Why Settle for Central Park When You Could Have A Food Forest?

Seattle is planning to build the first "food forest" where the beautiful scenery will be entirely edible, and FREE to anyone who wants it.

How cool is that?

Click here for the full story!

Spring, Seed Swaps and Soy Sauce

Spring is peeking her head out from under the heavy blanket of winter.  

Can you feel the warmth?

Seed Swaps

I have been to several Seed Swaps, mainly for my research on sustainable agriculture in the region, but I also just really enjoy them. 
Seed Swaps are an old tradition where farmers save heirloom seeds (those that have been passed through many generations) and they "swap" the seeds with other farmers.  This practice keeps the seed banks alive, which is important not just for nostalgia  but for the livelihoods of many people.  
The Seed Swaps are fun atmospheres where a novice grower like myself can learn a lot, and get free seeds! 
Even if I don't have any to swap, the farmers are usually happy give me some in hopes that I will continue the tradition of saving seeds.


To the right is a picture from the Hot Springs Seed Swap which was held in the Art Church.

Conserving Arkansas' Agricultural Heritage (CAAH!) is an organization that helps to start these swaps.

Soy Sauce 

I have also had the pleasure of dining with my Chinese friends who cooked a fantastic dinner with shrimp, chicken, and veggies like bok choy. These recipes can be easily adapted to local ingredients (except the asian flavorings) like chicken, bell peppers, and kale. 

 Local food is exciting!

Start watching the farmers market, it will soon be ripe with delectable vegetables.

Happy Spring My Fellow Foodies!

Your Trash is the Earths Treasure

Don't you dare throw out those coffee grounds!

Did you know that most of the food you are throwing in your trash is entering landfills where it contributes to carbon gas emissions?

In a time not so long ago, people saved their food scraps and put them back into the earth where they could properly decompose and return nutrients to the soil.  Composting has become somewhat of a lost art.  My heart breaks when I see food thrown into the plastic lined trash, never to lend itself to the making of that beautiful dark soil which allows for crop abundance.

The Good News...

You can compost!  Simply find a place in your local area that does composting, may it be a neighbor or a community garden, and start saving your scraps.  I like to use an old butter bowl to keep mine in, and I simply save everything that is allowed (pretty much all organic substances besides meat or bones, but here is a good list to look at if you are unsure)  I take the compost to our community garden once a week.

Here is what the Sierra Club has to say about composting.

Now Do it!

Victory Gardens

If you are an environmentalist and you eat food, this post is for you!

We are all in a fight against unsustainable food systems that damage our planet and poison our bodies.  It can be hard to know where your food comes from, and if it was grown in an Earth-friendly way.

So, when it comes to getting the best food, healthy and safe for Earth, the best way is to do it yourself.

Plant a Victory Garden!

Victory gardens were popularized during World War II in an attempt to reduce pressures on the public food supply, which was strained by the war.  Women and families were encouraged to plant vegetables, herbs, spices, and to can food for the winter.

Our current globalized, industrial food system is not so strained by the current war, but there is still cause to plant a "Victory Garden."  The fight is not with other nations, but with the big and nasty industrial model that supplies Americans with the majority of their food.

Gardening is not just for your grandma!

Planting a garden is not just a way to combat the system, it can be a source of pride and enjoyment as well.    It is a long standing cultural tradition, a knowledge that should have been passed down from previous generations.  Somehow we missed the memo...  But it is not too late!  Look for a group in your community that is actively gardening and join them.  There is much to learn about growing produce, and it can't all be done in one season.  But the sooner you get out there and try, the closer we are to victory.

Here are some things to check out if you want to learn more about why we should grow gardens, or why the industrial food system is harmful.

http://www.takepart.com/foodinc
http://www.urbanorganicgardener.com/reasons-why/

Peace, Love, and Good Food

Is Coffee Your Daily Grind?

Get buzzed, not trashed.

Spring semester has begun on college campus, and the local coffee shop is calling your name.

Between the cafe lattes and delicious dark roasts you grab on the way to morning class, there can be a build up of those convenient to-go cups.  Some are made of paper, such as the ones Starbucks gives to customers, and these are recyclable.  However, some are composed of Styrofoam, which are not recyclable.

While I encourage you all to recycle the cups that you are able to, I want to share a few green ideas to take you coffee shop regulars even closer to an eco-foodie lifestyle.

1. Bring your own mug.

     When you are able to, bring your own travel mug to the coffee shop and ask if your drink can be put it instead of a disposable to-go container.  Chances are that the business would be happy to save the extra cup and oblige your environ-mentality.

2. Reuse the disposable cups.

     As long as the cups do not sit too long with a sugary drink in them, they are still good to be used again.  Simply give the cup a quick rinse and save it for the next time you want a morning pick-me-up, or if you are sending a friend off with a nice cup of cheer!

3. Ask for a non-disposable mug.

     If you are planning to sit in the shop and enjoy your hot drink with some light reading, ask them to put your drink in a non-disposable mug, such as a ceramic cup.  This will save you the hassle of having to deal with the leftover container, and save the shop a few pretty pennies as well.

The coffee we enjoy regularly is produced through the bounty of Mother Nature, so let's be sure to thank her by enjoying the gift in a more responsible way!




Do you know a good way to incorporate environmentalism into the coffee shop?  Share your ideas here so we may all learn the best ways to love the Earth through the love of food- and coffee!

Green Is Good

Green is good, green is great!

Bloomsdale spinach from the local farmers market found its way into my dinner salad. Mixed with some wonderful home-grown greens it was a healthy and environmentally friendly salad.

Remember, spinach is a super food, packed with nutrients like vitamin A, K,, C, Niacin, Zinc, and protein.

Eat up!