I just dropped off some fairly dorky signs that Natalie and I made for the hospice we work with from time to time. The volunteer coordinator said we should make some artistic representations of fireworks for people who would miss them due to illness this 4th of July. Making pictures of fireworks is actually kind of hard, but we did our best. I relied heavily on glitter. Unfortunately, Natalie and I were the only Good Girls who could find the time to do this project, so we only made about 25 signs. That's way down from our previous efforts for Valentine's and Mother's Days. But it's better than nothing.

Here's a pic of Nigel sitting among the gift bags Rachel, Jen, Mirabai and I made for Mother's Day last May. They turned out pretty well, and I think we each made at least 15 bags, so there were over 60 for that project.



For our June Good Girls project, Rachel and I went down to the LA Food Bank for some food-sorting fun. This time we had two different assignments.

First, we were sorting through dry food donations. It was kind of depressing and frustrating, actually, because we ended up putting most of the donations on the "trash" conveyor belt rather than the "good" conveyor. This was for several reasons: (1) much of the food had expired over a year ago (2) many of the packages were damaged or open (3) some of the stuff inside the donation boxes wasn't even food. It was actually kind of shocking that people/business would "donate" such garbagy stuff. I kind of felt like they thought poor people would just eat anything, no matter how old or disgusting.

Just as Rachel and I were getting especially indignant after finding a jar of mold-covered olives in one of the boxes, we were pulled away to another part of the Food Bank. There, we were assigned to sort large bins of fresh peaches. This made me feel a bit better. Peaches are delicious and healthy, and, while there were some bad ones in the bunch, for the most part the peaches looked tasty. So, while there were slim pickin's among the dry food donations, at least the Food Bank clients would be getting some fresh, pretty peaches that week.

On our way out, Rachel and I took a last look at the South Central Farm, which is next door to the Food Bank. It hadn't been bulldozed yet, but there was no one inside. Outside, there were a handful of hippy-looking types with signs, but I believe most of the protestors have given up. What a shame.

Next up: Animal Acres on July 8. Should be a fun one.

This week and next week, the House Appropriations Committee will be deciding whether or not to cut funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which just happens to fund one of my favorite things in life: National Public Radio.

Initially, they were going to cut $115 million but now they have reduced that to a cut of $95 million. This still eliminates several NPR programs, including their initiative to help fund a transition to digital radio and two early learning programs, Ready to Learn and Ready to Teach. In addition, the committee has not made a commitment to fund the CPB in the future, which is unusual and could mean a complete cut of funding in 2009.

There was a similar attempt to drastically cut funding to public radio last year, but a huge swell of grassroots support put a stop to it. It sounds like that will be necessary again this year.

So, I plan to email my representative today, and I encourage anyone reading this to do the same.

For more info:

tellthempublicmatters.org
LA Times article

Oh, and I know there's that annoying, years-old email forward that goes around about cuts to NPR. This is the real thing, not a ghost in cyberspace.

I woke up this morning to the sad news that the L.A. South Central Farm was about to be destroyed. Sheriff's deputies showed up early this morning to evict the farmers and protesters from the farm and bulldoze the trees and crops. What a sad end to this story.

I feel very disappointed that the mayor, city council and citizens of Los Angeles weren't able to save the farm. That part of L.A. is especially desolate and depressing, and the farm was basically the only large spot of green in a grey, trash-strewn landscape. I feel like the destruction of the South Central Farm will be something the city will always regret.

It's a sad day.

Photo from the South Central Farmers website

UPDATE

From the Los Angeles Times:

During an afternoon press conference, a visibly annoyed Villaraigosa said the city made a last-ditch effort to preserve the land, offering landowner Ralph Horowitz the price he had sought, raised through a variety of nonprofit groups.

But the mayor said Horowitz then said he thought the land was worth an additional $3 million and also said he was sick of the protesters, some of whom he said had made anti-Semitic slurs against him.

The farm is now being bulldozed and approximately 50 protestors have been arrested.

Last night, I finally made my way to the farmers' market in Highland Park that started up in April. I didn't get over there until a little after 7, so things were winding down, but I still found some pretty good stuff. There were 6 or 7 vendors selling produce--cherries, peaches, nectarines, green beans, corn--as well as some prepared food stands--tamales, kettle corn. There were also a few crafts booths and music playing. I picked up a few ears of corn and put them on the grill for dinner last night. Tasty.

Overall, the Highland Park Farmers' Market seems like a pretty nice, low-key, family scene. I'd definitely go back, especially since I think it's important to support positive developments in my community. The farmers' market is small now, but I'd be really excited if it gained popularity and more fruit and vegetable sellers started coming. We could do our weekly fruit and veggie shopping there from local, organic sellers. That would make me really happy.

So, if you live in the Highland Park/Mt. Washington area, you should stop by the market on Tuesdays between 3 and 8. It's at Ave 57 and Marmion way, and parking was no problem (although really I should start riding my bike there).