Opening night of Friday Farmers Market

BADSEED FARMER'S MARKET

Season Opening! Friday May 2nd, 4:30 - 9:00 pm

Support one of our spectacular Crossroads farmers, Brooke Salvaggio, at her KC farm storefront BADSEED, located at 1909 McGee, KCMO.

Enjoy local organic delights including succulent and exotic greens, herbs, transplants, flowers, goat cheese, free-range meats and eggs, delicious baked goods, and herbal soaps and beauty products. Season opening night will feature live music, art, and delectable prepared dishes by Eden Alley

Earth Day 2008!

Today is Earth Day 2008! I'm sure this day will pass by many people without any acknowledgment but I could not be one of them. Not when you're married to someone actually studying Environmental Conservation! For many years now I've been sort of a quiet, lead by example environmentalist, quietly keeping my desire to be a good steward to myself. But, that is starting to change, especially with our big move to Syracuse so my husband can become a fancy environmental scientist. More and more I am becoming convinced that NOT doing anything to take care of our environment is just plain wrong. It's nearly impossible to escape news of the huge impact we are having on this earth and ways in which we can help. It used to be recycling and eating organic were the typical things people thought of when they thought of being environmentally conscious but those tides are changing. There are tons and tons of ways you can contribute, most won't cost you much, some even save you money! To me it's a win-win situation. I've even seen people like my parents get on board the tree hugging wagon, if they can do it believe me anyone can. So I thought I'd compile an easy twelve step program for you to start becoming green. We don't have to do them all but we all need to do something. If you are curious about more ways to get green feel free to email me!

Let's Get Green - 12 easy steps

1. Recycle - easiest one everyone should be doing by now

2. Buy organic anything whenever possible

3. Buy and Eat as many locally grown and produced foods and products as possible

4. Replace your regular light bulbs with CFL's - you won't believe how much you save on your electric bil/

5. Ditch the plastic and paper bags and replace with your own canvas bags, they are everywhere now

6. Buy used - used clothes, used furniture, buying new uses soooo many natural resources

7. Buy eco friendly home supplies - conventional cleaning products are not only harmful to the environment but also toxic for your family

8. Ditch the car and get walkin or ridin

9. Use refillable drink bottles

10. Buy a water efficient shower head

11. Use cloth napkins

12. Use natural or organic personal care products

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children"

~Native American Proverb

Eat well, eat local, eat from the farm

One thing Tim & I are very passionate about is local and organic foods. Last growing season we joined a CSA, community supported agriculture and loved it. At the beginning of the growing season you pay for a share of the farm’s bounty and every week get a box full of yummy fruit and veggies to enjoy. We decided before we arrive in Syracuse in June we want to have joined a CSA and we found a great one, Stones Throw Farm.

A lot of people think joining a CSA is costly but when you run the numbers you realize you are paying about $12/week for fresh fresh fresh fruit and veggies. Believe me you think you've eaten fresh produce but you haven't until you've eaten something picked literally hours before you consume it. For me, it was a great feeling knowing I was feeding my body such nutrient rich foods while in turn supporting local farmers that after many months became good friends.

We encourage you if you don’t know about CSA’s to research them further and possibly find one in your are to join. They are a great way to keep your produce budget down while in turn support local farmers.


"At home I serve the kind of food I know the story behind"
Michael Pollan

You Butter Believe It

I'm posting a link to this month's article by my friend Jill McLaughlin on the benefits...yes benefits of eating butter! You'll never eat that toast dry again!

"Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts.” James Beard (1903-1985)

To Market, To Market

So it's that time of year again, time for farmers markets all over the country to open up! I have to say I can hardly contain my excitement. It's amazing to me how much if we tune our dial in to nature's cycles, how well we respond. By this time of year I am tired of potatoes, worn out with squash and ready for some yummy spring vegetables. During winter because we are eating such hearty and insulating foods we often pack on a few comfort pounds or end the season feeling more weighed down and sluggish. Spring is the time of awakening, not just for nature but for our bodies. Time to leave behind the comfort of winter and embrace the freshness and lightness of Spring and Spring food.
My favorite market here in Kansas City opens this Saturday. If you live in KC be sure to check out the Brookside Market this Saturday!
If you are new to shopping at Farmers Markets and want to find one in your area, Local Harvest is a great resource and will allow you to search by your city.
Either way, make it a point to do something great for you, your family, your local farmers and the environment this year by making a weekly trip to your farmers markets. You'll likely be the happier and healthier for it.

“The fight to save family farms isn't just about farmers. It's about making sure that there is a safe and healthy food supply for all of us. It's about jobs, from Main Street to Wall Street. It's about a better America"
Willie Nelson

No New Nothin!

So for the past year or so I've been on a crusade..if only in my mind...to simplify my life. In a few short months I will be doing that. We'll be moving from the Midwest to the East Coast, from a 2 bedroom house with a garage, basement, yard, etc...to a 2 bedroom 720 sq foot apartment while my husband goes back to school. Not sure about him but man...I am totally excited! I am excited to get to a place for the 1st time in my life where I might only have the things around me that I need. Where I won't have the income to be buying buying buying all the time things well...I don't need. With that said I've been trying to practice this...NOW! And wouldn't you know it I am not alone. Lots of people are wanting to simplify these days, in fact I have found whole websites, blogs and even retreats for people wanting to do just this.

In my blog surfing tonight, I came across a great challenge from Crunchy Chicken, the same lady who brought us the freeze your buns off challenge. For the month of April she is challenging folks to buy nothing new. Now that doesn't meet food, gas, etc....mainly the non essential wants of life, especially if they are new. If you have to buy something, buy used!

I'm joining the challenge and I challenge you to try it too. There is something very freeing and peaceful when you just take time to live with what you only have and need.

"Learn to live with less. Appreciate what you have. If you have less, you will appreciate what you have more"