experts talk about how to grow your own

The Children's Cabinet in Reno is stepping up efforts to help runaways and teens who are in crisis. One of their tools is the "Safe Place" program which enlists local businesses and restaurants, who display a sign that tells teens they can come inside and ask for help.

"Safe Place Program is 1-800 number you can call if you're in a crisis, or if you know someone.customized letter logo Soft PVC bottle opener with magnet." That's what Norma Thomas of the Children's Cabinet tells teens along the Truckee River in downtown Reno, as she hands out information and some goodies. The Safe Place Program offers teens in crisis a place to turn to for help.

"The idea is, we like to educate the youth and the older ones. The younger teens can use the shelter, the older ones take the information to youth that we may not reach and let them know there's a safe place to go," said Thomas.

Teens who have run away from home, or are in crisis can look for the "Safe Place" sign at local businesses and restaurants and they know there's someone inside who can call for help. "The Safe Place Program started in northern Nevada at area McDonalds. It has since spread to 11 other organizations, including CAMPO restaurant in downtown Reno.

CAMPO owner and chef, Mark Estee, says he's happy to help local teens. "It made sense for us. We're a neighborhood restaurant and we want to be here for the neighborhood," he said. CAMPO employees went through training put on by the Children's Cabinet. "There's a protocol that happens when someone comes in and says 'Is this a safe place?' We go to the back and pull out a sheet and we follow along with what we're supposed to do," said Estee.Handy Pocket Mirror with hinged lid that doubles as a stand.

Mike Pomi, the executive director at the Children's Cabinet says teen homelessness picks up during the summer, so having several locations helps. "They can go to the staff that are trained to contact the Children's Cabinet outreach worker.This is a universal black magic Cell phone anti-slip mat. They go and pick up the child and get them back into shelter or into safe housing so they're off the streets and in a safe environment," Pomi said.

Norma Thomas and her outreach team are gaining the trust of local teens.This Tissue Double sided tissue tape Products is so cool. "They tell us that they know what Safe Place is. They tell us that they tell other youth about Safe Place. They tell us that we've helped them and they really appreciate that we're coming out and making the effort," said Thomas.

The Children's Cabinet recently received a $25,000 grant from the Humana Foundation to continue funding the program. The Children's Cabinet reports that it has helped 35,000 area teens through the Safe Place and street outreach programs.

At this year’s Queensland Garden Expo in Nambour on the Sunshine Coast, there’ll be a line-up of gardening and cooking experts ready to share their knowledge about taking ingredients straight from the garden and into the kitchen.

The likes of ABC TV’s Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis, Queensland Presenter Jerry Coleby-Williams and Cameron Matthews, Executive Chef at Spicer’s Clovelly, will speak at the Gardeners and Gourmets Stage at the Expo, just one of eight stages running during the three-day green extravaganza from July 5-7.

Queensland Gardening Expo Event Manager Marion Beazley said she is expecting huge crowds at the stage as there is an increasing trend toward productive gardens.

“There has been resurgence in recent years of home grown and locally sourced vegetables, fruit and other produce,” said Ms Beazley.

“Gardeners want to know not only how to grow and nurture their vegetable patch but also how to turn the fruits of their labour into healthy, delicious meals. We’ve responded to this demand by adding this new dimension to the Expo and we’re confident it will be a crowd pleaser.”

Also on the program at the Gardeners and Gourmets Stage are non-stop lectures and workshops on a range of topics including how to grow and use medicinal herbs, growing edible green walls, when and how to grow vegetables, keeping an organic garden and many more.

“At this year’s Gardeners and Gourmets Stage, our guest speakers will demonstrate how easy it can be to incorporate ingredients straight from the garden into our favourite meals,” said Ms Beazley.

Also expected to be popular this year is native Australian cuisine and bush foods expert, Peter Wolfe who has become very sought after for his flair for combining the delicate of flavours of Australian Bush foods and spices with fresh locally grown produce.

There will also be the ever-popular Giant Kitchen Garden for visitors to explore, featuring an organic food court and a fully planted sustainable garden.

Barbara Wickes, who has co-ordinated the Kitchen Garden at the Expo for eight years, said the display would feature a variety of herbs, vegetables, unusual subtropical edible plants, fruit trees, colourful garden beds for kids and even some chickens!

“Our special outdoor garden will show how to create a productive as well as ornamental area for any sized backyard,” said Mrs Wickes.

“Each year the Kitchen Garden becomes bigger and busier. With the wild weather we have every summer in Australia people are wanting to be more sustainable so when supplies are cut off, they don’t have to go without their favourite produce.”

Between the lectures and workshops, there will also be more than 20 market stalls to explore, offering everything from organic fertilizer and seedlings, to advice on how to set up your own worm farm or fish pond.Click on their website www.Uline stocks a wide selection of Double sided tape Products.agesteeljewelry.com for more information.