Just Curious...

Come take a quick poll about the factor that will most influence your July 4 menu.

So, Did Your Governor Respond?

It's just a few more days until July 4th. Has your governor responded to the FoodIndependenceDay.org inquiry?

Here in Texas, we're still waiting to hear from Governor Perry. [UPDATE: We got an answer, via a Twitter-based video. I blogged a bit about it over at MySA.com ]

Over on the new, non-partisan Dig for Texas blog, I just posted this update:

Since neither Roger nor I have received any response from Governor Perry or his office yet, I've just tweeted to all the 2010 candidates (Democrat and Republican) for governor AND senate that I could find on Twitter, asking them what they'd serve on July 4. I swear it's NOT a trick question... we're just curious and want to spotlight local Texas food. Am hoping someone is willing to give an answer. A response from a Senate candidate would be terrific at this point, even if the project is geared at First Families!

As a reminder and for those of you coming late to the game, FoodIndependenceDay.org is a non-partisan project spearheaded by the same fella who engineered EatTheView.org during the 2008 presidential race.

In other words, this is not a "gotcha" activity. It's an honest inquiry.

If you're not sure if your First Family fessed up what's on the menu, then go look for the little red dots on the map. And if you haven't done so already, be sure to add your own green mark! You can be anonymous or you can use your name (and that's a big ol' hint for the candidates in any race out there--free advertising!)

Can This Victory Garden Be Saved?

You may recall a few months ago a link to an article here re: fate of the WWII-era Victory Garden that served as the home to the popular PBS show, "The Victory Garden," during the '80s and '90s. The latest word from Lexington, MA is that the garden's greenhouses could be bulldozed before the end of year. After a demolition delay by the town's historical commission expired in March, it appears to be largely up to the developers who purchased the property as to what happens with it... unless... well, read on:

According to Planning Director Maryann McCall-Taylor, the Planning Board still has an option to save the Victory Garden. State law says that once the board approves the final development plan, it has the option of reserving the property for public use. The town then has up to three years to buy the property; if the town decides not to, it can revert the property back to Homes Development Corp. or another developer, who has the possibility of selling it as one of its options. (Source)

The article suggests that the developer envisions maintaining the gardens as a focal point for the new homes.

Now, I have no plans to be a butt-insky on this matter and launch a petition to save the greenhouses, but I do wonder about the symbolism of this garden being converted from what was very public to private. At the same time, if the developers plays the cards right, we could have a cluster of homes showcasing a high-profile vegetable garden might spark press and copycats. That might even prove to be a good thing.

Your thoughts?

Leave a comment here or send a note via Twitter.

White House Garden Update

You can also read about EatTheView.org founder Roger Doiron in a new interview over at Seasonal Wisdom, one of my fave blogs.

Want more: check out the New York Times' The Caucus blog today.

Our Garden This Week

Our Central Texas Victory Garden 14 June 2009 from P.Price on Vimeo.

Lovely Li'l Morning Glory

I love morning glories--the real ones, not bindweed! This vine has cooked in the heat, but I was lucky enough to catch this bloom earlier in the year.

More non-Victory Garden pictures of our yard going up on RW&G's Facebook page this morning. Plus, tomorrow plan to check out a video update on our garden's progress.

The Queen Has an Allotment Garden Again

Friday Fun: Good Enough Gardening

The Good Enough gals invited me to chat a bit on their radio show. The episode's topic? Flowers.  Of course, we veered off into victory gardening and other things--all in good fun. Have a listen. (I come on near the end.)

Starting a Community Farmers Market

I found this new series by Heather Jones over at CookingUpAStory.com. She's starting a farmers market in rural New Jersey from scratch and chronicling the experience.

An excerpt:

Basically I’m doing it for purely selfish reasons, but not only that it would be a wonderful thing for my community, a way to put my town back on the map and get families to see the importance of supporting local agriculture and local businesses. My hometown like many small towns was a bustling little hub for a long time; we had our own bank, butcher, corner market, gas station, hotel, Movie Theater, etc. Then like many towns during the 70s and 80s we had a crime wave that brought drugs in and ripped the town and many families apart. The local business owners packed up what they had left and moved away, the school district fell apart, the town became one that many people became ashamed of living in. (More)

Two New Relevant Posts on My Other Two Blogs

Over at DigforTexas.com, we're trying to get Governor Perry and other local food fans to share their July 4 menus, as part of FoodIndependenceDay.org efforts. An excerpt:

While we wait to hear from the governor to respond, y'all are invited to weigh in with your July 4 menu ideas. Some suggestions that have already come in include Meyer's Elgin Smokehouse Sausages, Shiner Bock and Caprese salad with homegrown tomatoes, basil and Mozzarella Company cheese. (Too bad that Central Market's upcoming regional food promo doesn't start until later in the summer! (More)

From my post yesterday at MySA.com:

The kids are out of school, and the gardens are growing strong. Now is the perfect time to get creative and weave the garden into your family's life, perhaps learning a bit of history in the process.

Researching and discussing your family's gardening history offers a terrific opportunity to engage people of all ages in "bigger picture" discussions of sustainability. Older folks enjoy sharing their gardening memories, reflecting upon how they worked with their own parents to keep food on the table. Young people will likely find the challenge of finding creative means of archiving stories from their elders engaging. Everyone will benefit from exploring how what we grow at home sustains us, body and soul. (More)