Community Garden Newsletter
FOREST ELMS APARTMENT HOMES
SPRING NEWSLETTER
1. It's official! The FEAH's governing board has approved the residents' committee request for a community garden in the unused lot adjacent to the children's playground. We need everyone's help to bring our garden to life! Volunteers are needed, STARTING THIS WEEKEND, to clear away garbage and debris from the lot and plant individual plots of fruits and vegetables. Every family can sign up to be responsible for one plot, and the family can choose the vegetables, fruits, and flowers it wants to grow there.
2. As we work together throughout the seasons, we will share in the benefits of a community garden. Some of the benefits go beyond just growing a garden.
3. • A community garden allows all of us living here to work together to cultivate and harvest our own foods, bringing beauty and friendship to our whole community.
4. • Our community garden has the potential of improving everyone's health. All of our families that contribute to the upkeep of the garden can reap the benefits of the food that will be grown and harvested there. Freshly grown food looks better, tastes better, and is healthier for us than produce that has been sitting for who-knows-how-long on the grocery store shelves!
5. • And think of the health benefits we'll derive from the exercise we'll get working in the
garden!
6. • Our garden will promote feelings of happiness and belonging that result when people
get together as a group to work for a common cause.
7 • Our garden will also benefit us financially because the fresh fruits and vegetables will
be available to us at a fraction of the price that grocery stores charge!
Letter to the Editor: Local Foods
Dear Editor,
9. I was appalled to discover that the local farmers' market was not at its usual location off Highway 244 near Broomer Lake when 1 arrived there Saturday. I have been depending on this market for almost al. of my fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as for the honey my children love, for years. I was shocked to see a sign posted near the turnoff road to the market that said only "Market Closed Until Further Notice." What is going on?
10. Consumers should have many choices when it comes to food and nutrition. Cultivating and purchasing local foods is undoubtedly the best choice to make when it is available in our communities. These locally grown foods are simply better than their store-bought counterparts. We know exactly where the food was grown, and it is reassuring to have it sold to us directly by the farmer who grew it.
11. I've read reports from the Grow Local Association that explain why produce grown in the communities where it is sold has greater nutritional value. These fruits and vegetables are certainly fresher, and everyone knows that the sooner fruits and vegetables are consumed, the better they are nutritionally. Vitamins like A, B, C, and E begin losing potency as soon as the produce is picked. When we buy our produce from the grocery store, we have no idea how long it has been sitting in a warehouse or railcar. Surely, these vitamins have faded away considerably before the produce finds its way to a grocery store. On the other hand, locally grown produce is usually purchased within 24 hours of being harvested
12. Fresh produce also generally tastes better and has a longer shelf life than produce that has been transported over longer distances. Farmers who sell locally allow their fruits and vegetables a longer time to ripen because they do not have to factor in production and transport time, and we all know that riper produce is tastier
13. Don't we want our farmers to prosper and keep our money here in our community rather than giving it to those huge corporate farming conglomerates in other states that sell their produce nationwide? Even if the huge farming enterprises have the technology to grow and sell some seasonal produce year-round, I'd prefer to buy and eat my fresh produce when it is in season if it means helping our local farmers prosper.
14. Locally grown fruits and vegetables are simply more appealing. I believe that these foods are healthier more affordable and more flavorful let's all sneak up to our local authorities so we can get our farmers’ market reopened!
In 'Letter to the Editor: Local Foods,' which of the author's claims is supported by evidence?
- A. Buying fruits and vegetables directly from farmers is reassuring.
- B. Consumers should have many choices about food.
- C. Huge farming enterprises have the technology to grow seasonal foods all year.
- D. Locally grown foods are more nutritional than store-bought foods.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Option D is supported by evidence, as numerous studies indicate that locally grown foods often retain more nutrients due to reduced time between harvest and consumption. This freshness can enhance nutritional value, making a compelling argument for local food consumption. Option A lacks specific evidence; while buying directly from farmers may feel reassuring, the claim does not provide data or studies to substantiate it. Option B is a subjective opinion rather than a claim backed by evidence, focusing on consumer preference without factual support. Option C presents a generalization about large farming enterprises without concrete evidence, failing to demonstrate how their technology directly impacts seasonal food availability.
Option D is supported by evidence, as numerous studies indicate that locally grown foods often retain more nutrients due to reduced time between harvest and consumption. This freshness can enhance nutritional value, making a compelling argument for local food consumption. Option A lacks specific evidence; while buying directly from farmers may feel reassuring, the claim does not provide data or studies to substantiate it. Option B is a subjective opinion rather than a claim backed by evidence, focusing on consumer preference without factual support. Option C presents a generalization about large farming enterprises without concrete evidence, failing to demonstrate how their technology directly impacts seasonal food availability.
Other Related Questions
What technique does the author use to reveal the narrator's perspective about the ladies at the concert?
- A. She compares the ladies to perfectly decorated dolls.
- B. She repeats descriptive words to show the ladies' perfection.
- C. She exaggerates the appearance of the ladies.
- D. She describes two extremes of the ladies' dresses.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
The author's technique of comparing the ladies to perfectly decorated dolls effectively illustrates the narrator's perspective, highlighting their superficial beauty and lack of depth. This metaphor emphasizes the idealized and artificial nature of the ladies, suggesting a critique of societal standards. Option B, while focusing on repetition, does not capture the nuanced perspective as effectively as the metaphor does. Option C, exaggeration, may convey a sense of irony but lacks the specific imagery that reinforces the narrator's view. Option D introduces contrast but does not fully encapsulate the narrator's overall impression of the ladies’ superficiality.
The author's technique of comparing the ladies to perfectly decorated dolls effectively illustrates the narrator's perspective, highlighting their superficial beauty and lack of depth. This metaphor emphasizes the idealized and artificial nature of the ladies, suggesting a critique of societal standards. Option B, while focusing on repetition, does not capture the nuanced perspective as effectively as the metaphor does. Option C, exaggeration, may convey a sense of irony but lacks the specific imagery that reinforces the narrator's view. Option D introduces contrast but does not fully encapsulate the narrator's overall impression of the ladies’ superficiality.
Why does the author mention Lissa in paragraph 5?
- A. to show that Burl is frustrated over losing money
- B. to foreshadow Burl's anxieties about his business
- C. to portray Burl's real feelings toward the thief
- D. to emphasize how Burl finds himself deep in thought
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The mention of Lissa in paragraph 5 serves to emphasize how Burl finds himself deep in thought. This moment reflects his internal struggle and contemplation, highlighting the emotional weight of the situation. Option A incorrectly suggests that the focus is on Burl's frustration over financial loss, which is not the primary concern in this context. Option B misinterprets the mention of Lissa as a foreshadowing of anxieties, whereas the text focuses more on Burl's immediate reflections. Option C inaccurately implies that Lissa's mention reveals Burl's feelings toward the thief, diverting attention from his introspective state.
The mention of Lissa in paragraph 5 serves to emphasize how Burl finds himself deep in thought. This moment reflects his internal struggle and contemplation, highlighting the emotional weight of the situation. Option A incorrectly suggests that the focus is on Burl's frustration over financial loss, which is not the primary concern in this context. Option B misinterprets the mention of Lissa as a foreshadowing of anxieties, whereas the text focuses more on Burl's immediate reflections. Option C inaccurately implies that Lissa's mention reveals Burl's feelings toward the thief, diverting attention from his introspective state.
Which conclusion is most strongly supported by the information in the email to the zoning commissioner?
- A. Locally owned businesses are commonly found in small communities inside larger cities.
- B. Superstores employ high numbers of residents from the communities where the stores are located.
- C. Many residents in rural areas believe that new growth should be allowed only after approval of nearby communities.
- D. Consumers like the convenience of superstores as long as the stores are located outside their communities.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Option C is supported by the email's emphasis on the importance of community approval for new growth, reflecting the concerns of rural residents regarding development. This highlights a desire for local governance in decision-making processes. Option A lacks direct support from the email, as it does not address the specific relationship between locally owned businesses and small communities within larger cities. Option B misrepresents the focus of the email, which does not discuss employment statistics related to superstores. Option D contradicts the email's main points, as it does not mention consumer preferences for superstores' locations, instead prioritizing community input in development decisions.
Option C is supported by the email's emphasis on the importance of community approval for new growth, reflecting the concerns of rural residents regarding development. This highlights a desire for local governance in decision-making processes. Option A lacks direct support from the email, as it does not address the specific relationship between locally owned businesses and small communities within larger cities. Option B misrepresents the focus of the email, which does not discuss employment statistics related to superstores. Option D contradicts the email's main points, as it does not mention consumer preferences for superstores' locations, instead prioritizing community input in development decisions.
What statement expresses a central theme of the excerpt?
- A. Disagreements can strain even the closest relationships
- B. Cooperative relationships allow people to grow to their full potential.
- C. Children bring strife that challenges bonds in a relationship.
- D. People in lasting relationships can still surprise each other.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The statement that people in lasting relationships can still surprise each other captures the essence of enduring connections, highlighting the dynamic nature of relationships where individuals continue to evolve and reveal new facets of themselves. Option A, while true, focuses more on conflict rather than the positive surprises that can occur. Option B emphasizes growth but does not specifically address the element of surprise in relationships. Option C suggests that children create challenges, which may be valid but does not reflect the overarching theme of ongoing discovery within relationships.
The statement that people in lasting relationships can still surprise each other captures the essence of enduring connections, highlighting the dynamic nature of relationships where individuals continue to evolve and reveal new facets of themselves. Option A, while true, focuses more on conflict rather than the positive surprises that can occur. Option B emphasizes growth but does not specifically address the element of surprise in relationships. Option C suggests that children create challenges, which may be valid but does not reflect the overarching theme of ongoing discovery within relationships.