Hunger Action Month. Don't you care enough to click a little?

To all our fellow bloggers out there. Why do nothing, when we can do something very wonderful? With just a few clicks (see last item below, Give Your Voice.) Please help the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano win a truckload of food from Kraft. Don't you care enough to click a little?

From The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Website:

EVENTS

Hunger Action Month. Hunger Action Month is coming and its your opportunity to help the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano and Feeding America feed more Americans than ever before.

Throughout September, the Food Bank will be asking you to take a moment to Give a Little, Feed a Lot. Join Macy’s, Sony Pictures, The Cheesecake Factory and millions of Americans in giving a little of yourself … money, time, voice …whatever you can ….to feed the hungry in our community and across the country. Mark your calendars to give a little this September. We’ll make sure it feeds a lot.

Take action this September. Use the links below to find out how you can help.

30 Ways in 30 Days. Actions you can take all month long to fight hunger including special events at the Food Bank.

Give a Little Feed a Lot. For every dollar you donate, the Food Bank can provide three meals.

Hunger Helpers. Just for kids!

Give Your Voice. Help the Food Bank win a truckload of food from Kraft Foods

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

Sunday Downtown Walnut Creek Farmers' Market...Sunset Magazine votes are in!

Soccer Mom over at Crazyinsuburbia posted a lovely article about the Walnut Creek downtown Farmers' Market, and a few nice words about the Lemon Lady. Thanks again, Soccer Mom, for your kind words. Very much appreciated to help foster the hunger cause.

http://crazyinsuburbia.blogspot.com/2009/08/lemon-lady-alerted-me-to-this-shout-out.html

Sunset Magazine votes are in! The place to shop is Downtown on Sundays at the Walnut Creek Farmers Market on N. Locust! Voted the "Best" in Contra Costa County!

"In the East Bay From knife sharpening and music to barbecue and snow cones, the Walnut Creek market ― Contra Costa's biggest, with close to 80 vendors ― supplements summer fruits and vegetables with plenty to do. Bought more than you can carry? Drop off your produce at the Veggie Valet table while you fetch your car. 8–1 Sun (9–1 Nov–Apr); N. Locust St. between Giamona St. and Lacassie Ave.; http://www.cccfm.org/."

http://www.sunset.com/travel/california/day-trip-sebastopol-00400000050670/page3.html

Way to go Mike Dunn!...Diablo Magazine August 2009...

Way to go Mike Dunn, AKA Radar at www.Claycord.com!

Catch a glimpse of Mike's awesome photo of the Cowell Smokestack, "Gone To Pieces" in Diablo Magazine August 2009, page 10-11. Diablo Magazine has an excellent digital edition for online viewing, it's actually kind of fun flipping the digital pages. Better yet, buy a souvenir copy while still available at newstands.

Keep up the superb work our friend Radar.

http://www.diablomag.com/digitaledition.html

I love the Farmers...

“One way or another, we all have to find what best fosters the flowering of our humanity in this contemporary life, and dedicate ourselves to that."
-Joseph Campbell

(American prolific Author, Editor, Philosopher and Teacher, 1904-1987)


Dearest Farmers,

I remain humble and grateful for your produce donations to the "The Lemon Lady" hunger cause. This is a personal mission, and I enjoy the personal relationships that have fostered over the past year.

Zucchini doesn't grow in a board room. Your labor of love on the farm is what brings a bountiful harvest to our community. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for sharing today and always.

I love the farmers.

Warmest Regards,

Anna, The Lemon Lady

“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

Over one-third of the waste generated by central Contra Costa County communities consists of yard and food waste...

Isn't that a startling fact? Enough to make you think twice before throwing banana peels in the garbage?

After living and breathing gardening for the past year, I wonder why more of us aren't composting our kitchen scraps and yard waste? Even my 2 1/2 year old daughter, Ava clearly knows the word compost. She delights in the opportunity to throw coffee grounds on the heaping backyard pile while searching for Mommy, Daddy, and Baby worms to feed.

Fortunate for Contra Costa County Solid Waste Authority customers, rebates are available on composting containers, workshops and a wealth of waste information is on their website. Say that five times fast!

Reality is, you don't need to purchase any fancy container. Just dig a hole, and start a backyard pile. Take advantage of free education at the Contra Costa Library, there are over 200 books available on the topic "composting."

One by one, little by little, we can make a difference in our world!

http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/05/home-composting-is-easy-even-oscar-can.html

A lovely farm in Pleasanton - Terra Bella Family Farm...

Photos courtesy of:

http://www.terrabellafamilyfarm.com

Sunday, August 16th, while shopping the CCCFM downtown Walnut Creek Locust Street Farmers' Market, I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely family farm out of Pleasanton, California. I actually met the manager, Joe Sunderland on Thursday night at PCFMA in Concord, so I was equally thrilled to meet the farm owner, Shawn Seufert on Sunday.

Terra Bella Family Farm has an exciting history. I invite you to learn about their unique farm operations and Community Supported Agriculture that area residents may subscribe to - all in a town where family farming has become obsolete.

August 9, 2009, Terra Bella Family Farm has been profiled in the Contra Costa Times and the newest edition of Edible East Bay Magazine includes another fantastic write-up.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_13022405?source=email

Diablo Magazine's Bay Area Mama - Today's Mama Dream Big Profile...

Diablo Magazine's Bay Area Mama has featured Anna Chan, The Lemon Lady in their Today's Mama Dream Big profile. Please CLICK HERE to read their story. Thank you dearly to the wonderful publishers who choose to recognize my efforts towards the hunger cause. We are all making a fantastic difference in the lives of the needy.

http://www.todaysmama.com/dream.php?view_past_featured=1682

Parents' Press and Lindsay Wildlife Museum Admission Coupon...

Great coupon for The Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Parents' Press August 2009 issue. You can find this free publication at grocery stores, libraries, and many other places. I picked mine up at Safeway. Click HERE to read an article I wrote in May 2009 about Lindsay Wildlife Museum and the One Free Admission coupon. Get a copy, and save the coupon. No expiration date! :)

Bored today? Has anyone entered this contest?...

I'd be curious to know. Do you admire a favorite educator enough to write 150 words or less in their favor?

http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/07/know-inspiring-teacher-who-would-like.html

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!

The Lemon Lady delivers fresh produce to many area food pantries...

My first concern is finding a pantry able to receive fresh produce. Not all pantries are open every day, nor do they all have commercial refrigerators to store perishable produce. If you are looking to donate fruits or vegetables, it is best to phone the individual pantry ahead of time to find their hours of operation and food distribution.

I've had wonderful experiences with The Salvation Army Food Pantry and SHARE Food Pantry because they consistently excel above and beyond the call of duty. They open their pantry doors and commercial refrigerators after hours and on weekends.

There is an abundance of produce to go around. The key is getting it from the tree to the hungry people of Contra Costa County. Fresh is best! Happy harvesting - and please Grow a Row For the Hungry. Call The Lemon Lady, or call a nearby food pantry. We deliver!

Urban Fruit Gleaning. Fruit Harvesting For The Hungry. Let's Get Gleaning. Contra Costa County. Concord. Clayton. Pleasant Hill. Walnut Creek. Martinez. Lafayette. Orinda. Moraga. Danville. Alamo.

Local Food Pantries Distribute Food
and Accept Walk-in Donations.

The Salvation Army - Concord Community Church
Produce donations accepted 5 days a week
3950 Clayton Road, (at West street)
Concord, CA 94521
(925) 676-6180

SHARE - At The First Christian Church
(closed Thursday, Saturday, Sunday)
Food Pantry, 3039 Willow Pass Road, Concord, CA 94519
(925) 827-4273‎

St. Bonaventure Church
Food Pantry Tuesday mornings only.
5562 Clayton Road, Concord, CA 94521
Phone: (925) 672-5800 * Fax: (925) 672-4606

Inside the: St. Francis of Assisi Church
860 Oak Grove Road, Concord, CA 94518
For those who need food or assistance:
Operated by: St. Vincent de Paul
(925) 682-5811
Mon-Thurs. 9 to 11 am,
Friday 1 to 3 PM, Sat. 9:30am to 11:30am

Queen of All Saints
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
2390 Grant St. (near Almond St.)
Concord, CA 94520
(925) 825-0350

Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano:
(800) 870-FOOD
http://www.foodbankccs.org/

Where to get help:
http://www.foodbankccs.org/get%20help/memberAgencies.html

This list only includes a few locations throughout Concord area. Please check Food Bank website for more info.

Contra Costa Times and The Oakland Tribune July 18th...

Click on either logo to read entire article as printed in The Oakland Tribune, or The Contra Costa Times.

'Lemon Lady' thinks outside the cardboard box

Clayton 'Lemon Lady's' food mission a fresh means of help

By Laura Casey
Contra Costa Times

Posted: 07/17/2009 02:00:00 PM PDT
Updated: 07/18/2009 07:16:28 AM PDT

The Concordian Newspaper, The Best of Concord...

Michael, advertising The Concordian at the Corner of Treat and Clayton 06.08.09.

Thank you Andre' Gensburger and Tamara Steiner of The Concordian and Clayton Pioneer Newspapers. You have both been very kind to write and publish my fruit harvesting adventures over the past few months. Your thoughtful words help bring public awareness that fresh fruits and vegetables are welcome at local food pantries.

Please read the June 2009 issue of The Concordian. "What goes around comes around, especially with fruit and food.", page 18.

Keep Katie Grace Groebner in your thoughts and prayers too! June 2009 issue of The Concordian: "Brave girl walks Bay to Breakers", page 19.

Anyone remember The Mayor of Claycord's post about MisterWriter's sign spinner video?

Farmers' Markets on Saturday - Clayton, Pleasant Hill, Orinda...

Looking for something fun to do on a Saturday morning?

A few nearby Markets are Clayton (Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association), Pleasant Hill and Orinda (Contra Costa Certified Farmers' Markets).

These markets are organized by separate Associations. Visit each website for calendars, harvest schedules, fun foodie news, and ongoing events. You can even subscribe to each Market Association's Newsletter. Check back often for updates.

Saturdays

Pleasant Hill - 8am - 2pm
Orinda - 8am - 1pm

Saturdays
Clayton - 8am - 12pm

Don't Drive 55...at the Salvation Army Drive-Thru Food Drive!

FOOD PANTRY
The Salvation Army Community Church
3950 Clayton Road
(925) 676-6180



Drive-Thru Food Drive - Clayton Road at West Street
The Salvation Army FOOD PANTRY

Drive slow...never leave your car...

Bring food donations, cans, boxes, FRUITS AND VEGGIES. The Salvation Army Food Pantry at the Concord Community Church on Clayton Road at West Street and LaVista.

http://www.salvationarmyconcordca.org/

The Salvation Army, 3950 Clayton Road, Concord, California
(925) 676-6180

Win $500.00 in the Ladies Home Journal Cutest Pets Contest...

Ladies Home Journal Cutest Pets Contest
"Think you've got the cuddliest cat or most adorable dog? Prove it and you could win $500 to pamper your precious pet! Enter your cutest pet photo by August 7, and you could be chosen to be featured on the site as one of 20 finalists. The top-voted finalist will take home the cash prize (and bragging rights). See Official Rules."

Click HERE to go to:

http://www.lhj.com/photos/lhj-photo-contests/cutest-pets-2009/?page=2

Fruit Tree Planting Foundation...

From their website: http://www.ftpf.org/

"Mission
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation is a nonprofit charity dedicated to planting edible, fruitful trees and plants to benefit the environment and all its inhabitants. Our primary mission is to plant and help others plant a collective total of 18 billion fruit trees across the world (approximately 3 for every person alive) and encourage their growth under organic standards."

This is a wonderful program! My dream is to see an outfit in Contra Costa County win a fruit tree planting. Upon reading their website, you will find that Tennyson High School in Hayward, California and another school in Boulder Creek, California have received tree plantings from this organization. Contra Costa County - Let's get growing!