The Community Health Network is looking to sprout new gardeners at its farm in Anderson.

The health group teamed up with Bloom Madison County — a nonprofit focused on addressing food insecurity in the area. This growing season, they started two garden clubs — the Bloomers and the Seedlings.

The Bloomers club is made up of adults looking to pick up gardening. While the Seedlings club is oriented toward kids.

Bloom Madison Co-Director Anna Ulam says the goal is to make the hobby more approachable.

In a good growing year, the Community Farm in Anderson can produce nearly 30,000 pounds of food. It then uses that food in the Community Health kitchen and food pantries.

According to Community Health, Madison County frequently ranks in the top 15 of the most food-insecure counties in the Hoosier state.

The director of the Community Farm in Anderson, Mikkal Hodge, says the club plays right into the farm’s purpose.

“Our mission is to help people learn how to grow and use food,” Hodge said. “These two clubs are bringing people from the community to this farm, not only letting them see what we do and learn how to grow things, but they also get to learn how to take and eat and consume good produce.”

Since starting up, the clubs have 24 Garden beds producing fruits and veggies like radishes, bok choy, lettuce, arugula, kale, spinach, and strawberries, among others.

The clubs are free to join. Both clubs meet every Wednesday — the Bloomers at 9:00 a.m. and the Seedlings at 5:30 p.m.

The Community Farm is located at 1701 Medical Arts Blvd, Anderson, IN.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The All-Vegan Indianapolis Philly is a unique offering from Black Leaf Vegan, featuring a special mozzarella vegan sauce, onions, and peppers, providing a healthy yet filling option for fairgoers that is soy-free and gluten-free.

Owned by Derrick and Taria Slack, Black Leaf Vegan is a vendor at the State Fair that has received a Health First Indiana grant from the Marion County Health Department, totaling over $100,000, to support wellness programs and events. The grant will be used to fund cooking demonstrations and programs that promote health and wellness, feeding both the mind and body.

“We believe wellness is important,” Slack said. “The grant allows us to tackle the mind, body, and soul through our FOOD program.” The FOOD program stands for Finding Opportunities to Overcome Obstacles to Development, aiming to address wellness challenges in Indiana.

Black Leaf Vegan’s initiatives, supported by the grant, aim to enhance community wellness through innovative programs and events, fostering a space for healing and creativity.

The On the Mic with Evelyn Rai is one event that will be held at Café 335 West 9th Street. Check it out on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, for live music, poetry, and discussions on health. Evelyn Ray highlighted the importance of music and spoken word as healing tools, noting the vibrant artist community in Indianapolis.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the return of its largest fundraiser, Dancing with Our Stars, on Sept. 4 at Embassy Suites in Noblesville.

The event, sponsored by Community Health Network, features local professional dancers paired with Hamilton County celebrities competing for the title of Dancing with Our Stars Champions 2025. Audience members can vote for their favorite dancers to win the People’s Choice Award, with votes accepted both in-person and online.

Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County has been delivering over 200 nutritious meals daily since 1975, helping individuals live independently. The meals are prepared in state-approved healthcare facilities and tailored by registered dietitians to meet specific dietary needs.

The Dancing with Our Stars event is crucial for funding the organization’s mission to provide medically tailored meals to the elderly, those with disabilities, and individuals facing food insecurities in Hamilton County.

Despite recent federal funding cuts affecting some national programs, Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County remains financially stable due to limited reliance on federal funds and strong local support.

The event will feature professional dancers such as Rob Jenkins and Natasha Cox, alongside Hamilton County celebrities like Ashley Mandery and Erika Ross.

Tickets, donations, and votes for the event can be made at mealsonwheelshc.org, and further information is available by contacting Meals on Wheels at 317-776-7159.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We all want to feed our families fresh, healthy foods, but some items in your kitchen may be doing more harm than good.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says tens of millions of Americans get sick from contaminated food every year, including food labeled organic. Last year alone, food recalls tied to E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria jumped by 41%, while related hospitalizations and deaths more than doubled.

In its latest food safety report, Consumer Reports identified several common grocery items as top offenders for contamination:

• Leafy greens and deli meats
• Onions, cucumbers, organic carrots, and organic basil
• Eggs, raw milk and raw milk cheeses
• Soft cheeses like queso fresco

Experts say contamination can happen anywhere, from the farm to processing plants to your own kitchen.

To reduce your risk of foodborne illness, Consumer Reports recommends the following safety steps:

• Always cook meat to the correct internal temperature using a food thermometer
• Use separate cutting boards for raw meat and fresh produce
• Thoroughly clean countertops and surfaces
• Avoid rinsing raw meat, which can spread bacteria around your sink area
• Store meat on the lowest shelf in the fridge
• Don’t leave food sitting out for more than two hours, or just one hour if it’s hot outside

Other risky items include raw sprouts, shellfish like oysters, uncooked flour, and unpasteurized juices, all of which have been tied to recent outbreaks.

Experts say staying informed and using smart food safety practices can go a long way in keeping your kitchen safe and your family healthy.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Deandrea Rayner addressed food insecurity in Indianapolis by establishing the Indy Community Pantry, which launched in 2020 and has since expanded to include five dry-goods pantries and three community refrigerators throughout the city.

The initiative started with Rayner filling old boxes with food. Still, the demand quickly outpaced the supply, prompting her to expand the project with the help of volunteers and donations.

Rayner said, “It was a lot of people who didn’t have the resources and means to find food because COVID was new, and no one knew what was going on. So, I was like, ‘How can I help?'”

Rayner’s efforts have been supported by

A network of volunteers, who assist with tasks such as donation pickup and stocking the pantries and refrigerators, have supported Rayner’s efforts. “It would not be what it is today without my volunteers.”

The motto of the Indy Community Pantry is simple: Take what you need, leave what you can.

However, keeping the shelves stocked remains a constant challenge due to high demand.

Resident Peter Yazzie, talking about the occasional scarcity of food, said, “Yeah, sometimes we have to look around by ourselves to see if we can find something, and, most of the time, we’ll find something for the time being. But, yes, the refrigerators are empty sometimes.”

Rayner has ambitious plans for the future, including placing a refrigerator in a school and opening a completely free grocery store, but emphasized the need for continued community support and donations to achieve these goals.

The Indy Community Pantry will continue to address food insecurity in Indianapolis, relying on community involvement to sustain and expand its efforts, Rayner said. “That’s why we need the community’s help and why we are so big on donations, because the food goes so fast.”

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tulip Tree Creamery, an artisan cheese company based in Indianapolis, has achieved international recognition with its Nightshade cheese winning a Super Gold Award at the 2024-2025 World Cheese Awards in Viseu, Portugal.

The prestigious award places Nightshade among the top 2% of cheeses globally, as only 104 Super Golds were awarded out of 4,786 entries from 47 countries. This accolade highlights the quality and craftsmanship of Tulip Tree Creamery’s products.

In addition to the Super Gold Award, Tulip Tree Creamery’s other cheeses also received accolades at the World Cheese Awards. Queen Anne’s Lace earned a Silver, while Milkweed and Trillium each took home a Bronze.

Tulip Tree Creamery has introduced two new cheeses: Blazing Star, a young cheddar, and Marigold, a Latin-inspired cheese with Mexican spices.

A recent grant has enabled the company to acquire new machinery that cuts cheese into pieces, facilitating sales to smaller retailers across the United States.

The creamery is actively involved in community events and national shows, participating in fundraisers like REV and Zoobilation, as well as industry events such as The National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago and the Fancy Food Show in New York City.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Partnership for a Healthier America has launched the Good Good Food campaign in Indianapolis, aiming to increase access to fresh, healthy food.

The effort kicked off with a midweek event on Monument Circle, marking Indianapolis as part of a coalition to double the consumption of produce by 2030.

As part of the launch, PHA awarded $10,000 grants to eight local organizations in Indianapolis to help provide access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

The grants are slated to support a variety of initiatives, including produce credits for families in need and technical assistance for local groups.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bearing a bumper crop of basil, rosemary, and sage, Community Health Registered Dietician Carole Corder delivers a savory message: Eat more herbs and spices.

Corder contends there are several benefits from her spicy suggestions. The first upside is added flavor without the dangers of salt, the most popular seasoning.

Many herbs and spices carry powerful benefits for the body. “Herbs are high in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and antioxidants,” she explained. “We’re all looking for ways to reduce the effects of stress in our lives -the negative effects- and adding herbs to our foods is one way to do it. So they’re very strong and powerful antioxidants.”

Corder loves fresh herbs and encourages growing them, but she says dried store-bought versions are fine, too, and carry similar health benefits.

She also says recipes do not need to be complicated to deliver positive health effects.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.