Ojai Lunch Monitor #2 Academic year 2015-16 Hello and welcome back to the Ojai Lunch monitor! I decided to eat my first school lunch of 2016 at Matilija Junior High on Tuesday February 2nd. On another beautiful sunny day of our so-far El Nino-less winter I signed in at the office and walked around the building to the lunch …
Seed Swap!
The Ojai Seed and Plant Swap is coming up soon! This event is open to all – seed savers and seed planters alike. Generally most seeds are freely offered by hobbyists and professionals although there are some sales/donation requests for certain potted plants and starts and some commercially packaged seed. There is a $5 donation request at the door to …
Ojai Lunch Monitor #1
Ojai Lunch Monitor #1 Academic year 2015-16 Hello and welcome (and welcome back) to the Ojai Lunch Monitor! A quick word of introduction: I am one of the board members of Food for Thought Ojai (aka FFTO). I originally joined the board because FFTO’s founder, Marty Fujita, was my patient (one of my other identities is as an Ojai family …
Harvest of the Month for December – Carrots
Harvest of the Month for December is Carrots, and they are featured on the snack and lunch menus at public schools throughout Ojai and Ventura County. Poco Farms has been growing carrots for our district this year, and some of the carrots served will have traveled a short distance (under a mile) to the schools. The part of the carrot …
Ojai Seed and Plant Swap February 27th 2016
Save the Date for the Ojai Seed and Plant Swap!
FFT executive Director Lori Hamor receives award!
It had been an exceedingly busy week, yet not an unusual one for Food For Thought’s Executive Director Lori Hamor. After our finance committee meeting that morning Lori and I were reviewing the budget for final approval, rewriting staff contracts, and discussing new garden based curriculum to address the drought while preparing the agenda for our evening board meeting. It …
Harvest of the Month for November – Persimmons
Harvest of the Month for November is Persimmons, and they are featured on the snack and lunch menus at public schools throughout Ojai and Ventura County. Persimmons are high in Vitamins A and C, and are full of fiber. The fruit grows on trees native to China, India, Japan, and Burma, but they also grow here in Ventura County where …
A Note From a Parent That Warmed Our Hearts
Over the past 12 years Food for Thought Ojai has received many dozens of thank you notes from students following their farm field trips. We love the drawings and descriptions of their time on the farm. We also receive very thoughtful thank you notes from Chaparral students acknowledging the organic produce we donate for classroom snacking. This note, received earlier …
11/5/15 : “Just Eat It” Free Film Viewing
Food For Thought’s FREE film offerings continue November 5 with JUST EAT IT, a movie about food waste. “We all love food, so how can we possibly be throwing nearly half of it in the trash?” Filmmakers and food lovers Jen and Grant dive into the issue of food waste from the farm, through retail, all the way back to …
11/8/15 : Salmon Run at Patagonia
11/8/15 Salmon Run at Patagonia Event begins at 8:30am. Food for Thought Ojai will be tabling at this annual event. A great fast race every time and lots of fun to check out the booths and learn about the many environmental groups active in our region. Stop by and say ‘hi’.