January 25th, 2010 by Lee Bradshaw

‘My major problem with the world is a problem of scarcity in the midst of plenty … of people starving while there are unused  resources … people having skills which are not being used.’ Milton Friedman

canning, dehydrating, distributing, food, plenty, refrigerator, scarcity, starving, volunteers

January 25th, 2010 by Jaime Buckley

I am visiting with Lee Bradshaw weekly and watching this incredible project grow by leaps and bounds, but not because of financial donations. No. This project thus far has grown by people being creative and donating their resources, their connections and in some cases, themselves as manpower (or ‘womanpower’).

As a husband and father of 10 (+1), the challenges today’s society throws at us are not always ones we can control. People who are in need are not usually people who refuse to work. In fact, most are hard working, loyal, tax paying, kind individuals and families who have not been able to make enough, or by circumstances, have found themselves in a dire situation. Many times it’s a choice between paying a bill or food on the table and many feel obliged to pay their debts! Think about that!!

I stopped down town Salt Lake City and watched good men, lined up in the early morning frost with bitter winds, just in the hopes of getting a bus pass so they can get to work that day.

We have resources. All of us. From money to food in our back yards, to people we know who are unaware that Care for the Children and it’s harvest projects even exists. I would implore you to tell them about this site. To tell them of the work that has been done, what is being done and what we HOPE to do this year!

Take a moment to tell someone about us. Help us grow our connections with the people of the communities, while Lee Bradshaw and his volunteers make connections with companies and government entities.

The goal is to fill every belly. Please help us do it.
Contact us and give us your ideas and support.

God Bless.
Jaime Buckley

ByHP, challenges, food, From our Friends, help, hope, lee bradshaw, resources, tbyhp

January 20th, 2010 by Lee Bradshaw

Over and over again I am asked “aren’t you afraid that you will come up short, or lacking, in this endeavor” or “is this project to big” or the one word question “Why”? Every time someone asked me this I am reminded of my favorite saying, this is such a good quote President Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first Black President, used it in his Inaugural speech. Here it is…

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and
fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.

There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people
won’t feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to manifest the Glory of God that is within us.

It’s not just in some; it’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other
people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically
liberates others.

By Marianne Williamson

January 15th, 2010 by Lee Bradshaw

This has been a great week for The ByHp. We have been invited by seven City in S.L. County to give presentations for grant money that is available to us. I have two people looking for a building with a walk in refrigerator that we need donated. Both people think they can get one at no cost to us. I secured the pledge of 1000 boxes of Bees today and received a pledge for a 5 acre property with a house for my family, two guest houses, a shop, and two green houses. God is good!

Next week we have more visits with Mayors. A very important appointment with a lady that specializes in valuation’s of non-profits. After our meeting with her I expect my need to be slimmer. Good things are happening. As I said before God is good!

bees, ByHP, mayors, refrigerator, the backyard harvest project

January 8th, 2010 by Lee Bradshaw

I have been asked over and over again ” how do you find the food” It is unbelievable easy. Donation, Donations, Donations. In just two phone calls last year we received almost 10,000 lbs of Cherries. Without even asking I have recently been promised bees for 1000 boxes. the catch is I need to build the boxes. so I am currently looking for the lumber and labor to help us accomplish this task. After researching this gift we have found out this gift is worth $50,000. and the ability to earn $150,000 yearly in pollination fees and honey. Obviously this would go far in help us be more self sufficient not to mention how many people that could be blessed by having fresh honey in their pantries. I do need all your eyes and ears to help in finding the fruit trees that are neglected as well as orchards and fields that can be gleaned.

I am currently working on two grants that would help us find and be able to process a huge amount of food. Even though we are applying for these grants we still need private help with all kinds of donations. As well as fresh fruit and vegetables we need canning supplies, gardening tools, ladders and labor. We also need financial assistance from private sources. Personally my family invested $8,000 last year and hundreds of man hours. We are just as committed to make this this year a success but we need your help more than ever to meet our goal of collecting 500,000 lbs of food this year. We are a 501 (c) 3 corporation so all donations are tax deductible so  please help.

January 8th, 2010 by Lee Bradshaw

I picked up this article on the counter of a local credit union. I thought that it might be of interest.

Have you heard of the “dirty dozen”? They are the fruits and vegetables that test highest for pesticide sprays. Top of the list is Peaches. My suggestion is to plant a peach tree! I have three. Here are the others in the top 12 to buy organic or grow yourself, whenever possible:

Peaches                                 Cherries

Apples                                   Kale

Bell Peppers                        Lettuce

Celery                                  Grapes

Nectarines                          Carrots

Strawberries                       Pears

Spinach has moved down on the list, out of the to 12, which is nice. sometimes I get taken to task by those who buy ONLY organic produce for not being a purist on the topic.

Here is what I have to say about that: if you can afford to buy all organic, that is EXCELLENT! Go for it. But I am above all trying to bridge the gap here for the majority in the middle, who have to balance health concerns with budget restraints. I always say, remember  (a) that animal protein and proccessed food have higher pesticide concentrations than conventioal produce, and (b) almost all the studies documenting the powerful effects of fruits/vegs in our diets were using CONVENTIONAL produce. Therefore (c) don’t avoid eating produce ( and eat something else) because you are afraid it may it may not be organic, but (d) wash your conventional produce well using a good fruit/veg wash.

Here is the bottom 13 of the produce ranked by the Environment Working Group examining 87,000 studies by the FDA and USDA between 2000 and 2007. These would be produce I would feel more comfortable about buying conventional and washing well:

Broccoli                     Sweet peas (frozen)

Watermelon             Papaya

Eggplant                  Cabbage

Kiwi                          Asparagus

Mango                     Pineapple

Avocado                 Corn

Onions                   Tomatos

May I make another summertime suggestion: before you cot up your melon, rinse the rind before cutting it up, because the knife slices through the pesticide-coated rind, and those chemicals end up on your fruit.