Welcome to the Grown Friendly Learning Resources Page!  In order to improve the way we eat and the way we relate to food, we have made a commitment to continually expanding our knowledge of produce: where it comes from, how it gets to us, and how we can better select, store, preserve, prepare, and enjoy it.

We believe that this knowledge leads to better decisions, that in turn lead to improved health for ourselves, our communities, and our natural environment.  We have also found that learning more about food is fun (!), and increases our enjoyment of eating and life in general.  All that from fruit and vegetables?  ... We think so.  We've found this to be true in our own lives, and we want to support you in this adventure!

This page provides some basic resources for learning more about produce and the changes that eating better - eating friendly-er - can bring to our lives.  Please let us know of your favorite books, articles, web sites, etc., and we will add them to this page so that others can benefit.  Let's learn together.

Food:  The Big Picture

If you can only read one book about food and our evolving relationship to it, read Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food.  Everything you need to know to improve your relationship with food and eating, in a simple, easy to read book.  I (Bob) think it's one of the most important books I've read in years.

The Produce

We are learning that there is much to know about produce!  The way you handle, store and prepare it can have a huge influence on your pocketbook, health, and enjoyment.  Different fruits and vegetables have very different requirements, and it pays to know the basics.  The following resources might help move us along this learning path.

Cabbage

A nice overview of the (surprisingly) many varieties of cabbage.

Dandelion Greens:

Reconsider how you think about this plant.

"Cicoria is a standard cooked green on menus all over Italy - it has a pleasing bitterness that's offset by the richness of the oil it's sautéed in. Sadly, it's hard to find that kind of chicory in America, but dandelion greens make a nice substitute."

This text and a nice simple recipe at: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Sauteed-Dandelion-Greens-242014

Kale

From howstuffworks.com, this is how we cook kale (sort of) - again, extremely nutritious, easy to prepare, and has more substance and texture than many greens.  After cooking uncovered for a bit, we cover and  cook longer than the recipe calls for, adding just a little water from time to time until we get the texture that we want. 

Mangoes

Are mangoes a "superfood?"  Superfoods give you more nutrition for your dollar.  From Wikipedia entry on Mangoes:

"Mango is rich in a variety of phytochemicals and nutrients that qualify it as a model "superfruit", a term used to highlight potential health value of certain edible fruits. The fruit is high in prebiotic dietary fiber, vitamin C, polyphenols and carotenoids.[12]"

"Mango contains essential vitamins and dietary minerals. The antioxidant vitamins A, C and E comprise 25%, 76% and 9% of the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) in a 165 g serving. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, 11% DRI), vitamin K (9% DRI), other B vitamins and essentialnutrients such as potassium, copper and 17 amino acids are at good levels."

The description of the nutritional value of the mango goes on and on ....  See it at  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mango.

Pears

From usapears.com, pointers to nice articles on pears and pear recipes.  It pays to know your pears - different varieties ripen differently and can be used in different ways. 

From Bettunya’s Brioche blog, we made this french pear desert (pear clafoutis) and really enjoyed it.  Best with Bosc pears (or other firm variety).

Pumpkin

From kqed.org, find an outstanding recipe for Pumpkin Gratin by scrolling down this page.  It's a savory dish that will change the way you think about pumpkin.  We use romano cheese instead of parmesan (lots cheaper).

Rapini / Broccoli Raab

From whatscookinginamerica.net, a nice introduction to Rapini / Broccoli Raab (our favorite green - complexly delicious, extremely nutritious, and easy to cook!).

Sweet Potatoes and Yams:

From about.com, a nice introduction to sweet potatoes and yams. There are many links in this article to other short articles about yams and sweet potatoes - selection, storage, nutrition, etc.  It pays to know your produce!

Food Policy, Politics, and Economics

We don't have a political axe to grind, but there is lots of interesting discussion going on.  Views expressed in these resources don't necessarily represent our views, just interesting reading.

From a UN web publication called "World 2.0,"  an interesting article that summarizes Michael Pollan's views on food security and policy in the United States.

Transition to a More Sustainable Culture

If you haven't already run across the "Transition" movement that started in the UK and moved to the USA in recent months, you might enjoy reviewing some of the related web material.

Transition USA:   http://transitionus.org/

 Transition Colorado: http://transitioncolorado.ning.com/

Transition Louisville, Colorado:  http://transitioncolorado.ning.com/group/transitionlouisville  and  http://www.transitionlouisvillecolorado.org/