At Pike Place Market

This guy was waiting patiently


As was this guy


And this guy



These two guys were rocking out as "Raw Corn"



And these two guys were discussing health care.

At Pike Place Market

This guy was waiting patiently


As was this guy


And this guy



These two guys were rocking out as "Raw Corn"



These two guys were discussing health care.

Healthy Corner Stores

As reported earlier this week by Ruby de Luna on KUOW:
King County Pushes For Healthy Corner Stores

"Most people go to a grocery store or supermarket for food. But for many residents in South King County, the convenience store is where they shop. Without a car or adequate bus service going to the grocery store is a challenge. So their options are narrowed down to fast food restaurants or convenience stores. King County health officials are trying to change that. A corner store in West Seattle's Delridge neighborhood could be a model for giving residents healthier food choices."


The Super 24 store on Delridge Way looks like most convenience stores. The shelves are stocked with chips, candy and snacks. Near the register the hot case is filled with corn dogs and fried chicken, fresh out of the fryer. Also near the register there's a basket of apples, bananas and oranges.

Singh: "I have 4 to 5 customers every morning they take bananas, they take apple. Those ladies they go office, they buy cigarette sometimes, but they take the fruit."

That's store owner Bhim Singh. When he bought the business in 2006, adding fruit was one of the many changes he made. At first he sold a little. But eventually sales picked up. Today Mr. Singh's produce offering has expanded. There are lemons and limes in the refrigerator. By the doorway a small bin holds russet potatoes, onions and ginger. Super 24 is not a likely place for produce, but more and more neighborhood customers are coming here for things other than snacks.

Singh: "Everybody know, if they go market, Safeway, they go I miss onion, I miss the tomato, they say let's go Super 24 and they find (it) here."

Mr. Singh is part of a pilot project by the Delridge Neighborhood and Development Association. The neighborhood group is working with Seattle–King County Public Health to help convenience store operators to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables. Maria Reyes is a Delridge resident and member of the neighborhood group. She says they're not telling storekeepers to stop carrying chips and soda. The idea is to give customers a variety of choices, healthy choices.


Reyes: "We're not saying we're going to come in and change your store; you're just going to have specific healthy foods. No. We're saying we're going to limit certain things and have healthier options also."

The neighborhood group also designed special labels that are posted on shelves to help customers identify low–fat or healthier food items. For many Delridge residents the ability to get healthier options is not easy. The closest supermarket is in White Center, a neighborhood just two miles south. But getting there requires a car, or a long bus ride. There are no walkable paths to the grocery, either. At the same time there are at least a couple dozen convenience stores in a neighborhood of 30,000 residents. That means their choices are limited to processed, high–fat, calorie–dense foods. As a result, Delridge and other low–income neighborhoods have higher rates of chronic diseases like diabetes.

Kreiger: "Place matters and where you live has an important influence on your health."

Dr. Jim Kreiger heads the chronic disease and injury prevention unit at Seattle–King County Public Health.

Kreiger: "We know for example that low income neighborhoods have less access to parks, less green space, there are higher density of fast food restaurants, there tend to be less access or fewer supermarkets per person in those areas. That then contributes to the higher rates that we see in those neighborhoods of obesity, diabetes and so on."

For years residents have lobbied for a full–service grocery store to serve Delridge and nearby communities. They even looked at starting a farmers market. But there are major logistical and financial hurdles to overcome. So public health officials and neighborhood organizers are working with existing corner stores like Super 24. The county provides technical assistance like how to handle perishable items and make sure foods stay fresh, or link store operators with potential partners. Organizers also want to help corner stores put systems in place in order to accept food assistance cards. Erin MacDougall is program manager of the county's Healthy Eating/Active Living (HEAL) program.

MacDougall: "These benefits require some new technology in stores — EBT card readers and eligibility from the store operator to be able to accept the benefits. So this element is one that we're very committed to because we know that many of the people with these benefits have very limited access to healthy foods and these stores are sometimes the only option they have."

The convenience store program is one of many health initiatives the county hopes to expand to other low–income communities. Recently it applied for federal grants through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.) One request is for $14 million for tobacco prevention programs, and another $20 million to address the county's obesity epidemic. Health officials will learn by late February whether the programs will be funded.

Singh: "Maybe that corner there, the microwave."

Back at the Super 24 store, Bimh Singh and Maria Reyes talk about adding greens. Question is where to put them.

Singh: "So maybe I can make big stand there."

Reyes: "We're in the process now of getting him a refrigerator. So we're going to get him a new refrigerator and put it there so he can put his healthier foods there."

Singh: "Like spinach, cilantro, those kind you know."

There seems to be enough demand to make it work. Singh says when he first started carrying fresh fruit and vegetables he sold about 10 pounds a month. These days he figures he sells 50 pounds. And it's not just the residents who rely on his store for fresh food. Singh says even the folks at a nearby pizzeria have come in when they miss their produce delivery.


© Copyright 2010, KUOW

The Wearing of the Salmon

The latest in flower arranging straight from Pike Place Market:

Tiny open cabbages in a bouquet of dahlias. Love the salmon-colored dahlias with the veggie-green. Produce as bouquet element. Hopefully the flower sellers won't ever team up with the fish guys there and start using salmon in their artful arrangements!

You Say Snohomish/I Say Snoqualmie!

Saturday we spent the sunny, hot afternoon at South 47 farm learning firsthand what it was like to bring in the harvest, or, in our case, what it was like to pick a few beans for dinner, admire a gorgeous, cat-sized squash the color of celadon, pluck a huge bag of red onions from a hook in a greenhouse, and cut healthy sideshoots of basil from a very long row. Aromatic bliss! All this and some darling alpacas (not for picking!) too. Of course, early valley farmers didn't get to follow up a hard day's harvest with a late lunch in air-conditioned comfort at Racha Thai restaurant in Woodinville either. God we're spoiled!

Everything but the squash was eaten later in a quickie pasta beefed up with ripe heirloom tomatoes from our own garden.






Sunday we were back on the eastside hunting down farms in Carnation/Duvall by way of Snohomish (don't ask! but it was a lovely drive!) Again, bringing in the harvest at Fall City Farms this time--lacinato kale, Chioggia beets, lots of Bright Lights chard and broccoli. Perhaps early farmers of Snoqualmie Valley would have felt more at home dining in the friendly, goofy homestyle comfort surrounded by the kitsch collection at Armadillo BBQ in Duvall than in a suburban stripmall (like we did the day before). Next door at the antique store we picked up a bass and amp to add to the family's burgeoning collection of musical instruments.

I looked to Julia Child for inspiration in serving up the fresh-picked broccoli to the family. I made her hollandaise which was insanely easy and let's just say the kids ate all their veggies.

The chard and rest of the basil was eaten last night in a quinoa saute with onion and leftover hollandaise. Some ricotta and lot of parmesan. It was a little weird. It shoulda been pasta. But we'd eaten it all Saturday night!

Today I'm caramelizing all my onions for the freezer. I may roast the squash. The kale will be slowly simmered for a Tuscan stew. The trick is to get everything sorted out (frozen, eaten, etc.) before the next farm foray THIS weekend. Somebody's got to bring home the veggies!

Under the "gourdwalk" at Fall City Farm

Sunny Day Newport Hills

My response to Mayor Grant Degginger's challenge to come up with a vision for Newport Hills would look something like this:



1. New grocery store (smaller footprint with two stories of condos above)
2. Fruit and produce stand
3. Neighborhood kiosk for announcements, etc.
4. New site of Mojo Espresso stand
5. Farmer's market
6. Community garden and outdoor movie theater


Out of sight, out of mind?

We all need aerial photographs for dreaming purposes. They let the sun in on a cloudy day--every one of the areas I circled above gets full sun for most of the day, even while leaving plenty of spaces for parking. I always wondered as I parked my car near Pike Place Market or at the top of a parking garage why my car was getting a better view than I was.

Another way to look at these photos is to see the number of spaces we provide for our cars: then imagine exchanging one parking space for a raised garden bed. One little island of 20 spaces could provide a lot of space for a community garden.

I originally came up with this little daydream about six months ago. Since then Newcastle Fruit and Produce, whom I've been wooing to open a branch here in Newport Hills has let me know that the idea doesn't hold much potential. In the words of one of the owners: "Out of sight, out of mind."

Sidewalk Flora in Fremont

Bellevue Farmer's Market

Where can you find a Brandywine the size of your head? Boxcar Willies, or Black Krims? Where can you be inspired to grow them yourself? How about a fresh 5.00 bouquet of red, white and blue fireworks?




The Bellevue Farmers Market is now open at a fresh new location:

410 Bellevue Way NE across from Bellevue Square (free parking) in the old Safeway parking lot from 3-7pm Thursdays and they're adding a new time which will help ease some of the traffic congestion surrounding the Thursday rush hour time slot:

Saturdays 9-2pm June 6-November 21



There are lots of flower stalls which offer the best deals in the entire Bellevue downtown area. $5.00 a bunch! These are gorgeous flowers, absolutely fresh and beautifully put together by very friendly ladies.

As we all know, prices can seem kind of crazy at Farmers Markets. My understanding, however, is that the farmers don't really make much money off them. So support what you can afford, enjoy talking to the producers and sampling their wares, soak up the wonderful sights and smells.
I witnessed one of these heirloom tomatoes sell for $7.78. Another family spent over 10.00 for one "Mortgage Lifter". It's fun just to watch the spectacle as people get caught up in the circus-like atmosphere of farmers hawking their wares. And fishermen, nutbutter makers and toffee bakers. Oh my.


Then there's the best cheese on the planet. Seriously. Try the Valley Girl. Or Crush--a wonderfully strong cheese rolled in crushed grapes from the farmers nearby. In all, they have something like 124 cheeses which they offer on a rotating basis.
River Valley Cheese

Signs of Spring

Despite yesterday's hailstorm, a sure sign of spring in Newport Hills is the raising of the red and white tent over Newcastle Fruit and Produce. Welcome back, friends!

Please Don't Ever Go II

How could I forget Newcastle Fruit and Produce? Because they said they'd open March 1st and they still haven't? It's OK--you're forgiven.

Bartell's, of course, at Coal Creek Plaza, for their candy aisle, mainly, and their food bargains. Not to mention lawn furniture.

If we're counting Factoria, I have to include I Love Pho for their Pho Ga and salads. Awesome, addictive. And, to be honest, Nordstrom Rack. And Tokyo for their amazing caterpillar rolls and friendly sushi chefs.

Putting Parking in its Place II

When was the last time you went somewhere because it had a great parking lot? Unless I'm seriously mistaken, nobody goes to a place just because you can park there. In fact, according to Ethan Kent, the current obsession with parking is one of the biggest obstacles to achieving livable cities and towns, because it usually runs counter to what should be our paramount concern: creating places where people enjoy spending time.

He's found that the hang-up on parking is an indicator that a community has no broader vision for itself.
Come on, Newport Hills! We're better than that! Red Apple, where is thy core??

The problem with the Red Apple is there is no longer a purpose for the parking lot. I know a few skateboarders who would argue this point, but with the loss of a destination like the supermarket, and soon, the drugstore and with it possibly the one remaining gas station, there is a huge hole in the center of our community.

In temporarily abandoned park(ing) spaces, reclaiming them for public use for even one season is a viable alternative, if the owners are willing to work with the residents and city regulations, which typically require a simple temporary use permit and permission from the owner.

How about starting with a few ideas for a sustainable vision for parking lots. Why sustainable? Because right now it's on everyone's radar for a good reason--keeping people in their own communities keeps them out of their cars, and there are grant opportunities out there for neighborhoods to do what they can to help the planet.

Farmers Markets


Who doesn't love a Farmers Market on the weekends?

“Businesses are increasingly cooperative,” according to a recent PI article about the explosion of Farmers Markets in Seattle. "Owners of the Grocery Outlet in Madrona rescued the displaced MadCap (Madison Park/Capitol Hill) Farmers Market by welcoming it to the store parking lot… Year-round market sales were up 300% this year (2008) and the year before. (As well as way up in attendance, even in the wind, rain and snow…)"

A Kiosk


Center a kiosk for community information which could grow into a drop place for CSA Community-Sustained Agriculture produce boxes.

Raised Beds and Victory Gardens

For most residents of Newport Hills, the garden is a low-maintenance landscape, sort of Japanese/Zen and shady. They're beautiful, restful places, but often lacking in adequate sun and warmth for those gorgeous tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and melons we crave. During times of economic hardship, victory gardens are grown in the community's sunniest spots to help offset the high price of fresh produce.

Here's my suggestion. We've already identified a lot of the sunniest spots in the Red Apple core (pun intended!) Take a look at the aerial shots in my previous post "Google Earth". There they are: in the parking lot. For every other parking spot, create a raised bed as the "seed" of a community garden. It's a wonderful way to have residents of all ages share their knowledge and interests. There could be seed give-aways and plant exchanges to raise money for community events.

The water supply is already there, and when it comes time to build something more permanent, the raised beds can be relocated elsewhere. Have the master gardeners set up a display showing water-wise techniques and other ideas for community sustainability.

Xeriscaping

On a similar note, landscaping is a critical component to the livability of any home--just remember--vegetation good;native vegetation better! An example of site sensitive vegetation is xeriscaping, a term coined by the Colorado Water Wise Council and featured in the website Sustainable Design Update here



They recommend these three simple rules for sustainability, whether it's in your own garden, or your community's:

First, make an effort to preserve any existing native plants, as they obviously like where they're living and can be groomed into a low maintenance greenscape.

Second, work with a local gardening supply store (not a Big Box) to help you select plants that will grow best given your local climate and soil conditions, reducing the need for excessive watering.

Third, seek out organic options for fertilizer (manure) and herbicide (vinegar or corn meal) to prevent any long term negative impact in your garden or nearby streams.

Lesson 8: Let sustainability be our watchword

Google Earth

Here it is Valentine's Day morning and I'm lying in bed next to my husband thinking about the Red Apple. What I'm wondering is...not what you may be thinking...but do I think of it (the Red Apple, that is) as a lost supermarket or a blog? Has the blog become bigger than the supermarket or is it all the same thing? Is the Red Apple simply a symbol for something else (or the lack of it) in my life? Do other bloggers have an identity crisis from time to time?

I find that looking at Google Earth helps me out during such moments--a bit like contemplating the moon in days of yore. As always, click on photo to enlarge.

My Wish List

1. New grocery store
2. Fruit and produce stand (formerly Chevron)
3. Neighborhood kiosk at drive-thru for bank (always closed)
4. New site of Mojo Espresso stand
5. Farmer's market
6. Community garden

Here is the Newcastle Fruit and Produce Stand. If they ever decide to open a Newport Hills branch I think we have room for them.

We all need aerial photographs for dreaming purposes. They let the sun in on a cloudy day--every one of the areas I circled above gets full sun for most of the day, even while leaving plenty of spaces for parking. I always wondered as I parked my car near Pike Place Market or at the top of a parking garage why my car was getting a better view than I was.

Another way to look at these photos is to see the number of spaces we provide for our cars: then imagine exchanging one parking space for a raised garden bed. One little island of 20 spaces could provide a lot of space for a community garden.

In Search of Damu

Top o'the Hill
Newcastle Fruit and Produce



Magic happened yesterday east of Renton Technical College.

I have spent the last two weeks trying to find Damu. I thought he was in Mexico on a well-earned vacation after managing Newcastle Fruit and Produce last summer.

But look who I found yesterday while driving lost through the Renton Highlands! I was actually 12 minutes from my house but because I arrived via 405 and the verges of the Renton downtown area (completely mind-numbingly difficult for me to navigate in my 15 years of living here) I had nearly come back full circle to Newport Hills. I had no idea how close I was. I got out of my car ready to ask directions, and then a little magic happened.I didn't even have to close my eyes, click my heels or wear my ruby slippers.

My old friend Damu was my Wizard of Oz. He kindly put me back on the right backroad after I purchased oranges, apples ($2.00 for two large bags), clementines, poppyseed cake and cream among other yummy things . First good piece of news: He is returning to Newcastle on March 1st under their red and white circus tent and (this is the amazing thing) his partner is looking into leasing Red Apple for a Newport Hills operation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Their grocery store, at or near 5325 NE 4th Street, is a wonderful melange of all kinds of produce from Yakima and beyond, very reasonably priced pastas, pestos, homemade tomato sauces, baked goods, cheeses, and an actual butchers. And much more. As Cheryl says, it's Trader Joe's-y. It's like a local Trader Joe's. But without the traffic.

Meanwhile, the neighbors have voted (informally of course and please don't consider this a legal, binding and in any way official election) and the Number 1 most-requested store to replace the Red Apple in Newport Hills is (I need a drum roll here but it's not a huge surprise)Trader Joe's. Please feel free to take a few seconds and nominate Newport Hills for the next Trader Joe's

>http://www.traderjoes.com/location_requests_form.aspx/

Several interim possibilities for our Red Apple parking lot:

These are photos taken of the Lake Hills produce stand open in the summer. They have the most beautiful floral bouquets you've ever seen--even nicer than Pike Place Market, which is saying a lot.

Click below for a list of all the local farmers markets, all of which started in parking lots just like ours!

http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/
http://www.bellevuefarmersmarket.org/