Yummy Recipe featuring...Broccoli!

Broccoli Stir Fry

1 Tbsp olive oil
2 small onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic minced
2 inch piece of ginger, minced
1 portabello mushroom, chopped
1 head of broccoli, chopped how you like (I like my pieces sort of big)
Crushed red chillies to taste
3 Tbsp (give or take) Braggs Liquid Aminos (or soy sauce, tamari, etc)
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 Tbsp water

Heat oil in large wok on medium heat. Sautee onions until starting to be translucent. Add in garlic and ginger and sautee another 1-2 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and sautee for another 2 minutes. Turn heat to low, cover, and cook until broccoli is tender.

This would also be good with brown rice, or soba noodles.

taken from: www.laurensveganjournal.org/pictures/BroccoliStirfry

Broccoli is a super food!

Broccoli was developed in Italy and is well established as one of the major anti-cancer foods. Over the past 20 years, numerous studies have concluded again and again that people who eat an abundance of broccoli have fewer cancers of the colon, breast, cervix, lungs, prostate, esophagus, larynx, and bladder. Broccoli contains indoles, which can help inactivate harmful estrogens that can promote the growth of tumors, sulforaphane, which stimulates cells to produce cancer-fighting enzymes, and beta-carotene, another cancer fighter.

Broccoli contains some 3% of protein and is one of the richest vegetable sources of calcium, iron and magnesium. Moreover, broccoli is very rich in vitamins A and C, exceeding even oranges in the concentration of the latter.

taken from: http://health.learninginfo.org/broccoli-nutrition.html

The Great Garden: a brief background

The Great Garden project was conceived in 2004 to provide an opportunity for students and community members to learn about healthier eating habits, and the skills to be able to grow their own food in a fun, hands-on environment. In addition, a percentage of the garden's harvests will go to local food banks, providing them with fresh produce. This also teaches students the importance of giving back to their community.

Working with UCAN, Great Afternoons arranged for an AmericorpsVISTA (Volunteer In Service To America) to spearhead the project. In 2006, the Reedsport School District granted use of 1/4 acre of land for the garden project. Since then, the learning portion of the garden project has been very successful. Students are very excited about learning new skills to plant, and to grow their own food. The garden currently has several community plots for rent, as well as many volunteer opportunities available, and is passionate about encouraging involvement to build a stronger community.

What is a community garden?

Very Simply, it is:

Any piece of land gardened by a group of people.It can grow flowers, vegetables or community. It can be one community plot, or can be many individual plots. It can be at a school, hospital, or in a neighborhood.

-taken from www. communitygarden.org

Benefits of Community Gardening:

• Improves the quality of life for people in the garden
• Provides a catalyst for neighborhood and community development
• Stimulates Social Interaction
• Encourages Self-Reliance
• Beautifies Neighborhoods
• Produces Nutritious Food
• Reduces Family Food Budgets
• Conserves Resources
• Creates opportunity for recreation, exercise, therapy, and education
• Reduces Crime
• Preserves Green Space
• Creates income opportunities and economic development
• Reduces city heat from streets and parking lots
• Provides opportunities for intergenerational and cross-cultural connections