Kids Cook Complete

LATE SUMMERFALL
WINTER
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
INTRODUCTION
Publishing Information
Kids Cook Farm-Fresh Food was developed by Sbella Kraus. The document
was revewed and accepted for publcaton by the Nutrton Servces Dvson,
Calforna Department of Educaton. It was prepared for prntng by the staff
of CDE Press and publshed by the Department, 1430 N Street, Sacramento,
Calforna (malng address: P.O. Box 944272, Sacramento, CA 94244-2720).
It was dstrbuted under the provsons of the Lbrary Dstrbuton Act and
Government Code Secton 11096.
2002 by Sbella Kraus, Sustanable Agrculture Educaton (SAGE)
All rghts reserved.
ISBN 0-8011-1547-7
Ths materal s based upon work supported by the Cooperatve State Research,
Educaton, and Extenson Servce, U.S. Department of Agrculture, under
Agreement No. 00-52101-9690. Any opnons, findngs, conclusons, or
recommendatons expressed n ths publcaton are those of the author(s) and
do not necessarly reflect the vew of the U.S. Department of Agrculture.
Parts of ths book may be reproduced for the purpose of workng wth students
n schools. Ths book may not be reproduced n whole or n part for dstrbuton
wthout the permsson of Sbella Kraus.
Major fundng for the ntal development of the gude was provded by the
Chez Pansse Foundaton. Major fundng for publcaton was provded by the
Natonal Farm to School Program through a U.S. Department of Agrculture
Intatve for Future Agrculture and Food Systems (IFAFS) grant admnstered by
the Urban and Envronmental Polcy Insttute at Occdental College, Los Angeles.
Questons about the materals should be addressed to the Calforna Department
of Educaton, Nutrton Servces Dvson, at (800) 952-5609.
Calforna Department of Educaton Project Manager: Ann M. Evans
Calforna Department of Educaton Executve Edtor: Jance Lowen Agee
Frut and vegetable llustratons by Marlena Pstoa
The Complete Book of Fruits and Vegetables
Crown Publshers, Inc. New y ork, 1976
Map of Calforna by GreenInfo Network
The opnons expressed n ths book are those of the author and are not necessarly
those of the Calforna Department of Educaton. The farm profiles referenced n
ths book are for nformatonal and educatonal purposes only. No endorsement
of those enttes or ther products s ntended by the Calforna Department of
Educaton or the State Superntendent of Publc Instructon.
Ordering Information
Copes of ths publcaton are avalable for $15 each (prce subject to change), plus
shppng and handlng charges. Calforna resdents are charged sales tax. Orders
may be sent to the Calforna Department of Educaton, CDE Press, Sales Office,
P.O. Box 271, Sacramento, CA 95812-0271; FAX (916) 323-0823. See page 220
for complete nformaton on payment, ncludng credt card purchases, and an order
blank. Prces on all publcatons are subject to change.
An llustrated Educational Resources Catalog descrbng publcatons, vdeos, and
other nstructonal meda avalable from the Department can be obtaned wthout
charge by wrtng to the address gven above or by callng the Sales Office at
(916) 445-1260.
Prnted on 30% post-consumer waste paper.
ii
A Message from the State Superintendent

of Public Instruction
vii
Acknowledgments
viii
LATE SUMMERFALL
Contents
INTRODUCTION
Calforna Agrculture ........................................................................ x
Nutrton Informaton About Fruts and Vegetables ........................ x
ho w the Gude Works ..................................................................... xv
Suggestons for Success ................................................................... xv
Actvty or Recpe Format.............................................................. xv
Comparatve Tastng Format ......................................................... xv
Cookng Equpment ......................................................................... xx
Use of Student Journals to Assess Learnng ................................... xx
Correlaton to Calforna Content Standards.................................. xx
LATE SUMMERFALL
Corn
Recpe:
Recpe:
Recpe:
Actvty:
Farm Profile:
Corn and Avocado Salad wth Clantro ................. 4

Corn on the Cob wth Chpotle Butter ................... 6
Corn Cakes ............................................................ 8
Desgnng y our Own Farm .................................. 10
Full Belly Farm .................................................... 12
Chapter 2:
Tomatoes
Recpe:
Recpe:
Actvty:
Farm Profile:
Salsa Fresca ......................................................... 18

Garden Tomato Sauce .......................................... 20
Seed Savng and Sowng ..................................... 22
Eatwell Farm........................................................ 24
Chapter 3:
Apples
Recpe:
Recpe:
Recpe:
Actvty:
Farm Profile:
Waldorf Salad ...................................................... 28

Applesauce........................................................... 30
Apple Crsp .......................................................... 32
Foolng Moths Natural Pest Control ................. 34
Apple Farm .......................................................... 36
WINTER
Chapter 1:
16
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
26
INTRO
CD
OU
NC
TE
TN
I OTNS

Chapter 4:
Peppers
Recpe:
Recpe:
Actvty:
Farm Profile:
Quesadllas wth Sweet Peppers ................................40

Bulgur Salad wth Red Peppers,
Cucumbers, and Cheese.............................................42
Makng a harvest Garland .........................................44
Terra Vegetables .......................................................46
Chapter 5:
Sweet Potatoes
Recpe:
Recpe:
Recpe:
Actvty:
Farm Profile:
Make-y our-Own Baked Sweet Potato .......................50

Oven-Roasted Sweet Potato Chps ............................52
Sweet Potato Pe ........................................................54
Fndng the Rght Sol for y our Plant ........................56
Nakashma Farms ......................................................58
Chapter 6:
Persimmons and Pomegranates
Recpe:
Recpe:
Actvty:
Farm Profile:
Persmmon and Pomegranate Salad ..........................62

Persmmon Cake ........................................................64
A School Produce Stand ............................................66
Dads Ranch...............................................................68
38
48
60
Locatons of Farms Profiled n Late SummerFall ................................70

WINTER
Chapter 7:
Tangerines
Recpe:
Recpe:
Actvty:
Farm Profile:
Tangerne Popscles ...................................................74

Canded Tangerne Peels............................................76
Makng Compost Tea .............................................78
Beck Grove ................................................................80
Chapter 8:
Cooking Greens and Cabbage
Recpe:
Recpe:
Actvty:
Farm Profile:
Brased Collards wth Bacon .....................................84

Kale and Potato Soup ................................................86
Frozen, Canned, or Fresh: Whch Do y ou Prefer? ....88
Green Gulch Farm .....................................................90
Chapter 9:
Broccoli and Cauliflower
Recpe:
Recpe:
Recpe:
Actvty:
Farm Profile:
Broccol Italan Style .................................................94

Caulflower wth Cheese Sauce .................................96
Spced Broccol and Caulflower ...............................98
Calculatng Farm Profit or Loss...............................100
Coke Farm ...............................................................104
73
82
92
Carrots
106
Recpe:
Recpe:
Actvty:
Farm Profile:
Carrot-Orange Salad ................................................ 108

Moroccan Carrot Dp ............................................... 110
Pre-sproutng and Sowng Carrots ........................... 112
Stony Farms ............................................................. 114
Chapter 11:
Potatoes
Recpe:
Recpe:
Actvty:
Farm Profile:
Roasted Potatoes wth herbs ................................... 118

Potato Salad ............................................................. 120
Mulchng for Water Conservaton ........................... 122
Sprnghll Farm ........................................................ 124
Chapter 12:
Pears
Recpe:
Recpe:
Actvty:
Farm Profile:
Pear, Celery, and Parmesan Salad ............................ 128

Poached Pears .......................................................... 130
Washng Fruts and Vegetables ................................ 132
Todd Ranch .............................................................. 134
116
LATE SUMMERFALL
Chapter 10:
126
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
Chapter 13:
Beans and Peas
Recpe:
Recpe:
Actvty:
Farm Profile:
Pea Salad wth Fresh herbs ..................................... 140

Long Beans wth Gnger .......................................... 142
Crop Rotaton .......................................................... 144
T&D Wlley Farms .................................................. 148
Chapter 14:
Salad Greens
Recpe:
Recpe:
Actvty:
Farm Profile:
Avocado Dressng .................................................... 152

Salad of Mxed Greens ............................................ 154
Growng Arugula ..................................................... 156
Berkeley y outh Alternatves Garden Patch .............. 158
Chapter 15:
Asparagus
Recpe:
Recpe:
Actvty:
Farm Profile:
Asparagus wth Lemon and Parmesan...................... 162

Asparagus wth Oyster Sauce ................................... 164
Makng a Worm Compost Bn .................................. 166
Fong Farm................................................................. 168
WINTER
Locatons of Farms Profiled n Wnter ................................................. 136
138
150
S
INTRC
OO
DN
UT
C ETN
I OTN
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
160
Chapter 16: Oranges
170
Recipe:
Orange, Radish, and Olive Salad............................... 172
Activity:
Uncovering Cover Crops........................................... 174
Farm Profile: H eath Family Farm.................................................... 176
Chapter 17: Strawberries
Recipe:
Recipe:
Activity:
Farm Profile:
Strawberry Lemon-Limeade...................................... 180

Strawberry Shortcake................................................ 182
Ladybug Release........................................................ 184
Swanton Berry Farm.................................................. 186
Chapter 18: Stone Fruit
Recipe:
Recipe:
Activity:
Farm Profile:
178
188
Nectarine and Peach Smoothies................................ 190

Plum Jam................................................................... 192
Cities and Farms........................................................ 194
Van Dyke Ranch........................................................ 196
Locations of Farms Profiled in SpringEarly Summer.......................... 198

Appendixes
A. Extension Ideas................................................................................ 200

B. Farm to School Resources............................................................... 201
C. Students Share in a Farms H arvest................................................. 203
D. Farm Field Trips for School Groups: A Primer for Teachers.......... 204
E. National Farm to School Program................................................... 206
v
Glossary
209
Selected References

211
KIDS COOK FARM-FRESh FOOD
urng my tenure as State Superntendent of

Publc Instructon, I have been a strong
advocate of a garden n every school. More than
3,000 schools have responded to ths call, ether
to mprove chld nutrton or, smply, to provde
a fun, hands-on learnng experence for ther
students. Increasngly, these schools are lnkng
the gardens to currculum to teach content standards. Some teachers have even developed entre
experental learnng cycles from plantng seeds
to placng food on the table.
In many parts of Calforna, students have the

opportunty to vst local farms. The farm profiles n Kids Cook Farm-Fresh Food provde
a personal look at some of Calfornas famly
farmers. The gude helps students to develop a
deeper understandng of where food comes from,
The recpes are based on the belef that chldren

can apprecate a varety of complex tastes and
textures and that chldren wll enjoy learnng
from the art of cookng. It s my hope that school
food servce programs wll receve the support
necessary to serve more fresh Calforna agrcultural commodtes year-round. Students wll then
understand the connecton of food from seed to
the table, of ths actvty gude to the cafetera,
and of Calforna agrculture to healthy nutrton.
Ths actvty gude supports the academc content standards by subject and grade level, so t
ncludes a matrx outlnng ths relatonshp.
Above all, the gude lnks standards to the real
world through gardens, recyclng, nutrton,
cookng, and the envronment.
Please jon me n preparng some of these recpes. I am an avd gardener and cook and have
learned many lessons from my garden and from
cookng for frends and eatng around the table
wth them. I commend ths book to teachers,
classroom volunteers, and students throughout
Calforna.
Delaine Eastin
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
INTRODUCTION
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
Calforna agrculture s large, dverse, complex,

and dynamc. The am n focusng on sustanable
and organc agrcultural practces n ths document s to ntroduce students to a type of agrcultural producton most smlar to the experence
they may have n ther school gardens. Students
should be famlar wth all forms of Calforna
agrculture, and the Calforna Department of
Educaton wll be publshng a currculum gude
on agrcultural lteracy and awareness.
Among the states, Calforna s unque n the

breadth of farm commodtes t produces. The
foods used n the followng recpes represent the
bounty of the Calforna harvest avalable durng
the year. Through the recpes, the students wll
also recognze that food s a language that expresses cultural dversty.
WINTER
Cookng n the classroom s an mportant part

of that cycle. Kids Cook Farm-Fresh Food s
an actvtes gude for students n grades two
through seven that lnks local agrculture to the
pleasures of dnng. Ths gude s desgned to
ntroduce students and teachers to fresh, seasonal, locally grown produce. The gude lnks food
and nutrton to the concept of organc and sustanable agrculture, whch s a commtment to
growng and dstrbutng food n an envronmentally sound, economcally vable, and socally
just manner.
the role land plays n supportng all lfe, and

how farmers brng lfe from the land.
LATE SUMMERFALL
A Message from the State

Superntendent of Publc Instructon
v
Acknowledgments
ids Cook Farm-Fresh Food was developed

over a perod of sx years under the auspces
of several organzatons. It orgnated wth the
Market Cooking for Kids, a program developed
by the Center for Urban Educaton for Sustanable
Agrculture and presented n Bay Area schools
from 1995 to 1999. The Chez Pansse Foundaton
was the ntal funder for the publcaton. In 2001,
I undertook completon of the publcaton under
the auspces of Sustanable Agrculture Educaton (SAGE) n conjuncton wth the Calforna
Department of Educaton. Major fundng for the
publcaton was provded by the Natonal Farm to
School Program at the Center for Food and Justce at Occdental College.
Many people asssted n the development of
ths publcaton. Key roles were played by the
followng persons: edtor and contrbutor Lesle
Comnes, desgner Noreen Re Fukumor,
assocate coordnator Carly Strouse, lead recpe
developer Kelse Kerr, and photographers Karen
Preuss, Kate Klne May, and Sbella Kraus.
Sgnficant roles were also played by contrbutors
Karola Saekel, Elzabeth Meyers, Laurel Mller,
and Anna Jennngs; currculum revewers Ellyn
hament, Lor Mann, and Martha Salzman; sustanable agrculture actvty advser Alan Tangren;
and the many farmers who were ntervewed for
farm profiles. Although crcumstances on some
farms have changed, those profiles represent ac
curate snapshots nto the lves of famly farmers
at the tme the profiles were wrtten.
Karn Rosman, James Nagle, and Jennfer Brown
brought vtal experence and sklls to the geness
of the publcaton as part of ther management
of Market Cooking for Kids. Program advsory
commttee members Ann Jennngs, Karen Mendolow, Carole Sly, and Sue Temple generously
contrbuted ther tme and expertse. The talented
cookng and envronmental educaton teachers
who taught the program over a sx-year perod
helped develop recpes and actvtes. Fundng for
v
Market Cooking for Kids was provded by

Cost Plus World Market, Whole Foods Market,
Sur La Table, the Center for Ecolteracy, the
Columba Foundaton, the Unversty of Calforna
Sustanable Agrculture Research and Educaton
Program, and the San Francsco Publc Market
Collaboratve.
The followng staff of the Calforna Department
of Educaton provded nvaluable assstance n
the final r vew and publcaton process: Marlyn
Brggs, Drector, Nutrton Servces Dvson;
Ann M. Evans and Deborah Beal, Nutrton
Educaton Consultants; Jean Landeen, Agrcultural
Educaton Consultant; and Phoebe Tanner, Vstng
Educator from Martn Luther Kng Mddle School,
Berkeley Unfied School Dstrct.
Peggy Adams, Drector of the Natonal Farm to
School Program, provded exceptonal leadershp and support for the publcatons fundng.
henry house of Coco Ranch n Dxon, Calforna,
provded an nvaluable botancal revew. Cyntha
ha vstad of UC Davs Chldrens Garden provded
nformaton on compostng.
Alce Waters, chef-owner of Chez Pansse Restaurant n Berkeley, provded nspraton through her
support of the Edble Schoolyard at Martn Luther Kng Mddle School n Berkeley. The Edble
Schoolyard has a garden, an ntegrated currculum, and a partcpatory school lunch program that
nspres experental learnng, personal fulfillment,
and collectve responsblty from the garden to
the table.
I deeply apprecate the contrbutons that many
talented and dedcated people made to the producton and revson of Kids Cook Farm-Fresh
Food. Any mstakes that reman are my own. I am
especally grateful to Ann Evans for her belef n
ths project and her patence, skll, and sprt that
guded t to completon.
Sibella Kraus
LATE SUMMERFALL
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
x
INTRODUCTION
WINTER
Introducton
Calforna Agrculture
Dverse and Sustanable
Kids Cook Farm-Fresh Food s an ntroduc-
ton to Calfornas dverse farm-fresh produce,

explanng how farmers grow t n ways smlar
to the students own gardens at school. The hope
s that learnng how to cook the produce and
dscoverng the delcous flavors of the colorful
fresh fruts and vegetables wll provde students
an ncentve for lfelong, healthful eatng habts
and an nterest n the workng landscape of
Calforna.
Ask typcal thrd-graders where ther food

comes from, and they are lkely to say, the market. y et, f pressed for more detal about how
t gets to the market, they probably do not have
a clear answer. In ths busy, technologcally advanced world, people rely on many modern convenences for shoppng and eatng to save tme.
h owever, such convenences as supermarkets
and fast-food restaurants may dsconnect people
from the orgnal source of food: the farms.
In the past people were aware of the mportant
role farmng played n ther lves. Many people
worked on farms or lved n farmng communtes. Fresh fruts, vegetables, dary products,
and meats were bought drectly from nearby
producers. Farms provded healthful, open
spaces around ctes. Today, however, most
people lve n urban areas. Although Calforna
stll has bountful agrculture, fewer and fewer of
ts resdents are aware of the mpact farmng has
on ther lves.
Chldren, especally, have lost touch wth how
and where food s grown. They lack an understandng of the ecosystems, the land, the people,
and even the plants that produce ther food.
The story of where food comes from can

quckly turn nto a world geography lesson.
It s the tale of Calfornas dverse and
beautful workng landscape and the creatve,
entrepreneural people who cultvate the
countrysde. Specfically, ths gude ntroduces
readers to a lesser-known but growng nche of
Calfornas vast agrcultural productvty, that of
organc and sustanable agrculture. Agrculture
s an mportant part of the states economy
and envronment. The states natural resources
and human resources are dverse, wth a great
capacty for food producton.
Organic refers to a partcular method used
to produce food and fiber. Organc farmng
systems do not use chemcal pestcdes or fertlzers. Instead, the systems are based on the
development of bologcal dversty and the
mantenance and replenshment of sol fertlty.
Organc farmers prmary strategy n controllng
pests and dseases s preventon.
Organc farmers also rely on a dverse populaton of sol organsms, nsects, brds, and other
organsms to keep pest problems n check. When
pest populatons get out of balance, growers
mplement varous strateges, such as the use of
nsect predators, matng dsrupton, traps, and
barrers. As a last resort, botancal or other nontoxc pestcdes may be appled under restrcted
condtons. Weeds are controlled through ncreased cultvaton as well as through cover
crops, mulches, controlled burns, crop rotaton,
and smlar management methods.
A Growing Market
In 2002 approxmately 2,300 Calforna growers

were regstered wth the Calforna Department
Approxmately 1 percent of the U.S. food

supply s grown by usng organc methods.
In 2000 ths amount represented more than
$3.5 bllon n retal sales. Over the past sx
years, sales of organc products have shown
an annual ncrease of at least 20 percent. Of a
total $400 bllon n food sales to Amercans,
organc food sales count for $7.7 bllon, the
fastest-growng category n the supermarket.
An ntegrated system of plant and anmal producton practces havng a ste specfic applcaton that wll, over the long term:
Satsfy human food and fiber needs;
Enhance envronmental qualty and the
natural resource base upon whch the
agrcultural economy depends;
Make the most efficent use of nonrenewable
resources and on-farm resources and ntegrate, where approprate, natural bologcal
cycles and controls;
Sustan the economc vablty of farm
operatons; and
Enhance the qualty of lfe for farmers and
socety as a whole.
Agricultural Production
Almost one-thrd of the land n Calforna s

devoted to agrculture. For example, Calforna
encompasses almost 100 mllon acres of land,
and about 28 mllon acres are used for agrculture. About half of ths total s pasture and
rangeland, another 39 percent s cropland, and
the remander s dvded between woodland
and other land.
Calforna produces a breadth of farm commodtes, ncludng anmals and anmal products, frut and tree nuts, vegetables, field crops,
and nursery and florculture products. Dary
products, such as mlk and cheese, are the top
commodtes n Calforna.
INTRODUCTION
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
Certified organic refers to agrcultural products that have been grown and processed
accordng to strct unform standards, verfied annually by ndependent state or prvate
organzatons. Certficaton ncludes nspecton
of farm fields and processng facltes. Farm
practces nspected nclude long-term sol
management, bufferng between organc farms
and neghborng conventonal farms, product labelng, and recordkeepng. Processng
nspectons nclude revew of the facltys
cleanng and pest control methods, ngredent
transportaton and storage, recordkeepng, and
audt control.
One definton of sustanable agrculture s

found n federal legslaton that authorzed
the natonal Sustanable Agrculture Research
and Educaton Program. It defines sustanable
agrculture:
WINTER
Untl recently Calforna and a number of other

states regulated the term organic by state law.
The U.S. Department of Agrculture (USDA)
now regulates the term organic for all states
through a mandatory certficaton process.
Ths means that farms may clam to be organc
only f they follow partcular farmng practces
and standards.
Sustainable Agriculture
LATE SUMMERFALL
of Food and Agrculture as practcng organc

agrculture. In Calforna 79,000 acres of
cropland are n organc food producton,
representng $247 mllon n gross sales.
x
Although ths gude tells the stores of those

who operate smaller-scale farms orented
toward local and state markets, many exportorented agrcultural producers are a part of a
global food system. Between 16 and 19 percent
of Calfornas agrcultural producton s exported to nternatonal markets annually, prmarly
to east Asa, Canada, and the European Unon.
The agrcultural sector also affects the state and
local economes by provdng
7.4 percent of the states jobs.
Diversity
Perhaps the most dstngushng feature of

Calforna agrculture s ts dverstydversty
of farms, farmers, and crops. About 97 percent of Calfornas 74,126 farms are famly- or
ndvdually operated. Although the average
Calforna farm operates on 374 acres, most of
the states farms are much smaller n terms of
acreage and sales. Large farms ($1 mllon n
gross ncome) stll account for most of the total
acreage and sales.
The number of women reported as farm operators almost doubled between 1978 (7.6 percent)
and 1997 (13.6 percent). Calforna also has
a greater share of farm operators wth ethnc
x
orgns compared wth the Unted States

averageh spanc (6 percent) and Asan or
Pacfic Islander (4.5 percent.)
Almost half of the states farm operators do not
consder farmng ther prncpal occupaton,
and many spend more days employed off the
farm than on t. Nevertheless, those men and
women provde hope and nspraton for future
generatons to find a way to work and preserve a
productve and healthy landscape n Calforna.
Foodshed
Just as a watershed refers to a specfic geographc area, a foodshed refers to a farmng

regon around a metropoltan area that produces
and dstrbutes food for the surroundng populaton. Though agrcultural products are marketed
throughout Calforna, the naton, and around
the world, some farmers produce for the local
marketther foodshed.
Eatng seasonal foods from the foodshed often
gves people a greater understandng of the
natural and human resources nearby and nspres an nterest n supportng ther own health
and well-beng.
All fruts and vegetables have nutrents and
other protectve factors requred for lfelong

good health. Fruts and vegetables provde
carbohydrates that are necessary for energy;
detary fiber that helps mantan a healthy
dgestve tract and balance blood sugar levels;
and an array of vtamns and mnerals, such as
folate, vtamns A and C, and potassum, that
are necessary to mantan good health and to
prevent dseases.
Several plant famles contan phytochemcals, natural plant substances that work wth
nutrents and detary fiber to protect the body
aganst dsease. Some of the fruts and vegetables contanng these naturally occurrng
phytochemcals are hghlghted n ths publcaton. Examples are as follows:
Strawberres and other berres contan natural

phytochemcals that may ad the mmune
system and help lower blood cholesterol.
A food servng that contans 20 percent or
more of the U.S. Department of Agrculture
recommended daly value (DV) for a partcular nutrent s consdered a hgh source of that
nutrent. A servng contanng 10 to 19 percent
of the recommended DV s consdered a good
source.
Addtonal nformaton on these and other
fruts and vegetables s provded throughout
ths publcaton.
Source: Why Eat More Fruits and Vegetables? Sacramento:
Calforna Department of he alth Servces, 1999 (brochure).
INTRODUCTION
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
Tomatoes contan phytochemcals that may

prevent carcnogens from formng, sheld cells
from carcnogens, or neutralze cancer-causng
free radcals. Eatng tomatoes may reduce the
rsk of prostate cancer and heart attack.
Cookng greens, such as kale, bok choy, collards, turnp and mustard greens, kohlrab, and
watercress, as well as broccol, caulflower,
and Brussels sprouts, contan naturally occurrng phytochemcals that may help protect the
bodys DNA, lower the rsk of hormone-related
cancers, and boost the bodys ablty to fight
cancer.
WINTER
Many great-tastng fruts and vegetables are

low n calores and are filled wth nutrents that
help reduce the rsk of cancer, heart dsease,
dabetes, obesty, and some types of blndness.
Research shows that eatng five or more servngs of fruts and vegetables every day reduces
the rsk of contractng these dseases.
Naturally occurrng phytochemcals that may

help protect the body aganst cancer, fatty
plaque n the arteres, dangerous blood clottng,
and loss of eyesght are found n sweet potatoes, persmmons, ctrus frut, carrots and other
orange and deep-yellow produce, and dark,
leafy salad greens.
LATE SUMMERFALL
Nutrton Informaton About

Fruts and Vegetables
x
H
The ntent of ths actvty gude s to ntro-
duce chldrenthrough drect experenceto

the pleasures of fresh, seasonal, locally grown
produce. By explorng local produce and by
cookng seasonal foods n class, students learn
about the ecologcal, economcal, and socal
benefits of sustanable agrculture and the
dverse farm-fresh produce avalable n
Calforna.
The gude contans deas for actvtes, recpes,
profiles of farmers practcng sustanable agrculture, and correlatons to academc standards.
Growng food and eatng are central human
experences through whch many aspects of
lfe may be revealed and examned. The gude
helps schoolchldren understand the connectons
between ther own health, healthful food, and a
thrvng regonal, sustanable agrculture.
Organization
The gude s desgned to connect schoolchldren

to the foods they eat and ncludes crops that
are harvested n each season. It s organzed
n three modules: Late SummerFall, Wnter,
and SprngEarly Summer. In ths way students
can prepare recpes usng crops that are at ther
peak and taste ther very best. The Late SummerFall module features sx crops that are
typcally harvested n late summer and autumn.
The Wnter module hghlghts sx wnter crops,
and the SprngEarly Summer module detals
sx sprng and early summer crops. Because
of Calfornas moderate clmate, some of the
featured crops have extended growng seasons
for many months of the year. In addton to
nformaton about that seasons featured crops
and recpes that use them, each module contans actvtes that help to teach students about
sustanable agrculture.
xv
Use by Teachers
The gude s also desgned to allow teachers flexblty n usng t wthn ther currculum. The
actvtes may be used to teach about cookng and
nutrton, sustanable agrculture, and envronmental scence or to supplement language arts or
socal scence programs. Each chapter provdes
teachers wth background nformaton on a specfic crop. The recpes and actvtes also nclude
teacher nstructons to help prepare and teach the
lessons.
A typcal way that teachers use ths gude s to
ntroduce a partcular crop through a comparatve
tastng lesson. Teachers subsequently choose one
recpe to make wth the class, conduct the related
actvty, and read the farm profile ether wth or
to students n class, dependng on the grade level.
Some teachers coordnate lessons from the gude
wth actvtes n the school garden. All the
components work together to help students
explore key concepts about nutrton, cookng,
and sustanable agrculture.
The gude suggests usng journals to assess student learnng. It ncludes prompts throughout for
students to record evdence of ther understandng through drawngs, dagrams, and wrtng (see
Use of Student Journals to Assess Learnng).
It also suggests opportuntes for students to
share ther findngs wth the class through class
dscussons, presentatons, and projects.
The suggested extenson deas and resources
lsted n the appendxes offer opportuntes to
contnue nvestgatons. Contact nformaton s
provded for teachers who want to plan field trps
to farms, farmers markets, or school gardens.
Parent and teacher assocatons are good sources
of nformaton about fundng for field trps,
equpment, and food for the recpes. A glossary
contans defintons of terms used n cookng.
Suggestons for Success
Health and Safety
Cooking with Kids
Successfully cookng wth kds also depends

on you, the teacher, antcpatng potentally
dangerous stuatons and plannng ahead.
Choose recpes that are sutable for your students skll level; each crop ncludes at least
one easy recpe that requres mnmal cuttng
and cookng and often ncludes one that s
more advanced.
Supervse chldren carefully when usng

knves. Demonstrate how to keep fingers
safe by makng an o wth the hand that s
not cuttng and placng t firmly on the food
beng cut.
Students must agree to use knves properly.
Knves wth serrated blades wth blunt and
rounded tps (such as a dnner knfe) are
good choces.
Demonstrate usng and holdng knves
safely. Demonstrate the safe way of cuttng
a frut or vegetable by holdng t on a cuttng board whle cuttng. Emphasze that
students are to use knves only at the cuttng
board.
Dscuss wth students proper behavor
around hot plates, blenders, and ovens.
Always have pot holders handy and show
chldren how to use them to handle hot pans.
Be aware of any food allerges the students
may have.
INTRODUCTION
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
Cookng s an actvty that requres close

supervson and careful plannng. For ths
reason, 20 students s the maxmum number
recommended for a safe and qualty cookng
experence. If you have more than 20 students,
plan a way to cook wth half of the class at
a tme. Whle one-half cooks, the other half
mght read and dscuss the farm profiles, do
the related agrculture actvty wth a parent
volunteer, or finsh up math or other work.
Clear off tables and clean them wth soap

and water before cookng.
WINTER
o one knows students capabltes better

than the teacher. Use your judgment n
choosng lesson plans, adaptng them to an
ndvdual class and grade level, and mplementng the followng suggestons for success.
h ave all chldren wash ther hands wth

soap and water before cookng. Dscuss
hand care, such as keepng hands away
from mouth, nose, and har whle preparng
ngredents or cookng.
LATE SUMMERFALL
Try to get at least one and preferably two famly volunteers to help wth the cookng; those
extra sets of hands, eyes, and ears wll really
help thngs go more smoothly. Follow the suggestons noted below to further ensure safety
and success:
xv
Observation
Ask students to use ther five senses to

observe each sample crop before cuttng.
Ask students to record n ther journal ther
observatons about the samples.
Gve students tme to share ther observatons along wth ther predctons about how
the sample wll change when the recpe s
ready to eat.
Working Together
For preparng ngredents and cookng, groups

of four students work best. Each par of students wthn the group can work together to
prepare the sample and dscuss observatons.
Indvdual students should be responsble for
recordng observatons n ther own journals.
y ou may offer opportuntes for chldren
to taste the recpe as t s made and suggest
adjustments to seasonngs.
Materials
Prepare a bucket, box, or trash can for compost

waste to place n the school compost, f avalable. Ask students to brng smple ngredents
from home to save on cost and to enable students to feel good about contrbutng. To reduce
dsposable tems such as paper plates and plastc
utensls, many teachers ask students to brng n
ther own personal set of utensls and
a small bowl or covered plastc contaner. Students may label and keep them n class for other
cookng actvtes and snacks.
Setting Up a Demonstration Table
Many of the recpes nvolve demonstratng how

to prepare the produce or actually cookng the
recpe. Set up a table for these demonstratons
that ncludes all the materals you wll need and
that allows everyone to see what you are dong.
xv
y ou may revew socal sklls and table manners before the students begn eatng.
Whle eatng, students can share observatons and nsghts.
Cleanup
Each group s responsble for cleanng ts

table, cuttng boards, knves, bowls, and
utensls.
Groups may take turns to clean class utensls, bowls, and pots.
Leftovers may be saved for a snack, shared
wth another class, or taken home.
If you have a school or classroom compost
or worm bn, the cleanup should nclude
compostng of food scraps.
Actvty or Recpe Format
Recpe Level:
Preparaton tme for recpe or actvty. Does not nclude shoppng tme.
For recpes that requre cookng, the tme for cookng.
Tme for entre lesson, ncludng allowance for dscusson, observaton,
and journal wrtng. If more tme s needed, teachers may postpone the
actvty to another tme or elmnate t.
Level of cookng skll requred to make the recpe: Easy recpes
requre lttle, f any, cuttng and cookng. Advanced recpes requre
more cuttng or cookng.
LATE SUMMERFALL
Preparaton Tme:
Cookng Tme:
Total Lesson Tme:
Background
Basc nformaton about the recpe or actvty s provded.

Objectives
The student outcomes that the lesson wll address are presented.
Ingredients
WINTER
All the needed ngredents are presented for a class of 20 students to make the recpe and get a
generous taste. Quanttes and drectons may be adjusted n accord wth the sze of your class
and the students abltes. Substtutons are suggested for ngredents that may not be avalable
or rpe.
Materials
For the class:

The needed materals and equpment are presented for a class of 20 students to perform the
actvty or make the recpe.
For each group of 4:
The needed tems are presented for each group of four students to make the recpe or perform
the actvty.
The prelmnary steps before the class starts the actvty or recpe are presented.
Safety Precautions
Safety precautons should be revewed wth the class. They are located n the subsecton health
and Safety under Suggestons for Success.
Doing the Activity or Making the Recipe
Step-by-step nstructons are presented for dong the actvty or makng the recpe wth a group
of 20 students. These are general gudelnes. Teachers may devate from them, dependng on
ther teachng style, the class stuaton, or ther learnng objectves for the lesson. Experenced
cooks often take ths flexble approach as they adapt recpes for the best fresh ngredents
avalable.
INTRODUCTION
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
Preparation
xv
Comparatve Tastng Format

Preparaton Tme:
Cookng Tme:
Total Lesson Tme:
20 mnutes
None
45 mnutes
Introduction
Explan that over the next perod of tme, the class s gong to cook and eat fruts and vegetables
that are grown locally. Before they begn, the students are gong to do some thnkng about food.
Ask them why they eat. Acknowledge the many reasons but focus attenton on the need for energy.
Explan that plants have an mportant and unque role n the earths food web. Ask f anyone
knows what that role s. Explan that plants make ther own food. Plants capture energy from the
sun, carbon from the ar, and water from the ground and make ther food. People and other anmals
cannot make ther own food. They must eat plants or anmals that eat plants to get energy.
Food s the vehcle for passng the suns energy through the food web, and food s also the vehcle
for cyclng matter through the food web. Ask students to draw a pcture of a plant, showng what
the plant needs to make food.
Teachers can revew photosynthess, the carbon cycle, or the role of chloroplasts n cells,
dependng on the grade level.
Background
Ths actvty s desgned to be a generc lesson plan for an ntroducton to any crop n the gude. In
ths actvty, students have the opportunty to taste and compare the dfferent varetes of a sngle
crop. Most fruts and vegetables come n many varetes that offer dfferent szes, colors, textures,
and tastes. Although a few varetes are avalable at the supermarket, addtonal varetes wll be
found on a trp to a farmers market. For the best results, choose crops when they are n peak season
and find the freshest produce possble. If you shop at a farmers market, talk to the farmers; they
can gve you suggestons for the best-tastng choces and gve you nterestng background nformaton to share wth your students. Produce managers at the local supermarket are also knowledgeable about seasonal varetes.
As an ntroducton to a new frut or vegetable, ths actvty allows students to practce observatons
usng all ther senses. Students wll nvestgate the dfferent varetes wth ther five senses whle
they prepare for and actually do the comparatve tastng. It s also a good actvty for buldng students vocabulary.
Objectives
Students will be able to:

Use ther senses to observe dfferent aspects of a varety of fruts or vegetables durng a
comparatve tastng.
Record ther observatons n ther journals usng descrptve words and drawngs.
xv
For the class:

4 or 5 varetes of the crop, wth 5 samples
of each varety
colander
20 toothpcks
2 or 3 ktchen towels

2 cuttng boards
2 serrated knves wth rounded tps
2 plates
4 napkns
journals
Preparation
1. Wash the frut or vegetables, and dry them n the colander.

2. Clean and set up tables.
3. ha ve students wash ther hands. Dscuss proper methods of handlng food.
LATE SUMMERFALL
Materials
Safety Precautions
Revew safety precautons for usng knves (see the subsecton health and Safety under
Suggestons for Success).
Doing the Activity
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
INTRODUCTION
WINTER
1. Announce to students that they wll have an opportunty to use all five senses to examne the
dfferent varetes of the frut or vegetable.
2. Show each varety to the class, explanng ts name and where and when t s grown.
3. On the board, make a sample chart for recordng observatons usng five senses for each
varety. ha ve students copy the chart nto ther journals.
4. Explan that student groups wll examne each varety and record ther observatons on the
chart n ther journals.
5. Provde each table wth ts materals and a sample of each varety. Students examne the
varetes and record ther observatons. Ask students to share ther observatons wth the
class.
6. ha ve students cut each varety so that everyone n the group gets an equal share.
Ask students to examne the cut fruts or
vegetables and to record ther observatons.
7. Tell students they may now taste each
varety, notng ts taste, texture, and sound.
They should record ther observatons n
ther journals.
8. After eatng, lead a class dscusson on the
fi e senses and on each varetys appearance, texture, taste, smell, and sound.
9. Clean up materals. If there s a school or
classroom compost or worm bn, place food
scraps there.
xx
Cookng Equpment
he recpes and actvtes n ths gude may

be prepared wth everyday ktchen equpment and materals, much of whch can be borrowed from home or from the school cafetera.
Try to choose szes approprate for a large famly. Remember that 20 chldren s the maxmum
number of students that s recommended for a
safe and qualty cookng experence.
If you have the resources for a more permanent
set-up, a rollng cart equpped wth all the necessary cookng equpment can be a wonderful
asset for the school. Properly cared for, t can be
used by many classes over many years.
The followng ktchen kt ncludes all the
equpment and materals needed for a class of
20 students to perform all the recpes n ths
gude except those nvolvng an oven. All equpment and materals lsted are avalable at most
large drugstores, department stores, or dscount
stores. The cost of the kt wll depend on the
qualty of materals but may range from $450 to
$700. Better-qualty equpment wll last longer
and gve more satsfactory results; t s often
well worth the added expense. A portable convecton oven wll add about $250 to the cost.
Class Equipment
2 electrc hot plates

2 large (12- to 14-nch) nonstck fryng pans
or skllets
1 blender
Assorted szes of pots wth lds
1 steamer nsert for saucepan
1 chefs knfe
2 large wooden spoons
2 spatulas
1 set of tongs
3 whsks, assorted szes
1 egg beater
3 mxng bowls, assorted szes
1 colander
1 ladle
1 slotted spoon
1 potato masher
1 can opener
1 salad spnner
2 large plastc tubs
5 sponges wth rough sde
1 bottle of dshwashng lqud
4 ktchen towels
4 pot holders
2 bakng sheets
2 large bakng pans or dshes
2 cansters for salt and pepper
1 food mll
1 rollng cart
3 large plastc contaners to store equpment
first ad kt
Additional Optional Equipment
Ths equpment
wll allow a class
to prepare every
recpe n ths book.
As all resourceful teachers and classroom
volunteers know, a few peces of equpment
wll suffice for many of the recpes. Equpment
may be obtaned through donatons or at thrft
stores. For assstance wth fundng, contact your
schools parent-teacher assocaton for nformaton. See also Appendx B, Farm to School
Resources.
xx
electrc skllet
food processor
Student Equipment
10 small plastc cuttng boards

10 serrated knves wth rounded ends
5 vegetable peelers
5 sets of measurng spoons
5 sets of measurng cups
5 box graters
5 small ctrus jucers
5 medum whsks
20 spoons
20 plastc bowls
20 plastc plates
student journal s an excellent means

for assessng students progress and
understandng of the actvtes n ths gude.
Through a journal, students can organze ther
thnkng, plan and reflect on ther learnng, and
make connectons to learnng actvtes over
tme and across dscplnes.
may also ask students to use ther journals

to record nformaton about the recpes
they try (for example, what dd they lke
about the food or how would they mprove
the recpe next tme) and the results of the
actvtes.
A three-rng bnder filled wth lned

and unlned paper works best as a journal.
Students can easly nsert recpes, farm
profiles, and actvty sheets drectly nto ths
bnder. Students may also make journals by
staplng together a booklet of lned and unlned paper and then tapng or glung student
pages and other nformaton.
Use a rubrc to assess students learnng as

reflected n ther journals. A rubrc can help
you assess the qualty of student work by
descrbng what hgh-, medum-, and lowlevel products should contan. y ou can use
one lke the sample below or develop one
based on the specfic learnng outcomes you
have n mnd for your students.
Tell your students that many cookng and

agrcultural professonals use journals to
take notes on experments, record data they
collect, or wrte down observatons or new
deas they want to try.
Sample Rubric for Student Journals
Qualty of Work
5All components are complete and
well organzed.
4All components are complete, and
75 percent of them are well organzed.
3Components are not complete; 50 percent
of them are well organzed.
2Components are not complete; 25 percent
of them are well organzed.
1Components are not complete; they show
mnmal organzaton.
INTRODUCTION
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
Note that the recpes and actvtes nclude

prompts for students to record evdence of
ther understandng through drawngs, dagrams, and wrtng. In addton, after readng the farm profiles, you may ask students
to wrte a summary ncludng the man deas
and several facts they found nterestng. y ou
WINTER
Journals can be open-ended and creatve, wth

sketches, musngs, and notes; or they can be
more drected, wth students wrtng on topcs you assgn. Consder the followng tps for
makng the most of student journals:
h ave students choose pages from the journal that best demonstrate what they have
learned. Ask them to create a table of
contents that drects you to these samples.
Schedule conference tmes to talk wth students about ther work.
LATE SUMMERFALL
Use of Student Journals

to Assess Learnng
xx
Correlaton to Calforna
Content Standards
The learnng actvtes n Kids Cook Farm-Fresh Food help to support each of the content standards noted n the table below n full or n part.* Each standard s lnked to one or two
lessons. In many cases there are more lessons supportng a standard than those noted n the
table. Although the correlaton s not complete, the table shows many ways to use the readngs,
recpes, and actvtes to apply the standards.
Grade 2
Related English
Language Arts
Content Standards
Related History
Social Science
Content Standards

Related Mathematics
Content Standards

Related Science
Content Standards
Readng Comprehenson
2.7: Interpret nformaton
from dagrams, charts, and
graphs.
Activity: See Making
Compost Tea, p. 78.
2.2.4 Compare and contrast basc land use n

urban, suburban, and rural
envronments n Calforna.
Activity: Read and discuss
farm profiles
Number Sense 4.1: Recognze, name, and compare

unt fractons from 112 to 12.
Activity: See recipes.
Lfe Scences 2(a): Know

that organsms reproduce
offsprng of ther own knd
and that the offsprng resemble ther parents and one
another.
Activities: See Seed Saving
and Sowing, p. 22; PreSprouting and Sowing
Carrots, p. 112.
Wrtng 2.1: Wrte bref

narratves based on ther
experences:
a. Move through a logcal
sequence of events.
Activity: Use recipes and
student journals to describe
the experience, p. xxi.
Lstenng and Speakng 1.4:
Gve and follow three- and
four-step drectons.
Activity: Use recipes.
Organze presentatons to
mantan a clear focus.
Activity: See Frozen,
Canned, or Fresh: Which
Do You Prefer? p. 88.
Number Sense 4.2: Recognze fractons of a whole

and parts of a group
(e.g., one-fourth of a pe,
2.4.1: Descrbe food protwo-thrds of 15 balls).
ducton and consumpton
long ago and today, nclud- Activity: See recipes.
ng the roles of farmers,
processors, dstrbutors,
Measurement and Geometry
weather, and land and
1.1: Measure the length of
water resources.
objects by teratng (repeatActivity: Read and discuss ng) a nonstandard or standard unt.
farm profiles
Activity: See Pre-Sprouting
and Sowing Carrots, p. 112.
Statstcs, Data Analyss,
and Probablty 1.1: Record
numercal data n systematc
ways, keepng track of what
has been counted.
and Probablty 1.4: Ask and
answer smple questons
related to data representatons.
Mathematcal Reasonng
1.0: Make decsons about
how to set up a problem.
Lfe Scences 2(d): Know

there s varaton among
ndvduals of one knd
wthn a populaton.
Lfe Scences 2(f): Know
fl wers and fruts are assocated wth reproducton n
plants.
Activity: See Seed Saving
and Sowing, p. 22.
Investgaton and Expermentaton 4(a): Make predctons based on observed
patterns and not random
guessng.
Compost Tea, p. 78.
Investgaton and Expermentaton 4(b): Measure
length, weght, temperature,
and lqud volume wth approprate tools and express
those measurements n standard metrc system unts.
Compost Tea, p. 78.
*The four academc content standards were approved by the State Board of Educaton and were publshed by the Calforna Department of
Educaton (19972000). Vst the State Board Web ste to vew each of the academc content standards <http://www.cde.ca.gov/standards/>.
xx
Grade 3
Related English
Language Arts
Content Standards
Related History
Social Science
Content Standards

Related Mathematics
Content Standards

Related Science
Content Standards
Mathematcal Reasonng 2.2:

Make precse calculatons
and check the valdty of the
results n the context of the
problem.
Investgaton and Expermentaton 4(e): Construct

bar graphs to record data,
usng approprately labeled axes.
Compost Tea, p. 78.
Investgaton and Expermentaton 4(g): Follow
oral nstructons for a
scentfic nvestgaton.
Compost Tea, p. 78.
Related History
Social Science
Content Standards

Related Mathematics
Content Standards

Related Science
Content Standards
Readng Comprehenson
2.5: Dstngush the man
dea and supportng detals
n expostory text.
Activity: Read farm profiles
and write in student journals, p. xxi.
3.5.1: Descrbe the ways

n whch local producers
have used and are usng
natural resources n the
past and the present.
farm profiles
Number Sense 3.2: Add and

subtract smple fractons.
Activity: See Activity or
Recipe Format, p. xvii.
Physcal Scences 1(a):

Know energy comes from
the Sun to Earth n the
form of lght.
Activity: See Comparative Tasting Format,
p. xviii.
Readng Comprehenson
2.7: Follow smple
multple-step wrtten nstructons (e.g., how to
assemble a product or play
a board game).
Algebra and Functons 2.1:

Solve smple problems
nvolvng a functonal
relatonshp between two
quanttes (e.g., find the total
cost of multple tems gven
the cost per unt).
Activity: See Calculating
Farm Profit or Loss, p. 100
Physcal Scences 1(b):

Know sources of stored
energy take many forms,
such as food, fuel, and
batteres.
Activity: See Comparative Tasting Format,
p. xviii.
plants and anmals have
structures that serve
dfferent functons n
growth, survval, and
reproducton.
Activity: See PreSprouting and Sowing
Carrots, p. 112.
Measurement and Geometry

1.1: Choose the approprate tools and unts (metrc
and U.S.) and estmate and
measure the length, lqud
volume, and weght/mass
of gven objects.
Activities: See all recipes
and Pre-Sprouting and
Sowing Carrots, p. 112.
INTRODUCTION
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER

Clarfy and enhance oral
presentatons through the
use of approprate props
(e.g., objects, pctures,
charts).
Activity: See Crop
Rotation, p. 144.
Number Sense 3.3:

Solve problems nvolvng
addton, subtracton, multplcaton, and dvson of
money amounts n decmal
notaton and multply and
dvde money amounts n
decmal notaton by usng
whole-number multplers
and dvsors.
Activity: See A School
Produce Stand, p. 66.
WINTER
Related English
Language Arts
Content Standards
LATE SUMMERFALL
Grade 2
(Continued)
xx
Grade 3
(Continued)
Related English
Language Arts
Content Standards
Related History
Social Science
Content Standards

Related Mathematics
Content Standards

Related Science
Content Standards
2.6: Make precse
calculatons and check
the valdty of the results
from the context of the
problem.
Compost Tea, p. 78.
Investgaton and Expermentaton 5(a): Repeat

observatons to mprove
accuracy and know that the
results of smlar scentfic
nvestgatons seldom turn
out exactly the same because of dfferences n the
thngs beng nvestgated,
methods beng used, or
uncertanty n the observaton.
Activity: See Making Compost Tea, p. 78.
Investgaton and
Expermentaton 5(b):
Dfferentate evdence
from opnon and know
that scentsts do not rely
on clams or conclusons
unless they are backed by
observatons that can be
confirmed
Investgaton and
Expermentaton 5(c): Use
numercal data n descrbng and comparng objects,
events, and measurements.
Investgaton and
Expermentaton 5(d):
Predct the outcome of a
smple nvestgaton and
compare the result wth the
predcton.
Activities: See Uncovering
Cover Crops, p. 174, and
Making Compost Tea,
p. 78.
Investgaton and
Expermentaton 5(e): Collect data n an nvestgaton
and analyze those data to
develop a logcal concluson.
xxv

Related Mathematics
Content Standards

Related Science
Content Standards
Readng 1.1: Read narratve

and expostory text aloud
wth grade-approprate fluency and accuracy and wth
approprate pacng, ntonaton, and expresson.
Activity: Read crop descriptions and farm profiles
4.1.3: Identfy the state

captal and descrbe the
varous regons of Calforna, ncludng how ther
characterstcs and physcal
envronments (e.g., water,
landforms, vegetaton,
clmate) affect human
actvty.
crop descriptions and farm
profiles
Number Sense 2.1:

Estmate and compute the
sum or dfference of whole
numbers and postve decmals to two places.

plants are the prmary
source of matter and energy
enterng most food chans.
Number Sense 3.1: Demonstrate an understandng

of, and the ablty to use,
standard algorthms for the
addton and subtracton of
multdgt numbers.
Lfe Scences 2(c): Know

decomposers, ncludng
many fung, nsects, and
mcroorgansms, recycle
matter from dead plants
and anmals.
Activity: See Making a
Worm Compost Bin, p. 166.
Number Sense 3.3:

Solve problems nvolvng
multplcaton of multdgt numbers by two-dgt
numbers.
Lfe Scences 3(b): Know

that n any partcular envronment, some knds of
plants and anmals survve
well, some survve less
well, and some cannot
survve at all.
Activities: See crop description of sweet potatoes, p.48;
Finding the Right Soil for
Your Plant, p. 56; and
Farm Profile: Nakashima
Farms, p. 58.
Readng 2.4: Evaluate

new nformaton and
hypotheses by testng them
aganst known nformaton
and deas.
Activity: See Finding the
Right Soil for Your Plant,
p. 56.
Wrtng 2.4: Wrte
summares that contan
the man deas of the readng selecton and the most
sgnficant detals.
Activity: Read crop
descriptions and farm
profiles and write sum
maries in student journals,
p. xxi.
4.1.5: Use maps, charts,

and pctures to descrbe
how communtes n
Calforna vary n land
use, vegetaton, wldlfe,
clmate, populaton densty,
archtecture, servces, and
transportaton.
Activity: Use maps showing
farm locations.
4.4: Explan how Calforna

became an agrcultural and
ndustral power, tracng
the transformaton of the
Calforna economy and ts
Lstenng and Speakng 1.1: poltcal and cultural development snce the 1850s.
Ask thoughtful questons
and respond to relevant
questons wth approprate
crop descriptions and farm
elaboraton n oral settngs. profiles
Activities: See Finding the
Right Soil for Your Plant,
p. 56, and Uncovering
Cover Crops, p. 174.
2.4: Express the soluton
clearly and logcally by
usng the approprate mathematcal notaton and terms
and clear language; support
solutons wth evdence n
both verbal and symbolc
work.
Compost Tea, p. 78.
Lfe Scences 3(c): Know

many plants depend on
anmals for pollnaton and
seed dspersal, and anmals
depend on plants for food
and shelter.
Activity: See Seed Saving
and Sowing, p. 22.
Investgaton and Expermentaton 6(b): Measure
and estmate the weght,
length, or volume of
objects.
Investgaton and Expermentaton 6(c): Formulate
and justfy predctons
based on cause-and-effect
relatonshps.
Activity: See Uncovering
Cover Crops, p. 174.
INTRODUCTION
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
Speakng Applcatons
2.1(a): Relate deas, observatons, or recollectons
about an event or experence.
Activity: See Comparative
Tasting Format, p. xviii.

and Probablty 1.1: Formulate survey questons;
systematcally collect and
represent data on a number
lne; and coordnate graphs,
tables, and charts.
Activity: Frozen, Canned,
or Fresh: Which Do You
Prefer? p. 88.

WINTER
Related History
Social Science
Content Standards
LATE SUMMERFALL
Grade 4
Related English
Language Arts
Content Standards
xxv
Grade 5
Related English
Language Arts
Content Standards

Related Mathematics
Content Standards

Related Science
Content Standards
Readng 1.1: Read aloud narratve

and expostory text fluently and
accurately wth approprate pacng,
ntonaton, and expresson.
Activity: Read crop descriptions
and farm profiles.
Number Sense 2.1: Add, subtract,

multply, and dvde wth decmals;
add wth negatve ntegers; subtract
postve ntegers from negatve ntegers; and verfy the reasonableness
of the results.
Activity: See A School Produce
Stand, p. 66.
Lfe Scences 2(f): Know plants use

carbon doxde (CO2) and energy
from sunlght to buld molecules of
sugar and release oxygen.
Activity: See Comparative Tasting
Format, p. xviii.
Readng 2.3: Dscern man deas

and concepts presented n texts,
dentfyng and assessng evdence
that supports those deas.
Activity: Read crop description
and farm profiles and ecord
thoughts in student journals, p. xxi.
Number Sense, 2.5: Compute and

perform smple multplcaton and
dvson of fractons and apply these
procedures to solvng problems.
Activity: See recipes and Activity or
Recipe Format, p. xvii.
Statstcs, Data Analyss, and Probablty 1.2: Organze and dsplay
sngle-varable data n approprate
graphs and representatons (e.g.,
hstogram, crcle graphs) and explan
whch types of graphs are approprate for varous data sets.
Activities: Making Compost Tea,
p. 78, and Frozen, Canned, or Fresh:
Which Do You Prefer? p. 88.
Mathematcal Reasonng 2.6: Make
precse calculatons and check the
valdty of the results from the context of the problem.
Activity: See A School Produce
Stand, p. 66.
xxv
Lfe Scences 2(g): Know plant and

anmal cells break down sugar to
obtan energy, a process resultng
n carbon doxde (CO2) and water
(respraton).
Activity: See Comparative Tasting
Format, p. xviii.
Investgaton and Expermentaton,
6(g): Record data by usng approprate graphc representatons (ncludng charts, graphs, and labeled
dagrams) and make nferences
based on those data.
Activity: See Making Compost
Tea, p. 78.
Investgaton and Expermentaton
6(h): Draw conclusons from scentfic evdence and ndcate whether
further nformaton s needed to
support a specfic concluson.
Activity: See Making Compost
Tea, p. 78.

Related Mathematics
Content Standards

Related Science Content
Standards
Related Home
Economics Careers and
Technology Education
Challenge Standards
Readng 1.1: Read aloud

narratve and expostory
text fluently and accu
rately and wth approprate pacng, ntonaton,
and expresson.
Activity: Read crop
profiles
Number Sense 2.3:

Solve addton, subtracton,
multplcaton, and dvson problems, ncludng
those arsng n concrete
stuatons, that use postve and negatve ntegers
and combnatons of these
operatons.
Activities: See A School
Produce Stand, p. 66, and
Calculating Farm Profit
or Loss, p. 100.
Ecology 5(b): Know matter s transferred over tme

from one organsm to
others n the food web and
between organsms and the
physcal envronment.
Food and Nutrton, Meal

Plannng and Preparaton
4.1: Descrbng and usng
safe and santary ways of
handlng and preparng
food.
Activity: See Suggestions
for Success, p. xv.
Ecology 5(c): Know populatons of organsms can be

categorzed by the functons
they serve n an ecosystem.
Activity: See Lady Bug
Release, p. 184.

4.2: Identfyng the functons and the safe use of
food preparaton equpment.
Activities: See Suggestions
for Success, p. xv, and
recipes.
Lstenng and Speakng

Strateges 1.3: Restate
and execute multple-step
oral nstructons
and drectons.
Algebra and Functons 2.2:

Demonstrate an understandng that rate s a measure of
one quantty per unt value
of another quantty.
2.7: Make precse calculatons and check the valdty of the results from the
context of the problem.
Calculating Farm Profit
or Loss, p. 100.
Ecology 5(e): Know the

number and types of
organsms an ecosystem
can support depends on
the resources avalable and
on abotc factors, such as
quanttes of lght and water, a range of temperatures,
and sol composton.
Activities: See Crop
Rotation, p. 144, and Farm
Profile: T&D Willey Farms,
p. 148; Finding the Right
Soil for Your Plant, p. 56,
and Farm Profile: Nakashi
ma Farms, p. 58.
Investgaton and Expermentaton 7(d): Communcate the steps and results

from an nvestgaton n
wrtten reports and oral
presentatons.
Compost Tea, p. 78.
Transferable, Employablty,
and Leadershp Sklls 3.2:
Applyng creatve thnkng
sklls to dentfy new ways
to perform tasks or solve
problems.
Consderng multple optons for solvng problems
and applyng approprate
problem-solvng strateges.
Calculating Farm Profi or
Loss, p. 100.
Identfyng steps n plannng, producng, promotng,
and sellng a product or
servce related to a home
economcs career pathway.
INTRODUCTION
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
Resources 6(b): Know

dfferent natural energy and
materal resources, ncludng ar, sol, rocks, mnerals, petroleum, fresh water,
wldlfe, and forests, and
know how to classfy them
as renewable or nonrenewable.
Activity: See Farm Profile:
Van Dyke Ranch, p. 196.

4.3: Preparng smple, nutrtous meals usng basc food
preparaton technques.
WINTER
Readng Comprehenson 2.4: Clarfy an

understandng of texts by
creatng outlnes, logcal notes, summares, or
reports.
Activity: Read crop
profiles and ecord notes
or summaries in student
journals, p. xxi.
LATE SUMMERFALL
Grade 6

Related English
Language Arts
Content Standards
xxv
Grade 7

Related English
Language Arts
Content Standards

Related Mathematics
Content Standards

Related Science Content
Standards
Related Home
Economics Careers and
Technology Education
Challenge Standards
Wrtng Applcatons 2.5:

Wrte summares of readng materals:
a. Include the man
deas and most sgnficant detals.
Activity: Write summaries
of crop descriptions and
farm profiles in student
journals, p. xvi.
Number Sense 1.7:

Solve problems that nvolve dscounts, markups,
commssons, and profit
and compute smple and
compound nterest.
Structure and Functon n

Lvng Systems 5(b): Know
organ systems functon
because of the contrbutons
of ndvdual organs, tssues,
and cells. The falure of any
part can affect the entre
system.
Activities: See Fooling
MothsNatural Pest
Control, p. 34, and Farm
Profile: Apple Farm, p. 36.

Plannng and Preparaton 4.1:
Descrbng and usng safe
and santary ways of handlng
and preparng food.
for Success, p. xv.
2.8: Make precse calculatons and check the valdty of the results from the
context of the problem.
Activity: See Calculating Farm Profit or Loss,
p. 100.
Structure and Functon n

Lvng Systems 5(f): Know
the structures and processes
by whch flowerng plants
generate pollen, ovules,
seeds, and frut.
Activities: See Seed Saving
and Sowing, p. 22; Fooling
MothsNatural Pest Control, p. 34, and Farm Profile:
Apple Farm, p. 36.
Investgaton and Expermentaton 7(c): Communcate the logcal connecton
among hypotheses, scence
concepts, tests conducted,
data collected, and conclusons drawn from the scentfic evdence.
Compost Tea, p. 78.
Investgaton and Expermentaton 7(e): Communcate the steps and results
from an nvestgaton n
wrtten reports and oral
presentatons.
Compost Tea, p. 78.
xxv

Identfy the functons and the
safe use of food preparaton
equpment.
for Success, p. xv, and recipes.
Preparng smple, nutrtous
meals usng basc food preparaton technques.
Applyng creatve thnkng
sklls to dentfy new ways
to perform tasks or solve
problems.
Consderng multple optons
for solvng problems and
applyng approprate problem
solvng strateges.
Calculating Farm Profit or
Loss, p. 100.
Identfyng steps n plannng,
producng, promotng, and
sellng a product or servce
related to a home economcs
career pathway.
Corn
Chapter 2:
Tomatoes
6
Chapter 3:
Apples
26
Chapter 4:
Peppers
38
Chapter 5:
Sweet Potatoes
48
Chapter 6:
Persimmons and
Pomegranates
60
La te Sum mer
Fa LL
La t e Su m m e r Fa LL
Chapter :
WINt e r
SPr INGe a r Ly Su m m e r
C H A P T E R
Corn
Corn is a staple in many parts of the world,
especially throughout Central and South

a merica. In many parts of the world, corn is
called maize. a lthough it is now grown the
world over, it originated from central m exico,
where native farmers began to cultivate wild
corn (called teosinte) about 7,000 years ago.
t hese early corn plants had ears that were the
size of a persons thumb. o ver the course of
thousands of years, native people brought corn
north through the a mericas. When e uropean
settlers came to the New World, they had never

seen corn before and were amazed at its many
uses. Native a mericans used the kernels for
food, the husks for preparing tamales, the silk
for medicinal teas, and the stalks for animal
fodder. t oday, people also use many by-products
made from corn, including cornmeal, flour, oil,
syrup, and starch. m any different corn varieties
are used for specific purposes. Sweet corn is the
type of corn that people eat fresh, and its ears
can range from thumb size to arm length,
Seasonality and Growing Conditions
In general, if corn is grown under the right

conditionswith well-drained soil and lots of
sunproblems with pests or disease can be
kept under control.
a c ommon disease is corn smut, which makes
the kernels swollen and black. Corn smut is not
harmful to eat. In fact, it is a favorite delicacy
Ch a p t e r 1: Co r n
Selection, Storage, and Nutrition

Information
t he natural sugars in corn begin to convert to

starch the moment the corn is picked, so corn
ideally should be bought as fresh as possible
and eaten immediately after purchase. When
choosing ears, check the husk, silk, and kernels for freshness. t he husk should still have
a healthy green appearance, while the silk
should be golden and sticky underneath the
husk. Check the kernels to ensure they are
small and plump. Perform the thumbnail test
described above. Corn is a good source of fiber
and potassium.
Sustainable Farming Issues
Sustainable agricultural practices include the

use of Bt, a naturally occurring bacterium that
is harmless to animals and beneficial insects
and develops into toxic form only once the
corn ear worm ingests it. When people eat vegetables, such as corn, that have been sprayed
with Bt, no Bt toxin is consumed. t hat is why
this natural pesticide is a part of the strategy
for corn ear worm control used by farmers
practicing sustainable agriculture.
WINt e r
California-grown sweet corn is available

from June through early o ctober. Like all
grasses, corn is pollinated by the wind. When
the corn plant is midway through its growing season, ears will appear on the stalks. For
pollination to occur, pollen clinging to the
tassels on top of the stalks must be blown onto
the corn silk extending out of the ears. o nce
pollinated, the ears will continue to grow and
develop kernels. Farmers use a simple test
to determine whether sweet corn is ripe for
picking. t hey pull back the husk and pierce
a kernel with their thumbnail. If a clear fluid
appears, it is too early to harvest, while a thick,
milky substance means the corn is overly mature. a t hin, milky liquid means it is time to
harvest the ears. most sweet corn varieties are
harvested at this milk stage, although they may
vary in sweetness, color, and kernel size.
in mexican cooking. Corn ear worms are a

common pest. If you find worms burrowing in
the tops of the ears, simply discard or cut away
the affected portion. t he rest of the corn is still
fine to eat. t he corn ear worm will grow up
to be a little speckled moth. Corn smut does
not affect enough ears to be a problem. Corn
ear worm may be avoided by planting the corn
early in the spring and harvesting in early to
midsummer.
depending on the variety. Popcorn is dried,

then eaten after being heated until the kernels
pop open. Some types of corn, called dent and
flint corn, are dried and made into flour and
masa, which is used to make tortillas. most of
the worlds corn is fed to animals.
R E C I P E
Corn & Avocado Salad with Cilantro

Preparation t ime:
Cooking t ime:
t otal Lesson t ime:
recipe Le vel:
30 minutes
None
45 minutes
easy
Background
this lesson of fers a great opportunity to introduce three varieties of sweet corn: yellow, white, and
bicolor. each may v ary in sweetness, intensity of color, and size of kernel. Before making the recipe, students can make detailed observations of the common characteristics of corn. ask students to
draw and label parts; as students shuck corn, have them discuss the functions of the different parts.
If you cannot find three arieties, try two (yellow and white are commonly available). If you can
find only one, use it and focus the lesson on the parts of the corn
Objectives

Identify three different varieties of sweet corn.
State the parts of the corn ear (kernel, cob, stem, husk, and corn silk).
understand the functions of dif ferent parts of the corn ear.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

10 ears corn (three different
varieties or colors, if possible)
2 avocados
1 red onion
3 limes, large
1 bunch cilantro
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1
2 cup pure olive or canola oil
Materials
For the class:

1 large mixing bowl
knife
cutting board
paper towels

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 small bowls
4 napkins
4 plates
4 forks
journals
Preparation
1. Wash the cilantro. Pat dry with paper towel.

2. ha ve students wash their hands. discuss proper methods of handling food.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives.

Making the Recipe
2. demonstrate shucking the corn and then cutting the k ernels from the cob. It is best to cut
each cob in half and then place the flat edge of the cob on the cutting board to cut the
kernels. (t eachers may want to do that themselves if the students are very young. more
experienced students can stand the whole cob on end and cut off the kernels that way.)
WINt e r
1. Provide each group of students with two ears of corn, each a different color variety. Give
students a couple of minutes to examine and record observations about each variety. ha ve
groups switch corn with other groups so that everyone has an opportunity to examine all
three varieties of corn.
3. demonstrate remo ving the seed, scooping out the flesh, and chopping the vocado. ha ve
each group of students shuck and cut two ears of corn. di vide the tasks so that different
groups prepare the avocado, peel and finely chop the onion, hal e and juice the limes, and
chop the cilantro.
5. ha ve a volunteer taste and add more lime juice and salt if needed. Serve and eat.
6. While the students eat, have each group share its observations about the different varieties
of corn. Facilitate the discussion so that the class understands the similarities and differences among the varieties of corn.
7. Clean up materials. If you have a school or classroom compost or worm bin, place the
food scraps there.
4. ha ve students place their prepared ingredients into the small bowls. Gather the bowls
and mix the ingredients into a large mixing bowl. First add onion and corn, then the juice
of two limes, vinegar, salt, and oil. Stir well and taste for salt and acidity. mix in the
avocado.
R E C I P E
Corn on the Cob with Chipotle Butter

Preparation t ime:
Cooking t ime:
recipe Le vel:
20 minutes
10 minutes
1 hour
easy
Background
Like the previous corn recipe, this is a great lesson for discovering the three major varieties of
sweet corn: yellow, white, and bicolor. Students can try all three varieties and discuss similarities
and differences in their basic characteristics, such as kernel color, size, pattern on the cob, size
of cob, color and texture of silk and husk. Chipotle chiles are smoked chiles. the y may be found
in small cans in the hispanic section of a grocery store. If chipotle chiles are not a vailable, offer
students mild chile powder to sprinkle on the cooked corn along with a squeeze of lime and
optional salt and butter.
Objectives:

Identify three different varieties of corn.
State the parts of the corn (kernel, cob, stem, husk, and corn silk).
Ingredients
Materials
For a class of 20:
For the class:
10 ears of corn (3 different
large pot with lid (8-quart)
color varieties, if available)
water
1 or 2 chipotle chiles
mixing spoon
4 tablespoons butter
hot plate
1 lime
1 small mixing bowl
1 teaspoon salt if butter
tongs
is unsalted
measuring spoons
chile powder (optional)

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 small bowls
4 napkins
journals
1. Because the chipotle can irritate eyes, prepare the chipotle butter before class. Chop the
chipotles in very small pieces and mix them into the butter. Set the butter aside. mak e sure
you wash your hands after handling the chipotles.
2. Place a large pot of water on a hot plate to boil.
Safety Precautions
Preparation
Prepare the chipotle butter before class to avoid eye irritation. Be cautious when adding and
removing corn from boiling water. re view safety precautions for using knives and the hot plate.
Making the Recipe
1. Provide each group of students with two ears of corn. Give students two minutes to examine
and record their observations (see Background). ha ve groups switch corn with other groups
so that everyone has an opportunity to examine all three varieties of corn.
3. ask students to put the corn in small bo wls and place them on the demonstration table.
When the water has boiled, add corn. do not cro wd too many ears into one batch. It will
probably take two to three batches, depending on the size of the corn. each batch should
cook for 3 to 5 minutes.
WINt e r
2. demonstrate shucking corn. ha ve students shuck the corn and break it in half. allo w
students to examine different pieces and make more observations.
4. While waiting for the corn to cook, have a student squeeze the lime juice and mix salt into
the chipotle butter. Stir the butter mixture.
5. remo ve the corn with tongs and give each student half of an ear to eat. Let the students put
the butter on if desired and eat.
7. Clean up materials. If you have a school or classroom compost or worm bin, place the food
scraps there.
6. While the students eat, have each group share its observations about the different varieties
of corn. Facilitate a discussion so that the class understands the similarities and differences
among the varieties of corn.
R E C I P E
Corn Cakes
Preparation t ime:
Cooking t ime:
recipe Le vel:
40 minutes
10 minutes
1 hour
adv anced
Background
making corn cak es allows students to learn many cooking techniques: blending, whisking, separating eggs, and folding mixtures. Further, students will practice measuring solids and liquids.
the whole process is f airly messy, but students love trying each part of the recipe. as the class
proceeds, students can make predictions about how corn cakes are made and why the instructions
require such details.
Objectives

measure liquids and solids by using kitchen measuring instruments.
observ e, demonstrate, and label the different steps of cooking (blending, separating and beating
eggs, folding, and panfrying).
understand the functions of dif ferent tools for cooking.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

10 ears of corn
212 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
5 teaspoons baking powder
5
8 cup corn flour (finel
ground cornmeal)
5 eggs
3 cups milk
1
4 cup canola oil
Materials
For the class:

1 egg (for demonstration)
hot plate
measuring spoons
1 small mixing bowl
wooden spoon
3 measuring cups
serving spoon
spatula
large pot (8-quart)
egg beater or whisk
water
griddle, large skillet,
or electric skillet
(optional)

2 cutting boards
2 knives
4 bowls (1 small, 2 medium, and 1 large)
2 egg beaters (optional)
4 plates
4 forks
4 napkins
journals
H ave students wash their hands. D iscuss proper methods of handling food.
Safety Precautions
R eview safety precautions for using knives and the hot plate. R emind the children to immediately wipe up any spills when they handle raw eggs and to wash their hands after handling the
eggs.
Making the Recipe
1. H ave each group of students shuck two ears of corn and then cut the kernels off the cob.
Students will place the kernels in a bowl and set them aside.
Preparation
2. D irect each group to measure and combine in a bowl 12 cup flou , 18 cup corn flou ,
1teaspoon baking powder, and a scant 12 teaspoon salt. Note that groups will need to
share measuring cups and spoons. H ave them set the flour mixture aside.
4. H ave each group separate one egg and place the yolk in a medium mixing bowl (or
provide them with a separated egg). With a whisk, students beat the egg yolk with 12 cup
plus 2 tablespoons milk and 1 scant tablespoon oil.
WINt e r
3. D emonstrate how to separate an egg. Carefully crack an egg over a small bowl and tip all
the egg into one-half of the shell, letting the clear white of the egg drain into the bowl.
D rain as much of the white as possible and place the yolk in a medium mixing bowl.
Note: E gg separation is messy with students of any age. If you are uncomfortable with
students separating the eggs, make it a class demonstration.
5. H ave each group add the flour mixture bit by bit, whisking it into the yolk mixture until
the batter is smooth. T hen have them stir in the corn kernels and set the batter aside.
7. H ave each group bring its batter to the demonstration table to cook.
8. H eat and lightly oil the skillet or griddle. D rop spoonfuls of batter onto the griddle. Cook
until bubbles start to form on the surface and the edges become slightly dry, then carefully turn over with a spatula to cook the other side. Y ou may want to re-oil the pan after
a batch or two.
9. A s each group of students cooks its corn cakes, have the rest of the class write in their
journals, describing the fun compared with difficult parts of making the recipe
10. While the students eat, have each group discuss its experience in making the recipe.
food scraps there.
6. Show students how to whip their egg white with an egg beater or whisk until it just forms
stiff, white peaks, being careful not to overbeat. E ach group should gently fold the egg
white into the batter. (Chilled egg beaters and bowls help form peaks.)
A C T I V I T Y
Doing the Activity
2. ask groups of four students to w ork together to list all the foods they have eaten in the
last two days and the farm products associated with them.
3. (optional) Gi ve students a copy of the Full Belly Farm farm profile. read the arm profile
as a class. ask students to name or guess which of their f arm products might be found at
Full Belly in the fall.
1. ask the class to name one or tw o foods that they have eaten in the last two days. Write
these under the Foods column in the chart on the board. then ask students what the
crops or farm products are that make up each food. For example, for toast, the farm
product is wheat; for orange juice, the farm product is oranges; for pepperoni pizza, the
farm products are wheat, tomatoes, onions, herbs, milk, and beef.
4. Give each pair a map of Full Belly Farm. In their groups, have students look for the farm
products on their groups list. ha ve them place a check mark next to each product that is
found on the Full Belly map. using the chart on the board, label the third column more
Products at Full Belly and have students list any additional products they find on the
map that were not on their farm products list.
6. discuss as a class what the importance of each of these elements might be. F or example,
the barn may be used for storing or sorting crops, for storing tools and machinery, and
for storing animal feed as well as for housing animals; trees offer shade as well as habitat for pollinating birds and insects; roads provide access to the back areas of the farm;
the greenhouses enable the farmer to grow seedlings or plants in an environment warmer
than the outside temperature (and thus increase the variety of plants produced); compost
piles create a rich fertilizer for the plants; open fields pr vide space for the next seasons
plants; and drying racks allow the farmer to dry fruit and tomatoes for storing and selling
in the winter months.
9. Post the designs and ask students to point out some of the features of their farms.
7. For older students: ha ve students look at the Full Belly crop list and determine which of
their groups farm products may be on the list but offered in a different season from those
in the fall. Lead a discussion about why crops are offered only at certain times of the year,
introducing the concept that crops have certain seasons that provide the best growing conditions for them. remind the class about storage crops, such as dried fruits and nuts, that
are available year-round.
WINt e r
5. ha ve students look for and color the following farm elements on their map:
Barn
Greenhouse
racks
t rees (other than crops)
Compost pile
ri ver
roads
open fields
houses

8. Give each student a piece of drawing paper. Invite the students to imagine that they will
be designing their own farm. First, have them list all the crops and other elements they
would want or need on their farm (they may use the Full Belly Farm map and Full Belly
Farm crop list for ideas). then ha ve them draw a map or illustration showing their farm,
including all the elements they have selected. y ou may also encourage them to think in
terms of a logical layout for their farm.
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Full Belly Farm

The farmers at Full Belly Farm in Guinda,
near the town of Woodland in Yolo County,
know that fresh-picked corn is the sweetest
corn.
dru ri vers, who started Full Belly with her

husband and two friends in 1983, explains what
it takes to get the freshest corn to customers.
When we sell at the farmers market, we get
up at 3 oclock in the morning to pick corn,
says dru. W ere out there in the field with
flashlights at the mark et, Full Bellys corn has
become so popular that people swarm around
the stand to buy every last ear.
about 12 to 15 acres of Full Belly s 200 acres
are devoted to corn. ev ery year, Full Belly
grows thousands of corn plants. during corn
season, which usually begins in late June and
ends in october , a crew of workers picks corn
every single day.
Like most relatively small organic farms, Full
Belly does not grow just one crop, but grows
70 to 80 different crops each year. one e xample
is the moon and Stars heirloom variety of watermelon shown in the photograph. Were really lucky that our wonderful climate allows us
to harvest vegetables all year round, says dru.
Full Belly sells about one-third of its produce
through Community Supported agriculture
(CSa). With CSa, f arms sell their produce
directly to individual consumers rather than
to wholesalers or stores. CSa members pay a
weekly fee in exchange for a box of vegetables.
usually , the members live in cities where they
cannot grow their own vegetables yet want
really fresh, organically grown produce. most
subscribers pick up their boxes of vegetables
every week at a drop-off place, such as a school
or a church. Sometimes, for an extra fee, the
farmer will deliver the produce boxes right to

the members door. Full Belly, one of the most
successful CSa f arms in California, has more
than 600 CSa members.
Why would a farmer decide to sell produce in
this way rather than just truck it all to a wholesaler? dru e xplains that when selling directly to
the customer, farmers can get better prices for
the produce because they do not have to share
profits with the wholesalers and the mar ets.
In addition, when selling to stores or even at
a farmers market, farmers can never be sure
that all the produce will sell. Sometimes,
especially during the rainy season, not many
a typical summer box will contain Full Belly s

sweet corn as well as tomatoes, melons, eggplant, peppers, basil, and summer squash. as
the season changes to winter, Full Belly members receive broccoli, cabbage, carrots, turnips,
beets, and leafy greens, such as kale and chard.
If you are a Full Belly member, you can visit

the farm any time you want. People are
always welcome to come and pitch a tent on
the land, says dru. W e also organize work
days where members can come and help
out. By far the favorite day to visit is Full
Bellys annual hoes do wn, a day when the
farmers literally put their hoes down and stop
working to celebrate the harvest. on this day ,
as many as 3,000 people visit the farm for
tours, music, crafts, and a chance to try such
farming activities as milking cows, shearing
sheep, and grinding corn.
With Community Supported agriculture,
dru e xplains, Were not just providing fresh
vegetables. Were providing an education for
our members and a connection to our farm.
WINt e r
For the CSa members, this arrangement

means always eating the freshest produce and
eating only what is in season. It also means
getting a surprise every week because they
never know exactly what is going to be in the
box. t o make sure customers are not frustrated
by some fruit or vegetable they have never
eaten or cooked, each weeks box comes with
a newsletter that tells about all the produce in
the box and gives some recipes.
one customer admits that before she joined

Full Belly, she was never sure what was
in season. I love eating with the seasons
and also learning how to cook vegetables I
wouldnt normally buy at the store, she says.
customers come out to the market. and sometimes stores will decide that they do not want
everything the farmer is selling. With Community Supported agriculture, f armers can
always be sure that they sell everything they
grow because members pay in advance and
agree to take a box every week.
3
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Full Belly Farm Crop List

Spring
almonds*
almond Butter*
asparagus
Basil
Beets (red, chioggia, gold)
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cucumbers
daik on (several varieties)
eggplant
Flowers
Garlic-dry*
Garlic-fresh
Grapes
Greens**
hard Squash*
Leeks
Lettuce
melons***
New Potatoes
okra
onions (red, yello w, torpedo)
Sweet and hot Peppers
Peaches
Pumpkins
Salad mix
Spinach
Strawberries
Sugar Snap Peas
Sun dried Fruit, onions, and t omatoes*
Sweet Corn
t omatoes
t urnips
Walnuts*
Zucchini, Summer Squash
Summer
Winter
* Full Belly stores this crop and has it available well after its harvest season.
** Greens: arugula, chards, kales, mizuna, mustard, other Japanese greens
*** melon varieties: canteloupes, red watermelons, yellow dolls, canary melons, honeyloupes
Fall
WINt e r
Full Belly Farm map in late summerearly fall
Farm map by ellen t oomey
5
C H A P T E R
t omatoes are prone to pests such as tomato

hornworms, aphids, whiteflies, and cut orms,
but spraying with soapy water or removing
pests by hand may control them. Leaf blight
and fungus may be avoided by proper air
ventilation between plants. Some farmers will
water-stress their vineslet them dry out
between wateringsin order to create sweeter
fruit.
Ch a p t e r 2: t o m a t o e S
a fe w farmers dry farm their tomatoes. In

this system, well-mulched plants get needed
t omato vines are of two major types: determi- water from ground moisture only and produce
nate plants, which have short vines and grow in dense, sweet tomatoes.
a contained manner, and indeterminate, which
are long, stringy, climbing plants that must rely Selection, Storage, and Nutrition
Information
on a trellis or staking in order to support the
t omatoes should be smooth and slightly firm,
plant and its fruit.
with no splits or mushy spots. Never refrigert omato plants require fine, loose, well-drained ate tomatoes as this will make them mealy.
soil that is fortified with a undant, decomposed Store them on the counter out of direct sunlight. t omatoes are high in antioxidant vitamin
organic matter. adequate drainage is vital in
C and a good source of vitamin a.
order to prevent bacterial wilt, stunting, and
fruit rot. on indeterminate v arieties, pinching
WINt e r
t omatoes require warm, sunny weather and

grow well in hot, dry climates. Some varieties
have been bred to tolerate cooler climates. For
example, early Girl can tolerate cool summer
nights. the peak tomato season in California
is from July through october .
the side shoots (known as suckers) to produce

one or two main shoots will result in larger,
more fl vorful tomatoes and will also help to
support the fruit and keep it off the ground.
In general, commercial tomatoes are picked

green and unripe so that they can withstand
the rigors of travel. the tomatoes are then ripened in rooms with ethylene gas, which is
a natural by-product of the tomatoes ripening
process. although this method is con venient,
the only way for tomatoes and other fruits to
develop their true, sweet fl vors is by sun ripening on the tree, bush, or vine.

R E C I P E
Salsa Fresca
Preparation t ime:
Cooking t ime:
recipe Le vel:
20 minutes
None
45 minutes
easy
Background
Salsa can be a fun way for students to taste the fresh version of a condiment they buy in processed
form. Preparing salsa also is an opportunity to look at the different parts of plants that people eat:
bulbs (onion and garlic), stems and leaves (cilantro), and fruits (tomatoes).
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

6 to 10 medium tomatoes
1 bunch cilantro
1 clove garlic
1 white or red onion
2 limes
1
2 teaspoon salt
1 bag corn chips or
baked tortilla chips
Materials
For the class:

1 large mixing bowl
mixing/serving spoon
colander
knife
serving bowls
measuring spoons
kitchen or paper towels

2 knives
2 cutting boards
1 small mixing bowl
4 napkins
journals
1. Wash the tomatoes and cilantro and let them dry in the colander. Gently pat the cilantro
with a paper towel or clean dish towel to remove any excess water.
3. If you want each group to make its own salsa, rather than as a whole class as described in
the directions, you will need to divide the ingredients and tasks accordingly.
Preparation
Safety Precautions

Making the Recipe
1. determine which students are going to prepare the v arious ingredients: tomatoes, garlic,
onions, and cilantro.
3. Provide each table with materials and ingredients. one student from each pair can get
their materials; the other can get the ingredients.
WINt e r
2. Before handing out ingredients, demonstrate to the whole class how to prepare each item:
tomatoescore and then cut them into medium cubes; garlicsmash it and then chop
finely; oniondice it finely; cilantrochop the l ves.
4. Circulate among the groups, helping students dice and chop.

5. after all the tomatoes, onions, g arlic, and cilantro have been prepared, have students
bring ingredients to the large mixing bowl, adding tomatoes first, then arlic, onions,
and cilantro. Students who finish early can clean their cutting board and knife and b gin
copying the recipe into their journals.
7. ha ve another student add 12 teaspoon of salt and mix. add salt and more lime juice
to taste.
8. ask students to sit in a circle and pass the mixing bo wl so that each student will have
a turn at mixing the salsa (three times each is plenty).
9. Serve salsa fresca in students serving bowls at each table. Serve chips on a napkin for
each student.
food scraps there.
6. Cut a lime in quarters and have two students squeeze the juice of a quarter lime into the
mix.

R E C I P E
Garden Tomato Sauce

Preparation t ime:
Cooking t ime:
recipe Le vel:
20 minutes
10 minutes
40 minutes
adv anced
Background
many families cook dishes with store-bought tomato sauce, so for some students this might be
the first time th y have the opportunity to actually make tomato sauce from raw ingredients.
as the teacher prepares this tomato sauce in the skillet, students w atch and make observations.
Some interesting things to observe include the steam rising from the sauce, the gradual thickening of the sauce, the simmering of the sauce, and the new smells created as the ingredients cook
together.
y ou can use numerous types of tomatoes for this recipe. Big Beef, early Girl, and roma v arieties
are great for cooking. ho wever, save the heirloom varieties for eating fresh.
Objectives

mak e observations while the teacher prepares the sauce.
discuss the reasons for each observ ation.
discuss ho w cooking and doing experiments are similar and different.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

12 red tomatoes or 4 baskets
of cherry tomatoes
3 cups rice, uncooked,
or 2 lbs pasta
12 large basil leaves
4 cloves garlic
1
2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
20
KId S Co o K Fa r m -Fr e Sh Fo o d
Materials
For the class:

hot plate
8-quart pot or, for rice, rice
cooker or 4-quart pot
scissors
medium bowl
large skillet
measuring spoons
2 measuring cups
2 wooden spoons
3 bowls for raw ingredients
paper towels
journals
1. Wash the tomatoes with water and dry in the colander. Wash basil and pat dry gently in
towels.
4. Set up the hot plate.
5. Follow the instructions on the package to cook the rice or pasta.
Preparation
Safety Precautions
Be careful when adding ingredients to hot oil. re view safety precautions for handling knives
and the hot plate.
Making the Recipe
2. at each table, ha ve pairs of students share the responsibilities of chopping tomatoes,

making a chiffonade of basil, and peeling and chopping the garlic. Students place prepared
ingredients into separate bowls.
WINt e r
1. demonstrate ho w to prepare each ingredient: coring, cutting, and dicing the tomatoes;
making a chiffonade of basil (by rolling the basil leaves, cutting into thin slices, and
cutting with scissors); peeling and chopping garlic. Provide each table with materials for
four students.
3. Collect ingredients into three separate bowls and ask students to gather around the demonstration table. explain that you will be cooking the sauce and that as you add each ingredient, students will make observations using their senses. What are some of the sounds they
hear? Smells? What do they see?
5. ha ve students return to their tables to write their observations in their journals while you
serve up the sauce with rice or pasta.
6. as students eat, ask them to share their observ ations.
food scraps there.
4. heat the oil in the skillet o ver medium heat. When the oil is hot, have a volunteer add the
garlic. Let it sizzle for a minute. ask another v olunteer to add the tomatoes and basil. t urn
down the heat and let the sauce simmer for 5 to 8 minutes or until tomatoes are just starting
to become saucy. ha ve a volunteer measure and add the salt. Stir it in.
2
A C T I V I T Y
Seed Saving and Sowing

Preparation t ime:
10 minutes
Part 1 30 minutes, plus 10 minutes each day
for the next three or four days (in the fall)
Part 2 15 minutes
Part 3 30 minutes
(in late January or early February)
Background
In this activity, students learn about saving seeds and growing tomato plants. t omatoes are an
excellent choice for seed saving because they are self-pollinating and usually grow successfully
from seed.
t omatoes are in season from the late spring to early autumn, but tomato seeds are best planted in
late January or early February. this means that the y are at their ripest many months before it
is time to plant the next crop. In this activity, students dry and store seeds in the fall for later
planting.
at each stage of the harv esting, saving, and sowing process, the teacher can facilitate discussions
about student observations and inferences, which can then be recorded by the students in their
journals. as the tomato plants gro w, students can also make illustrations of them, write poems
about the life cycle of tomatoes, and measure the stem and leaf growth of tomato plants over time.
It is important to choose open-pollinated or nonhybrid varieties of tomatoes for this activity. the
seeds of hybrid varieties will not grow up to resemble their parents and may not taste good.
Objectives

demonstrate the proper method to sa ve tomato seeds.
understand the life c ycle of the tomato plant.
Materials
For the class:

wax paper or baking sheet
paper bag
5 pounds potting soil or compost
5 1-foot-deep pots or school garden
2 quarts water
paper towels
22

2 heirloom or other open-pollinated
variety tomatoes
1 small bowl
2 plastic spoons
1 knife
1 paper bowl
journals
Preparation
DOING THE ACTIVITY
Part : Harvest and Preparation
1. Lead a discussion to elicit students knowledge about the life cycle of plants. Write student
responses on the board, and ask students to explain where seeds come from.
2. ask students to e xplain in their journals their ideas about the life cycle of plants. encourage
them to make drawings with labels and explanations.
3. demonstrate ho w to harvest seeds from a tomato. Cut a tomato in half, then use a spoon to
scoop out the seeds and pulp. Place the seeds and pulp in a bowl and add enough water to
cover them. explain that this is done to sort out the viable seeds: the viable seeds will sink
to the bottom, but nonviable ones will float.
4. Provide materials to student groups and supervise as they harvest and prepare seeds.
5. Set the bowls on a windowsill for three to four days. each day , a student from each group
will skim off the floating seeds and pulp and stir the mixture. remind students to eep the
viable seeds in the bowl (the ones that have sunk).
Clear an area near a source of natural light, such as a windowsill, for the bowls.
Part 2: Drying and Saving
WINt e r
1. after three or four days, collect the seeds for drying. drain the seeds from the bo wl and
rinse them thoroughly.
2. Lead a discussion about whether it would be a good idea to plant the tomato seeds now.
Point out that tomato plants need warm soil and plenty of sunshine to grow and that drying
the seeds until a better planting time is a good way of storing them.
3. Spread seeds on wax paper or a baking sheet and let them dry for one week.
4. remo ve seeds from the wax paper or baking sheet and store in a labeled paper bag or
envelope until ready to sow.
Part 3: Sowing
1. In late January or early February, retrieve the seeds for sowing.

2. Provide potting soil or, if your school has a compost bin, take the class to collect a bucket
of compost.
3. demonstrate so wing seeds in paper bowls filled with soil. In each paper b wl, sow four
to fi e seeds 14 inch to 12 inch deep. Keep the soil moist but not muddy.
4. Place bowls in a dark area or cover the bowls with damp paper towels because seeds
germinate better in darkness.
5. Check daily for sprouts, and water to keep the soil moist. once seeds ha ve sprouted, select
the healthiest sprout in each bowl and pull out the others.
6. When the tomatoes reach six inches high, transplant them into one-foot-deep pots filled with
potting soil or in an outdoor garden.
7. Lead a discussion about how tomato seeds get dispersed in nature without the help of people.
ask students for their ideas. explain that sometimes tomatoes f all to the ground and decompose, leaving on the soil seeds ready to grow when the conditions are right. other times,
animals eat the tomatoes. the seeds pass through their digesti ve systems and are dropped
on the ground. If they are viable and land in some soil, they will grow. animals depend on
plants for food. Plants depend on animals to spread seeds.
23
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Eatwell Farm
Nigel and Frances each had different careers
before they chose to start a farm. Nigel worked
for a broadcasting company in his native
england, and Frances w orked for the brokerage firm mo gan Stanley in New y ork. When
they decided to try their hand at farming, they
picked a rich agricultural region. the land
is flat Nigel explains, and weve got deep,
fertile soilbeautiful stuff. their neighbors
include another farm, a walnut orchard, a prune
orchard, cows, and sheep.
Eatwell is a small organic farm located near
the town of Winters, not far from Davis and
Sacramento. The farm was started by Nigel
Walker and Frances Andrews in 3. Their
twin sons, Andrew and Eric, were born on
the farm in .
eatwell encompasses 70 acres altogether , with

two and one-half acres devoted to tomatoes.
Weve got 25,000 tomato plants on our farm
and 25 different varieties, says Nigel.
Nigel and Frances take pride in the unique
tomatoes they grow, including the striped
Green Zebra (it is still bright green when ripe),
dark red Brandywine, little y ellow Pear, and
Green Grape. many of the unusual varieties are
called heirlooms. Nigel explains that this term
describes the oldest varieties of a crop, the ones
that were brought to this country by settlers
from different parts of the world. the seeds of
these plants have been passed down from one
generation to the next.
unlik e the hybrids that have been developed
for most commercial tomato farming, heir loom tomatoes have the richest and deepest
fl vor, Nigel explains, but they have very thin
skins, so they cant travel long distances
on a truck. Because of their fragility, heirloom tomatoes are rarely found in supermarkets, which get most of their tomatoes from
far away. Commercial tomatoes are generally
picked before they are ripe and then ripened
with ethylene gas pumped into storage facili-
24
heirloom v arieties were bred to be picked

and eaten straight from the garden, says Nigel. these tomatoes are perfect for a home or
school garden as well as for small farms that
sell directly at farmers markets or farm stands.
ov er the years, Nigel and Frances have gotten to know many of their regular customers.
the yre really appreciative of what we do,
says Nigel, and this keeps me going on those
cold, rainy days out in the field
another crop gro wn at eatwell is la vender.

Nibel started growing it as a hobby and then
grew it on a large scale for sale. the eatwell
Farm crew often stuffs bunches of lavender in
baskets delivered to consumers who subscribe
to a weekly delivery of produce through the
Community Supported agriculture program.
Its a freebie, Nigel says with a laugh.
ho wever, Nigel and Frances have been surprised by how many recipes, especially from
fine restaurants, use l vender as a food fl voring. Flans, custards, cookies, salads, and some
savory dishes can actually be enhanced with
the delicate fl vor of lavender.
WINt e r
In addition to tomatoes, Nigel and Frances

grow grapes, fruit treesincluding nectarines,
peaches, pomegranates, apples, pears, and
citrusand a wide range of vegetable crops,
such as potatoes, carrots, peppers, and onions.
ha ving many crops means that there is always
something in season at eatwell F arm. It also
helps to ensure the farms success: If one crop
is damaged by bad weather or pests, Nigel and
Frances can still sell their other crops. di versity is the key to a healthy farm, says Nigel.
unlik e many jobs, being a farmer means

working seven days a week. But Nigel says,
I enjoy what I do. ev ery day is really different. running a f arm involves many different
tasks, like using machinery, learning about
soil and plants, working with people, meeting
your customers and learning what they want.
Nigel and Frances not only work in the field,
but also take their crops to the farmers market.
the y have even designed their own Web site
and newsletter.
ties. that turns the tomatoes red, b ut the taste

is not the same as that of a tomato ripened on
the vine by the sun.
25
C H A P T E R
A
a lthough apples have been eaten in e urope
and western a sia since prehistoric times, they

were not domesticated until about 2,500 years
ago when the ancient Greeks discovered grafting. Today apples grow in temperate climates
throughout the world.
in the 1600s, the Pilgrims brought apples with

them from e ngland and established the first
orchards in North a merica. s oon after, the
colonists began fermenting the fruit for cider,
which became a very popular beverage.
a b eloved a merican folk hero, Johnny a ppleseed, introduced the apple to the rest of the
United s tates. Born in 1774 as John Chapman,
Johnny a ppleseed was a knowledgeable horticulturist and is credited with propagating apple
trees throughout the country.
a pples are pomes, a class of fruit that possess
seeds encased in membranous chambers sur-
26
Ki d s Co o K Fa r m -Fr e s h Fo o d
rounded by fleshy fruit. a pples range from

juicy, crispy varieties that are best eaten out
of hand to softer types that are better for applesauce or desserts. m any people are familiar
with the common r ed d elicious, Golden d elicious, Granny s mith, pippin, and Fuji varieties
of apples. s ome of the lesser-known delicious
eating apples include Pink Pearl, a rkansas
Black, s pritzenberg, s ierra Beauty, Coxs o range Pippin, o rleans r einette, and as hmeads
Kernel. There are also varieties of apples that
resemble wild apples called crab apples. They
bear fruit that are small and sour. Farmers plant
a few crab apple trees in their orchards to pollinate the other eating apples.
The leading regions in apple growing are

Washington state (U.s .a .) and the countries of
China, Poland, Turkey, France, and italy. There
are approximately 7,000 known varieties of
La Te s Um m e r Fa LL
s Pr iNGe a r Ly s Um m e r
Ch a p t e r 3: a p p l e s
skins and that are free of wrinkles and bruises.

a pples are a good source of fiber.
WiNTe r
a pples are prone to a number of fungal and

bacterial ailments, the most common of which
are fireblight and apple scab. Fireblight, so

named because the branches look as though
they were burned by a fire, is a bacterial infecmost apple varieties are self-sterile, meaning
tion that enters the tree through the blossom in
they are unable to pollinate themselves and rely
the springtime. it is a serious disease that can
upon cross-pollination from bees. Crab apple
kill the tree. Conventional and organic growtrees are the best source of pollen for crossers generally control fireblight by cutting off
pollination.
affected branches.
a pple trees can range from full-sized trees
a pple scab and other fungal diseases cause
reaching 25 to 40 feet in height to dwarf vascars called russeting on the fruit. it is not
rieties that are only four to eight feet high.
harmful to eat russeted fruit. in sustainable
o n average, the trees begin producing fruit
agriculture it is controlled by building soil
at between three and 10 years of age and can
health. Using cover crops and spraying compost
continue to do so for up to 100 years.
tea are ways to build soil health.
a pple trees prefer a temperate climate and
The greatest challenge for organic apple growrequire winter cold (chilling). The trees must
ers is the codling moth, which in conventional
be pruned every year to produce flower buds.
agriculture is controlled by frequent application
d uring the spring and summer, apple trees
of pesticides. o rganic producers use beneficial
require frequent watering. if there is enough
insects and pheromone confusion and diligently
water, apple trees can tolerate a great deal of
remove wormy fruit. Codling moth worms (larsummer heat.
vae) grow up inside the apples. They eat a hole
in the apple, and mold grows where they have
a pple trees are susceptible to many pests and
been. Never eat an apple that has mold in it; the
diseases difficult to control. Conventional apple mold is carcinogenic.
farming uses frequent applications of pesticides
to control these problems. The popularity of
Information
organic apples increased in the 1990s after the e arly apple varieties tend to have tender flesh
1989 a lar contamination scare frightened con- and low acid. Therefore, they last only a few
sumers away from purchasing conventionally
weeks in storage. The shelf life for fall varieties
grown apples. a lar, a chemical compound used varies. in general, apples that have dense, firm,
to redden apple crops, was discovered to pose a acidic flesh can be stored longer than softercancer risk, and its use was eventually banned fleshed apples and hence are dubbed the keepon domestic apple crops. While more labor
ers. a pples should always be stored in a cool,
intensive, organic apple farming is viable.
dark place. Choose fruits that have firm, tight
apples, but only about 50 are grown commercially in the United s tates.
27
R E C I P E
Waldorf Salad
Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
30 minutes
None
45 minutes
easy
Background
This recipe provides students with the opportunity to sample many different fl vors in one meal.
sweet-tart apples, such as Grann y smith, rome, Ne wton, pippin, and Gravenstein, contrast well
with the sweet grapes. While students make this recipe, they can investigate the differences in
fl vors as well as the different parts of the plants used.
Objectives

Compare the different fl vors and types of crops.
determine which part of a plant is used for food.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

2 cups shelled walnuts*
8 apples, large
2 cups red seedless grapes
1 head celery
1 cup mayonnaise
1 to 2 lemons, juiced
Materials
For the class:

colander
1 large or 2 medium
mixing bowls
2 large serving spoons
measuring spoons
2 measuring cups
* Check to make sure no students are allergic to walnuts.
28

2 cutting boards
2 knives
1 mixing bowl
4 plates
4 forks
4 plates
1. Chop the walnuts, or you may buy walnuts in the shell and have the students shell the
walnuts before chopping them. if you do, add nutcrackers to your materials list.
2. Wash all produce and dry it in the colander.
3. ha ve students wash their hands. discuss proper handling of food.
4. ha ve each small group share preparation responsibilities for a small part of all the ingredients in this salad. each table will need 2 apples, 12 cup walnuts, 12 cup grapes, and 1 celery
stalk.
Preparation
Safety Precautions

Making the Recipe
1. determine which students in each group are going to prepare the v arious ingredients:
apples, grapes, celery, and walnuts.
3. Provide each table with materials and ingredients. one student from each pair can get the
groups materials; the other can get the ingredients.
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2. Before handing out ingredients, demonstrate to the whole class how to prepare each item.
Quarter and core an apple and cut it into 12 inch cubes. The celery stalk should be finely
sliced. The grapes should be cut in half. Chop walnuts coarselycut each half into fours.
4. Circulate among the groups, helping students work.

5. ha ve students place all the prepared ingredients in their groups small mixing bowl.
7. serv e the salad to students and enjoy. While students are eating, ask them if they can pick
out where on their tongue they taste the different fl vors of the various ingredients.
8. Clean up materials. if you have a school or classroom compost or worm bin, place the
food scraps there.
6. Gather each groups ingredients into the large mixing bowl. ha ve a couple of volunteers
measure the mayonnaise, lemon juice (squeeze lemons first), and hon y (if using). mix
everything together.
29
R E C I P E
Applesauce
Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
20 minutes
20 minutes
1 hour
adv anced
Background
applesauce is simple to mak e, and children usually love it. it can be made with several different
kinds of apples. some common v arieties of apples are Jonathan, Granny smith, red delicious,
Golden delicious, Gala, and Fuji. if possible, pick apples of dif ferent colors to remind students
that not all apples are red. students can also taste apples and find that th y vary in sweetness
and texture.
in this activity, students make detailed observations of the common characteristics of apples.
ask students to dra w and label the parts of the apple. after the y have cut the apples for the sauce,
ask them to discuss the function of each part of the apple. They will probably notice the skin (for
protection), the fles y part (which helps keep the seed viable and aids in seed dissemination), the
seeds (for reproduction), and the stem (which attaches the apple to the tree). While waiting for
the apples to cook, students can write their ideas in their journals. once the applesauce is made,
students may eat it while they share ideas from their journals.
Objectives

identify different varieties of apples.
state the parts of the apple.
Understand the functions of different parts of the apple.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

12 large apples
water or 2 cups apple cider
for all or part of the water
2 cinnamon sticks (optional)
or 1 tablespoon cinnamon
(optional)
1
3 cup sugar (optional)
30
Materials
For the class:

food mill, potato masher,
or food processor
1 large mixing bowl
4-quart heavy, deep pot
with lid
knife or apple corer/slicer
wooden spoon
serving spoon
hot plate

2 cutting boards
2 knives or apple
corers/slicers
4 bowls
4 spoons
4 napkins
journals
1. Wash the apples with water.

2. set up the hot plate.
4. re view safety precautions for using knives and the hot plate.
Safety Precautions
Preparation
hot applesauce can cause serious b urns. Use caution when stirring and blending the applesauce. re view safety precautions for using knives and the hot plate.
Making the Recipe
1. demonstrate wedging and coring apples, then cutting the wedges into se veral pieces.
Point out that it is good to have pieces about the same size so that they cook evenly
(about 12 inch is a good size). ha ve student pairs cut the apples. While the students cut
the apples, they can make observations about the parts of the apple.
3. Put the lid on the pot and cook the apples at low heat until they are soft. y ou will need to
stir them a few times so they cook evenly. Be careful when you take off the lid: lots of
steam will come out.
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2. Place all apple pieces in the pot. add enough w ater and/or cider so that it covers about
half the apples. y ou may add a couple of whole cinnamon sticks to the pot, if desired.
4. While the apples cook for about 10 minutes, have students work in their groups
drawing and labeling the parts of the apple and discussing their functions.
5. When the apples are soft, remove the cinnamon sticks. Pure the apples by using a food
mill, a potato masher, or a food processor. add po wdered cinnamon and sugar, if desired.
7. While the students eat, ask each group to share its observations about apples with the rest
of the class. Facilitate the discussion so that students understand the parts of the apple and
their functions.
food scraps there.
6. serv e and eat.
31
R E C I P E
Apple Crisp
Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
30 minutes
30 to 45 minutes
1 hour and 15 minutes
adv anced
Background
apple crisp is a simple, delicious dessert. it is best to use cooking apples. They retain their
shape during cooking and have a good sweet-tart balance. Gravenstein, mcintosh, rome Beauty ,
or pippin are good choices. Check your foodshed* to see what kind of apples are grown there.
Walnuts or pecans could be substituted for the almonds.
This recipe works well when paired with a comparative tasting; during the baking time students
can taste and investigate many different types of apples (see the section Comparative Tasting
Format).
Objectives

discuss mixtures when making the topping for the apple crisp.
Use their senses to observe different aspects of a variety of apples during comparative tasting.
record observ ations and write conclusions in their journals.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

12 medium apples
1 cup almonds or walnuts
1
2 cup sugar
3
4 cup brown sugar
2 cups flou
1 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1
2 cup water
*see glossary .
32
Materials
For the class:

1 large mixing bowl
1 medium mixing bowl
colander
baking sheet
oven
timer
knife or food processor
2 10-inch round or
9-inch x 9-inch square
baking pans or dishes
measuring spoons
3 measuring cups
2 serving spoons

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 vegetable peelers
2 mixing spoons
2 bowls
4 napkins
4 plates
4 forks
journals
1. Wash apples with water and dry in the colander.

4. Preheat oven to 375F.
Safety Precautions
Preparation
re view safety precautions for using knives and the oven. Let the crisp cool before serving as
it will be very hot.
Making the Recipe
1. Place almonds on the baking sheet and in the oven to toast; set the timer for 7 minutes.
While almonds toast, demonstrate peeling, coring, and slicing the apples (peeling the
apples first is optional). Point out that apple slices should be the same thickness, about
1
2-inch width is good.
3. When the almonds are cool, have student groups chop almonds and place them in
separate small bowls.
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2. di vide the apples among the groups. ha ve students slice apples and place them in small
bowls.
4. ha ve each group contribute its apples to the large mixing bowl. mix the apples with
1
4 cup white sugar, the lemon juice, cinnamon, and water.
5. ask for v olunteers to measure the rest of the sugars and flour into the medium mixing
bowl. mix the ingredients. ha ve other volunteers measure, cut up, and mix the butter into
the flou -sugar mixture. When the mixture holds together and looks crumbly, stir in the
chopped almonds.
7. While the apple crisp bakes, have students do the comparative tasting (see Background)
using apples.
8. if possible, let the crisp cool a bit before serving as it will be very hot. allo w students to
discuss, using their senses to make observations, how cooking apples change. ha ve them
record their ideas in their journals.
food scraps there.
6. ha ve some other volunteers spread the apples out in the baking pans and cover them with
the topping. Place the pans in the oven at 375F for 30 to 45 minutes until a knife can
penetrate the apples easily.
33
A C T I V I T Y
Fooling moths Natural Pest Control

Preparation Time:
Total Lesson Time:
10 minutes
30 to 40 minutes
Background
in this activity, students learn about one organic farming technique that helps eliminate one
type of pest, the codling moth. if you have eaten many apples over your lifetime, you probably
have encountered a worm in at least one of those apples. Those things that look like worms in
apples are actually the larvae of a codling moth. a codling is an immature apple. Codling moths
afflict apples of all sizes, including codlings.
adult codling moths emit a particular scent, called a pheromone, which enables them to find
each other at mating time. after the y mate, female codling moths lay their eggs on the apple, and
when the eggs hatch, the larvae eat their way into the apples. These larvae are the worms that
you find in your apple. e entually, each larva will leave the apple, form a cocoon, and develop
into an adult codling moth.
since f armers know that codling moths use pheromones to mate, farmers use this fact to prevent
moths from eating and destroying their apples. Farmers set out pheromone emitters, which overwhelm the moths sense of smell, confusing them so they cannot find each other to mate
Objectives

Understand the life cycle of codling moths and how they use pheromones.
explain ho w organic farmers can control codling moths without using pesticides.
Materials
For the class:

peppermint oil or other scent
masking tape
2 healthy and 2 wormy apples
(see Preparation)
film canisters (one per student
cotton balls (one per student)
apple F arm farm profil
journals
34
1. obtain tw o healthy and two wormy apples from a neighbors yard or ask at your local
farmers market.
2. Place cotton balls into film canisters
3. scent tw o of the cotton balls with peppermint oil.
4. Place a small strip of tape on the bottom of the two scented canisters to represent mating
moths.
Preparation
Doing the Activity
1. sho w the fruit to students, asking for their observations about the healthy and the unhealthy fruit. Cut the fruit in half so that students can also observe the insides. ha ve them
write in their journals their observations about the fruit and ideas about why there may be
differences between them.
3. explain that students will act out ho w pheromone strips prevent codling moths from
mating. Give out canisters to students. explain that tw o of the students are moths looking
for their mates; they are the ones with the tape on the bottom of the film caniste . ha ve
students look at the bottom of the canister but not say out loud whether they are a moth
or not. ha ve students use their noses to find their mates.
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2. read the f arm profile. ask students what the y understand about codling moth worms. if
necessary, explain to them the life cycle of codling moths and how pheromones help them
find mates
4. solicit observ ations from the students about what happened. (The students with the
scented canisters paired up.)
6. Give out canisters again and have the moths pair up again by using only their sense of
smell. since this time e veryone is scented, it will probably be very difficult for the moths
to find their mates
7. ha ve students discuss the differences between the two activities. What variables changed?
ho w did that affect the students ability to identify mates? ho w does this activity relate to
what farmers do with codling moths?
8. after the discussion ha ve students write their conclusions and supporting ideas in their
journals.
5. Collect the canisters and scent all cottonballs while students write their observations in
their journals.
35
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Apple Farm
Three generations live and work on the farm.
Karen and Tim Bates bought the property
in 1983 and have raised four children there.
Karens parents, don and sally schmitt (who
years ago founded one of Californias most
famous restaurants, the French Laundry in the
Napa Valley), came to live on the farm several
years ago. Growing and selling apples is the
main focus at the farm, but the Bates family
also makes and sells apple jams, jellies, and
vinegars. They produce these in a big kitchen
they built on their property.
At Apple Farm in Philo, a small community

in the Anderson Valley in Northern California,
growing and selling apples is a family affair.
recently , they decided that a lot of people

might like to make their own chutneys and
jams, so they started a series of cooking classes
at the farm. The majority of the apples we sell
are Golden delicious, says Karen, although
we grow 60 different varieties. many of the
varieties the Bateses grow are ones you will
never see at the supermarket, though 50 or 100
years ago those were common varieties well
known in different parts of the country. often
the apple names suggest the place where they
were grown originally. They have interesting names: sierra Beauty , splendor , arkansas
Black, and Pink Pearl, which is bright pink
when cut open.
apple F arm is located on the banks of the
Navarro ri ver. Beyond the orchards, near the
river, a lot of land has been left wild, which
means there are many birds and other wild
animals. in the orchards, which take up
18 acres of the farm, there are about 1,800
apple trees and 200 pear trees2,000 trees
altogether.
apple trees cannot be gro wn from seed because
seedling trees do not resemble their parents and
usually have sour fruit. instead, growers graft
a branch from a chosen variety, such as sierra
36
The Bateses farm organically. We built our

house out in the middle of the orchard, says
Karen, so its especially important to us to
not use harmful pesticides. We want our kids
to be able to run out and play in the trees.
The kids help out wherever they are neededsometimes in the kitchen, sometimes in
the orchard, and sometimes at the farm stand
by the road where they sell apples and apple
products to visitors. The children also take
care of all farm animals: ducks, pigs, rabbits,
horses, a cow, cats, and two dogs. my husband and i dont have time to take care of the
animals, so my kids know that if they want
animals, they have to tend to them, Karen
explains. Karen and Tim admit that they did
not know a lot about farming before they
bought the apple F arm. ov er the years they
have learned through experience.
one of an apple gro wers worst enemies is the

codling moth, a tiny insect that lays eggs on
the trees in spring and that can do great harm
to the crop. To decrease the moth population,
the Bateses hang up pheromone strips, which
emit a scent that is identical to the scent of
the female moth. With this scent all around
them, the male moths usually cannot find the
females. of course, if the moths do not mate,
there are no eggs.
Karen is happy to have three generations

living and working on the farm. it takes all
of us to make things work, and we each have
different areas that were best at, she says.
her husband, Tim, manages the orchard,
Polly Bates, one of the four Bates children,

likes picking her own ripe Golden Delicious
apple.
y ou may think of wasps as a big nuisance

when they swarm around your food at a
picnic, but one species of wasps is an organic
apple farmers friend. This wasp is a natural
enemy of the codling larvae because it lays
its eggs inside the codling moth worm. The
young wasp eats the worm from the inside
out. Karen and Tim purchase those particular
wasps and grow lots of blooming fl wers to
make sure there is a healthy habitat for the
wasps. The wasps are tiny and do not sting.
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while Karen tends the garden and does the

bookkeeping. her f ather, don, is in char ge of
building and maintenance, and her mother,
sally , oversees the cooking classes and the
commercial kitchen.
Beauty, onto a seedling tree or to a rootstock

variety that has been specially bred to resist
soil-borne diseases or to influence the shape of
the tree. it takes between fi e and 15 years for
the tree to mature and bear fruit.
37
C H A P T E R
Peppers
Throughout history, peppers have been a
staple ingredient in the cuisine and folklore of

indigenous peoples of the americas. Peppers,
like tomatoes, are members of the Capsicum
and nightshade family and are native to tropical
Central and south america, where the y grow all
year as perennials. in most of North america,
including California, they are annual plants,
dying after the growing season. Botanically,
peppers are classified as fruits
There are two main types of peppers, sweet and
hot, as well as many in between. in general,
sweet peppers have a thicker skin and milder
taste and are larger than hot peppers. Popular
varieties include pimiento, sweet Banana, and
many varieties of the ubiquitous bell. hot peppers or chile peppers were introduced to europeans by Christopher Columbus from his travels
in the New World. Chile peppers are an important ingredient in the cuisines of africa, China
(szechw an), india, me xico, south america,
38
spain, and southeast asia. There are hundreds

of varieties of chile peppers, most of which
are indigenous to mexico or Central america.
Chile peppers can range in size from 1 inch to
12 inches in length. most of the chemical that
gives chiles their fiery flavor is contained in
the ribs and seeds of the fruit. Chiles are rated
according to the scofield scale, which ranks
the intensity of their heat. The scotch Bonnet,
Chile de arbol, and the habaero are some of
the hottest peppers according to the scofield
scale. some southeast asian chiles may be
even hotter.
Peppers are available year-round but are at their

peak at California farms from July through october. Because they are in the same botanical
family as the tomato, they like the same growing conditions. in Northern California, peppers
must be started indoors because they are very
sensitive to the cold. The plants require warm,
Peppers are not very susceptible to insect

pests. Cutworms pose the biggest threat and

Information
When choosing peppers, look for ones that

are shiny, smooth, firm, plump, and without
wrinkles, cracks, or bruises. They should feel
heavy for their size. Peppers can be stored
in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Peppers contain high-potency vitamin C and
are a good source of vitamin a.
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sweet pepper plants typically produce between four to eight fruits per plant. The fruits
are picked with a 12-inch stem still attached.
Peppers may be harvested while still green,
which makes for a milder fl vor in both hot
and sweet varieties. red, mature peppers will
have either a sweeter or a hotter fl vor. Peppers are also available in a rainbow of colors,
including yellow, orange, purple, and black.
Chiles are often sold smoked or dried.
may be kept away from the plants by placing cardboard collars around the plant stems.
mosaic, a viral infection, is a more serious
worry. it causes malformed, mottled leaves
and stunted plants. it is best to remove and destroy any affected plants and thoroughly wash
hands and garden tools to prevent the spread
of infection.
sunny conditions and must be planted in fine,

loose soil with good drainage. humus (or ganic
matter that is in an advanced state of decomposition) is also necessary to provide nutrients.
Ch a p t e r 4: p e p p e r s
39
R E C I P E
Quesadillas with Sweet Peppers

Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
30 minutes
10 minutes
1 hour
adv anced
Background
This recipe is a favorite of students. When assorted sweet peppers are used, the recipe is an excellent opportunity for students to practice learning a new vocabulary that describes tastes, textures,
visual features, and smells. Use a variety of sweet peppers: California Wonder, pimiento, and y olo
King are all good sweet varieties. Peppers may be eaten when they are at an immature green stage,
but to really experience the different sweet fl vors, you should buy or pick peppers at their ripest.
although the recipe usually uses only sweet peppers, you may wish to introduce some of the
milder hot pepper varieties. some common v arieties are jalapeo, serrano, and New mexico
(also known as anaheim). Jalapeos are small (tw o to three inches long), smooth, and usually
dark green. as the y ripen, they tend to turn bright red. They are considered medium hot but will
probably be too hot for most students. serranos (one to tw o inches) are even hotter than jalapeos.
They can vary in spiciness, depending on ripeness. When they are dark green, they are milder.
as the y turn to red, orange, and even yellow, they become hotter and hotter. New mexico chiles,
which are medium hot, are commonly seen in the southwest hanging in ristras (bunches of chiles
tied together).
many children prefer to eat sweet peppers raw rather than cooked. ho wever, in traditional mexican cooking, peppers are usually sauted and are called rajas. y ou may want to try sauting some
of the peppers and see which ones the children prefer in their quesadillas.
Objectives

identify different varieties of sweet and hot peppers.
Use new vocabulary to describe sense experiences.
Prepare peppers for cooking.
Ingredients
For the class:

8 to 12 assorted peppers,
depending on size
1 red or white onion (optional)
3 bunches cilantro
2 lbs monterey Jack cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil
10 to 20 flour or corn tortillas,
preferably handmade
1
2 teaspoon salt
40
Materials
For the class:

1 heavy saut pan with lid or
electric skillet or griddle
hot plate
colander
measuring spoons
4 large mixing bowls
box grater
oven (optional)
knife
cutting board

2 cutting boards
2 knives
3 bowls
4 napkins
4 plates
journals
1. Wash vegetables and dry them in the colander.

4. di vide the vegetables equally for the fi e groups.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives, the hot plate, and the oven.
Making the Recipe
Preparation
1. allo w students time to examine whole peppers, make observations, and record their
observations in their journals.
2. demonstrate ho w to cut open a pepper, wash or wipe out the seeds, and cut up the flesh
into thin strips. also sho w how to peel the onion, cut it in half, and hold the cut side on
the cutting board as you dice the onion.
4. ha ve one group grate the cheese.

5. Gather all the cilantro into one mixing bowl, all the peppers into another bowl, and all
the onions into another bowl. separate an y hot peppers and place in their own small
bowl.
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3. di vide the peppers, onions, and cilantro among the groups for chopping and placing in
separate bowls. as the y chop, students can discuss and share descriptive words with
others in their group.
6. Gather students around the demonstration table to watch the cooking. Toss peppers with
the oil and salt.
8. remo ve the quesadilla and place it in a warm oven to hold until all are made. if you
like, you can fold the quesadilla in half with the filling in the inside
9. While you cook the other quesadillas, have students return to their seats and plan using
descriptive words to tell a story about a delicious eating experience.
10. Cut each quesadilla in half and serve on small paper plates. While students eat, have
them record their taste sensations by using descriptive words. ha ve the class share story
ideas and begin writing the stories.
food scraps there.
7. heat a lar ge, heavy pan over medium heat and add a tortilla. Flip over the tortilla when
it begins to get crispy, and sprinkle on it some grated cheese, peppers, cilantro, and
(optional) onion.
41
R E C I P E
Bulgur Salad with Red Peppers,

Cucumbers, & Cheese
Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
30 minutes
30 minutes
adv anced
Background
This moroccan salad is a staple for the people of the atlas mountains in northern africa. it is a
wonderful lesson in which to discuss ethnic foods and foods grown in specific r gions throughout
the world. The recipe is a bit time-consuming, but it allows students to experience several facets of
cooking: preparing the vegetables, roasting the peppers, observing the bulgur absorb the water, and
mixing the ingredients together into a salad.
Objectives

observ e, demonstrate, and name the different facets of the cooking process (preparing, roasting,
absorbing, and mixing).
Understand the functions of different tools for cooking.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

6 red bell peppers
3 cups bulgur
5 cups water
2 bunches scallions
3 cucumbers
3 garlic cloves (2 if large)
6 tablespoons chopped mint
6 tablespoons chopped cilantro
3 cups feta cheese, crumbled
salt and pepper
3
4 cup olive oil
42
Materials
For the class:

1 large mixing bowl
hot plate
colander
measuring spoons
2-quart pot
oven

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 bowls
4 napkins
4 forks
4 plates
journals
1. Wash vegetables and dry them in the colander.

3. Preheat the oven to 400F and put water on the hot plate to boil.
Safety Precautions
Preparation
re view safety precautions for using knives, the hot plate, and the oven.
Making the Recipe
1. Place the peppers in the preheated oven for 20 minutes and roast them until skins are
blistering.
2. Place the bulgur in a bowl and add the boiling water. Keep the bulgur covered for
20 minutes.
4. ha ve groups prepare the ingredients and place them into separate bowls.
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3. demonstrate ho w to chop scallions, cucumbers, garlic, mint, and cilantro. Provide each
group with a portion of these ingredients to prepare.
5. ha ve one group crumble the cheese.
6. When the peppers are ready, give students time to examine the whole roasted peppers.
Peel off the skin and then cut the peppers into 14-inch strips.
7. in a small bowl, mix the lemon juice with 112 teaspoons salt and 14 teaspoon pepper,
then stir in the olive oil. Now add and stir in the chopped herbs.
9. While students eat, review with them the different tasks involved in the cooking process.
food scraps there.
8. sho w students the bulgur, pointing out how it absorbed the water. stir the oil mixture
into the bulgur and add the chopped vegetables. stir and taste for salt and pepper seasoning. add crumbled cheese and serv e on small paper plates.
43
A C T I V I T Y
making a harv est Garland

Preparation Time:
Total Lesson Time:
20 minutes
50 to 60 minutes, plus
10 to 15 minutes at least
one week later
Background
in the southwestern United states, people string fresh chiles and hang them to dry . These beautiful
strings of peppers, called ristras, are used both for cooking and for decoration. in this activity,
students string a variety of plant materials into a garland to take home for a lovely fall harvest
decoration.
y ou can get free or inexpensive materials for making garlands from a number of sources: your
school garden, students yards or kitchens, or your local farmers market (ask for leftover produce
that would be appropriate for drying).
Objectives

observ e the changes of the chiles and other plant materials as they dry.
Produce a garland for home decoration.
Materials
For the class:

assorted chiles
an assortment of other plant materials
for stringing: indian corn (red, blue,
and other colors); popped popcorn;
cranberries; tiny pumpkins; seed pods;
decorative leaves, such as maple or
eucalyptus; decorative fruits, such as
pyracantha or toyon; apple or Fuyu
persimmon slices; small pomegranates;
garlic bulbs; and marigolds, cosmos,
or other small fl wers
heavy thread
newspaper
44

4 copies of Tierra Vegetables farm
profile (optional
4 large embroidery needles
4 plastic bags
journals
1. Clear an area near a sunny window where you will be able to hang garlands for about one
week to dry in the sun.
2. if using dried indian corn to make the garland, soak the corn overnight so that it is soft
enough for students to string.
3. Cut heavy thread into three- to four-foot lengths, one per student.
4. Clean and set up tables. Cover the tables with newspaper.
Preparation
Doing the Activity
1. ask students if the y have ever seen dried fruits or vegetables; ask them how drying helps
prolong the useful life of produce.
2. (optional) ha ve students read the Tierra Vegetables farm profile. discuss h w drying and
smoking the chiles helps Lee and Wayne sustain their farm during the months when they
cannot sell fresh peppers.
4. Give each student a length of thread and a needle. demonstrate ho w to thread the needle
and to tie off the end. sho w students the assorted materials from which they will create
their garlands. Point out that apple or Fuyu persimmon slices should be strung with the
thread running parallel to the flat side; this will all w the slices to dry more quickly. it is
also a good idea to tie a knot in between fresh (and dried) materials to space them apart
so that mold will not form. When stringing chile peppers, students should tie the thread
around the stem and not use the needle (avoid contamination by the burning chemical).
mak e sure that students wash hands carefully after handling chiles.
6. hang the g arlands horizontally in a sunny window for a week or more to dry.
Day Two (At least one week later)
1. ha ve students make observations of the dried chiles, draw a picture in their journals, and
write observations about texture, smell, and color. Compare observations of the fresh and
dried chiles. also discuss observ ations about how the other plant materials have changed.
2. Provide plastic bags for students to take their garlands home to enjoy with their families.
5. allo w time for students to create their garlands. if possible, encourage each student to
include at least one chile in the garland.
WiNTe r
3. Give each group of students two different chiles to observe. ask them to dra w the chiles
in their journals and to write observations about their texture, smell, and color.
45
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Tierra Vegetables
How many different kinds of peppers can
you think of?
Chances are farmer Lee James can think of

more. on their f arm, Tierra Vegetables, in
healdsb urg, Lee and her brother Wayne grow
70 different varieties of sweet and hot peppers
in a wide range of shapes, sizes, colors, and
fl vors. most people w ould consider 70 to be
a large number, but Lee says it is only a fraction of the number of pepper varieties out there:
people in countries all over the world grow
literally thousands of different kinds of peppers.
Peppers are divided into two main types: sweet
and hot. sweet peppers ha ve no heat, just a
pleasant, mild taste. hot peppers are also called
chiles. hot peppers can ha ve a little or a lot
of heat, Lee explains. The hotness comes from
a clear liquid chemical held in blisters in the
peppers pith, the white fiber where the seeds
are found. That is why you can reduce the heat
of even very hot peppers by removing the seeds
and the fibrous pith
The outside of a hot pepper is not hot. y ou can
take the whole pepper and put it in your mouth,
says Lee. But once you cut into it and break the
blisters, watch out! some peppers are so hot you
should wear rubber gloves when you cut them
up, or you can actually get blistery burns on
your hands. and you certainly w ould not want
to put a cut-up hot pepper straight into your
mouth. hot peppers need to be mix ed with
a lot of other food before they are edible.
46
Chile de arbol and habaero chiles are tw o

of the hotter varieties. Lee explains that a long
spell of hot weather will make these peppers
even hotter.
at Lee s and Waynes farm, the peppers begin
their lives in trays in the greenhouse, where
seeds are planted in march. From there, the
tiny plants are transplanted to six-pack containers. When the plants are big and strong enough,
they are planted in the field, usually in may or
June. Lee plants the peppers from the back of a
tractor her brother drives around the field. The
peppers ripen in the summer heat and are ready
to be picked from July through october .
starting in october , Lee and Wayne dry and
smoke their peppers to sell at farmers markets
during the winter. To smoke the chiles, Wayne
built a special smokera big box with trays
stacked in it and a wood-burning fire unde neath. The smoked chiles are called chipotles,
which is an aztec w ord meaning chile and
smoke. Chipotles are used in Latin american
cooking.Lee and Wayne sell their peppers
throughout the san Francisco Bay area, at
farmers markets. We sell at markets on sat urdays and sundays, says Lee. sometimes
i think it would be nice to take a day off and
maybe not work the sunday mark et, but then
wed have a lot of disappointed chile eaters on
our hands.
WiNTe r
lee James plants the peppers from the back of a tractor her brother Wayne drives
around the field on their farm, Tierra Vegetables.
47
C H A P T E R
S
S
48
as tropical plants, sweet potatoes are v ery

sensitive to frost. They are harvested in the fall
but are available year-round due to cold storage. ho wever, sweet potatoes are sweetest and
most fl vorful around harvesttime (fall).
sweet potatoes require lots of w ater, typically

requiring irrigation once or twice a week. in
august or early september , water is cut off to
allow the potatoes to cure. Curing the potatoes
helps them to last longer in storage. after
curing, a mechanical digger-harvester unearths
Black rot, soft rot, and scurf are diseases that

may affect sweet potatoes. These can be controlled in one of two ways without chemicals:
by hand removal of infected leaves or by using
only healthy roots for replanting.

Information
When purchasing sweet potatoes, choose

ones with smooth, firm skin and no bruises or
cracks. To store, place the potatoes for up to
four weeks in a dark, dry place that maintains
a temperature of about 55 degrees. do not
refrigerate as this will convert the potatoes
natural sugars to starch and destroy the fl vor
and texture. sweet potatoes are high in vitamins a and C and are a good source of fiber
and potassium.
WiNTe r
unlik e other plants but similar to potatoes,

sweet potatoes can sprout shoots from their
roots. in march, sweet potatoes or their roots
are placed in covered hot beds filled with
moist sand or sawdust. The sweet potatoes
will sprout numerous baby roots and slender
shoots with small leaves. in mid-may when
the soil is warm, the sturdiest shoots, called
slips, are replanted in the fields. slips should
be between eight and 12 inches long. sweet
potatoes like a hot, dry climate, and the areas
around the vines should be kept free of weeds.
They grow best at 90 degrees or higher.
the potatoes, and workers sort them by size.

sweet potatoes may also be cured by placing
them in a hot, well-ventilated place for up to
four to seven days, after which they will be
shipped to market.
La Te s u m m e r Fa LL
s Pr iNGe a r LY s u m m e r
Ch a p t e r 5: s w e e t p o t a t o e s
49
R E C I P E
Make-Your-Own Baked Sweet Potato

Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
5 minutes
45 minutes
1 hour
easy
Background
For many students, baked whole sweet potatoes are a new experience. While preparing and eating them, students can examine and learn about the different varieties of sweet potatoes. Four
varieties are commonly grown in California: Garnet, Jewel, Jersey, and Japanese (also known as
Koto-buki). in markets, you can usually find all ut the Japanese variety. students can discuss the
differences among these varieties and compare baked sweet potatoes to the baked potatoes they
may be more used to.
Objectives

understand wh y it is necessary to poke holes in sweet potato skins before baking.
use their senses to compare dif ferent sweet potato varieties and topping combinations.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

10 large sweet potatoes
(assorted varieties)
1 pint low-fat sour cream
1 stick butter
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup pecans or walnuts,*
chopped coarsely
Materials
For the class:

colander
baking sheet
6 serving spoons
oven
4 small bowls
1 knife
fork
*mak e sure no students are allergic to pecans or walnuts.
50

2 cutting boards
2 knives
4 plates
4 napkins
4 forks
journals
1. Wash potatoes and dry in the colander.

Safety Precautions
Preparation
Take care when removing sweet potatoes from the oven as they will be very hot. allo w them
to cool slightly before serving to students.
Making the Recipe
2. Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and bake them for 30 to 45 minutes or until a
knife can easily puncture the sweet potatoes.
3. ha ve students arrange the toppings (sour cream, butter, brown sugar, cheese, and nuts)
in bowls on the demonstration table. discuss with students which topping combinations
might go well together. ha ve students predict in their journals which combination will
taste best and suggest other toppings that might be good.
WiNTe r
1. demonstrate ho w to poke holes with a fork into the sweet potatoes while leading a discussion about why it is necessary to do so. sweet potatoes (and potatoes) ha ve a watertight skin. Without holes in the skin, the sweet potato would burst open because of the
pressure inside. To prevent this, poke holes in the sweet potato skin to allow air and steam
to escape. students may use a fork to pok e holes in the sweet potatoes skin.
4. When baked sweet potatoes are ready, cut them in half. serv e half of a potato to each
student. students may arrange their o wn toppings.
food scraps there.
5. While students eat, ask them to share their observations about how the sweet potatoes
taste. encourage students to try dif ferent potatoes and topping combinations. Washed
skins are also edible.
51
R E C I P E
Oven-Roasted Sweet Potato Chips

Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
10 minutes
20 to 30 minutes
1 hour
easy
Background
some people encounter sweet potatoes only at Thanksgiving. ho wever, any time during the fall
harvest season is a great time to try the sweet, savory taste of a sweet potato. This is an interesting
recipe because it offers a delightful and surprising twist to chips. it also leads to thoughtful discussions about the differences between potatoes and sweet potatoes.
Objectives

describe dif ferences between potatoes and sweet potatoes.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

10 medium sweet potatoes
1 to 2 teaspoons salt
pepper
1
2 cup olive oil
52
Materials
For the class:

1 large mixing bowl
colander
2 baking sheets
large spoon
oven
knife
measuring spoons
2 serving spoons

2 cutting boards
2 knives
1 small bowl
4 paper plates
4 napkins
4 forks
1. Wash the sweet potatoes and let them dry in the colander.
4. Preheat the oven to 450F.
Safety Precautions
Preparation
re view safety precautions for using knives and the oven. use caution when serving and eating
the chips as they may be very hot.
Making the Recipe
1. demonstrate ho w to slice sweet potatoes into half-moon shaped pieces. The safest way
for students to do this is to slice the sweet potato in half lengthwise and then place the
flat side on the cutting board to ma e 14-inch to 38-inch slices. You do not need to peel the
potatoes.
3. Gather bowls at the demonstration table. after students ha ve gathered around the table,
have a student volunteer place the slices into the large mixing bowl. ask tw o volunteers to
measure 12 cup olive oil and toss the oil and salt with the sweet potatoes.
WiNTe r
2. di vide the sweet potatoes among the groups and have students slice the potatoes and place
them in a bowl.
4. ask other v olunteers to arrange the sweet potato slices on the baking sheets in a single
layer. at this point you may wish to ask students for their ideas about wh y you arranged
the slices in this manner and why you put olive oil on the slices.
5. Place the slices in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, checking frequently to make sure they do
not burn.
7. When the sweet potato slices are golden and crispy, remove and season with more salt and
pepper, if desired. serv e on plates and remind students to be careful if the chips are hot.
8. While students eat, ask them to share their observations about how sweet potato chips
taste compared with French fries. add their observ ations to the T-chart.
food scraps there.
6. While the sweet potato slices bake, make a T-chart on the board with the two columns
labeled Potatoes and sweet Potatoes. Lead a discussion comparing these two
vegetables. record student ideas on the chart.
53
R E C I P E
Sweet Potato Pie

Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
20 minutes
2 hours
adv anced
Background
This recipe combines the nutritious sweet potato with spices that bring out its sweet, savory taste.
students who ha ve never had sweet potatoes may be reluctant to try the pie, but it is a favorite of
children all across the southern united states. The best variety for sweet potato pie is Garnet or
Jewel. Both have a moist, tender flesh when coo ed. Garnet has purple-red skin and deep orange
flesh, and J wel has copper or tan skin and bright orange flesh
in this recipe students have the opportunity to learn about the nutritional value of the sweet
potato while enjoying its sweet taste. You probably want to make two pies for 20 children since
this recipe is very popular. (double the follo wing recipe for two pies.)
Objectives

enjo y the nutritional significance of a sweet potato
Ingredients
For a class of 10:

3 medium sweet potatoes
1
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1
8 teaspoon nutmeg
1
8 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon vanilla
1
2 cup brown sugar
1
3 cup white sugar
1 cup heavy cream
3 eggs
pinch of salt
9-inch pre-baked pie shell
1 tablespoon orange juice
concentrate (optional)
54
Materials
For the class:

1 large mixing bowl
colander
large spoon
oven
knife
measuring spoons
2 serving spoons
fork

2 plastic spoons
4 plastic forks
4 plates
4 napkins
1. if you have no nutmeg or cloves, use 1 teaspoon cinnamon for the spices.
2. Wash sweet potatoes and dry them in the colander.
5. after sho wing the sweet potatoes to the class, puncture the skins with a fork and bake for
45 minutes.
Preparation
6. (optional) if you do not ha ve an oven, steam cut-up sweet potatoes in a 4-quart pot by
simmering for 15 minutes or until they are tender.
Safety Precautions
allo w sweet potatoes to cool before having students scoop them out. re view safety precautions for using the oven.
1. Lead students in a discussion of some of the nutritional benefits of sweet potatoes
2. When sweet potatoes are cooked, have students use spoons to scoop out the fles y part
onto plates and place the skins into the compost bucket. ha ve them mash the flesh with
their forks. When the flesh is fully mashed, h ve students place it in a large mixing bowl
at the demonstration table. There should be approximately 112 cups mashed sweet potato.
WiNTe r
Making the Recipe
3. after students ha ve gathered around the table, have volunteers measure and add spices
and all other ingredients except the pie shell to the sweet potatoes.
5. When the sweet potato pie is ready, cut and serve on plates. remind students to be careful
if the pie is hot.
4. Pass the bowl around so that each student can have a turn at stirring (three stirs per
student is enough). Pour the mixture into the pre-baked pie shell and bake for 60 minutes
at 325F, until the crust is golden brown.
55
A C T I V I T Y
Finding the right soil for Your Plant

Preparation Time:
Total Lesson Time:
soil observ ation:
drainage:
settling:
20 minutes
1 to 112 hours
10 to 20 minutes
20 to 30 minutes
15 minutes
Background
This activity involves the comparison of three types of soil. students will use their senses to observe characteristics of each type and perform two soil experiments. students will look at one soil
characteristic, texture, and think about how it affects the suitability of a particular soil for growing sweet potatoes, which are at risk of rotting should they sit too long in a soil where water does
not drain quickly. Soil texture refers to the proportions of different size particles that make up soil.
sand, silt, and clay are terms that define particle size, with sand being the la gest, silt the intermediate, and clay the smallest. These particles combine in varying proportions to comprise a range of
soil texture classes: sand, loam, and clay.
students will identify and think about the or ganic matter component of soils. soil or ganic matter
consists of a wide range of materials and is concentrated in the top two layers of the soil profile.
The top layer is generally an inch or two thick and consists of fresh and decaying plant matter:
fallen leaves, dried leaves, stems, and other plant parts. The next layer, called topsoil, consists of
dead insects and worms, partially composted materials, and humus, the dark stable fine material
that is no longer identifiable as h ving been a plant, animal, or other living thing. Topsoil is an
area of intense biological activity where plant roots, bacteria, fungi, and animals perform various
functions. in the settling experiment, students will find that the o ganic matter separates from the
mineral components (sand, silt, and clay). When compared with the mineral components, organic
matter is darker in color, feels different, and smells distinctive, especially when moist.
Objectives

observ e and identify the mineral components of soil (sand, silt, clay).
observ e and identify the organic matter component of soil.
see that one soil is not the same as another and that soil te xture affects crop choice.
Materials
For the class:

1 quart sand from a sandbox
1 quart soil from the school yard
1 quart soil from the school garden
or 1 quart commercial potting soil
1
2 gallon water
newspaper
56

4 copies of Nakashima farm profile (optional
3 paper towels
1 1-quart clear plastic container
with tight-fitting lid
1 large funnel
3 coffee filters (size 4
1 plastic cup
watch or clock (with a second hand)
journals
1. on the day before the acti vity, have students collect soil from the school yard, school
garden, and school sandbox. (if you do not have a school garden, you can use commercial
potting soil.)
2. Clean and set up tables. Cover the tables with newspaper.
3. For each group, prepare three paper towels with a cupful of one of the three types of soil on
each towel.
Doing the Activity: Soil Observation
1. (optional) ha ve students read the Nakashima farm profile and discuss the soil requirements
for sweet potatoes.
Preparation
2. ask students in each group to e xamine the three soils and to compare the color, texture, size
of particles, and types of particles in each pile. ask them to write do wn the features that
make each pile different from the others.
Drainage
1. Provide each group with a funnel, three coffee filters, a plastic containe , and a plastic cup
filled with ater. demonstrate ho w to put the coffee filter into the funnel and place the fun
nel on top of the plastic container. demonstrate ho w to place a half cup of one of the soils
into the funnel and then slowly pour the cupful of water into the funnel.
WiNTe r
3. ha ve volunteers from each group share their observations. on the board, write descripti ve
words for each type of soil. ask students to predict which soil will allo w water to drain the
quickest. ha ve students write in their journals their predictions and the reasons for their predictions.
2. ask students to set up the equipment as demonstrated and to measure the time it tak es for
the water to drain through each type of soil. remind students to pour w ater into the filter at
the same rate for each of the three trials. (students will need to sa ve the soil for the settling
activity.)
4. ha ve each group share its results. as a class, discuss reasons for dif ferences in drainage
rates. ha ve students write their conclusions in their journals.
Settling
1. ha ve each group empty one of the three coffee filters from the drainage act vity into the
clear plastic container. students record the site where soil w as collected. They are then to fill
the container nearly to the top with water and twist the lid on tightly.
2. ha ve students shake the containers well and place them on a table. ha ve students observe
and record which components of soil settle first. record the total time needed for the soil to
settle.
3. ha ve each group share its results. as a class, discuss reasons for dif ferent soils settling
differently. ha ve students write their conclusions in their journals.
3. ha ve students use the watch or clock to note the order of drainage (fastest to slowest) for the
three soils and record the results in writing.
57
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Nakashima Farms
Tom Nakashimas family has been farming near
the town of Livingston for almost 100 years.
Toms father was part of the Yamato Colony,
a Japanese american community established
in Livingston in 1906. Tom and his wife have
raised three daughters and a son on their farm.
Late august to late october is harv esttime for
sweet potatoes. By late summer, the fields are
a tangle of low-growing vines with wiry stems
and fles y leaves. To check if the crop is ready
for harvesting, Tom pulls some of the vines
aside and shovels sandy dirt out of the way
to reveal the swollen magenta roots: the ripe
sweet potatoes. i love to farm and to see things
grow, he says.
in other fields, har esting machines move slowly down the long rows of vines. The machines
pull the sweet potatoes from the ground, then
10 men sort them by size and type. after the
tractor-pulled machines pass, swarms of blackbirds land in the field to feast on the orms and
other insects turned up by the harvest.
For the Nakashima family in Merced County,

growing sweet potatoes in Californias
Central Valley is a cherished family
tradition.
58
The Nakashima farm is a large family farm;

it has 300 acres of sweet potatoes and more
than 400 acres of almonds and peaches. The
Livingston area is well known for its sweet
potatoes. in the 1920s and 1930s, there were
around 13,000 acres of sweet potatoes grown
in this part of the valley. Today, there are only
about 8,000 acres left, but they still provide
most of the sweet potatoes eaten by people
on the Pacific Coast.
sweet potatoes ha ve brought prosperity to

Livingstons Japanese american f arming
community and have helped the community
to overcome the hardship of World War ii.
during that time, in the 1940s, the go vernment
ordered Japanese americans to mo ve to what
were called internment camps. at the time, the
united states w as at war with Japan, and the
government feared that Japanese americans
might become spies against the united states
even though most of them had been living in
the united states for a long time and were
loyal american citizens.
Tom recalls that the uprooting of their family

made his father so bitter that he moved to
Japan in retirement. Tom was only a high
school student when all this happened, and he
says younger people found it easier to adapt
than their elders did. so he took up where his
father left off and continued the family farm
tradition. and he has been at it e ver since.
WiNTe r
Portuguese farmers who, like the Japanese,

settled in the Livingston area almost 100
years ago were the first to plant sweet potatoes
there. They knew that sweet potatoes can grow
in soil too poor for many other food plants.
Tom actually learned about sweet potato
farming from a Portuguese neighbor who was
renting land on the Nakashima farm during the
1950s. Tom has been growing sweet potatoes
ever since, for almost 50 years now.
When families such as the Nakashimas were

finally able to return to their homes after the
war ended in 1945, many of their businesses
and farms were in a poor state, and most of
their fruit trees were dead or dying. That is
when a number of Japanese farmers started
growing sweet potatoes because the crop can
be harvested the same year it is planted, thus
providing immediate income.
many crops would not do well in Livingstons

sandy soil, but sweet potatoes thrive in it.
under that sandwhich looks lik e beach sand
in some placesthere is a lot of water. and
that is precisely the combination the tough
sweet potato vines thrive on: sand and water.
59
C H A P T E R
Persimmons & Pomegranates

Persimmons and pomegranates are two of the
most ancient fruits known to humans. Todays

commonly cultivated persimmon was domesticated in China and Japan over 4,000 years ago.
many different persimmon varieties are grown
in California. There is a species native to the
united states though it is not commercially
grown. The two most common types of persimmon are the intensely sweet hachiya, which
has a jelly-like interior when ripe, and the firm,
spicy Fuyu, which has vivid orange flesh and
apricot and cinnamon fl vors. hachiyas are
ideal for puddings, cakes, and muffins, while
Fuyus make excellent additions to salads and
dessert toppings and can be eaten fresh, like
apples.
Persimmons have a high tannin (an astringent

substance found in some plants) content, which
makes them mouth-puckeringly tart when unripe. The tannins also make even ripe persimmons corrosive to certain cookware, so be sure
to use only stainless steel or enamel-coated
pots and pans.
Pomegranates are native to the middle east.
spanish missionaries brought the fruit to
60
California in the eighteenth century. The ancient

Chinese saw the pomegranate as a symbol of
economic prosperity; in middle eastern theology, it was the pomegranate, not the apple, that
ev e picked and gave to adam.
Pomegranates have an unusual structure composed of a spongy white pith encasing hundreds
of succulent crimson seeds, or arils. The fruit
is often eaten out of hand by popping out the
pithy seeds and eating them whole. You can also
roll the fruit to loosen the juice from the seeds,
punch a hole in the skin, insert a straw, and
drink the juice. Pomegranates are also made into
juice, jelly, or pomegranate molasses or syrup,
which are all popular in middle eastern and
mediterranean cooking. The two main pomegranate varieties that are grown in California are
Wonderful and spanish ruby .
Persimmons and pomegranates require growing

conditions similar to those of other fruit trees.
Both trees are adaptable to many soils. The
pomegranate does best in areas with hot, dry
summers, such as the Central Valley of California. The persimmon prefers a similar climate
Good water drainage, adequate soil organic

matter, and aerated soil allowing for deep root
development are all essential to growing persimmons and pomegranates. The trees do not
tolerate harsh winters; a fl vorful and abundant fruit yield depends on plenty of sunshine.
Both trees have fl wers with self-fertile pollen;
however, the trees will produce more fruit if
the fl wers are cross-pollinated by bees.
ripe pome granates range from pink to deep

red, depending on the variety and the weather.
Cold weather enhances the red color. a ripe
pomegranate feels heavy for its size. Cracking
is a sign of ripeness in pomegranates; make
sure the pomegranate is not overripe. Pomegranates are a good source of vitamin C.
WiNTe r
Persimmon trees are not subject to any severe pests or diseases. They require pruning
to prevent the tree from growing too tall or
overproducing. ov erproduction in one year
means a small crop the next year. This condition is called alternate bearing and is found
in most trees. Birds love the brightly colored
orange fruits. sometimes f armers set out near
the ripe fruit shiny flags that m ve in the wind
to frighten the birds away.
should be firm with a slight g ve. a void

mushy, blemished fruit. Persimmons that are
not quite ripe can be kept at room temperature,
then refrigerated as they ripen. Persimmons
are high in antioxidant vitamins a and C. They
are also a good source of fibe .
Pomegranates do not have any severe diseases

but may be subject to scale insects and mealy
bugs. Those pests are controlled by applying
a soap spray on the fruit and growing cover
crops to attract to the orchard beneficial insects
that eat scales and mealy bugs. Pomegranate
trees are also subject to alternate bearing.
Information
When choosing persimmons, look for fruit

with smooth, glossy, bright skin. hachiyas
should feel soft and gelatinous, and Fuyus
Ch a p t e r 6: p e r s i m m o n s & p o m e g r a n a t e s
to that of the pomegranate. The fruits of both

trees are at their peak from fall to early winter.
61
R E C I P E
Persimmon & Pomegranate Salad

Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
30 minutes
None
45 minutes
easy
Background
here is an opportunity for students to taste fresh fruit in a sa vory salad and also become familiar
with two distinctive, yet not widely known fruits. The recipe is a great springboard for developing
new vocabulary around taste, color, and texture. When choosing the fruit for this salad, look for
Fuyu persimmons for their firm, deep orange flesh. do not use hachiya persimmons; t y tend to
be mushy, a texture that does not work well in salads.
Full-fl vored lettuce greens dressed with a tangy vinaigrette set off those sweet fruits very well.
You may want to substitute a head of frise, a type of curly endive.
note: Pomegranate juice stains. Be careful not to get the juice on clothes. Clean juice spills as
quickly as possible.
Objectives

investigate and become familiar with pomegranates and persimmons.
de velop vocabulary describing sensations of touch, sight, and taste.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

2 pomegranates
3 heads of sturdy dark
green lettuces
6 Fuyu persimmons
112 cups pecans (optional)
3 tablespoons red wine
vinegar
3
4 cup olive oil
salt and pepper
62
Materials
For the class:

1 small mixing bowl
1 large mixing bowl
measuring spoons
measuring cups
fork or small whisk
2 serving spoons
salad spinner

2 cutting boards
2 knives
bowl or plate
4 plates
4 forks
4 napkins
journals

3. Wash salad greens and dry in the salad spinner.
Safety Precautions
Preparation
Making the Recipe
1. Give each group one persimmon, a pomegranate, and some greens. Give students time
to examine the produce and write down descriptive words for them in their journals.
2. sho w how to peel and cut persimmons into wedges. explain ho w to cut the pomegranate
in half, place the cut side down, and then tap the back of the fruit with a spoon or fork to
loosen the seeds. ha ve students place the prepared ingredients in their groups bowl or
plate.
4. ask tw o students to measure and pour the oil and vinegar into a small mixing bowl for
the vinaigrette dressing. students whisk the oil and vine gar and add salt and pepper to
taste.
WiNTe r
3. Collect ingredients at the demonstration table and ask students to gather around the table.
ask one student to mix the ingredients in a lar ge mixing bowl.
5. serv e the salad on plates and allow students to taste the salad without vinaigrette, then let
them add the vinaigrette to their own salad to individual taste. ha ve students write words
that describe the tastes. as the y eat, allow students to share words from their journals.
food scraps there.
63
R E C I P E
Persimmon Cake
Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
30 minutes
2 hours
adv anced
Background
This recipe allows students to bake a cake from start to finish. The procedure noted below is written as a class demonstration. ho wever, your class may also enjoy working in groups to bake their
own small cake.
Persimmons come in two major varieties: Fuyu, known for its firm, deep orange flesh, and hach
ya, often described as mushy when sweet enough to eat. For this cake, you will need the hachiya
variety.
Objectives

measure solids and liquids accurately by using cooking measurement tools.
use dif ferent baking utensils.
Ingredients
Materials
For the class:

For a class of 20:
3 medium mixing bowls
2 cups shelled walnuts*
2 9-inch round cake pans
(halves)
or 1 9-inch x 13-inch
6 very ripe hachiya
cake pan
persimmons (about 3 lbs)
measuring cups
flour and oil to coat baking pan
baking tray
6 eggs
oven
1 cup vegetable oil
knife
1 cup white sugar
measuring spoons
1 cup brown sugar
2 large mixing spoons,
4 cups flou
wooden or metal
2 teaspoons ground
cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon allspice
1
8 teaspoon salt
*mak e sure no students are allergic to walnuts.
64

2 small plates or bowls
2 plastic spoons
4 forks
4 plates
4 napkins
cutting boards
journals

4. Place walnuts on the baking tray and toast in the oven at 375F for six minutes.
Safety Precautions
Preparation

Making the Recipe
1. ha ve each group of students cut two persimmons in half. each student in a group will
scoop pulp out of the persimmon peel with a spoon. ha ve students mash the pulp with
forks on cutting boards and place it on the group plate or bowl.
2. Provide an equal amount of walnuts to each group to chop coarsely and place on another
plate.
4. ha ve two students oil and flour the baking pans. h ve other students measure and add
eggs, oil, and sugars into the mixing bowl and thoroughly mix. ask other students to add
the persimmons and mix well.
WiNTe r
3. Gather plates of mashed persimmons and chopped walnuts at the demonstration table.
ha ve students gather around the table.
5. ask three students to measure and add flou , spices, salt, and baking powder into another
mixing bowl. mix well. ha ve yet another pair of students slowly mix the dry ingredients
into the wet ingredients until they are evenly combined. add and mix in the w alnuts.
7. While the students eat, have each group discuss its experience making the recipe.
Questions for discussion: What went well? What did not? What things should you
consider the next time you cook? does the cak e taste the way you thought it would?
food scraps there.
6. Pour the batter into the two pans. Place the pans in the oven for 75 minutes or until a fork
inserted in the cake comes out clean. While waiting for the cake, clean up and let students
write about their experience in making the recipe.
65
A C T I V I T Y
A
Preparation Time:
Total Lesson Time:
Will vary, depending on your situation

Will vary
Background
one of the most important parts of a f armers job is selling or marketing the farm produce. many
farmers employ a number of strategies to sell their produce to a variety of consumers. one that
is beginning to become more popular as consumers become educated about farms is Community
supported agriculture (Csa). Csa depends on a close relationship between consumers and the
farm. Csa members pay in adv ance a seasonal or monthly fee and, in return, receive weekly
shares of the farms harvest. Csa f armers benefit from a guaranteed mar et, and members receive
a diverse supply of fresh, seasonal produce.
another mark eting strategy used by farmers is working with a wholesaler or broker who buys produce from the farmer and then sells it to markets in neighboring towns and cities. many wholesale
relationships are very close because the farmer and the wholesaler both have a need to be successful. a f armer who sells produce through a wholesaler does not receive money for the crop for a
few weeks or sometimes months after it is shipped to the wholesaler.
in this activity, students simulate the third strategythe produce stand. many farmers set up farm
produce stands in a local farmers market or on their property next to a road or highway, where
people can stop and buy fruits and vegetables. although it tak es more work for the farmer, the
produce stand gives the farmer the opportunity to make more money because the sale is direct to
the consumer. For students, the produce stand offers the adult responsibilities of selling and managing money.
a produce stand is ideal for a school with a bountiful g arden. ho wever, schools without gardens
can also have stands with produce donated by local markets or wholesalers or a stand with dried
tomato seeds (from Chapter 2, Tomatoes), harvest garlands (from Chapter 4, Peppers), or
baked goods (such as persimmon cake) made by the students. The produce stand may be open
once a week, once a month, or once a year, depending on the schools situation. many schools
have stands that are open during recess or at lunch.
Objectives

Name the three primary methods of marketing for farmers.
de velop a plan for selling produce (or other goods) at school to other students.
use communication skills with customers.
66
For the class:

2 large folding tables with tablecloths
cash box or toy cash register
4 to 6 chairs for sitting and displaying produce
signs and posters advertising the event
4 to 6 boxes or baskets for display
maps of farms (if using donated produce)
water bowls for washing hands
paper towels for drying hands
compost containers for peels, seeds, etc.

4 copies of dad s ranch
farm profile (optional
Materials
Preparation
1. on the day of the sale, help students set up the stand.

2. after the sale, ha ve a class discussion about how it went, what they would do differently
next time, and what to do with the stand proceeds.
3. encourage students to track the proceeds o ver time to determine the best days, times,
seasons, and crops for the produce stand in the future.
Doing the Activity
WiNTe r
1. Before the sale, check with the school principal for permission to set up the produce
stand and for guidance on policies related to this activity. Plan what the students will sell
(see Background for ideas in addition to produce). if donations are needed, plan ahead to
make necessary arrangements and give recognition to the donating organizations.
2. at least one week before the sale, spend one class period making signs. Lead a student
discussion about what should be included in the signs. The signs should include information such as the time and date of the sale, prices of items to be sold (a quarter is a common
price), and nutritional and agricultural information about the produce.
3. ha ve students research the produce or other merchandise so that they can expertly inform
other students and staff about it. They might find out the name and location of the arm
where the produce was grown, the produces growing requirements, and the specific arieties that will be offered.
4. ha ve students develop and practice specific jobs for the stand, such as a cashier who han
dles the money, a customer educator who explains information about the produce to the
customer, and a produce manager who makes sure the produce is displayed properly.
5. Plan to have two to three adults supervising the students to help them with problems that
might arise during the sale.
6. (optional) ask students to read the dad s ranch f arm profile. ask students to name
some of the strategies dad s ranch uses to sell its produce (for e xample, growing produce
that is in season at different times of the year; looking for customers in places other than
California).
67
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Dads Ranch
While some farms may slow their pace
during the fall months, Dads Ranch in
Fresno, California, keeps busy harvesting
more than 30 acres of pomegranates and
persimmons from late September through
December.
Both persimmons and pomegranates grow

on trees and are fall or winter crops. stan
schlete witz, the dad of dad s ranch, e xplains that having crops year-round helps to
ensure that workers on the farm will have jobs
throughout the year. This means the workers
do not have to look for a second job during the
slow season.
other crops on dad s ranch include grapes,
navel oranges, Valencia oranges, and lemons.
since 1990, dad s ranch has gro wn all its fruit
organically.
stan, who w as born in 1937, has been doing
farm work for as long as he can remember. his
grandfather started farming in Fresno in 1917.
Then stan s father took on the family farm
until he passed away in 1957. at that point,
stan w as in college and came back to take care
of the farm and his younger brothers. Today,
stan s two sons and daughter-in-law run the
farm. We have been farming here for four
generations, says stan.
Growing up on the farm, stan w as one of six
children. all of us had responsibilities, he
recalls. Before we walked to school, we had
to feed the chickens and milk the cows. my
brother and i had our own projects toolike
raising our own rabbits and chickens.
68
When he was young, all stan s neighbors were

farmers, too. When the chores were through,
he and the neighboring children had fun camping, building their own toys, and making up and
performing their own plays. This was before
we had TV, stan remembers, and there w as
always a lot to do. it was a small farming community, but we had lots of kids around.
Today, stan s sons, Craig and rick, are running
the farm. Craig, the younger son, is in charge of
distribution. his job is to mak e sure that there
are buyers for the farms produce. most of the
produce is eventually sold in storesnot just
in California but also throughout the united
states, Canada, and e ven Japan. Craigs wife,
alison, manages the office and does the book
keeping.
stan s older son, rick, left the f arm for a while
to become a chef. he has returned and no w
works as the farm manager, overseeing the
daily operations of the farm.
Now that his sons are taking care of things
on the farm, stan and his wife, Floretta, ha ve
moved into a smaller house in town. stan is
glad to have his sons carrying on the family tradition but adds that he never pressured them to
come back to the farm. i just let them decide
what they wanted to do, and this was it, says
stan.
WiNTe r
An intensively planted California fruit orchard that features a cover crop. Cover crops
are frequently used to increase soil fertility, build up humus, and provide a living mulch.
69
Locations of Farms Profiled

in Late summerF all
1
2
3
4
5
6
FARM
CITY
Full Belly Farm

Eatwell Farm
Apple Farm
Tierra Vegetables
Nakashima Farms
Dads Ranch
Guinda
Winters
Philo
Healdsburg
livingston
Fresno
3
1
saN FraNCisCo
sa CrameNT o
5
FresNo
Los aNGeLes
70
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
Tangerines
73
Chapter 8:
Cooking Greens and Cabbage
82
Chapter 9:
Broccoli and Cauliflower
92
winter
Chapter 10: Carrots
106
Chapter 11: Potatoes
116
Chapter 12: Pears
126
w in t e r
Chapter 7:
SPr in Ge Ar Ly SUMMe r
w in t e r
71
72
Ki d S Co o K FAr M-Fr e Sh Fo o d
C H A P T E R
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
T
T
w in t e r
Ch a p t e r 7: t a n g e r i n e s
w in t e r
73
R E C I P E
Tangerine Popsicles
Preparation t ime:
Cooking t ime:
recipe Le vel:
10 minutes
25 minutes
60 minutes
easy
Background
w ith this recipe, students investigate the different parts of the tangerine: zest, pith, segments,
seeds, and sacs. when b uying tangerines, try to find some that still h ve stems and leaves attached
(farmers markets usually have these tangerines). the stems will assist students in making the
connection that tangerines come from trees.
if making popsicles is too time-consuming or if you do not have a freezer, you can also construct
a simple and effective lesson on the topic of fresh, squeezed juices. Fresh, squeezed juice is a treat
and a wonderful new experience for children who generally drink reconstituted, fortified, or sweet
ened juices. t o teach this lesson, buy the most fl vorful tangerines (or a couple of kinds) that you
can find. h ve the children squeeze the tangerines and taste the juice, then describe it, and perhaps
compare it with other juices they regularly drink.
Objectives

identify and label the different parts of the tangerine fruit.
Show how the addition of a little sugar can heighten the fl vor of tangy fruits.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

20 large or 30 small to
medium tangerines
1
2 cup sugar
*round or flat
74
ut not colored.
Materials
For the class:

2 hand juicers (optional)
3 ice trays
40 toothpicks*
1 box file-folder stic ers
(optional)
plastic wrap
vegetable peeler
1 small saucepan
hot plate
8-cup pitcher
freezer

2 vegetable peelers
2 knives
2 cutting boards
2 spoons
napkins
journals

2. w ash the tangerines thoroughly to remove any wax, dust, or residues.
Safety Precautions

Making the Recipe
1. Show the tangerines to the class. w ith a vegetable peeler, peel off the zest from one of the
tangerines (the zest is the colored part of the peel, but not the white part). t ake the peel off
the tangerine; bend it so that the oil from the peel squirts into the air. encourage students
to smell the fragrant oil when they examine their own tangerines but also tell them that the
oil can sting if it gets in someones eyes. Point out the pith (the white part of the skin just
below the zest) and mention that it has a bitter taste. Separate the segments, which hold the
citrus flesh and seeds in a thin membrane. identify the seeds and the sacs (ti y, individual
pouches where the juice is stored).
3. demonstrate ho w to cut a tangerine in half and juice it into a bowl either by using a hand
juicer or by squeezing it and spooning out any seeds from the juice.
4. Allow students to juice their tangerines, remove any seeds from the juice, and pour the
juice into the small bowl. Ask a student from each group to pour the juice from the small
bowl into the common pitcher. Ask a student in one of the groups to mix 12 cup juice with
the sugar in a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Pour the sweetened juice back into the pitcher and stir.
w in t e r
2. Provide each student group with four tangerines to examine. ha ve students peel a small
section of one tangerine with a vegetable peeler and investigate the zest and the pith.
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
Preparation
5. ha ve one person from each group pour the juice into the three ice trays. Cover the trays
with plastic wrap.
10. Clean up materials. if you have a school or classroom compost or worm bin, place the food
scraps there.
6. Provide each student with two toothpicks and two file-folder stic ers. ha ve students write
their name on the stickers, decorate them, and fold each around one toothpick.
75
7. help students carefully push toothpicks through the plastic wrap into the middle of each
cube. the toothpicks may not stand up straight, b ut you can adjust them later after the juice
is partially frozen.
8. Place the ice trays into the school freezer.
9. Let the juice freeze solid. Usually, you will need to freeze the juice overnight, but if your
school has a good freezer, you can do this recipe in the morning and the popsicles will be
ready for an end-of-the-day snack.
w in t e r
R E C I P E
Candied Tangerine Peels

Preparation t ime:
Cooking t ime:
recipe Le vel:
10 minutes
25 minutes
60 minutes
Advanced
Background
Any tangerine will work for this recipe, but varieties with thick, loose skins are the easiest to
handle. Most markets have the Satsuma, a wonderfully fl vorful variety that has a good peel
for this recipe.
Because citrus fruits have so many layers (the zest, the pith, the membrane of each segment, and
sacs inside the segment), it is fun for students to dissect the tangerines as they make the recipe.
Objectives

identify and label the different parts of the tangerine fruit.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

20 tangerines
2 quarts water
2 cups sugar
76
Materials
For the class:

hot plate
4-quart pot with lid
slotted spoon
2 large plates
bowl
measuring cups

2 peelers
4 napkins
journals

2. w ash tangerines thoroughly because students will be eating the peels.
3. Boil 2 quarts of water in a 4-quart pot.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives and the hot plate. t ake care when removing the candied peels from the pot and be sure to allow the peels to cool before serving and eating.
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
Preparation
Making the Recipe
2. Provide each student group with four tangerines to examine. ha ve students peel the tangerines and investigate the zest and the pith, recording their observations in their journals.
3. Ask students to peel the zest and a little bit of the pith from the skins. this step pre vents the
peeled zest from becoming too fragile to handle. Collect these peels and place them in the
pot of boiling water; reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
w in t e r
1. Show the tangerines to the class. w ith a vegetable peeler, peel off the zest from one of the
tangerines (the zest is the colored part of the peel that is often used for cooking). t ake the
peel off the tangerine and bend it so that the oil from the peel squirts into the air. encourage
students to smell the fragrant oil when they examine their own tangerines but also tell them
that the oil can sting if it gets in someones eyes. Point out the pith (the white part of the
skin just below the zest) and mention that it has a bitter taste. Separate the segments, which
hold the citrus flesh and seeds in a thin membrane. identify the seeds and the sacs (ti y,
individual pouches where the juice is stored).
4. while the peels simmer , have students investigate the other parts of the tangerine: the
sections, the citrus sacs, and the seeds.
5. Allow each student group to draw and label the parts in their journals.
7. ha ve a student add 2 cups of sugar to the water. Stir with the slotted spoon until the sugar
dissolves in the water. Place the peels back into the pot and let them simmer for about
10 minutes on low heat until they become translucent.
8. t ake the pot off the hot plate. ha ve a student use a slotted spoon to remove the peels
from the pot and put them onto the large plates. Ask the class for observations about what
happened to the peels.
9. Allow the peels to cool completely before eating them.
food scraps there.
w in t e r
6. Ask students to gather around the demonstration table to observe the tangerine peels
cooking. w ith the slotted spoon, remove the peels from the pot and set them aside in a
bowl. Measure out 2 cups of the water and discard the rest. Put the 2 cups of water back
in the pot.
77
A C T I V I T Y
Making Compost t ea
Preparation t ime:
Varies
30 to 50 minutes to set up the experiment,
then a few minutes every three to fi e days
for four weeks
Background
in sustainable agriculture different types of compost are used for many reasons. Compost improves
the soil and helps it provide nutrients that plants need. Many farmers apply cow, horse, or chicken
manure or other compost directly onto the soil. other f armers make compost tea by mixing the
compost with water. the y may spray this tea on the soil before planting or during the growing
season as part of the watering routine. (Compost tea is also often sprayed directly on the plants for
several reasons, including disease suppression.) Some farmers do not necessarily use compost as a
fertilizer but as a means of adding microbes, which then cycle nutrients.
in this activity, students will make compost tea and conduct an experiment to find out the e fect of
compost tea on growing plants. the y will use a control plant (with only water) and compare the results with the entire class at the end of the data-gathering period. For safety reasons, do not use fresh
or unsterilized manure. All animal manure is potentially hazardous and may contain E. coli or other
disease-causing pathogens. Use only sterilized or fully composted manure for this activity. Aged
manure is not the same as composted and may contain disease-causing organisms.
Objectives

Make observations about compost or worm castings.
Make compost tea.
describe the results of an e xperiment that compares the effects of compost tea and water on growing plants.
dif ferentiate between opinion and conclusions supported by observations.
Materials
For the class:

waterproof pen
78

copies of Beck Grove farm profil
1 large paper cup (12 oz)
3 cups worm castings or decomposed
(mature) compost from school compost
bin or fully composted or sterilized
chicken manure from nursery
paper towels
4 plants of similar height in pots
2 1-quart jars
journals
plastic measuring cup or other device
for measuring liquids
ruler
Preparation
1. Buy seedlings that are in

season (beans for spring,
tomatoes for summer, carrots
for winter). Set up the plants
in a sunny spot.
2. Using a pencil, poke small
holes in the bottoms of the
paper cups to use cups as
strainers.
3. Buy or collect compost.
2. Show students the compost for making the compost tea and discuss the origin of compost. (if you
have a classroom worm box or school yard compost bin, students should easily be able to make the
connection between lunch scraps and compost. help them understand that compost is nutrient-rich
material consisting of decomposed leaves, peels, or other organic matter.)
3. Ask students how they might be able to test whether compost tea helps plants grow and how they
will distinguish evidence from opinion. explain to them that the y will make compost tea and that
they will compare what happens when they apply compost tea to some plants and plain water to
other plants.
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
Doing the Activity

1. As a class read the Beck Grove farm profile. Ask students what they understand about biodynamic
farming. introduce the activity by explaining that compost tea is one of the preparations used in
biodynamic farming.
4. Give each group a handful of worm castings, compost, or fully composted or sterilized chicken
manure on a paper towel. Students examine the compost and then make drawings and write
descriptions about the compost in their journals.
6. Give each group the materials to make compost tea. After making the tea, students record in their
journals their observations about the tea.
w in t e r
5. demonstrate ho w to make compost tea: Place compost in the one-quart jar and fill with ater.
Cover and let stand overnight. ha ve the students fill their wn containers in the same way. explain
how letting the mixture stand will allow more nutrients in the compost to enter the water. the following day, demonstrate how to filter the solution. Place a paper t wel inside the paper cup that has
been perforated and set the cup into the neck of the empty jar, pouring the solution slowly into the
cup. Ask the students to take care not to pour too much of the solids into the cup and to pour slowly
to avoid overfl wing.
7. Ask the class to predict which plants will grow more: the three that are watered with compost tea
or the one watered with plain water. ha ve students record their predictions and the reasons for
these predictions in their journals.
9. ha ve the students help design and make a class chart for recording the height and number of leaves
for each plant. Set a schedule to make observations about once every three to fi e days.
10. After each observation session, discuss with the students some of their observations. Continue
the investigation for about four weeks. Compare the results with the entire class at the end of the
data-gathering period.
11. At the end of the investigation, have students compare the results with their original predictions.
the y can organize their results into charts, graphs, or diagrams and present their findings to the
class. discuss ho w the data allowed them to make their conclusions and the difference between
a conclusion based on data and one based on unsupported opinion.
12. (optional) when the plants are lar ge enough, transplant them into the school garden and continue to
monitor them until they are ready to harvest.
w in t e r
8. ha ve students examine their groups four seedlings and record their observations. Students may
make many different observations, but make sure they record the height of the seedlings and the
number of leaves on each plant. ha ve each student in the group measure the height and have the
group agree on the correct measurement. discuss the idea of ho w repeated measurements increase
the chances of accuracy. ha ve students use a waterproof pen to label one plant water and the
other three tea. Students will water or tea each plant when needed. Make sure students understand that the four plants should get the same amount of water or tea by using the measuring cup.
79
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Beck Grove
It is 5:30 a.m. at Beck Grove, a 33-acre
farm in Southern California. While most of
California is fast asleep, Helene and Robert
Beck are up and ready to start their day.
At this early hour, the Becks are making sure

that they have buyers for their produce. w ere
making phone calls, taking sales orders, passing
out picking lists, and seeing that the fruit gets to
market, explains helene.
the main crops at Beck Gro ve are citrus fruits.
w eve got Minneola tangerines, blood oranges,
navels, kumquats, limes, and Meyer lemons,
says helene. in addition to all this citrus fruit,
80
the Becks also grow persimmons, Asian pears,

and lemongrass.
of all of their fruit crops, helene claims the
tangerines are the sweetest. the Becks ha ve
almost 400 Satsuma tangerine trees yielding
30,000 pounds of fruit each year. the Becks
have little trouble finding uyers for their tangerines, which are sold at markets all
over the country.
Customers, robert says, often ask for Beck
tangerines by name. it kind of gives you a nice
glow, he adds.
t angerine trees are slow growing, robert

explains. this means that he has had to do
almost no pruning (cutting back the branches)
and that harvesting the fruit is easy. the
branches are so low that i dont even need to
use a ladder to pick them, says the grower.
in the years since 1983, when the Becks
bought their farm, they have seen the surrounding countryside change. Many neighboring farms have been sold and divided into
residential lots. where once there w as farmland, now there are houses. Pretty soon well
be an island, says helene of their gro ve.
its disappointing, but it isnt going to
change what we do. w e will continue on.
w in t e r
Actually, the Becks practice a special type of

organic farming called biodynamics, which
is based on the writings of a German scientist, rudolph Steiner , who wrote during the
early part of the twentieth century. Farmers
who practice biodynamics make up so-called
preparations, which are special mixes of such
things as cow manure, cow horns, nettles, and
other natural ingredients. these preparations
are applied to the soil at specific times and on
specific days, determined by the phases of the
moon. Planting is also done according to this
special timetable.
Few farmers in the United States practice

biodynamics; robert estimates that there are
no more than 20. when ask ed if farming this
way is a lot of work, robert laughs and
replies, w ell, the trees do a big part of the
work for us.
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
one thing that attracts customers to the Becks

tangerines is the fact that they are organic.
Beck Grove is certified o ganic, which means
that a third party has inspected the grove and
found that only organic farming practices are
used. therefore, all the fruit has a label that
assures buyers that the fruit is grown in accord
with the U.S. department of Agriculture regulations defining o ganic practices.
w in t e r
81
C H A P T E R
Cooking Greens
& Cabbage
Cooking greens (sometimes called braising
greens) are dark green, leafy vegetables, also

called cole crops, that can be eaten fresh but are
generally cooked. Many of them have strong,
assertive fl vors and tough, fibrous le ves.
Cooking the greens helps to break down their
structure, making them tender and delicious.
Braising refers to a cooking method in which
tough cuts of meat or vegetables are nearly
covered in liquid and then slowly simmered
until tender. one e xample of a braised green is
the southern dish of collards with ham hocks.
82
though spinach is the most well-kno wn green,

other greens are having a resurgence in popularity, including kale, chard, collards, and green
cabbage.
Spinach was domesticated about 2,000 years
ago in iran. By 1,000 years ago, spinach was
introduced to southern europe. Spinach contains
oxalic acid, a compound that inhibits calcium
and iron absorption in the human body and also
gives the green its slightly bitter taste. oxalic
acid, however, does not significantly diminish
Most other cooking greens, including kale,

collards, and cabbages, are members of the
botanical family Brassicacae (also called Cruciferae). these plants are almost al ways eaten
cooked because they are spicy when eaten raw.
this spiciness is caused by the same chemical
found in the mustard plant, also a member of
this family. t able mustard is made from the
ground seeds of this plant.
Cooking greens can be grown year-round in

moderate climates but are generally thought
of as winter vegetables; they enhance soups,
stews, braised meat, and other winter dishes.
Cooking greens, especially kale, do well in
most soils. Collards prefer a very fertile soil
enriched with rotted manure, while cabbage
likes any soil type as long as there is adequate
moisture and it is fertilized with composted
manure or other soil amendments. Spinach is a
cool-weather crop, requiring well-drained and
mulched soil with lots of moisture.
Cooking greens are susceptible to a number
of insect pests, the most common being flea
beetles and aphids, which may be removed by
spraying the vegetables with a hose. diseases
common to greens include clubroot and blackleg, which are fungi. Greens in the cabbage
family are also susceptible to cabbage worms,
which are controlled with a Bt spray. Farmers
add limestone to the soil to deter these diseases; vigilant mulching and composting will
help as a preventive measure.
Most greens are harvested by individual
leaves, which are cut from the plant, allowing
new leaves to sprout. Cabbage is harvested by
cutting the whole head.

Information
Choose greens that have good color for their

type and leaves that are crisp and stiff to the
touch. Cabbage should feel heavy for its size
Cabbages form heads in a variety of shapes,
and have tightly wrapped leaves unless it is
including flat, conical, and round. the green
the Savoy or napa type. Greens are high in
cabbage is composed of heavy, tightly wrapped vitamins A and C. Spinach is also high in
leaf bundles, while some varieties, such as the folate and iron and is a good source of fibe .
Savoy and napa (or Chinese) cabbages ha ve
Cabbage is high in vitamin C.
elongated heads with intricate, lacy leaves.
Ch a p t e r 8: Co o k i n g g r e e n s & Ca b b a g e
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Collards are another member of the crucifer

family. Long a traditional staple in the southern United States, they require long, slow
cooking. their hardy constitution mak es them
better able to withstand intense summer heat
than can most other cooking greens. Collards
closely resemble wild cabbage, which is still
found throughout europe. their lea ves are
similar to those of cabbage, but they do not
form heads.
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Kale, also known as borecole, is a member

of the crucifer (cabbage) family. it is an old
crop, but its exact date of domestication is
uncertain, anywhere from hundreds to thousands of years b.c. it is eaten only as a cooked
vegetable. it is popular in the northern european diet because it can remain fresh and good to
eat while there is snow on the ground. As with
all dark, leafy greens, it is a nutritional powerhouse. red russian is one of the more
popular varieties.
Cabbage comes from the French word caboche, meaning head.
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
spinachs nutritional benefits. Ma y varieties

are available, including Bloomsdale Savoy
Long Standing, a ruffled spinach with dis
tinctive, curly leaves, and King denmark, a
smooth-leaf variety.
83
R E C I P E
Braised Collards with Bacon

Preparation t ime:
Cooking t ime:
recipe Le vel:
20 minutes
10 minutes
60 minutes
Advanced
Background
Collards came to the United States when Africans brought collard seeds with them and grew them
in their gardens for food. Collards were an important source of vitamins and minerals for Africans
enslaved in the southern United States. these greens gre w year-round because they adapted well
to the climate. Africans added ham, when it was available, to enhance the fl vor and the nutritional
quality.
Because collards have such large leaves, students can examine them in great detail. Students can
dissect the leaves and identify the veins that transport nutrients to and from the leaf; the cuticle,
which is the waxy, waterproof outer layer of the leaf; and the epidermis, which is the green
under-layer of the leaf.
Objectives

observ e and describe the patterns and parts of the collard leaves.
describe the origins of collards as a staple food in the early history of the United States.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

3 large bunches collards
6 slices bacon*
2 teaspoons salt
water
* if students have dietary restrictions against eating

pork, replace with 6 tablespoons olive oil.
84
Materials
For the class:

knife
cutting board
hot plate
large, heavy-bottomed pot
(8-quart)
plates
paper towel
spatula
forks
napkins
journals
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
Preparation

2. Separate collards into fi e equal portions, one for each student group.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using the hot plate.

Making Braised Collards with Bacon
1. Give each group its portion of collards. ha ve students observe the collard leaves and
write their observations in their journals (see Background).
2. ha ve students gently wash the collard leaves, shake off the excess water, and place the
collards on the plates. Cut the collard leaves lengthwise into 2-inch pieces.
3. Collect the plates of collards. At the demonstration table, cut the bacon into half-inch
pieces. introduce the origin of this recipe (see Background). Ask students to name other
recipes that may have significance in their amilies.
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4. Cook the bacon in the pot over medium heat. once the bacon be gins to sizzle, turn it.
when the bacon is cook ed but not crispy, have another student add the collards and a cup
of water. t urn the heat down to low. Add salt and cook covered for about 15 minutes,
depending on the thickness of the collards. Check periodically and add a few tablespoons
of water as necessary to maintain a little braising liquid.
5. remo ve the pot from the hot plate when the collard leaves are completely tender. Serve
on plates.
6. while students eat, continue a discussion about the cultural significance of collards
food scraps there.
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85
R E C I P E
Kale & Potato Soup

Preparation t ime:
Cooking t ime:
recipe Le vel:
20 minutes
45 minutes
Advanced
Background
one of the heartiest greens, kale gro ws well in winter because it can survive snow and frost in the
harshest climates. Kale is popular all over northern europe, especially in russia, for this reason.
in this recipe the kales pungent fl vor marries well with the sweetness of waxy potatoes, such
as y ellow Finn and y ukon Gold. Such potatoes are often labeled boiling potatoes in retail food
stores. when you select potatoes for this soup, stay a way from the starchy potatoes, such as
russet, because the y will fall apart in the soup.
there are man y different varieties of kale, including dinosaur Kale (named for its ribbed leaf te xture) and red russian, which v ary greatly in texture and taste. if possible, look for different kale
varieties at the farmers market or supermarket and use them to illustrate the diversity within crops.
this recipe is adapted from a traditional Portuguese dish. the most traditional v ersions include
slices of spicy sausage, such as linguia.
Objectives

w ork in collaborative groups to make a recipe.
read and discuss ho w one farm grows greens.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

3 bunches kale
3 onions
3 lbs potatoes
15 cloves garlic
3 sprigs thyme
1 bay leaf
3 quarts vegetable stock,
low-sodium chicken stock,
or water
1 to 2 teaspoons salt
1
2 teaspoon dried red pepper
fla es (optional)
86
Materials
For the class:

hot plate
colander
measuring spoons and cups
ladle
large spoon
vegetable peeler

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 peelers
4 bowls
4 spoons
4 plates
4 napkins
copies of Green Gulch
farm profil
journals

2. Separate the kale, onions, potatoes, and garlic into fi e equal portions, one for each student
group.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives and the hot plate. when serving the soup, mak e
sure that it is not burning hot.
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
Preparation
Making the Recipe
2. Give each group its equally divided portion of kale, onions, potatoes, and garlic to prepare.
ha ve groups place their ingredients on separate plates.
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1. demonstrate ho w to peel and slice an onion by cutting it in half, turning the flat side d wn,
and slicing. demonstrate ho w to wash and chop the kale. demonstrate ho w to peel and cut
a potato into 14-inch cubes by cutting it in half, turning the flat side d wn, slicing, then cubing. demonstrate ho w to smash garlic. t o chop it finel , separate the cloves of garlic. Place
the garlic clove (with its skin intact) on the cutting board, lay the flat side of the knife blade
on the clove, and smash the blade with your fist. this action will break open the g arlic skin,
making it easy to remove. Mince the garlic by cutting it first one ay and then the other in
a repetitive motion.
3. Collect the plates and place them on the demonstration table. ha ve students gather around
the demonstration table.
4. heat the oil in a pot o ver medium heat. Ask one student to add the onions and 1 teaspoon
salt.
5. Stir and cook for 5 minutes until the onions are soft.
7. Stir in the kale, then cover with water or vegetable stock. Bring to a boil and let the soup
simmer for 30 minutes. t aste for salt. Meanwhile, read or have students read the Green
Gulch farm profile and lead a discussion about l ving on a farm such as Green Gulch.
8. when the soup is ready , take out the bay leaf and the thyme before serving the soup in the
bowls. while students eat, discuss w ords that describe the different fl vors in the dish. the y
can write these words in their journals.
scraps there.
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6. Add the potatoes, garlic, (optional) red pepper fla es, thyme sprigs, and bay leaf. Cook for
another 5 minutes.
87
A C T I V I T Y
Frozen, Canned, or Fresh:

which do y ou Prefer?
Preparation t ime:
10 minutes
one to tw o hours,
depending on class
Background
in this activity, students design an experiment; carry it out; and report on the differences between
frozen, canned, and fresh spinach. this acti vity can serve as a basic outline for a teacher or student
who wishes to perform a more thorough examination of the same food preserved and fresh. the
activity is designed to explore taste preferences rather than nutritional content.
Objectives

design an e xperiment to compare the fl vors and textures of spinach.
explain the dif ferences by using charts and graphs during their group presentation.
decide from their findings whether th y prefer frozen, canned, or fresh spinach.
Materials
For the class:

3 frozen packages spinach
3 cans spinach
3 bunches fresh spinach
journals
3 medium-sized pots
hot plate
water
forks
plates
napkins
88
1. Cook or heat up the three kinds of spinach. the fresh spinach should be well w ashed,
drained, and cooked in the residual moisture.
2. di vide spinach so that each student group has an equal share of frozen, canned, and fresh
spinach.
Doing the Activity
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
Preparation
1. Show students a frozen package of spinach, a can of spinach, and a bunch of fresh
spinach. explain that each group will design an e xperiment that will examine the visual
appearance, taste, texture, and smell of frozen, canned, and fresh spinach.
2. As a class, discuss possible methods of observing and recording the different features of
the spinach. As students make suggestions, write them on the board so that they can see
various methods for designing their experiment.
4. Give each student group its share of the three kinds of spinach. remind students that the y
need to set up a plan to investigate the spinach before handling it.
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3. Set clear objectives for the experiments, such as teacher approval of experimental design
and recording methods; time limits for examination; and organization of the data, such as
graphs or charts for presentation.
5. ha ve students present their plan (it should have between 3 and 5 steps) to you for approval. this is a good time to raise an y problems you foresee with a given proposal. if needed,
let students revise their plan.
6. Allow 20 to 30 minutes for students to conduct their experiments and record their
observations.
8. After the discussion, allow groups time to create graphs, charts, or other materials for
making a brief presentation to the class. Make sure groups plan how each group member
will participate in the presentation.
9. Provide time for groups to practice their presentation. Give each group one to two
minutes to present its findings
10. Clean up materials and compost the spinach if compost is available.
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7. Ask students what conclusions they can make based on the information they gathered.
At this time, it may be important to discuss with the class different ways to present the
information.
89
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Green Gulch Farm

Meditation is a way of quieting the mind,
says emila heller , who lives and works at
Green Gulch. For most people, this means
sitting in silence, focusing on breathing and
clearing away all their thoughts and worries.
Meditation is a spiritual practice of Zen
Buddhism, a religion that was founded on
the teachings of Buddha, who lived in india
over 2,000 years ago.
this is a unique place where we li ve together,
meditate together, study Buddhism together,
and work on the farm together, says emila.
emila notes that f arming is not the main purpose of Green Gulch, but it is an integral and
important part of life there. Many of the people
who come to live and study at Green Gulch
have never worked on a farm before, so this is
a totally new experience for them.
Just north of San Francisco along the

California coast, Route 1 winds its way past
beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and lush
green hills. One of the most stunning sights
along the way is a small farm nestled in a
valley. This farm, called Green Gulch, is also
a center where people come to meditate
and study Zen Buddhism.
90
w e get up at 4 oclock in the morning and

we sit in meditation until 7 oclock. then we
work on the farm until noon. After lunch we
go back out to work for the rest of the afternoon, says emila. in the e vening, there are
classes on Buddhism. Green Gulch also offers
lectures and farm activities for visitors, including classes on gardening, composting, bread
making, crafts, writing, and the study of plants
and wildlife on the farm.
the most f amiliar cooking greens are spinach,

kale, collards, and chard. All these greens may
be found all year long at Green Gulch.
Green Gulch also hosts field trips, often from

city schools with many students who have
never been to a farm before. w e give classes
a tour of the farm, and they get to do some
harvesting, explains emila. Because Green
Gulch farm is close to San Francisco, it gets
many requests for field trips. Schools are
asked to make reservations well in advance
of when they want to visit.
one type of harv esting is called gleaning.
After the main harvest, there are usually some
leftover vegetables in the fields. Gleaning
means picking these vegetables so they do
not go to waste. Green Gulch donates these
vegetables to a soup kitchen. By helping with
the gleaning, kids visiting the farm help feed
people who are hungry.
Sometimes the workers at Green Gulch will

make a compost tea by mixing compost with
water and letting it sit a while. (See also the
compost tea activity in Chapter 7.) w orkers
carry spray bottles of this tea in backpacks.
w earing the backpack, a worker will walk
through the fields, spraying the compost tea
on plants. this strengthens the lea ves and
the roots to help the plant fight o f pests and
diseases.
Some of the produce goes to local restaurants.

what is left goes to some of the f arms neighbors and a few markets.
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while the weather f avors the growing of these

crops, there are sometimes problems with
pests, such as flea beetles, eating the tender
leaves of young plants. emila e xplains that
the best way to protect the plants is to make
them healthy and vigorous. this task is accomplished at Green Gulch by applying to the soil
an organic compost high in nutrients.
Most of the cooking greens and other vegetables grown at Green Gulch are used to feed
people on the farm, both the residents and the
many visitors who come out for a day. the
farm feeds anywhere from 60 to 200 people
each day.
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
Because Green Gulch is on the Pacific coast,

the weather is usually cool and often foggy.
this means that cool-season cropsthose
that usually grow in the winter in Californias
Central Valleydo very well at Green Gulch
in the summer. one such crop is cooking
greens. Cooking greens look a bit like salad
greens, such as lettuce, but they are much
tougher and usually taste best when they are
cooked. only when the y are very young with
small leaves are they tender enough to mix
into a salad.
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91
C H A P T E R
Broccoli & Caulifl wer

Broccoli and caulifl wer are both in the cru-
ciferous family of plants, also called cole crops.

originally from the northern Mediterranean
countries of France, italy, and Greece, broccoli
and caulifl wer grow best in moderate climates.
Most of the broccoli and caulifl wer eaten in
the United States are grown on the southern part
of the Central Valley in winter and in Monterey
County year-round. Both broccoli and caulifl wer come to market with few leaves and a prominent head of fl wers.
Broccoli grows with its leaves spread out to
catch the suns rays and develop the plants
chlorophyll. A common type of broccoli has
large inflorescences (clusters of tightly pac ed
fl wers) that are often very big (up to six
92
inches wide). Broccoli raab (broccoli rabe) is

another type that has smaller inflorescences
and thinner stems. the fl vor is slightly
stronger. romanesco broccoli is a beautiful,
geometrically shaped broccoli with pointed,
spiral clusters on its inflorescence, a lighter
green color, and a fl vor similar to that of
caulifl wer. the lea ves of broccoli are also
edible and tasty and resemble collard greens.
Caulifl wer is another vegetable that has a
big inflorescence, called curds, or head.
Caulifl wer curds are a pale color. As the
plant grows, its big leaves shield the head of
the caulifl wer from the sun. Compared with
broccoli, caulifl wer has hardly any stem.
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
there are more than 40 v arieties of caulifl wer, most of which are defined by their
varying leaf patterns. School gardeners should
select varieties with large leaves that will
provide adequate sun protection. Caulifl wer
seeds or transplants can be planted directly
into the garden. t ie the leaves with string.
in foggy coastal climates, broccoli and caulifl wer grow year-round, but in most other
parts of the state they are winter vegetables.
depending on the v ariety, they will grow well
in fall or spring, producing a stronger fl vor
that not everyone likes.
Ch a p t e r 9: b r o CCo l i & Ca u l i f l o w e r
when choosing broccoli, look for heads that

are a deep, green color with tight buds. Avoid
limp heads or those with open or yellowing
buds. Broccoli can be stored in an airtight
plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to four
days. the plants are nutritional po werhouses
high in vitamins A and C and a good source
of fiber and folate
Caulifl wer heads should feel heavy for their
size and have tight, compact curds that are a
creamy white color. Storage is the same as
for broccoli. Caulifl wer is high in vitamin C
and is a good source of fibe .
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Caulifl wer needs a deep-dug, loose, highnitrogen soil. the nitrogen helps to de velop
the heads. A deficien y of nitrogen will result
in yellow, stunted, dead leaves. Composted
manure is a source of nitrogen. Caulifl wer
should be harvested when the heads are six
inches in diameter and the curds are still compact. when the curds ha ve already begun to
separate, the plant is past its harvesting date.
Broccoli and caulifl wer are susceptible to
various insect pests, including aphids, cabbage
maggots, cabbage worm, slugs and snails,

Information
w in t e r
Broccoli requires a moderately rich, welldrained soil with lots of moisture. After the
main head has been cut from sprouting varieties, side shoots will continue to form heads
and provide a steady harvest. For maximum
fl vor, broccoli should be harvested before
the fl wer buds begin to expand and bloom.
Broccoli raab, however, is often sold after the
fl wer buds have opened.
and a disease known as clubroot. Pests may

be removed by hand or by spraying with a
hose. Adding limestone to the soil can prevent
clubroot.
93
R E C I P E
Broccoli Italian Style

Preparation t ime:
Cooking t ime:
recipe Le vel:
20 minutes
15 minutes
60 minutes
Advanced
Background
this recipe reminds one of broccoli s italian origins. All the spices and herbs in this recipe complement the taste of broccoli to make it even more delicious. when preparing recipes with broccoli or
any of the plants from the cabbage family, be careful not to overcook it. A sure sign of overcooked
broccoli is a distinct, sour odor caused by the release of sulfur compounds.
in this activity allow plenty of time for the students to examine the broccoli while they break it
apart. ha ve students identify parts (stem, leaf, and fl wer). y ou may want to have them write down
observations as they prepare the recipe.
Objectives

describe, dra w, and label the stem, fl wer, and leaf of a broccoli plant.
Understand that the most edible part of broccoli is its fl wer.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

412 lbs broccoli
with leaves attached
6 to 8 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon chopped,
fresh oregano, marjoram,
or thyme
water
2 teaspoons salt
1
2 cup olive oil
2 lemons
94
Materials
For the class:

hot plate
8-quart pot
colander
large skillet
wooden spoon
measuring spoons
cutting board
slotted spoon

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 peelers
4 napkins
4 plates
journals

2. Separate the broccoli, garlic, and oregano into fi e equal portions, one for each student
group.
3. Fill the pot halfway with water. Add 1 teaspoon salt and set to boil while students are
making observations of the broccoli.
Safety Precautions
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
Preparation
re view safety precautions for using knives and the hot plate. Use caution when adding
ingredients to the hot oil as it can splatter and burn.
Making the Recipe
1. Provide each group a set of materials and a portion of the broccoli, garlic, and oregano.
3. Collect the broccoli and place it into the salted boiling water for three to four minutes or
until crisp-tender. Scoop out the broccoli and set it aside on a plate.
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2. demonstrate ho w to trim the stem from the head, peel the stem, and cut it into half-inch
slices. demonstrate breaking the head into florets. demonstrate peeling and chopping
garlic and chopping the oregano. ha ve students prepare the ingredients and arrange them
neatly on the plates.
4. Collect plates of chopped garlic and oregano and place them on the demonstration table
next to the skillet and the hot plate. ha ve students gather around the demonstration table.
5. heat the oil in the skillet. Ask a student to scrape the garlic into the skillet. when the
garlic begins to sizzle, have another student add the broccoli, 1 teaspoon salt, and the
oregano. Stir ingredients for another three to four minutes.
7. while students eat, discuss other types of fl wers that people eat.
food scraps there.
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6. t ake the skillet off the hot plate. Stir the broccoli as two students squeeze lemon halves
onto the broccoli. Serve on plates.
95
R E C I P E
Cauliflower with Cheese Sauce

Preparation t ime:
Cooking t ime:
recipe Le vel:
20 minutes
15 minutes
60 minutes
easy
Background
this recipe is a nutritious and delicious v ersion of macaroni and cheese, a favorite of many children. y ou can make different versions with broccoli or a combination of both broccoli and caulifl wer instead of just caulifl wer. y ou may also expand the recipe to a main dish by combining
it with a pound of pasta (cooked) and doubling the recipe for the sauce. Students can dissect the
caulifl wer to discover the stems, leaves, and fl wer. if you buy caulifl wer at the farmers market,
it will usually come with its leaves still covering the fl wer, shading it from the sun.
while preparing this dish, you may w ant to draw attention to the cooking process of the butter,
flou , milk, and cheese. Students are always fascinated when watching transformations.
Objectives

Understand that they are eating the fl wer part of caulifl wer.
observ e and describe the transformation process of making the sauce.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

3 medium heads caulifl wer
4 cups milk
4 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons flou
112 teaspoons salt
1 lb cheddar cheese
pepper
96
Materials
For the class:

hot plate
large, 6-quart pot
colander
2-quart pot
large skillet
measuring spoons
and cups
wooden spoon
3 cheese graters
whisk

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 plates
4 napkins
4 forks
journals

2. Separate caulifl wer into fi e equal portions, one for each student group.
3. Begin to boil water while students are making caulifl wer observations. Add 1 teaspoon
salt to the water.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives and the hot plate.
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
Preparation
Making the Recipe
1. Give each group a set of materials and a portion of the caulifl wer.
2. demonstrate ho w to trim the stem from the head and break the head into florets. h ve
students prepare caulifl wer florets and arrange them neatly on plates. h ve students
gather around the demonstration table.
4. Ask two students to measure out 4 tablespoons butter, 5 tablespoons flou , and 4 cups
milk. while the y measure out the butter, flou , and milk, ask three other students to grate
the cheese.
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3. Collect the caulifl wer and place it into the salted boiling water for 5 minutes or until
tender. when it is done, drain the caulifl wer in a colander and set it on the demonstration
table.
5. Make the sauce. w arm the milk in the 2-quart pot. Melt the butter in the large skillet over
medium heat. whisk in the flour and 12 teaspoon salt. no w slowly whisk in the warmed
milk. Ask students to make predictions about what will happen to the sauce as it cooks.
7. when the cheese is thoroughly melted, serv e the caulifl wer and cheese sauce on plates.
while students eat, re view the cooking process with the class.
8. Clean up materials and compost food scraps.
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6. once the sauce has thick ened and is smooth, slowly add the cheese while stirring
constantly. Ask students what role stirring plays in the cooking process. Add ground
pepper, if desired.
97
R E C I P E
Spiced Broccoli & Cauliflower

Preparation t ime:
Cooking t ime:
recipe Le vel:
20 minutes
15 minutes
1 hour
Advanced
Background
this recipe is inspired by indian cuisine and is a great opportunity to lead a discussion about ethnic
dishes. t ie this lesson together with a history or geography lesson, using a world map to show
where india is located and discussing various spices commonly used in indian dishes, such as
ginger, cumin, and mustard seed. discuss other ethnic foods the students ha ve eaten. Find the
places on the map where those foods originated.
the spices needed for this dish can be found in most grocery stores. the spices, when mix ed
together at medium heat, combine to give the broccoli and caulifl wer a unique, spicy fl vor.
in this activity, allow plenty of time for students to compare broccoli and caulifl wer as they break
them apart. y ou may want students to record their observations in their journals while they observe
different parts of the produce. while cooking, discuss with students some of the dif ferences of
garlic, broccoli and caulifl wer, cumin and mustard seeds, peppers, ginger, and cilantro. ha ve
students try to identify which ingredients represent different plant parts.
Objectives

describe, dra w, and label the stem, fl wer, and leaf of broccoli and caulifl wer plants.
Understand that the most edible part of broccoli and caulifl wer plants is the fl wer.
Ingredients
Materials
For a class of 20:

For the class:
3 lbs each of broccoli and caulifl wer
2 hot plates
3
4 bunch cilantro
2 small mixing bowls
6 garlic cloves
colander
1
2 cup vegetable oil
measuring spoons
2 teaspoons salt
wooden spoon
3 dried chili peppers (optional)
2 12-inch skillets
112 teaspoons mustard seeds
cutting board
1
1 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
knife
1 medium knob ginger root (about 1 inch
by 1 inch)
1
1 2 teaspoons black onion seeds
(nigella) (optional)
2 lemons
98

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 peelers
4 napkins
4 forks
4 plates
journals

2. Separate the broccoli, caulifl wer, cilantro, and garlic into fi e equal portions, one for each
student group.
Safety Precautions
Making the Recipe
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
Preparation
1. Provide each group of students with materials and ingredients.

2. demonstrate ho w to trim the stem from the head of the broccoli, peel the stem if it is tough,
and cut it into eighth-inch slices. demonstrate breaking the heads of the broccoli and the
caulifl wer into small florets. demonstrate peeling and chopping the arlic and chopping
the cilantro. ha ve students prepare the ingredients and place them neatly on plates.
4. heat oil in the skillets o ver medium heat. di vide the piles of ingredients equally for the two
skillets. Add all the spices and seasonings to the oil in the two skillets. Add the caulifl wer
and cook for 3 or 4 minutes and then the broccoli, which takes a little less time to cook.
Add 12 cup water.
w in t e r
3. Collect plates of broccoli and caulifl wer and place them on the demonstration table.
Collect plates of chopped garlic and cilantro and place them on the demonstration table
next to the skillet and the hot plate. ha ve students gather around the demonstration table.
5. Cook on low heat and stir the ingredients for another 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Note: Keep ingredients at a temperature at which everything is cooking but not burning.
scraps there.
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6. t ake the skillet off the hot plate. t op with cilantro and serve the vegetables on plates. Cut
the lemons in half and pass around to squeeze onto vegetables. while students eat, discuss
words that describe the different fl vors in the dish.
99
A C T I V I T Y
Calculating Farm Profit or Loss

Preparation t ime:
10 minutes
40 to 50 minutes
Background
At the end of each season, farmers calculate how much money they made from each crop. the y
do this by subtracting how much it cost them to grow and harvest the crop (total expenses) from
how much money they received for selling the crop (gross income). when a f armer sells to a
wholesaler or to a broker, that mark-up will have to be subtracted as well. when f armers receive
more money for selling their crop than it costs them to grow and harvest it, they make a profit.
when f armers receive less money for selling their crop than it costs them to grow and harvest it,
they lose money.
this acti vity looks at the costs involved in growing broccoli. the price of broccoli fluctuates.
when prices are lo w, many farmers choose not to grow it because they do not want to lose
money.
Objectives

Understand the words expense, gross income, profit and loss.
Understand how to calculate farm costs and profits
Materials
For the class:

Broccoli Balance Sheet student page
Coke Farm farm profil
red pencils or crayons
100
Make copies of the student page and farm profile

Doing the Activity
1. read the Cok e Farm farm profile and discuss with the class the steps i volved in growing
and harvesting broccoli.
2. explain to students that the y will explore how much money a farmer can make off one acre
of broccoli. explain that the y will analyze profit in terms of arious prices that the farmers
might receive for the broccoli. Point out that the figures are based upon 20-pound bo es of
broccoli.
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
Preparation
3. Ask students what factors might affect the number of boxes that might be harvested from
a particular plot of land (factors may include weather, soil fertility, water, healthiness of the
transplants, and how well pests are under control).
4. Provide each student group with copies of the student page. ha ve them calculate the income
per acre of broccoli with different prices and yields.
w in t e r
5. discuss with students the process of broccoli production and the dif ferent kinds of expenses
involved. discuss b uying transplants or seed, paying labor costs, and renting land and have
the students think about other costs the farmer must assume. explain that o verhead costs are
the general expenses involved in running a farm, such as insurance, office costs, purchase
of new equipment, irrigation systems, rent of the land, labor costs, energy costs, and so on.
Point out that production expenses are the same no matter how much broccoli is harvested,
whereas harvesting expenses vary with the amount harvested.
6. ha ve students calculate the production expenses, harvesting expenses, and total expenses
for each column.
8. As a challenge, have students figure out the xact amount farmers must charge in order to
break even by dividing the total expenses by the number of boxes.
9. Note: interested students can also calculate the cost per pound when the farmer sells the
broccoli. if they assume a 50 percent mark-up by the time it is sold in the store, how much
does it cost consumers per pound?
w in t e r
7. ha ve students then calculate the amount of money the farmer gains or loses for each particular situation by subtracting the total expenses from the gross income. if the total expenses
are more than the gross income, the result will be a loss; have students write or color losses
in red. if the total expenses are less than the gross income, the result will be a profit; h ve
students write the profits in black. (Losses are written in parentheses on the teacher answer
page.)
101
Broccoli Balance Sheet

Student Page
Gross Income per Acre of Broccoli
(From sale of broccoli to wholesaler or market)

Gross income at $10 per box
Expenses per Acre of Broccoli
production expenses
Lease per year
Broccoli transplants (40,000 transplants)
Compost and fertilizer
w ater
Machinery: t ractor, etc.
Labor:
Pre-planting
Planting
w eeding
ov erhead (general farm expenses shared over all crops)
t otal production expenses
har vesting expenses
w ax boxes ($1 per box)
Cooling and storage ($2 per box)
Labor:
harv esting ($1 per box)
Sales commission ($1 per box)
t otal har vesting expenses
400 boxes
500 boxes
600 boxes
400 boxes
500 boxes
600 boxes
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
600
800
200
200
200
600
800
200
200
200
600
800
200
200
200
$ 100
$ 500
$ 200
$ 1,000
$ 100
$ 500
$ 200
$ 1,000
$ 100
$ 500
$ 200
$ 1,000
$ 400
$ 800
$ 500
$ 1,000
$ 600
$ 1,200
$ 400
$ 400
$ 500
$ 500
$ 600
$ 600
400 boxes
500 boxes
600 boxes
Total Expenses per Acre

Projected Profit or loss per Acre of Broccoli
(Gross income minus t otal expenses)

if sold at $10 per box
Challenge Question:
ho w much would the farmer need to charge per box to break even (which means that gross income equals
gross expenses) with 400 boxes per acre, 500 boxes per acre, and 600 boxes per acre?
102
Gross Income per Acre of Broccoli
(From sale of broccoli to wholesaler or market)

Expenses per Acre of Broccoli
500 boxes
$ 5,000
$ 6,000
$ 7,500
$10,000
600 boxes
$ 6,000
$ 7,200
$ 9,000
$12,000
400 boxes
500 boxes
600 boxes
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
600
800
200
200
200
600
800
200
200
200
600
800
200
200
200
$ 100
$ 500
$ 200
$ 1,000
$ 3,800
$ 100
$ 500
$ 200
$ 1,000
$ 3,800
$ 100
$ 500
$ 200
$ 1,000
$ 3,800
$ 400
$ 800
$ 500
$ 1,000
$ 600
$ 1,200
$ 400
$ 400
$ 2,000
$ 500
$ 500
$ 2,500
$ 600
$ 600
$ 3,000
Total Expenses
$ 5,800
$ 6,300
$ 6,800
400 boxes
($1,800)
($1,000)
$ 200
$2,200
500 boxes
($1,300)
($ 300)
$1,200
$3,700
600 boxes
($4,800)
$ 400
$2,200
$5,200
Projected Profit or loss per Acre of Broccoli
(Gross income minus t otal expenses)

Answer to Challenge Question:
the f armer would need to charge $14.50 per box to break even with 400 boxes per acre ($5,800 400);
$12.60 per box with 500 boxes per acre ($6,300 500); and $11.33 per box with 600 boxes per acre.
w in t e r
har vesting expenses

w ax boxes ($1 per box)
Cooling and storage ($2 per box)
Labor:
harv esting ($1 per box)
Sales commission ($1 per box)
t otal har vesting expenses
w in t e r
production expenses
Lease per year
Broccoli transplants (40,000 transplants)
Compost and fertilizer
w ater
Machinery: t ractor, etc.
Labor:
Pre-planting
Planting
w eeding
ov erhead (general farm expenses shared over all crops)
t otal production expenses
400 boxes
$ 4,000
$ 4,800
$ 6,000
$ 8,000
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
Teacher Answer Page
103
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Coke Farm
W
In 1980, Dale Coke, who had enjoyed a

successful career repairing fuel-injection
engines, decided that he wanted to become
a farmer. I had a turning point in life
when I was diagnosed with cancer, Dale
explains. I started looking around. I was
interested in organic food. Dale took that
interest and turned it into a new career in
organic farming.
104
harking back to their be ginnings, the Cokes

have once again made strawberries one of
Coke Farms key crops. Since the farm began
in 1980, the number of people wanting to buy
organic produce has grown. this trend is part
of what has made the farm so successful. But
weve also paid a lot of attention to figuring
out the crops we can grow well in rotations
and sell profitabl , dale says. Success is
due to a lot of hard work, perseverance, and
fl xibility.
w in t e r
At times the broccoli harvest has been a very

profitable one. dale, an xpert machinist, has
special farm equipment that makes the harvesting, handling, and packing efficient. when
it is time to pick the broccoli, a trailer with a
wide table attached to it is driven through the
fields. w orkers walk behind the trailer, cutting
off broccoli stalks and throwing them onto
the table. other w orkers riding on the trailer
take the stalks and drop them in a machine
that wraps rubber bands around the broccoli
and cuts off the ends so that they are even.
the b unches of broccoli are then put in boxes,
and the boxes filled with crushed ice. the ice
this year Cok e Farm is not growing broccoli.

there are more big or ganic growers coming
in, says Christine, who manages the day-today farming operation. the y grow so much,
they can afford to sell it a lot more cheaply
than we can. As the market for organic produce grows, these bigger growers along with
consolidated big buyers are bringing down the
price of organic crops such as broccoli. Bigger
quantities allow these farmers to have smaller
profit ma gins so that they can charge less.
that is good for consumers. ho wever, it does
not work for farmers with small- and mediumsized farms who do not have lots of money or
other kinds of income that can help balance
out low-profit crops.
w in t e r
dale has found that the best w ay to keep down

pests such as the flea beetle is to rotate crops.
this means that he ne ver grows the same crop
in the same place twice in a row. where he
plants broccoli one year, he might plant lettuce the next. dale also belie ves in growing
diverse crops next to each other. here, you ll
never look out and see just fields and fields o
broccoli, he explains. y ou will see lettuce
and fennel, then a few rows of chard, and then
some caulifl wer and onions.
keeps the broccoli cold and fresh. Piled high,

the boxes are stored in a giant cooler awaiting
trucks to deliver them to stores and restaurants
in San Francisco, oakland, Los Angeles, and
even outside California.
LAt e SUMMe r FALL
one of the most harmful pests for Cok e

Farms broccoli is the flea beetle. this is
just a little black beetle that hops around like
a flea. the y build up in the summer as it gets
hotter, dale e xplains. each beetle tak es only
a small bite, but together they can ruin the
whole plant.
105
C H A P T E R
1 0
Carrots
T
he well-known cultivated carrot originated in

afghanistan some time before the tenth century .
The first domesticated carrots were purple.
during the ne xt several centuries, carrots were
introduced throughout europe and asia. The
modern varieties of carrots were bred in the
Netherlands in the seventeenth century.
increasingly, there is a demand for heirloom
varieties of carrots. These may range in color
from maroon to white and have differing
nuances in fl vor.
106
Wild carrots are white and fibrous and oody

in texture. Wild forms of carrots are found all
over the world. Carrots are members of the
parsley family. Like wild mushrooms, wild
carrots should never be picked; they closely
resemble poison hemlock, one of the worlds
deadliest plants. death will result from eating
a single leaf of poison hemlock, which is also
a member of the parsley family.
Carrots are biennial plants, meaning that they

live for two growing seasons. This fact allows
farmers more fl xibility in deciding when they
wish to harvest carrots. The longer carrots are
in the ground, the larger they become, but they
also lose their characteristic sweet fl vor as
they mature. most f armers harvest their carrots
at about three months.
When choosing carrots at the market, look

for roots that are not limp, damaged, or split.
Carrots may be available with their green
stems and leaves still attached, loose without
stems or leaves, or prepackaged.
Carrots should be stored in the refrigerator or
a cool, moist area as close to 32 degrees as
possible. They can be stored for up to two
weeks before they lose their crispness.
Carrots are high in vitamin a. The orange
color in carrots indicates the presence of
carotene, a fat-soluble pigment that becomes
vitamin a in our bodies. Vitamin a is essential
for both normal human growth and eyesight.
Carrots are also a good source of fibe .
WiNTe r
Carrot seeds are very finic y. They need

temperatures that are neither too high nor too
low and constant moisture to sprout (germinate). The carrot seedlings are thinned until
they stand two inches apart, giving the roots
adequate room to grow. Carrots split or become tough if they are not watered regularly.
Too much nitrogen (from composted manure
or other sources) causes the roots to fork. it is
important for the soil to be loose and free from
stones or clods, which cause the carrots to
bifurcate or become bumpy.

Information
Like many edible roots, carrots are sensitive to

physical and nutritional changes in the soil in
which they are grown. health y, long, straight
carrots grow best in loose, well-worked soil
that is rich in humus. The carrots are planted
in raised beds so that rain will drain from
the soil to eliminate flooding and decrease
the chances of root rot. Carrots thrive best in
temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees with
abundant moisture. ho wever, carrots will tolerate higher or lower temperatures once they
are established.
Ch a p t e r 10: Ca r r o t s
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107
R E C I P E
Carrot-Orange Salad
Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
15 minutes
20 minutes
45 minutes
easy
Background
Carrots brighten salads, appetizers, and main dishes, but rarely are they the central ingredient in
those dishes. in this simple salad, the sweet taste of carrot is a central fl vor that contrasts well
with the citrus fl vors of oranges and lemons. The chervil adds a licorice taste to the salad. if
chervil does not appeal to you or if you cannot find it, substitute parsl y, cilantro, or tarragon.
Carrots with their green tops are easy to find at the armers market and will help students visualize
the whole plant. students can imagine carrots gro wing and being harvested for market.
To truly enjoy this salad, let it marinate for about 20 minutes while you read and discuss the farm
profile with the class.
Objectives

identify the parts of the carrot plant: the root, the stem, and the leaf.
Understand the process of planting, growing, and harvesting carrots.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

3 lbs carrots with
green tops
2 large, juicy oranges
112 lemons
6 tablespoons chopped
fresh chervil, parsley,
or cilantro
1 teaspoon salt
108
Materials
For the class:

large mixing bowl
colander
strainer
large spoon
measuring spoons
knife
ston y Farms farm profil
small bowl
small grater
cutting board
vegetable peeler

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 peelers or box graters
4 plates
4 napkins
4 forks
journals
Preparation

2. Wash carrots thoroughly and separate them into fi e equal portions, one for each student
group.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives and peelers.

Making the Recipe
2. demonstrate ho w to trim the stems and leaves from the carrots and to use the peeler to
peel carrots into short, thin slices. ha ve students make thin carrot peels and arrange them
on the plates. alternati vely, use box graters to grate the carrots.
WiNTe r
1. Provide each group of students with a set of materials.
3. Collect the plates of carrots and set them aside on the demonstration table. ha ve students
gather around the demonstration table. ask tw o students to place the carrots into the
mixing bowl.
5. Let the salad marinate while you read (or have students read) the ston y Farms farm
profile. discuss the gr wing process of carrots.
6. after reading and discussing the f arm profile, ser e the salad on plates and garnish with
chervil, parsley, or cilantro.
food scraps there.
Wi NTe r
4. mak e the vinaigrette: ask a student to finely grate the peel from one orange. ask another
student to cut the oranges and lemon in half. ask three other students to squeeze the
oranges and lemons through strainers into the small bowl. ask tw o other students to
measure and add salt and oil. mix ingredients thoroughly and add to the grated carrots.
109
R E C I P E
Moroccan Carrot Dip

Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
20 minutes
20 minutes
60 minutes
adv anced
Background
as part of a midmorning snack, moroccan carrot dip allo ws students to taste a carrots sweetness
while they enjoy pita bread or crackers. This recipe also shows students what happens to carrots
as they cook. students can observ e the changes in their consistency and fl vor.
y ou may use a food processor, if you have one, instead of the potato masher to give the dip a
smoother consistency. For a decorative touch, sprinkle finely chopped parsl y (about 14 bunch)
over the dip before serving.
Objectives

observ e the transformation of the carrots texture from hard to mushy.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

412 lbs carrots
6 cloves garlic
112 onions
4 cups water
2 teaspoons salt
112 teaspoons ground cumin
3
4 teaspoon caraway seed
1 large lemon
freshly ground black pepper
10 small pita breads
1 bunch parsley (optional)
110
Materials
For the class:

hot plate
2-quart pot steamer
colander
large and small mixing
bowls
measuring spoons
wooden spoon
food mill or potato masher
cutting board
knife
vegetable peeler

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 plates
4 napkins
journals

2. Wash carrots thoroughly and separate carrots, garlic, and onion into fi e equal portions,
one for each student group.
3. Place water in the 2-quart pot and place it on the hot plate to boil.
Safety Precautions
Preparation
Making the Recipe
1. demonstrate ho w to cut carrots into 14-inch full moons. demonstrate ho w to peel and
chop the onion finely and smash and mince the arlic. ha ve students prepare carrots and
garlic first and arrange them on plates.
2. Bring water in the steamer to a boil.
WiNTe r
3. Collect the plates. Place the carrots into the steamer and cook until very soft. meanwhile,
have students prepare the onions and arrange them on plates. Collect those plates and put
them on the demonstration table next to the large pot. ha ve students gather around the
demonstration table.
4. remo ve the carrots from the steamer and set them aside in the large mixing bowl. ha ve a
student measure and add oil to the large pot. ha ve two other students add the onions, cooking over medium heat until translucent (about 5 minutes). add the g arlic, spices, and salt
and gently saut another 3 minutes, stirring often. ha ve another student stir in the carrots
for 1 minute to infuse the fl vors of all the ingredients.
6. Cut up the pita breads and serve with the dip.

food scraps there.
Wi NTe r
5. remo ve the pot from the heat. ha ve two students pass the spiced carrots through the food
mill or mash the mixture until it is a thick paste. Place the dip in the small mixing bowl and
add 3 tablespoons lemon juice. add salt, lemon juice, and black pepper to taste.
111
A C T I V I T Y
Pre-sprouting and so wing Carrots

Preparation Time:
Total Lesson Time:
20 minutes
30 minutes first da , and then
10 minutes a day for 10 days
Background
To get a head start on the growing season and to ensure that plantings are successful, farmers often
pre-sprout the seeds. That means that they allow seeds to germinate, usually in greenhouses, before
they are actually planted in the ground.
Pre-sprouting carrot seeds is especially useful because it reduces the long germination period for
carrots. For germination to occur, there must be favorable conditions, including a moist and warm
environment. sunlight is essential.
in this activity, students will pre-sprout carrot seeds and then transplant them into pots or the
school garden. students will be interested to kno w that sweet-tasting carrots depend on a soil that
has humus and loose soil. humus holds w ater and nutrients in the soil and keeps the soil light
and flu fy. Loose soil is especially important for carrots because it allows the root to grow deeply
and smoothly. Carrots also need soil with sufficient lime and potassium. Unli e many vegetables,
however, carrots do not need a lot of nitrogen. in fact, too much nitrogen produces a less-thansweet carrot and may cause the carrot to bifurcate.
Objectives

Pre-sprout carrot seeds.
Understand the conditions needed for germination (sprouting).
explain wh y farmers pre-sprout seeds.
describe the best soil conditions for optimal gro wth.
Materials
For the class:

2 quarts water
2 packets carrot seeds
wax pencil
school garden, or pots and potting soil
journals
rulers
paper towels
paper cups
112
1. obtain se veral packets of carrot seeds.

2. Gather materials for student groups.
Doing the Activity
1. Tell the students that plants grow from seeds and discuss the process. relate the discussion
to how and why farmers pre-sprout seeds in greenhouses at their farms.
2. explain to the students that carrots are hard to germinate and that the seeds do not li ve very
long. Let students pre-sprout as many carrot seeds as possible, observe them daily, and
record their observations. students may find the date of the seed on the back of the seed
packet. if there are different years, students may want to record and observe any differences
in sprouting. sho w the seeds to the students and let them examine the seeds and draw them
in their journals.
4. ha ve students prepare their cups and seeds for pre-sprouting. ha ve students draw a picture
of the cups and seeds and write their predictions of what will happen in 10 days.
WiNTe r
3. Give each group four cups, four paper towels, and about 40 carrot seeds. demonstrate ho w
to fold the paper towel into thirds and roll it into a tube. The diameter of the tube should be
a bit smaller than the diameter of the plastic cup. Place the paper towel tube in the cup so
that it rings the inside of the cup. Pour water into the bottom third of the cup. as the paper
towel slowly absorbs the water, place about 10 seeds between the cup and towel.
Preparation
5. Use a wax pencil to identify each cup with the students name. Place the cups in the
warmest part of the classroom.
7. When leaves unfurl from the stems, help students transplant the largest plants into the
school garden or pots. discuss what the carrot plants need for optimal gro wth. Continue
to monitor the growth of the carrots until they are ready to harvest.
Wi NTe r
6. For the next 10 days, provide time (about 10 minutes) for students to observe the seeds and
record their observations. add sufficient ater to make sure paper towels stay moist. These
observations may lead to discussions about the germination process. Common observations
are that some seeds do not germinate, the seed cracks open, the root grows out of the seed
before the shoots (stem), and the leaves unfurl from the stem. encourage students to measure the growth of the roots and stems by using rulers. y ou may also want to take a couple
of seeds from the cups and dissect them to investigate what is inside.
113
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Stony Farms
S
Don and Shirley Ward bought Stony Farms in

1987 after Don had retired from his career
as a businessman in Southern California. Don
had always kept a small vegetable garden as a
hobby, so when he retired, the Wards decided
to pursue this hobby full time. After Shirley
found the farm in Santa Rosa, north of San
Francisco, the couple moved in and began a
new life as farmers.
114
When they are harvesting, the Wards cut off

the carrot tops right in the field. They then
turn these back into the beds where they will
decompose, adding rich nutrients to the soil.
after harv est, shirle y says, We wash, and we
wash, and we wash the carrots. Then we count
and weigh them before we go to market.
Next to carrots, the Wards most popular

crops are tomatoes and cucumbers. But all
told, they grow more than 80 varieties of
vegetables and fruitsso there is always
something fresh to eat at ston y Farms.
While don tak es care of the planting, shirle y

takes care of the business side of the farm.
she sells the v egetables at the market and
keeps careful records of how many pounds
are grown and sold and how much money is
made. But don and shirle y also share many
of the farm duties: shirle y often drives the
tractor while don is in the field, and don usu
ally comes to the market to help shirle y with
the selling.
WiNTe r
The carrots are planted and harvested between

march and october . The last planting of the
year (in october) stays under ground during
the cold winter months while the rest of the
farm shuts down and the Wards take their
annual vacation. When the weather warms,
the carrots start to grow; in march, they are
ready to harvest.
The Wards have a special working relationship with their friends, spencer and helene
marshall. The marshalls sell honey at farmers markets and in stores throughout the san
Francisco Bay area. Between 10 and 15 of
the marshalls beehives are at ston y Farms.
in exchange for housing the bees, the Wards
not only get some of the honey but also
benefit in another ay. as the y explain, The
bees do our pollination for us. Pollination
is a necessary step in producing fruits and
vegetables, so bees are essential for a healthy
and productive farm.
time to harvest, the Wards pull up all the carrots in the bed at the same time. This gives
them a wide variety of sizes. shirle y says she
has found that customers like having choices,
some preferring tiny baby carrots and others
big, fat ones.
Wi NTe r
115
C H A P T E R
1 1
Potatoes
P
otatoes are native to south america. They

were first cult vated by the incas in the Peruvian
highlands at least 2,000 and possibly up to 8,000
years ago. Now they are a dietary staple for cultures around the world.
The potato is a member of the nightshade family, along with tomatoes and peppers. Potatoes
were introduced to europe in the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries. ho wever, potatoes did
not become popular as a food for another century. People were suspicious of potatoes because
many poisonous plants are in the nightshade
family. Potatoes eventually became an important
dietary staple. For example, the potato became
such an important dietary staple in nineteenthcentury ireland that when there was a serious
potato blight in 1854 and 1846, widespread
starvation occurred throughout the country, and
many irish immigrated to the United states. irish
potato crops were vulnerable to disease because
there was only one variety of potato, called
Lumpers.
116
Potatoes are tubers, meaning they are thick,

fles y, underground stems. The buds (called
eyes by farmers) are found all over the tuber.
hundreds of v arieties of potatoes are grown
worldwide, with most limited to Peru. ho wever, in the United states, se veral closely related
varieties of russets are much more popular
than others.
russet, or Burbank, potatoes are named after
horticulturist Luther Burbank, who revolutionized the hybridization of thousands of fruits
and vegetables. russets ha ve rough brown
skin, numerous eyes, an elongated shape, and
a high starch content that makes for mealy,
flu fy flesh. They are the preferred potatoes for
French fries and baking. Because their skin is
so thick, russets store better than other v arieties of potatoes.
New potatoes are any variety of young potatoes in which the sugars have not fully converted to starch, so the flesh is crisp and axy.
heirloom potatoes are v arieties of potatoes
popular in the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early
twentieth centuries. They are coming back in
popularity today, especially yellow varieties
(such as y ukon Gold and y ellow Finn), finge ling varieties, and even blue varieties. most
have thin skin and need not be peeled.
Potatoes should never be planted on a plot

following a tomato crop as the two plants are
subject to the same diseases.
Potatoes grow well in many cool conditions,

such as the coastal Northern California in
summer and the high desert in spring or fall.
They are available year-round, although spring
and fall are peak seasons.
Ch a p t e r 11: p o t a t o e s

Information
Potatoes are harvested about three months

after being sown. When choosing potatoes,
look for firm, well-shaped specimens without
green spots (the green is solanin, a substance
toxic in large quantities). When stored in a
cool, dry, dark, well-ventilated place, potatoes can last for up to two months. Potatoes
are a good source of potassium, fibe , and
vitamin C.
Wi NTe r
Potatoes require well-drained soil; without it

they suffer from rot. Potatoes tolerate acidic
soil better than do most crops. acidic soils are
common in the northern regions, such as the
states of idaho and North and south dak ota,
one of the concepts of sustainable agriculture

is to find the arieties that are best suited to
a region. By growing diverse varieties, the
farmer protects against an entire crop being
lost due to susceptibility to various blights
and fungi.
WiNTe r
so potatoes grow better in those places than do

most other crops. The seed tubers are planted
about four inches underground and about
10 to 12 inches apart. Potatoes should be
planted in a different location each year,
preferably following a legume crop, such as
beans, peas, or vetch. Legume crops are valuable because they fix nitrogen in the soil,
making it available for subsequent crops.
other kinds of potatoes are common as well.

Long white potatoes have a thin, pale skin,
small eyes, and an elongated shape. They are
good for baking, broiling, and roasting. White
rose is a common variety of the long white potato. round white and round red potatoes are
medium-sized boiling potatoes with a waxy
flesh. Because th y have a low starch content,
their flesh is more moist
117
R E C I P E
Roasted Potatoes with Herbs

Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
15 minutes
30 minutes
60 minutes
easy
Background
This recipe follows a format similar to the comparative tasting instructions found in the introduction of this guide. Unlike other fruits and vegetables that may be eaten raw during a comparative
tasting, potatoes need to be cooked. (ra w potatoes contain a mildly poisonous substance that is
destroyed by cooking.) This recipe allows students to compare many different types of potatoes.
select se veral different varieties, such as y ukon Gold, y ellow Finn, reddale (or an y red-skinned
potato), Burbank/russet, and all Blue (blue-fleshed). G ve students plenty of time to compare the
different varieties before roasting the potatoes. Because the potatoes differ greatly in size, color,
texture, and taste, students use all their senses in exploring these varieties.
The recipe may seem to call for a lot of potatoes, but potatoes cook down quite a bit as they roast.
The rosemary in this recipe as well as herbs for other recipes in this book may be found in your
school garden.
Objectives

Use their senses to observe different aspects of a variety of potatoes.
record observ ations and write comparisons in their journal.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

4 or 5 each of 4 to 5 different
types of potatoes, such as
y ellow Finn, y ukon Gold,
reddale, all Blue or
blue-fleshed, n w potatoes,
or fingerlings (20 to 25
potatoes total or about
4 lbs)
1 small bunch rosemary or
thyme
1
1 2 teaspoon salt
1 head garlic (optional)
118
Materials
For the class:

large bowl
colander
oven
2 9-inch x 13-inch
baking dishes,
or larger
spatula
measuring spoons
cutting board
knife

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 sponges with rough
green scrubbing side
4 plates
4 forks
4 napkins
journals
Preparation

2. separate potatoes so that each student group recei ves one of each type of potato.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives and the oven.

Making the Recipe
1. Provide student groups with one of each type of potato and some rosemary or thyme. after
students make and record observations in their journals about the potatoes, they can share
their observations with the class. ha ve students remove rosemary or thyme leaves from their
stems.
3. demonstrate ho w to cut the potatoes into quarters. it is best to cut the potatoes in half and
then put the flat side d wn while quartering. Cut potatoes in more pieces, if necessary, so
that all pieces are roughly the size of a ping-pong ball.
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2. sho w your students how to wash the potatoes with the rough side of a scrub sponge, inspect
the potatoes for greenish areas on the skin, and cut off any green area. The green areas contain solanin, a substance that is toxic in large quantities. The green indicates that the potato
has been exposed to the sun.
4. ha ve students wash and prepare their potatoes for roasting and place the potatoes on a plate.
While doing so, students can record further observations. a couple of students should
separate the head of garlic (if using) into cloves.
6. While waiting for the potatoes to roast, students can share their observations and make predictions about which type they will like the best.
7. serv e the potatoes on plates, making sure that each student receives a piece of each type.
While eating, students can discuss their observations with the class, focusing on appearance,
texture, taste, and smell.
scraps there.
Wi NTe r
5. in the large bowl toss together the cut potatoes with the herbs, oil, salt, and unpeeled garlic
cloves. Put the seasoned potatoes into the two baking dishes. Place the potatoes in the oven
for 30 to 40 minutes at 450F (or until done.)
119
R E C I P E
Potato Salad
Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
20 minutes
15 minutes
60 minutes
adv anced
Background
The best potatoes for potato salad are waxy, yellow-fleshed arieties, such as y ellow Finn, y ukon
Gold, fingerlings, or small red potatoes. Fingerlings get their name from their at, fingerli e shape.
if you choose Burbank/russet or an y of the more starchy potatoes, be aware that they tend to lose
their shape and fall apart in the salad.
y ou may also make this salad with an oil-based vinaigrette by eliminating the mayonnaise and
adding instead an extra 34 cup olive oil and an extra 3 tablespoons vinegar.
Objectives

Understand that a potato is a tuber or swollen stem that grows underground.
observ e whether the potato keeps its shape during cooking.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

412 lbs potatoes (use waxy
boiling potatoes, not
starchy baking potatoes)
water
6 eggs
1 bunch chives
5 stalks celery
1 bunch green onions
1
2 cup plus 1 tablespoon
apple cider vinegar
3
4 cup olive oil
1 cup mayonnaise
212 teaspoons salt
1
4 to 12 teaspoon pepper
120
Materials
For the class:

hot plate
measuring spoons and cups
colander
slotted spoon
2 large mixing bowls
6- to 8-quart pot
steamer insert
small saucepan
whisk

2 cutting boards
2 knives
4 napkins
4 plates
4 forks
journals

2. Cook the eggs in boiling water for 9 minutes. set up the steamer and start heating.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives and the hot plate. remind students to use caution
around the steamer as steam can cause burns.
Making the Recipe
Preparation
1. Provide each group of students with a set of materials and an equal amount of potatoes,
green onions, and chives. ha ve students wash the potatoes, green onions, and chives.
2. demonstrate ho w to cut the raw potatoes into 12-inch cubes. it is best to cut potatoes in half
and then chop the halves with the flat side on the cutting board. Collect the potatoes and
add to the boiling steamer.
4. Collect the plates and set them aside on the demonstration table. Provide each group with
an egg and let them peel and chop the egg into small pieces. ha ve the students place the
egg neatly on a plate. Collect the egg plates and place them on the demonstration table.
ha ve the students gather around the demonstration table.
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3. While the potatoes are steaming, demonstrate how to thinly slice the green onions and chop
the chives. ha ve students prepare the ingredients and place them neatly on plates.
5. Check the potatoes. When they are tender, move them from the steamer to a large bowl to
cool. Let students volunteer to mix the vinaigrette. in a large mixing bowl, measure and
whisk together the vinegar, oil, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper.
7. serv e a small portion of the salad on plates for students to try. While the students eat,
discuss the fl vors and textures of the salad.
food scraps there.
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6. ha ve the students pour the dressing over the now warm potatoes. Point out how the dressing soaks in quickly because the potatoes are warm. ha ve the students add the chopped egg
and herbs and mix gently. Taste and adjust seasoning.
121
A C T I V I T Y
M
Preparation Time:
Total Lesson Time:
20 minutes
30 minutes to set up experiment, then
5 minutes each day for three days to monitor,
and 15 minutes for closure on the last day
Background
mulch is a soil covering that farmers and gardeners place on top of the soil to save both water and
soil. mulch may be made of a variety of materials, such as plastic sheeting, wood chips, compost,
or straw.
in the summer, a nonmulched field must be atered more frequently than a mulched one. mulch
also helps shade the soil surface, keeping it cooler and thus preventing further water evaporation.
mulch also helps hold the soil in place. rain can easily erode bare soil, taking important topsoil
with it. in many parts of California, soil erosion is evident on hillsides.
in this activity, students will conduct an experiment to see the effect of mulch on the amount of
water that evaporates from soil.
Objectives

Conduct an experiment to compare water evaporation with and without mulch.
describe the role of mulch in conserving w ater.
Materials
For the class:

potting soil or garden soil
garden mulch (if available)
newspapers
shredded newspaper or paper towels
water
waterproof pen for labeling
balance scale, postal scale, or kitchen scale
122

2 copies of springhill F arm farm profil
2 clear plastic cups (9-oz. size)
2 1-cup measuring cups
1. Gather materials. Groups may share the measuring cups.

2. Cover tables with newspaper.
Doing the Activity
1. Give each pair of students a copy of the springhill F arm farm profile and read it together as
a class. ask students whether an ything surprised them about the reading. Lead the discussion toward the fact that Larry Peter dry-farms his potatoes. mak e a list of the conditions
that dry farming requires: good soil, good mulch, and so on.
Preparation
2. ask students what mulch is and ha ve them share their ideas about the purpose of mulch.
explain that f armers and gardeners commonly use mulch to conserve water, to reduce the
number of weeds, and to prevent soil from washing away. Tell the class that they will be
conducting an experiment to see whether mulch affects the amount of water that evaporates
from soil.
4. ha ve each group place about one-half inch of shredded newspaper, paper toweling, or garden mulch on top of the soil in one cup. For comparison purposes, the other cup will have
no mulch.
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3. ha ve each group measure out 12 cup soil into each of their cups. ha ve them measure and
pour 12 cup water into each cup.
5. ha ve students weigh each cup and record its weight (the two cups will weigh about the
same). ha ve them use a waterproof pen to label the two cups with the groups names and
the date.
6. Place all the cups on a countertop or windowsill.
8. after the e xperiment, have students share their results with the class. discuss ho w the
mulch affected the amount of moisture in the soil.
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7. once a day for the ne xt two or three days, give students time to weigh each cup and record
the weights.
123
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Springhill Farm
M
Some are big. Some are long and skinny.

Still others are round and as small as
marbles. They come in red, purple, yellow,
white, and blue with names such as Russian
Banana, German Butterball, White Rose, and
Ruby Crescent. What are they? Potatoes!
124
at the mark ets, Larry and his dad tell customers what the different types of potatoes taste
like and suggest ways to cook them, since
different potatoes are suited to specific dishes.
some are great for baking b ut would not make
a good potato salad. some are especially nice
steamed with their skins on, and others make
great mashed potatoes. Larry undoubtedly
could tell you what kind of potato makes the
best French fries. educating consumers is a
role Larry clearly enjoys. i need a break in
the routine to get away from the cows and to
see people, he grins.
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harv esting potatoes is a little like digging

for treasure. When the green part of the plant
above the soil dies, the potatoes are ready to
be taken from the ground. This can be done by
a machine or by hand with a shovel. Larry uses
both techniques.
dry f arming requires the soil to be specially

prepared. in march, after the soil has dried out
a bit from the usual winter rains, Larry begins
his work. First, he digs down 15 inches and
turns the soil over. he does this e very week
for three weeks in a row. This brings ground
water (water already in the soil) up to the
surface so there is enough moisture to keep the
young potato plants alive. as this surf ace water
begins to dry out, the growing plants will send
their roots down deeper to seek out more water. if all goes well, the potatoes will be ready
for harvest in 65 to 75 days.
Larrys parents, Virgil and Georgia, used to

take his potatoes to their house and wash and
sort them before they were sent to market.
These days, his dad is his top salesman at the
santa rosa f armers market, one of several
farmers markets where springhill potatoes
and cheeses are sold.
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125
C H A P T E R
1 2
Pears
Pears originated around 4,000 years ago in
central europe and northeast asia. They are one

of the oldest known cultivated fruits. in early
days of cultivation, the pear was prized among
the wealthy and nobility. Today, there are at
least 5,000 varieties of pears, the most common
being the Bosc, Bartlett, anjou, and Comice,
which is known as the Queen of Pears for its
sweet, fl vorful flesh and luscious aroma. other
varieties that are good for cooking and eating
are the tiny seck el and the French Butter. all
those varieties named are european pears.
asian pears are pears too, b ut the word Asian
is always specified because asian pears are a
distinctly different species of pear.
Pears grow best in deep, well-drained loam

soil with lots of water. in addition to full-size
trees, pears are also grown in dwarf varieties,
which are ideal for small gardens and espaliers
(a lattice on which trees are trained to grow
in two dimensions). Nearly all pear varieties
require cross-pollination.
126
Pear trees are planted as one-year old whips

(young tree stocks), then severely pruned back.
as the tree gro ws, the branches will continue
to be heavily pruned to remove fireblight (a
bacterial infection that enters the tree through
the blossom in the springtime), to shape the
tree, and to control the size of the crop (to prevent overbearing).
Unlike most other fruit, european pears
do not ripen on the tree. For this reason, they
are picked when they are still hard and green.
Farmers generally use one of two methods to
determine when pears are ready to be picked.
The first method requires the armer to test the
sugar content of the fruit on the tree. When the
sugar content has reached its peak, the pear is
picked to ensure that the fruit is at its sweetest
as it ripens in storage.
after being harv ested, pears are kept in a cool

storage area for two weeks to two months
before being shipped to market. Cold storage
delays the natural ripening process.
Pears tend to discolor quickly when the cut

fruit is exposed to air, so you will need to
add acid (such as lemon juice) to the cooking
liquid or to cut fresh fruit to prevent it from
turning brown. Pears are a good source of
fiber and vitamin C
in the other method, the farmer tests the pressure of the pear. When the pear has reached
its maximum pressure (when the fruit is at its
hardest), it is picked so that it will soften as it
ripens.

Information
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When purchasing pears, choose fruit that is

still somewhat firm; pears should generally
be ripened for a day or two at home in even
temperature and out of direct sunlight. Pears
are ripe when they give slightly to gentle pressure at the neck and stem, but be careful because they bruise easily. refrigerate ripe pears.
Ch a p t e r 12: p e a r s
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127
R E C I P E
Pear, Celery, & Parmesan Salad

Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
25 minutes
None
45 minutes
easy
Background
This salad is refreshing and delicious. it does not have much seasoning, so it is important to use the
freshest ingredients and ripe pears. Comice pears are a good variety to use because their sweetness
really comes through in this salad. Texture in food is important, as this salad demonstrates. The
soft pears contrast with the crunchy walnuts, the crisp celery, and the tangy dressing. y ou may also
have students taste the pears, celery, walnuts, and cheese separately and then as part of the salad so
that students taste how the fl vors enhance each other. y ou might want to provide a loaf of crusty
bread and serve it in slices with the salad.
Objectives

Understand the importance of fresh food for fl vorful salads.
Compare the taste, smell, texture, and appearance of ingredients separately and in a salad.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

6 large Comice pears
4 to 6 celery stalks
6 ounces Parmesan cheese
(not grated)
1 cup walnuts, halves or
coarsely chopped*
1 large lemon
pepper
1
2 teaspoon salt
Materials
For the class:

measuring spoons
and cups
colander
wooden spoon
small mixing bowl
vegetable peeler/corer
cutting board
knife
whisk
juicer
large platter
*Check to make sure no students are allergic to walnuts.
128

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 peelers
journals
4 plates
4 napkins
4 folks

2. Before starting the class, wash the pears and celery.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives and peelers.

Making the Recipe
1. Provide each group of students with a set of materials and an equal amount of pears, celery,
walnuts, and Parmesan cheese.
Preparation
2. demonstrate ho w to peel pears, core them, and slice thinly. demonstrate ho w to remove
the strings from the celery stalks and slice thinly in diagonals. mak e sure the celery slices
are about 116-inch thick. if the celery pieces are much bigger, they overpower the pears.
demonstrate ho w to cut walnuts into quarters and how to peel the cheese thinly with a
vegetable peeler. ha ve students prepare ingredients and arrange them neatly on plates.
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3. Collect the plates and set them aside on the demonstration table. ha ve students gather
around the demonstration table. ha ve a student cut the lemon and juice it in a juicer to
make 2 tablespoons juice. as you re view the recipe with students, discuss how each
ingredient will influence the taste of the other ingredients
4. ask a student v olunteer to make the vinaigrette by measuring the oil, lemon juice, salt, and
a little black pepper and whisking together in a small bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning.
5. ha ve students arrange the pears and celery on a large platter and scatter walnuts on the top.
drizzle with the vinaigrette. Gently scatter the thin peels of cheese o ver the salad. serv e
salad on plates.
scraps there.
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6. While the students eat, discuss the differences between eating ingredients separately and in
a salad. students can compare their predictions with the actual e xperience.
129
R E C I P E
Poached Pears
Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Total Lesson Time:
recipe Le vel:
10 minutes
25 minutes
60 minutes
adv anced
Background
Poached pears are a special treat. y our students may never have had poached pears, but once
they do they will want them again and again. y ou can serve them as a snack by themselves or as
a dessert with ice cream. y ou can also format this recipe to compare different varieties of pears.
Bosc, Comice, Winter Nelis, and anjou are all suitable for poaching. as the class prepares the
pears for poaching (simmering in liquid), lead a discussion about the similarities and differences
among them.
Objectives

describe the cooking concept of poaching.
Compare the shape, color, skin texture, smell, and taste of different pear varieties.
discuss ho w the cinnamon, ginger, and lemon complement the fl vor of the pears.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

6 cups water
2 cups sugar
10 ripe, but firm pears
(a mixture of Bosc,
Comice, Winter Nelis,
and anjou, if possible)
2 cinnamon sticks
1 small knob fresh ginger
1 lemon
130
Materials
For the class:

hot plate
colander
slotted spoon
measuring cups
vegetable peeler/corer
knife
cutting board
wooden spoon

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 peelers
4 napkins
4 plates
4 forks
journals

2. separate the ingredients into fi e equal portions, one for each student group.
3. While students are comparing pears, heat the water in a large pot at high heat. stir the sug ar
into the water until it dissolves. When the water boils, turn it down to low heat so that it
stays warm but does not continue to boil. Wash the lemon thoroughly.
4. While the sugar water heats, brainstorm how to record the different characteristics of the
pears. allo w each student group to select its own method to record the shape, color, skin
texture, smell, and taste of different varieties of pears. allo w students to share recording
methods.
Preparation
Safety Precautions
Take care when removing pears from the pan; they will be very hot. re view safety precautions
for using knives, peelers, and the hot plate.
1. demonstrate ho w to peel, cut in half, and core the pears. While students prepare the pears,
ask them to make observations in their journals about the pears. ha ve students place their
pears on plates. Gather the plates and set them on the demonstration table. ask a couple of
students to help cut the lemon and ginger into slices.
WiNTe r
Making the Recipe
2. ha ve students gather around the demonstration table. heat the w ater until it boils. Place
pears, cinnamon sticks, and lemon and ginger slices in the water, then turn down the heat
so that the pears simmer for 20 minutes while the pot is covered.
4. When pears are translucent but still firm, rem ve them with a slotted spoon and place them
on plates. allo w them to cool for a few minutes. serv e.
5. as students eat the poached pears, ask them to compare their predictions about the pears
taste with their actual experience.
food scraps there.
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3. While the pears simmer, allow students to share their journal entries with the class.
Lead a class discussion about the different characteristics of pears. ask students to mak e
predictions about how poached pears will taste.
131
A C T I V I T Y
Washing Fruits and Vegetables

Preparation Time:
Total Lesson Time:
None
40 to 50 minutes in two parts,
if possible, with an hour in between
to allow the insect spray to steep
Background
all f armers must contend with a variety of pests that can harm the crop. although f armers may
use organic methods to control pests, a residue of any spray applied may still remain on the fruits
and vegetables. in this activity, students apply an organic, garlic-based insect spray onto a fruit or
vegetable and make observations. They also explore different types of fruit and vegetable skins:
the tough impermeable skins we usually do not eat (such as orange, banana, and tangerine) and
semipermeable skins that we often do eat (such as apple, pear, and peach). The term permeable
refers to the skins ability to absorb liquids and is an indication of the thickness and toughness of
the skin.
students will also learn ho w to wash produce, before using it, to remove dirt or any residue from
the farm. Fruits and vegetables should be washed just before using because storing wet or damp
produce makes them spoil more easily.
Note: The all-purpose insect spray can be stored in a tightly covered jar in the refrigerator for up
to one week.
Objectives

Compare semipermeable and impermeable fruit and vegetable skins.
Understand the importance of washing fruits and vegetables.
Materials
For the class:

1 garlic bulb
1 small onion
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 quart water
1 tablespoon liquid soap detergent
1 blender
1 sponge or towel
132

1 1-quart spray bottle
1 banana or orange
1 pear or apple
1 leafy green (spinach, chard,
or lettuce leaf)
1. read the Todd ranch f arm profile as a class and b gin a discussion of how farmers control
pests. discuss ho w farmers sometimes use dormant oil sprays and other means to control
pests on fruit trees and vegetables.
2. explain to students that the y will examine different fruit skins and discuss ways in which
they are alike and different.
3. Provide each student group with samples of the two different skins so that they can
compare the thickness, texture, pores, and fl xibility of the skins. ha ve students record
their observations in their journals. ha ve students explain in their journals why we might
eat some skins but not others. allo w students to share their ideas with the class.
Doing the Activity
4. Prepare the all-purpose insect spray by putting garlic, onion, and cayenne in a blender jar
with some of the water. Blend, then add the remaining water. if possible, allow the insect
spray to steep for an hour. add the liquid soap (the soap helps the spray cling to plants).
Put the spray into spray bottles.
6. When the produce is dry, have students make observations.
WiNTe r
5. Give each group a spray bottle filled with the insect spray and demonstrate h w to lightly
spray it onto the sample fruit or vegetable. allo w the produce to dry (5 to 10 minutes).
ask students to mak e predictions about what they may find on the skins after drying.
7. ask students whether the y would want to eat the fruit or vegetable after it has been
sprayed. ask them wh y or why not. (in this case, it would leave a strong, undesirable taste.)
ask them whether it mak es a difference whether the fruit or vegetable is eaten with or
without the peel. Point out that it is important to wash all fruits and vegetables before
cooking or eating them, especially those that are eaten with the peel.
9. Next time the class cooks a recipe, allow students to practice washing the produce.
Wi NTe r
8. demonstrate ho w to wash fruits and vegetables. Wash under cold running water while
wiping the entire surface of the fruit or vegetable with a sponge or cloth towel. This
process ensures that all residues will be removed.
133
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Todd Ranch
134
The Todd Ranch pear farm is nestled against

the hills surrounding Potter Valley in Northern
Californias Mendocino County. From his
farm in the winter, Dan can see snow on the
tops of the hills. Many creeks and streams
run down toward the ocean, and a nearby
canal brings water from the Eel River to help
irrigate Dans orchards.
but i decided that what i really wanted to do

was to be a farmer.
on his 32-acre f arm, dan gro ws three types of

pears: Bartlett, red sensation, and Bosc. The
Bartletts, the oldest trees in the orchard, were
planted in 1961. dan remembers helping to
plant them. he w as fi e years old at the time.
i grew up on the farm, and i worked on the
farm while i was growing up, dan recalls.
Then i went away to college for a few years,
The kids work on the farm. They help out at

harvesttime. my oldest son drives the tractor, says dan. Just lik e their dad when he
was young, dan s children enjoy their life on
the farm, and they love exploring in the hills
near their home. Theres a lot of wildlife
here, says dan, who often sees deer , skunks,
and raccoons. sometimes a black bear will
so dan came home and e ventually bought his

fathers pear farm, where he now lives with
his wife, alice, and three children. his sons,
andy and Luk e, are 16 and 14 years old, and
his daughter, rebekah, is 11.
one of the things dan lik es most about farming is the constant challenge. y ou have to
think of ways to solve problems and be willing
to experiment with new ideas, he says.
a f armer isnt just some guy in overalls
whos sitting there and watching things grow.
dan s decision to farm organically not only

helps the environment but also has made his
farm a financial success. his pears are sold at
markets throughout the United states and are
also used in organic baby food and juice.
my f ather always told me that you cant
make any money being a farmer, dan says
with a laugh. But ive proven him wrong.
WiNTe r
With pears, there are many challenges. one

of these is pests, such as the codling moth,
whose larva eats the fruit of any pear tree.
(see a discussion of the codling moth in
Chapter 3, apples. ) Because dan has decided
to grow his fruit organically, he will not spray
pesticides to kill the moths. instead, he has

introduced beneficial insects, such as asps,
which eat the larva. in a new experiment, he
has built several bat houses to attract bats to
live in his orchard. Bats eat large quantities of
flying insects in their nightly forays, so th y
are very helpful in keeping insect populations
down.
come down from the hills into the orchard, he

reports. Well see footprints or maybe a halfeaten pear left on the tree, and well know that
the bears have been there.
Wi NTe r
135
Locations of Farms Profiled in Winter

1
2
3
4
5
6
FARM
CITY
Beck Grove
Green Gulch Farm
Coke Farm
Stony Farms
Springhill Farm
Todd Ranch
Fallbrook
Muir Beach
Aromas
Santa Rosa
Petaluma
Potter Valley
6
sa CrameNT o
4
5
2
saN FraNCisCo
FresNo
Los aNGeLes
136
l a Te s u m m e r Fa l l
Win Te r
137
s p r i n g e a r l y s u m m e r
s pr in g e a r l y s u m m e r
rl y
SPRING
C H A P T E R
1 3
Beans & peas

The study of legumes can occupy an entire
lifetime. Two familiar types of legumes are

discussed: peas and beans. all le gumes have
seedpods that split along the sides.
peas originated at the same time as lentils about
10,000 years ago in the middle east. peas were
used in their dry form (split peas) until about
the sixteenth century when forms with tender
seeds were developed that could be eaten fresh.
other members of the le gume family, such as
the lentil, the peanut, and the long bean, are
neither pea nor bean. The lentil is a staple food
throughout the world, especially in the indian
subcontinent. The peanut, also known as the
groundnut, originated in south america about
5,000 years ago. long beans, called co wpeas
or black-eyed peas when mature and dried,
originated in West africa.
There are three types of beans: common, or

phaseolus, beans; fava beans; and soybeans.
phaseolus beans are from Central and south
america and date back to about 5,000 b.c.
phaseolus, or common, beans include green
beans as well as dried beans, such as haricot,
138
cannellino, pinto, navy, kidney, black, marrow, and flageolet. The fava bean (also spelled
faba) is a second type of bean. The fava bean
is from the middle east and dates back to
roughly 6,500 b.c. it was formerly more widely eaten than today as phaseolus beans have
replaced it. The soybean (also spelled soya)
was domesticated in China around 3,000 b.c.
one may eat beans or peas in se veral ways:
eat the entire pod when it is immature (e.g.,
green beans and snow peas); eat the immature
seeds without the pod (e.g., english peas and
the fava bean); or eat the dry, mature seeds
(e.g., pinto beans or split peas).
other types of le gumes, such as alfalfa, clover,
and vetch, are grown as animal fodder. These
legume animal feeds are a cheap source of
digestible nutrients and protein. The soybean,
which is used for both human and animal consumption, is considered to be one of the most
nutrient-rich foods in the world. le gumes are
also prized as soil-building crops because they
return nitrogen to the soil.
Fresh legumes, such as sugar snap peas, english peas, and fava beans, are favorite spring
treats. in moderate coastal climates, beans
and peas can be grown from spring to fall. as
summer and fall arrive, cranberry beans and
other shelling beans turn up in farmers markets. dried le gumes are a hearty winter staple
in many households and are used to fortify
soups, stews, and casseroles.
When selecting fresh beans or peas, look for

firm, plump, bright-colored, unblemished
specimens. dried beans should not be moldy ,
broken, or discolored. Check for little stones
among the beans when washing them. Fresh
beans will keep in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for several days.
green peas are a good source of folate, iron,
and potassium. They are high in antioxidant
vitamins a and C as well as in fibe . snap peas
and string beans are high in vitamin C. Fava
beans are high in fiber and iron. long beans
are high in vitamins a and C.
although most plants strip a way nutrients

from the soil, legumes are unique in that they
can replenish the earth with nitrogen. nestled
in the roots of legume plants are millions of
bacteria called rhizobia. rhizobia can tak e
nitrogen, a necessary plant nutrient, from the
air and fix it in the plant. if the plants are
plowed into the soil after harvesting, they help
to increase the nitrogen levels in the soil.

Information
one of the best le gumes for nitrogen fixation

is the fava bean. prior to the fava fl wers
bloom, farmers chop up the plants with machetes or a farm machine called a disc and
then plow the plants back into the ground.
This green manure then puts nitrogen into
the soil.
Ch a p t e r 13: Be a n s & p e a s
Win Te r
gro wing conditions for legumes depend upon

the type. Vetches and clovers prefer cool
climates; other legumes like hot, dry weather.
re gardless of climatic conditions, legumes
like soil rich in phosphorus and potassium.
They will tolerate low nitrogen levels in the
soil.
The only serious disease to affect legumes

is powdery mildew. sulfur dust will help to
curb this fungus. snails, aphids, mites, and
whiteflies are generally not a problem as long
as good growing conditions prevail; pests can
be removed by hand or pressure from a spray
hose.
139
R E C I P E
Pea Salad with Fresh Herbs

P
140

2. Wash peas and place them in a colander to drain.
3. di vide the peas and herbs into fi e equal portions.
4. set a 4-quart pot of w ater to boil on the hot plate.
Safety Precautions
Preparation
Making the Recipe
1. demonstrate taking the lea ves off the stems of the herbs.
2. ha ve students snap or cut off the tip (the stem end) of the snow and sugar snap peas and
shell the english peas. ha ve them place the snow and sugar snap peas in one bowl and the
english peas in another . ha ve students remove the stems from the herbs; wash and dry
the herb leaves in a salad spinner; and place them in another bowl.
4. ha ve three students measure oil, vinegar, and salt into the blender. add the herb lea ves
and blend the vinaigrette until smooth. set aside in the small bo wl.
6. When the peas are all blanched, put them back in the big bowl. dress them as a salad or
use the vinaigrette as a dipping sauce.
7. While students eat, discuss the differences in texture and taste of the pea varieties.
food scraps there.
5. gather all the peas and blanch them in batches by dipping them in boiling w ater and removing quickly, being sure to cook sugar snap and snow peas separately from the english
peas. Blanching is a method of cooking the vegetables quickly so that they stay crisp.
When the peas are tender (after about 2 minutes), scoop them out with the small strainer
and lay them out to cool on a baking sheet covered with a towel. do not pile them up or
they will keep cooking.
Win Te r
3. Collect the bowls and place them on the demonstration table next to the hot plate.
ha ve students gather around the demonstration table.
141
R E C I P E
Long Beans with Ginger

P
142

2. Wash the beans and place them in the colander to drain.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives and the hot plate. an adult should peel and slice the
ginger root. When cooking, have students stand at least three feet away from the hot plate so
that the oil does not spatter them.
Preparation
Making the Recipe
1. gi ve each group an equal portion of the beans.

2. ha ve students top the long beans (this means to cut off the very tip of the stem end and
pull off the string). Cut or snap the beans into 3-inch pieces. place the prepared beans in
a bowl. Collect bowls and place them on the demonstration table next to the hot plate.
ha ve students gather around the demonstration table.
4. gather the beans into a lar ge mixing bowl. ha ve two students measure out the soy sauce
and fish sauce into separate small b wls. ha ve another student measure the water.
Win Te r
3. peel the ginger roots thin brown skin with a paring knife. Because slicing ginger root
thinly is difficult, an adult should cut the peeled ginger into slices and then into fine strip
5. When all the ingredients are ready, place the skillet on the hot plate. set the hot plate on
high. When the skillet is hot, turn the hot plate to medium.
7. serv e from the skillet into student bowls.

scraps there.
6. Cook the beans in two different batches. First add half of the oil and half of the ginger root.
(mak e sure students are at least three feet away so that they are not spattered by oil.) When
the ginger begins to sizzle, add half of the beans and stir. after three minutes add half of the
fish sauce, s y sauce, and water. Cook until tender, covering if necessary. repeat with the
next batch.
143
A C T I V I T Y
Crop rotation
P
144
read the background information to re view the rationale and methods of crop rotation.
Doing the Activity
1. lead a discussion about some of the dangers to health y crops on a farm, such as pests,
poor soil, or weather.
2. read aloud or ha ve students read silently the farm profile on T&d Willey Farms.
3. explain crop rotation to students, describing ho w farmers rotate crops of heavy or light
feeders and soil builders to keep the soil healthy.
Preparation
4. sho w them the seasonal Crop rotation Chart and e xplain what it means.
5. Tell the students that they will be farmers planning the crops on their farm for four seasons.
7. model how they might use the charts to create the plan. monitor and assist the groups.
8. after each student has de veloped a crop rotation plan, ask the students to write a paragraph to explain the reasons for their plan.
Win Te r
6. gi ve each group copies of the map and the chart. Tell the groups that they can work together to figure out which crop should be planted in which plot for each gr wing season
to ensure the healthiest plants and soil.
9. ask v olunteers to present their plans to the class. discuss the follo wing questions: ho w
many different ideas did the class have? Can different students have different ideas and
still be correct? ho w does this activity relate to what farmers do?
145
Crop rotation
Seasonal Crop Rotation Chart
146
Crop
Family
Feeder
Season
Corn
Cucumber
lettuce
spinach
squash
Tomato
Carrot
pepper
potato
swiss chard
pea
so ybean
Fava bean
lima bean
green bean
grass
gourd
Composite
goosefoot
gourd
solanaceae
umbelifer
solanaceae
solanaceae
goosefoot
le gume
le gume
le gume
le gume
le gume
hea vy
hea vy
hea vy
hea vy
hea vy
hea vy
light
light
light
light
soil b uilder
soil b uilder
soil b uilder
soil b uilder
soil b uilder
summer
spring
spring
Winter
summer
summer
Winter
Fall
Winter
Fall
Winter
summer
spring
Fall
summer
The maps shown below represent your farm in each of the four seasons. plan crops for each
plot (a, B, C, and d) so that the soil stays as health y as possible.
spring
Fall
Win Te r
summer
Seasonal Crop Rotation Map
Winter
d
147
F A R M
P R O F I l E
T&D Willey Farms
Tom Willey with Mr. Poe, the Arkansas

farmer who inspired the Willeys to use
a rotation of beans in their crop mix.
The T&d Willey Farms harvests a variety

of vegetables, such as eggplants, squash,
and potatoes, but the beans are by far the
favorites. Tom Willey believes in the goodness of beans. They are a great crop, Tom
says. They give good nutrients back to the
earth, and they are good for you to eat as well.
Theyre like a gift.
Back in 1980, Tom and his wife, denesse,
started the organic farm bearing their initials.
Fields and orchards surround their farm, but
only one mile away is the spreading construction of Fresnos new housing and mall developments. although the majestic sierra ne vada
ranges stand 30 miles to the east of T&d
Willey Farms, the smog and haze often make
them hard to see.
148
Note: since this profile as written, the Willey

farm in Fresno was paved over for development.
Tom and denesse ha ve started a new farm on the
outskirts of madera.
The techniques used in sustainable agriculture

of rotating crops, attracting good insects, and
planting diverse crops all help to decrease
the need for artificial pest control. The best
protection against insects, Tom says, is to
improve the soil and produce healthy plants
that can resist insect attacks. Tom and denesse
believe they must take care of their soil so that
they can harvest good vegetables for years to
come.
ev en with all the help and guidance of other

farmers, denesse and Tom never lose sight of
the most important fact for farmers: success
depends on learning to work with nature. as
Tom says, Farming is great. There is so much
to learn. But even after we do all we can, we
still need the timely blessing of mother nature: consistent crop-ripening heat in the summer and her angel kisses of rain in the winter.
Win Te r
Tom learned these old-fashioned ways from a

neighbor farmer. rotating crops means dif ferent vegetables are grown in different parts of
the farm every year. Where squash grew one
year, beans might be planted the next year.
in that way, one vegetable will not use up all
the soils natural nutrients. in fact, beans give
back some of the nutrients taken away by
other vegetables.
in the middle of T&d Willey Farms stands a

tall group of cottonwood trees. This is where
Tom and denesse pack their v egetables into
boxes to be sold in the markets. denesse
includes in each box what she calls a pid, or
public information document. These pids tell
the customers how to store their vegetables to
keep them fresh and how to cook and serve
some of the more unfamiliar crops, such as
romano beans. denesse e ven includes quotations from their farming heroes, Wendell
Berry and masanobu Fukoka. For Tom and
denesse, educating the public means carrying
on the tradition and respect taught to them by
other farmers.
The Willey farm is fortunate to be located in

the san Joaquin Valley with its rich soil and
sunny days. sno wmelt from the sierra ne vada
provides the water that keeps the vegetables
growing all year round. But even with these
natural gifts from the earth, vegetables cannot
thrive if the soil becomes sapped of its nutrients. Two ways to keep the soil healthy are
to rotate the crops and, more fundamentally,
to apply well-made compost before planting
every crop. in the crop rotations, it is a good
idea to include crops, such as beans, that give
nutrients back to the earth.
149
C H A P T E R
1 4
S
L
150
lettuce gro ws only in moderate weather. it

tolerates neither freezing nor summer heat.
This means that in most regions of California,
lettuce is a winter crop. But in foggy, coastal
valleys, the weather is cool and damp all yearround; therefore, lettuce can always be grown.
lettuces require fertile loam soil that is well
drained in order to prevent leaf rot. spreading
sand around the base of seedlings also helps
prevent rot by reducing contact between mature leaves and the soil. lettuces require lots
of moisture and cool days.
Ch a p t e r 14: s a l a d g r e e n s
all salad greens should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight plastic bag and will keep
for up to fi e days. ne ver wash leaves until
they are ready for use; after washing, drain the
leaves in a colander or salad spinner.
iceberg lettuce, with its high water content and
pale leaves, has much less nutritional value
than other lettuces have. loose leaf, b utterhead, and romaine (cos) are all high in vitamin
a. loose leaf and cos, the dark er green leaflettuce, are also good sources of folate, which
is nutritionally important to help reduce the
risk of birth defects and heart disease.
lettuce seedlings are almost irresistible to

birds, cutworms, slugs, and snails. slugs and
snails often hide deep at the base of leaves and
can, if undetected, do a lot of damage. hand
picking slugs is one way to remove them. in
general, however, lettuces suffer little from
insect pests and disease. The lower leaves may
often be subject to rot because of the moist
conditions necessary to grow the plants, but
rotted leaves can be removed by hand. if left
unchecked, the rot can spread to the heart of
the plant, killing it.
lettuces should be crisp, unblemished, and

free of signs of rot or insect damage. a void
wilted, limp leaves. in stores, you can find
salad mixes of young, tender loose-leaf varieties and other greens, such as arugula. y ou
may also create your own salad mixes (called
mesclun). some peppery and slightly bitter
leaves, such as watercress and frise, mix well
with mild lettuces, such as a butterhead or
red leaf. y ou may add edible fl wers (such as
calendula and nasturtium) if you have them.
Win Te r
lettuces should be k ept uncrowded and be

thinned periodically as they grow. Crowded
plants will get leggy (grow long stems rather
than stay compact). another k ey to good
lettuce is adding plenty of nitrogen (e.g.,
well-rotted manure).

Information
151
R E C I P E
Avocado Dressing
P
152

2. Wash lettuce, tear leaves, and dry in the salad spinner. Wash and dry herbs in the salad
spinner.
3. preheat oven to 375F, optional.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives and the oven (if using it).
Preparation
Making Avocado Dressing
1. gi ve each group an equal portion of herbs and avocado to prepare.

2. demonstrate remo ving leaves from stems and chopping the herbs. demonstrate remo ving
the seed, scooping out the flesh, and chopping the vocado.
3. ha ve each group of students prepare its herbs and avocado and place them on a plate.
5. Collect the plates and place them on the demonstration table next to the small mixing
bowl. ha ve students gather around the demonstration table. While you have one student
peel and finely dice the shallot, h ve two other students cut a lemon in half and squeeze
its juice into the small mixing bowl. ask another student to measure and add the vine gar,
1 teaspoon salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. add the shallots. mix and set aside.
7. ask three students to mash the a vocados on a plate and blend them into the vinegar mixture. add the herbs and then whisk in the oli ve oil and the cream. go slo wly, whisking the
whole time to make a thick dressing. Taste the dressing and add more salt, lemon juice,
or oil, as needed.
8. in a large mixing bowl, toss the lettuce and dressing and serve the salad on plates.
(optional) garnish with the croutons.
9. While students eat, discuss how the dressing enhances the fl vor of the lettuce.
food scraps there.
6. (optional) Toss the bread cubes with 2 tablespoons olive oil and bake them on a baking
sheet in the oven at 375F for 10 to 15 minutes or until they are golden and crunchy.
When the croutons are done, take them from the oven and sprinkle them very lightly
with salt.
Win Te r
4. (optional) demonstrate cutting the bread into small cubes for croutons. ha ve students
prepare the remaining bread.
153
R E C I P E
Salad of Mixed Greens

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: N one
Total L esson Time: 45 minutes
R ecipe L evel: E asy
Background
This recipe allows students to experiment with different salad greens and different types of olive
oil and vinegar. many types of greens are sold in markets, either as mixed greens (called mesclun)
or separately. For this salad, select greens that are colorful and offer a variety of tastes. in this recipe, a basic oil and vinegar dressing is used. remember , the better the vinegar and olive oil, the better the dressing. There are many kinds of vinegar, such as red wine, white wine, sherry, rice wine,
and balsamic, each varying in acidity. (Wine vinegar has no alcohol content.) Try experimenting
with different ones: two parts balsamic to one part red wine vinegar is a ratio children often like.
in this recipe, students discover a variety of greens, all having similar parts. re view the different
parts of a leaf: the veins that transport water and minerals to the leaves from the other parts of the
plant; the waxy cuticle that protects the leafs epidermis; and the stomates, which are tiny openings for gas exchange on the underside of a leaf.
Objectives

demonstrate a w orking knowledge of the following words: vinaigrette, bitter greens, salad greens,
and olive oil.
examine the dif ference between a variety of salad greens and different olive oils and vinegars.
mak e a salad dressing.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

12 handfuls mixed lettuces
and other salad greens

3 tablespoons vinegar
salt and pepper

154
Materials
For the class:

salad spinner
1 large mixing bowl
1 small mixing bowl
whisk
serving spoon
measuring spoons
water

napkins
4 plates

4 forks
journals

2. Wash and dry salad greens in the salad spinner in two or three batches.
Making the Recipe
1. ha ve students gather around the demonstration table. ha ve a student measure the vinegar
into the small bowl and add 34 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. ha ve another
student measure and slowly pour in the olive oil as another student uses a whisk to mix the
oil and vinegar. Taste the dressing and adjust the taste to your liking by adding more oil if
it is too sour or more vinegar if it needs more acid. if you do not use the vinaigrette right
away, it will separate and you must re-mix it before dressing the salad.
Preparation
2. if your class chooses to have more than one type of dressing (see Background), a good ratio
of ingredients is 2 tablespoons vinegar to 8 tablespoons olive oil.
3. ha ve students taste each type of salad green so they can decide which combination they
want in their salad. discuss the dif ferent fl vors and tastes.
Win Te r
4. ha ve students make their own salad and choose their own dressing. demonstrate ho w to
place the salad on the plate, spoon on the dressing, and mix so that the dressing is distributed evenly.
5. While students eat, discuss the tastes and textures of the different greens in the salad.
scraps there.
155
A C T I V I T Y
156
G ather materials.
Doing the Activity
1. R ead the Berkeley Y outh A lternatives G arden Patch profile to the class or h ve students read
it on their own. D iscuss with students the coastal areas unique climate and compare it with
climates further inland or in other areas of the state or nation. H ave students explain why
coastal areas may be well suited for growing salad greens year-round. A sk them whether
arugula could grow in their environment.
Preparation
2. E xplain to students that they will have an opportunity to grow arugula, a salad green with a
unique fl vor. A sk them whether they have ever tasted this green before.
3. G ive each group a pot and have them fill it with potting soil. H ave them scatter seeds on the
top of the soil and then cover the seeds with 14 inch to 12 inch of soil. Water the pots.
4. Keep the pots in a sunny window or in an outside location.
6. When the plants are just under six inches high, harvest them whole or harvest just the
leaves, or you can cut them an inch or two from the ground and let them grow again.
Win Te r
5. E very few days, have students check the plants to see whether they need water and to monitor their growth. A s the plants start to grow, students can thin them so that they stand
four to six inches apart. If you wish, they can wash the thinnings and taste them.
7. Wash the greens and allow students to taste them. S ince arugula has a strong fl vor, students
will probably enjoy them more as part of a mixed green salad. U se either of the salad green
recipes provided.
157
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Berkeley Youth Alternatives

Garden Patch
At the Berkeley Farmers Market, a shopper
can see produce stands lining the street,
brimming with sun-ripened fruits and
vegetables, a bountiful feast for the eyes
and senses. Colorful signs in front of the
stands show the names of farms from all
over Northern California, except for one
particular stand.
This stand is staffed by local youths and young

adults bagging salad greens and making change
for the shoppers in a professional and courteous
way. What shoppers might not know, unless they
ask, is that these young people not only manage
the stand but also tend an urban garden that produces collard greens and salad leaf mixes right
in the heart of the city of Berkeley.
Berkeley Y outh A lternatives G arden Patch is a
program of Berkeley Y outh A lternatives (BYA ),
which was founded 30 years ago as a shelter
for runaway teens. O ver the years BYA has
grown. The organization now runs more than
15 programs to meet the needs of thousands of
children and their families each year. S ome of
these programs are a comprehensive counseling center, a preschool, an after-school center, a
summer camp, a computer center, a teen center,
and several sports programs.
The Berkeley Y outh A lternatives G arden Patch
is part of BYA s youth employment, youth
enterprise, and job training program for high
school students. Teenagers learn to grow organic
vegetables and fruits from sowing the seed to
harvesting and selling the vegetables. A variety
of crops are grown in the G arden Patch. The
crops that the youths harvest during the winter
months are carrots, beets, collard greens, S wiss
158
chard, broccoli, potatoes, green garlic, and

many more. S ome of the summer crops they
grow are several tomato varieties, green beans,
summer squashes, corn, apricots, plums, basil,
and cilantro.
The youths also grow specialty salad greens
for sale to local restaurantshigh sierra,
crisp, red romaine, red oak leaf, red sail, and
green buttercupas well as edible fl wers.
The Berkeley Y outh A lternatives G arden Patch
operates largely on organic principles. To control pests, the young gardeners learn organic
growing techniques, such as double crop rotation and the planting of many different kinds
of fl wers and vegetables to attract beneficial
insects.
O ne of the most damaging pests in a salad garden is the common snail. S nails love to munch
on tender leaves, causing unattractive holes
if not outright destroying the plants. Because
snails prefer shady spots away from the sun,
the young gardeners have learned to weed and
to leave a bare, exposed border around plant
beds so that the snails have no place to hide.
The youths have also learned what all farmers
know: you must accept the forces of nature and
learn to live with a certain amount of damage
to your crops. In addition to learning about
organic farming practices, young adults learn
every aspect of managing a garden. They take
on the roles of business manager, garden manager, and greenhouse manager. They also go
out to schools and educate other youths about
teen nutrition.
Win Te r
S ome former garden project participants have

gone on to become nursery workers, school
garden teachers, business and sales associates,
and farm employees. D epending on their interests and needs, the garden project managers
try to help the teenagers achieve their goals.
S o the garden project cultivates not only a
garden but also a community and people.
L earning to market their produce teaches

youths about management, community relations, customer relations, and business. S o
whether or not the teenagers decide to pursue
a career in farming, they will come away from
the program with skills they may apply to
many other jobs and situations.
159
C H A P T E R
1 5
A sparagus
A sparagus is a perennial plant whose roots
send up tender, delectable shoots. It grows wild

in marshy parts of E urope and A sia. A sparagus
was cultivated by the ancient Greeks and
R omans. In E urope, during the M iddle A ges,
the plant was prized for its purported medicinal
qualities; it was seen as a restorative to compensate for a poor winter diet. M ost of the asparagus eaten in the United S tates is grown
in Northern California. A sparagus is a member

of the lily family.
In this country, green asparagus is more readily available than purple and white varieties. In
E urope, particularly France, the white asparagus is held in high esteem and is considered a
delicacy. White asparagus is the result of chlorophyll deprivation. Farmers grow the plants
under rows of dark plastic so that they have
no exposure to the sun. A s a result, the plants
chlorophyll is not activated, and the asparagus
spears are an ivory color with a mild fl vor.
This technique, called blanching, is also used
for chicory and a few other vegetables.
A sparagus is the quintessential spring vegetable, available to California growers from

February to M ay. Farmers start their asparagus
crop from crowns, roots that are grown from
seed by a nursery. Before planting, farmers
carefully prepare the soil by using rich compost and fertilizer so that the asparagus has a
nutritious environment in which to grow.
The plants take up to three years to produce a
sizable crop yield, and each asparagus plant
produces many spears for harvest. The perennial nature of the plant means that the same
plant can produce for 10 to 15 years.
A sparagus plants require winter chilling in
order to produce good spears. The spears that
are commonly eaten are the first n w shoots
that the asparagus root puts out in the spring.
Ifthe shoots are not harvested, they grow into
branches covered with leaves that look like
ferns. A sparagus fern is not really a fern despite its name.
160
Keeping asparagus beds weed-free and away

from trees (tree roots may interfere with the
asparaguss extensive root system) and removing slugs and snails are the key to growing
healthy plants.
When you select asparagus at the market,

it is important to remember that, like corn,
the spears begin to lose their sweet fl vor as
soon as they are picked and the plants natural
sugars are converted to starch. Y ou may purchase tender, pencil-thin spears or the thicker,
tougher, and more intensely fl vored spears.
In either case, look for bright green spears
that have tight tips, and avoid spears that are
pale, fibrous, and h ve dried-out bases. Y ou
can store asparagus tightly wrapped in plastic
in the refrigerator for up to four days, but it is
best to cook it right away.
A sparagus is high in folate and a good source
of vitamins A and C.
WiNTe r
Farmers harvest the spears by hand when the

spears reach a height of six to 10 inches. They
carefully snap the spears at or just below the
soil so that the roots are not damaged or exposed. E ach plant can withstand a harvest for
a certain number of weeks, then it must be left
to grow and develop its shrubby tops (they are
related to the asparagus fern). In that way, the
plants energy can be redirected to the roots
for the long dormant period that follows each
growing season.
Selection, Storage, and Nutrition Information
l a Te s Um m e r Fa l l
A sparagus requires sunny, rich, deep, welldrained soil. The roots can penetrate up to fi e
or six feet into the ground and may have the
same spread outwards. They are planted far
apart in well-composted trenches. O nce established, the plants will thrive with little care for
many years.
s pr iNGe a r l y s Um m e r
Ch a p t e r 15: a s p a r a g u s
s p r i NGe a r l y s Um m e r
161
R E C I P E
Asparagus with Lemon & Parmesan

Cooking Time:
5 minutes
Background
students may enjo y this recipe because it allows them to closely examine asparagus spears and
their fascinating structure. allo w students to cut spears crosswise and lengthwise to explore the
internal structure. after the students ha ve shared their observations, use different-sized asparagus
to prepare this simple recipe. This procedure will allow students to notice the differences in preparation and cooking time and taste spears of different sizes.
This dish may be served cold as a salad or warm as an appetizer. Use a block of parmesan cheese
instead of pre-grated because it is fresher; it has a sweeter, fuller taste; and grating is fun.
Objectives

identify the parts of an asparagus spear.
Compare spears of different thicknesses.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

40 asparagus spears
2 lemons
salt to taste
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
7 ounce piece of Parmesan
cheese
4 cups water
162
Materials
For the class:

colander
1 large mixing bowl
measuring spoons
slotted spoon or tongs
hot plate
cheese grater
vegetable peeler

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 peelers
4 napkins
4 plates
4 forks
journals

2. after w ashing the asparagus and drying it in the colander, separate it into fi e
equal portions.
3. Bring salted water to boil on the hot plate while students make observations about the asparagus.
Safety Precautions
Preparation
Making the Recipe
1. demonstrate ho w to peel the asparagus and remove any woody sections at the bottom.
students will need to peel the thick spears b ut not the thin ones. discuss the reasons for
peeling the larger spears. ha ve groups prepare their asparagus and place it on a plate.
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2. Collect the plates and place them on the demonstration table next to the hot plate. ha ve the
students gather around the demonstration table. select tw o students to place the asparagus
in the pot to cook briefly (about t o to fi e minutes, depending on thickness). The spears
should be just tender enough to allow a knife to pierce through the middle. ask tw o other
students to cut lemons into quarters and another to grate the parmesan cheese. alternati vely, students may use a vegetable peeler to shave thin pieces of cheese.
3. remo ve the spears with a slotted spoon or tongs (tongs are much easier to use) and place
them on plates. While the asparagus cools, discuss any changes that students observe in the
smell, color, or texture. (Note: To cool the asparagus quickly and, therefore, preserve its
green color, you may want to put the hot asparagus in a bowl of cold water or run tap water
over it.) ask the students to mak e predictions about the taste.
5. While the students are eating, discuss the differences between the thick and thin spears.
scraps there.
4. When the asparagus is cool, have a student drizzle olive oil and squeeze lemon juice on
it. mix the spears to coat them well. let another student sprinkle or place the p armesan
cheese on top. serv e and eat.
163
R E C I P E
Asparagus with Oyster Sauce

Cooking Time:
10 minutes
R ecipe L evel: A dvanced
Background
This is a tasty and easy recipe to make. in addition to examining the parts of the asparagus spear,
students can observe a variety of cooking techniques. peeling the asparagus is necessary only when
the stalks are big with tough, fibrous ends
The sesame oil and the oyster sauce give this dish a strong fl vor, so you may wish to use small
amounts and have students taste it before serving.
Objectives

identify the different parts of an asparagus spear.
observ e different cooking techniques.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

40 asparagus spears
5 small garlic cloves
9 tablespoons oyster sauce
11/2 cups water or chicken
stock
4 tablespoons canola oil
6 teaspoons sesame oil
6 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
164
Materials
For the class:

colander
1 large mixing bowl
measuring cup
skillet
wooden spoon
serving spoon
measuring spoons
hot plate

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 peelers, optional
napkins
4 plates
4 forks
journals

2. separate asparagus and g arlic into fi e equal portions.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives and the hot plate. When adding ingredients to the
hot oil, have students stand at least three feet from the hot plate to avoid spatter from the hot
oil.
Preparation
Making the Recipe
1. Give each group of students two spears and ask them to identify the different parts. ha ve
them cut each spear crosswise and lengthwise to explore the internal structure. encourage
students to draw in journals and discuss their observations.
2. demonstrate ho w to trim, peel, and cut the asparagus. demonstrate ho w to peel and slice
the garlic. ha ve the students prepare the vegetables and place them on separate plates. ask
a student from each group to collect the plates and place them on the demonstration table.
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3. ha ve students gather around the demonstration table. put the asparagus into a large bowl
and the garlic into a small bowl. ha ve one student measure out the oyster sauce and the
water or chicken stock into two separate small bowls so they are ready for cooking.
4. put the skillet on the hot plate to heat on medium. When the skillet is hot, add the canola
oil. ha ve one student add garlic while another student stirs. saut the g arlic until it sizzles
but do not wait for it to brown. add asparagus and stir . let the asparagus saut for 2 min utes, stirring constantly.
6. serv e on plates. While students eat, discuss the different cooking techniques used and how
they affect the preparation of the dish.
scraps there.
5. ha ve another student add the chicken stock or water and stir over high heat until the mixture simmers. stir in the o yster sauce and rice wine vinegar. simmer until the asparagus is
tender (a knife should be able to easily pierce the center of a spear). during the last minute,
stir in the sesame oil.
165
A C T I V I T Y
M aking a Worm Compost Bin

Preparation Time:
Total L esson Time:
30 minutes
45 to 60 minutes to set up and then some time
periodically over the next several months for
observation
Background
A lmost all the recipes in this guide generate some sort of food scraps. If your class or school does
not already have a worm bin, here is how to get one started. The cycle of gardening, cooking, and
eating completes itself when the class maintains a vermicomposting system, known commonly as
a worm bin. The use of a worm bin not only demonstrates the process of decomposition but also
allows students to feed worms the organic waste generated by cooking in the classroom. The compost bin or system is a habitat in which worms are only part of a small but complex food web. The
natural by-product of the vermicomposting processworm castingsmay be used as a natural
soil or potting mix amendment, thus recycling nutrients and organic matter.
For more information about worm composting, see M ary A ppelhofs Worms Eat My Garbage:
AChildrens Activity Book (Flower Press). For suggestions about school or classroom vermicomposting activities, see M ary A ppelhofs Worms Eat Our Garbage (H appy D R anch).
Objectives

H elp build a worm compost bin.
Understand how to recycle vegetables and fruit.
D emonstrate how to compost food waste.
Materials
For the class:

newspaper
vegetable or fruit scraps
2 pounds red worms (check your local nursery)
2 quarts water
1 plastic storage container with lid (1 foot by 1 foot by 1 feet)
large, slotted spoon
drill with 1/2 -inch and 1/4-inch bits
5 buckets
166
1. sa ve the scraps from recipes that generate fruit or vegetable waste. Be sure to keep scraps
covered to minimize odors and flies
2. drill holes of v arying sizes (1/2 inch and 1/4 inch) in all four sides of the plastic storage container. holes should be about 4 inches apart from each other .
Doing the Activity
1. ask students for their ideas about dif ferent ways to dispose of food scraps. if they do not
mention it, tell them about composting as one way to recycle food wastes and explain about
worm composting.
Preparation
2. introduce the activity by showing the worms to the students and asking them what kind of
home the worms will need.
3. provide each group of four students with a section of newspaper, a bucket with one pint of
water, a large handful of soil, and a large handful of leaves.
5. ha ve each group of students use their hands to mix the paper, soil, leaves, and water.
6. place the newspaper strips in the plastic container. add the w orms.
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4. ha ve students shred the paper lengthwise into one-inch strips and place them in the bucket.
7. place organic garbage (no meat or dairy products) underneath the layer of bedding.
8. ha ve students wash their hands after construction is completed.
10. mak e sure the bin is covered and placed in a cool place, out of direct sunlight (optimal
room temperature is 60 to 75 degrees). add or ganic material once or twice per week in a
different location of the bin. after tw o to three months, the worms should have digested the
bedding and garbage and produced fertile worm castings.
9. after the students ha ve constructed the worm bin, ask them to examine the components of
the bin. Who are the inhabitants of the bin? What is their shelter? What are their meals?
Where do they spend most of their time? ho w does this home compare with our homes?
after the discussion, ask students to write a story from the w orms perspective about how it
might feel to live in a worm bin.
167
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Fong Farm
In Yolo County, between the towns of Esparto
and Woodland, Cliff Fong and his brother
stoop and cut stalks of pencil-thick asparagus.
gus spears. O nly after the plants have been cut

back for two to three years will the stalks be
thick enough for harvesting and eating.
They use a special, long-bladed knife that allows them to cut the asparagus without having
to bend forward too much. Cliff Fong has been
farming for more than 20 years on the same
farm where he grew up; his father was the first
to farm. While he was growing up, Cliff did not
think he wanted to be a farmer. In fact, he recalls, Growing up, I wanted to get as far away
from the farm as possible.
The older the plant, the thicker the spears grow.

The first har est has a short season, lasting
only a few weeks. M ost of the plants energy
must still go back into the fles y storage roots.
But after the fourth harvest season, spears can
be harvested for about two months. A sparagus
plants can yield crops for many years.
While taking some time off from college, Cliff

Fong traveled to several island countries where
he was struck by the way people lived a simple
life in balance with the earth. For Cliff, that
journey away from the farm ultimately brought
him back to his childhood home. H e returned to
his fathers farm looking for a simpler way of
life. H e also returned with the firm belief that
people should try to produce foods organically.
Fong Farm began to cultivate its asparagus in
1991. The spears of thin or thick asparagus seen
at farmers markets and grocery stores come
from asparagus plants more than three years
old. For the first f w years, growers must let the
asparagus plants grow and just cut them back
at the end of each season. This process allows
the plants to store energy in their roots so that
the next year, after a dormant winter, they will
have energy to send up their shoots, the aspara-
168
Cliff Fong notes, Unlike other crops, planting

asparagus means a long commitment. These
plants last for up to 14 years. Fong Farm
produces two varieties of asparagus: a type developed by the University of California, called
UC157, and the A tlas variety. In order to keep
the ground fertile and rich with nutrients, Cliff
Fong uses compost, feather meal, and special
guano (bird or bat droppings) from Peru.
To deal with such pests as the E uropean asparagus aphid, Cliff inspects his plants closely,
especially in A ugust, when aphid populations
peak. Cliff makes sure there are enough ladybugs in his field to gobble up those pes y
aphids.
When the asparagus is ready to harvest and
the stalks have been cut, there is one last task
that needs attention if the asparagus is going to
make it to market fresh and greenthe packing.
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Cliff chuckles, I learned the hard way about

how delicate newly cut asparagus stalks can
be, when he tells how he lost some because
of careless handling. But one bad experience
did not faze him. It is just a part of what he
has always known: Farming takes a long
time and a lot of experience.
A sparagus stalks need plenty of moisture

and cool air or they will wilt. The stalks are
bunched together with rubber bands and then
placed in crates lined with moist pads. These
pads keep the cut ends of the stalks damp and
prevent them from becoming limp.
The trucks that transport the asparagus from
the farm to market are equipped with refrigeration units that keep the inside temperature
at a chilly 36 degrees.
169
C H A P T E R
1 6
O ranges
O ranges were probably domesticated in China,
where their cultivation is attested as early as
4,000 years ago. O ranges are members of the
citrus family. This familiar group includes lemons, limes, pomelos, grapefruit, and tangerines.
There are two species of oranges: the familiar
sweet orange and the bitter orange, also called
S eville orange or sour orange.
Christopher Columbus introduced the bitter

orange to the New World during his second voyage in 1493. O ther colonists later introduced the
sweet orange. Popular varieties of sweet orange
include Valencia (the juice orange of retail food
stores), Washington navel, and blood orange.
The blood orange has crimson flesh, juice, and
rind and a sweet, perfumed fl vor.
O range trees are broadleaf evergreens. They

thrive on warm summer days, but they need
cold (not freezing) winters for the fruit to ripen.
The cold weather helps to increase the sugar
level in the developing fruit. The trees, which
are not hardy, must often be protected from
a cold spell by the use of oil or gas heaters,
burning wood, or wind machines placed in the
orchards to heat the air.
Irrigation is the most important factor in orange
production. M ost varieties require about 35
inches of water per year. The trees also require
a well-drained, aerated, fertile soil. O range
trees require more fertilization than most fruit
trees. Cover crops are used to provide additional nutrients and organic matter in addition
to added fertilizers.
O range trees may grow up to 40 or 50 feet
high, but dwarf varieties are also available for
the small garden. The trees usually bear fruit
at about four to six years of age. O ranges are
170

Information
Citrus fruits are a source of high-potency

vitamin C and are high in fibe . Citrus fruits
were routinely included on long sea voyages
hundreds of years ago because they helped
travelers avoid scurvy, a disease resulting from

vitamin C deficien y. processed products, such
as orange juice, lose some of the nutrients during pasteurization.
When choosing oranges, look for weighty,
firm fruit with smooth, thin, shi y skin. or anges should be stored in a cool, dry place out
of direct sunlight. To get the maximum juice
yield from an orange (or any citrus fruit), first
roll the fruit firmly on a countertop to loosen
the pulp.
susceptible to a variety of insect pests, including whiteflies. Beneficial insects, such a

ladybugs, can be used as a control measure, as
can the fungus R ed A schersonia. Insects, such
as scales, are controlled by the use of dormant
oil sprays well before harvesttime. The black,
sooty mold often seen on citrus leaves and fruit
grows on the excrement of scales and aphids.
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Ch a p t e r 16: o r a n g e s
171
R E C I P E
Orange, Radish, & Olive Salad

Cooking Time:
None
Background
This salad is very popular in S pain, North A frica, and throughout the rim of the M editerranean
S ea, where the main ingredients of this recipe are commonly grown. These ingredients are also
grown in many parts of California that have a similar climate.
Include a red onion in this recipe only if it is mild tasting and the students can cut it finel .
A lternatively, substitute one bunch of green onions, in which case you would not use the chives
as garnish. To save a step, you may buy pitted black Kalamata olives. The dish needs cured olives.
Note: For more recipes using oranges, see Chapter 7, Tangerines. Y ou may substitute oranges
for the tangerines used in those recipes.
Objectives

D efine the foll wing words: pith, zest, membrane, and citrus.
E xamine and identify the parts of an orange.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

12 navel oranges
1 small red onion (optional)
1 cup black Kalamata or
oil-cured olives (optional)
3
/4 cup olive oil
pinch cayenne pepper
11/2 teaspoons salt (2 teaspoons
if olives are omitted)
3 to 4 bunches radishes
(about 2 lbs)
(from 1 to 2 lemons)
3
/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon sugar
1
/4 lb baby arugula leaves or
1 bunch chives for garnish
172
Materials
For the class:

measuring spoons
measuring cup
large serving platter
vegetable peeler
cutting board
knife
small bowl
whisk
scissors

2 cutting boards
2 knives
4 plates
4 forks
napkins
journals

2. di vide the oranges and radishes (and onions and olives, if using them) into fi e equal
portions, one for each group.
3. Wash and dry the arugula leaves in a salad spinner.
Safety Precautions
Preparation
Making the Recipe
1. provide materials for each group of students.
3. demonstrate ho w to peel oranges to remove all the pith, slice the oranges, and remove their
seeds. demonstrate ho w to remove greens from radishes and slice them thinly. demonstrate
how to prepare the onion (if using): cut an onion in half, remove the peel, hold the onion
with the flat side d wn, and then chop it very finel . demonstrate ho w to pit the olives (if
using): place an olive between your thumb and index finger and squeeze.
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2. sho w an orange to the class. With a vegetable peeler, peel off the zest, the colored part of
the peel that is often used for cooking. sho w the oil pores on the peel. Bend the peel so that
the oil from the peel squirts into the air. it is very fragrant, so make sure students smell it
when they investigate their orange (but warn them that the oil can burn if it gets in someones eyes). identify the pith, the white part of the skin just below the zest; it has a bitter
taste. separate the se gments that hold the citrus sacs and seeds in a thin skin, or membrane.
identify the seeds and the sacs (the tiny, individual pouches where the juice is stored).
4. ha ve students peel and slice the oranges, slice the radishes into thin rounds, peel and chop
the onions, and pit the olives. ha ve students place the sliced oranges, chopped onions, and
pitted olives on separate plates.
6. Collect the plates and set them on the demonstration table. ha ve students gather around the
demonstration table. ask tw o students to arrange the oranges on the serving dish and have
another student cover the orange slices with a thin layer of radishes, olives, and chopped
onion. ask another student to drizzle with the vinaigrette. Garnish with arugula lea ves or
chives (snip with scissors over the platter).
7. allo w students to serve themselves and eat while discussing how the divergent tastes come
together in this salad.
scraps there.
5. ha ve students measure out oil, cumin, paprika, salt, and sugar. squeeze the lemons and
measure the lemon juice. Whisk these ingredients in a small bowl. add a pinch of cayenne.
Taste and adjust the seasoning.
173
A C T I V I T Y
Uncovering Cover Crops

Preparation Time:
Total L esson Time:
10 minutes
20 to 30 minutes
Background
Farming requires a close connection to the seasons. as temperature and precipitation change o ver
the course of the year, so do farm activities. in California, spring is a time for getting the soil ready
for planting.
Farmers who practice sustainable agriculture often use a technique called cover cropping, which
uses nature to help prepare the soil for planting. Cover cropping is the practice of growing plants
to cover otherwise fallow fields with crops that help to uild soil fertility. Before the cover crop
goes to seed, it is tilled into the soil in a process called green manuring.
Cover cropping and green manuring improve soil by:
increasing the nutrient content of the soil.
decreasing the leaching of nutrients that occurs when w ater runs through the soil.
The roots of cover crops act as a net to hold the soil and use the water, thus preventing the water from leaching the nutrients out of the soil.
holding the soil in place, reducing erosion.
providing channels for water percolation, worm and bacteria movement, and gas exchange.
reducing weeds by choking unw anted plants or shading low-lying weeds that need
sun to grow.
reducing the e xtremes of heat and moisture that can affect bare soil.
loosening the soil and impro ving its texture.
Farmers use many different kinds of cover crops, depending on what they plan to plant in their
fields. Common c ver crops are legumes (including vetch, sweet peas, and fava beans) and grasses
(including grains, such as wheat, rye, and sorghum). mixes that include several different grasses
and legumes are common. some f armers let cover crops fl wer before tilling the plants under because the fl wers attract beneficial insects.
Objectives

describe dif ferences in results when watering bare soil compared with grassy soil.
Name at least two ways that cover crops can help soil.
Materials
For the class:

1 watering can with sprinkle head (or empty tin can with holes punched
in the bottom with a nail)
water
174
Find two different 3-foot by 3-foot areas on the school grounds for students to observe: one
with bare soil and the other with grassy or weed-covered soil. If possible, both areas should
be level. M ark each area with string or yarn.
Doing the Activity
1. Take students to one of the two different areas. A sk them what they think will happen
when you sprinkle the area with water from the watering can (or from a tin can with holes
punched in the bottom). S prinkle water on the entire area and have students observe for
about 5 minutes what happens. D oes the water carry away soil? D oes the water sit on top
of the soil? D oes the water percolate into the soil?
Preparation
2. A sk students to describe what they observed.
4. A sk students to describe what they observed.

5. Back in the class, explain to students what cover crops are and ask students why farmers
might use cover crops.
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3. Take students to the other area and ask them what they think they will observe when you
sprinkle this area with water. If they think there will be differences in their observations,
ask them their reasons for thinking so. S prinkle water on the entire area and have students
observe for about 5 minutes.
175
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Heath Family Farm
176
It might seem strange that such sweet fruit

as oranges and tangerines are grown right
next to snow-covered mountain ranges, but
cold weather makes citrus fruits develop their
sugar content.
We get real nice, sweet oranges here, says

R on H eath. This cold really brings up the
sugar. H e adds that orange and tangerine trees
develop and ripen their fruit in winter temperatures of 32 to 60 degrees.
The majestic snowy peaks of M ount S hasta

and M ount L assen stand in the background as
the H eath familyR on, M elanie, and their two
grown children, Zachary and M arisaperch
on their picking ladders reaching through lush
green foliage for their bright navel oranges.
S ometimes his fruit even become ice-coated

and look like round orange popsicles. But
although this cool climate benefits the H eath
Family Farm most of the time, it can also spell
trouble if the weather stays freezing for a prolonged period of time.
part of this parklike setting is created by the

heaths organic practices. To combat infestations of scale, a tiny insect that causes disease, the heaths re gularly release scale-eating
wasps and ladybugs on their farm. To keep up
the fertility of the soil, they spread aged horse
manure around the orchard and plant cover
crops of bell beans and grass. The heaths are
so firmly committed to o ganic farming that
they helped pioneer the organic certification
standards for citrus growers.
although ron and melanie did not start out

as farmers (ron w orked as a full-time jeweler), when they bought the farm in 1978, they
were already committed to organic practices.
They also knew it would be a great place to
raise their children. Keeping the farm organic
and on a small scale allows them to manage
the production and operation of the farm as a
family. Their son, Zachary, a student at Chico
state Uni versity studying plant and soil science, sees the farm as the future for himself
and his fiance: When i as traveling in Germany, i saw farms that had been in the same
family for hundreds of years. That appeals to
me.
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The fright of the 1990 freeze made the heaths

rethink some of their practices. They have
planted citrus that ripen in early winter as
well as a wider variety of trees. ron has been
experimenting with the new red navel oranges,
the Cara Cara, which originated in Venezuela,
and some new varieties of mandarins that can
be harvested in the early, middle, or late part
of the season.
177
C H A P T E R
1 7
S trawberries
The strawberry, a member of the rose family,
has grown wild in E urope and the A mericas for

hundreds of years. A lthough ancient R omans
valued the fruit for its therapeutic, medicinal
qualities, it was not domesticated until the eighteenth century. Wild strawberries grow on foggy
coastal cliffs and shady forest floors. The cultivated strawberry, as it is known today, was the
result of a chance cross between a wild Virginia
species and a Chilean species.
Today there are many varieties of cultivated
strawberries. California is the leading producer
of strawberries in the United S tates. The fruit
favors cool, moderately foggy conditions, so
most strawberry farms are found in coastal areas. A number of strawberry varieties have been
developed to grow in the specific mic oclimates
of Northern Californias coast.
178
S trawberry plants are perennials, but most

farmers grow them for only one year. Plants
may be started from seed or by transplanting
shoots called runners.
There are two modern hybrid categories of
strawberries: spring-bearing and ever-bearing. S pring-bearing berries produce most of
their fruit during the early part of the season,
which begins in M arch. These varieties include
the S equoia, which produces large, intense
fruit, and the Chandler, which is the earliestbearing type. E ver-bearing berries, such as
Fern, S eascape, and H ecker, produce mediumsized fruit throughout the season, which extends until O ctober.
S trawberries thrive in sandy, well-drained
soil with lots of moisture. R aised beds help to
provide good drainage, which inhibits fungal
growth. D rip irrigation and heavy mulch help
to give the plants the moisture they need. M any
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or ganic strawberry farmers rely on hand-removal of insect pests and grow beneficial flowers, such as rose, sweet clover, babys breath,
and sunfl wers, to help attract insects that eat
pests. Weeds are removed by hand, and the
plastic ground covering is tucked around berry
plants to help exclude pests. Keeping the soil
smooth around the base of the plants also helps
to prevent fruit decay.
Information
s Pr iNg e a r l y s Um m e r
stra wberries generally do not ripen after picking. When ready for harvest, only completely
ripe berries should be picked. The most difficult part of the armers job is to see that the
strawberries are transported to market without
bruising or crushing the fruit. gentle handling
and careful picking by hand is time-consuming
and labor intensive.
Ch a p t e r 17: s t r a w b e r r i e s
farmers use plastic to cover the soil around

the plants to control both weeds and pests. By
warming the soil, the plastic covering improves
crop yields and helps to ripen the berries and
protect them from decay. Cool winters also
help the plant produce more fruit at harvesttime.
s Pr i Ng e a r l y s Um m e r
179
R E C I P E
Strawberry Lemon-Limeade
Preparation Time:
20 minutes
Cooking Time:
5 minutes
Background
This is a very easy recipe to make. it is not imperative to cook the sugar and zest if there is not a
hot plate available, but cooking does make it a much tastier drink. if you prefer, you may substitute
other berries (raspberries, blueberries, etc.) for the strawberries or use only limes or lemons.
When introducing this recipe, discuss with students the differences between strawberries and
lemons. explain ho w lemons and limes grow on trees, whereas strawberries grow on small, lowlying plants. ha ve students compare their structures: lemons and other citrus have skins that can
be peeled and cooked and have pith, sacs, and seeds; strawberries have a very thin skin, and their
seeds are embedded in the skin. stra wberries are sweet and may be eaten whole, but lemons and
limes are too sour for most people to eat directly from the tree.
Objectives

demonstrate a w orking knowledge of the following words: zest, simmer, and garnish.
Compare the anatomical structure of strawberries, lemons, and limes.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

2 pints strawberries
12 lemons
9 limes
18 cups water
2 cups sugar
2 trays ice
180
Materials
For the class:

colander
hot plate
2 half-gallon pitchers
blender
measuring cups
ladle
small saucepan
small strainer
vegetable peeler
knife
cutting board
pot holders

2 cutting boards
2 knives
4 vegetable peelers
3 bowls
4 small cups
napkins
journals
1 citrus juicer

2. Wash the strawberries and put them in the colander to drain. Wash all the citrus.
3. di vide the lemons, limes, and strawberries into fi e equal portions, one for each student
group, saving two lemons for garnish.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives and the hot plate. Unplug the blender before putting
utensils or hands into it.
Preparation
Making the Recipe
1. Provide each group of students with ingredients and materials.
3. ha ve each group stem, peel, and juice the fruits as demonstrated and place them in separate
bowls. sa ve two lemons for garnish.
4. Collect the bowls and place them on the demonstration table. ha ve students gather around
the demonstration table. select tw o students to pour the lemon juice and the lime juice
through the strainer to catch all the seeds.
WiNTe r
2. demonstrate stemming the stra wberries, peeling the zest off the lemons and limes, and juicing the citrus. To peel the zest, use a peeler and carefully peel off just the colored portion of
the peel, leaving the white, pithy portion on the fruit. students will peel the zest of f half of
the lemons and limes and use a citrus juicer to extract the juice.
5. ask tw o students to measure 11/2 cups water and 2 cups sugar, then add the water, sugar, and
all the zest to a small saucepan. slo wly bring the mixture to a boil and simmer on low heat
for 5 minutes.
7. While still waiting for the sugar to cool, have the class make the lemon garnish, which will
be a thin slice of lemon for each cup.
8. When the syrup is cool, add it to the pitchers. stir the mixture thoroughly . ha ve students
taste for sweetness and add more sugar if needed. serv e over ice or as it is with the garnish.
scraps there.
6. While the sugar simmers, help two volunteers pure the strawberries and 11/2 cups water in
a blender. as the sug ar syrup cools, have three students pour an equal amount of lemon and
lime juice in each of the pitchers. ha ve students add equal portions of the strawberry pure
to the pitchers. stir the mixture thoroughly .
181
R E C I P E
Strawberry Shortcake
Cooking Time:
15 minutes
R ecipe L evel: A dvanced
Background
stra wberry shortcake is a classic american dessert. students will prepare stra wberries so that their
juice will fl w over the baked shortcakes.
ripe, sweet stra wberries are fragile and require careful handling. They should be washed just
before using, with their calyxes (the green leafy part) still on, to minimize the amount of water
they absorb.
Objectives

demonstrate a w orking understanding of the following terms: cut butter into flou , preheat, bake,
and whip.
Prepare a recipe that involves baking.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

Filling
5 pints strawberries
3
/4 cup sugar
Shortcakes
/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
3 cups flou
3
/4 cup butter
1 cup heavy cream
3
Topping
3 cups whipping cream
3
/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
182
Materials
For the class:

colander
egg beater
wooden spoon
oven
rolling pins
3 medium mixing bowls
biscuit cutter or small
drinking glass
cutting board
3 measuring cups
baking sheet
2 serving spoons
measuring spoons
fork
pot holders
potato masher

2 cutting boards
2 knives
4 bowls
4 forks
napkins
journals

2. Wash strawberries in the colander and allow them to drain.
3. set aside 20 stra wberries, then separate the remaining strawberries into fi e equal portions,
one for each student group.
Preparation
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives and the oven.

Making the Recipe
1. demonstrate stemming and slicing the stra wberries, pointing out it is best to try to cut them
all to the same thickness (about 1/2-inch thick).
2. ha ve student groups slice their strawberries and place them in a bowl.
4. Collect the bowls and place them on the demonstration table. ha ve students gather around
the demonstration table. ha ve two students add the sliced strawberries, crushed strawberries,
and sugar to the large mixing bowl. mix well, cover, and set aside. While the mixture sits,
it should become very juicy.
WiNTe r
3. gi ve each group an equal portion of the 20 strawberries you had set aside. demonstrate
crushing them with a fork in a separate bowl. ha ve students crush their strawberries.
5. For the shortcake recipe, have selected students measure out all the ingredients, stir together
the dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl, and cut the butter into small slices. add the
butter pieces to the flour mixture. demonstrate h w to cut the butter into the flour: use the
tips of your fingers to rub the utter pieces into the flour mixture until it resembles a coarse
cornmeal. allo w students to assist.
7. When ready to serve the shortcakes, use the egg beater to whip 3 cups cream. When the
cream is ready (it should be quite thick), add the vanilla extract and sugar.
8. Cut the shortcakes in half like a sandwich. Put the bottom sections on a plate, spoon an equal
portion of strawberries over each one, put on the top sections of the shortcake, then add a
spoonful of whipped cream to each.
scraps there.
6. When the mixture is ready, have two students add 1 cup heavy cream and stir until the flour is
just moistened. Turn out the dough and let a few students knead the dough briefly and roll it
out about 1/2-inch thick on a floured sur ace. ha ve each student cut out a shortcake by using a
biscuit cutter or small glass. Place the shortcakes on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the tops are lightly brown.
183
A C T I V I T Y
L adybug R elease
Preparation Time:
Will vary, depending on availability of materials
Total L esson Time: A bout one hour
Background
Insects may be a major problem when growing strawberries. A technique used in sustainable agriculture to combat this problem is to use biological controls. For example, the two-spotted spider
mite lives on strawberry leaves and can completely overrun the plant if the population gets too
large. To combat the mites, a predator mite is released into the fields. The predator mites prey on
the spider mites, reducing their population and saving the strawberries.
S imilarly, ladybugs help strawberries by feeding on pesky insects called aphids. A female ladybug can lay up to 1,500 eggs. The eggs then move to the larval stage, which lasts for three to six
weeks. A fter the adult emerges from the pupa, it takes only fi e to 13 days before it lays its own
eggs. In the larval stage, each ladybug can eat around 400 aphids, and in the adult stage each ladybug can eat more than 5,000 aphids in its lifetime. Therefore, releasing many ladybugs results in
fewer aphids in a small amount of time.
Because these insects are so beneficial to arms and gardens, places called insectaries breed and
collect them. To get large populations of ladybugs, insectaries collect them from overwintering sites. These sites are usually in the mountains, where aggregations form after the ladybugs
have migrated from valley feeding areas. Insectaries supply nurseries and farmers with ladybugs.
A nother way for farmers to attract ladybugs and other beneficial insects is by gr wing particular
fl wers, such as roses, sweet cover, babys breath, sunfl wers, crimson, and wild radishes, along
the borders of the strawberry plants. Creating a diverse insect population is a natural way of keeping insect growth in check.
Objectives

E xplain how releasing ladybugs into the school
garden helps the plants.
S tudy ladybugs up close by touching them,
looking at them magnified, and noticing h w
long they live and how quickly they reproduce.
Materials
A box of ladybugs (around 500 ladybugs) from

a local nursery
M agnifying glass(es)
184
Preparation
1. Buy a container of ladybugs. if none are available at the local nursery, search on the internet
for sources of insectaries.
WiNTe r
2. if you buy the ladybugs before the day you plan to release them, store the container in the
refrigerator or any cool, dark place at 40 to 60 degrees. if you store them for longer than a
week (but no longer than three weeks), let the container warm to room temperature once or
twice a week, sprinkle it with water, and let it sit and absorb the water for about two hours.
Doing the Activity
1. Choose a time to release your ladybugs when it is relatively cool or overcast (e.g., the
morning). Water the plants on the day you will release the bugs.
5. Optional: if you have a copy of What About Ladybugs? by Celia godkin, read it and talk
to the class about the different types of symbiotic relationships found in nature: mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.
2. ha ve students come up to the container one or two at a time and gently scoop up some ladybugs. The bugs will crawl up their arm a bit, but remind the students that the ladybugs will
not hurt them. if you have a magnifying glass, have the students look at the bugs up close.
Then have each student walk calmly to a place in the garden and gently brush the bugs from
their arms onto a plant of their choosing.
185
3. ha ve the students observe what the ladybugs do in the garden and have them record their
observations. discuss ho w the release of the ladybugs will affect the garden.
4. in the days and weeks following the release of the bugs, ask the students to notice whether
ladybugs are still in the garden and, if so, whether there seem to be more or fewer than at the
time they were released. also ha ve them notice any other changes: are there less harmful
bugs in the garden? do the plants look healthier?
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Swanton Berry Farm
The experts told Jim Cochran that it could not

be done.
The memory of the sweet fragrance and taste

of strawberries his grandmother used to serve
lingered in Jim Cochrans mind. S o he set out to
recreate those fl vorful berries he remembered
from childhood.
Jim started S wanton Berry Farm from two
rented acres along the Pacific Coast near a ti y
town called D avenport, located on the California coast between S an Francisco and S anta
Cruz. H e expanded the farm to 80 acres, where
he grows strawberries as well as artichokes,
broccoli, peas, caulifl wer, black raspberries,
and blackberries. S wanton Berry Farm follows
organic farming practices.
186
Jim found that instead of using fumigation and

pesticides, he could employ a long-term soilbuilding program that involved crop rotation,
biodynamic compost (a special compost that is
enriched with organic material), and products
made from sea kelp. H e also grows and plows
into the soil cover crops, such as grains and
legumes, which enrich the soil for strawberries.
Creating a healthy, rich soil is only half the
work of growing organic strawberries. There
is also the problem of harmful insects. Without
the use of pesticides, the strawberry plant is in
danger of being eaten before even bearing fruit.
For Jim and the people working at S wanton

Berry Farm, the commitment to environmentally safe farming practices includes a commitment to fair labor policies.
H e believed that the first step in creating good

work conditions was to offer a chemical-free
environment. The second step was to pay by
the hour worked rather than by the number of
boxes of strawberries picked.
In addition, workers at S wanton are given a
variety of tasks during the week so that they
will not become bored with a job or harm their
bodies through repetitive motions.
WiNTe r
A nother way to combat the insects is to grow

certain fl wers that attract beneficial insects.
A long the borders of the strawberry beds,
fl wers such as roses, sweet clover, babys
breath, sunfl wers, crimson, and wild radish
fl wers bloom, attracting insects that will also
attack the spider mites.
Jim did not see the point in his farming if the

workers were underpaid, overworked, and
treated without respect. S wanton Berry Farm
was one of the first str wberry farms and the
first o ganic farm in the United S tates to sign
a contract with a farmworkers union. S wanton Berry Farms contract guarantees workers
good hourly wages, good working conditions,
health benefits for the orkers entire family,
paid vacation and sick leave, and a retirement
package.
For example, the two-spotted spider mite lives

on strawberry leaves and may completely
overrun the plant. To combat the mites at
S wanton, workers rely on the age-old cycles
of nature. When the spider mites become so
numerous that they constitute a real threat, a
predator mite cultivated in nurseries is released
into the fields. The predator mites do not hurt
the berry bushes but love to chow down on the
spider mites.
187
C H A P T E R
1 8
S tone Fruit
Peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, and cher-
ries are all classified as stone fruit, or drupes,

which means they possess a single, large seed or
stone surrounded by sweet, juicy flesh. Peaches
and apricots originated in western China about
4,000 years ago. S everal species of plums were
domesticated in R oman times in E urope and
independently in China and Japan in the distant
past. Cherries are thought to originate from a
number of places, including E astern E urope
and A sia. The Chinese were the first to cult vate
these succulent fruits, but A lexander the G reat is
credited with introducing them to the G reco-R oman world. Today, California is the leading producer of stone fruit in the United S tates because
of its temperate climate and rich soils.
188
Peaches, which were popular during colonial

times right after they were first introduced to
North A merica, can be grown in most areas.
There are two categories of peaches: freestone
and cling. The cling peaches have pits that are
attached to the fruit and are used primarily for
canning; the freestone peaches have pits that
detach easily from the fruits flesh and are used
for eating out of hand and for cooking. Nectarines are varieties of peaches that have no fuzz.
Nectarines have originated many times as bud
spurs (mutations in a single branch) on peach
trees.
Cherries are also divided into two categories:
sweet and sour. S weet cherries are used for
eating out of hand (e.g., Bing, R oyal A nne, and
L arian). S our cherries (e.g., M ontmorency and
E nglish M orello) are used for canning and pies.
D ormant oil sprays are sometimes used to

combat scale and mealy bugs. The spray
smothers the insect eggs before they hatch.
S tone fruits have very thin skins and consequently can easily rot on the trees. S ome
growers spray compost tea on the fruits to
protect them from rotting.
Information
With the exception of cherries, stone fruit is

generally picked while still slightly firm. This
practice minimizes crushing or bruising by the
time it arrives at market.
L ook for peaches and nectarines with smooth,
firm, deep golden-hued skin; plums with taut
skin and a dull matte finish; and golden-hued
apricots. S tone fruit should be purchased ripe.
If necessary, place unripe fruit in a paper bag
on a counter. R efrigerate stone fruit only if it
is overly ripe.
Cover crops are sometimes used to add organic matter to the soil, which makes the trees
healthier and better able to resist diseases.
A pricots are high in vitamins A and C and are

a good source of potassium. They are also a
good source of fibe , as are cherries and nectarines. Peaches, cherries, and nectarines are
a good source of vitamin C. Plums are high in
vitamin C.
Cherries and plums tolerate cold winters and,

therefore, grow well in the northern United
S tates, Canada, northern E urope, and A sia.
Ch a p t e r 18: s t o n e Fr u i t
S tone fruits need warm days in summer and

cool nights in winter to produce mature, ripe
fruit. G ood drainage is a must. Peach, plum,
apricot, and nectarine trees take three to fi e
years to bear fruit; cherries average about fi e
to seven years. Peach and apricot trees normally are thinned to increase the size of the fruit.
WiNTe r
S tone fruits are synonymous with late spring

and summer. The season usually begins in
mid-M ay with cherries and apricots; then
peaches, nectarines, and plums follow. The
stone fruit season generally extends until
early O ctober except for cherries and apricots,
which finish in late June.
Peaches and apricots do not tolerate as much

cold but grow well in California, the southern
United S tates, southern E urope, and much of
central A sia.
Varieties of plums have different characteristics of texture, fl vor, color, time of harvest,
and environmental preferences. Plums are
available in a wide range of colors, including
red, green, yellow, purple, and black. In recent
years, plum hybrids, such as the pluot (a plum/
apricot cross), have increased in popularity,
and many delicious varieties are now available
at farmers markets.
189
R E C I P E
Nectarine & Peach Smoothies

Cooking Time:
None
Background
Nothing is easier to make or more appealing to kids than a batch of fruit smoothies. y ou can
substitute the kinds of fruit you use as the seasons pass or mix and match in any season.
Objectives

demonstrate a w orking knowledge of the following words: pure, smoothies, and stone fruit.
describe the dif ferent fruits in the stone fruit family.
Compare nectarines and peaches.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

6 nectarines
6 peaches
41/2 cups plain, unsweetened
yogurt (or milk)
1
4 /2 cups orange juice
6 tablespoons honey
190
Materials
For the class:

colander
blender
2 large pitchers
1 large mixing bowl
measuring spoons
measuring cups
knife
cutting board

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 bowls
4 cups
napkins
journals

2. Wash nectarines and peaches, scrubbing off peach fuzz, in particular, and place them in the
colander to drain.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives. Unplug the blender before putting utensils or hands
into the blender jar.
Preparation
Making the Recipe
1. demonstrate cutting the peaches and nectarines into wedges and then cutting them from
their pits. sho w the different parts of the fruit: pit, skin, and flesh or meat
2. While students prepare the wedges for the recipe, have them examine the parts of each fruit
and make notes in their journals about the texture, size, color, shape, and smell of each part
of each fruit. ha ve students place the wedges in bowls.
4. ask students ho w many batches they think it will take to blend the ingredients for the
smoothies. ha ve students divide the ingredients into equal batches and place each batch
separately into the blender. Blend each batch until smooth and pour into the pitchers.
WiNTe r
3. Collect the bowls and place them on the demonstration table next to the blender. ha ve students gather around the demonstration table. ask tw o students to put all the fruit in a large
mixing bowl and mix. add the measured yogurt, orange juice, and hone y.
5. When all is pured, serve in a cup. While students drink the smoothies, discuss the
differences among the fruits.
scraps there.
191
R E C I P E
Plum Jam
Cooking Time:
2 hours
Total L esson Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes
S afety S uggestions: A dvanced
Background
an y kind of plum may be used for this jam as long as it is fl vorful and has a good sweet-tart
balance, such as santa rosa. The cooking time includes one hour for the plum mixture to sit and
one hour to simmer and stir. y ou will want to coordinate this recipe with other class lessons so that
students can periodically stir the jam while it simmers. This recipe works well if your class prepares the plum jam before lunch so that the jam can sit for a while and then be cooked after lunch
during a reading or writing period.
Objectives

demonstrate a w orking knowledge of the following words: plum, stone fruit, and jam.
Compare the parts of different varieties of plums.
Ingredients
For a class of 20:

3 lbs plums
(one or several varieties)
21/2
cups sugar
2 lemons
water
whole wheat bread or crackers
192
Materials
For the class:

large, heavy-bottomed
cooking pot
colander
measuring spoons
measuring cup
serving spoon
potato masher
cherry pitter (optional)
hot plate
pot holders
cutting board
knife

2 cutting boards
2 knives
2 plates
2 bowls
napkins
journals

2. Wash plums and place them in the colander to drain.
3. di vide plums into fi e equal portions, one for each student group.
Safety Precautions
re view safety precautions for using knives and the hot plate. hot jam has the potential for
causing serious burns. mak e sure that students use extreme care when stirring the jam.
Preparation
Making the Recipe
1. demonstrate ho w to cut the plums in half and then cut them from their pits. sho w the
different parts of the fruit: pit, skin, and flesh or meat
3. Collect the bowls and place them on the demonstration table next to the hot plate. ha ve
students gather around the demonstration table. ask tw o students to gather the fruit in the
cooking pot. ha ve another two students measure and add sugar into the mixing bowl. ask
two other students to quarter the lemons and squeeze the juice into the pot. allo w students
to take turns mashing the plums. Place four to six pits in the mixture so the aroma permeates it. let it sit for an hour .
WiNTe r
2. gi ve each group a portion of the plums to prepare. While they prepare the plums for the
recipe, have them examine the plums and make notes in their journals about the texture,
size, color, shape, and smell of each part of each fruit. ha ve students place prepared plums
into bowls. ha ve students save the pits in another bowl.
4. Place the pot on medium heat and cook for one hour, stirring frequently to prevent scorching or burning. it works well to assign student pairs to stir at fi e-minute intervals while the
rest of the class is reading or writing.
scraps there.
5. When the jam is thick (in about one hour), take it off the hot plate and let it cool. ha ve the
kids serve themselves by putting some jam on bread or crackers. refrigerate and consume
within three to fi e days.
193
A C T I V I T Y
Cities and Farms

Preparation Time:
Total L esson Time:
None
30 to 60 minutes
Background
Can you imagine a farm where your house is? Well, that is probably how it was 100 years ago.
ev en the sites of big cities, such as san Francisco and los angeles, were once some of the richest and most productive farming areas in the United states. Fragrant orange gro ves once covered
the fertile plains surrounding los angeles. Vegetables and pears grown in the rich peat soils of
the delta were floated d wn to waterfront markets in san Francisco by bar ge. apricot, plum, and
cherry trees covered the santa Clara Valley, which was nicknamed the Valley of heart s delight.
Wheat grown right around mount diablo w as of such good quality that it was in demand all over
the world. Fresno was once, not so long ago, a farming town, and it is now a large, sprawling city.
But the climate that was good for farming was also good for people. in 2001, more than 33 million people were living in California. in 20 years there will be 15 million more. much of the good
farmland has been paved over. Planners, policymakers, and farmers are working hard to figure out
how to preserve agricultural lands. after all, people need fresh food; and being close to beautiful
orchards, natural fields and streams, and healthful open spaces ma es people feel good.
Objectives

Name ways in which cities and farms are connected.
describe wh y local farms are important to people.
Materials
For the class:

Van dyk e ranch f arm profil
map of California
drawing paper
crayons, marking pens, or colored pencils
194
1. ha ve students read the farm profile, either ind vidually or as a class. lead a discussion
about some of the challenges the Van dyk es have faced because of the increasing population in their area.
2. on the board, write the w ords cities and local farms and ask students to name some
of the benefits of cities and some of the benefits of local arms.
3. Point out to students that California needs both cities and local farms and that the trick
is to find a balance that is best for all. y ou might use the analogy of schoolwork and
play: What would happen if students had only schoolwork all day or if they only played
all day? ho w is a balance of schoolwork and play good for children? Why is a balance
between cities and farms important? What would happen if there was no room for local
farms? What would happen if there was no room for cities?
Doing the Activity
4. ask students if the y can think of ways that cities and local farms depend on each other or
are connected. Where appropriate, make arrows between items on the two lists to show
these connections.
WiNTe r
5. gi ve pairs or small groups of students a piece of drawing paper and ask them to draw a
picture showing a city and surrounding farms that are in balance. They should draw and
label different connections between the two that would help them stay in balance (for
example, transportation between the two, enough food for the city and enough customers
for the farms, and so on).
6. ask v olunteers to share their drawings, pointing out the features that keep the city and
local farms in balance.
7. For older students: display a map of California and ask students to identify cities and
farming areas. remind them of the f arm profiles th y have read in class and the locations
of those farms. ask them to record in their journals their thoughts about the changing balance of farms and cities. For homework, students interview an adult who has lived in the
area for at least ten years. They record his or her responses about the ways in which the
balance of farms and cities has changed. students may share their findings in the
next class meeting.
195
F A R M
P R O F I l E
Van Dyke Ranch

Dark, glossy red cherries and pale, pinkorange apricots hang like ornaments from the
dark green trees all over the Van Dyke Ranch.
It is harvesttime.
The sweet fragrance of cut apricots drying in

trays under the summer sun fills the ai . The
plump cherries swing from their stems as a
gentle breeze brings welcome relief from the
heat.
The quality of the fruit is beautiful, says Betty
Van D yke, who owns and operates the farm near
G ilroy with her three grown sons, Kurt, Peter,
and E ric. Betty took over the ranch from her
father, who had farmed with his father in Cupertino. Farming has been in the Van D yke family
since Bettys grandparents came from Y ugoslavia at the turn of the twentieth century.
In the 1950s, Bettys father was forced by subdivision development to sell the Cupertino farm
and move the ranch to two pieces of land (107
acres and 53 acres) near G ilroy.
D ad was an incredible workhorse, says Betty.
In fact, he was the horse, pulling the plow
himself before they could afford a tractor. Betty
worked side by side with her father until his
death in 1978. Before he passed away, he said to
Betty, I see you know what to do. Now it is all
up to you.
Betty had learned from her dad that using as few
pesticides as possible and depending on cover
crops, rock minerals, and other natural methods
kept the land healthy and produced the best-tasting fruits.
196
The S anta Clara Valley is perfect for growing

cherries and apricots, she explains, because
of the high water table and gravelly soil that
drains well, along with warm days and cool
nights. This environment and thoughtful organic farming practices give the Van D yke cherries
and apricots exceptional fl vor.
Y et sadly, the Van D yke R anch may be threatened by the suburban sprawl and water politics
of nearby development. Betty and her sons
have learned the hard way that running a successful farm means not only sound farming
practices, hard work, and smart marketing but
also political activism.
The Van D yke R anch is located in an area
that the S anta Clara County government has
designated for agriculture only; however, the
area is in danger of being developed. Bettys
son Peter, who was appointed a member of the
A gricultural A dvisory Committee of the S anta
Clara Valley Water D istrict, says, S ince our
local water district came under the jurisdiction of the county government a few years ago,
our water rates have tripled. Besides that, our
electricity rates for pumping water have quadrupled.
These rising costs make it difficult for armers
in the county to turn a profit from their pr duce. A ll around them, land is selling at everrising prices, making it tempting for struggling
farmers to sell their land to developers who
would build subdivisions.
WiNTe r
For now, the Van D ykes are holding on to their

ranch. Instead of selling their land, they are
trying to make their business more profitable.
For years, the Van D ykes dried 90 percent
of their apricots. But with more demand and

better prices for fresh apricots, the Van D ykes
decided to sell more fresh apricots. O ther
strategies include opening a fruit stand, selling
fruit juice and baby food, and growing lateseason summer vegetables.
These are all steps that the Van D ykes hope
will keep their ranch going for generations to
come.
We love what we do, Peter explains, but we

are struggling to make ends meet. It is depressing to see nearby land selling for almost
$100,000 per acre. A dding to this problem is
the loss of skilled farmers who are getting out
of the business and are not being replaced by
people new to farming.
197
L ocations of Farms Profiled in

S pringE arly S ummer

1
2

3
4
5
6
Farm
City
T&D Willey Farms

Berkeley Youth
Alternatives Garden
Patch
Fong Farm
Heath Family Farm
Swanton Berry Farm
Van Dyke Ranch
SA CRAME NTO
SA N FRA NCIS CO 2
6
5
1
FRES NO
LOS A NGELES
198
Madera
Berkeley
Winters
Orland
Davenport
Gilroy
LATE SUMMERFALL
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
199
APPENd Ix ES
WINTER
Appendixes
A p p e n d i x
Extension Ideas
If you find that you and your class ant to do more investigating about farm produce, agriculture,
or cooking, here are some possibilities for extending the activities in specific subject areas.
Science
For a given crop, students make a graph showing

which varieties the class likes best.
Students create a survey to find out what amilies typically eat for different meals and snacks.
Students use measuring spoons and cups to determine the ratios among teaspoons, tablespoons,
1
3 cup, 58 cup, and 1 cup.
Students create a survey about favorite ethnic
foods and conduct the survey among other students or friends and family. Students record the
results on a graph.
Students examine the patterns in broccoli florets:
do the patterns repeat themselv es? Are the
patterns random?
HistorySocial Science
Art
Students use a map of California to locate areas

where citrus fruit or other specific crops gr w.
The class visits a restaurant for a behind-thescenes look at how food is prepared for meals.
Students research a particular crop (such as rice
or corn) to learn about its cultural significance in
different regions of the world.
Students take a field trip to a local arm or farmers market (or invite a farmer to your class) to
help students learn about marketing practices,
pricing, and customer relations.
Students fill in a map of the orld by identifying
different cultures that make certain foods.
200
Math
Students make an inventory of the different

foods that they find at home and place the items
into categories according to the part of the plant
that they come from: leaves, stems, fl wers,
roots, or seeds.
Students examine the patterns of veins in a
variety of leaves. They dissect leaves and
observe them under a microscope.
Students explore differences between mixtures
and solutions.
Students research different varieties of a particular crop to determine their origins.
Students research methods that farmers use to
make their crops grow faster.
Students research and compare the nutritional
value in the same amount of frozen, canned, and
fresh food.
Students develop a school garden.
Students draw a map of the crops in the school
garden and make a crop rotation plan for it.
Students visit the school garden and inventory
all the different insects in it. They research to
learn which are beneficial and which hurt the
garden plants.
Students compare compost and garden soil. They
observe and record the color, smell, soil compaction, soil quality, and moisture of each.
KId S Co o K FARM-FRESh Fo o d
englishLanguage Arts
Students observe family members cooking at

home and share their observations in class.
Students write a letter to a farmer about questions they may have on growing certain crops
or other related issues. Contact the Community
Alliance with Family Farmers (see Appendix B)
to locate a farmer.
Students look up potato salad recipes (or other
common recipes) to see how many different versions they can find. discuss h w these recipes
might vary in taste, texture, smell, and appearance when they are prepared.
Students make produce prints by cutting cross
sections of onions, apples, broccoli florets, and
so on and dipping them in paint.
Students examine artwork of historical eras
being studied to see how fruits and vegetables
were depicted.
Computers/Technology
Students research the history of a commodity, its

nutritional value, and so forth.
Students visit the agricultural Web sites noted in
the Teacher Resource Guide, published annually
by the California Foundation for Agriculture in
the Classroom (see Appendix B).
A p pR ee nC di ip xe
The following information is provided for teachers who want to plan field trips for their students
or who seek additional resources for their programs:
Farmers Markets
Farmers markets are the best places to buy fresh,

seasonal farm products directly from local farmers
and to learn about how, where, and by whom local
farm products are grown. Market managers are
generally happy to arrange market tours for school
groups, and some markets offer special programs
for children, such as tastings and cooking classes.
To find a armers market nearby, contact your local
county agriculture commissioner or the following
sources:
County Farm Bureau

As listed in the business section of the White
Pages telephone directory. or call California
Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom at
800-700-AITC or visit the Foundations Web site
<http://www.cfaitc.org>.
School Gardens
Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education

Nutrition Services di vision
California department of Education
1430 N St., Fourth Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 323-2473
deborah Tamannaie: dtamannaie@cde.ca.gov
Farms
department of Pomology
Capitol Region School Gardens Resource Center
University of California, da vis
da vis, CA 95616
(530) 752-7655
Carol hillhouse: jchillhouse@ucdavis.edu
Cynthia ha vstad: cmhavstad@ucdavis.edu
Community Alliance with Family Farmers

P.o. Box 363
da vis, CA 95617
(530) 756-8518
http://www.caff.org
desmond Jolly , director
Small Farm Center
University of California, da vis
one Shields Ave.
da vis, CA 95616
(530) 752-8136
http://www.sfc.ucdavis.edu
Inland Empire Region School Garden Resource

Center
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
3801 W. Temple Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768
(909) 869-2173
Peggy McLaughlin: psmclaughlin@csupomona.edu
APPENd Ix B
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
Janice Price, director

direct Mark eting Program
California department of F ood and Agriculture
1220 N St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 654-0919
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov
WINTER
California Federation of Certified armers

Markets
http://farmersmarket.ucdavis.edu
The following organizations offer information

about developing school gardens, utilizing gardens
in the curriculum and for nutrition education, and
providing ongoing teacher training and support.
They also have lists of school gardens in their
areas and information about other school garden
resources.
Many farms welcome visitors and public participation. Quite a few offer special programs and
seasonal activities for school groups and families.
others of fer Community Supported Agriculture
programs. For a list of such farms, contact:
LATE SUMMERFALL
Farm to School Resources
201
San die go County School Garden Resource Center

Resource Conservation district of Greater
San die go County
332 So. Juniper St., Ste. 110
Escondido, CA 92025
(760) 745-2061
Tiana Sudduth: tiana@rcdsandiego.org
Tina M. Poles, School Garden Teacher Training
Program director
occidental Arts and Ecology Center
15290 Coleman Valley Rd.
occidental, CA 95465
(707) 874-1557, Ext. 202
tina@oaec.org
informal nutrition education, Garden,
and Farm education programs
County University of California Cooperative Extension and 4-h programs are e xcellent resources for a
wide variety of informal education programs:
California Foundation for Agriculture
in the Classroom
P.o. Box 15949
Sacramento, CA 95892-0949
2300 River Plaza dri ve
(916) 561-5625 or (1-800) 700-AITC
Fax (916) 561-5697
e-mail: cfaitc@cfbf.com
http://www.cfaitc.org
University of California Cooperative Extension
d ANR
one Shields Ave.
da vis, CA 95616-8575
http://fourh.ucdavis.edu
http://danr.ucop.edu
202
Farm to School programs
Following are some primary resources for financial

and technical support, training, and information:
California Nutrition Network/5-A-day
California department of health Services
P.o. Box 942732, MS-662
601 N. 7th St.
(916) 445-6727
Farm to School Program
Community Food Security Coalition
P.o. Box 209
Venice, CA 90294
(310) 822-5410
Marion Kalb: marion@foodsecurity.org
Food Systems Project
Center for Ecoliteracy
2522 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 548-8838
Melanie okamoto: melanie@foodsystems.org
California Agricultural directory
California Farm Bureau Federation
This Web site provides more than 2,000 listings
for agricultural associations and cooperatives,
government agencies, university schools and
programs, irrigation districts, fair associations,
and more.
(916) 561-5550
http://www.cfbf.com
A p p e n d i x
one Teachers Experience

by Phoebe Tanner
O pening the biweekly vegetable box from Terra

Firma Farm was always a highlight in my sixth
grade classroom. As soon as the large, waxed cardboard box appeared, students started guessing what
was in it. I opened the box, wondering right along
with them what gifts from the earth were inside
this week. I held up the vegetables, one by one,
calling on students to identify them. By two weeks
into D ecember, everyone could distinguish Swiss
chard from red Russian kale.
Phoebe Tanner, Sixth Grade Teacher, Edible Schoolyard,

M. L. King Middle School, Berkeley, California; California Visiting
Educator, California department of Education,
20002002
There was much discussion over salad dressings.

Most students wanted ranch dressing. We invited a
chef from a local restaurant to join us one day. H e
worked with the salad dressing group and showed
students how adding minced leeks and various
amounts of salt and pepper to oil and vinegar could
alter the taste. H e encouraged the students to dress
the salad only lightly, allowing the taste of the vegetables to come through. After the chefs visit, the
job of making salad dressing became a favorite.
I tossed the salad in a large bowl. Students placed
it on plates and served their classmates. O ne
day, once everyone was served, I asked the class
to pause before eating and think of all the steps
involved in getting our salad to our platesfrom
the sun that provided energy and the green leaves
that took that energy and, through photosynthesis, transformed it into food for the plant; to the
farmers at Terra Firma who tilled the soil, tended
the growing plants, harvested the crops, loaded the
truck, and delivered it to our school; to our class,
who washed, chopped, tossed, served, composted,
and, finall , ate together, taking in the energy from
the sun and the nutrients from the soil. Spontaneously, the students stood and applauded.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a connection between a local farmer and the people who eat the food the farmer
produces. Consumers make a monthly financial commitment to the arm and, in return, get a weekly box of seasonal fruits
and vegetables. Consumers share in the inherent risks and potential bounty of the farm and get the opportunity to know
where their food comes from. Farmers obtain a steady income year-round. The idea of a committed financial relationship
between consumers and farmers originated in Japan and Europe in the 1970s. Coincidentally, CSA vegetable boxes are a
wonderful teaching tool in the preliminary stages of developing a school garden.
APPENd Ix C
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
Students learn classroom routines especially

quickly when the routine is an activity they like.
Making a salad was high on my students list. Cutting boards were passed out, one to a table, with
no directions from me. I assigned the remaining
jobs, being sure to rotate those of washing the lettuce and using the salad spinner, a favorite job. In
short order students distributed all vegetables that
did not need cooking to the chopping stations. We
always cut up kale and chard and minced leeks.
Potatoes were among the few items that did not
I passed out the knives with words of caution.

O nly once in two years did I have to reach into the
box of adhesive strips during salad time.
WINTER
Carrots were always greeted with cheers. Most stu

dents were interested in eating them or getting the
peeling-and-cutting-carrots job, which, of course,
included tasting. There were several students who,
using classroom resource books, attempted to pin
down the variety of carrots, learning to distinguish
the Nantes from the Chantenays.
make it into the salad unless I had the foresight

and time to take them home the night before and
cook them.
LATE SUMMERFALL
Students Share in a Farms harv est
203
A p p e n d i x
Farm Field Trips for School Groups:

A Primer for Teachers
For many young people, farmers and farming have
an almost mythical quality as people, places, and
activities imagined but not directly experienced.
Children read books that include farm animals and
sing about old Macdonald, b ut few have ever been
to a farm or met a farmer. If future generations are
going to care about farms and farming, they need
to be directly exposed to the people and places that
produce their food.
Benefits of Farm Field Trips
Farm field trips pr vide an opportunity for students

to use all their senses to learn: the more they can
touch, smell, and taste the things they are learning
about, the more deeply they will understand and
remember what they learn. Learning on the farm is a
natural extension to related school activities such as
nutrition education, school garden classes, and classroom cooking. It also provides tangible applications
for science, math, social studies, and geography
concepts (e.g., for a fourth grade study of California
geography, culture, and history).
This primer outlines steps for planning, conducting,
and following up on farm field trips that will ensure
the most rewarding experience for students, teachers,
and farmers alike. More extensive trips to farms for
overnight stays are becoming more popular but are
not covered here.
Some farmers offer educational field trips as a part
of their farming operation. others encourage visits
but may not have developed specific act vities. Either
experience is valuable.
planning
Where to go: There are several resources for finding

farms in your area that host field trips. A good place
to start is by inquiring at your local farmers market
for farmers who live within field trip distance and
who host school groups. harv est trail groups (listed
in y ellow Pages or contacted through visitor ser204
vices) also have lists of farms that host groups and

offer other amenities to the public. (See also the
listings in Appendix B, Farm to School Resources.)
When: Fall, the traditional harvest season, and
spring, the start of summer production, are popular
times to take farm field trips. h wever, winter is
also an excellent time for on-farm learning because
even on farms that do not grow winter crops (and
many do), students experience the off-season activities that are essential to bountiful harvests.
What/who: The best farm field trips o fer handson activities, and these are most successful when
groups are small. Farmers will often have other
family members or their employees available so
that activity groups can be small even if the overall group is large. Teachers or parent chaperones
should be teamed with each activity group. discuss
planned activities and expectations with the farmer
ahead of time, including the number of students
that the farm can comfortably accommodate and
age-appropriate activities.
Price: Some tours are free of charge. Some farmers
charge a fee of $1 to $5 each for a day visit to help
cover their time. A charge for farm products that
the students take home may be included in or added
to this fee. Costs for transportation to the farm are,
of course, separate and may be expensive.
Logistics: discuss the follo wing items with the
farmer in detail: directions to the farm, estimated
travel time, parking and turnaround information
for car or bus drivers, availability of bathrooms and
water, insurance, clothing/footwear needed, other
desirable things to bring (e.g., drawing books, baskets), any safety considerations and special needs,
and contingency plans for bad weather.
Preparation activities: Successful farm trips
start with preparation in the classroom. This may
include general discussion about such subjects
Learning on the Farm
Plan on rotating groups of students through several

activities. It is also important to allow a little time
Back in the classroom: Follow-up activities can

be basic, such as simply sharing impressions and
writing and drawing in a journal. Farm field trip
experiences may also foster deeper discussion
about themes such as stewardship of the land, the
price of food, a sense of place, and the relationships between farms and cities and farmers and
consumers. Products brought back from the farm
may be used for a cooking class. Seeds or plants
from the farm might be planted in a school garden. Farm field trips can also pr vide an opportunity for family involvement by asking children
to find out about their wn familys history of
involvement in farming and/or growing plants
or raising animals. Another idea is to organize a
classroom or school to subscribe to a Community
Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
Thanking the farmer: Farmers appreciate getting
thank-you notes from the students. When students
are appreciative and show how much they have
learned, it encourages farmers to keep hosting
field trips. Some armers might facilitate continued contact by providing information about how
and where to buy their products, selling food to
the school food service, returning the visit, or simply sending the class a photo of the harvest
or a newborn animal.
Note: The University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (UCSAREP) provided
funding for a Farm Field Trip Guide for Farmers, which is the basis for this document and which appears on its Web site
<http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu>.
APPENd Ix d
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
Activities: Farmers experienced with field trips

will have activities planned and will advise on and
be prepared for a certain number of students for
each activity. Common hands-on activities include
planting seeds, transplanting seedlings, harvesting/gleaning, making compost, hunting for and
identifying insects, milking cows, and climbing on
tractors. Calmer activities include tasting, making
fl wer bouquets, learning about cover crops and
beneficial insects, touring an orchard or gree house, and discussing the wildlife on the farm.
Following Up
WINTER
Greeting, orientation, and ground rules: The

farmer (and other field trip hosts) greets and or ents the students, including pointing out bathrooms
and a lunch/snack spot and giving an overview
of planned activities. Either the farmer or teacher
should be explicit about ground rules, including
places that are off limits, prohibited activities, cautions (e.g., poison oak, bees), appropriate behavior around animals, and other information about
respectful and safe behavior.
and a place for the children to play (check with

the farmer) and imagine themselves as farmers.
LATE SUMMERFALL
as seasonality, nutrition, plant and animal biology, geography, and specific agricultural practices
(e.g.,composting, mulching, cover cropping, pest
management) and what local or regional means
(maps are a great tool for this.) Some farms have
written information they can provide about their
place, products, growing practices, and customers.
205
A p p e n d i x
National Farm to School Program

Improving Small Farm Viability
and School Meals
The National Farm to School Program links schools

with local farmers to provide fresher, tastier,
healthier school meals. When fresh, farm-direct,
seasonal food is included in school lunch programs,
both children and farmers benefit. When healthy
school lunch choices are combined with nutrition
education, farm visits, school gardens, and cooking
projects in the classroom, children have a better opportunity to develop healthy eating habits that last a
lifetime.
When fresh, nutritious food is offered in school
lunch programs, children learn to make healthful
choices. Children respond enthusiastically when
they are offered a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Fresh foods not only taste great but also
contain more nutrients.
Farmers profit, too, with the arm to School Program. Glorious fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts
are grown everywhere in California and are available directly from the farmers who produce them.
By selling their fresh, seasonal produce directly to
schools, farmers enhance their prospects of remaining viable contributors to the community.
Most people do not know where their food is
grown. Food purchased at the grocery store and
found in school cafeterias has often traveled thousands of miles before it reaches the table. Some
fruits and vegetables are stored for six months or
more, losing a significant amount of their vitamins
and fl vor before they are consumed. Many fruits
store and ship better when they are picked green
and never have a chance to develop their full fl vor
and nutritional value. Choosing locally grown,
farm-fresh foods helps conserve energy, is beneficial to the environment, and ensures that produce
is ripe, tasty, and nutritious. Consider these questions:
Where does the food served in your school
come from?
Can you identify which foods are grown locally?
Who makes the decisions about what is served
in your school lunch program?
If you want to start a Farm to School Program in
your school, contact:
National Farm to School Program
The Community Food Security Coalition
P.O . Box 209
Venice, CA 90294
The National Farm to School Program is a project of the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute at O ccidental College and
is funded through the USD A Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems program.
206
The students in the Santa MonicaMalibu

Unified School D istrict can choose a salad bar
lunch filled with fruits and egetables right from
the farmers market.
Students toured the farmers market and noted

that items grown in the farmers gardens were
often featured in the school salad bar. This observation helped them connect to the source of
their food. O ne student was featured on the local
news, saying, I love the salad bar because its
healthy for your body.
As more students began using the salad bar,

the district food service director found that he
was able to shift staff from other areas into
the farmers market program. H e believes that
the program is cost-effective and able to support itself without grant funding. H e can now
focus on the benefits of the program and states,
Child nutrition is my new bottom line.
SPRINGEARLy SUMMER
Through grants from the Nutrition Network,

a federal and state program, the school district
hired one staff member to coordinate the program and new employees at each cafeteria to
prepare the fresh fruits and vegetables each day.
The district has purchased a cooking cart for

each school, providing an opportunity for chefs
to come into the classroom and conduct cooking demonstrations. The program now includes
regular trips to farms and to the farmers market,
and plans are in the works to create plots in the
school gardens devoted to growing produce for
the school salad bar.
WINTER
In the fall of 1997, the fruits and vegetables in

McKinley Elementary Schools salad bar were
replaced by seasonal items grown by regional
farmers and prepared on site each morning. Participation in the districts salad bar tripled when
the farmers market produce was introduced.
In 1998 the district began expanding the farmers market salad bar program to other schools
with high proportions of low-income children.
By 2001 the district had expanded the program
to all 16 schools in the district.
LATE SUMMERFALL
The Santa MonicaMalibu

Unified School district
by Peggy Adams
Peggy Adams, Project D irector, Farm to School Program,

Urban and Environmental Policy Institute, O ccidental College,
Los Angeles, California
APPENd Ix E
207
Agriculture Terms
Agriculture.T he art or science of cultivating the

ground to produce food. Agriculture includes
both crop farming (plants) and animal husbandry.
Bt. A toxin produced by a bacterium called Baccilus thuringiensis. T his bacterium is a disease
of caterpillars, but it is harmless to other insects
and to humans.
Certified o ganic. A guarantee by an accredited

certification o ganization that the farm does not
use toxic, chemical-based pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides.
Compost. A mixture that consists of decayed organic matter and is used for fertilizing the soil.
T he mixture may also contain manure.
Crop rotation. Planting different crops in the same

field each yea .
Fertile soil. Soil that has a rich microbial life, contains plant matter and nutrients, is neither too
dry nor too wet, and is therefore well suited to
growing healthy plants.
Fertilizer. Manure or other substances added to soil
so that plants will grow better.
Foodshed. T he farming regions around metropolitan areas that produce food for the surrounding
population.
Humus. A form of decomposed organic matter that

resists further decomposition. It is a dark-colored organic residue and, like sand, silt, and
clay, is a fraction of the soil. Humus is critical
to the fertility of soil.
Mulch. A covering, as of leaves or straw, placed
around growing plants to keep them moist or
protect them against cold.
Organic. F arming systems that optimize the health
and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals, and people.
Organic farmers manage pests and weeds with
earth-friendly methods, such as beneficial
insects and mechanical controls; they work to
build soil fertility so plants can be strong and
healthy without the use of artificial fertilizers.
Organic foods, when processed, do not contain
artificial ingredients, preser atives, or irradiation.
Pest. An insect, animal, or disease that harms
plants.
Pesticide. A chemical used to kill harmful pests.
Pheromone. A scent produced by animals, especially insects, to communicate with others of
their kind.
Pollination. T he transfer of pollen from a stamen
(male portion of a fl wer) to an ovule (female
portion of a fl wer), which is necessary for
most plants to bear fruit.
Seasonal. C oming with a particular time of year.
S e l e c t e d R e fGel ROeSnScAeRSy
SPRIn Ge ARl y SUMMe R
Cover crop. A crop, such as beans, planted in an

open field to c ver the open ground, to encourage beneficial insects, and to restore soil health
Heirloom. An antique variety of a plant popular in

the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries, the seeds of which have been passed down
from generation to generation.
WIn t e R
Biodynamic agriculture. A worldwide agricultural

movement inaugurated in 1924 by Austrian
scientist Rudolph Steiner. It is the oldest, nonchemical agricultural movement and predates
organic agriculture by 20 years. Biodynamics
seeks to actively work with the health-giving
forces of nature. F arms may be certified biod namic by the D emeter Association, an international certifie .
Germinate. T o begin to grow or cause to grow; to

sprout.
l At e SUMMe Rf Al l
Glossary
209
Soil. Soil that consists of unconsolidated (if it is

consolidated, it is called rock) mineral fragments,
water, air, organisms (such as plant roots, fungi,
and earthworms) and organic matter. It is found
on the surface of E arth.
Sustainable agriculture. A social commitment to
growing and distributing food to meet the needs
of the present without compromising the needs
of the future in a manner that is environmentally
sound, economically viable, and socially just.
Variety. A group of plants within a species that differ
from the others in the species in a particular way
(such as color or size).
Cooking Terms
Blanch. T o immerse briefly in boiling ater, often as

a preliminary step.
210
Fold. T o stir very gently by doubling one portion

over another.
Garnish. T o decorate food with something, usually
herbs or fl wers, that adds fl vor or color.
Knead. T o work a substance by folding, stretching,
and pressing it.
Pith. T he soft, spongy part of citrus peels.
Preheat. T o heat to a specific temperature before
cooking.
Pure. A thick liquid made by cooking and then
rubbing through a sieve or chopping in a food
processor.
Shuck. T o remove the husk and silks of the corn
ear.
Simmer. T o cook just at or below boiling point.
Blend. T o combine thoroughly and completely.
Whip. T o beat something into foam.
Chiffonade. F ine strips of a leafy green vegetable,

such as basil.
Zest. Orange or lemon peel used as fl voring.
KId S c OOK f ARM-f Re SH f OOd
Cooking
Childrens Quick & Easy Cookbook, by Angela

Wilkes. N ew Y ork: D K Publishing, 1997.
Simple, interesting recipes using fresh ingredients

for the most part; lots of photographs, with a picture for every step of the directions in the recipes.
Cooking Art, by MaryAnn F . Kohl. Beltsville,

Md.: Gryphon House, 1997.
E asy edible art for young children; activities

for making decorative kitchen utensils, placemats,
displays, etc.; good recipes, but more useful for the
activities than for the recipes.
Cooking with Children, by Marion C unningham.

N ew Y ork: Alfred A. Knopf, 1995.
F ifteen classic recipes using fresh ingredients;

simple instructions and layout; sketches of children
cooking.
A book of stories and recipes told from the

viewpoint of F anny, a little girl whose mother and
friends run C hez Panisse.
The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Childrens

Cookbook. N ew Y ork: Morrow Junior Books,
1997.
Good introduction, which includes information on

all kitchen utensils, terms, etc.; simple, interesting
recipes that use fresh ingredients for the most part;
photographs.
A first African cookbook for American kids;

good introduction, which explains African spices;
interesting recipes.
Hasty Pudding, Johnnycakes, and Other Good

Stuff, by L oretta F rances Ichord. Brookfield,
C onn.: T he Millbrook Press, 1998.
f abulous food for the whole family; simple,

interesting recipes using fresh as well as canned
foods (no emphasis on using fresh food); fun food,
geared to kids; includes black and white drawings.
Recipes written by kids.
Kids in the Kitchen, by Micah Pulleyn and Sarah

Bracken. ne w y ork: Sterling Publishing co.,
1994.
One hundred delicious, fun, and healthy recipes

to cook and bake; simple, wacky recipes (salad
people, for example); more snacks than meals; all
photographs from the seventies and not updated.
The Kids Multicultural Cookbook, by deanna f .

cook. charlotte, Vt.: Williamson Publishing,
1995.
Simple, basic recipes from countries around the

world, including rice, couscous, homemade pasta;
explains where the food comes from and how and
when it is traditionally eaten; includes ideas for
parties and other activities; color photographs,
including pictures of children around the world.
Leprechaun Cake and Other Tales, by Vonnie

Winslow crist. Baltimore: Vegetarian
Resource Group, 1995.
A vegetarian story cookbook, including four fantasy tales and more than 40 recipes; simple recipes
using fresh ingredients; black and white drawings.
The Little House Cookbook, by Barbara M.

Walker. ne w y ork: Harper & Row, 1979.
Simple recipes using fresh ingredients; long, interesting explanations, including historical references
and changes in food growth; beautiful illustrations.
Simple recipes using fresh ingredients; includes

modern, updated recipes along with the colonial
Se l e c t e d Re f e Re n c e S
A Good Soup Attracts Chairs, by F ran OsseoAsare. Gretna, L a.: Pelican Publishing C o.,
1993.
Kids Cook! by Sarah Williamson and Zachary

Williamson. charlotte, Vt.: Williamson
Publishing, 1992.
WIn t e R
Fanny at Chez Panisse, by Alice Waters. N ew

Y ork: HarperC ollins, 1997.
ones; includes a history of the foods of the different colonies, slaves, and nati ve Americans;
beautiful colorful illustrations.
Selected References
211
Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes, by Mollie

Katzen and Ann Henderson. Berkeley, C alif.:
T ricycle Press, 1994.
A cookbook for preschoolers and up; wholesome

but fun recipes (green spaghetti, for example) using
fresh ingredients; good explanations; simple layout
with drawings of the recipes; gourmet.
Roald Dahls Revolting Recipes, compiled by Josie

F ison and F elicity D ahl. N ew Y ork: Viking
Press, 1994.
Recipes from Roald D ahls stories, including

explanations of which story and where in the story
the recipes come from; crazy names and crazy food;
uses fresh ingredients; great illustrations.
Baking
Knead It, Punch It, Bake It! by Judith and E van

Jones. Boston: Houghton Mifflin C o., 1998.
T he ultimate breadmaking book for parents and

kids; good recipes, detailed explanations; black
andwhite sketches.
My First Baking Book, by Rena C oyle. N ew Y ork:

Workman Publishing C o., 1988.
Simple recipes; beautiful illustrations.
Gardening and Composting
The Childrens Kitchen Garden, by Georgeanne

and E thel Brennan. Berkeley, C alif.: T en Speed
Press, 1997.
Includes basic gardening information; describes
18types of vegetables and 13 herbs, with planting
and cooking tips; includes seasonal recipes highlighting the foods grown at that season as well as
other recipes for the entire year; photographs.
Dinner from Dirt, by E mily Scott and C atherine

D uffy. Salt L ake C ity: Gibbs Smith Publisher,
1998.
T en meals kids can cook and grow; for example,

a salsa garden which includes growing tomatoes,
cucumbers, and all the other ingredients to make
salsa, with a recipe at the end; simple explanations;
photographs.
212
Garden Crafts for Kids, by D iane Rhoades. N ew

Y ork: Sterling Publishing C o., 1995.
Good explanations of various aspects of gardening; includes creative ideas for garden design (for
example, growing plants in an old shoe) as well as
ideas for garden tools, storage, and so on.
Gardening Wizardry for Kids, by L . Patricia Kite.

Hauppauge, N .Y.: Barrons E ducational Series,
1995.
Green thumb magic for the great indoors; more
than 300 indoor gardening projects and fascinating
folklore; uses inexpensive materials available in
any household; simple, well-explained activities.
Ready, Set, Grow, by Suzanne F rutig Bales. N ew

Y ork: Macmillan, 1996.
Instructions for creating gardens designed for kids;

illustrated plant guide to no-hassle, quick-growing
plants; craft and activity projects; information on
beneficial ugs and planting tips; includes a guide
to all the public gardens in the country.
Worms Eat My Garbage: A Childrens Activity

Book, by Mary Appelhof. Kalamazoo, Mich.:
F lower Press, 1982.
Gives step-by-step directions for setting up and using a worm bin in the home or classroom.
Nature/Science
Be a Friend to Trees, by Patricia L auber. N ew

Y ork: HarperC ollins, 1994.
E xplains why trees are important, how to help save

a tree, and how to plant one.
Fall, by Maria Rius. Hauppauge, N .Y.: Barrons

E ducational Series, 1998.
One in a series about the seasons designed to teach

young children about the aspects of daily life;
includes activities and things to discuss about the
season; explains the crops and seasonal foods.
Historical and contemporary uses of human foods;

includes botanical information as well as recipes.
F or middle school students.
Science Experiments You Can Eat, by Vicki C obb.

N ew Y ork: HarperC ollins, 1994.
Science with Plants, by Mike Unwin. T ulsa, Okla.:

EDC Publishing, 1992.
Simple experiments, such as how to change the color of a leaf, how to tell the age of a tree, and why a
seedling always grows the right way up.
What About Ladybugs? by C elia Godkin. San

F rancisco: Sierra C lub Books for C hildren,
1998.
Winter, by N icola Baxter. N ew Y ork: C hildrens

Press, 1996.
One in the series of all the seasons; includes activities and things to discuss about the season.
Picture Books
Arianna and the Strawberry Tea, by Maria F aulconer. N ashville: Ideals C hildrens Books,
1998.
Brother Eagle, Sister Sky, by C hief Seattle. N ew

Y ork: D ial Books, 1991.
A message from C hief Seattle to the children about

preserving the earth for themselves and future
generations.
The Carrot Seed, by Ruth Krauss. N ew Y ork:

HarperC ollins, 1993.
T he story of a boy who plants carrot seeds and

waits for them to grow, although everyone tells him
they will not.
Day of the Dead, by T ony Johnston. San D iego:

Harcourt Brace & C o., 1997.
A book explaining the Mexican holiday and the
special foods that are eaten.
The Earth and I, by F rank Asch. San D iego:

Gulliver Books, 1994.
A story in which a young boy explains his friendship with the E arth.
Eating the Alphabet, by L ois E hlert. San D iego:

T he fruits and vegetables from A to Z.
Farm Days, by William Wegman. N ew Y ork: Hyperion Books for C hildren, 1997.
A tale of a city boy going to visit his cousins on the

farm and learning to garden.
The First Strawberries, by Joseph Bruchac. N ew

Y ork: D ial Books for Y oung Readers, 1993.
A C herokee Indian tale of the first str wberries;
teaches respect and friendship.
The Gardener, by Sarah Stewart and D avid Small.

N ew Y ork: F arrar, Straus, & Giroux, 2000.
T he story of a young child moving to the city to
live with her uncle and being able to re-create part
of the country in her rooftop garden.
T he story of a young girls request for strawberry

tea and chocolate tarts that starts a new sensation at
a hotel; includes a recipe.
Vibrant, beautifully detailed illustrations in this

simple story of one garden; introduces the important concept of the balance of nature.
T he tale of F rances who will not eat anything but

bread and jam until that is all her mother feeds her.
WIn t e R
F un activities geared to kids; includes experiments

about the nature of different foods; for example,
explores how eggs are used in the kitchen and the
different uses of the yolk and the white; black and
white illustrations.
Bread and Jam for Frances, by Russell Hoban.

N ew Y ork: HarperC ollins, 1993.
Plants We Eat Series, by Meredith S. Hughes.

Minneapolis: L erner Publishing Group, 1998.
Buried Treasures: Roots and Tubers
Cool As a Cucumber, Hot As a Pepper: Fruit
Vegetables
Flavor Foods: Spices and Herbs
Glorious Grasses: The Grains
Green Power: Leaf and Flower Vegetables
Spill the Beans and Pass the Peanuts:
Legumes
Stinky and Stringy: Stem and Bulb Vegetables
213
Giving Thanks, by C hief Jake Swamp. N ew Y ork:

L ee & L ow Books, 1995.
A N ative American good morning message encouraging us to live in peace with and give thanks to Mother
E arth.
The Great Redwall Feast, by Brian Jacques. N ew

Y ork: Philomel Books, 1996.
A story of the Redwall animals who secretly prepare a

feast for their beloved leader.
Have You Seen Trees? by Joanne Oppenheim. N ew

Y ork: Scholastic, 1995.
A book about varieties of trees and their changes
through the seasons.
The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs, by William

Joyce. N ew Y ork: L aura Geringer Books, 1996.
T he tale of a dying garden needing to be rescued and
good bugs trying to save the day.
Matzo Ball Moon, by L eslea N ewman. N ew Y ork:

C larion Books, 1998.
A holiday story about a family running out of matzo

balls, finding one in an un xpected place, and rediscovering the meaning of Passover.
Midnight Farm, by C arly Simon. N ew Y ork: Simon

& Schuster Books for Y oung Readers, 1997.
T ells of two young boys who awaken to find the

animals and vegetables on the farm having a midnight
celebration.
Planting a Rainbow, by L ois E hlert. San D iego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988.
A colorful story of a mothers and childs fl wer garden and the bouquets that are made from it.
The Reason for a Flower, by Ruth Heller. N ew Y ork:

Grosset & D unlap, 1983.
A book describing the cycle of growing from a fl wer

to a fruit or a vegetable.
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf, by L ois E hlert. San D iego:

Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991.
T he story of a friendship between a young child and a

sugar maple tree; explains the parts of a tree and when
and where to plant the tree.
214
Saturday Sancocho, by L eyla T orres. N ew Y ork:

F arrar, Straus, & Giroux, 1995.
T he tale of a young girl making sancocho, a

chicken stew, with her grandparents one Saturday,
that requires some extra work to get the ingredients; includes a recipe.
Scarecrow, by C ynthia Rylant. San D iego:

Watching a garden grow from a scarecrows point

of view.
Stone Soup, by Marcia Brown. N ew Y ork: Aladdin

Books, 1986.
T he classic tale of three soldiers seeking food and
shelter who convince the town to make stone soup.
The Summer My Father Was Ten, by Pat Brisson.

Honesdale, Pa.: Boyds Mills Press, 1998.
A young boy and an older man building a friendship through growing a garden together.
Sunflower Hous , by E ve Bunting. San D iego:

T he story of a young boy planting a circle of

sunfl wer seeds to grow into a playhouse and what
happens when the sunfl wers die.
The Tiny Seed, by E ric C arle. Saxonville, Mass.:

Picture Book Studio, 1990.
T he adventure of a tiny seed through the seasons.
Thunder Cake, by Patricia Polacco. N ew Y ork:

Philomel Books, 1990.
A story of a grandmother teaching her granddaughter not to be afraid of thunder through the distraction of making thunder cake; includes a recipe.
Tops & Bottoms, by Janet Stevens. San D iego:

A fable of Bear and Hare becoming business partners and growing vegetables to sell; Hare always
ending up with the vegetables and Bear the inedible
parts!
A book about family traditions and how they have

changed yet have remained the same throughout
the years.
A Tree Is Nice, by Janice May Udry. N ew Y ork:

Harper, 1956.
A story of the many reasons to love trees for their

beauty and for their uses, such as for treehouses
and places for shade.
Yoko, by Rosemary Wells. N ew Y ork: Hyperion

Books for C hildren, 1998.
A tale about Y oko being ridiculed for bringing

sushi to school for lunch and finding a friend who
shares her love of food.
Books for Older Children
T he story of a family of fi e young girls growing up in N ew Y ork; includes references to Jewish

foods.
Along Came a Dog, by Meindert D eJong. N ew

Y ork: HarperC ollins C hildrens Book Group,
1980.
A tale of a dog coming to the farm and forming a

friendship with the rooster and whether the farmer
will let him stay.
T he story of a young boy attempting to prove to

his family that he can go on the sheep drive this
year, praying to San Y sidro, the saint for farmers
everywhere, and getting his wish but with devastating consequences.
Arthur, for the Very First Time, by Patricia

MacL achlan. N ew Y ork: Harper & Row, 1980.
T he adventures of Arthur going to stay on his

uncles farm and finding a whole n w world of fun.
Breakaway, by Paul Y ee. T oronto: Groundwood

Books, 2000.
T he story of a young boy growing up in the

D epression, toiling on his familys farm, and trying
to win a soccer scholarship.
Charlottes Web, by E . B. White. N ew Y ork:

HarperC ollins C hildrens Book Group, 1999.
T he classic story of a young girl, her pig, and
a spiders magic web.
The Children of Noisy Village, by Astrid L indgren.

N ew Y ork: Puffin Books, 1988
A year in the life of six Swedish children living on
farms in the countryside.
The Cooks Family, by L aurence Y ep. N ew Y ork:

Penguin Putnam Books for Y oung Readers,
1999.
T he struggle of a young girl finding a place with
the cooks family and redefining her place in her
own family.
The Cookcamp, by Gary Paulsen. N ew Y ork:

Orchard Books, 1991.
T he longings of a young boy for home after going

to live with his grandmother at a cookcamp.
Fantastic Mr. Fox, by Roald D ahl. N ew Y ork:

Puffin Books, 1998
A story of three farmers and the cunning Mr. F ox,

who outwits all of them.
Gib Rides Home, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. N ew

Y ork: D elacorte Press, 1998.
T he story of a young boy who farms out as a
laborer to help his family but also has a special
ability to talk to horses.
... And Now Miguel, by Joseph Krumgold.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin C o., 1992.
T he story of a boy and his siblings struggling to

complete their fathers dream of building a barn for
their farm while their father is dying.
WIn t e R
All-of-a-Kind Family, by Sydney T aylor. N ew

Y ork: GRM Associates, 2000.
The Barn, by Avi. N ew Y ork: Orchard Books,

1994.
Tortillas and Lullabies, Tortillas y Cancioncitas,

by L ynn Reiser. N ew Y ork: HarperC ollins
C hildrens Book Group, 1998.
215
The Haymeadow, by Gary Paulsen and others. N ew

Y ork: D elacorte Press, 1992.
T he tale of John being given the job of tending the
sheep in the haymeadow in summer.
Indian Captive, by L ois L enski. N ew Y ork: HarperC ollins C hildrens Book Group, 1995.
T he adventures of a young farm girl captured by native people, desperately trying to run away until the
people are kind to her and teach her about the E arth,
its plants, and its creatures.
Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World, by Mildred

Pitts Walter. N ew Y ork: L othrop, L ee & Shepard, 1986.
T he story of Justin at his grandfathers ranch, learning to mend fences, to catch fish and, most important,
to make the best biscuits in the world.
Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers, by

Ralph Moody. L incoln: University of N ebraska
Press, 1991.
T he story of a young boy growing up on a C olorado

ranch.
Mandy, by Julie E dwards. N ew Y ork: HarperT rophy,

2001.
T he adventures of Mandy, who escapes from an
orphanage, finds a small, abandoned cottage, and
makes it her special place by growing fl wers and
plants to keep it beautiful.
Marisol and Magdalena, by Veronica C hambers.

N ew Y ork: Jump at the Sun, 1998.
A young girl growing up in N ew Y ork torn between

her American life and her familys Panamanian traditions; includes references to Panamanian food, which
the daughter helps to cook for her mother.
Miracles on Maple Hill, by Virginia Sorenson. San

D iego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1990.
T he story of a family in the country, where the seasons and nature are a large part of their lives.
Out of the Dust, by Karen Hesse. N ew Y ork: Scholastic, 2000.
T old in blank verse; the tales of fifteen-yea -old Billie

Jo on the hardships of living on her familys wheat
farm in Oklahoma during the D ust Bowl years of the
D epression.
216
Popcorn Days and Buttermilk Nights, by Gary

Paulsen. N ew Y ork: Puffin Books, 1989
T he story of C arey, who is going crazy and getting

into trouble in the city. He is sent to live with his
uncle in the country.
Rabbit Hill, by Robert L awson. N ew Y ork: Puffin

Books, 1977.
T he tale of local animals wondering if the new
folks moving in are folks with guns or planting
folks.
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, by Kate D ouglas

Wiggin. N ew Y ork: William Morrow & C ompany, 1994.
T he story of a young, vibrant girl growing up on a

farm.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D . T aylor. N ew Y ork: Phyllis F ogelman Books, 2001.
T he story of a family, their connection to the land,
and their fight to eep it.
Seedfolks, by Paul F leischman. HarperC ollins

C hildrens Book Group, 1999.
A tale of a Vietnamese girl who plants a seed in a

trash-filled, inne -city lot. One by one, she draws
people of varying ages and backgrounds into
creating a community garden and, in the process,
transforming themselves.
Shades of Gray, by C arolyn Reeder. N ew Y ork:

Macmillan, 1989.
T he story of Will who, after the C ivil War, is forced

to stay with his traitor uncle, a C onfederate, and
learns to grow food and hunt and discovers the
truth of the past.
Sing Down the Moon, by Scott OD ell. Santa Barbara, C alif.: C ornerstone Books, 1989.
T he story of a young N avajo girl who is captured
by the Spaniards to be their slave; includes references to both Spanish and N ative American food.
T he story of a friendship that forms between a

white family and the black teacher who moves next
door and helps them save their farm and about the
town that does not approve.
Strawberry Girl, by L ois L enski. N ew Y ork:

HarperC ollins C hildrens Book Group, 1995.
Sugar Lump, The Orphan Calf, by L ynn Sheffield

Simmons. Argyle, T ex.: Argyle Books, 1994.
T he tale of a young girl raising an orphan calf. Will

she have to give it up?
Thimble Summer, by E lizabeth E nright. N ew Y ork:

Henry Holt Books for Y oung Readers, 1990.
Animal Crackers, by Jane D yer. Boston: L ittle,

Brown & C ompany, 1996.
A collection of poems, pictures, and lullabies
for young children, including sections on food,
nature, and animals.
A Childs Seasonal Treasury, by Betty Jones.

Berkeley, C alif.: T ricycle Press, 1996.
A compilation of songs, verses, activities, and

recipes for children to read about and do in each
season.
The Sky Is Always in the Sky, by Karla Kuskin.

N ew Y ork: L aura Geringer Books, 1998.
A fun collection of poems about nature, food,
and you.
T he story of one girls magical summer on a

Wisconsin farm.
Zeely, by Virginia Hamilton. N ew Y ork: Aladdin

Books, 1986.
A story of the adventures of E lizabeth and the
summer she spent on her uncles farm.
T he struggles of a young girl and her family

moving to F lorida and starting their farm.
Poetry
WIn t e R
Sour Land, by William H. Armstrong. N ew Y ork:

Harper & Row, 1971.
217

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LATE SUMMERFALL

A Message from the State Superintendent

Corn and Avocado Salad wth Clantro ................. 4

Salsa Fresca ......................................................... 18

Waldorf Salad ...................................................... 28

Quesadllas wth Sweet Peppers ................................40

Make-y our-Own Baked Sweet Potato .......................50

Persimmons and Pomegranates

Persmmon and Pomegranate Salad ..........................62

Locatons of Farms Profiled n Late SummerFall ................................70

Tangerne Popscles ...................................................74

Cooking Greens and Cabbage

Brased Collards wth Bacon .....................................84

Broccoli and Cauliflower

Broccol Italan Style .................................................94

Carrot-Orange Salad ................................................ 108

Roasted Potatoes wth herbs ................................... 118

Pear, Celery, and Parmesan Salad ............................ 128

Beans and Peas

Pea Salad wth Fresh herbs ..................................... 140

Avocado Dressng .................................................... 152

Asparagus wth Lemon and Parmesan...................... 162

Locatons of Farms Profiled n Wnter ................................................. 136

Chapter 16: Oranges

Strawberry Lemon-Limeade...................................... 180

Chapter 18: Stone Fruit

Nectarine and Peach Smoothies................................ 190

Locations of Farms Profiled in SpringEarly Summer.......................... 198

A. Extension Ideas................................................................................ 200

KIDS COOK FARM-FRESh FOOD

urng my tenure as State Superntendent of

In many parts of Calforna, students have the

The recpes are based on the belef that chldren

Calforna agrculture s large, dverse, complex,

Among the states, Calforna s unque n the

Cookng n the classroom s an mportant part

the role land plays n supportng all lfe, and

A Message from the State

ids Cook Farm-Fresh Food was developed

KIDS COOK FARM-FRESh FOOD

Market Cooking for Kids was provded by

Kids Cook Farm-Fresh Food s an ntroduc-

ton to Calfornas dverse farm-fresh produce,

Ask typcal thrd-graders where ther food

The story of where food comes from can

In 2002 approxmately 2,300 Calforna growers

Approxmately 1 percent of the U.S. food

Almost one-thrd of the land n Calforna s

One definton of sustanable agrculture s

Untl recently Calforna and a number of other

of Food and Agrculture as practcng organc

Although ths gude tells the stores of those

Perhaps the most dstngushng feature of

KIDS COOK FARM-FRESh FOOD

orgns compared wth the Unted States

Corn and Avocado Salad wth Clantro ................. 4

Quesadllas wth Sweet Peppers ................................40

Persmmon and Pomegranate Salad ..........................62

Locatons of Farms Profiled n Late SummerFall ................................70

Tangerne Popscles ...................................................74

Brased Collards wth Bacon .....................................84

Broccol Italan Style .................................................94

Roasted Potatoes wth herbs ................................... 118

Pea Salad wth Fresh herbs ..................................... 140

Avocado Dressng .................................................... 152

Asparagus wth Lemon and Parmesan...................... 162

Locatons of Farms Profiled n Wnter ................................................. 136

urng my tenure as State Superntendent of

In many parts of Calforna, students have the

The recpes are based on the belef that chldren

Calforna agrculture s large, dverse, complex,

Among the states, Calforna s unque n the

Cookng n the classroom s an mportant part

the role land plays n supportng all lfe, and

Market Cooking for Kids was provded by

Kids Cook Farm-Fresh Food s an ntroduc-

ton to Calfornas dverse farm-fresh produce,

Ask typcal thrd-graders where ther food

In 2002 approxmately 2,300 Calforna growers

Approxmately 1 percent of the U.S. food

Almost one-thrd of the land n Calforna s

One definton of sustanable agrculture s

Untl recently Calforna and a number of other

of Food and Agrculture as practcng organc

Although ths gude tells the stores of those

Perhaps the most dstngushng feature of

orgns compared wth the Unted States

Just as a watershed refers to a specfic geographc area, a foodshed refers to a farmng

All fruts and vegetables have nutrents and

other protectve factors requred for lfelong

Strawberres and other berres contan natural

Tomatoes contan phytochemcals that may

Many great-tastng fruts and vegetables are

Naturally occurrng phytochemcals that may

Nutrton Informaton About

duce chldrenthrough drect experenceto

The gude s desgned to connect schoolchldren

Suggestons for Success

Successfully cookng wth kds also depends

Supervse chldren carefully when usng

Cookng s an actvty that requres close

Clear off tables and clean them wth soap

o one knows students capabltes better

h ave all chldren wash ther hands wth

Ask students to use ther five senses to

For preparng ngredents and cookng, groups

Many of the recpes nvolve demonstratng how

Each group s responsble for cleanng ts

Actvty or Recpe Format

Basc nformaton about the recpe or actvty s provded.

Comparatve Tastng Format

1. Wash the frut or vegetables, and dry them n the colander.

he recpes and actvtes n ths gude may

2 electrc hot plates

10 small plastc cuttng boards

student journal s an excellent means

may also ask students to use ther journals

A three-rng bnder filled wth lned

Use a rubrc to assess students learnng as

Tell your students that many cookng and

Note that the recpes and actvtes nclude

Journals can be open-ended and creatve, wth

2.2.4 Compare and contrast basc land use n

Number Sense 4.1: Recognze, name, and compare

Lfe Scences 2(a): Know

Wrtng 2.1: Wrte bref

Number Sense 4.2: Recognze fractons of a whole

Lfe Scences 2(d): Know

Mathematcal Reasonng 2.2:

Investgaton and Expermentaton 4(e): Construct

3.5.1: Descrbe the ways

Physcal Scences 1(a):

Algebra and Functons 2.1:

Physcal Scences 1(b):

Lstenng and Speakng 1.8: