Recipe: Peas With Lemon and Tarragon

Ingredients:

16 ounces frozen baby peas

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel

1 teaspoon lemon juice

salt and pepper

Place peas, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan; add just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer about 6 minutes. Drain.

Return the drained peas to the saucepan and add all remaining ingredients. Toss well to coat. Serve.

Recipe & photo from www.food.com
http://www.food.com/recipe/peas-with-lemon-and-tarragon-166409#ixzz1OdshtxwB

The LAST Action Alert -- Let's Make it Count!

The City Council public hearing and final vote on the Food Producing Animals ordinance is this Monday, June 13th at 5:30 in the City & County building (click here for more details). We need everyone at the hearing -- a strong show of support will be very important. 

But, in the meantime, we need to do one last action alert to really make a statement to City Council about the ordinance before the hearing. I can't overstate how helpful the input from all of you has been in getting the ordinance as far as it's come. We need to take that last step to get us there!

This one is a two-fer -- both parts are important. And both are quick! You can make a real difference with just a 2 minute email and a 2 minute phone call.

Action Alert -- Part 1

As always, please feel free to craft your own email from scratch, modify the sample email below. or use the sample email in its entirety.

Please copy and paste the following text (including commas) for the "To" field of your email:

jeanne.faatz@denvergov.org, paul.lopez@denvergov.org, peggy.lehmann@denvergov.org, marcia.johnson@denvergov.org, charlie.brown@denvergov.org, chris.nevitt@denvergov.org, judy.montero@denvergov.org, jeanne.robb@denvergov.org, michael.hancock@denvergov.org, linkhartatlarge@denvergov.org, boigon.atlarge@denvergov.org, carol.boigon@denvergov.org, sustainablefooddenver@gmail.com

Subject line: Please vote for the FPA ordinance


Dear Members of City Council,


I am a resident of Denver, living in the _____ neighborhood. On Monday you will be asked to vote on a new Food Producing Animals ordinance for Denver. This ordinance has the support of Community Planning & Development and the Department of Environmental Health (including Animal Control). It passed unanimously through Planning Board, and was supported by the Mayor's Sustainable Food Policy Council.


The FPA ordinance represents a reasonable compromise that addresses the interests and concerns of a variety of different groups. It contains numerous protections for neighbors and neighborhood context, above and beyond what exists in successful FPA ordinances in other cities. It contains numerous protections and considerations for the welfare and keeping of the animals, above and beyond what exists in successful FPA ordinances in other cities (and, incidentally, above and beyond what we require for other animals that are kept in the city).


This is a well written, balanced compromise that remedies the unreasonably burdensome current process for legally owning backyard Food Producing Animals. I ask you to vote in favor of the FPA ordinance on Monday night.


Sincerely,
(your name)
------------------
Action Alert -- Part 2


Councilwoman Carol Boigon is an At-Large councilmember, which means that she represents every resident of Denver. She is currently undecided about the FPA ordinance, and we would very much like her to vote in favor of it.


I would like everyone to take 1-2 minutes to place a quick phone call to Councilwoman Boigon's office. You should certainly ask to speak with her, but my guess is that she will be unavailable. However, you should leave a message with her aides. Leaving a message is a concrete way to register your "vote" in favor of the ordinance.


Call Councilwoman Boigon's office at (720) 865-8100 now. Explain to her aides (or the voicemail) that you are a Denver resident, and you would like her to vote in favor of the Food Producing Animals ordinance on Monday night. You don't need to have lots of specific talking points as to why you want her to vote in favor -- just tell her whatever your reason(s) might be.


Thank you!

Recipe: Mint Lemonade

(This is so simple, it really shouldn't count as a "recipe.")

Boil 2 cups of water. Remove from heat and add mint leaves to steep. Cool in the refrigerator.

Once it's cool, strain (or pick) the mint leaves out of the water. Use the mint water as part of the liquid for making lemonade. For example, I like the Minute Maid Lemonade that's made from concentrate. Use the mint water, then any additional water that the concentrate directions call for.

Use additional mint leaves for garnish, if desired.

Recipe: Radish Leaf Pesto

2 large handfuls of good-looking Heirloom Garden radish leaves, stems removed

1 ounce hard cheese, such as pecorino or parmesan, grated or shaved using a vegetable peeler
1 ounce nuts, such as pistachios, almonds, or pine nuts                                                               

1 clove garlic, germ removed, cut in four
a short ribbon of lemon zest cut thinly from an organic lemon with a vegetable peeler (optional)
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more to get the consistency you like
salt, pepper, ground chili pepper

Put all the ingredients in a food processor or blender or mini-chopper, and process in short pulses until smooth. You will likely have to scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice. This produces a thick pesto; add more oil and pulse again to get the consistency you prefer. This can also be done with a mortar and pestle.

Taste, adjust the seasoning, and pack into an airtight container. Use within a few days (it will keep longer if you pour a thin layer of oil on the surface) or freeze.

Recipe adapted from Chocolate and Zucchini blog.

http://chocolateandzucchini.com

You've Got to Be Plucking Kidding Me...

A great 3 1/2 minute video about an "outlaw" in suburban Georgia, who is risking a fine and 6 months in jail because he chooses to keep a few backyard chickens to provide his family with safe, healthy eggs.



Also includes an appearance by the wonderful Chicken Whisperer, who has a radio show. I especially like this quote from The Chicken Whisperer: "Cities say, 'We welcome chickens. You just have to abide by this ordinance.' But then they make the ordinance so ridiculously strict that they know no one could keep chickens in their town. But we're on to them -- we know when they do that."

Denver folks -- sound familiar?

Eighth Graders Speak Out on Behalf of Urban Chickens

Two letters to the editor recently published by The Denver Post, in response to the story "Urban Chickens Scratch Up a Following Along the Front Range" (5/10/2011)

The new Denver ordinance proposed for keeping backyard chickens is not the first proposal in the state of Colorado. There seems to be a movement for urban backyard poultry. This is likely a product of our society’s trend to become more eco-friendly. There are many legitimate reasons to have backyard chickens, but I believe the most meaningful is that they are helping us get back to our roots.

Chickens have been food and pets in Colorado ever since Denver became a mining town. They have been banned over many years as our city has grown and modernized. Having chickens will bring us closer to the old ways of life, times where we couldn’t get everything with a click of a button. Not only will backyard chickens get us back to our roots, it is also a great learning experience for you and your family.

Liam Dunn, Denver

The writer is an eighth-grader.

Let me get this straight – Denver City Council is faced with a proposed ordinance allowing pet hens in the city with adequate but not arbitrary restrictions and a reasonable application process; there should be no questions, this is a definite yes for the council members. Currently you are required to get two separate approvals and pay a hefty fee each year. To add to that you are required to notify your neighbors and they can end all of your hard work by a simple no. The other side of the story; the current requirements for cats is pretty much nothing, the only cost is feed and litter boxes and there isn’t even an application process. The cats have no restriction from pooping in your garden; the only thing that can keep them in line is a strict owner. Council Members should accept that chickens should have regulations similar to cats and dogs.

Cormac Dunn, Denver

The writer is an eighth-grader.

Save the Date!

City Council Public Hearing and Final Vote

Food Producing Animals Ordinance

Monday, June 13th beginning at 5:30

City & County Building (14th & Bannock)

Room 451

We need everyone in Denver who supports the Food Producing Animals ordinance to attend the public hearing on June 13th. Even if you don't want to testify before City Council, your presence matters. There will be an opportunity for everyone in the room who supports the ordinance to stand, and we need a BIG presence.

If you are interested in testifying before City Council on behalf of the ordinance, please contact sustainablefooddenver@gmail.com.