Pumpkins aren't just for carving...

Here's a delicious breakfast recipe using pumpkin (perfect for an autumn morning)

PUMPKIN AND PECAN PANCAKES

Like most children, Halloween is one of my kids' favorite things about the month of October. However, it is a holiday that's celebration can have a real negative impact on the environment. From the disposable costumes and plastic candy wrappers that are littered throughout the neighborhoods, to the electrically lit pumpkins and blow up lawn decorations that are kept inflated night after night, Halloween can have a SCARY effect on our planet. Luckily there are many simple steps we can take as parents to make Halloween an eco- friendly holiday.

Costumes - I know this is a difficult one with all the commercialism and cartoon bombardment our kids get at every turn, but avoiding brand new store bought costumes each year can significantly reduce our carbon footprint. Costume ideas that are more eco friendly include renting a costume, passing on your older costumes to someone else’s kids or have someone else’s kids pass down their costumes to your kids. You can also make cute and simple costumes out of old sheets and clothing. September and October are also times of the year when thrift stores carry many costumes. These eco-friendly costume ideas not only promote recycling but will also save you a lot of money.

Treat bags - Instead of buying a new plastic bucket every year for your kids to collect their treats in, try using a cloth bag, a bucket from home, a pillowcase or a basket which you can decorate to match your kid’s costume. In September and October, you will likely find recycled Halloween buckets/baskets for sale at your local thrift store as well.

Treats - Try to buy treats that use as little packaging as possible or treats that use eco-friendly packaging. We as parents can also remind our kids and neighborhood trick-or-treaters to keep plastic wrappers and all other garbage off the ground and in the garbage. Some chidlren may even feel inspired to pick up wrappers found on their trick or treating route.

Pumpkins - If you are able to purchase your pumpkin from a local farmer instead of a large supermarket, your local farmer will receive a larger portion of the food dollar supporting endangered family farms and ensuring that healthy, flavorful, nourishing and abundant food will be available for future generations. Buying local keeps your dollars circulating in your community and builds a stronger regional economy. When your pumpkin has lost its Halloween flair, you can compost it in your yard waste bin and save precious space in our landfill.

Volunteer Night at the Redwood Empire Food Bank
Thursday, September 17, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
We need volunteers! We will pack boxes of donated food
assembly-line style. It's a lot of fun and a great way
to meet some new friends and give back to the
community. Spouses, friends and teens over 14 are
all welcome to come help. Please wear close-toed
shoes for warehouse safety.
To sign up or for more information, contact Emily Vincent

emilyvincent@hotmail.com

Weekend Along the Farm Trails sponsored by Sonoma County Farm Trails
Over 40 Farms Open the Barn Doors
2009, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sonoma County, CA –

On Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27, dozens of local farmers and artisan producers throughout Sonoma County from Healdsburg to Petaluma will open their doors to tell the behind-the-scenes story of local food during Weekend Along the Farm Trails sponsored by Sonoma County Farm Trails.

Join local farmers for a weekend of tours, artisan foods, hands-on activities, cooking, pick-your-own, agricultural demonstrations, music and harvest. From hay rides to cheese-making, Weekend Along the Farm Trails offers a chance to experience Sonoma County's agricultural heritage. Participants of all ages will learn how and where their food is grown, and meet the farmers and artisans who produce it.

Admission is free to most farms: all you need is transportation, a map and a sense of adventure. The gates and barns of your local farms are wide open on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. along the Sonoma County Farm Trails.

Free tour information and map available on www.farmtrails.org or visit Farm Trails FACEBOOK page for tales from the farms. Call Sonoma County Farm Trails for more information at (707) 837-8896.

Sonoma County Farm Trails is a non-profit organization formed in 1973 to promote buying fresh food directly from farms. Over 100 local farms and agricultural businesses comprise its membership

Pick up your free Farm Trails Guide for 2009 -  2010 at a local farm or business or email them and they will send you one for five dollars.

They are really nice this year with recipes and notes from local farmers as well as the typical maps and guides to all the local farms in Sonoma County.

The origin of this pasta dish may be a little "dicey" but the recipe is delicious. It will make an easy summer meal that you can make vegetarian or not. If you want more info  on the origin, here is Wikipedia's definition.

And here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons (2 turns around the pan) extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 to 6 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tin flat anchovy fillets, drained
• 1 /2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 20 oil-cured black olives, cracked away from pit and coarsely chopped
• 3 tablespoons capers
• 1 (32-ounce) can chunky style crushed tomatoes
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
• A few grinds black pepper
• 1/4 cup (a couple of handfuls) flat leaf parsley, chopped
• 1 pound spaghetti, cooked to al dente (with a bite)
• Crusty bread, for mopping
• Grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Romano, for passing, optional

Here is a delicious summer recipe that is healthy and tasty.

quinoa salad with mangoes and curry dressing

1 1/2 cups quinoa
2 large mangoes cut up in small pieces
1 jalapeno seeded and diced (less if you don't like spicy)
3 scallions thinly sliced
1/3 cup roasted almonds

boil 3 cups water, add 1/2 teaspoon salt and quinoa. lower heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes
drain
add everything else above to quinoa

Curry dressing:
1 garlic clove minced
2 Tablespoons yogurt, mayo or sour cream
2 teaspoons curry powder
1 1/2 Tablespoons lemon juice
5 T olive oil
2 T chopped cilantro

Mix all above together and add to quinoa mix above

On Friday, March 20th, 2009, 23 third graders will join First Lady Michelle Obama on the South Lawn of the White House to break ground on an 1100 square foot kitchen garden that will provide food for family dinners and formal dinners. 

According to the New York Times:

The Obamas’ garden will have 55 varieties of vegetables grown from organic seedlings started at the executive mansion’s greenhouses.

And better still:

 Almost the entire Obama family, including the president, will pull weeds, “whether they like it or not,” Mrs. Obama said laughing.

For more information go to

http://kitchengardeners.org/

Patchworks Farm is about awakening this broader notion of service in ourselves and in our young.Our process is to introduce the young and our ourselves to each persons personal inventory of skill and talent and then melding these assets with  broader understanding of service as full-time participation in the perpetuity of life.

Around mid-February we want to builda group of adults willing to commit to fostering this notion of service.We will call the group “Holy Flying Frogs”.our group motto will be LEAP- an acronym for Live simply, Educate for change, Advocate for justice,Practice faith.We will meet on Sundays at the farm Dirt Church”for discussion, interaction with the land, and celebration with the sharing of food etc.

If you or friends are interested in pursuing this thought, please all me at 542-6700 or on my cell phone at 228-6006.

Objectives of the Patchworks Collaborative:

• Build a sustainable-living collaborative consisting of schools, other non-profits and committed adults willing to support our mission
  
  
• Create an outdoor laboratory which would be a model sustainable "village" including 3 or 4 alternative energy projects, 3 models of low cost shelter, a comprehensive water conservation project and 3 acres of farmland
  
  
• Engage students and teachers each semester in land-based service-learning projects
  
  
• Raise $157,000. this fiscal year to help pay for projects and provide scholarships for students pursuing education in sustainable living
  
  
• Engage volunteers in projects who will mentor students and assist in work on the farm
  
  
• Build a community of friends willing to model sustainable living in their daily lives and intentionally lower their ecological footprint as a sign of hope for our children

 

So, we've had ants in our pantry. The ants disappeared while we were in Oregon and then came back a few days later after we got home.  So, yesterday while at Costco I found a company that makes food storage containers in the USA!!!!

http://www.snapware.com/index.asp

So I bought the 12-piece set for our cereals and other misc food that I don't want the ants getting into.  Mind you I also have ant stakes set out that they are going after, but still, I need something to keep them out of the food.

It feels so good to buy something Made in the USA!

This is supposed to be super easy and super delish according to my mother in law. Tis the season!

Pumpkin Cake 

INGREDIENTS
 
1 LARGE CAN PUMPKIN PIE MIX (30 OZ)
 2 EGGS
 1 YELLOW CAKE MIX
 2 TSP. SODA
 
TOPPING:
 2/3 C BROWN SUGAR
 2 TSP. CINNAMON
 1/2 C CHOPPED PECANS OR WALNUTS
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 MIX CAKE MIX AND SODA IN ONE BOWL
 BEAT THE EGGS WITH THE PIE MIX IN ANOTHER BOWL
 NOW TAKE THE CAKE MIX THAT IS MIXED WITH SODA AND STIR, NOT BEAT, INTO
 THE PIE MIX.  BATTER WILL BE A BIT LUMPY.  POUR IN GREASED 9x12 PAN AND
 MIX TOPPING INGREDIENTS TOGETHER AND SPRINKLE OVER CAKE.  BAKE AT 350
 DEGREES FOR 45 MINUTES.

Last week, we ordered take out. We REALLY love this Thai restaurant near us but they use Styrofoam containers for their take out so we usually avoid going unless we are eating there.I  think over a year ago on this blog someone mentioned that they tried bringing their own containers in to restaurants so I got our tupperware out and brought it to the restaurant. I thought for sure they were either going to laugh at me or cite some silly health code reason why they couldn't use my containers to package my take out. However I was surprised and pleased that they didn't even bat an eye. They took my order and containers with a smile and in 15 minutes I had my take out, waste free. 

Have you all had similar luck with this?  

I just got back from a big Costco trip this a.m. and continue to be impressed with all the organic itmes they are carrying. I bought organic cage free brown eggs, organic chicken, beef, milk, coffee, cereal, ketchup, lettuce, spinach, carrots, butter, spaghetti sauce, and pasta.

There were several other organic items I didn't buy today but I am pleased with the widening selection they offer on organic foods. They even sell some organic cotton clothes. 

We buy our ECO brand laundry soap there and now they offer a Kirkland brand organic laundry detergent too so you have more than one choice.For washing cloth diapers, I buy bulk vinegar and baking soda at Costco which saves a lot of money. 

Does anyone else have good tips on saving money on organic / local food / goods? 

This is a ballot measure that prohibits the cruel confinement of certain farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs. Pigs during pregnancy are confined in metal cages called gestation crates and are unable even to turn around for months on end. Young calves are also kept purposely confined in veal crates so small they are barely able to move for nearly their entire lives. And egg-laying hens are often kept in tiny battery cages, unable even to spread their wings.

Prop 2, the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, will provide more humane treatment of millions of farm animals by phasing out their confinement in small crates and cages where they can barely move for virtually their entire lives. The law would take effect in 2015 and would require that calves raised for veal, breeding pigs, and egg-laying hens are given enough space to turn around, lie down, and stretch their limbs. Similar laws have been passed in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Oregon, and throughout the European Union’s 27 member countries.

Some of the many supporters of Prop 2 include: 

The Humane Society of the US
California Veterinary Medical Assn
Center for Food Safety
Union of Concerned Scientists

Sierra Club
Consumer Federation of America
California Democratic Party
California Council of Churches IMPACT

One of the ways we can care for the earth is by eating seasonally. The more we eat in season, the less fossil fuel it takes to get our food to us. So I thought throughout the different seasons, we could share recipes with one another to help encourage us all to eat more local/seasonal.

This one is very simple but one of my favorite fall / winter foods. Not only are sweet potatoes delicious but they also have a very high nutritional value.

ROASTED SWEET POTATOES

serves 4-6

3 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled, rinsed and cut into 3/4 inch rounds

2 T olive or vegetable oil

salt and pepper

 Toss potatoes in large bowl with oil and S & P.  Place on baking sheet and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Place in cold over in middle rack. Turn on oven to 425 degrees and bake for 30 minutes. Then remove foil and return potatoes to oven for an extra 15-20 minutes.Then flip slices over and cook for 18 more minutes.

 And there you have the perfect roasted sweet potato....

My kids LOVE them with ketchup but I think they are great plain.

Pumpkin Patch and Farm Days

Sept 26 - Oct 31

Thursdays through Sundays 10 - 6:30 pm

5360 Bodega Avenue (5 miles West of Petaluma)

• -U- Pick organic pumpkins
• -Take the Sunflower Maze Challenge
• -Make your own butter
• -Hayrides
• -Feed a calf
• -Learn to milk a cow
• -Enjoy Farmstead Ice Cream

I posted about this a while ago but I wanted to remind all of you about the Weekend Along Farm Trails weekend

September 27 and 28 in Sonoma County.  

Our family and some friends have been the last 2 years and really loved it. We milked cows, pulled potatoes, climbed hay pyramids, hid in corn mazes, found pumpkins, picked apples, pet all kinds of farm animals, samples cheese and ice cream made from local dairys.......

If you make a weekend out of it, you can visit a lot of farms and your kids will love it.

Some of the activities include:

• Special farm tours
• See animals on the farm
• Visit pumpkin patches with fun activities for kids
• Learn gardening and landscaping tips
• Visit unique nurseries with a variety of plants
• Meet Sonoma County food artisans
• Taste freshly picked fruit and vegetables
• Connect with the farmer that grows your food
• Savor a restaurant meal featuring local ingredients
• Visit wineries during crush and harvest season

September 27 & 28, 2008  ~   10 a.m. – 5 p.m. , Saturday & Sunday

Jennifer K, our mutual friend, and I went U-picking organic strawberries last week Friday at  Love Farm in Healdsburg (10 miles north of Santa Rosa). One thing I love about the whole idea of visiting local farms is how accessible the farmers are. When we first arrived at the farm, there appeared to be no one around. However there was a cell phone number posted on their outdoor bulletin board and literally 1 minute after calling the number,  the woman farmer arrived, very welcoming and said we could help oursleves to all the strawberries we could eat while we were there. (Rosemary and I took her up on it. Never tell either one of us there is free food around becasue we will take you up on it !!!! : ) She only charged $3.50 a basket for some of the best organic strawberries I have ever eaten. And they were beautiful. Bright red with no blemishes, which is hard to understand, especially with organic but there they were. Some of the most gorgeous strawberries I had ever seen. 

Anyway, it was a fun experience with the little kids watching their excitement about picking strawberries and  there was an ostrich at Love farm who was an attraction for them too. If you are local and can get to Love Farm between now and November, I would highly recommend it. (The farmer said they have strawberries through November....wow!)

With summer coming to an end (BOO HOO, it has really flown by) my favorite U-pick season is almost upon us. FALL!!! I love picking apples, pulling potatoes, and checking out the pumpkin patches. If you haven't already, check out the Farm Trails guide for 2008. It's educational, virtually free and so much fun with the kids.

If you make it to Love Farm and have will power and happen to have some  strawberries left by the time you get home (we barely did), here is a yummy recipe I found: 

Strawberry-Almond Muffins

Ingredients:

 - 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tbsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 2 cups strawberries, chopped
- 3/4 cup slivered almonds

Preheat the oven to 375 and grease 12 cup muffin tin or line with paper liners.

In a bowl of an electric mixer or food processor, cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, and blend until fluffy. Mix in the milk and the almond extract. In a separate bowl, sift the flours, baking powder, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the milk mixture and blend until just combined. Fold in the strawberries and almonds. Fill the muffin cups to the top and bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Makes 12 muffins.

If you eat fish and ever wonder to yourself when buying it " Now .....is it the wild or farmed that's better for the environment (and you) and which fish are the ones heavy with mercury and which aren't and aren't salmon now endangered species?? and on and on, then this is a great resource for you.

It's a Seafood Watch Guide that tells you very quickly (for use in the grocery or wherever you are doing your shopping) when buying fish, which are the best choices of fish to buy in terms of our health and the health of the planet and which you should try to avoid buying for health and environmental reasons.

This afternoon, I have been listening to an interview on NPR's "Speaking of Faith" with Barbara Kingsolver regarding her family's year of eating only locally and seasonally. A year she writes about in her book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" which I think I have mentioned a few times on this blog. Such a fantastic book!!! I would encourage anyone looking for a good summer read to pick it up.

Anyway, this is an interview that will give you a taste of what her book is about.

Some of the questions explored are:

-How did we (the U.S.) get to the place we are now where eating locally and seasonally is considered "elite"? 

-What are the hidden costs of  eating cheap food from the grocery store and  fast food? Why don't those costs turn up in our grocery bills?

-What has the effect of the U.S. Farm Bill been on our health and the environment? 

-How can eating locally reinforce the idea of gratitude?

Since summer / fall seems to fill up fast, I wanted to give you an early heads up for the "Farm Trails Weekend" which this year will be the weekend of September 27-28.

We visited about 8-9 farms last year during their farm trails weekend and LOVED it. The kids dug potatoes out of the ground, milked cows, picked fruit and vegetables, saw all kinds of animals, and in general got a real flavor of the local Sonoma County farms. I would highly recommend it!!!!

I just did something I've been hesitating doing for awhile.  Researching reasons why I may want to give up (or be VERY selective) about dairy (mostly cheese, we've already switched to soy milk) in my diet.

I was hesitant, because well, I love cheese.  I was pretty sure there was some stuff I knew I should know, but didn't want to know.  You know what I mean?!

I'm still on the research path.  But I feel better.  The more conscious I am about the decisions I make, the better I feel.  

Anyone else notice how living your values can be VERY inconvenient?  Yet, also very satisfying.   

We went to Shangri-La the other day, and as usual it was great.  When I saw this story in the Press Democrat, it made me even more happy to support it.  She might not be using all local or organic food, but she is doing good work.  And I support that.  Maybe a good Green Mommy Night Out?  Lots of great vegetarian choices!

 Some days it's just $1. Other days, it might be $10. But whatever amount constitutes the first tip of the day, that money goes straight into a squat little pot kept behind the counter at Shangri-La Restaurant in Rohnert Park.

For Nepalese native Meenakshi Sharma, who owns the cozy cafe with her brother, the gesture is akin to a prayer of thanksgiving.

Accumulated tips are taken to Nepal on a yearly goodwill trip to support others in need. Beginning with last year's trip, Sharma also travels with local college students who want to experience Nepal.

Here's a review, and the location, etc. 

Hopefully more of our produce will not have stickers on them as a goal, but I know that stickers creep into our kitchen. This was helpful, plus news to me about the code for genetically modified. eek.

Read this article in the paper recently, I'm glad there seems to be an increasing interest in educating children as to where their food comes from. This article is about curriculum teaching kids about farmers market and food.

Along the lines of food education and community building,  the Sacramento News and Review recently  ran a great cover story on Soil Born farms and local urban farms. Fantastic article you can read here.

I have started my own 'urban garden'  too. Very small, container gardening, but tomatoes, basil, sage nonetheless! Instead of not doing a garden this year due to excuses of start up costs and land prep (our Sac soil is like hard clay), I just decided to fill some 5-gallon black planters I had with a couple plants and place in the sunniest spot I could find....which was our front side yard. Viola! Instant urban garden!

Any of you have urban gardens this year? 

Upon Jen A.'s recommendation, the kids and I went to:

PACIFIC STAR GARDENS

20872 County Road 99, Woodland 95773

Telephone: (530) 666-7308

Hours: Apr-Oct

Farm stand and U-pick operation selling apricots, strawberries, melons, mixed vegetables, lettuce, tomatoes, pumpkins, transplants, flowers and more! Field trips and farm tours also available.

while visiting family in that area. The entire farm is organic and the kids and I had a so much fun picking strawberries, apricots, leeks, garlic, and onions. Not only were the prices right but we got to talk to the farmer, learn a little history of the farm, and Noah got to ride on his tractor. You can't do that in a grocery store and you can't get organic produce for $2 a pound either.

I highly recommend taking time to visit farms this summer and fall  when there is so much to eat and see. It's also a great educational experience for kids who otherwise  might think that our food comes FROM the grocery store. 

For a list of farms in Somona County including their location, hours you can visit and what the grow, please visit farmtrails.org

If you live in the Sacramento/Woodland area, you can find more information here 

 If you live in a different area and have information on farms in your area please let us know.

The Downtown farmers market in Santa Rosa began last night.

FREE each Wed night 

May through August

5:30 - 8 pm along 4th street

Local farmers, vendors and activities for children.

A great venue to get local, organic produce, cheese, bread and meat. 

I enrolled at the JC to take a Wedding Cake class. Saturday was my 1st class. The teacher explained that the Culinary Center only uses Fresh, Local, Organic food.  In order to make our Wedding Cake next Saturday, we had to come up with a design were we couldn't use food coloring or fake extracts. We could use fresh flowers if we wanted too.

Well, I really wanted to use Jelly Beans, but I couldn't.  As of right now, my cake will be totally white.  I really want it to have a touch of color.  So, I was doing some research on organic food color.  Much to my surprise!  You can make color from other natural foods.

Here's some links:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/homemade-natural-easter-egg-dyes.html

http://www.treehuggingfamily.com/homemade-organic-paint-soap-for-kids/

http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/aa020298a.htm

 And Vanilla extract

http://www.chow.com/stories/10956

 So, now I'm off to go figure out how to color a sample of the organic frosting I was given.

This is so cool to know. Another step in making my business "green"! 

We have been spending the week in Laguna Beach which is a quaint beach town with lots of high end shops, luxury cars, body augmentations of one kind or another, etc. I have long held some pretty strong biases about towns like this and the people who live there, i.e. they are shallow, only concerned with themselves and their money, etc. I know that's awful that I have thought that way but I guess that has been my stereotyping of SoCal since I have never  lived here and because I got most of my information about the people who do  live here from watching "90210" when I was in highschool.

Anyway, we took the kids to the park yesterday and I saw a playgroup of moms and kids (all looking very put together, very blonde, very thin, fancy cars parked on the street, on and on and on) and a table nearby that said "FREE SNACKS" with tons of fruit, packaged snacks, drinks, sandwiches piled high. Being my dumpster diving, free loading self, I took a few snack for me and the kids and then, looking for who to thank, said to the group "Did you put out those snacks?" The women said they did and that they come every week with the snack table and put out free snacks for people who are homeless as well as any other parents who come to the park with their kids  (They also leave a little sign on the table that says "Come Join our Group") They were super welcoming and friendly and I thought.....I am so glad I had this experience! When I looked around in fact there were several people who appeared homeless who had helped themselves. What a great way for these moms to set an example for their kids about sharing with others and treating people who are less fortunate with dignity and respect. Later as I was remembering when we first arrived at the park, I saw a man who appeared to be homeless sitting down and talking with the women and I assumed he probably just barged in to their group and was talking to them and they didn't know how to tell him to go away....however now I realized they probably welcomed him into their circle and may have even initiated their conversation.

Anyway, I bring this up for two reasons. The first being that I am so glad when I have the opportunity to be proven wrong in my biases and stereotyping of people and I am reminded of how hurtful and powerful those biases / stereotypes can be if they go unchecked so I am so grateful for that experience. The other reason I bring this up is that I think what these women do each week is so inspirational and also so easy. Buying some extra food and drinks at the store for many of us isn't a great hardship but for someone who doesnt know if they will eat from day to day, it means the difference between going to "bed" (bed being most likely outside, on the cement or grass somewhere) hungry or not. And the impact this simple act of kindness would have on our kids would be invaluable. I know that passing out snacks every week to a few people isn't going to solve the problems of homelessness. However, I think just the gesture of kindness and particularly "seeing the Other" rather than pretending they (people who are homeless) don't exist is really powerful for the giver and receiver. I also think everyone is a giver and receiver in this type of exchange....

So I feel moved to do something similar to what these women started  in our community of Santa Rosa (and neighboring communities).   Does anyone else have the same feeling and if so would you want to put our heads together to come up with a way we could reach out to our community weekly/monthly?

Last night a few of the Green Mommies got together to check out a new restaurant in Petaluma. The place was called Wild Greens and is a vegatarian restaurant that also has some vegan choices. Not only did we have a blast but the food was awesome! We all got something different and it was all really tasty.

I got the "Sweet and Wild" which was fresh tempura vegetables and brown rice. I totally recommend it! I took a picture of it for the blog :) I felt like a big dork taking a picture of my dinner but then a lady at a table next to us did the same thing! It made me feel better.

Then because it was girls night out, I had to get some dessert. I decided on a vegan brownie that was better than I expected but not as fluffy as a "real" brownie.

I am not a vegan or even a vegetarian myself so if was cool to try some foods that I wouldn't prepare myself. Like I said, we had a great time and if you are ever in Petaluma, you should stop into Wild Greens and support this little up and coming restaurant!

This was the title of a recent NY Times article on the rising price of food around the globe and particularly organic foods.

It is an interesting and complicated subject because there are so many factors involved, i.e. a growing middle class around the world demanding more meat and dairy, global warming effects on crops and farming, U.S. economic slow down in every area,  higher fuel costs, rising demand and a tight supply of the grains needed for animal feed and bakery items, etc etc.

........demand for organic wheat, soybeans and corn is so great that farmers are receiving unheard-of prices. But people who have to buy organic grain, from bakers and pasta makers to chicken and dairy farmers, say they are struggling to maintain profit margins, even though shoppers are paying more. The price of organic animal feed is so high that some dairy farmers have abandoned organic farming methods and others are pushing retailers to raise prices more aggressively. Several organic manufacturers worry that sales may slow as consumers cut back......

Americans spent $16.7 billion on organic food and beverages in 2006, a 126 percent increase in just five years, according to the Organic Trade Association, an industry trade group. Organic sales account for about 2.8 percent of food and beverage sales in the United States, the group says.

The United States had 4.1 million acres of organic farmland in 2005, triple the amount in 1997, according to the Department of Agriculture, which regulates the organic industry. But farmers and grain buyers say the growth of new organic acreage has slowed, falling short of rising demand and causing organic grain prices to soar.

Here is what a few organic consumers said in the article on how they will deal with rising prices or food (organic in particular) "

At the Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op in St. Paul, Shaun Hainey, 26, said he had quit smoking and cut back on drinking and “superfluous recreational spending, like going skiing.” But he and his wife, Cassandra Hainey, have not cut back on organic food.“We don’t foresee a price level at which we’d stop shopping organic,” he said.

But Scott Cordes, a 33-year-old budget analyst for the city of St. Paul, has found the high prices hard to bear. He now buys conventional 1 percent milk for $4.09 rather than spending $6.99 on a gallon of organic milk. Still, he does not expect to forgo organic foods altogether.

 So what do you think? I know for almost all of us , paying extra money for organic groceries is really a strain on the budget and especially now that food is rapidly becoming more and more expensive. 

-Which oragnic foods / products (if any) are a must for you?

-Which could you live without?

-What creative things do you or will you do to afford organic foods/products ? 

Although Davis, CA isn't exactly local for many of us, it is only 1.5 hour drive from Santa Rosa and is such a great eco -friendly, family friendly, artist friendly event.

Jen A. and I try to go every year and we always have so much fun. Admission is free. There is endless music, eco workshops, food (vegetarian) and everything sold  (gifts, clothes, jewelry, art, etc) is handmade (it's like a live etsy sale). 

 This year Whole Earth Festival will be held May 9,10 and 11 on the UC Davis campus.

"The Whole Earth Festival  is a huge eco-friendly three-day music and education festival which takes place in Spring during Mother's Day Weekend. It is similiar to a mini Woodstock.  It's a must-see Davis event. Tons of folks who are committed to sustainable living and environmental harmony make a pilgrimage to Davis for the WEF, and the UC Davis area is lined with art & craft tents, music acts, massage tables, food and a child care area. Various workshops occur throughout the weekend as well".

  Mission Statement

The mission of the Whole Earth Festival is to envision and create a community driven festival of education, music, and art.  We will ensure that as little ‘waste’ as possible is generated during this festival. We will cultivate amazing organic produce  grown in the WEF garden into tasty, nutritional meals to feed volunteers, staff, & performers, while making it both yummy and educational. Frugality and ecological sustainability come hand in hand, as we educate and engage the festival goers, we are careful with the resources we create and consume. We will rely on each other more and rely on corporations and oil less, by carpooling and sharing our homes.  Most importantly, we want to create a safe, educational, and inspiring environment not simply just for the three days we set up on the Quad. We want to develop a conscious community that will go out into the world after the festival and encourage the values that we hold dear. We are all equal participants in the conscious creation that is the Whole Earth Festival.

Joaquin and I went to the performance part of this great traveling educational program called Common Vision. I'm very inspired by the work of this volunteer group. I would highly recommend viewing their calendar and participating someday with your kids if you have the chance. It is fun, green, participatory and educational! Great drumming and dance too! View the video on the website for an overview of the program.

I give a green-thumbs-up to this program! 

Jen A. found this article and we both love this idea. It's an organic cafe where there is no set menu and no set prices. People pay what they think their meal is worth and if they don't have the money to pay for it, they pay it off through volunteering at the restaurant. 

Because customers choose their portions, Cerreta says, there tends to be little or no waste. If you turn up at One World and are short on cash, volunteer for an hour—washing dishes, cleaning or working in the organic garden—to earn a meal voucher. Every day, a traditional Indian meal of dal and rice is provided free. Cerreta’s One World Everybody Eats foundation wants to put a community kitchen in every city. 

Part of why I love this idea is because it makes organic, healthy food accessible to everyone. Often times, organic food has the stigma that it is only for rich people. I used to think that. However, I think if you know where and how  to shop (i.e. farmers markets, bulk section, seasonly, etc) almost everyone can have access to healthy, organic food.  I would love to know how this cafe and others that have popped up around the country that are similar fund themselves??

Does anyone know? 

It's that time of year to get seed starters going and think about planning a garden for any of you who are gardeners or just want to try it out.  I know many people don't have a lot of space in their backyard for a garden. However, gardens don't have to be big. Herbs can be grown in a window box in the kitchen or in pots on the porch. In fact, it's amazing what one tomato plant will produce in a season. 

For those of you interested in buying some good quality organic seeds, there are two websites I recommend:

Seeds of Change

Seed Savers Exchange

Here is an excerpt from the Seeds of Change website.....

Seeds of Change was born in 1989 with a revolutionary mission: To make organically grown seeds available to gardeners and farmers, while preserving countless heirloom seed varieties in danger of being lost to the "advances" of modern industrial agriculture.

and from Seed Savers website...

Seed Savers Exchange is a nonprofit organization that saves and shares the heirloom seeds of our garden heritage, forming a living legacy that can be passed down through generations. When people grow and save seeds, they join an ancient tradition as stewards, nurturing our diverse, fragile, genetic and cultural heritage.

Our organization is saving the world’s diverse, but endangered, garden heritage for future generations by building a network of people committed to collecting, conserving and sharing heirloom seeds and plants, while educating people about the value of genetic and cultural diversity. Few gardeners comprehend the true scope of their garden heritage or how much is in immediate danger of being lost forever.

Gardening is a great way to have organic produce without paying much for it at all. It's also a great learning opportunity for you and your kids and is a fun way to teach children about nature, plant life, seasons, etc... 

I found this article on the internet yesterday that recommended 12 foods consumers should try and purchase organic because of how heavily laden with pesticides they are. The article recognizes that many people cannot afford to buy organic all the time but this is the top 12 list that should be consumers priority when buying organic.

The top 12 include:

Meat

Dairy

Peaches

Strawberries 

Coffee

Apples

Peppers

Celery

Lettuces

Grapes

Tomatoes

Potatoes  

I was listening to the Public Radio International (PRI) show "The World" yesterday and thought this was a really interesting story  (click on "wheat prices soar") about  the effect that  corn over-production is having on wheat production which then has an effect on  prices of goods at the supermarket, oil at the pump and ultimately global poverty. Corn production has trumped and wiped out so many of our other traditional U.S. crops in the recent decades since the dawn of processed foods (high fructose corn syrup and the like), eating more animals world wide (as developing countries become more affluent) who are fed on corn and now our vehicles are starting to be run on corn. As a result of the over production of corn, there has been some severe environmental and social consequences. I hope you have a chance to listen to the story (link above). It sums this up in about 4 minutes. However, if you are interested in learning more, I am reading a book by Michael Pollan (who was interviewed for the story), author of the books among others, In Defense of Food: An Eaters Manifesto and Omnivores Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals.

Currently I am reading Omnivores Dilemma which I think would make a great GreenMommy book club selection if anyone is interested in reading along with me.

The omnivore’s dilemma has returned with a vengeance, as the cornucopia of the modern American supermarket and fast-food outlet confronts us with a bewildering and treacherous food landscape. What’s at stake in our eating choices is not only our own and our children’s health, but the health of the environment that sustains life on earth.......

Pollan follows each of the food chains that sustain us—industrial food, organic or alternative food, and food we forage ourselves—from the source to a final meal, and in the process develops a definitive account of the American way of eating.  His absorbing narrative takes us from Iowa cornfields to food-science laboratories, from feedlots and fast-food restaurants to organic farms and hunting grounds, always emphasizing our dynamic coevolutionary relationship with the handful of plant and animal species we depend on.  Each time Pollan sits down to a meal, he deploys his unique blend of personal and investigative journalism to trace the origins of everything consumed, revealing what we unwittingly ingest and explaining how our taste for particular foods and flavors reflects our evolutionary inheritance.

In this week's Bohemian (a free North Bay weekly publication), an article was featured on the new renaissance in meat eating. It's a quick read that explains the history of meat eating (from family farms, to factory farms, to vegan, to vegetarian to mad cow and now....back to the pasture (full circle). The "back to the pasture" meat eating movement which is starting to become popular is a opportunity for meat eaters to eat meat with less impact on the environment and less cruelty to the animals. Vegetarians of course have the least impact on the environment and the animals who are (or aren't eaten) but if you eat meat, the back to the pasture movement in meat eating is a great alternative.

Here are some excerpts from the article.... however I think  the entire article is a quick and informative read if you have time to follow the link above......

.....just as the discovery of mad cow disease and the unsavory details of factory farming and stockyard practices came to light, organic farmers began raising chickens not only for eggs, but also for their meat. Looking to the free-pastured practices of West Marin's own Niman Ranch—not to mention the profitability of chops, steaks and roasts bearing the Niman brand—ranchers began putting pigs on their pastures, letting them roam and forage freely before taking them down to the road to be slaughtered, and then selling the all-natural, artisan-butchered cuts at farmers markets and small local restaurants........All of this expands the possible solutions to the "omnivore's dilemma," a term coined by psychologist Paul Rozin and popularized in the book of the same name by Michael Pollan. Centering on the issue of choosing what to eat when you can eat everything and anything, the dilemma seems to have eased, thanks to the growth of traditionally raised, naturally fed and humanely treated animals.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) system for buying meat in the North Bay: 

 As with fruit and vegetables, the trend in meat is toward sustainable, locally raised and organic. But unlike with plants, there has so far been no CSA system in which growers provide their products direct from farm to consumers. That's all changing with the Sonoma County Meat Buying Club. Here's how it works: club members sign up for three months of food at a time, designating whether they want seven, 15 or 25 pounds of meat per month. Each month, a different provider is highlighted and the packages feature a mix of beef, pork and lamb in prime and unusual cuts. Members receive a handmade designer bag to pack their products in, as well as special sauces and butters to accompany the food, rancher bios to better learn where it came from and laminated recipe cards from UC Davis that tell how to prepare the stuff.....It comes out to $7 or less a pound.

My husband and I have talked about eating less meat and then trying to buy the bulk of the meat we do eat from a Meat Buying Club such as the one mentioned in the article. What are your thoughts?

I just ate fast food for the first time this year :( I know we are only 6 weeks into 2008, but this was a HUGE thing for me. I had a tad to much wine on Valentines Day and woke up in need of some greasy food. I fought the urge all morning but by lunch time I just had to go get someting. It was so not worth it! My whole meal was consumed with guilt. Bad for the planet, bad for my wallet and bad for my waistline! YUCK. I want a do- over!

So have you committed any green sins lately? 

An email that came to me from the Organic Consumers Action group  featured a study that showed that children who ate conventional (non-organic) food were  found to have varying levels of pesticides in their bodies.

A new peer-reviewed study found levels of nerve-gas like pesticides in the bodies of children who eat conventional foods. Researchers found that if a child switched to an organic diet, the pesticide disappeared from the child's urine within 36 hours. Organophosphates were designed during WWII specifically to kill humans and later evolved into commonly used pesticides for food crops. The study has not yet linked the pesticide levels to specific foods, but other studies have shown peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, nectarines, strawberries and cherries are among those that most frequently have detectable levels of pesticides. 

Although I don't buy organic everything 100% of the time, this study is a good reminder to do it as often as we can afford to.

I was at Oliver's Market in Cotati the other day.  I noticed a sign posted stating that Oliver's was going "green" and all of their plastic containers for the salad bar and such are made from corn now.  And they have metal reminders on the light poles in their parking lot reminding people about their reusable bags.

Today I went to the store and had all my reuseable bags with me....YEAH! I remembered!!! (Sometimes, I will forget my bags or make a trip to the store that I hadn't planned and show up bag -less. On these occassions, I have found myself digging through the plastic bag recycling bin at the front of the store for bags I can reuse.....maybe I should keep that information to myself : )

Anyway, I was very proud of myself for having remembered my bags. Safeway has a new bulk nut section and I bought some cashews but asked them to put the nuts in a bag I had brought rather than in one of their plastic containers. Apparently that was a big inconvenience but they let me do it anyway. Then as I was checking out, the bagger was wrapping my vegetables in plastic bags before putting them in my bags. I didn't catch that until he was half way done doing it. AGH!!!!! Why is this so hard today to do the green thing??? 

My point of this post is that I  have been thinking it would be SO NICE if you had to request disposable bags (and were even charged for them) and  people looked at you funny if you DIDN'T bring in your own containers (instead of the opposite). It is frustrating how set up our culture is for everything disposable.

January was the month that I told myself  (and you all) I would try a vegetarian diet out and see how it went. There have been previous blog posts about the environmental benefits of eating a more plant based diet (not to mention health benefits and economic benefits too).

Well, within about 3 days I had failed. I realized that I really hadn't prepared myself with delicious recipes and vegetarian ingredients ready to go so  that I wouldn't be tempted to just cook chicken (again.....and again.....)

So last week I bought How to Cook Everything Vegetarian: Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food and since then we have been eating almost solely vegetarian meals. What made the difference was seeing these delicious and (sometimes )easy recipes and reminding myself that eating vegetarian doesnt mean tofu every night and depriving oneself of tasty food.

The cookbook is about 1000 pages and with this cookbook, you could probably go a year or two eating a new and delicious vegetarian meal without repeats.

Anyway, this is not an ad for a cookbook but rather a LONG way of explaining that vegetarianism doesn't have to be boring and can actually be very delicious.  This book was a delightful kick in the pants that I needed to get going on my January resolution of eco- eating.

Some other wonderful vegetarian cookbooks I use often are:

Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone

The Greens Cookbook  

New Recipes from the Moosewood Restaurant 

Do you have any favorites????? 

To all the green mommy's and families out there....

Community Supported Agriculture is a perfect way to put your values into action. A way to support local farmers, community, organic food and wellness, with less impact on our world. With the new year ahead, I have made the choice to support CSA's through Capay Valley's Farm Fresh to You, home delivery CSA program. I hope you will do the same! Get $10 off your first delivery box by putting in the code 8356 when signing up online at:

http://www.farmfreshtoyou.com/fftoyou_info.php

More info can be found at the above link, but here is a brief summary:

 What is CSA?
CSA is simply a box of fresh, local, organic, seasonal produce directly from a farm. It's part of a connection to your food and it's source...a relationship between farmer and the urban landscape.
Why CSA?
CSA comes directly from the local farmer to you. This reduces the impact on the environment on many levels. The food travels far less, uses less resources in getting to you, has less packaging, and is not treated with pesticides so it is healthier for our bodies as well as the earth. CSA's support the goal of community and conscious living.
Where can I try out a CSA?
Capay Organic, a Capay valley family farm that has been around since 1976, has a home-delivery CSA program called "Farm Fresh to You". They have fruit/veggie boxes to your door for $21.50 or $29, with your choice of weekly/biweekly/monthly delivery. No contracts. You can change delivery schedule to fit your needs, place vacation holds, skip weeks, or suspend service at any time. You even have some flexibility as to what goes in your box.

They make it pretty easy to see if you even like the idea of CSA.
How do I sign up or get more info?
Go to:
http://www.farmfreshtoyou.com/fftoyou_info.php

Get more info, check delivery areas, and learn more about the farm. First-timers can get $10 off their first box by putting in 8356 in the promo code box when signing up.

Cheers to a greener 2008! 

I keep meaning to post this.

Since I bake cakes, I'm trying to be "green" with it. I noticed the other day that the "Wilton" brand is Made in the USA. At least the frosting they make is. I will have to double check on the pans and things.

Dan brought home the other day a pair of giraffe socks for Victoria. I noticed they are Made in the USA. I will have to check out the gift shop the next time I go to Safari West and find more things that are made in the USA.

I've been trying to cut back on dairy.  I'm not ready to go Vegan completely, but I'd like to lean that way a little more.  

I've been really happy with everything I've tried from Follow Your Heart.   

When I tried to go Vegan as a teen the cheese substitutes were pretty bad.  Today I tried their 'cheese', and it was SO good! 

 Their dressing and the Vegenaise (mayonaise substitute) is also really good too.

Here are two GREAT FREE RESOURCES on going vegetarian!!!

Vegetarian Times (a magazine) has put together a nice starter kit that you can download as a pdf.  It will answer all your nutrition questions. 

And PETA's GoVeg website also has a starter kit you can download as a pdf, or they will mail it to you.  It speaks more to the reasons WHY you should consider eating this way.   Plus it has los of pretty celebrity faces sprinkled throughout (oh, and their words of wisdom)!

I don't know if you guys got the recycling newsletter in the mail today but there was something that I thought was worth mentioning, just in case. Where it talked about composting in your green can, it said you can throw in fruit and veggie scraps (which we knew), but it also says that we can throw in cooked pasta (no sauce) and bread products now too. Two less things to go in a landfill! So for those of you that use the green can for your fruit and veggies, throw in your pasta and bread remnants too!

I have seen the brand Earthbound Farms many times when purchasing organic produce from Costco, Safeway and other big chain stores.

I am sure because they are such a big operation, there are some downsides to their farming techniques and maybe some short cuts they take but I thought their website was interesting to check out. 

It looks like they have U-pick and an organic kitchen at their headquarters in Carmel. It would be fun to check out some time if ever in that area.

I came across an ad in Body and Soul Magazine that outlined the different labels related to the word organic, I thought I would pass it on. 

• "100% Organic" products contain only organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt).
• "USDA Certified Organic" items contain95% or more organic ingredients.
• "Made with organic ingredients" means that a product includes 70-95% organic ingredients. 

I knew that organic meant no pesticides, but here is a more complete definition: 

Organic foods are produced without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, added antibiotic and hormones, genetic engineering and irradiation. They are also minimally processed, with no artificial ingredients or preservatives.  

Hope that helps! 

This has been discussed before but may still be helpful to some. I came across a list called "The Dirty Dozen" that tells you which fruits and vegetables have the highest amount of pesticides on or in them(apples are the worst!). Alternatively it also gives you "The Clean 12", which are basically the 12 produce products that can be bought non-organic if need be(non-organic bananas are a-okay). Here is the rest of the list:

• Apples
• Cherries
• Grapes, imported (Chili)
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Bell peppers
• Celery
• Potatoes
• Spinach

 And the Clean 12:

• Bananas (though you may try to purchase "Fair Trade" bananas)
• Kiwi
• Mangos
• Papaya
• Pineapples
• Asparagus
• Avocado
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Corn
• Onions
• Peas

I know that for me and my family the grocery budget is something I have top keep a close eye on. Cutting corners and living frugally is what enables me to be a stay at home mom. As much as we would like to, we aren't able to eat 100% organic. This list (and the accompanying site), is a great help when it comes to spending wisely. I feel like I can still make a difference in what my family eats and give less support to those farms that use harmful pesticides.

Now that Cameron and I have both read Barbara Kingsolver's latest book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle", we are excited to really put some thought into next years garden. Usually we have just thrown things in at the last minute (late spring) and end up with your standard tomatoes, herbs and a few heads of lettuce.....We are going to try and do something a little more elaborate next year that will hopefully help us cut down on the amount of food we have to buy that may not be local or organic. Right now we are looking at which winter cover crops will be most beneficial. Cover crops are grown primarily to prevent soil erosion by wind and water,as well as suppress weeds and reduce insect pests and diseases. We also thinking about using heirloom seeds as we learned through reading Kingsolvers book how many species of animals and plants have gone or are going extinct due to plant genetic erosion. Seed Savers Exchange is a great website to buy heirloom seeds as well as learn more about genetic erosion and why we should be concerned.

The Press Democrat had an interesting article yesterday about how to decipher labels such as "organic", "free-range" and "free-roaming" , "all natural" etc. The article gave a crash course in understanding organic food labels from Consumer Reports.

I think as the organic food/product business has been growing and as more interest in it has developed, there have been some companies that are trying to cash in on consumers paying higher prices for their food with these labels by being deceptive in their marketing practices.

It is helpful to have this information to be a more informed consumer and know what we are really spending our money on and putting on the table. 

Most produce in the United States is picked 4 to 7 days before being placed on supermarket shelves, and is shipped for an average of 1500 miles before being sold. That distance is even longer for foods imported internationally.

Local Harvest is a great website for anyone looking to find farms, farmers markets, co-ops and CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture) in their area in an effort to support local growers, and vendors and reduce the amount of fossil fuel it takes to bring our food to our plates.