--- title: Food and Garden Club Week Six | Josephine County Farm to School and Nutrition Education description: Josephine County Farm to School and Nutrition Education Weekly Garden Club - Week Six --- [![site-logo](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hubfs/Oregon_State_University_Theme2019/Images/site-logo.png "site-logo")](https://oregonstate.edu) [Josephine Farm to School and Nutrition Education](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/josephine) [Course Login](https://apps.ideal-logic.com/osupace) ![](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hubfs/Oregon_State_University_Theme2019/Images/Search.png) Select Search Specific Course Certificate ![](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hubfs/Oregon_State_University_Theme2019/Images/search-close.png) ![Mother and daughter working in the garden-1](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hubfs/Stock%20images/Mother%20and%20daughter%20working%20in%20the%20garden-1.jpeg "Mother and daughter working in the garden-1") # Food and Garden Club Weekly ## Welcome to Week 6 - OSU Family Food and Garden Club OSU Farm to School Growers Market $10 gift certificate will be available this Saturday June 20! All families who registered and received activity kits are eligible for a gift certificate. ![growers-market](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/growers-market.png?width=936&name=growers-market.png) ![sign](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/sign.png?width=300&name=sign.png)Bring your OSUFood Hero grocery bag and stop by the OSU table located next to the market manager’s booth between 9-12:30 am this Saturday to pick up your gift certificate. You can use it right away to purchase fresh local produce then go home and make you favorite Food hero recipe. The market is located on the corner of 4th& F streets. The market requests that you observe physical distancing, wear a face covering, wash hands and remain at home if you are ill. Many farmers and sellers are supplying hand sanitizer and booths are set up to create physical spacing. Did you know that SNAP -Oregon Trail Card funds can be used at farmers markets across Oregon? This is also true for the pandemic EBT card that most families in Josephine County received for 2020. This video from NC Extension shows how easy it is to use an EBT card at a farmers market.  The local farmers markets in Josephine and Jackson County also offer Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) when using EBT. This means a customer can get an extra $10 for each $10 in SNAP/EBT used at the market each week. It makes shopping at the farmers market affordable for everyone and supports local farmers who provide the freshest food options. Buying local means less costly transportation and less waste in the food system. Be sure to [check out the Rogue Local Flavor Guide](https://rvfoodsystem.org/rogueflavor) that was in your healthy food activity kit for more information about where to access local food. [Food Hero shows how to use Double Up Food Bucks.](https://www.foodhero.org/farmers-market) ## 46 ###### gallons of oil Recycling 1 ton of cardboard saves 46 gallons of oil. ## Week 6: Caring for the Environment  ### Digging Gardening Composting is one way you can help the environment. When you make your own compost, you can save money and recycle nutrients back into your garden. Adding compost is a great way to increase the organic matter in your garden soil. Soil improved with compost acts like a sponge, so more water stays in the soil and less water runs off the surface. You can build your own compost pile or worm bin or you can buy pre-made bins. Let learn more about the benefits of compost and how to make your own with SciShow Kids. Did you know that you can use leaves and grass clippings as mulch in your flowerbeds or garden? You don’t even need to turn it into compost. This is a great way to recycle yard waste in the garden. Mulch is important because it helps keep the soil moist and helps prevent weeds from growing around your plants. The N[ational Junior Master Gardener Program](https://jmgkids.us/kids-zone/compost-critters/) has a fun interactive webpage where you can learn all about different kinds of decomposers that help with the compost process.  Chapter 3 of your JMG Handbook has some more compost activities for you to explore. Let’s check in with our friends at the Josephine County Food Bank’s Raptor Creek Farm to see how they make compost: ### Food for Fuel: ![trash](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/trash.png?width=380&name=trash.png)In week one we learned about how food gets from the farm to our fork as steps in the Food System. As food makes the journey from the farm to the kitchen table or restaurant, some food is wasted or spoiled along the way. This happens because of the time it takes to transport food to the store, how long it sits on the counter or fridge before it is prepared and how much we toss out because we were not hungry or forgot to eat leftovers! It costs money and affects our environment when we waste food. Let’s learn how other kids are reducing food waste at home and school from this video produced by Spokane Public Schools. ### I Spy: Let's think beyond food waste and take a look at how recycling can also help you reduce the amount of trash that goes to the landfill. When you recycle you are turning trash into treasure. We can all make the Earth a better place when we take the time to recycle. Did you know that plastic, glass, newspaper and even tires can be recycled? Nature has also been recycling for thousands of years. In the forest, leaves, twigs and dead plants and animals are recycled to make rich new soil. How does this happen? Small microorganisims, fungi and even worms help break down these things to turn nature’s trash into treasure. (Content from JMG Level One Handbook, Chapter 3 Ecology and Environmental Horticulture) Sci Show explains how recycling works!  Check out this cool [interactive game from the EPA's website "Recycle City](https://www3.epa.gov/recyclecity/)." It lets you see how the people of a fictitious town reduce waste, use less energy, and even save money by doing simple things at home, at work, and in their neighborhoods. [![Screen Shot 2020-06-15 at 4.33.05 PM](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202020-06-15%20at%204.33.05%20PM.png?width=300&name=Screen%20Shot%202020-06-15%20at%204.33.05%20PM.png)](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hubfs/Extension/Week%206%20trash%20and%20climate%20change%20activity%20book.pdf)[You can download a Trash and Climate Change activity book here.](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hubfs/Extension/Week%206%20trash%20and%20climate%20change%20activity%20book.pdf) **DID YOU KNOW:** 1 ton of aluminum recycled = 13 tons of carbon dioxide prevented 1 ton of newspaper = 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide prevented 1 ton of plastic bottles saves the equivalent energy use of a household for 1 year Glass can be recycled and reused without wearing out!  Glass made from recycled material has 50% lower water related pollution ### Discovery –Reflections ![reuse](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/reuse.png?width=300&name=reuse.png) Challenge yourself this week to create an art piece using recycled materials you find in your kitchen or home. Check out these photos for inspiration!   ##### Aluminum cans ![jo-cans](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/jo-cans.png?width=1442&name=jo-cans.png) ##### Plastic Bottles ![jo-cans2](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/jo-cans2.png?width=1442&name=jo-cans2.png) ##### Recycled paper and magazines and food packaging! ![jo-can34psd](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/jo-can34psd.png?width=1442&name=jo-can34psd.png)For more inspiration look at the [huge 3-D sculptures created by Washed Ashore Art](https://washedashore.org/) in Bandon, Oregon. This organization is dedicated to recycling plastic debris collected from ocean beaches to create amazing sculptures and educate the public about environmental impact of plastic on ocean and marine life. Your Jr. Master Gardener Handbook has more Eco-Art activities for you to explore. Check them out on pages 59-62. You can even make a scarecrow for your garden using recycled materials! Share your recycled art or home recycling center or home compost system by [uploading a photo to the gallery](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/josephine-county-farm-to-school-and-nutrition-education-upload) or emailing to [erika.peterson@oregonstate.edu](mailto:erika.peterson@oregonstate.edu) (be sure to include your first name and last initial with the photo). ### Parent Connection Did you know you can save up to $1,400 a year by cutting down on food waste at home? Here are some facts and tips for saving money and eating well.       ##### **To Reduce Food Waste at Home**: - **Shop your refrigerator first –** Challenge yourself to use what you have on hand – think like an Iron Chef to use miscellaneous ingredients and leftovers vs. throwing away. - **Plan your grocery trip –** Balance your purchase of fresh fruits and veggies that spoil more quickly (bananas, berries, cucumbers, summer squash, tomatoes, melon, lettuce) with produce that has a longer storage time (apples, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, winter squash). Use most perishable first, frozen, canned and dried fruit at home as these provide good nutrition benefits are less expensive during the winter months and have longer shelf life than fresh produce. - **[Be Food Safe - ](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hubfs/Extension/KeepItCool%20Refrigerator%20Storage%20Chart.pdf) **Keep refrigerator temperature at or below 40°F. Set your freezer at 0°F or lower. Frozen food will stay good indefinitely as long as it does not thaw. Reheat leftover food to 1650°F and check using a food thermometer. - **Smart Food Storage –** Some fresh fruits and vegetables are best stored at room temperature and some are best refrigerated. Should you wash before storing or at the time of cooking or eating? The Be a Food Hero Cookbook provided in your family food kit or [available here](https://www.foodhero.org/sites/default/files/health-tools/recipe_digital_en0430201.pdf) has storage tips for common fruits, vegetables, protein foods and grains. The fruit and veggie wheel you received has storage tips too. - [**Understand “best by”, “sell by” and “use by” dates on food packages**](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hubfs/Extension/TossedTreasuresEnglishHandout.pdf)  ### “Buy what you need and eat what you buy” Parents, you can learn more about compost in Chapter 2 of the Seed to Supper book. ![foodHero-logo-url2](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/foodHero-logo-url2.png?width=227&name=foodHero-logo-url2.png)What are your family’s favorite berries? Oregon grown berries like strawberries, blueberries, Marion berries are available frozen year round, canned for delicious desserts and fresh in the summer at u-pick, farm stands, farmers market and the grocery store. Look for fresh berries starting now through July! [Check out these Food Hero tips for strawberries.](https://www.foodhero.org/strawberries) Meet a Farmer - [This story is about an Oregon farm family ](https://cookingupastory.com/growing-fresh-berries-for-the-farmers-market/)who grow berries and sell them at a farmers market.  ![Design_02](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hubfs/Oregon_State_University_Theme2019/Images/Design_02.png "Design_02") ## Discover More Events and Resources ### Upcoming Events [Learn More](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/josephine-county-farm-to-school-and-nutrition-education-calendar) ### Summer Lunch Program [Learn More](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/josephine-county-farm-to-school-and-nutrition-education-calendar) ### Additional Resources [Learn More](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/josephine-county-farm-to-school-and-nutrition-education-additional-resources) [![footer-logo](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/hubfs/footer-logo.png "footer-logo")](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu) Professional and Continuing Education Follow Us On [**](https://www.facebook.com/OSU.PACE) [**](https://twitter.com/OSU_PACE) [**](https://www.youtube.com/user/OregonStatePNE) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/paceosu/) © Oregon State University | All Rights Reserved [Send us a message](mailto:workspace@oregonstate.edu) | [541-737-4197](tel:5417374197) | [2591 SW Campus Way #102 | Corvallis, OR 97331-1081](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/josephine-county-farm-to-school-and-nutrition-education-food-and-garden-club-weekly-week-six#) | [Get Free Newsletter](https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/newsletter-sign)