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All male and female valley athletes in high school and middle school are invited to the new Marcus Daly Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday, August 11 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for their annual sports physical. Over the past four years the annual sports physical program sponsored by Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital and the Medical Staff has raised over $34,000 for the valley’s school athletic programs. The cost is $25 per student and 100% of the proceeds will be donated back to the students’ school athletic program. Cash or check only, payment is due at the time of visit. Enter the Marcus Daly Rehabilitation Center through the main entrance, located on the southwest end of Westwood Drive.

Sports physical forms are available from doctor’s offices or coaches; or online at HYPERLINK "http://www.mdmh.org" www.mdmh.org. Parents must fill out and sign the sports physical form and accompany their child at the examination. Payment is expected at the time of the examination as well. The physical will include height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, vision, evaluations for posture, joints, strength, and flexibility, heart, lungs, abdomen, ears, nose, and throat. Students with chronic problems should be seen by their primary care provider.

This year participating medical staff includes: Walker J. Ashcraft, MD and John P. Moreland, MD, Physicians Clinic; Gregory Behm, MD and David Nolan, PA, Ravalli Orthopedic and Sports Medicine; Lawrence D. Brouwer, MD, Kathi Harder-Brouwer, MD, and Allisun G. Jensen, PA-C, Ravalli Family Medicine; Mary E. Camden, MD and J. David Laraway, MD, Hamilton Obstetrics and Gynecology; Yvonne Courchesne, MD and Nicolett Weston, FNP, Corvallis Family Medicine; Mandi T. Griffin, MD, Michael Moran, MD, and Gary Smith, MD, Bitterroot Clinic; Phil S. Haggerty, DO, Sapphire Community Health; H. Brett Heath, MD and Randy Stewart, MD, Family Medicine Center of the Bitterroot; Frederick M. Ilgenfritz, MD, Bitterroot General and Vascular Surgery; and Brian M. Kelleher, MD and Samuel P. Urso, MD, MDMH Emergency Department.

For more information, call 363-2211 or visit HYPERLINK "http://www.mdmh.org" www.mdmh.org.

By Ralph Fourmont

Health-conscious Bitterroot residents desiring fresh organic produce no longer have to pay outrageous prices for healthy foods.

Roger and Anne Flatmo of the Woolly Locust Farm & Garden in Stevensville are proud to announce plans for the new Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program for local families desiring fresh organic produce. A CSA consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation where the growers and consumers share the risks and benefits of food production. Participants expect a weekly provision of vegetables and fruit, sometimes including dairy products and meat. And incredibly, the price is right.

“Our whole philosophy is we’ve always wanted to be able to provide good, healthy produce at a price equivalent to non-organic or less,” explains Roger. “We feel that people shouldn’t be gouged for wanting to eat organic.”

CSAs generally focus on the production of high quality foods for a local community, often using HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_farming" \o "Organic farming" organic or HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodynamic_agriculture" \o "Biodynamic agriculture" biodynamic farming methods. By CSA theory, the more a farm embraces whole-farm, whole-budget support, the more it can focus on quality and reduce the risk of food waste or financial loss. The close proximity of the farm to the members means increased freshness and over a period of time, consumers get to know and trust who is producing their food, and what production methods are used.

In the U.S., 12,549 CSA farms have been organized (as of 2007), according to the US Department of Agriculture.

Organic farming is becoming increasingly important because of the dangers in the growing, processing and handling of foodstuffs. Most produce from Canada or Mexico use lower doses of radiation to sterilize the produce, for example. This kills all the healthy enzymes and changes the molecular structure. Too many chemicals such as bromide are used, so it’s no longer fresh produce Americans are imbibing. “USDA” organic is a grey area…what does it mean…we’re safer buying from local farms.

“It supports your community, and there’s an accountability with the people you trust,” Roger points out.

An interesting film that documents the dangerous processing of foodstuffs is “Food, Inc.,” which can be reserved for private viewing from your local library. Of course, everyone is invited to “google” how your produce is processed to learn more about what we eat and perhaps why we grow ill.

The Woolly Locust is biodiverse and entirely organic, from the non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) seeds to the final produce. Organic chicken manure and fish fertilizer is used; and even the organic bug spray, Pyola (from Pyrethrum flowers), uses vegetable derivatives and does not persist for long periods in the environment.

The gardens are weeded by hand, and ground cover such as Alsike clover are used in between the rows for weed control, nitrogen, and to retain water. Every couple of years the cover is turned under and rotated with the crops.

The Flatmos raise worms to aerate and fertilize the soil. The garden is also lined with Staghorn Sumac trees humming boldly with bees, and flowers are incorporated into the garden to attract bees at various seasons, so pollination is assured.

Montana is a most challenging place because of the short growing season, and crop failures from frost is a result of planting too soon. The Flatmos’ farm starts approximately 10,000 plants in their greenhouse, and has begun contruction of a 35- by 70-foot ‘high tunnel’ to extend their growing season for cold crop plants. This is a cost-efficient commercial greenhouse that uses micro-drip watering at ground level to reduce soil erosion and dissipation. Other plans are to increase garlic production to supply the growing market.

Roger is the Market Master for the Stevensville Farmers Market and Anne is a certified Master Gardener and is happy to answer your gardening questions. Anne has formerly received the state’s highest award for nutrition when she ran a daycare that emphasized eating healthy. “The kids ground wheat for bread that they would take home,” Anne recalls.

The farm also supports S.N.F.M., a senior nutrition program, and accepts the WIC Fruit & Vegetable program. They encourage local backyard farmers to drop off excess produce at Pantry Partners, the Stevensville food bank, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The farm also has ‘box prices’ for canners and caterers.

Locals can stop by the Woolly Locust at 673 Ridge Road in Stevensville on Friday mornings from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. to pick out fresh produce, so bring the kids and see what healthy food is all about. At other times, you can try ringing the bell by the gate and if they’re there, they will let you in. Or stop by their booth Saturdays at the Farmer’s Market in Stevensville from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Patrons interested in the CSA program should contact Roger and Anne at 546-8554. I certainly am… it’s a healthy way to brighten our future in the Bitterroot.

The Stevensville Garden club has selected the yard of Betty and Les Shorten as the Stevensville Yard of the Year for 2010. The Shortens were recognized on Wednesday, August 4 at the Garden Party with a framed certificate and a photo board of their yard. The committee noted the Shortens’ yard not only embraces backyard privacy, but has tomatoes, squash, lettuce, beets, cucumbers, and even honeysuckle growing in containers. Potatoes and chives are in raised beds along with strawberries and raspberries. The owners are collectors of whimsical items such as oversized bugs placed on some plants. Their collection of decorative wood from Winnett, Montana, is placed in provocative ways. The private backyard has special interesting nooks and crannies for plants and collectables. The view of St. Mary's and surrounding mountains can be enjoyed from the patio table with a flowered umbrella and matching cushions on the seats. The yards considered in competition are point-scored utilizing "The Encyclopedia of Judging and Exhibiting Floriculture and Floral-Artistry" by Ester Hamel. Betty and Les Shorten's home is located on 204 St. Mary's Drive.