Weekend Reading

Reading

Poor neighborhoods have long lacked for good supermarkets and healthy food options. But a new study shows that a supermarket alone can't solve the obesity problem.  The presence of good foods can't necessarily overcome the predominance of bad foods (e.g. McDonalds outlets.)

It does matter which foods you choose to eat. In another new and exhaustive study, we discover what I have long suspected - moderation is the big lie. Eating junk in moderation will not keep you healthy - eating whole foods will. Read more in the NYT.

Eating Rules also ran a great piece on the lies the food industry tells - chief among them that there are no bad foods (moderation!).

Great article at La Vida Locavore called How to Get Rid of Zucchini - check it out if your find yourself overrun with them. She includes a zucchini muffin recipe -- try it - my own vegetable-averse son loves them (although he did ask how the oven was going to 'get the green out' of the batter.)


Things to Do

Make those zucchini muffins!

Old Westbury House and Gardens has this activity listed for Saturday:

Kids and Family Programs: Bamboo Art and Brush Making 12:00 pm Children learn the fast growing benefits of this true grass plant as a renewable resource. Plant origins are discussed as is Asian line drawing as an art form. Kids will create brushes out of bamboo stems and leaves and will paint amongst the shady walls of the Secluded Garden. Appropriate for ages 8 and und. Free with admission, but advance registration required, please call (516) 333-0048 Ext. 301.

The NY Botanical Garden's Home Gardening series will focus on growing vegetables on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.  Next weekend will cover planting greens as a fast fall crop.

The Japanese stroll garden in Mill Neck will host a tour and tea ceremony on Saturday at 10am. 

The WSJ had a great article on community farms in the Bronx and you can take a tour.

Or, plan a pick-your-won fruit outing here on Long Island.  You can pick your own raspberries, peaches and blackberries east of here. For a complete list of u-pick locations (organic farms are flagged in green) see PickYourOwn.org. For Example -


Windy Acres Farms has conventional  raspberries blackberries and peaches as does Lewin Farms.

Davis Peach Farm  has conventional peaches.

Wickham's has blackberries and apples by late August.

Fort Salonga Farm will open Aug 20 with raspberries and apples shortly thereafter.

Make sure you call before you head out to the east end to check availability.  Children do not like to ride for an hour in the car only to find out the farm is already picked-out.