Backyard Gardening on the rise

With products like this one, it’s no wonder Backyard Gardening is seeing an upward trend. I’ve (well … my husband’s) been gardening for years and we love the convenience, savings, and better quality of food we get this way. Now that we’ve moved to another state and rent instead of own, we had to forego the big garden this year. However, I think I am in LOVE with this product from Backyard Botanical and it’s a definite must-have!! I’m already begging hubby to get it for me. I think *I* might even garden like this.

This is the STUFF, if I do say so myself. I really think this would make a great addition to any backyard ~ even if you have a larger garden plot. This would be great for lettuces, herbs, and other smaller items. I could also see this as an excellent solution for older folks who might not enjoy all the bending that a traditional garden requires.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that there is an opportunity to WIN ONE this weekend.

Check here for all the details: http://tinyurl.com/c3634y

Grocery Store Wars ~~ great spoof

Thought I'd post this cute video that I saw on YouTube. Someone put a lot of thought and time into this one.

*I apologize for those of you who don't like Star Wars. I, for one, enjoy the original movie and found this quite humorous.

Enjoy!

Trustee's Garden in Savannah

First off, let me start by saying that it's a pleasure to be back on track and looking into "Healthy Discoveries" in a new city and state. For those who may not be aware, we've moved from Nashville, TN to Savannah, GA, and I'm starting this lifestyle journey anew.

Although I've lived in the remote areas of the Deep South before, Savannah is different. To me, it is at the same time remote and yet considered a fairly decent size city. Needless to say, it is much smaller than Nashville and therefore does not have some of the places I was accustomed to (Whole Foods, etc) but I am learning that there are nice options here.

Of course, the growing season is a bit longer here and we have access to local farmers and their produce quite readily in and around the Savannah area. One of the great finds that I have yet to personally visit but wanted to highlight today is the Market at the Trustee's Garden in the historic downtown area of Savannah.

I'm sure many of you reading this blog have visited Savannah and marvelled at the history, architecture, and beauty of this old city. For those of you planning to return or planning your first visit, you will surely want to put the Trustee's Garden on your list of must see places.

History of the Trustee's Garden:
Here's an excerpt from the official website: "From 1733 to 1748 Trustees’ Garden was set aside from Savannah as an experimental farm where peaches, rice, cotton, grapes, flax, hemp, indigo, olives, and the mulberry trees essential to silk culture, were grown. Silk was an early promise, and the town’s largest structure was the filature where the cocoons were unwound into silk thread. Queen Caroline was clothed in Georgia silk. However, large-scale silk production did not happen, so interest waned and the garden closed."

Currently, the area of the former experimental garden is now being used once a week to house The Market at Trustee's garden, a market featuring local organic farmers, eco artists, and more. According to the Market's website, this is "an attempt to reinvigorate the first experimental garden of the United States of America."

Isn't that cool? I've always loved history but I love the fact that Savannah was a "first city" for so many things -- the garden, the first planned city in the US, and so much more.


*You can read more about the Trustee's Garden here: http://www.trusteesgarden.com/home
and more about the market here: http://www.trusteesmarket.com/


More to Come
Stay with this blog in the coming weeks as we highlight local farms and more. And if you have a suggestion for a feature, please leave a comment on this post.

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Cinnamon-y Roasted Veggies

Here's a recipe from Amanda R.

She says, "I have a recipe I got out of my Vegan Recipe book that James and I absolutely love, so I wanted to share. It sounds a little weird, but it is totally scrumptious!"

Give it a whirl -- credits for the recipe appear below

Cinnamon Roasted Veggies

1 small butternut squash- bite size cubes
1 sweet potato - bite size cubes
1 small red bell pepper or half of a bigger one - bite size pieces
2-3 shallots chopped (Purple Onion works if you can't find Shallots)
Olive Oil
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp coriander

Chop up Veggies and spread in a 9 X 13 baking dish. Drizzle Olive oil over veggies and stir to coat. Add Spices and stir again to make sure the veggies are evenly coated. Bake for about 45 min. at 375 degrees or until veggies can be pierced with fork.

Recipe credits:
"La Dolce Vegan! Vegan Livin' Made Easy" by Sarah Kramer

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Whoops ... maybe not for everyone

We have our first review by Sandye tonight. She and her family gave the Yellow Split Pea soup with Sweet Potatoes and Kale a go. Here's what she has to say:

First let me start by saying that I truely am enjoying all new cuisine that we
will be diving head first into in January.

Second, the soup went over
like a lead balloon!!! LOL I did not like it, the kids did not, and Randy put
mustard in his and then said he liked it. Whatever! If you have to doctor food
up, it does not taste good! HA

It was thick and tasteless. You could
smell the ginger, but you tasted nothing. We ate it reluctantly because it was
not going to be wasted and it did have veggies in it, and veggies are good for
us! My kids each had half of a half of a bowl including lots of crackers in it
and Sam broke out the hot sauce praying it would help! I even put a few drops of
hot sauce in mine too, thinking I would love it then! I did not love it, I hated
it.

So, try for yourself if you like, everyone has different taste buds,
but as for me and my house.... no more split pea/sweet pot. soup! AMEN!

So, there you have it! Decide for yourself but I think that you probably have to enjoy split pea soup to start with to really enjoy this recipe. I might still give it a whirl since my hubby digs sweet potatoes, but I'll keep ya posted.

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Pumpkin Hummus

Speaking of using things up that are in the pantry ...

I found this recipe for Pumpkin Hummus over at ChooseVeg.com and I think I'll make it to use up some of those canned veggies. Yes, I know canned are not the best option, but ....

So, the link above is for the video of the preparation. Here is the link to the actual recipe you can print: Pumpkin Hummus Recipe. The recipe is courtesy of Everyday Dish


Fall Recipe Share:
If you have a great recipe that screams "Fall Flavors" please consider sending it over so that we can share it with everyone. (Tonda ... if you are reading this, I want the recipe for the roasted Sweet Potatoes that we had at Pastor's Appreciation Day - hee hee!)

Here are a couple I found but haven't tested yet:

• Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
• The Best Vegan Green Bean Casserole
• The Vegan Holiday Table

Please pass along any that you may have found or created.

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Dabbling in the Vegan

So, in making the move to healthier living I'm making a list to try an entire week of Vegan only dinner meals. I'm still using things up that are in my pantry and working toward a much better form of cooking. So, this is my first week of full-on purposeful recipes.

With the cooler temps and leaves turning to fall colors, I find myself drawn to soups this week. Here are two that I plan to put on this week's menu:

• Rustic Red Kale and White Bean Soup
• Yellow Split Pea Soup with Sweet Potatoes and Kale

I'll be sure to post reviews on the soups once I make them.

Two thumbs up for Miso Soup, by the way. My hubby and I have made a couple different concoctions (dependent of veggies in the crisper) with the Red Mellow Miso and found it quite palatable. :o)

Recipe from Melodie B:
Melodie submitted this recipe for Taco Nut Meat

• 1/2 cup almonds, dry
• 1/2 cup walnuts, dry
• 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 Tablespoon coriander
• 1/3 cup EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
• 2/3 teaspoon Sea Salt
• 1 Teaspoon Soy Sauce

Process all nuts in food processor. Place nut meat into mixing bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well.
Will keep for 4 days in fridge. We used it in a wrap and totally enjoyed it --- Melodie B.

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In the Raw

I've been reading a lot about RAW food and how beneficial it is for you. Although I'm probably not ready to plunge headfirst into nothing but raw food, I am interested in incorporating more of it into my life.

So, here are a few websites that might prove helpful and informative if you are in the same place.


Raw Food Coach: http://www.therawfoodcoach.com/
Karen Knowler has an extensive website and blog with lots of good info -- especially for raw food newbies. She explains how to get started and the "why's" of raw food, along with offering plenty of free resources.

Take a look at her recipes, -- from smoothies to ice cream -- all are raw and healthy for you. There's even a free download of Get Fresh! Magazine from 2006. Karen is a writer for Get Fresh! and I've skimmed through the issue. Looks like it has lots of interesting information even if it is UK based.

She does have her own YouTube channel with several "how-to" videos. Some of the videos feature nori rolls, flax cracker, chocolate smoothies, and 'fried' mushrooms.


Alissa Cohen: http://www.alissacohen.com/
Another raw food site featuring author, speaker, and chef - Alissa Cohen. She is often seen on television shows like Tyra and NBC's The Today Show. Her site features a link to Raw Food Talk, an online community for folks exploring and living the raw food life.

There's a store where you can purchase a food items, a cookbook, DVD, or even apparel and tote bags. She also has online audio files from her weekly radio show. Additionally, she has a link page filled with lots of other websites to check out.

Last point to note: she certifies teachers and offers classes throughout the US. Here's a link to the teacher in our area in case you are interested in taking any classes or workshops:

Tennessee
Marcella Ray - Living on Live Food Teacher
615-206-0809
marcellarawfoods@yahoo.com
Teaches Level 1 and 2http://www.rawteacher.com/marcellaray

One last site for today:


The Raw Divas: http://www.therawdivas.com/
The Raw Divas offer a blog, newsletter and detox information. Most of it is free - including several ebooks that you can download. You'll receive the links for those after registering for their emails. Once registered, you also get access to their online forums and community areas.


OK ... I fibbed. How about one more - with videos!

Visit Freshtopia for an interesting twist and some recipes. I think I might try the Virgin Ginger Mohito with the leftover ginger from my Asian Noodle Salad.

Here's a list of the recipes featured in the videos: http://freshtopia.net/vlog/?page_id=95 They offer everything from drinks to entrees, desserts to soups ... and more!


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Local and Noteworthy - part deux

So, after a little more research today I found TONS of other local farms where you can get fresh produce, participate in CSAs, and even take the family to "pick-your-own" during certain seasons.

Quite frankly it's a shame that we are at the end of summer in locating these places. But, it just means more to look forward to next year! I'm already making my list of farms around Tennessee and getting jazzed about planning Saturdays to go and explore with the family.

A lot of these farms are CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) -- which simply means that you pay a certain fee for the farmer to "work for you" and you have a "share" in the harvest that season. Usually these "shares" are delivered (or picked up) every other week or so, depended upon the farm. You can read more about CSAs here

Click the links provided to check out the farms. Some don't have links but I'll try and give you as much details as I have (most of this information comes from "Local Table") . They are listed in no particular order but I have '*' the ones that looked interesting to me.

For TONS more listings, visit these sites:
http://localtable.net/farm_guide (listed by counties)
http://www.localharvest.org/ (search by State, county or zip code)

Also check out: Pick TN Products http://www.picktnproducts.org/index.html

Oh yeah - if you check out any of these places or know of others that should be highlighted, please, PLEASE let us know so that we can share the details with those following this blog. Thanks!!!!

Anyway ... on to the list.

• Barefoot Farmer: http://www.barefootfarmer.com/
• Bugtussle Farm: http://bugtusslefarm.com/
• * Delvin Farms: http://www.delvinfarms.com/
• Eaton's Creek Organics: http://www.ecorganics.net/
• Fresh Harvest Cooperative: http://freshharvestcoop.com/
• Doe Run Farm: http://www.doerunfarmtn.com/
• * Morning Glory Orchard: http://www.morninggloryorchard.com/
• Pratt's Peaches: http://www.prattspeaches.com/
• * Mamushi Nature Farms: http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M5514
• Bountiful Blessings Farm: http://bountifulblessingsfarm.com/
• Avalon Acres Farm: http://www.avalon-acres.com/
• Hill and Hollow Farm: http://www.hillandhollowfarm.com/
• * Sylvanus Farm: http://www.sylvanusfarm.com/
• * West Wind Farms: http://www.grassorganic.com/

Here's info on places without websites:

Bramble Hill Farm
Organic, Produce, Eggs, Farmers Market
Nancy VanWinkle
1722 Campbell Road, Goodlettsville
615-876-3947
nanwinkle76@yahoo.com
Season: Spring, Summer and Fall
We sell our produce and eggs at the Whites Creek Farmer's Market.
We are a small-scale sustainable family farm using organic practices in the north hills of Davidson County. We grow a variety of vegetable crops in the spring through the fall, as well as offering eggs from our free range hens.

Hungry Gnome Farm
Produce, Eggs, Farmers Market
Alicia Batson and Bert Hartman
4712 Lickton Pike, Whites Creek
615-299-1661
crackerlake@comcast.net
Season: Spring through Fall
We sell at the Whites Creek and Franklin Farmers Market.
Our farm is located on 75 acres in North Davidson County and we grow a large variety of produce. We also sell eggs from our free range hens. Beginning in 2008, we will also offer goat meat.

Howell Farms
Produce, Peaches, Berries, Farmers Markets
Johnny Howell
Bellevue
615-242-1623
Season: Spring, Summer and Fall, April thru October Hours: 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM
We have been selling produce from our farm since we had a stand on the old Nashville Courthouse Square in 1938. We now have 3 seasonal produce tents in the Nashville area; on Glen Echo Road, Sharondale Drive in the Trinity Presbyterian Church parking lot, at the intersection of Old Hickory Boulevard and Franklin Pike in Brentwood and their year-round booth at the Nashville Farmers' Market. We sell locally grown peaches, berries, root vegetables, squash, corn, greens, and heirloom tomatoes.

Richards' Family Farm
Produce, Farmers' Market
Troy Richards
1508 East Stewarts Lane, Nashville
615-255-6074
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall Hours: Daily at the Nashville Farmers' Market, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Specialize in turnip greens and okra. We grow green onions, tomatoes, corn, leaf lettuce, cucumbers, squash, collard greens and mustard greens, beets, green beans.

* Circle S Farm
PYO Strawberries, Produce, Farm Stand
Donnie Steed
1627 E. Old Laguardo Rd., Lebanon,
615-405-6860
donnie.steed@steedbrothers.com
Open season early-Mid May: Mon-Fri., 3 PM to dark Saturday, 12-5 PM Closed Sundays
Circle S Farm has operated as a family farm in the LaGuardo community of Wilson County since 1838 and is recognized as one of Tennessee~s Century Farms. In the springtime we offer a pick your own strawberry patch. It~s fun and the taste of freshly picked strawberries cannot be beat. If you don~t have time to pick your own, just call ahead and we~ll have your order waiting for you at the farm. In the summer we also offer homegrown tomatos, corn and canteloupes. These are offered for sale by the honor system ~ just leave your money in the box at the stand.

Growing Crazy Organics
Organic, Produce, Herbs, Edible Flowers, Farm Stand
Jennifer Sutton
2320 Bluebird Rd., Lebanon, TN
615-504-5678
http://www.growingcrazyorganics.com/
Call for hours.
We are a small organic farm and greenhouse operation located outside of Lebanon offering a large variety of vegetable plants including tomatos, squash, zuccini, cucumber, eggplant, hot and sweet peppers, melons and gourd plants. We also have herbs and edible flowers. We will also grow seeds per request. We are a ~garden to go~ service and will produce container plants to your personal wishes.

Jones Mill Farm
Organic, CSA, Produce, Farm, Farmers Market
JR and Judy Stroud
391 Jones Mill Road, LaVergne
615-459-4727
Season: Year round via email subscription service taking weekly orders, Franklin Farmer's Market and Murfreesboro Farmer's Market.
We grown organic heirloom varieties and other unusual produce, including shiitakes, asparagus, horseradish, candy onions, garlic, tomatoes, and fingerling potatoes. We also grind our own flour from organic grains and sell breads, jams and jellies from our certified kitchen.

Honorable Mention: (because they are closed -- definitely worth a look in 2008)

Breeden~s Orchard & Country Store
PYO Peaches, Apples, Farm Stand
Tommy or Mary Nell Breeden
631 Beckwith Rd., Mt. Juliet
615-449-2880
breedensorchard@comcast.net
Season: closed for 2007. There are a few farm store items remaining from last year~s crop, such as preserves and chow chows. Call if you~re interested.

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Local and Noteworthy

Today's post is going to focus on local places you might want to add to your "frequent shopping" list.

Nashville Farmer's Market:
Visit the website and then make plans to go shopping for local, homegrown flavors. While at the website you can sign up for their weekly newsletter and take a look at the merchants. Here's a sample of what's available currently at the Farmer's Market:

~Late Season Tomatoes
~Freshly hulled purple hull peas
~Kubota squash
~Blueberry, raspberry, apple, peach and plum shrubs & trees grown in Tennessee
~Gigantic pumpkins and gourds
~Fresh local lamb chops


Franklin Farmer's Market:
Visit the website. Take note that they have limited days of operation at this time and will close for the season in November.


Wild Oats Marketplace:
Website link here! There are a couple of these in town and they feature whole foods and organic fruits/veggies. One of the cooler things I noticed is the monthly calendar of events (each store is different, so check both the Franklin and Green Hills locations). I've linked to the Franklin one. Among other things, they offer a FREE raw food cooking class and a Candida Support Group.

You can also view the online sale flyer to help make shopping lists before you go.

*Don't forget ... most of these websites (and those aforementioned) offer monthly or weekly newsletters. So be sure to find the subscription box and add your email addy!!!

Oh Yeah ... COMING SOON
Whole Foods Market: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/
will be merging with Wild Oats and the store in Green Hills will be opening in November. So you might want to check them out when they open. You might also sign up for the WFM newsletter since that will be the dominant brand after they merge.


Some late entries in the game here ....

I was searching some boards and found some other local items of interest. First up is

Peaceful Pastures: http://www.peacefulpastures.com/
Local farm that raises all natural, grassfed meat, including: beef, turkey, chicken, pork, lamb, goose, duck, and goat.

The Turnip Truck: http://www.theturniptruck.com/
Located on Woodland Street, this market features organic and whole food items: produce, supplements and more! BTW, miso, coconut oil, and vegenaise are on sale right now ;o)

Avalon Acres: http://avalon-acres.com/
Local farm in Hohenwald raising all natural meat, eggs, and herbs, veggies and more.

Rocky Glade Farms: http://www.rockygladefarm.com
Features meat and veggies but offers a winter CSA providing fresh veggies throughout the winter in 1/2 bushels every two weeks.

Tennessee - Eat Wild: http://www.eatwild.com/products/tennessee.html
Webpage offering listing of other local farms and companies from which to purchase whole and organic foods.

PLEASE let me know if you find any others and we will add them to the list.

Ciao!

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