A guide to getting sufficient iron, a recipe for chai-infused hot cereal, and more.

April news, events, & more

This issue includes a guide to getting enough iron in the diet, a spice-infused recipe, video of our recent presentation on fixing a broken recycling system, and an invitation to join us for community time this Sunday at the park.

Join us for a picnic in the park this Sunday at 2pm!

Bring a late lunch or a snack and join us at the park for community time. The current forecast for Sunday is sunny with a high of 63F. but Gabriel Home has a large covered shelter with several tables and benches. We encourage you to bring a chair if you have an easily portable outdoor seat.

2pm at the Garden Home Rec Center Picnic Shelter

7475 SW Oleson Rd., Portland

"Your Plant-Based Teen Might Need Iron"

from Tammy Russell, Integrative Health Care Practitioner

Currently, in the US, it is estimated 2.4 million US children suffer from low iron. Teenagers may experience the symptoms of anemia (headaches, irritability, fatigue) without realizing the cause. Read more on how low iron might present, what foods to add into the diet to increase iron, and example vegan meals that maximize iron absorption.

High school and college students --

Factory Farming Awareness Coalition (FFAC) is currently accepting applications for this summer's FFAC Advocacy Institute. The Institute equips high school and college students with comprehensive knowledge and experiential training to advocate successfully in their communities. The program is remote - teens check out the program here, and college students check out the program here.

Chai Infused Hot Cereal (for stovetop, Instant Pot, or microwave)

Recipe author Linda Tyler says "Warm and comforting on a cold morning, this cereal is also packed with protein, complex carbohydrates, and other important nutrients. If chai spices aren’t your thing, you can go without the spices or substitute your favorites. I tried using ground spices, but it didn’t work nearly as well—once you have cinnamon sticks, cardamom seeds, and ginger on hand, this is a snap."

Download the Recipe

Fixing a Broken Recycling System with Peter Spendelow, PhD

In honor of Earth Day this Friday, we also want to share this recent presentation. China's ban on importation of most recycled material in 2018 sent shockwaves through the world's recycling community, especially as pictures emerged of how much garbage was in the recycling stream the world had been sending to China and Southeast Asia, and how the unwanted plastic and other garbage in the recyclables was being mismanaged—burned in open piles or simply left in fields where it could blow into the ocean. In the three years since, Oregon and Washington have both worked on solutions to this problem. This past summer, Oregon again became a national leader, passing the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act. Under this law, the producers of packaging, printed paper, and food service items will now be required to make sure these materials are responsibly managed. Producers and recycling processors will have to work together to ensure successful recycling and to ensure that employees at all levels are paid a living wage.