Katie’s Blog

Today I worked on my Katie’s Krops holiday cards. As I started addressing the envelopes I realized just how many wonderful people have supported me over this amazing journey. So often we get caught up in the moment that we forget to look at how far we have come and all of the wonderful people who helped (and are still helping). My holiday card brought brought back so many wonderful memories. There was my trip to Washington DC to accept the Sodexo STOP Hunger Award, the wonderful people at Troy-Bilt who provided Katie’s Krops will a tiller and cultivator and wow they both have made a huge positive impact on my gardens. There are the people from all over the country who wrote to me thanking me for what I am doing and the people who wrote to me because I inspired them to start a garden to feed people in need. There was Ms. Anita who I have never met and wanted to help by sending me bushel baskets to collect my harvest.  I love writing holiday cards to my wonderful friends at Disney and Bonnie Plants. The support you have shown to Katie’s Krops means the world to me and I hope I continue to make you proud. And there is Kealani who sends a $25 dollar check each month, thank you Kealani your donations are greatly appreciated!

There are the people that I am unable to send cards to that I am thinking of too. These are my friends who lived at Palmetto House before it had to temporarily close. I wonder where they are and I hope and prayer that they are safe, healthy and happy. Mr. Collin, Mr. Kevin and Ms. Elaine where ever the holiday find you this year I am thinking of you.

To everyone out there I am,

Wishing y’all a bountiful harvest this holiday season!

We had an aphid problem. They were attacking the lettuce in my gardens! Who did we turn to? Pesticides & chemicals? No. Ladybugs!! YES! That’s right! The cute little ladybugs you see flying around and feel lucky when they land on your shoulder. We let them loose in the garden and they sat on the lettuce leaves, eating the aphids!! A round of applause to my new favorite insects, ladybugs!!!

Marvelous Marinara

It’s healthy, easy and delicious! Its Marinara sauce! There’s nothing better than fresh homemade Marinara sauce made from tomatoes and basil you picked from your garden.

12 fresh basil leaves

12 Plum Tomatoes

2 garlic cloves – minced

1 bowl of ice water

Olive oil

Salt

Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Place a bowl of ice water next to pot. Drop plum tomatoes into salted boiling water. Boil tomatoes for 4 to 5 minutes or until skin of tomatoes starts to crack. Remove tomatoes and place them immediately into ice water.

Heat large skillet to medium heat. Cover bottom of skillet with olive oil. Place minced garlic in the pan, cook for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes to pan. Let cook for 2 to 3 minutes and them mash them well. Add about 1 teaspoon of salt (to taste). Toss in basil (whole leaves or chopped up, which ever you prefer). Cook for 10 minutes. Enjoy!

You can use your sauce for- Pizza, Dipping Sauce for Eggplant Delish (look in my past blogs for that recipe), stuffed peppers and so much more!

Picking fresh basil!

The skin on the tomatoes have a crack making them just right to peel.

My skinless tomatoes go back in the pan.

Compost, compost, compost!!!

I am adding my marinara to a vegetable pizza.

The final product, A Katie’s Krops pizza with Marvlous Marinara!!

I had the best day yesterday! It was one of those days where everything comes together and feels so ‘right’! After an amazing day my friends and teachers came together to cook and serve dinner at the Palmetto House. We had the most beautiful peppers and eggplant that we harvest fresh that day from the school garden (thanks Bonnie Plants) to cook and serve. The weather was terrible but that did not keep the guests of the soup kitchen away as a matter of fact the Palmetto House had the most guest they have had since they were able to reopen for dinner. It was a packed house.

The 1st graders at my school made the cutest placemats, my friends and classmates worked so hard making a fresh green salad, chicken, vegetable stir-fry, rolls, mashed potatoes and apple crisp! It was such a special night. It feels amazing to come together to make a difference in the lives of so many people! A super special thank you to Ms. Fuller my Earth Science teacher and Mr. McNeill for making this dinner possible. I know that this is just the 1st of many great nights cooking the vegetables that Katie’s Krops grows thanks to my Pinewood Family!

I am back from New York! Well, actually before I say that, the reason why I went to New York; Disney’s Friends for Change and AllyKatzz recognized me at the AllyKatzz Tween Summit. It was a blast! Fun at every turn!

The Tween Summit brought together tween girls from all over the country. It was so exciting to share my efforts with them and to come together to help the people in New York. With a super generous donation from Bonnie Plants and the help from my friends at Disney’s Friends for Change I had a booth there were the girls attending the summit planted herb gardens with Cilantro, Flat Italian Parsley, and Basil in them. The planters were then donated to the New York Coalition for the Homeless and other NYC organizations that help people in need. My booth looked amazing! Thank you Mr. Bryan for your creativity and help!!! Thank you to all the girls who worked to so hard to help grow Katie’s Krops in NYC!

The summit had some great keynote speakers, my favorite Heather O’Reilly a soccer player for the woman’s national team who gave an inspiring speech about self confidence. She shared a lot about her experiences with self confidence, about rising to the challenge and surrounding yourself with positive people.

I received an ALLY award.  This award was really special because it was presented by Tiffany Thornton!!! Yes Tiffany Thornton. She was so nice and what a huge honor to be selected. Thank you Tiffany!

I ended the night with walking down the pink carpet! I got my picture taken with Kicking Daisies, Mitchel Musso and Tiffany Thornton. Then I saw Tiffany again in her dressing room, who I felt like I’d known for a while (that is how nice she is she made me feel like a true friend!). I also met Mitchel. They performed and amazing concert! Thank you so much Bonnie Plants, AllyKatzz and Disney’s Friends for Change!!! I am inspired more than ever to make my dream of a garden in every state a reality.

Tiffany Thornton & me

The Pink Carpet with Tiffany, Mitchel Musso & Kick Daisies!

Monique Coleman & I donate herb gardens to the New York Coalition for the Homeless!

My adventures with Mr. Bob continue! Today I went to an interesting event…….the chicken auction. Okay well it wasn’t just a chicken auction but that is why I was there. Mr. Bob built a chicken coop, out of what else…… pallets. So Katie’s Krops has embarked on a new adventure. Which is why we bought Yokoso and Pork Chop!!! They will provide eggs for the soup kitchen. And the best part is they were only $11 and will give a ton of eggs!! When they acclimate to their new home they should lay about 1 egg per day!!! A dozen eggs per week!!!! Can’t wait to start collecting their eggs!

Pork Chop

Yokoso