Spring Things

We hope to see everyone this Thursday, March 31, for our next tempting Pathfinder Produce fresh fruits and vegetable market.  We offer a great variety of items, all at great prices, and our friendly staff is eager to assist you with your purchases.  We hope to see you then!

Also, in other local news, we’d like to draw your attention to the next Edmeston Blood Drive, being held by the ECS Honor Society at Edmeston Central School on Monday, April 11, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  The public is encouraged to donate, and can make an appointment by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or online at redcrossblood.org! 

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Even though it's a frosty, damp evening as I write, spring is upon us and the signs are everywhere. Daffodils are poking their heads through on nearby road banks, and robins and other song birds are out. I've had some glimpses of our resident eagle, gliding above looking for lunch; our local coyote also was boldly loping along the meadow's edge, looking for a tasty chipmunk or rabbit.

As I looked at the coyote, my eyes were drawn to the forlorn garden beds; chock full of weeds and in need of some heavy repairs. It's the time of year to make lists and to work more outside, so I will add replacing the garden beds to the to-do list. Last weekend we spent a good amount of time cleaning up the garage-workshop – that way we can tackle other chores without spending so much time looking for mislaid tools.

Some of my friends on Facebook, the committed gardeners, have a big jump on the season. One lady, who both gardens and raises hens, is installing a new hoop house complete with a flagstone path. She does a great job with her gardens and canning each year; the chickens are a new addition and seem to be thriving and exploring the small integrated farmstead.

Another friend, who I met as a fourth grader when I worked at a school many years ago, is now a fulltime mom and goat farmer. She too is building a greenhouse, this one out of recycled windows. It should be a durable, functional space for getting seedlings growing and producing small crops of produce during colder months for many years.

At Pathfinder, we will be getting our hoop house in order soon, when we're sure the last storm has passed us by. (Truth be told, this was the warmest winter we've ever experienced in our part of New York). Our Button Greenhouse, which our customers walk through on their way to our weekly market, is already alive with new seedlings shooting upwards, embracing the warmth and light.

The gardening cycle is repeated by many each spring, and it reconnects us to the lives and livelihoods of our farming ancestors. It also speaks to the future too, even though that future is limited to the growing and harvest season. There's an element of faith that's evident when people put seeds in the ground, cope with too little or too much water, do battle with nature's marauders (bugs, critters, weeds and blights). The faith, of course, is tastefully rewarded if there is a harvest; the unsuccessful gardener finds solace in the hopes of next summer.

Until next time, eat well and get that “to do” list in good order,

Lori

The Importance of Play

We hope everyone will join us this week on March 24 for our next scrumptious Pathfinder Produce fresh fruits and vegetable market at the Village Commons.  Last week’s third anniversary celebration was a great success, and we love serving our loyal patrons.  Come on down on to the Village Commons on Thursday from 1 to 5 p.m. for the freshest produce and best prices around!

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“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning.  

But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”      

-- Fred Rogers

Many of my blogs focus on nutrition, recipes and food culture, but through the blog we also hope to encourage people to become more physically fit, in keeping with the goals of Edmeston’s 5210 Wellness Committee.  For the past few months on my Facebook wall, I’ve been seeing lots of posts regarding the value of outdoor playtime, and I thought, as it’s spring, it’s a worthy topic to explore.

For kids, it’s especially important for them to unplug, run, jump, and role play outside.  Play is not just physical exercise, it’s an all-encompassing activity that provides a way to de-stress, build relationships, and use the imagination.  Based on findings from a 2013 study by researchers Robert Murray, MD and Catherine Ramstetter, PhD, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended in its journal, Pediatrics, that:

1.     Recess is necessary for optimizing a child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. (Recess shouldn’t be withheld for academic or punitive reasons).

2.     Thinking and academic performance depend on regular breaks from concentrated classroom work for children of all ages. (The frequency and duration of breaks should allow students to mentally decompress).

3.     Recess is a complement to, but not a replacement for Physical Education classes.  Recess provides the creative, social, and emotional benefits of play.

4.     Recess can counterbalance being sedentary, and can be counted toward the one hour that the AAP recommends for physical activity each day. (That’s the “1” in 5210!)

5.     Whether structured or unstructured, recess should be safe and well supervised by trained individuals.

6.     Peer interactions that play out during recess build lifelong skills for communication, negotiation, cooperation, problem solving, and provide foundations for healthy development.

In general, the AAP dislikes and questions a growing trend in which schools take away kids’ recess time and use it for more class time.  As a mom, I agree with them; if kids can break out of the classroom during times of supervised play, I think they are more ready to learn once they return to the classroom.

Until next time, get some playtime, and enjoy life!

Lori

Warming Up!

We hope everyone will come out to this week's Pathfinder Produce on Thursday, March 17. Along with St. Patrick's Day, we will be celebrating World Down Syndrome Day just a wee bit early, with some cooking demonstrations of Utica Greens and Green Smoothies. We'll also have some blue-and-yellow half-moons for sale (hmmmmm), and produce items will be discounted 5%. We hope to see you at the Village Commons from 1 to 5 p.m.
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This past weekend's warm weather had many folks outside, eager to begin springtime activities. At Pathfinder Village, we're like everyone else, looking forward to outdoor fun, like strolling on the Community Walking Trail, planting our veggie beds at the hoop house, and of course, getting ready for the Splash Path 5K and Fun Walk, which is coming up on Saturday, May 21.

This year, we are introducing some new features to Splash Path, our family fun color run and walk: To gear everyone up, we are offering a training program DASH TO THE SPLASH, for community members so they gain in strength and endurance in their quest to complete a 5K. Monica Clark of our Program Office is heading this free program, which begins on March 21. We still have openings in the program; the main requirement is the time commitment of 20-30 minutes three times each week.  Reach Monica at (607) 965-8377, ext. 107 if you are interested in joining in on the fun.

The premise behind DASH is to focus on gradual improvement and NOT PUSH too much, too soon (which is why most people don’t continue training programs). Each person will be paired with a team member for encouragement (you can sign up with a partner or we can help find one for you); and will be provided with program materials that will help inspire progress. By the end of nine weeks, participants should be ready to walk or run their first 5K.

For those who can’t join us in DASH because of other commitments or distance, the program goes as follows, with Days 2, 3, and 5 being rest days.  If you aren’t a runner, just walk faster during the jog sessions.  Note that each session should begin with warm-up and cool-down stretching, and be sure to increase your intake of water to stay hydrated.  It is important that you wear proper footwear; your shoes don’t need to be expensive, but they should provide proper support, not rub your feet (blister prevention), and suitable for the environment where you are training.

Week	Days 1 – Mon.	Day 4 – Thurs.	Day 6 – Sat.	Day 7 – Sun.
One 3/21/16	Warm up stretches 5 min. walk 2 min jog 5 min. walk Cool down stretches	Warm up stretches 5 min. walk 2 min jog 5 min. walk Cool down stretches	Warm up stretches 5 min. walk 3 min jog 5 min. walk Cool down stretches	Rest
Two 3/28/16	5 min. walk, 3 min. jog, 5 min. walk	5 min. walk 4 min. jog, 5 min. walk	5 min. walk 5 min. jog 5 min. walk	Rest
Three 4/4/16	5 min. walk 6 min. jog 5 min. walk	4 min. jog 5 min. walk 4 min, jog, 5 min. walk	5 min walk 7 min. jog 5 min. walk	Rest
Four 4/11/16	5 min walk 7 min. jog 5 min. walk	5 min walk 8 min. jog 5 min. walk	5 min walk 9 min. jog 5 min. walk	Rest
Five 4/18/16	5 min walk 9 min. jog 5 min. walk	6 min. jog 5 min. walk 6 min, jog, 5 min. walk	5 min walk 10 min. jog 5 min. walk	5 min walk 11 min. jog 5 min. walk
Six 4/25/16	5 min walk 11 min. jog 5 min. walk	13 min. jog 5 min. walk	15 min. jog 5 min. walk	Rest
Seven 5/2/16	15 min. jog 5 min. walk	8 min. jog 5 min. walk 8 min, jog, 5 min. walk	16 min. jog 5 min. walk	17 min. jog 5 min. walk
Eight 5/9/16	17 min. jog 5 min. walk	18 min. jog 5 min. walk	20 min. jog 5 min. walk	Relax
Nine 5/16/16	20 min. jog	18 min. jog 5 min. walk	SPLASH PATH DAY

In other news, the Splash Path committee will be bringing in a time clock at the event this year, so that runners who like to track their times may do so. We also will have Zoe Curtis at the event to lead a ZUMBA warm-up before the 5K starts, and our post-run party will feature lots of vendors, a barbeque, music by DJs Tom and Chris Hogan of Cooperstown, and of course, our ever popular raffle auction.

This year we're also introducing an online registration through the RaceWire platform … it's an easier way to get your entire group registered. But if you are old school, we are still offering a printable registration and waiver form at the Pathfinder Website …. prices remain low : $45 for families, $20 for adults, $10 for youths, and kids up to 9 FREE, through May 1.  After that, prices increase by $10 for families, adults and youths, and $5 for kids.

Until next time, warm up, get moving, and think spring!


Lori

Adding Color!

We hope that everyone will join us for this Thursday’s tasteful Pathfinder Produce Market at the Village Commons from 1 to 5 p.m.  Next week, we’ll be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and our third anniversary of the market with some specials.  We’ll also be marking  World Down Syndrome Day, which takes place on 3-21 (representing the triplication of the 21st chromosome, the genetic cause of Down syndrome for most individuals).  We hope you’ll join us during these festive weeks at Pathfinder Produce!

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As we’re contending with some gray days, I love it when we get glimpses of color indicating spring’s arrival (blue skies, colors of buildings heightened by  rays of sun, etc.)  My colleague, Martha, offers this column about using a simple ingredient – peppers – to add color and flavor to ordinary foods to make them more tasteful and festive!

A great way to add color and flavor to many dishes is with bell peppers. Bell peppers, which are not hot or spicy, come in several colors. Pathfinder Produce carries green, red, and yellow bell peppers; there are also orange and—less commonly—brown, white, lavender, and dark purple. (For the purposes of this blog, I’ll focus on the three colors available at Pathfinder Produce.)

So what is the difference? Aside from the color, the first difference you’re likely to notice is availability. Green bell peppers are much more likely to be stocked on store shelves than any other variety. The other obvious difference is price; the green peppers are generally lower in cost. The reason for both of these is that green bell peppers are actually under-ripe. They are harvested earlier, so since there is a shorter time from seed to harvest, they are cheaper and more plentiful. Yellow and red varieties start out green, and are allowed to ripen before harvesting, thus longer growing times and higher prices.

Another difference is taste. The green peppers can have a bitter edge, while the yellow and red peppers are sweeter. And while all of the varieties are excellent sources of Vitamin A, C, and Beta Carotene, the amounts vary. Based on a 1 cup serving, green peppers have more than three times the amount of Vitamin A and Beta Carotene than the yellow peppers, but about half the amount of Vitamin C. The real vitamin champ is the red variety, however, with almost 9 times the amount of Vitamin A, twice the amount of Vitamin C, and 2 ½ times the amount of Beta Carotene as the green bells. World's Healthiest Foods

Bell peppers are great either raw or cooked. You can cut them into sticks for a colorful veggie tray, or dice them into a salad. They are a nice addition to a stir fry or almost any veggie-based casserole. You can also slice them into rings, put them in a frying pan, and use it for an egg ring to make your breakfast a little fancier and nutritious. For other ideas, see this article on MyRecipes.com.

Until next time, be well!

Martha (and Lori)

DASH TO THE SPLASH!

We hope everyone will join us for our next delicious Pathfinder Produce market on Thursday, March 3, from 1 to 5 p.m.  The weatherman has indicated that winter storm Quo may provide some precipitation over the next few days, but we won’t let that dampen our enthusiasm for our friendly market and tremendous customers.  Thank you for all the great support for Pathfinder Produce.

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Many of us here at Pathfinder Village are starting to think spring and want to prepare for some 5K runs and walks in our region.  To help those who live or work near Pathfinder achieve their fitness goals, we are starting a new program, DASH TO THE SPLASH, a low-key, FREE, fun activity that will help you and a partner get ready for your race-walk season.  To learn more, you can read this flyer, or contact splashpath@pathfindervillage.org.  We hope to have many area residents join us for what should be a fun and beneficial program. 

DASH TO THE SPLASH will start on March 21 (part of our Show Your 21/World Down Syndrome Day observation), and will provide coaching and encouragement to anyone who would like to improve their fitness level.  The program is designed for partners – parents and kids, siblings, cousins, friends, co-workers – and will help everyone build stamina and strength to get ready for Pathfinder’s third annual color run/walk, Splash Path, which is set for Saturday, May 21.  More details on Splash Path (including sponsorship and vendor information) are at our website.  Splash Path is a low-cost family fun event, and quite honestly, it’s just good, messy fun! 

(In the spirit of sharing, we also invite you to try the Cider Run, a 5K and 10K event, which will take place at the Fly Creek Cider Mill on April 23, and will benefit the Athelas Therapeutic Riding program, Otego, which is an activity Pathfinder residents and students have enjoyed through the years.)

Another way to get healthier this spring is to focus on our diets, to choose better quality foods, and to cut back on portions and excessive fats and sugars.  To follow up with February’s healthy heart advice, I’m sharing this neat post on 10 foods that help unclog arteries naturally.  I know that oats are great artery scrubbers, but I didn’t know that other foods I really like --tomatoes, cranberry juice, kiwi -- are helpful in addressing high cholesterol.  (I also started to take an over-the-counter Vitamin D supplement recently, knowing that it too can nudge bad cholesterol levels lower, and it may be something that I’ve been deprived of during these days of less sunshine.)  As always, we encourage you to check with your medical providers to plan out a healthy heart path that’s right for you.

Until next time, think spring and be well!

Lori