You really can change the world if you care enough...

Anna, 1972

“You really can change the world if you care enough.”
-Marian Wright Edelman


“You have made people listen. You have made people care, and you have taught us that whether we are poor or prosperous, we have only one world to share. You have taught young people that they do have the power to change the world.”

-Kofi Annan, Ghanaian diplomat, seventh secretary-general of the United Nations, 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.

Claycord's Lemon Lady wins Jefferson Award...

Hi Soccer Mom and Friends,

Thank you for a year of many kind words. Thoughtful journalists such as yourself have helped further the hunger cause with your honest to goodness excellent community reporting.

Click on over to Soccer Mom at Crazy In Suburbia's blogspot to read about this new milestone in the Lemon Lady Fruit Harvesting Adventures.

I am truly honored to be a recipient of this prestigious award. I humbly continue to serve and thank the Farmers and our Community for your generous support and placing your trust in me. Together, we are making a difference in bringing healthy produce to those who are hungry.

http://crazyinsuburbia.blogspot.com/2009/11/claycords-lemon-lady-wins-jefferson.html

One ordinary person really can change the world...

From time to time, its nice to contemplate what our true focus is in life. (Besides being a full-time Mommy and wife,) mine is to bring fresh fruit to local food pantries. To make "The Lemon Lady" synonymous with the hunger cause.

Today, a friend suggested I think about what really gives me joy and pleasure. So, I did.

It brings me inconceivable joy to see tree-ripened lemons and oranges that would otherwise go to waste, make it to the hands of the hungry. I end my day of reflection, my daughter resting peacefully, my husband tossing wooden blocks and toys back in their place, an hour before slumber to read a book that truly inspires me.

Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

Tom Brokaw wrote, "Thrilling . . . proof that one ordinary person with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world."

I'm thankful for the Greg Mortensons of this world. I'm also thankful for those who have written kind words about The Lemon Lady. If it brings one more piece of fresh fruit to a food pantry, then together, we can change the world too! This gives me joy and pleasure.

And, Friend . . . thank you for the inspiration today. Good night for now.

NBC Bay Area News - Lemon Lady story airs Thursday or Friday...

NBC Field Producer, Joe Rosato, Jr.
and Anna Chan, The Lemon Lady


Videographer, Robert Wellington
and Anna Chan, The Lemon Lady






Please watch NBC Bay Area news for an upcoming Lemon Lady story.

Tentative newscast date/time:

Thursday, Thanksgiving Day 6pm or Friday, November 27, 2009, 6pm newscast. I'll update my blog as soon as I hear further from the producer, Joe Rosato, Jr.

Special thanks to Joe Rosato, Jr. and videographer Robert Wellington for visiting with me today. Very cool guys! I'm sure they'll create a fine story just in time for Thanksgiving.

Happy Harvesting. Happy Thanksgiving.

P.S.

Please read about Katie Grace (below) our sweet friend who suffers from Pulmonary Hypertenstion, a progressive disease which will require a heart and lung transplant.

Katie Grace dreams to marry Orlando Bloom someday. Last Christmas, she decorated her Stanford Hospital Room with photos of Will Turner from Pirates of the Carribean. It sure would be awesome for darling little Katie Grace to receive a dream of a lifetime!

Our Sweet Friend Katie Grace is sick today. Our hearts are sad...

Our sweet friend, Katie Grace is sick with H1N1 and home recovering. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. This is a very serious illness. Katie Grace is a a very precious girl who already struggles on a daily basis with Pulmonary Hypertension; someday she'll need a heart/lung transplant.

Today is a day for extra prayers.

For links to other related stories about Katie Grace, CLICK HERE.

Warmest Thoughts to Ava's little friend.

AnnaAndAva@gmail.com

510.406.1625

Volunteers Needed Immediately. Help spread sunshine to others...

Volunteers needed immediately - to order FREE SEED CATALOGS.

Promote Literacy.

Support Education.

Inspire Gardening.

We can really use donated seed catalogs for our community garden projects. If you have any old seed catalogs around the house, please give me a call! Not everyone has access to gardening books and textbooks. Books cost money, you know.

Seed Catalogs are FREE, and they're the next best thing. Not only can a seed catalog inspire love of gardening, it can inspire love of reading. You never know until you open the pages, dream, garden, grow. Seed catalogs are valuable educational tools which I redistribute to children and adults who are just beginning to learn the joys of growing their own food.

It only takes a minute of your time. Afterall, they're free. Please, Click HERE, or call the toll-free numbers listed HERE to order today!

The Lemon Lady thanks you for your help today.

AnnaAndAva@gmail.com

Cell: 510.406.1625

Isn't a Million Dollars for our schools worth 5 minutes of your time?

More than $1 Million in computers, technology and cash will be awarded to schools this year in the Samsung Four Seasons of Hope Education Nationwide Contest.Wouldn't it be nice to see a few Bay Area schools share in the more than $1 million in prizes of Samsung products, Microsoft software, Best Buy Gift Cards, and cash grants from DirecTV?

Mount Diablo Unified School District students and parents - are we up to the task?

To enter, or to learn more about the Samsung Four Seasons of Hope Education Contest, visit: www.fourseasonsofhope.com/education.

Anyone in the community - students (K-12), teachers, parents and local residents - can submit a 100-word essay (in English or Spanish) on how the consumer electronics, computer equipment and software awarded through Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope could benefit their school.

Entry Deadline is December 1, 2009. Do good. Have fun!

Free Movies, Free Popcorn, Help End Hunger...

Two movie tickets, two popcorns for $10.50.
Make it a Tuesday date night.
Bring a few cans of food for the hungry!

Brenden Theatre

1985 Willow Pass Road, Concord, CA

Recording Number: (925) 677-0450

Customer Service Number: (925) 677-0484

Click Here for Showtimes

2 FOR 1 Tuesday (Ends Dec. 31st)
Buy One ticket & get one *free on Tuesdays all day. (* = we ask, but not require, a donation of one can of food per free ticket. All cans to be donated to the Contra Costa Food Bank).

CLICK HERE for Discount Days Concord Brenden Theatres

Also noticed on the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano website

Upcoming Events and Food Drives:

NOW through DECEMBER 24 Bring a can of food to the Brenden Theaters in Concord and Pittsburg and receive a free small popcorn.

Contra Costa warehouse: 4010 Nelson Avenue, Concord, CA 94520 (925) 676-7543
Solano warehouse: 1891 Woolner Suite I, Fairfield, CA 94533 (707) 421-9777

This post has nothing to do with lemons...

Ava, The Lemon Lady Junior, 2 1/2 years old

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” Thich Nhat Hanh - (Vietnamese Monk, Activist and Writer. b.1926)

Ava, only 2 months old

On second thought, lemons bring joy to others. Ava is my inspiration to harvest fruit for donation to the local food pantries. Imagine a world along the streets of Concord, Clayton, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Lafayette, Orinda where lemons, apples and oranges fall to the ground - rotting - while children around us have no fresh fruit at their breakfast table? Hunger is in our very own neighborhood! Please, help the Lemon Lady today. Spread joy, share fruit.

AnnaAndAva@gmail.com

510.406.1625

For ideas how to help alleviate hunger, visit Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. They have a website, and a blog!

Contra Costa warehouse: 4010 Nelson Avenue, Concord, CA 94520 (925) 676-7543
Solano warehouse: 1891 Woolner Suite I, Fairfield, CA 94533 (707) 421-9777

Thinking of sweet Katie Grace today...

Katie Grace Groebner and Snuggle Bug

November is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month. Please learn about this rare disease, and our beautiful, sweet friend, Katie Grace Groebner. Katie Grace will ultimately require a heart and lung transplant.

Katie Grace's Mom has asked friends to participate in a short quiz which will raise $10.00 in support of Pulmonary Hypertension, a very heart-warming, worthy cause. (This costs nothing but a few minutes of your time.)

"In less time than it takes to soft boil an egg, you can be one of 5,000 people who help raise $50,000 for PHA. By taking a brief online quiz at http://www.pahconnect.com you'll test your knowledge about PH and secure a $10 donation to PHA from Gilead.

There are two quizzes: one for patients and their families and one for medical professionals. This is a quiz that the PH community can't fail. Tell your friends. Tell your neighbors. Help PHA meet this Awareness Month Challenge!"

Click HERE to take the PH quiz.

Click HERE to read related articles about Katie Grace Groebner.

Click HERE to read Katie Grace's Caring Bridge Website.

Click HERE to read about Organs R Us.

Click HERE to read about Pulmonary Hypertension.

Click HERE to learn about The Taylor Family Foundation, a wonderful, local non-profit that brings dreams and hope to children with disabilities, Camp Arroyo in Livermore.

Seeking Volunteers. Plant seeds. Open your hearts...

I'm growing seedlings for donation to several community gardens throughout Contra Costa County. Perhaps families that may otherwise never be introduced to gardening can delight in the simple pleasure of growing all year long under the California autumn sun. For those without ground, any vegetable can be grown in the right sized container.

Let us open our hearts. Help Feed The Hungry and Grow a Garden. If a person is interested in volunteering, I can deliver seed growing trays, soil and seeds. I can pick them up when they are ready for transplant. It may take only one hour of your time and a few weeks of watering as a committment. I can truly use the help - I can't do it all alone...forever.

This is a non-profit venture I embarked upon for the joy of helping others, combining my interest in health/nutrition, seed collecting and eating home-grown fruits and vegetables.

Become inspired. Stop by a local garden center. Many places still sell seeds this time of year. Find a few you like and maybe purchase a package just for the fun of growing. Either way, I can share seeds with you too. I'll donate the seed growing containers, and we'll grow a garden!

Contact: AnnaAndAva@gmail.com

Telephone: 510.406.1625

Consider ording FREE Seed Catalogs for further inspiration.

Anyone have 5 minutes and 100 words for our schools? Only 3 weeks remaining for nominations...

More than $1 Million in computers, technology and cash will be awarded to schools this year in the Samsung Four Seasons of Hope Education Nationwide Contest.

Wouldn't it be nice to see a few Bay Area schools share in the more than $1 million in prizes of Samsung products, Microsoft software, Best Buy Gift Cards, and cash grants from DirecTV?

Mount Diablo Unified School District students and parents - are we up to the task?

To enter, or to learn more about the Samsung Four Seasons of Hope Education Contest, visit: www.fourseasonsofhope.com/education.

Anyone in the community - students (K-12), teachers, parents and local residents - can submit a 100-word essay (in English or Spanish) on how the consumer electronics, computer equipment and software awarded through Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope could benefit their school.

Entry Deadline is December 1, 2009. Do good. Have fun!

Garden Award worth $500. - Easy! Make Memories with your children. Garden, Grow, Have Fun...

Heinz Wholesome Memories Intergenerational Garden Award ~ Deadline: January 10, 2010 Designed to foster family-focused garden efforts in communities across the country, the Heinz Wholesome Memories Intergenerational Garden Award will provide 57 families with the tools needed to embark on a successful gardening adventure that will foster lasting intergenerational memories while growing wholesome food. Learn more.

What the award includes: Winning applicants will receive a $500 Heinz Wholesome Memories Intergenerational Award Package...

The Lemon Lady Thanks The Family Farmers...

Susan Van Brocklin, The Salvation Army
George Conlow, President, Share Food Pantry
Concord Todos Santos Farmers' Market Tuesday, 8/25/09.

Two familiar Bay Area Farmers' Markets I have come to know are the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association (PCFMA) and Contra Costa Certified Farmers' Market Association (CCCFM). Through the generous support of individual farm owners, The Lemon Lady has been able to bring healthy, nutritious, fresh produce to many area food pantries.

It has taken many months of dedication to earn the trust and respect of family farmers at these markets. Week after week, I look forward to visiting the farmers and extend my sincerest gratitude for the relationships of goodwill being fostered.

Oftentimes, employees Susan Van Brocklin with the Salvation Army and George Conlow, President of Share Food Pantry accompany me to the Markets and transport donations to their food pantries. What I admire most of The Salvation Army and Share Food Pantry is they also share produce and perishables with other nearby food pantries.


F.T. Fresh Produce
PCFMA - Concord Todos Santos
Tuesdays and Thursdays


Vidal Morga and Joseph Bautista
of Eat The Best Bautista Ranch and Kettlekorn
PCFMA - Concord Todos Santos Tuesday
and Clayton Downtown Saturdays


Cipponeri Family Farms
PCFMA - Concord Todos Santos Tuesdays


Alhambra Valley Farms, Darryl and Judy Pereira
PCFMA - Todos Santos Concord Markets
CCCFM - Sundays, downtown Walnut Creek
CCCFM - Sundays, Martinez Main Street

Have Courage. Strive. Do Good...

“Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

ABC7 News - Dire Need at Local Food Pantries...

The holidays are fast approaching and I encourage our community to remember that low-income residents DEPEND on food pantries within their own neighborhoods. I support the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano and many area food pantries.

CLICK to view the newscast:

CLAYTON ROAD: The Salvation Army Food Pantry, (925) 676-6180
http://salvationarmyconcordca.org/socerv.html

MONUMENT Blvd.: Monument Crisis Center, (925) 825-7751
http://monumentcrisiscenter.org/

WILLOW PASS ROAD: SHARE Food Pantry, (925) 827-4273
http://sharefoodpantry.blogspot.com/

It is nice to spread the joy around, especially when poverty and unemployment is county wide, not to forget the hungry children on all the streets in Concord, Clayton and beyond.

Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano

http://www.foodbankccs.org/

Contra Costa warehouse

4010 Nelson Avenue, Concord, CA 94520, (925) 676-7543

To find any California food bank, Click below:
The California Association of Food Banks (CAFB)

Eating local can start right in your own backyard...

I love eating local and anything that inspires others to grow their own food.

Garden Projects for today:

1. Read this excellent article I found in Diablo Magazine, November 2009.

Grow your Own
Eating local can start right in your own backyard
By Tracey Taylor

2. Plant peas. Plant something fun. Garden. Grow. Happy Harvesting.

Get your Pacific Gas & Electric bill paid for free...

Need help paying your PG&E bill? Experiencing a financial hardship? The Salvation Army Social Services/Food Pantry can help area residents pay their PG&E bill. Grant money is available NOW! Program qualifications apply.

Inquire for further details.

The Salvation Army
Lauri Vint
Director of Social Services
3950 Clayton Road
Concord, CA 94521
(925) 676-6180 x 10

http://salvationarmyconcordca.org/socerv.html

Additional information can be found on the Pacific Gas & Electric website:

http://www.pge.com/reach/

"REACH is a one-time energy-assistance program sponsored by PG&E and administered through the Salvation Army from 170 offices in northern and central California. Those who have experienced an uncontrollable or unforeseen hardship may receive an energy credit up to $200, credit amount based on the past due amount of the bill. REACH assistance may be available once within an 18 month period, but exceptions can be made for seniors, the physically challenged and the terminally ill."

Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle, 10/25/09...

Lemon Lady Anna Chan branches out
by Joe Eaton and Ron Sullivan

The San Francisco Chronicle, Sunday, October 25th.
Home and Garden, Page L-2

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/23/HOS51A38G5.DTL

County Food Banks in California: http://www.cafoodbanks.org/

Contra Costa Certified Farmers' Markets: http://cccfm.org/

Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association: http://pcfma.com/

A Special Thank you

Children's Community Garden of Concord

Rototilling donated by Dan Randolph Landscaping, (925) 570-1239

Soil Amendments Donated by: Sloat Garden Center, 828 Diablo Road at El Cerro Blvd., Danville • 925-743-0288

Concord Farmers' Market - Tuesday 10am - 2pm...

Looking for something fun to do on Tuesday morning?

The Concord Farmers' Market transforms Todos Santos Square into a lively neighborhood gathering place. Enjoy lunch, visit friends, take in the music while shopping for excellent quality, fresh, seasonal produce.

A heartfelt Thank You to the kind and generous farmers who donate healthy fresh produce, bakery, and other gourmet food items to The Lemon Lady. You truly make a difference to those less fortunate in our Concord Community and beyond!

For a list of today's vendors, CLICK HERE.

Know your farmer, know your food. And, have fun too! You'll find everything you need for a healthy, fresh, delicious weeknight meal.

Find a Farmers' Market almost every day of the week in a city near you! For a list of ALL California-Grown Certified Farmers' Markets in California, CLICK HERE.

Do you wish to learn about gardening? FREE Education...

If you really wish to learn about gardening, order your free seed catalogs. I've made it super simple for you, just click and order from several different seed companies: Kid's Gardening, Seeds of Change, Bountiful Gardens, Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek Seeds (Rare Seeds), Territorial Seed, Burpee, Gurney's, Henry Fields, Southern Exposure and Tomato Growers Supply Company.

Seed catalogs are packed full of useful information. (Education!) Share the catalogs with your children. Plant some seeds. Delight in the color photographs. Learn the history and origins of vegetables. Organic gardening solutions. Alternate pest control methods. Beneficial insects. Predatory insects. How to grow micro greens, baby lettuces, winter veggies, cold weather, warm weather, rainy weather. Any weather's the right time for gardening!

If you need seeds - I'll donate them to you. Let's get growing!

The catalogs are free. A beautiful, wonderful world of gardening awaits you. Become inspired. Garden. Grow. Live. Learn. Eat healthy!

Happy Harvesting. Happy Halloween.

A few garden related articles I've written over the past few months:

FREE - Seed Catalogs
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/04/thursday-april-23-2009-free-seed.html

Homegrown, Gourmet Salad greens for your Thanksgiving Day Feast
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/10/homegrown-gourmet-salad-greens-for-your.html

Calling All Parents, Educators, Schools, Church and Civic Groups
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/05/calling-all-parents-educators-schools.html

Local Foods, Local Tastes. At the Contra Costa County Library
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/09/local-foods-local-tastes-at-contra.html

40 Days, 5 Cents, Fresh On The Table
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/05/40-days-5-cents-fresh-on-table.html

Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/05/happiness-held-is-seed-happiness-shared.html

Weed Out The Hybrid Seeds
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/05/weed-out-hybrid-seeds_24.html

Nasturtiums from our garden
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/04/nasturtiums-from-our-garden.html

The Lemon Lady Junior - 2nd place winner in the "I Love My Whole Grains" photo contest...

How exciting! We submitted a photo to the "I Love My Whole Grains" photo contest, and the Lemon Lady Junior was a 2nd place winner! The Lemon Lady found a cute one of The Lemon Lady Junior. Be inspired to cook whole grains for better taste and healthier living!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW:

Title: Whole-Grain Banana Bread at The Tea Party
Sweet Hostess couldn't wait for her tea party to begin before sampling the delicious, healthy desserts! Whole-grain banana bread crumbs scatter the white table cloth. Yummy!

Thank you Whole Grains Council. We are enjoying all the healthy, fun food prizes!

La Tapatia Mexican Restaurant - Buy 1 Get 1 FREE...

Found a cool website for a few good local deals. http://www.suddenvalues.com/.

La Tapatia is a restaurant our family enjoys. This is a pretty good deal for Sunday thru Thursday dining: Buy 1 Get 1 Free.

http://concord.suddenvalues.com/sudden/businesses/offers.cfm?websiteid=6296

La Tapatia Mexican Restaurant
1802 Willow Pass Road, Concord, CA 94520 - (925) 685-1985
536 Main Street, Martinez, CA 94553 - (925) 229-3866

Another version of a La Tapatia Coupon from Valpak redeemable any day of the week:

http://www.valpak.com/coupons/display/LaTapatia/94517/828426/827407?vpref=retailmenot

Lettuce Eat Kale - The Lemon Lady: Feeding the Hungry, One Bag of Produce at a Time...

The Lemon Lady:
Feeding the Hungry, One Bag of Produce at a Time
October 22, 2009

by Sarah Henry

The Lemon Lady needs a new nickname, methinks.

Anna Chan, 37, has outgrown the title, which doesn’t begin to describe the difference this anti-hunger activist has made in less than a year in her one-woman campaign to get fresh produce into the mouths of people in need in her community....CLICK HERE for entire story written by Sarah Henry.

Visit Sarah's lively foodie blog: "Lettuce Eat Kale."

Homegrown, Gourmet Salad greens for your Thanksgiving Day Feast...

The Lemon Lady's Homegrown salad greens

Garden project for today: Scatter seeds. Reap tasty rewards in time for your Thanksgiving Day celebration. With just over a month remaining, there's plenty of time to grow a delightful array of homegrown greens.

Remember too, that children LOVE gardening. Visit your local library and find dozens of great books to inspire you. Order FREE SEED CATALOGS and spend the winter learning, dreaming about gardening. YOU are your child's first teacher.

CLICK HERE to go to the Contra Costa County Library catalog website.

http://catalog.ccclib.org/?q=kids%20gardening

Seed companies provide excellent assortments of lettuce and green seed mixes. Just scatter seeds, sun and rain, in no time at all, you're a Master Gardener! Baskets full of gourmet greens. You'll be the envy of all the Holiday parties. Try planting French Breakfast Radishes. Pink and white icicles of brillant color will match the candycane decor just so perfectly.

If you're down to the wire on time, Got 10 days? - Grow micro greens. Great if patience isn't your virtue. Well worth the power packed nutrition punch! Sunset Magazine wrote the perfect article "Easy-grow micro greens." Ten days. Seriously. Super cool!

So, power down the computer. Walk, skip, hop or jog to your nearest garden store. Grab some seeds and Let's Get Growing!

If you live in the Claycord area and are in need of seeds, soil, or growing containers, please contact The Lemon Lady. I'll be happy to donate these items to get you started. Just call or email: AnnaAndAva@gmail.com or 510.406.1625.

Volunteer Opportunity...The Lemon Lady seeking volunteers immediately...

Volunteer Opportunity. The Lemon Lady seeking volunteers in the hunger cause. Become a hunger advocate today! Immediate help is needed. (The Lemon Lady is tired!) Need help with harvesting fruit from local trees. Need help with hauling produce from local farmers' markets. Flexible schedule. Selfless acts of kindness reward the soul with inner joy!

Please, call today!

510.406.1625 or email: AnnaAndAva@gmail.com

“What I do you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful."

-Mother Teresa of Calcutta

San Francisco Chronicle - Sunday, October 25th...

Lemon Lady Anna Chan branches out
by Joe Eaton and Ron Sullivan
The San Francisco Chronicle, Sunday, October 25th.

Home and Garden, Page L-2

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/23/HOS51A38G5.DTL

County Food Banks in California: http://www.cafoodbanks.org/

Contra Costa Certified Farmers' Markets: http://cccfm.org/

Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association: http://pcfma.com/

Lettuce Eat Kale...

Here's a fun foodie blog I found. After skipping around for a few minutes, I can see I'd be hooked for hours. The author resides in Berkeley, California and she's definitely in the know about local happenings in urban gardening and fruit harvesting circles. Enjoy!

http://lettuceeatkale.wordpress.com/, by Sarah Henry.

FREE - Seed Catalogs

Order yours today! Many seed catalogs can be ordered by telephone, or internet free of charge. Seed catalogs are very educational, filled with beautiful, inspiring color photographs. Children and adults love variety and learning all about gardening!

http://kids.garden.org/inquiry.php

(800) 538-7476

http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_center/catalog_request.asp

(888) 762-7333

http://www.bountifulgardens.org/inforequest.asp

(707) 459-6410

http://www.seedsavers.org/CatalogRequest.aspx

(563) 382-5990

http://rareseeds.com/catalog/

(417) 924-8917

http://www.territorialseed.com/catalog_request

(800) 626-0866

http://www.burpee.com/ancillary/catalogrequest.do

(800) 333-5808

http://gurneys.com/catalog_request_qas.asp

(513) 354-1491

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/MP/catalogrequest

(800) 213-0076

http://henryfields.com/catalog_request_qas.asp

(513) 354-1494

http://www.southernexposure.com/index.html

(540) 894-9480

http://tomatogrowers.com/USCatalogForm.htm

(888) 478-7333

Word for the day: Vermicomposting...

Gotta love it! I clicked on over to CBS 5 Eye on Blogs and learned that San Francisco is making it illegal not to compost. Imagine that?

We can do more on this side of the Bay too. Word for the day: Vermicomposting. Look it up. Try something new. Your toddler will love it too. Mine does. We have Mommy worms, Daddy worms, baby worms and more at our house.

Happy rotten Banana peels to you.

Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm - Open all day, every day until Halloween...

Photo Courtesy: http://www.cvpumpkinfarm.com/

Pumpkins...ALL DAY, EVERY DAY until Halloween. Train rides too.

A local farm, just past Clayton downtown. Only minutes from Concord. Family fun, really nice folks! Open everyday until Halloween - 9am - 8pm.

Ava's been waiting all year for a visit to the Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm. In a few months, they'll be selling Christmas Trees too.

Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm & Christmas Trees
1060 Pine Lane

Clayton, CA 94517-9706
(corner of Pine Lane and Marsh Creek Road)
PHONE: (925) 672-5198
EMAIL: info@cvpumpkinfarm.com

The Concordian, The Clayton Pioneer...

Have you read The Concordian lately? CLICK HERE to read October 2009 online version.

You can pick up a free copy of The Concordian at one of the locations listed HERE.

To read The Clayton Pioneer, CLICK HERE.

Thank you Andre' Gensburger and Tamara Steiner of The Concordian and The Clayton Pioneer for publishing so many nice articles about The Lemon Lady fruit harvesting adventures...all year long. Scroll to page 7 in The Concordian for the latest "Lemon Lady receives garden club award" by Mike Dunn. Mike, thank you too, for your time, effort, and professional photography you share with our community. We appreciate both local papers!

The Lemon Lady's Favorite Lemon Bars...

Photo courtesy: www.cooksillustrated.com

Ahh...what memories. Back when I was single and fancy free, before trading cookbooks for Dr. Seuss books, I lived and breathed from one dinner party to the next. Baking trays and trays of scrumptious desserts. A tried and true recipe from Cook's Illustrated still tops my list as an all-time favorite. Give it a try. Find a neighbor with a lemon tree. Glean a few for the food pantry. Make friends and bake yummy lemon bars!

From Cook’s Illustrated, May/June ’98.

The crust:
1 ¾ cups flour
2/3 cup powdered sugar, plus extra for decoration
¼ cup cornstarch
¾ tsp. salt
12 tbl. unsalted butter at very cool room temp., cut into 1-inch pieces

Lemon filling:
4 large eggs, beaten lightly
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
3 tbl. flour
1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest from 1 large lemon
2/3 cup juice from 3 large lemons, strained
1/3 cup whole milk
1/8 tsp. salt

For the crust: Lightly butter a 13-by-9-inch baking pan and line with one sheet of parchment paper. Dot paper with butter and then lay a second sheet crosswise over the first.

Pulse flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch, and salt in food processor to blend. Add butter and process to blend, 8 to 10 seconds, then pulse until mixture is pale yellow and resembles coarse meal, about three 1-second bursts. Sprinkle mixture into lined pan and press firmly with fingers into even, ¼-inch layer over entire pan bottom and about ½ inch up sides. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake crust until golden brown about 20 minutes.

For the filling: While crust is baking, whisk eggs, sugar and flour in a medium bowl then stir in lemon juice, zest, mile and salt to blend well.

To finish the bars: Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Stir filling mixture to reblend; pour into warm crust. Bake until filling feels firm when touched lightly, about 20 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack; cool to near room temperature, at least 30 minutes. Holding edges of parchment paper, lift whole cake out of pan and transfer to cutting board, fold paper down sides and cut into serving-size squares or bars, wiping knife clean between cuts. Sieve more powdered sugar over bars, if desired.

Kids Growing Strong - Ava Gardener, Mommy's little helper...

A few treasured photos of my little Ava gardener.

Our garden at home.
Ava gardener learning that cucumbers grow well in containers.


Ava gardener helping sort fresh, locally harvested pomelos.

Actually, this is meant to be a post about a program I'm learning about, called: Kids Growing Strong.

Kids Growing Strong is a non-profit, garden-based education program that has developed a strong association with California Garden Clubs, Inc. since its creation in 1999. I encourage you to visit their fun, kid-friendly website and explore more about our fascinating world of gardening. Let's get growing!

To contact California Garden Clubs, Inc.:
http://www.californiagardenclubs.org

To learn about Kids Growing Strong:
http://kidsgrowingstrong.net

By the way, California Garden Clubs, Inc. is who honored me for my community service! Thank you again Maryanne Lucas, President and all members of the CGCI.

California Garden Clubs, Inc. Honors and Commends Anna Chan...

Photo Courtesy of Mike Dunn

Anna Chan, The Lemon Lady with ABC7 News Anchor Dan Ashley and CGCI President Maryanne Lucas

Thank you Mayor of Claycord for being the first to report our local news!

From Claycord.com news site, posted by Mayor of Claycord.

"Anna Chan, otherwise known as the "Lemon Lady of CLAYCORD" has won an award!

Anna was recognized this weekend by the California Garden Clubs, Inc., here's why she was chosen for the award....

for service to community; for promoting the benefits of gardening; for tireless efforts to bring fresh, nutritious fruit to Contra Costa County's needy; and for dedication to furthering the goals held in common with the members of California Garden Clubs, Inc.

We first talked about Anna back in February, and since then she's been in the Clayton Pioneer, the Concordian, the Contra Costa Times, Diablo Magazine, on ABC7-TV & KGO-Radio, and I heard she might soon be in the Chronicle. She's also been mentioned countless times on "Mister Writer's" blog, as well as on "Crazy in Suburbia"

Listen to this! Since February, Anna and her daughter have collected over $60,000 in fresh fruit, and every single piece of it has gone to the people in our community who need it the most. I'm truly honored to call Anna my friend.

Anna's a wonderful person with a heart of gold, and we thank her for all she does for our community.

Hey, she has a blog too! Check it out by clicking HERE.

As always, thanks to "Radar" with the great picture of Anna with ABC7 News Anchor Dan Ashley and CGC President Maryanne Lucas!"

To contact California Garden Clubs, Inc.:

http://www.californiagardenclubs.org/

To learn about Kids Growing Strong:

http://kidsgrowingstrong.net/

SHARE Food Pantry, An Unsung Hero in Concord...

George Conlow, President of Share Food Pantry

Let me introduce you to SHARE Food Pantry at The First Christian Church, 3039 Willow Pass Road in Concord, 925.827.4273.

CLICK HERE to visit http://www.sharefoodpantry.blogspot.com/ and learn more about their food pantry, hours and how they help our community.

George Conlow is a true unsung hero of Contra Costa County. He has selflessly served as a volunteer of SHARE Food Pantry for the past 20 years! Very impressive, SHARE is totally staffed and operated by volunteers.

Like other neighborhood pantries, SHARE feeds a large population of area residents. Please keep in mind, you may walk in any garden or store bought fruits and vegetables to feed the hungry. Times are tough for all hunger relief organizations and SHARE appreciates your walk-in donations too.

I have been so delighted to know SHARE Food Pantry and The Salvation Army. They both have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help me at the Farmers' Markets and accomodate after hour deliveries of produce. Since February, I've volunteered over 800+ hours bringing produce to several area pantries, so it sure is nice to have a little help once in a while! :)

I can always use extra help. Anyone interested in helping, please send an email, or give me a call. Thank you kindly.

AnnaAndAva@gmail.com or 510.406.1625.

ABC7 Newscast - Salvation Army runs out of food - Pantry Closed (Update: Reopened a day later.)

Related Links:

The Salvation Army Food Pantry, Concord, CA - (925) 676-6180
http://www.salvationarmyconcordca.org/socerv.html

Food Bank of Contra Costa And Solano - (925) 676-7543
http://www.foodbankccs.org/

ABC7 Newscast
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=7041782

UPDATE:

The Food Bank truck was scheduled to deliver the October supply of food the very next day. I did witness the Salvation Army staff telling clients to come back the next day after the Food Bank truck would deliver more food.

The pantry is now open, and if you watch the newscast from ABC7 it does show footage from the Food Bank. Evidently, the Salvation Army's weekly demand exceeded what their original order was.

I totally support the Food Bank and always hope the news focuses on the benefits of what the Food Bank does to support ALL of our communities' food pantries.

Salvation Army staff reports things are still tight and increasing demand is higher than was budgeted for. Food or fresh fruit and vegetable donations are always appreciated and help to supplement what their monthly food budget cannot provide.

An Unsung Local Hero - A Concord Food Pantry Needs Our Help - Temporarily CLOSED today...

September 29, 2009 - Shelves at The Salvation Army Food Pantry in Concord.

UPDATE: September 30th, last day of the month. The Salvation Army Food Pantry has temporarily CLOSED their doors today.

Why do I work tirelessly as a hunger advocate? Because poverty never ends and donations at local food pantries run out. I support the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano and several member agencies, such as The Salvation Army, Share Food Pantry and Monument Crisis Center. Today, I witnessed something truly heartbreaking. At The Salvation Army Food Pantry in Concord, shelves are nearly bare.

I encourage the community to help feed the thousands of individuals who seek emergency food assistance at The Salvation Army Food Pantry, 3950 Clayton Road (at West Street and La Vista,) Concord, CA 94521, (925) 676-6180.

Please bring food donations. Or call the Lemon Lady (510) 406-1625 for pick up and delivery. Thank you.

On a side note, did you know The Salvation Army is deserving of public attention for their support and generous contribution to the Monument Crisis Center? Public food pantries are excellent resources for the underprivileged in their communities - yet today, the need for food donations is greater than ever at The Salvation Army.

Please let us recognize The Salvation Army who continues graciously and selflessly to help our Concord Community thrive. In my humble opinion, The Salvation Army is a true unsung hero.

State of California
Senate
Certificate of Recognition
Seal of the Senate of the State of California
Presented to
The Salvation Army
in grateful acknowledgement of their support and generous
contribution to the Monument Crisis Center
bringing credit to itself as a business that is committed
to providing food and necessities to low income people
of Central Contra Costa County
The Salvation Army is deserving of public attention having earned the
gratitude of the community and the respect and admiration of
the students and the highest commendations of the people
of the State of California
Presented October 25, 2003
Tom Torlakson
Senator Tom Torlakson
7th Senate District

SHARE Food Pantry in Concord

Lynda and George Conlow

Let me introduce you to SHARE Food Pantry at The First Christian Church, 3039 Willow Pass Road in Concord. CLICK HERE to visit http://www.sharefoodpantry.blogspot.com/, learn more about their food pantry, hours and how they help our community.

George Conlow, President of SHARE Board of Directors and his lovely wife Lynda are only volunteers at the food pantry. Out of the goodness of their hearts, they both came in on Sunday afternoon 6/14/09 to receive my truckload of hundreds of pounds of fresh produce donations.

I had only briefly spoken with George earlier in the week, so I was quite surprised and delighted that they were willing to open the pantry doors on Sunday afternoon to receive this produce. It is not an easy task, and takes several hours of labor to sort and package all the produce for storage and distribution. The entire staff of selfless volunteers at the SHARE Food Pantry deserve our recognition for their amazing dedication to help feed the hungry in our community.

Like other neighborhood pantries, SHARE feeds a large population of area residents. Please keep in mind, you may walk in any garden or store bought summer fruits and vegetables to feed the hungry.

Thank you farmers from the downtown Walnut Creek and Martinez Farmers' Markets: J & M Ibarra Farms, Mee Vang Farms, Swank Farms, Diaz Farms, and Paradez Farms.


"Life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles, and kindnesses, and small obligations, given habitually, are what win and preserve the heart and secure comfort."

-Humphrey Davy, (English chemist 1778-1829)

Sunday in Martinez - Farmers' Market, Italian Street Painting Festival, And a stroll along the waterfront...

Sunday Martinez Farmers' Market opens at 10:00am.

The Martinez Italian Street Painting Festival is Sept. 26 & 27. The Martinez Sunday Farmers' Market will be moved to Estudillo St. for one day only on the 27th.

End a day of fun with a stroll along the Martinez Waterfront.

Visit: http://mainstreetmartinez.org/

Too Good To Miss - Free Museum Day, Saturday, September 26th...

Thanks for this Brittney at CBS5 Eye on Blogs!
This is an excellent offer, not to be missed.

http://cbslocalblogs.prospero.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?nav=main&webtag=kpix_eyeonblogs&entry=6780

Glean a Little Goodness in Concord, Clayton, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Martinez...

http://www.ethicurean.com/2009/07/16/caff-gleaning/

The Lemon Lady harvests and delivers fruit to neighborhood food pantries (or county food banks.) If you have a fruit tree, let's get gleaning! Please call or email anytime. Peaches, plums and pears, oranges, lemons, pomegranates, everything ripe under the sun! Children are eagerly awaiting to enjoy freshly harvested, local, seasonal fruit. There is always a need and never enough. All year through. Thank you.

AnnaAndAva@gmail.com
510.406.1625

For listings of County Food Banks in California, please visit: http://www.cafoodbanks.org/

Consumers Challenged To Live On Food Stamp Diet...

Glad to see this post from CBS5.com, encouraging community members to share their stories - The San Francisco Food Bank Challenge.

http://cbs5.com/consumer/food.stamp.diet.2.1198879.html

"Consumers Challenged To Live On Food Stamp Diet

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ―

More than 35 million Americans are now receiving food stamps, but can people really afford to live on such a small allowance? It's call the food stamp diet. Politicians have tried it. College kids have given it a shot. Sympathetic Americans wanting to understand what it's like have tried living on a food stamp budget of just $4 a-day. That's the average amount a Californian on food stamps has to spend on a day's meals. The San Francisco Food Bank's 2009 Hunger Challenge is this week - September 20-26. CBS 5 ConsumerWatch reporter Sue Kwon takes on the challenge and will file reports everyday this week documenting her experiment that we hope will put a spotlight on hunger. If you're taking on the Hunger Challenge we would like to hear about it. If you are on foodstamps and have budget stretching ideas or want to share your thoughts, please share them with CBS 5.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)"

By the way, have you visited the California Association of Food Banks lately? Check it out: http://www.cafoodbanks.org/

24 Hours of Fun - Color Your World...

This is super cute! I may be The Lemon Lady, but my favorite past time is loving The Lemon Lady Junior. Crayola has a website where you can upload digital photos and easily create your very own coloring page. Fun. Just a few clicks, and voila!

The code you'll need for free 24 hour access compliments of Parents Magazine: PR24QCHT.

Color your world...lemon yellow, cherry reds, plums and purples, peaches and cream. Happiness and sunshine.

Pleasant Hill Community Service Day, Saturday, September 26, 2009...

SEPTEMBER 26 Pleasant Hill Community Service Day. Local residents will be collecting non-perishable food for the Food Bank on this annual Community Service Day. To be a part of this event go to

http://www.pleasanthill.ca.gov/index.aspx?NID=514 then click on Food Bank to sign up.

Pleasant Hill Farmers' Market
Saturdays, 8am - 2pm

The Lemon Lady Delivers!

In serving Contra Costa County's most needy, I shall participate in the Pleasant Hill Community Service Day by collecting produce donations at the Pleasant Hill Farmers' Market on Saturday, September 26th.

All produce donations received that day will be delivered to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, 4010 Nelson Avenue, Concord, CA 94520 (925) 676-7543.

Thank you Contra Costa Certified Farmers' Markets and the generous farmers of the Pleasant Hill Farmers' Market. Your weekly donations to feed Contra Costa County's most needy are greatly appreciated!

Small Farmers Give So Much To Our Community. Please learn about their challenges...

Please read the reports...about "Bridging the Gap" that put additional pressure on small farmers.

Here are some links to read.

http://www.iatp.org/iatp/press.cfm

http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/

This is another level of helping.

Thank you kindly.

KPFA 94.1, About Health - September 14, 2009 at 2pm

About Health - September 14, 2009 at 2:00pm

Click to listen (or download)

What an excellent broadcast! There are so many great community groups, urban gardens, sustainable environment enthusiasts here in the Bay Area. This is definitely a program well-worth listening to.

The Lemon Lady was mentioned today on KPFA FM 94.1, it was a gardening/organic/green type of program, called 'About Health'. http://www.kpfa.org/archive/id/54580

46:25 in the show Lemon lady is mentioned.

I know Marty! Marty is a wonderful individual who jumped on board with enthusiasm to help The Lemon Lady grow seedlings for donation to several community gardens around Concord, California. It is dedicated volunteers such as Marty who make this world a better place! The Lemon Lady is honored to have you for a friend. Thank you for your help over the past few months. Happy Gardening. Let's get growing!

Marty - if you read this, please call me. :)

Food Bank CONCORD - TODAY, Sunday, September 13th, 2:30 - 4:30pm

Contra Costa warehouse

4010 Nelson Avenue, Concord, CA 94520

(925) 676-7543

From the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Blog:

Calling All KidsAre you a kid who has wanted to volunteer at the Food Bank warehouse and just aren't old enough? This weekend there is no age limit of 11 years old at the Food Bank and we are inviting ALL AGES to come to our Open House and Family Volunteer Day. Learn more about the Food Bank and how we work while also helping to get produce ready for distribution. We will have activities for kids of all ages!

Please join us:

Sept. 13: Open house and Family Volunteer Day, Food Bank Concord Warehouse. No reservations required. Drop in between 2:30 and 4:30.

Kids you can also join Flint from Sony Pictures' Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs in becoming a Hunger Helper - someone who finds ways to fight hunger in the community. Become a Hunger Helper today by making your own bookmark and even writing to your Congressman.

Food Bank Open House - Saturday in Fairfield, Sunday in Concord...

From the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Blog:

Calling All Kids
Are you a kid who has wanted to volunteer at the Food Bank warehouse and just aren't old enough? This weekend there is no age limit of 11 years old at the Food Bank and we are inviting ALL AGES to come to our Open House and Family Volunteer Day. Learn more about the Food Bank and how we work while also helping to get produce ready for distribution. We will have activities for kids of all ages!

Please join us:

Sept. 12: Open house and Family Volunteer Day, Food Bank Fairfield Warehouse. No reservations required. Drop in between 2:30 and 4:30.

Sept. 13: Open house and Family Volunteer Day, Food Bank Concord Warehouse. No reservations required. Drop in between 2:30 and 4:30.

Kids you can also join Flint from Sony Pictures' Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs in becoming a Hunger Helper - someone who finds ways to fight hunger in the community. Become a Hunger Helper today by making your own bookmark and even writing to your Congressman.

The Lemon Lady Delivered $60,000+ of fresh produce to hunger relief organizations

When life gives you lemons...take them to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano or a neighborhood food pantry.

Hunger is far from over.

Sweet orange smiles, bitter melons, bushels of beans, tons of tomatoes, zillions of zucchini, crates of cucumbers, corn, yellow as the sun, piles of peaches, peppers, pears, peas, everything local, long days, fun days, adventure, apricots, loquats, laughs and grapes, raisins, eggplant, purple, white, round and long, red berries, blueberries, green berries, carrots, cilantro, celery and basil, green from the earth - friends and farmers along the way have made it possible for The Lemon Lady to deliver over $60,000+ worth of fresh produce to local food pantries in Contra Costa County. Bet ya never thought a few lemons could turn into such a worthwhile project!

"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.”
-Michelangelo