AHA Garden Tool Collection at the Market This Saturday!

Do you have an old shovel or garden tool collecting dust in the corner of your garage or shed? Help out community gardens in need and donate them during the AHA Garden Tool Drive!

Tools may be dropped off between 8 am and noon at the Education Tent at the Market this Saturday, April 2. Whole Foods Market of Cary, which will be in the Education Tent with samples of great local food from local farmers, has generously offered to collect tool donations.

Wheelbarrows, hoes, shoves, pickaxes and other gardening tools in good working order are in great demand at area community gardens. AHA will arrange for any donated tools to go to gardens in need.

“Community gardens are increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” commented Laura Aiken, executive director of AHA and Community Health Specialist at WakeMed Health & Hospitals. “Schools, churches, neighborhoods, community groups and other nonprofits can capitalize on the excitement around sustainable food systems, connect people with where their food comes from and promote environmentally friendly living. However, one of the biggest hurdles community gardeners face is funding for all the supplies needed to maintain the gardens."

If you dig gardening and community, join AHA's Garden Tool Drive!

The Gardener's Kitchen Cubed Steak

Our friend and market supporter, Ginger Zucchino of The Gardener’s Kitchen, shares her recipe for Cubed Steak which she purchases from Smith Angus Farm.

• 3 lbs Smith Angus Farm cubed steak
• 1 carrot peeled
• 1 stalk celery
• 1 sweet red pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme leaves or two large sprigs of fresh thyme
• 1 to 2 bay leaves
• 1 onion peeled
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 apple
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup red or white wine
• 1 quart beef or chicken stock
• 2 cups filtered water
• ¼ cup unbleached flour (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 7 to 8 toothpicks

Remove cubed steak from package and pat dry. Dust cubed steak in flour if desired. Slice carrot, red pepper and celery into 1/4 inch wide strips approximately 3 to 4 inches in length. Peel and dice apple into 1/4 inch cubes. Set aside. Peel onion and slice in half, then slice into 1/4 inch half moon shapes. Set aside.

Take one piece of cubed steak and place 1 strip of carrot, red pepper and celery at one end and roll up the cube steak, pinning in place with a toothpick.

Heat Dutch oven to medium heat. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil and place single layer of rolled stuffed cubed steak in pan; brown on all sides. Remove browned cubed steak rolls and set aside in a bowl to make room for remaining cubed steak rolls to be browned.

When all cubed steak rolls have been browned, put onions in pan and cook until transparent. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute. Add diced apple and remaining carrots, red pepper and celery strips. Cook 2 to 3 minutes. Add bay leaf and thyme, stir . Add wine, scraping browned bits from bottom of pan. Cook until alcohol evaporates, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add stock, water and tomatoes and simmer for 2 hours or until cubed steak rolls are tender.

Serve with rice, pasta or mashed potatoes. Serves 6 people.

Got Tools? AHA Hosts Garden Tool Drive

Triangle area residents who dig gardening and giving are invited to donate spare gardening tools for Advocates for Health in Action’s (AHA) Garden Tool Drive. Tools may be donated during the following Garden Tool Drives:

Tuesday, March 15, 11 AM – 1 PM

Alexander Family YMCA
1603 Hillsborough St., Raleigh in the WakeMed Rehabilitation Office | Get Directions

Monday, March 21, 11 AM – 1 PM

WakeMed Cary
1900 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary outside the main entrance | Get Directions

Wheel barrows, hoes, shovels, pick axes and other useful gardening tools are in great demand at many area community gardens. AHA will arrange for any donated tools to go to gardens in need.

Be sure to check AHA's web site at www.advocatesforhealthinaction.org for gardening resources, presentations and handouts from the March 5 Dig In community gardening summit, which was also one of the garden tool donation sites.

“Community gardens are increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” commented Laura Aiken, executive director of AHA and Community Health Specialist at WakeMed Health & Hospitals. “Schools, churches, neighborhoods, community groups and other nonprofits can capitalize on the excitement around sustainable food systems, connect people with where their food comes from and promote environmentally friendly living.”

However, one of the biggest hurdles community gardeners face is funding for all the supplies needed to maintain the gardens. “Many of us have old shovels and tools tucked in the corners of our garages,” Aiken continued. “Why not donate those unused tools for others in our community growing local foods?”

Advocates for Health in Action is a group of more than 50 diverse organizations and community members who are shaping the environment throughout Wake County so healthful eating and physical activity are the way of life. AHA works to achieve its mission by shaping policy and environments that ensure available and affordable access to healthful foods and physical activity for all community members.