RootDown's first crops - Stinky Arugula!

[slideshow] The Youth Leaders were tending their plots at WECAN's Food Forest yesterday when Mariela came walking in the room with her nose scrunched up.  She was holding out a giant bunch of greens she'd just harvested.  "What's that?!"  We asked.  "Eeewww, Arugula." she said,  then pretended to take a big bite out of the peppery leaves.

This Thursday, as planned, those stinky greens will become our first delivery of our own locally grown produce to our after school healthy cooking class.  In that class, the students will be forced at first, to try that stinky arugula just plain.  Yuck!  And then they will learn to apply certain cooking techniques to turn that arugula into something they will want to eat - stinky or no, that's what we do.  We make those veggies taste better so people want to eat them.

Congrats to Ledette, Ali, Michel and all the Youth Leaders for launching a new supply of healthy food, to meet the demand for it, that RootDown LA is working to build in South Los Angeles!

4 days, 600 sandwiches - the RootDown LA way

What better way to start freshman year at Jefferson High School,  than to NOT have to eat the frozen, hydrogenated oil and high fructose corn syrup filled "Smuckers Uncrustables"  sandwiches LAUSD sends along for the freshman leadership days?  For all the improvements food advocates have been able to make, much of school lunch is still unhealthy and untasty.  RootDown LA switches it up each fall, showing students how easy and affordable healthy sandwiches and seasonal fruit can be to eat for lunch! Cost per mostly organic, locally sourced meal? - less than $2.00

[slideshow]

Thanks to our RootDown LA Youth Leaders and Warren, who expertly ran the show this year!  Also, SO MANY THANKS to volunteer, Laura Merrick, who shopped for and helped prepare the sandos when we really needed the help last week!

The Carrots are Coming!

RootDown LA Youth Leaders are anticipating the first sprouts from their plot at WECAN's Urban Food Forrest.  While they await first crops, they are building a business plan and planning a community event to invite neighbors to sample this very LOCAL produce and consider purchasing their veggies from the Urban Food Forrest!

Would you like to start this in YOUR community?  Call us!