Cane Creek Farm CSA

There are still several spots open in the Summer, Fall, and Winter CSA seasons at Cane Creek Farm but they may not be around for much longer. If you want (or have ever wanted) to join a CSA, now is your time.

This year for the Summer season, drop off locations are being added for Alpharetta (Cotton Field Way), Cumming (North Ga. Autism Center on Dahlonega Hwy) and Vickery (Bucks Rd) for those not able to make it out to the farm.

If you are not quite sure what to do with all of the produce, I will be offering my suggestions here at Sustainable Alpharetta (as well as several recipes). Don't hesitate to email me as well if you need any additional help.

Tell them that Mike sent you.

2008 Garden In Pictures

Oh the Possibilities

In about a month or two you may be staring at a big pile of greens (like that above) and wondering what to do with them. Here are a few of the recipes that I like to use when I have a bunch of greens at my disposal.

Bacon and Brown Sugar-Braised Collard Greens
Slow-Braised Collard Greens
Long-Cooked Collards with Cane Syrup
Braised Kale with Bacon and Cider
Potato-Kale Soup with Gruyere
Spinach-and-Sugar Snap Risotto
Spring Greens Pie

Alpharetta celebrates Arbor Day at Wills Park

Alpharetta celebrates Arbor Day at Wills Park:

"Arbor Day comes to Alpharetta Saturday, Feb. 21, and the city will hold its 19th celebration at Wills Park this year.

This nationally celebrated holiday encourages tree planting and care through educational programs. The festivities will be held off of Old Milton Parkway in the pavilion behind Mansell House starting at 10 a.m. and last until 2 p.m..

As with last year, the ongoing drought has shifted the focus from planting trees to an event filled with educational activities for the entire family. Earth Friendly games, a Victorian scavenger hunt called Letterboxes and an interactive puppet show will be part of the scheduled children events. In addition, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will have badge earning opportunities including Brownie Try It points.

Workshops will be held on tree planting, how to make a rain barrel and water conservation. Informative guided tours of the new Alpharetta Arboretum at Wills Park will also be available.

One ceremonial tree will be planted in Wills Park in keeping with Arbor Day tradition. The planting and recognition ceremonies will begin at 11 a.m.

During the ceremonies the winners of the annual Arbor Day Art Contest will be announced. The contest, which drew 130 entrants this year, was open to children from first through eighth grade who drew their interpretation of the importance of Arbor Day.

The event is a project of the Alpharetta Tree Commission and is being coordinated by commissioners Becky Beal, David Cox and David Flannery.

Volunteer supporters include the Alpharetta Garden Club, Alpharetta, High School Key Club, Amana Academy, Milton High School Environment Club and St. Aiden's EYC.

For more information, contact City Arborist Nancy Beckemeyer at 678-297-6000."

New Partners of The Clean Air Campaign

The City of Alpharetta is one of 80 new Partners of The Clean Air Campaign—along with eight other North Fulton employers. The City of Alpharetta, Exhausto, Inc., The Hartford, Humana, Ista North America, Landis+Gyr, Pine State Mortgage, Southern Insurance Underwriters and United Industries all joined the program late last year and now work with The Clean Air Campaign in receiving free assistance in planning custom programs that help employees get to work and increase the organizations’ bottom-lines.

The Clean Air Campaign

Building green habits, one step at a time - Springwise

Building green habits, one step at a time - Springwise:

"Breaking a bad habit is never easy, but a little support can help. Much like Green Thing, which we wrote about back in 2007, Green Groove is a site that aims to help consumers create and stick to a plan to eliminate their unsustainable ways and embrace new, greener habits."

Making Sauerkraut

First Zero Waste Zone in the Southeast Announced in Downtown Atlanta

Photo via Travel Blissful

This Tuesday, environmental leaders will gather in Atlanta to announce the creation of the first Zero Waste zone in the southeast. The zone will be in the convention district of downtown Atlanta, where Phase One will be initiated by participating food service operations pledging to "recycle, reuse spent grease for the local production of biofuel and compost or donate food residuals."

Read the rest of the story over at Treehugger

The Full Price of Organic Food

Paying for organic and local food isn't a financial decision; it's an emotional one. It's about defining who we are. It's whether buying organic makes us feel good--good that we're keeping families on the land, good that we're loving our own families better by avoiding chemicals, good that we're respecting ourselves enough to eat healthfully. And knowledge that our choices can change what makes us feel good.

Frances Moore Lappé
Hope's Edge

Hearty Meatless Meals

Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times

My friend Robin over at Sustainable Peachtree Corners has decided to give up meat for Lent, that made me think about the several meals that I already make that don't have meat in them.

I love to buy my groceries at Harry's Farmers Market (Whole Foods) because of the selection and ethos of the company...but it can get really expensive shopping there. To help reduce my weekly grocery bill (and to reduce my environmental impact), I started adding more meatless meals to my menu. I am no small man, standing at 6'4" and weighing in at 265 pounds, I needed the meals to still be filling. Here are a few favorites that I have found.

Black Bean and Goat Cheese Tostadas
Flaxseed Falafel Sandwiches
White Bean Enchiladas
Tomato and White Bean Panade
Polenta with Spinach, Black Beans, and Goat Cheese
Baked Quinoa with Spinach and Cheese
Yang Chow Fried Rice
Tempeh Fajitas
Gorgonzola and Grape Pizza
Pizza Bianca with Goat Cheese and Greens
Spinach Calzones with Blue Cheese

Enjoy!

No Excuses Salad

Most of us probably don't eat enough green vegetables, and we always seem to have an excuse why we aren't able to work more of them into our meals.

I am especially guilty of this, so in an attempt to eat more greens I adapted an old favorite (the 7 layer salad) to be just a little healthier and make enough salad in a few minutes to last the entire week.

No Excuses 7 Layer Salad
16-ounces baby spinach
1 large white onion, finely chopped
1 large green bell pepper, finely chopped
12-ounces bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 (16-ounce) bags frozen peas
1 ¼ cups mayonnaise
3 ½ to 4 tablespoons sugar, to taste
½ cup freshly grated parmesan
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)

Place the spinach into a large bowl and bruise leaves with your hands or a wooden spoon. Layer the onion, green bell pepper, crumbled bacon, and frozen peas on top of the spinach. Mix the mayonnaise with the sugar and spread on top of the peas. Layer the parmesan and cheddar cheese next.

Cover salad and refrigerate for 24-48 hours, stir the salad and serve.

Don't be afraid of the bacon, mayonnaise and cheese that goes into this, remember, you are putting in a pound of spinach and you need the fat to help absorb all of those nutrients. Plus, this salad will probably be eaten in place of something less healthy for you.