The Farm Welcomes Volunteers!

We have had the pleasure of meeting many community members who have offered time and energy to help us at the Farm. If you have any interest in volunteering, please call us at 734.712.Hoop. Our volunteers keep the program running and provide wonderful suggestions and stories that enrich our days at The Farm. We are always grateful for helping hands and the opportunity to talk about The Farm. Farmer Dan Bair and Lisa McDowell welcomed former Detroit Red Wings hockey player, Jiri Fischer and his son, Braidan Simmons-Fischer to work in the hoop house for an entire day! Jiri wanted to expose Braidan to manual labor and farm work so he could gain an understanding of the effort required to grow healthy food.

Jiri and Braidan helped us pull out the Swiss chard, beets and carrots to make room for summer crops. Being a professional hockey player requires the best possible food to fuel performance. Jiri is no stranger to the rigors of keeping in shape and as the Director of Player Development for the Wings, Jiri often reinforces the message about proper nutrition and the benefits of fresh, whole foods. We were excited to have Jiri and Braidan at The Farm. It certainly may be possible that we will see Braidan as a future Wing (if he continues to eat his colorful vegetables)!

As Jiri and Braidan made room in the first hoop house for new crops, Farmer Dan will  be planting tomatoes in one entire hoop house to meet the demand for our patient’s menu as well as The Market cafeteria. SJMH continues to incorporate fresh produce when possible. With the continued rise in obesity, we want to promote fresh, whole foods whenever possible. Half of Americans will be obese by 2030 if things continue the way they are now, according to four new papers in the Lancet. At SJMH, we are focusing on optimizing the health of our hospital environment by leading by example. We want the healthy choice to be the tastier choice!  By making nutritious, wholesome foods more avilable than procesed, packaged, junk food, we will begin to eat healthier.

For further information on the obesity crisis in America, check out the Institute of Medicine Report at IOM Report: Accelerating Progress to Obesity Prevention and the HBO series below:

 http://iom.edu/Reports/2012/Accelerating-Progress-in-Obesity-Prevention.aspx

The Weight of the Nation HBO Special (all of the films are available to watch online) - http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/

Farm market takes a break, back in June

The farm market at St. Joe’s Hospital will be on hiatus until June.

Farmer Dan will be planting the hoophouses and fields at The Farm at St. Joe’s. Planting and establishing the summer crops takes a great amount of time. We apologize for any inconvenience. Visitors and volunteers are welcome at the farm. Contact bairdz@trinity-health.org.

Stay tuned to stjoefarm.wordpress.com for updates and an announcement of when the farm market will return. Tomatoes will be here before you know it.

Harvest Kitchen encore and subscription information

The Farm at St. Joe’s welcomes Harvest Kitchen back for an encore presentation of their delicious and nourishing food.

Farmer Dan enjoys last week's Harvest Kitchen offering, Asian Meatballs with a side of slaw, at his computer after farm market.

Contact info@harvest-kitchen.com for more information about subscriptions to Harvest Kitchen’s local organic meals. We’re hoping to get a critical mass and to offer a drop off at our existing Wednesday farm market. Stay tuned.

Harvest Kitchen will be at market again this week, from 11-1 this Wednesday, April 25. Samples this week include:

Chickpea Salad - A bright, flavorful, fresh salad featuring organic chickpeas and tons of local seasonal vegetables (including fresh pickled radishes, scallions, and more) for a refreshing crunch.

Nettle and Bacon Quiche - Creamy local dairy, our homemade pie crust, and delicious local bacon and wild-cropped and nutritious nettles: this quiche is the perfect addition to any meal.
Thai Curry Soup - Thai flavors combine with our favorite freezer veggies for a delicious, savory treat of a soup.

Harvest Kitchen will offer free samples as well as meal items for sale from 11-1 on Wednesday.

Conquer Cravings by Kyle Parker-Bunton, RD

 

It happens to us all, the temptation to a grab a bag of chips or the container of ice cream and a spoon due to boredom, habit, fatigue or stress.  Everyone encounters situations that tempt mindless eating and excessive calorie consumption.  The following tips are just a few ideas to help you conquer your cravings:

 

• You have heard it before don’t skip meals.  Try to prevent skipping meals to prevent overeating or snacking later in the day. Breakfast really is a key meal that sets the stage for a great day.

 

• Make a healthy choice.  Do you feel the urge to snack most afternoons?  Plan ahead, pack or stock your desk with low calorie munchies.  Portion out a single serving snack to limit your munching.

 

• Craving or hunger?  Do you want to eat because you feel hunger or is it in your head?  Set a timer for at least 10 minutes and re-evaluate. Drink a glass of ice water. Cravings are not hunger and will usually go away.  Try distraction or do an activity, such as walking or climbing stairs. Still feel the urge to snack, do so but limit the portion to a single serving.

 

• Do you want to snack because the item is in front of you?  Put the candy or chips out of sight.  Removing temptation visually is a great way to prevent snacking.

 

• Are people constantly snacking around you in your workspace?  Try wearing earbuds ( if allowed) and listening to music to distract yourself from others munching. 

 

• Are food smells increasing your need to snack?  Try putting an odor neutralizer near your workspace.  

 

• Get up and move.  We often snack out of boredom.  Turn off the TV or computer and go for a walk. You will burn off some calories plus clear your mind.

 

Local food business Harvest Kitchen at market this week

The Farm at St. Joe’s is pleased to highlight Ypsilanti based, prepared food CSA Harvest Kitchen to farm market this Wednesday, April 18 from 11 am – 1 pm in the lobby of the main hospital. Come on down to sample some of Harvest Kitchen’s sustainable delights. Harvest Kitchen will also have items for sale.

Harvest Kitchen creates prepared meals from the finest local meat and vegetables.

Our goal is to make eating healthy local food accessible to everyone, even those who are too busy to cook.

We strive to bring our customers the finest local food, working directly with farmers who care for and sustain the earth.

We are committed to being part of a healthy and sustainable local food community, which means we support the farmers who grow the food we cook.

All of our food is grown and made with love and care.

Owner Mary Wessel Walker says, “We’re excited to come to the Farm Stand at St Joe’s next week.  We’re planning to bring some delicious, seasonal, ready-to-go dishes to sample and to buy.

Here’s the menu we’re planning to bring:”

Nettle Soup - In early spring nettles grow abundantly–these weeds are incredibly nutritious and flavorful.  We liked the idea of bringing health-promoting nettles to the St Joe’s community in the form of this delicious, smooth, savory soup.

Cauliflower-cashew “Meat”balls - homemade cauliflower-cashew “meat”balls with BBQ sauce.

Asian Meatballs with Slaw - Heritage beef from Mclaughlin Farms in Jackson formed into lean, tasty meatballs. Served with a fresh, crunchy slaw.

Community Garden Applications Available to all St. Joe’s Hospital Staff

The Farm Community Gardens 2012 Application

St. Joe’s Hospital staff are encouraged to apply to have a plot at the community gardens at The Farm at St. Joe’s in Ann Arbor. Plots are limited and will be assigned on a first come first serve basis. Applications are due to Dan Bair at the farm market by Wednesday, April 18 at 11 am. Plot assignment and orientation will be April 21. For more information, contact Dan Bair at carefulfarmer@gmail.com or Ann Schneider at annnhoney@gmail.com.

Salad Mix Available Thursday at Market Cafe

Salad Mix, fresh from The Farm at St. Joe’s, will be available to the public at the St. Joe’s Market Cafe Thursday morning, April 5. Supplies are limited, so get it while it lasts.