A Note from President and Founder
Nada Cory
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Dear Gardens of Hope Family,
Time is flying by so quickly and we find ourselves weeks away from Springtime. With this seasonal changing of the guard, brings that wonderful feeling inside, as nature is unfolding all around us.
Certainly, at our Gardens of Hope sites, we witness exceptional growth of all our vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees. It is delightful to pass the mango trees in full bloom, with their promise of a delicious harvest. It is so much fun to observe the bees busying themselves, pollinating each of the tiny flowers, as they happily buzz from flower to flower. I must say, I am so grateful to see the bees, once close to extinction due to airborne and ground chemicals, deafening noises, and device driven radioactive frequencies, returning to us.
As nature is stirring, we may find a great need to recommit and revitalize our own selves. Create some space to take in the comfortable and crisp air temperatures and perfect blue skies or seek a place to breathe fresh ocean air. Listen closely, nature is beckoning us to step outside and walk, run, bike or swim. Even though we live in Florida and can move about more readily enjoying yearlong outings, this seems to be a season of renewal.
Let’s remedy and release all the tensions of our preoccupied lives and minds. Spend more time in nature and in your gardens. Celebrate this time and reward yourself with highly nutritious food, especially from your own yield. “Think Like A Chef”, as we do with our Gardens of Hope students, and create scrumptious dishes giving our bodies well-deserved nutrition.
Love life! Enjoy the sunshine within and around you for a happy, healthy, and bountiful Spring.
In good health,
Nada
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The beginning of 2024 has brought a real harvest for our school and parks and recreation gardens. We hope you have had similar success at home, learning from our tips and inspirational articles.
If you know of any space that would help educate and feed kids or communities, we encourage you to reach out and collaborate with us to erect a Garden of Hope.
Below are links, so you may share some great information, and our highlights with your family and friends. We would love to hear more about your gardening projects, and how you may have incorporated any or all of our knowledge and experience into your own spaces!
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2:00 minute read.
It was difficult to stay awake in class today, and not because the course work was uninteresting, it was due to the lavender permeating the classroom.
Lake Worth Middle School Choice Medical students participated in our "Your Nose Knows" lesson by gathering lavender in their garden, and better understanding how smell affects us: mind, body, and spirit.
Everyone decorated and filled sachet bags with lavender buds, and were able to sustain their calm feelings, as they carried their bags home for a relaxing rest of the day.
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Click the PPT for Lecture Highlights | | |
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Eating a Rainbow of Health
1:30 Read
Our school Gardens of Hope (GOH) program is in the home stretch, with ¾ of the curriculum complete and garden yields bursting with color, vitamins, minerals, and flavor!
Hammock Pointe Elementary in Boca Raton welcomed the Joseph P Cory Foundation today, as they introduced their version of MyPlate, incorporating the rainbow, for a fun and educational presentation.
Class included the gathering of fully homegrown GOH kale, prepping and “massaging” kale for consumption, nutrition gains, choosing colorful foods, making a well-rounded plate, creating and tasting a delicious quinoa kale salad, and surprise guest René Stern, founder and president emeritus, Holistic Chamber Boca Raton chapter.
Class ended with the accompaniment of Kermit the Frog singing “Rainbow Connection” while students “digested” the fun and learning of the day.
Success is attributed to the support and stewardship of principals, teachers, parents, volunteers, and students, all of whom have donated and participated fully for a great garden cycle year. Please consider Gardens of Hope and help students succeed, one seed at a time!
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View our Teachers/Parents Guide
This is one of the many curriculum guides used during our semester of learning. It is geared for the average third grade classroom, and aligns with The School District of Palm Beach County program standards. You can also find this and other guides on our website.
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Growing Turmeric
The Best Turmeric Cultivars
There are several primary species of turmeric, but the most common is Curcuma longa, with deep orange rhizomes, which is botanically known as Curcuma longa. But there are many wonderful cultivars out there.
- One of Hawaii's most popular types of this plant is 'Hawaiian Red'. Its flesh is a bold orange-red color.
- Indira Yellow's flesh is bright yellow and has a bolder taste than its parent species.
- White Mango has pale yellowish-green flesh that tastes like a green mango.
- The curcumin ratio of 'Lakadong' is high, while 'Alleppey' is stronger in flavor and has a higher curcumin content. In the US, this cultivar is highly sought after.
- Its bright yellow coloring makes the 'Madras' India's and the UK's cultivar of choice.
How To Plant Turmeric
Seed rhizomes are needed to grow turmeric. These are available at local retailers and online. For planting, look for rhizomes that have not been treated. In most cases, the rhizomes purchased at the grocery store have been treated and will not sprout.
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Turmeric
Inside and outside, your body will benefit for this amazing plant.
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Check out Nada's find! After ignoring her turmeric for a while, all of a sudden, 20 pounds of yield emerged! With cleaning, processing, and sharing, we can be assured there will be a lot of good health benefits coming her way for a long time! | |
Look what is lurking below the surface! | |
Going to need some time to clean and process these beauties. | |
Freeze processed plants and add them on demand. | |
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Cooking Classes
Two new dates left in our series. Sign Up Now!
All the proceeds from cooking classes go towards supporting the programs and resources of the Joseph P Cory Foundation.
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In the Spotlight...
Measure Twice, Cut Once.
A million thanks to a wonderful friend and volunteer Jay Zapeck. Jay was born and raised in South Florida, leaving the state to earn his BA in Geography at Western Carolina University.
Being of service is second nature to Jay, as he has been a firefighter (retired), fireboat captain, EMT, and a member of the Broward Sheriff’s department.
Jay has assisted the Joseph P Cory foundation numerous times over the years, in various ways, on numerous properties. Recently, without Jay, one of our premier Gardens of Hope would not have a hope to survive. On the contrary, because he constructed beautiful sturdy enclosures to stave off the iguana population at Lake Worth Middle School, we have outsmarted our four legged friends, and the garden is thriving.
When Jay is not helping others, he loves fishing, golfing, nature, and spending time with his wife Diane and their lovely family.
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Please Note: All medical information/nutritional content is compiled from affiliates and experts in their fields, and is not meant to treat or to replace the advice of your personal healthcare professional. The Joseph P Cory Foundation, provides guidelines and suggestions that align with our mission: Empowering people and communities to achieve wellness
and well-being through education, expertise, and guidance. Nada Cory/the Joseph P Cory Foundation does not receive compensation for recommendations and affiliate links.
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