Plan to Celebrate Earth Day with Nutritious, Local Food

Today many of us take for granted safe drinking water and clean air. We can fill our water bottles from the tap and drive cars like the Prius. But it took more then Beatle songs to get to where we are now.

In the 1960s the nation’s focus was on Vietnam and protesting the war. Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin had the idea to use the protestors’ passion to promote environmental issues.

April 22, 1970, marked the date that the modern environmental movement was born. 20 million strong, people put aside their differences and the response created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The grassroots movement spearheaded the Clean Air and Water Acts. 30 years later Earth Day moved into the new millennium, using the internet to connected 5,000 environmental groups, in 184 countries, to make the environment a global cause.

There will be many opportunities here in the Rohnert Park area to celebrate Earth Day. Here at Valley End Farm we honor Earth Day year ‘round with quality organic produce, fruits, eggs and honey. Our fresh, hand picked, fruits and vegetables form the basis of our Consumer Supported Agriculture (CSA) program which provides weekly or bi-weekly small, medium or large boxes of certified 100 percent organic produce and fruit that is grown in rich adobe soil free of chemicals or pesticides.

In keeping with the Earth Day movement that began more than 40 years ago, we support the cultivation of pure natural foods in a way that does not harm the environment. And, our CSA program veggie boxes allow us to participate in ongoing partnerships with our members as well as continue to spread the model of community supported agriculture that was ignited all those years ago.

For eons, community has been an important element of agriculture and our produce and fruit boxes are a great way to bring the community together. Through sharing food we can make connections, learn more about the seasons and what nature offers, and have a greater opportunity to appreciate our local region through food.

Speaking of the seasons, the weather is finally heating up, so we are responding to demand and are pleased to expand our CSA program lineup by offering fruit boxes, perfect for making those tasty warmer weather smoothies.

Spring is the perfect time to start eating healthier and burn off those extra calories from winter. As a CSA member you will be introduced to new vegetables each week and preparing tasty meals is easy with the recipes included in every box. This again is our way of honoring Earth Day; sustaining our members who care about what goes into their bodies is important to us.

The overall goal of Earth Day is a healthier world and nutritional food is both a tool and by-product of that. The results are many and include a healthier body. Along with a better nourished body is a better nourished brain. And because we want to support our local schools we’ve generated more fundraising opportunities for them. The number of schools participating in our Veggie Bucks fundraising program is rapidly growing because this is an easy way from them to raise money and eat well.

Whatever you have planned for your Earth Day celebration, be sure to take time to think about where your food comes from. And remember, if you devote only one day a week to eating healthy, locally grown food you’ll be making a difference not only in your life bit also in the life and well-being of your community.

For more information, visit www.valleyendfarm.com or email valleyend@hotmail.com.