Growing @ Home for RVFB with Pallets

Michael Pollan says that one of the biggest environmental impacts you can make is to grow just a small portion of your own food at home. Being passionate about fair food access and decreasing food waste, I was inspired by the idea of using up-cycled pallets to grow veggies in your yard. In our urban communities people often don't have the space or good soil quality to grow veggies in their yard. Pallet gardens are an indigenous solution! RVFB always has an abundance of free pallets, too. 

Since I am only growing for two people at home, I can donate a couple of rows to my food bank - bonus! I planted this lettuce using Lettuce Link seeds and growing guide about a month ago. These puppies will be ready for the picking in a couple weeks - sun willing!

Drop by RVFB any Tues-Sat, 7am-2:30pm and grab a pallet.

A lot is happening tomorrow!

Volunteers will build raised garden beds to benefit RVFB
Full Life Care , Just Garden Project & Whole Foods join forces for Spring Into Bed to build 6 raised garden beds-- 3 of which will sprout leafy greens to be distributed at the food bank. Volunteer or just drop in and check it out!

10AM - 2PM: Volunteers arrive at Full Life Care, 4712 35th Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98118. After we construct the raised beds, we will plant the apple trees and raspberry bushes.

3PM - 6PM: After Party at Columbia Park. It's not just our gardens bed we're celebrating!  Spring Into Bed build gardens all over Seattle on May 12th! Join us after all the hard work has been done! There will be good food, music and stories celebrating the positive changes and our thriving local food system. Music, Games, Community Gardening information and more.

Questions? Email elise@rvfb.org

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Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

Tell your neighbors! This cool program benefits RVFB, and it's happening this Saturday! Watch for the blue bag in your mail box, fill it up with non-perishables on Friday night, and see it get picked up on Saturday morning. Many thanks to the National Association of Letter Carriers for their hard work! More Info. 
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Food Drive @ QFC on Rainier and McClellan, 10am - 2pm

Soak up some of this new-found sunshine while supplying your food bank with non-perishables. During this time of the year, our non-perishable donations slow to a trickle. Let's rectify that, shall we? Tomorrow! Saturday, May 12th. Arrive at RVFB @ 9am for an orientation or just show up at the QFC on Rainier & McClellan @ 10am! 


Not available tomorrow? We hold food drives every Wednesday & Saturday. Sign-up Here and bring your friends! 

Food Drives can integrate nicely with business, faith group or school events. RVFB will drop off and pick up donation bins and supplies anywhere in the Rainier Valley. Donation bins can also "live" at your business or community organization-- we will pick up when they are full. Email elise@rvfb.org to arrange! 

Check out or latest newsletter

Our Spring newsletter hit mailboxes this April! To join our mailing list, email info@rvfb.org. We promise not to waste paper.

Check out our 2011 Annual Report

As you can see, we were quite busy last year ...

Today's the day to GIVE BIG!

Your money is matched through The Seattle Foundation.

Today, every dollar you donate through The Seattle Foundation will be matched by a pool of sponsors, including some of the region's most generous givers. Spring is the time of year when food banks across the country see a dip in donations. There's no better time to help us and your community.  Give here!

And we'd like to give back -- here is a great recipe for a lasagna that will feed a BIG group.  Enjoy!

Easy Crock Pot Lasagna
Ingredients:

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 (28 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 12 ounces cottage cheese (we like 2%)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese or 1/2 cup asiago cheese
• 12 ounces lasagna noodles, uncooked
• 16 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef, onion and garlic in frypan.
2. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, salt and oregano.
3. Cook long enough to get it warm.
4. Spoon a layer of meat sauce onto the bottom of the slow cooker.
5. Add a double layer of uncooked lasagna noodles (break to fit) and top with cheeses.
6. Repeat with sauce, noodles and cheeses until all are used up.
7. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.