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In this issue:
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It feels like Spring really arrived this week in Northern California. The skies are blue, the temperatures warm, green grass covers the fire-scarred hillsides, and here in Sebastopol, the first apple blossoms are beginning to appear. In our gardens, new plants are thriving, and birds and bees fill the air with the the sound of life and joy.
Spring feels like a season of possibility, especially as our region continues the journey of recovery and rebuilding in the wake of last year's wildfires.
I want to thank you, for believing in possibility. Today is Ceres' 11th birthday. And I am filled with deep gratitude for all the many people who joined us in our earliest days, with a deep belief in the importance of healing food and empowered youth. Thanks for believing in the potential of this project from the very beginning.
Eleven years on, our family has grown and we've delivered more than 600,000 meals. There are a lot more people I'm thankful for! Heart-centered and love-guided service will always guide us as we evolve and explore new possibilities to better serve the health of our community and planet. In the coming weeks we'll launch a ground-breaking Food as Medicine pilot in partnership with five other nonprofits and the California Department of Health Care Services. Together we'll study the impact of providing medically-tailored meals to patients with congestive heart failure. While these clients will represent only a small percentage of the people we serve, I expect that what we learn will help us better serve all our clients, and will have the potential to make healing food part of the standard of care for serious illnesses.
Thank you for believing in the importance of healing food, youth and community. I'm so grateful for your partnership!
Love,
Cathryn Couch
Founder & Executive Director
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Human Race is On!
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Join us this year for a walk through some of Santa Rosa's most scenic parks, and gather pledges to help us raise $5,000 to fund our vital programs. Register now, join our group and get ready for the race!
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When is it?
Saturday, April 28, 2018 Rain or shine!
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Register Now
It takes just a few minutes to register online. Once you've done that, you'll have a personal Human Race fundraising page which you can share via email or social media. Your supporters can pledge to you either online or by giving you a check. Sign up now online. On the Human Race page, click on the blue SIGN UP HERE box and you'll be walked through the steps to register.
Contact
We're here to help! If you've got questions about the race, how to register, or need a few fundraising tips, reach out to Info@ceresproject.org or call 707.829.5833.
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Spring Gardening
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By Sara McCamant, Garden Manager and Youth Program Manager Adapted from igrowsonoma.org
When to really start gardening in the spring depends on your soil and how wet your site is. Working wet soil will compact it and destroy the soil structure. It is best to wait until it dries out some. You should not be able to roll the soil into a "worm" and it should not be sticky to the touch. Most plants don't like to grow in over-saturated soil, so it is worth waiting.
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Sara McCamant, Garden Manager and Youth Program Manager
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If you have raised beds or a well-drained area, you may be able to plant sooner than the rest of us! There is so much you can be planting now: peas, potatoes, onions, lettuce, chard, kale, arugula, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, onions, beets, carrots, radishes, turnips, cilantro and parsley. There is a great guide at iGrow Sonoma that Wendy Krupnik and I put together- which will help you understand when to plant what.
If you want some quick spring crops so you can start harvesting soon- try some baby lettuce or baby braising greens (a mix of kale, mustard greens and chard). Plant them close together- drop seed a half inch apart in a row, then harvest them when the leaves get two or three inches long by cutting them above the root. They often will grow a new set of leaves- they call it cut and come again. Arugula also produces quickly and can be a repeat harvest. All of these will probably bolt once it gets warmer, though.
In a wet spring, the slugs and snails are very happy, so make sure you clear out areas that they can hide in when you plant. I shake a little Sluggo (an organic-approved, iron phosphate based slug and snail control) around all new plantings. Birds can also be pests in the spring. I usually cover new greens and peas with either an agricultural fabric or with little upturned strawberry baskets immediately upon planting. The other pest that appears this time of year is aphids on all the older kale plants- aphids come in as the plants begin to weaken and go to seed. You can wash them off or allow the aphids to attract ladybugs. I also see it as a sign to take the kale out.
Garlic (that was planted in the fall) usually can use a boost of fertility as it enters its last months. I give it one last watering with fish emulsion or kelp. Make sure you keep it weeded, as garlic hates competition.
I have given up on planting onions in the fall as at least half send up flower heads before they form bulbs. I do all my onion planting in the spring- mostly in March, but I have had good luck with April plantings also. I plant starts, either ones I have started at home or I buy starts. Sometimes you can find bundles of small plants (starts) at nurseries and it is a great deal and the plants already are pretty big.
Remember, fava beans are edible in many forms- the leaves are a great salad addition and the flowers are also edible. I have heard of people sautéing fava bean leaves also. Also as your kale plants start to go into flower, eat the flower buds. They are tasty like a broccoli.
Interested in learning more from Sara?
We welcome teen and adult volunteers in the garden. Contact Sara@CeresProject.org for details. We have 2 gardens in Sebastopol, and a brand new garden in Santa Rosa, managed by Lee Foster, who you can reach at lee@ceresproject.org.
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Recipe to Nourish Body and Mind
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Basil Caper Vinaigrette
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One of the pleasures of the spring garden is freshly harvested salad greens. They're even better with a simple, homemade dressing. Making a vinaigrette is quick and economical. You end up with lots of flavor and none of the additives, stabilizers and preservatives found in bottled salad dressing.
Like this recipe and want more? check out our cookbook
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Gratitude from a Youth Volunteer
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11 years of service thanks to you
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All-star Volunteer
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This month we wished all-star volunteer Joya, farewell.
Volunteer Relations Manager, Caroline Bañuelos wrote a very heartfelt e-mail to staff about Joya's time at Ceres that I would like to share with you:
"We are very sad to lose Joya, she has been one of our volunteer stars for the last 5 years. Joya has worked with just about every supervisor in Ceres from Containers, to Delivery, Supplements, Client Liaison and as a Kitchen Mentor. She has been someone we could count on in a pinch and always with a smile. While we will miss her immensely, she is going back into medicine and that's a great thing for her and for the people she will be helping."
Thank you Joya, for all your contributions to Ceres and our community at large.
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Community Cares Thank You
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Redwood Riders Give to Ceres for their 4th Consecutive Year
This month we would like to thank the Redwood Riders. They have generously donated to Ceres for the last four years.
Here are some photos from their visit and tour of our Sebastopol Kitchen where they surprised us with a donation collected throughout the year from the club members.
We thank the Redwood Riders for their continued support!
Visit their site here.
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Thank you, Julian
We would also like to share with you news of a donation that we received from an East Bay 8th Grader named Julian. Here's what he had to say:
"My name is Julian, I'm in 8th grade, and I live in Oakland. I raised this money during my trick-or-treating for Halloween this year. I wanted to donate to fire relief, but due to several circumstances, it has taken me a very long time. And for that, I am extremely sorry. But now that I am donating, I hope that it helps where help is needed and that it makes the world at least a tiny bit brighter for people who suffered in the devastating fires. Thank you for what you do."
Thank you Julian for your considerate and thoughtful gesture.
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Recent News You May Have Missed
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Catering by Ceres is here to help!
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Our beautiful, delicious and nourishing food is perfect for your next occasion.
We provide food and service for a wide variety of events, including lunch meetings, receptions, fund-raising events, graduation parties, celebrations and more. Whether you need boxed lunches dropped off at your office, or a fully staffed meal with rentals, we're here to help you plan an event to remember.
We'll work with you to create a custom menu for your group with pricing dependent on your menu, the size of your group and the level of service required - from drop-off to full-service buffet or family-style meals.
Click here for menu samples and contact information
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Celebrate Pi Day!
We know you love free recipes, so in celebration of Pi day we are providing two very delicious pie recipes! One is for a savory Asparagus and Mushroom Quiche and another is a sweet recipe for a Triple Berry pie.
Click the blue links or on the images below to open up recipe PDF's.
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John Shadle Blueberry pie graham crust CC BY-SA 3.0
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Teen Chef Kevin preparing a quiche. |
Asparagus & Mushroom Quiche |
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Pick up a Ceres Meal at your local Whole Foods Market!
Wondering What's for Dinner?
Grab salads, sides and family meals that support Ceres from your local Whole Foods Market. Whole Foods Market will donate $1 per pint of salad or side and $2 per family meal purchased.
We're excited to announce that ALL Northern California and Reno stores now offer this program. You get a great, easy meal, Ceres receives financial support. Everybody wins! From Monterey Bay to snowy Reno; from Napa to Emeryville and everywhere in between, eat well and do good.
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Upcoming Classes & Events
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Check out our 2018 calendar-
Many class and orientation dates!
To see all classes and orientation dates,
click here.
To sign up, click the link below each class.
Healing Foods Basics Class- Sebastopol
Volunteer Orientation- Sebastopol
6:00-7:00pm
Volunteer Orientation (Youth Only) San Rafael
Healing Foods Cooking Class|Cocinando Comidas Curativas, En Espanol!
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Kids Can Cook! Classes
Eating the rainbow is easy and fun. This hands-on cooking class, presented by Ceres at Sonoma County library locations for 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders is designed to teach children how to make healthy snacks and simple meals.
Space is limited. Please register by using the link below or at the information desk in your local library.
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Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library
April 2
1:00-2:00pm
Sign Up Here
To view all library classes click
here.
You can also register by visiting your local Sonoma County Library.
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Ceres Social
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These were your favorite 6 Instagram posts in the last month
Want to know what each post is about? Click each photo to find out more!
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Receiving Too Many Emails?
Are the e-mails you receive from us not relevant to you? We might not have your correct zip code or address on file. E-mail us your zip code/address and we'll make sure to tailor our emails to your location and needs.
Email us at newsletter@ceresproject.org
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More Ways to Support Ceres
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Join Our Kale Club
Become one of our monthly donors and you'll automatically be enrolled in our Kale Club.
Kale Club membership perks include a monthly email with a collection of delicious and healthy recipes from the Ceres kitchen!
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Purchase the Ceres Cookbook
Ceres'
Nourishing Connections Cookbook is filled with
delicious and healthy recipes...
PLUS read about how Ceres came to be, and benefit from the extensive section outlining Ceres' Food Philosophy and hands on strategies to empower you to make healthy change in your life. More details and sample recipes here.
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Whole Foods
Grab salads, sides and family meals that support Ceres from your local Whole Foods Market. Whole Foods Market will donate $1 per pint of salad or side and $2 per family meal purchased.
We're excited to announce that ALL Northern California and Reno stores now offer this program. You get a great, easy meal, Ceres receives financial support to help extend our services to clients and youth.
Look for special signage featuring our logo in the deli area of your local Whole Foods Market.
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Community Cards
Earn funds for Ceres when you shop at Oliver's Markets, Petaluma Market, Fircrest and other local markets.
Pick up your eScrip Community Card the next time you shop, and designate Ceres as your beneficiary. The markets will donate 3-5% of your spending to us.
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AmazonSmile
You can easily support Ceres through the purchases you already make on Amazon.com.
Visit Smile.Amazon.com to choose Ceres as your beneficiary organization and then access Amazon via Smile.Amazon.com every time you shop.
The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Ceres.
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OPERATING PRINCIPLES
Heart Centered & Love Guided
We are committed to expressing love, trust, respect and integrity in our lives, work and organization.
Everything Matters
Nothing is left out. We work to have every action and choice lead to the greatest positive impact.
Young People are the Future
Young People are intelligent, responsible, capable, creative and caring, and must be central participants in shaping our collective future.
The Universe has a Purpose
Everything is connected, and life continually invites us to experience gratitude, abundance, connection, community and healing.
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