OCR Text |
Show SPANISH FORK WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 • A7 u Covering what matters most Business of the Month Princess Party ECUK Samantha Beck / Spanish Fork News FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Miss Salem Brooke Christensen hosted a Royal Princess Ball at the Salem Community Center Saturday, May 9. Little princesses came in their princess attire to enjoy the festivities. Proceeds went to support the Children's Miracle Network. Dana Robinson / Spanish Fork News SHOW OF SUPPORT: On Thursday, May 7 the Spanish Fork/Salem Chamber of Commerce members showed their support for the May Business of the Month, Security Home Mortgage. Front row, left to right, Clay Cushings, Susan Knight (owner), Jon Christensen (owner) and Russ Madsen. : / • Keys to Success Namon Bills / Spanish Fork News THE RIGHT STUFF: The Ken Garff Keys to Success assembly was held at Spanish Fork High School Monday, May 11. Students earned key cards throughout the year by getting good grades, having good citizenship, etc. Of the 450 who received a key card, 50 were % selected in a drawing to participate in the assembly and compete to win a car from Ken Garff. Of the 50, senior Alec Russell was the lucky winner of the '99 Volkswagen Passat. Russell said he was so full of adrenaline his hands were shaking. He called his parents to tell them he won, and they didn't believe him. It took some convincing from his brother and friends that he really had won. But Russell can't blame his parents. "I didn't believe it myself at first," he said. Russell will be able to pick up the car from the dealership on Wednesday. Farm shares: over where the food is comRoberts said people ev- they're "slowly turning it ing from, and what exactly erywhere want to buy local back to farmland." has gone into growing it," so they can know and trust A farm share is $350 their farmer, which is why for 16 weeks of produce. The site also has a fam- she said. Aside from natural pes- CSA farms are booming. Roberts said they also ofily blog that tells about the "Last year there were not fer organically grown beef farm and what they are ticides, another benefit of working on there. Every the Roberts' organic farm- more than 100 around the with no added hormones. year they add more options. ing is that they don't use country. Now there are over The beef shares go for $8 Next year they will be able hybrid seeds. Roberts ex- 1,000, and more that are not perlb. to offer eggs and various plained that seeds that have registered," she said. . Roberts earned her title been genetically engineered fruit from their orchard. Even with the growing as master gardener from the The concept of CSA produce more, are more interest, however, Roberts Utah State Extension. She farms is where the farmer beautiful and more dis- said most people haven't said Abraham Lincoln first and consumer come togeth- ease-resistant, but the plant ever heard of CSA farming. set up the extension services is depleted in other areas For those who are interested where community and state er in an agreement. "Consumers come up from the tampering. Rob- in learning more there are governments work in conwith a fee, then the farmers erts said often genetically many helps on the Internet junction with a local university and the federal governhave the money to buy the engineered plants produce such as localharvest.com. seeds that won't sprout, or seed and equipment they At first, Roberts was ment to train people in garthey can't produce the same need. In trade, these people worried about selling the dening and horticulture. plant again. will get a basket of fresh shares. She thought she "If I don't know the anproduce every week for 16 Roberts uses only natu- would need to go to the swer to something, I know weeks,1' Roberts said. ral, open-pollinated seeds, fanners' market and adver- where I can get it," Roberts CSA farms are especially which she said are not the tise them there, but her hus- said. beneficial for those people most beautiful or disease- band didn't think it would She has people come to who don't have the ability resistant, but she can plant be hard at all. her all the time with questo grow their own gardens, the same seed year after "He has business in Pro- tions about growing their people who don't have year and get the exact same vo, and he just mentions it own gardens, and she's available land or else their plant. She said that many to people, and they jump on happy to do the research health or time restraints people, including scientists., it," she said. "We've learned and give them the answers make it difficult or impossi- feel there is more nutrition you don't have to put ads in they need. ble. Roberts said some CSA in open-pollinated seeds. the paper; these shares are She offers tips and adfarms allow shareholders to gone. People are so excited "I'm not a scientist," vice on her website, and encome out to the farm and Roberts said, *'but I do about it, all you have to do courages everyone to start help grow throughout the know that the extension it talk about it and they're growing a garden. season. services have changed the in; the appeal is huge." "It can really make a difrequirements for canning. ference in this economic "In community supportThe Roberts Ranch and ed agriculture,- the farmer You have to pressure can Gardens is located at 334 situation. You can reduce the has the money up front, but things we didn't used to East Southfield Road in cost of food you have to purboth take risks. If it's a bad have to because through Spanish Fork. The land, chase, and it's so much better weather year, bad drought, genetic tampering we're which they bought three for you when you grow it in or if there*s a hailstorm, the losing nutrition. A lot of years ago, was formerly your own ground." lettuce may be full of holes; people are turning back to a horse ranch with alfalfa Roberts can be reached but you have more control the way it was." fields, but Roberts said at 801-836-0232. Adopt a Planter From FARM • A l M Kate Jarman / Spanish Fork News IN THE PRETTY GARDEN: Bright and early on the morning of Saturday, May 9, the planters along the west side of Spanish Fork Main saw community service in action. The event, "Adopt A Planter," invited wards from the area to put their hands to work and get dirty as they freshened up the planters along Main Street. Stone Drug offered those working along their block free drinks. Pictured above are the Lake Shore 2nd Ward Young Women. |