Map of the Future: Four Directions Initiative, 8-10 Closing Celebration and music by DNR classic rock and blues. Free swimming at O'Brien Park, 6230 N. Birmingham near 61st and N. Lewis, with two cans of food for the A Third Place Food Pantry. Children's Activities and clothing giveaway. Celebrate Whole Foods Week and Juneteenth.

A Third Place Community Center
6514 N. Peoria
Tulsa, OK
794.4637, 430.1150, 691.3223
RevRonRobinson@aol.com
or
thirdplaceturley@aol.com
www.turleyok.blogspot.com/


City County Library Canning Class

3:00 – 4:00 pm

Tulsa City/County library will be offering canning class. Stay connected for more information about this event.

Sunday, June 20

12:00 – - pm


Living Kitchen Father's Day Chowdown

Living Kitchen Farm and Dairy, organically grown fresh meals from farm to plate located in Depew, Oklahoma. Enjoy a tour of the farm and then treat yourself to an amazing fresh farm table brunch. This year we're trying something new, an opportunity for the whole family. Farm Chowdown Days will be buffet lunches with local foods from the Living Kitchen Farm and other nearby farms. We'll start at noon, have lunch, play music (bring your instruments if you play), tour the farm, and enjoy the beautiful setting together. Cost is $8-$20 for those 13 and older and $8 for those under 13. You'll bring your own plates, utensils, and wine. We'll provide the food and non-alcoholic beverages. Reservations are required, but advanced payment is not.

Living Kitchen Farm
Depew, OK 74100
918.851.5662
Livingkitchen@gmail.com
www.livingkitchen.homestead.com


Downing Family Farms Tours

4:00 – 9:00 pm


Bring father and the family to the farm. Family owned and operated multi-generation farm dedicated to the production of all natural meat, pasture raised pork, grass fed chickens and turkeys. Pastured poultry is raised in floorless portable pasture shelters that are moved daily which allows them to ingest fresh greens along with their regular ration of locally grown grains. Come see it for yourself.

Downing Family Farm
69101 E 280 Rd
Grove, OK 74344
918.314.2328
wes.downing@downingfamilyfarm.com
www.downingfamilyfarm.com