A friend tried jackfruit and recommends it.

https://www.naturalnews.com/2019-01-28-jackfruit-seeds-can-be-used-as-an-alternative-protein-source.html

Here are some recipes: jackfruit crab cakes!

Yumhttps://www.yummly.com/recipes/jackfruit 

Where to buy jackfruit:  Whole Foods

https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/get-know-jackfruit

I wouldn’t buy seeds from Amazon–Reviews show problems with germination–and think we probably couldn’t grow them here anyway.

Regarding NM HB204:  Healthy Soil Act

I am seriously concerned about food scarcity for young people in Valencia County. As a long-time member of the community garden we have always promoted family gardening. However, many county families really don’t have the time and resources to grow even a little food in the summer. We have tried to support the East Valencia Urban Garden Project sponsored by VSWCD at Meadow Lake and El Cerro Mission, and those gardens are starting to supply some fresh food for the area residents.

New Mexico HB204, now in the legislature, would give that program a boost. If you followed the crowd-funding project sponsored by Laura Bittner from the County Extension Office, you would know that she only reached about 65% of her $15,500 goal to supply weekend food sacks to Century High School Students. I recently talked to Diana Good, the Valencia County State Health officer, and I was amazed to learn that the school lunch programs in the summer often rely on volunteers to deliver lunches to the “food deserts” in our county.

I have talked to Ron Moya in Adelino who is growing commercial organic vegetables on his small farm. HB204 would certainly help him get financing. And last, I have listened to Newt McCarty of the County Extension Office and Ron talk about building a food hub in our county so that locally grown food could be sold and distributed locally to community centers, schools and other agencies. We would have more locally-grown food available to our disadvantaged citizens.

The food we try to grow in our county will only be as good as the soil. Alfalfa and corn drastically deplete the nutrients in the soil so it is amended with chemicals, and then the crop is given to animals. Our county needs food for people locally grown without pesticides and herbicides.  Look at all the bare fields, abandoned plots, and over-grazed acreage along Hwy 47. There are methods now being used to bring back that soil . . . to grow food, but it takes support and training. HB204 could provide that.

Details of HB204 https://www.legiscan.com/NM/bill/HB204/2019

New_Mexico-2019-HB204-Introduced.pdf

Joyce Johns, Valencia Community Gardens, outreach

Regarding HB204:  adapted from Jan. 24, 2019 email Joyce sent to State Representative Kelly Fajardo

Ask seed companies if they have taken the Safe Seed Pledge and tested their stock for GMOs. Here’s a list.

Purchase, plant, and save seeds from heirloom varieties. We need to support Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange, and Clear Creek Heirloom Seeds and others that specialize in heirlooms and that are NOT owned by Monsanto or Seminis. The legacy of Seed Saver’s Exchange is to tell you how to collect and store seeds.

For more, go to https://deeprootsathome.com/4-ways-to-keep-monsanto-out-of-your-home-garden/?fbclid=IwAR3rkmJZXqA4AX6R4dqCri5rdtONRHNkP8kOxcuNviopKZAH-AxXEKGZe3A

I hope if HB204 passes, the advisory board takes note:  Costco is removing Roundup from shelves.  Now let’s pressure Home Depot and Lowe’s to do the same:

Home Depot – 1-800-466-3337
Lowe’s – 1-800-445-6937

https://www.wakingtimes.com/2019/01/18/costco-to-be-the-first-major-retailer-to-dump-monsantos-roundup-and-glyphosate-herbicide-from-its-shelves/?fbclid=IwAR2CNxV7gaoDjpVD2dYiLSDqR2mle7yETF360lVn5ncysnC8iTuoHTjI8RI

Nathan P. Small 
Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=204&year=19

This bill establishes a voluntary program, but it’s heading in the right direction:  establishes an advisory board to help define “healthy soil” and appropriates five million dollars to educate growers.  Let’s hope the board includes a soil specialist educated about the harmful effects of GMOs, herbicides, and pesticides on beneficial microorganisms in the soil.

Email or call Kelly Fajardo and Alonzo Baldonado.  The bill heads to their Commerce and Economic Development Committee on Jan. 23:

Kelly:

kelly.fajardo@nmlegis.gov or kelly@kellyfajardo.com

505-573-0471

Alonzo:

alonzo.baldonado@nmlegis.gov or zobaldonado@gmail.com

505-363-6214

https://philhoward.net/