Meet Joe

I am Joe Gady and my daughter, Lauran, and I operate a two acre organic farm just south of Argos. Our goal is restoring the soil and the life therein to sustainability, so that outside inputs are required less and less. The high nutrient density of our produce and value added products promote sustainability of health in our customers. 

 

We grow heirloom varieties, stimulate soil biological activity with the addition of microbial & mycorhizal mixes and enzymes, humic acids & sea minerals, high quality compost, and plowing down of green manures. we also regularly spray the leaves with foliar sprays that contain microbes, humic acids and sea minerals. We grow and sell fresh romaine lettuce, carrots, beets, onions, garlic, leeks, root parsley, parsnips, cabbage, kale, basil, dill, cilantro, pickling cucumbers, winter squash, and heirloom pumpkins.

 

To learn more about Joe and his amazing carrots (and other delicious items) check him out here.

Meet Jess

I've come a long way from the child who would gleefully use dandelion pollen for eye shadow (mulberry juice for lipstick, lilac and lily flowers for perfume, etc...); the curiosity spark for what I once termed "faerie make-up" (and passions for alchemy and chemistry) remained, simmering, for decades. 

 

It was in April 2006 that the epiphany emerged from its chrysalis and finally took flight: what a positive and whimsical endeavor it would be to recreate these types of natural products that everyone can use - and afford to use. 

 

My greatest sources of happiness come from not only creating the products for all to enjoy, but in being introduced to new customers (and friends) worldwide through the creations, and knowing the creations help bring a smile or two to someone's day... 

 

More can be learned about Body Eclectic Skin Care and her awesome new scents at her website or come check her out every Saturday morning.

The Right to Hunt and Fish (and Farm)

We’ve recently told you about a couple bills under consideration at the Indiana Statehouse that we believe have an effect of our mission to help residents of Indianapolis “Grow well. Eat well. Live well. Be well.” However, there is a different sort of legislation under consideration that isn’t getting much attention in the media.

Senate Joint Resolution 7 (SJR 7), the so-called “Right to Hunt and Fish” resolution, would protect Hoosiers’ constitutional right to hunt, fish, or harvest game. We’ll admit this is a “valued part of our heritage” for many Hoosiers, yet the bill’s scope is cause for concern.

The bill, if enacted, would make it a constitutional right to engage in the agricultural or commercial product of meat, fish, poultry, or dairy products as well as hunting and fishing. No other professions in Indiana are guaranteed such rights.

Similar to SB 373, (a.k.a. - the Ag Gag bill), SJR 7 would limit our right to know where our food comes from and how it is grown. SJR 7 would effectively limit the ability of regulators to enact safeguards designed to protect public health, safety and the environment. Some opponents of this resolution have nicknamed SJR 7 as the “Right to Harm”.

Our stance is to support agricultural practices that are good, clean and fair. Likewise, we see the practice of growing produce as a basic agricultural act and absent of the Indiana constitution.

We encourage you to contact your House Representative and tell them you are opposed to SJR 7 and that you support continuing open conversations and interactions around good agriculture practices. (Go here to look up your rep). As part of Growing Places Indy, we support Ag Brag. We love what we do. We love the land. We love growing food. We have nothing to hide. 

Notable: A joint resolution must pass the House and Senate of two separate sessions of the Indiana General Assembly. SJR 7 has already passed through once. During this current session, SJR 7 passed through the Indiana Senate on February 26, and it has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. There is no current hearing scheduled, but we will let you know via Facebook, Twitter and this newsletter (if time permits). It is possible that SJR 7 will “die” in committee and or it may be left to the final weeks of the session.

If SJR 7 does pass the Indiana House, it will become a constitutional law and any changes or modifications would have to endure the same process that SJR 7 has traveled. In other words, it would be very difficult to amend in the future.

Pop tarts ain't got nothin on these. (Delicious fruit tarts)

Working this year's market has opened my eyes to a whole new world. Part of that being a learning process about the food I have been putting into my body. Being an amateur competitive boxer, I burn a lot
of calories. Which means I eat A LOT of food.

Most of the time that food is whatever I can get my hands on and anything that's "quick." One of those quick foods for the past three weeks has been frosted strawberry pop tarts, which in my opinion, are the best.

Being at the market every Saturday, there was one particular item that caught my attention, Rene's fruit tarts.

I bought one, and immediately I wanted everyone I knew to try a bite of this delicious miniature pie of fruit.

The perfect combination of fresh kiwi, strawberries, blueberries, and oranges surrounded by delicious slivered almonds all on top of a bed of pastry cream and all held together by a perfectly crumbly tart crust.

Not only did this pastry satisfy every taste bud in my mouth, it was also easy on the eyes with its combination of colors. My strawberry frosted pop tart will never be able to satisfy my pallet again.

I highly recommend trying one if you haven't, unless you hate fruit, then I don't recommend it.

Rene's is located in Broad Ripple behind La Piedad.

-jh

The Legalization of Raw Milk in Indiana by Steve Bonney

I wish I could report that SB 513 – authored by Senator Richard Young - had passed through the Indiana General Assembly and that the sale of raw milk and raw milk products would be legal in Indiana on July 1. Sadly, the bill never received a hearing in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

The demand for raw milk is ever growing as discerning consumers recognize its benefit to human health. Those who want it feel they have a right to access raw milk as food. Yet, legalization divides even this group of consumers. It even divides my thinking.

On the one hand, progressive minded consumers should be skeptical about any government regulation of our food, because the regulations are so influenced by multinational corporations protecting their turf. Meanwhile, thousands of Hoosiers have access to raw milk through cow shares and distribution networks. That tends to generate the attitude of “why should we do anything about legalization, when we already have access to raw milk?”

My answer is that we are not guaranteed access in this manner. One view of regulators is that cow shares are just a way to buy milk. If they choose to require dairy farms using cow shares to cease and desist, a court test would be necessary. Would raw milk drinkers support the cost of a lawsuit? The Indiana General Assembly could remove statutory authority for the Office of the State Chemist to issue pet food permits as well. Other states have made it very difficult for people to access raw milk.

That leads us to legalization. This would allow greater access to raw milk. In a Board of Animal Health (BOAH) survey of dairy farms, 65 percent of respondents indicated that they would sell raw milk it were legalized. My insistence is that sales at farmers’ markets be allowed. As long as the milk is maintained below 40 degrees it’s as safe as being sold from at the farm, a condition of sale that was held by a majority on the task force described below.

The 2012 General Assembly ordered BOAH to develop recommendations for regulating the sale of raw milk. A task force of 18 (including me) was convened last summer and met for 3 daylong sessions. Of the 18, only four of us even favored the legalization of raw milk from the outset, but our small voice was able to win some concessions for the small farmer against all odds. One state official said in a private conversation with me that he thought people who fed raw milk to children should be prosecuted. I was too shocked to reply. Later, I wished I had said that I felt the same way about soda pop. The report on regulations for raw milk sales from BOAH is at http://www.in.gov/boah/2622.htm.

Senator Young told me he would introduce his legalization bill next year. What can we do in the meantime? Contact your state legislators (small group meetings are best) to discuss this issue and get their commitments to support legislation next year. Other food issues could be discussed with them as well.

Why get involved politically? There were several bills introduced during this session that didn’t even get a committee hearing, but whose issues are worthy of political support. Mandatory labeling of food with genetically modified contents (HB 1129) was authored by freshman Rep. Dan Forestal and Rep. Robin Shackleford , both representing the near eastside of Indianapolis. SB 411 (Sen Richard Young would have established statewide health standards for selling at farmers’ market, and prevent local jurisdictions from enacting stricter regulations.

Urban legislators are our best bet for support; e.g., Senator Jean Breaux of Indianapolis is food friendly and interested in the raw milk issue. Find legislators and monitor legislative activity at http://www.in.gov/legislative/index.htm. Let’s lift Indiana out of the dark ages. Contact me at steve@sustainableearth.net for questions or comments.

Sun King Community Partner Spotlight: Indy Winter Farmers Market

Indy Winter Farmers Market Vegetable Highlight for February: Turnips

Turnips get a bad rap. Admit it, you have overlooked them. Plain white or purple-pink and white, these root veggies are often sidelined for their potato and carrot cousins. But they are an easy-to-grow legume and have a variety of uses that might help you find ways to increase your veggie intake.

First, there are a few different kinds of turnips you can buy. Let’s skip turnip greens for now, as those are fairly more familiar and have their own recipes of note later on in the season (though we love this recipe: Mixed Greens with Turkey , or this spicy veggie version). Purple and white turnips are usually softball sized and often come without their leaves. These turnips are often cooked roasted, braised, or in soups. They are a great addition to roasted vegetables and rice. Sometimes they are pickled. Try this recipe for Turnips in Mustard Sauce. The smaller, often white turnips are most often used for salads. You can slice these and eat raw in salads for an added crunch and spice (as in this recipe from the New York Times).

When choosing turnips, look for smooth skins and a sweet-like aroma. Once you get them home to cook, wash the skin before chopping or slicing. Peeling is optional. Turnip flavor, mild and slightly peppery, goes well with other root vegetables, mushrooms, bacon, and onions.

For pairing with a turnip, Sun King recommends one of two beers. If you’re making a salad and using fresh raw turnips, go with Sunlight Cream Ale. Cream Ale will pair well with the delicate and sometimes citrusy flavors of the salad while also cutting through the bitter, spicy, almost radish like quality of the fresh turnip. If you decide to cook your turnips and serve them roasted, braised, or in soups, then we recommend going with Wee Mac Scottish Ale. The richness of Wee Mac’s malt will be a perfect complement to the hearty nature of the warm root vegetable.

You can buy turnips at the Indy Winter Farmers Market from November through February or March. Vendors like Full Hand Farm and Harvestland carry turnips. See you at market soon!

=================

Molly Trueblood, IWFM Market Manager