The Community Food Project

Helen’s Hellacious Hens Supporting The Community Food Project Why this all began: I always have valued good food. I am sure the reasons are genetically and culturally ingrained in me. Both of my parents faced severe food shortage when young, my father during the Great Depression and my mother in post WWII Japan. They taught me that food wasn’t to be taken for granted. Additionally, I spent the bulk of my career in Navy Medicine, the last 17 years as the Head of the Health and Wellness Department at Balboa Hospital. We were a team of physicians, nurses, registered dieticians, social workers, marriage and family therapists, exercise physiologists, kinesiotherapists, recreation therapists, music therapists (and more!), doing what we could to maximize the health of all our beneficiaries with a huge range of programs and services. The core of it all, though, was nutrition and exercise, because those are the two heavy hitters in health. Food is critical, the good stuff not always affordable to all and easily accessible, and I want to share what I can, when I can. What this is: It started with chickens. I love animals, and chickens are fun and provide delicious and nutritious eggs. Jimmy and I expanded the flock, and ended up with more eggs than we could eat. I am also interested in farming. The first thing I did when I retired was attended farm school, and completed a summer internship after I finished the classroom and field work. I also like trees, so I have planted fruit trees, especially in the past few years. Sometimes I have more vegetables and fruit than we can eat. I am dedicated to health, so I don’t used pesticides and employ the natural techniques I learned in farm school. Also, I have a soft spot for animals, so our chickens are spoiled, never culled, and the rodents that would otherwise destroy our trees and vegetables are captured and live released elsewhere (usually, when Jimmy can manage that.) I am happy to share fresh and healthy food with you! Those of you who know me know that I like to bake (because baked goods make people happy) so I want to share fresh baked goods as well. I am interested in flowers, and as I get more time I will learn more and grow more, and have flowers to share. How you can participate: If you want it, take it! Food has become more expensive, so if it is stressing your budget, just take anything you want for free. You are the primary reason this project exists, so take advantage! Otherwise, there is a “Donation Box,” not an “Honesty Box” – this was mindfully chosen, because payment is strictly optional. Donate whatever amount makes you feel happy that you participated. Some of the donations will be used to support and expand this project (mainly chicken feed) and all profits will be given to feed the hungry. You can be sure your contribution will go back towards feeding your neighbors and others who need it. Please keep participation within our neighborhood - one of the great things about where we live is that it is quiet and private, and I have received requests from our neighbors to keep this within our ‘hood. Fresh baked cookies are in the cookie jar. Please stop by on Community Food Project afternoons to get a cookie, even if you know you don’t want any eggs, fruit or vegetables. Timing: I will send a group text when I put the food out. To reserve, come to this website and click on the item and quantity that you want and I will label the item for you. You can also just respond to my texts that you would like for me to label something for you, and I will. Please don’t take something if it is already labeled for somebody else! I collect any donations as they come in, and give them to nonprofits who feed the hungry on a monthly basis. I also will notify you an accounting of our donations, so you have awareness of how we are meeting the food needs of others. Item Donations: Donations of egg cartons, berry baskets, bags, and other containers are appreciated! Please don’t donate any food items, because my insurance won’t cover me if somebody other than me leaves food. If I put out flowers in vases, you are welcome to take them vases and all, but please return the vases after you are done with them. Feedback: I welcome any thoughts or comments. I will read them with interest! Thank you for taking the time to read this <3