tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55196615730916072692024-02-07T00:04:52.007-08:00Marvin's Organic GardensMarvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-82997430043997766222010-03-24T14:58:00.000-07:002010-03-24T15:01:00.231-07:00Is Your Church Ready for a Garden? Via FlourishAfter our recent Giving Gardens workshops at the Vineyard Community Church's Healing Center, this post on Flourish's blog really felt relevant to our programs and motivations. Click the title to check out the original post.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 32px; font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://flourishonline.org/2010/02/extending-the-front-porch-is-your-church-ready-for-a-garden-2/">Extending the Front Porch: Is Your Church Ready for a Garden?</a></span></div><div> <div class="format_text entry-content"> <p>What is so refreshing about sitting on a front porch? It can be the company you’re sitting with, a gentle breeze, or an impromptu jam session. But a lot of the time, it’s encouraging just to have a physical space in which to enjoy creation in the company of others.</p> <div id="attachment_2503" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 300px;"> <a href="http://flourishonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/flower-garden-dahlia.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2503" title="flower-garden-dahlia" src="http://flourishonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/flower-garden-dahlia-300x200.jpg" alt="" height="200" width="300" /></a> <p class="wp-caption-text">The beauty of God is in your midst when you plant a flower garden.</p> </div> <p>Most American churches do not have a physical front porch where folks can gather to enjoy God’s fresh air. <strong>But the lack of a front porch shouldn’t inhibit the development of a </strong><a href="http://flourishonline.org/2010/02/2010/02/front-porch-revival-builds-community/"><strong>front porch culture</strong></a><strong>. An alternative outdoor space that is often easier for churches to construct than an actual front porch is a garden</strong>. Much like a front porch, a garden welcomes us into a relaxed, fresh air setting and encourages curiosity among passersby, strengthening community ties.</p> <p>But is your church ready for a garden? If so, there’s a lot to consider before breaking ground: Do you want a flowerbed with a curbside bench for weary walkers? Or is your church up for establishing a full-blown vegetable garden to feed the neighborhood?</p> <p>If dreams of ecclesial-based produce are floating through your head, lead your church in responding to this questionnaire to get started:</p> <p><span id="more-2513"></span></p> <p><strong>Church Gardening Questionnaire</strong></p> <p><strong>1. </strong>Is there support in your church for a garden? You will likely need to share a report on a potential garden with your church’s governing body to gain that support. Addressing the following questions in that report will help you make your case.</p> <p><strong>2. </strong>Would your larger community benefit from having a community garden in its midst?<strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>3. </strong>Does your church have a clear understanding of its goals for the garden?</p> <ul> <li>Will the garden space be open to church members only, or to the wider community?</li> <li>Will the garden be primarily a place for rest and meditation? If this is the case, you may want to be sure you include seating and perhaps a prayer walk in the garden.</li> <li>Will the garden provide a space for gathering, holding events, or building community in groups? If so, you may want to factor picnic benches, shelters, and waste receptacles into your plan.</li> <li>Will the garden produce food for church members? For the wider community (either directly or in partnership with another entity)?</li> <li>Will the garden provide a place for groups to learn and volunteer?</li> </ul> <p><strong>4. </strong>Does your church know what type of garden it would like to establish? (Note: these garden themes are not exclusive of one another, and can overlap. However, it’s helpful to know the main thrust of your garden before you begin planning it.<strong></strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>A flower garden:</strong> Amenable to variable levels of light, moisture, and soil pH, a flower garden helps your church bring creation into the sanctuary by providing a treasure trove of cut flowers for decoration. It can provide a beautiful respite for souls in need of restoration, and a volunteer site for students, seniors, and individuals in rehabilitation programs. It also provides instant, free floral arrangements for church members experiencing illness, grief, or celebration</li> <li><strong>A prayer garden:</strong> Like the flower garden, a prayer garden is adaptable to geographic and climatic variations. The amount of upkeep it will require can be determined by those who plan it, as the goal of this garden isn’t to produce a harvest or even cut flowers. Planning a prayer garden allows for a creative use of space and garden elements: prayer walks or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_labyrinth" target="_blank">labyrinths</a> to encourage walking and meditation; nooks and crannies where folks can read and pray; benches, gazebos, and tables to rest on; water features to soothe with their gentle sounds; and signs with quotations on them to encourage those in prayer. A prayer garden can provide peace and rest for those undergoing illness or rehabilitation.</li> <li><a href="http://flourishonline.org/2010/02/2010/01/a-garden-plan-for-food-and-wildlife/" target="_self"><strong>A vegetable garden</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Requiring the most work and specific conditions, this garden also produces the most visible harvest. Sun, healthy soil, access to water, and a lot of sweat goes into a vegetable garden. But the requirement of physical labor may open opportunities to work with other groups and partners in your church’s community, and provide volunteer opportunities to anyone from school children to individuals on probation. Provided it is large enough, a vegetable garden can also produce healthy food to feed the neediest.</li> <li><strong>A container garden:</strong> A container garden allows your church to produce a harvest of fruits and vegetables even without <div id="attachment_2506" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 199px;"> <a href="http://flourishonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/container-vegetable-garden.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2506" title="container-vegetable-garden" src="http://flourishonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/container-vegetable-garden-199x300.jpg" alt="" height="300" width="199" /></a> <p class="wp-caption-text">Container garden can-do.</p> </div> <p>access to a vast swath of land or eight hours of sunlight. This garden takes some ingenuity, but it can help a church locked in a sea of concrete to add some green. It is also a terrific learning tool for children. Classes can work container gardens and learn about healthy eating, natural life cycles, and our connections to creation. Seniors and members of your congregation with special needs can also find joy in gardening in a space that is limited and accessible. </p></li><li><a href="http://flourishonline.org/2010/02/2010/01/plan-your-wildlife-habitat/" target="_self"><strong>A wildlife garden</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Establishing a wildlife garden is a conservation tool that provides food and safety for local creatures, especially in suburban or urban areas. It also creates a great learning opportunity for schools and other educational groups to discover more about their local ecosystems. This kind of garden will require less regular maintenance than a vegetable or flower garden, but it may be difficult to establish if your municipality understands the wildlife you’re trying to attract to be pests.</li> <li><strong>A native garden:</strong> Much like a wildlife garden, a native plant garden works in a symbiotic relationship with the land and the creatures living on it. Requiring less maintenance because it is perfectly suited to your area, a native garden can provide a valuable learning space for school and community groups. It is also beneficial to the land on which it is placed, nourishing the soil, taking in only the water naturally available to it, and providing food for local wildlife. It will not, however, provide you with cut flowers or a human food harvest to the extent that other garden types will.</li> </ul> <p><strong>5. </strong>Does your church have (or have access to) the physical and financial capacity to start a garden? This <a href="http://communitygarden.org/rebeltomato/roots/">community gardening site</a> can help you brainstorm the amount of space and money you may need to get a garden together, but here are some general financial factors to take into consideration:<strong></strong></p> <ul> <li><strong> </strong><strong>land: </strong>Does your church own property that would support a garden? If not, is it feasible to buy or rent land for this purpose? What sort of financial partnerships could be made with other institutions to make this possible?</li> <li><strong>soil</strong> <strong>and mulch: </strong>Establishing a compost bin in your garden will reduce your need to buy soil, but to start your garden you want to ensure a healthy source of nutrients for your plants.</li> <li><strong>gardening tools:</strong> shovels, trowels, rototillers, wheelbarrows, buckets, wood (especially for raised beds), rakes, hoes, hoses, rain barrels</li> <li><strong>plants:</strong> seeds, seedlings, transplants, cuttings, etc. Also consider what you will be feeding your plants, and how much that plant food will cost you.</li> <li><strong>larger garden elements:</strong> a toolshed, compost bin, picnic tables, bird feeders, bird baths, benches, gazebos, fences, stones or gravel for paths, a water source, lighting, trash and recycling receptacles</li> </ul> <div id="attachment_2504" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 300px;"> <a href="http://flourishonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/gardeners-planting-community-garden.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2504" title="gardeners-planting-community-garden" src="http://flourishonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/gardeners-planting-community-garden-300x225.jpg" alt="" height="225" width="300" /></a> <p class="wp-caption-text">It takes a community to make a community garden.</p> </div> <p><strong>6. </strong>Are there people who live close enough to your church to tend the garden?</p> <p><strong>7. </strong>Are there people in your church with basic, proven gardening skills?</p> <p><strong>8. </strong>Is there ample physical space, exposed to at least six hours of sunlight, available for your church to establish a garden? <strong>How much space is accessible to you will help you determine what kind of garden would be appropriate for your church.</strong></p> <p><strong>9. </strong>Are there potential institutions and non-profits in your community (a grocery co-op, a food pantry, a shelter, or a school) that might <strong>benefit from your garden</strong> and be able to provide you with volunteer support?</p> <p><strong>10. </strong>Are there community members or institutions that could provide your garden with <strong>donations or funding to get it started and keep it going</strong>? These might include members of the local business community, hardware stores, nurseries, florists, sister churches, etc.</p> <p>Taking these questions into consideration as you plan a church garden will set your community on its way to establishing a <strong>hospitable, outdoor space</strong> in which to share the refreshment of God’s love (and maybe his juiciest peaches or sweetest strawberries) with your neighbors!</p></div></div>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-37844281572137362712010-03-24T14:52:00.000-07:002010-03-24T14:55:09.278-07:00Ohio Supermarket Composting via BioCycle<!--StartFragment--> <h3 style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Read this article by Joe Goicochea - he's a big fan of the food waste composting program at Marvin's Organic Gardens.</span></h3><h3 style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ohio Supermarket Composting</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><br /></p><p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Kroger food waste composting" style="'position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:-90pt;" allowoverlap="f"> <v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/renebrunelle/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_image001.jpg" title="18a"> <w:wrap type="square"> </v:shape><![endif]--><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">BioCycle October 2009, Vol. 50, No. 10, p. 18</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">State and grocery chain commitment lead to successful food waste diversion pilot that could motivate others to replicate program.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Joe Goicochea</span></span></p><p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><strong><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">IN JULY 2008, the Kroger supermarket chain decided to expand its </span></span></strong><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">active role in the community to include an environmental element. The company’s first food scrap composting program was rolled out in 24 Ohio stores. In just four months, more than 650 tons of food waste were diverted from landfills and instead composted. The project proved so successful that Kroger recently added a dozen more of its Columbus-area stores and six Toledo-area stores earlier this summer. To date, more than 2,000 tons of organics have been recovered. “Our stores are proud to be part of a pioneering effort with the state of Ohio to start, sustain and excel at a compost/recycling program,” says Marne Fuller, who is with Retail Operations for Kroger’s Columbus division. The state of Ohio hopes the successes of the Kroger food waste composting project, and the connection made between environmental stewardship and community leadership, will motivate other grocers and industries to implement similar programs.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Kroger first learned of opportunities to divert food waste from landfills at a stakeholders’ meeting held by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) in 2007. The idea was further discussed by the Environmental Task Force created by the Ohio Grocers Foundation (OGF). OGF received a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to develop a supermarket manual to help grocers plan and implement food waste composting programs. As the manual neared completion, Kroger volunteered to conduct a waste audit, which revealed that nearly 60 percent of the waste at its stores consisted of compostable material. Kroger then committed 24 of its Ohio stores to participate in a four-month pilot project.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The pilot project was designed to determine logistical and economic feasibility. Store managers monitored the efficiency of separating compostable wastes from packaging both in terms of time and contamination. Departments selected to participate in the project used containers with clearly marked signage and lined with compostable bags. In many stores this included produce, floral, deli, bakery and dairy. Prior to the project, Kroger had a program in place to recycle corrugated cardboard, but the compost facilities encouraged the inclusion of waxed corrugated and soiled paper — a carbon source for the compost facility, that also absorbs liquids and controls odors during collection. The hauling costs were also studied to compare disposal costs at the local landfill to transporting the organics up to 40 miles west to the nearest permitted compost facility. The study determined that it would be economically feasible to divert food scraps to compost facilities despite the relatively low landfill tipping fees (with a state average of $35/ton).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The start-up of the pilot project did encounter challenges, similar to any other program that requires behavioral change. Store employees neededto adapt to the new task of separating waste streams. Each store selected an employee to champion the program by motivating and assisting coworkers. Employees seemed to embrace the program once the purpose of separating organics and the environmental benefits of composting were understood through educational efforts. Kroger filmed a training video at one of its participating stores and the composting facility to communicate the purpose of the program. The video is now a training requirement for all employees, and has reduced contamination to a level that is manageable by the composting facility.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><br /></p><p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Kroger Columbus Division Compost/Recycling Tonnage" style="'position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:-90pt;" allowoverlap="f"> <v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/renebrunelle/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_image003.jpg" title="18b"> <w:wrap type="square"> </v:shape><![endif]--><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Kroger stores previously placed all wastes in a compactor that required pick-up every 10 to 15 days. Twenty-one participating stores designated the compactor to food waste and placed regular trash in box dumpsters. On average, compactors filled with compostable wastes were hauled every 15 to 20 days. The reduced frequency of hauling has factored into the economic sustainability of the program. The recent opening of a composting facility in central Ohio, and an anaerobic digestion facility that will undergo construction later this year, will also make food waste programs attractive by reducing hauling distances.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><b><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span> <strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">OHIO FOOD SCRAPS RECOVERY INITIATIVE</span></strong></span></b><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As Kroger plans to expand its food waste composting program, OGF hopes that the publication of its supermarket manual will interest other grocers implementing similar programs. The state of Ohio wants to apply the successes of the grocery industry to other industries that generate significant quantities of food waste. Ohio EPA and ODNR, in collaboration with private and public stakeholders, plan to connect the Kroger and OGF successes with Ohio’s Food Scraps Recovery Initiative to lead the state forward in projects involving organics diversion and renewable energy.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ohio’s Food Scraps Recovery Initiative was launched in June 2007 with the goal of capturing Ohio’s portion of the estimated 26 million tons of food waste generated in the U.S. each year. The initiative has focused on education, infrastructure development and the partnerships needed to develop and implement a successful diversion program (see “Food Scraps Recovery in Ohio,” BioCycle April 2008). After a year of statewide stakeholders’ meetings that targeted composting facilities and waste haulers, Ohio is now in a position to offer food waste composting services to businesses and communities in its major cities.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In June 2007, there were only three remote locations with composting facilities that were actively accepting and processing food waste. Eighteen months later, this number has tripled and three proposed solid waste anaerobic digesters are planned for construction later this year. Not only has the number of composting facilities significantly increased, but the location of the facilities has established an infrastructure that can serve the more populated areas of the state including Columbus, Cleveland/Akron, Cincinnati and Toledo.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">While the establishment of these facilities is a result of composting facility operators identifying community needs, the timing can also be attributed to Ohio EPA and ODNR programs. Since 2007, these agencies have hosted several stakeholders’ meetings and provided Community and Market Development grants totaling $2 million. Ohio’s tiered regulatory approach has motivated many yard waste composting facilities to change facility status to a food waste classification. Proposed rule changes aim to further promote food waste composting by streamlining regulations for institutional composting. This is gaining popularity at colleges and universities, correctional facilities and business campuses.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Ohio Compost Association recently amended its name to the Organics Recycling Association of Ohio (ORAO). It also has been integral to the development of food waste diversion in the state. ORAO held two Food Scraps: Create a Diversion! conferences in 2008 to provide technical assistance to composters who were interested in accepting food waste. The association included sessions introducing anaerobic digestion, recognizing the emerging industry’s future role in recovering organics.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Ohio Grocers Foundation continues to reinforce opportunities for organics recovery by supermarkets. The agendas for the organization’s quarterly Environmental Task Force meetings focus heavily on food scraps diversion identifying current and future solutions for its members. In addition to commercial composting facilities, OGF is interested in anaerobic digestion facilities and on-site solutions that may offer renewable energy to offset store operational costs. Regardless of the management option, OGF’s Composting and Diversion Guide has been widely distributed to assist grocers (and other sectors) to develop programs, and is available at www.ohiogrocersfoundation.org.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The state plans to showcase the successes of Kroger to communities throughout Ohio to develop food scrap diversion programs. “Kroger should be commended for taking the initiative and boldly embracing a food scrap composting programs,” said Ohio EPA Director Chris Korleski. “The results of this project are beneficial to Kroger and our environment. I encourage other grocers and industries to implement their own program all across Ohio.” Solid waste management districts in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Akron hosted local stakeholder meetings this past spring to facilitate the partnerships needed to sustain diversion programs. The state plans to work with local governments to identify the most effective way to market the program. Advertising campaigns may include community newsletters, council meetings and social networking web sites such as www.zerowasteneo.org.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Kroger pilot project not only demonstrates the feasibility of a food waste diversion program but also the connection of environmental stewardship and community leadership. Central Ohio plans to transition existing and future food waste composting programs into sources of renewable energy with the construction of a community anaerobic digester scheduled to open this winter. Businesses and communities can be a part of conserving landfill space, reducing landfill emissions and producing renewable energy by simply diverting food waste to composting and anaerobic digestion facilities. While we may think everyone is aware of the relationship between organics, composting and renewable energy, many of these concepts are new to businesses and communities. Kroger’s commitment in Ohio and other states across the country have begun to make the connection more visible and have sparked renewed interest in organics management. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, serif;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:7.5pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left: 7.5pt"><em><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Joe Goicochea of the Ohio EPA, Environmental Supervisor of the Compliance Assistance & Inspection Support Unit, has been active in promoting food scraps recovery in the state and working with other regions.</span></span></em><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br /></span> <a href="http://www.jgpress.com/copyright1.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Copyright 2009, The JG Press, Inc.</span></a></span><!--EndFragment-->Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-55078060165666122432010-03-24T14:49:00.001-07:002010-03-24T14:50:39.428-07:00Damaging affects of cross pollination from terminator genes in crops<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NCjHL6-DlzyzidJt86eQyZavDTnxN8pK9BDX0_Wq-h8hA04i_ivy0PrcUgw89FsURjjQzSHPm9YpusCZF-vygMQQO62kLS57gdYtpu5m-tOb-F4lMXDbSy2SsiNyixT7ZMkyz-Tk9j6j/s1600/SeedlessWatermelon_600.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 186px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NCjHL6-DlzyzidJt86eQyZavDTnxN8pK9BDX0_Wq-h8hA04i_ivy0PrcUgw89FsURjjQzSHPm9YpusCZF-vygMQQO62kLS57gdYtpu5m-tOb-F4lMXDbSy2SsiNyixT7ZMkyz-Tk9j6j/s200/SeedlessWatermelon_600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452321120806240530" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/021619_food_seeds_corporations.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Check out this great article by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger of NaturalNews.com:</span></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Corporations like Monsanto are playing God with the food supply. Did you ever wonder what happens when all the genetically modified, pesticide-compatible, gene-terminated, laboratory-concocted Frankenfoods end up genetically contaminating the natural crops we depend on for a sustainable food future? In this comic, I explore this important concept by showing the plight of a farmer fretting over an empty bag of seedless watermelon seeds. </span><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You may find this surprising to learn, but U.S. corporations have actually designed, patented and aggressively promoted "gene terminator" plant technology that causes second-generation plants to self-destruct. By doing this, the corporation can control intellectual property (seed patents) and demand royalties on seeds from poor </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/farmers.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">farmers</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> in third world countries. It eliminates the whole practice of "saving </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/seeds.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">seeds</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">" and propagating </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/food.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">food</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> from one plant generation to the next -- a practice that humankind has depended on for survival since the beginning of human history. </span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> In doing so, this gene terminator technology is </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">a crime against both </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/nature.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">nature</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and humanity</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. To deny farmers the ability to propagate seeds from one generation to the next is to enslave humanity in a system of corporate control that violates the laws of nature and God. Care to take a guess which U.S. corporation is engaged in this activity? If you guessed Monsanto, you're right. </span><a href="http://www.organicconsumers.org/monsanto/montreal060222.cfm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Click here to read news about Monsanto's terminator gene at the Organic Consumers Association</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. </span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> You can also follow the news on this topic at </span><a href="http://www.banterminator.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">BanTerminator.org</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. </span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> If you buy seedless watermelons, or seedless </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/grapes.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">grapes</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, or GM soy products, you're already supporting the </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/corporations.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">corporations</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> that are altering </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/the_food_supply.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the food supply</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Seedless grapes are not natural, and they remove the very part of the grape that contains powerful cardiovascular </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/medicine.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">medicine</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Have you ever heard of the nutritional supplement called grape seed extract? Guess where it comes from? ... Grape seeds, of course. It's some of the best cardiovascular medicine known to modern science, far more potent than any prescription drug, yet with zero negative side effects. Yet food companies have removed it from the </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/food_supply.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">food supply</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and promoted "seedless grapes" as a benefit to consumers! (Of course, grape skins also contain powerful medicine called resveratrol, but grape seeds contain different medicines called proanthocyanidins and PCOs, which you can read about at </span><a href="http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/gra_0129.shtml"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the Physician's Desk Reference</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">). </span></p><p> </p><h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">What's at risk: the future of human life on </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/planet_Earth.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">planet Earth</span></a></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In this cartoon, the farmer character is fretting over something the entire human race is going to suddenly realize one day: </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Playing God with seeds and the food supply for the purpose of extracting maximum corporate profits is to plae the very future of humankind at extreme risk</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Suppose the terminator gene </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/crops.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">crops</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> somehow cross-pollinate staple food crops that now feed the world... what happens then? Imagine all the wheat grown in the </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/United_States.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">United States</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> suddenly self-destructing after a single growing season. Mass starvation would quickly ensue, followed by economic collapse, military action and quite possibly the collapse of the nation itself. And the same is true in Europe, Australia, Asia and South America, too. </span><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> This is what's at stake with terminator gene technology. For the sake of maximizing corporate profits, the </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/Monsanto.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monsanto</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> corporation is willing to place the very future of humankind at risk. But it's no surprise to learn Monsanto is behind this crime against nature -- this is the same corporation that tried to patent the pig, claiming it owned the genetic code of hogs. This is also the same corporation that promoted </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/aspartame.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">aspartame</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> to the world by purchasing a company called Searle, whose CEO was a man named Donald Rumsfeld. He strong-armed the FDA to get aspartame approved as "safe," and we've seen alarming increases in brain tumors and neurodegenerative diseases ever since. </span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I believe there is no natural law that evil corporations led by greedy men will not violate in order to increase their own power or profits. Corporations have proven they will poison the environment, kill members of the public, bribe politicians, violate federal law, engage in competitive espionage, threaten critics, bribe the media, endanger lives, wipe out animal species and sacrifice the very future of life on planet Earth in order to squeeze out one more quarter of filthy profits. And they will do it with a straight face, while actually claiming they are "green." </span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There will be a day when the people will rise up against the corruption and overreaching power of the corporations. In time, they will reclaim their natural right to seeds, a clean environment, and natural </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/health.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">health</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> remedies. Today's patent laws -- which give ownership over virtually all commonsense ideas to corporations -- will crumble, and governments that colluded with corporations to strip power, health and dollars from the people will pay the price. </span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Until that day, of course, it's business as usual in the </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/free_market.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">free market</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: Screw the people, violate the planet, desecrate nature and keep that share price propped up as high as possible. That's business as usual in the United States, a nation that has sold its soul to the highest bidder on eBay and now stands as an alarming historical example of what happens when a free market economic abandons basic ethics and human rights. </span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Must-see documentary: </span><a href="http://www.thecorporation.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Corporation</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Watch this if you really want to know the truth about how corporations threaten the very future of humankind. </span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> What can you do about all this? </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Grow heirloom plants</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, buy organic, non-GM foods and refuse to do business with corporations that use </span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/GM_foods.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">GM foods</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. </span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Inform yourself with these online resources: </span></p><p> <a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Seed Savers Exchange</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></p><p> <a href="http://www.seedsave.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The International Seed Saving Institute</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></p><p> <a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/en/index.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Save Our Seeds</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> See the movie </span><a href="http://www.thefutureoffood.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Future of Food</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> or buy the DVD. </span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Read this </span><a href="http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd221.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">great article by Devvy Kidd</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> on the future of food. </span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Eating organic frozen food? Buy from </span><a href="http://www.amys.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Amy's Kitchen</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, which uses no genetically modified ingredients. </span></p><p></p></div>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-48590094910438178172010-03-24T14:33:00.000-07:002010-03-24T18:59:39.513-07:00Wildflower Enthusiasts Gather for Flora-Quest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzSGWTzgN6YcH9JKNZamVs1fIPmx7Nr6QxCWqIWvXEhNNHaa5Y8PviPHnOwoHm-YXCxZTqr9lwxW6hDFUBHjjctHJiylC6Y2uXlWH9VV9h996kU-lBPwK8PkbKIuIiopxa5BjDKGdT35q/s1600/Flora_Quest+logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 141px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzSGWTzgN6YcH9JKNZamVs1fIPmx7Nr6QxCWqIWvXEhNNHaa5Y8PviPHnOwoHm-YXCxZTqr9lwxW6hDFUBHjjctHJiylC6Y2uXlWH9VV9h996kU-lBPwK8PkbKIuIiopxa5BjDKGdT35q/s200/Flora_Quest+logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452318571389670754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p face="Tahoma" size="11px" style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><br /></p><p face="Tahoma" size="11px" style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><br /></p><br /><br />Many of Ohio’s foremost botanists will be leading field trips the weekend of May 1-2, 2010 in the beautiful hills of Shawnee State Forest in southern Ohio. Flora-Quest is a botanical retreat geared towards learning, meeting like-minded people, and above all, appreciating the most spectacular flora in all of Ohio.<br /><br />The rugged, hilly landscape and steep forested slopes are blanketed with an incredible array of flora. Botanically, Shawnee represents the northern most outposts for many Appalachian plants that one would otherwise have to go to the Great Smokey Mountains to find. Early May is peak for wildflowers, and the hills will be cloaked with trillium, over a dozen species of violets, native magnolias, wild azaleas, orchids and many more. As an added bonus, well over 100 species of birds occur in the forest in spring, including scores of our most colorful jewels like Scarlet Tanager, Hooded Warbler, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Bring your binoculars!<br /><br />Guest speakers representing Ohio State Parks, The Nature Conservancy and the Ohio Heritage Botanists will highlight recent efforts for botanical conservation. Jenny Richards and Pete Whan know their subjects well, as they live within this region and are intimately familiar with the flora. Dr. Harvey Ballard will present an evening program on Violets, including Ohio’s arguably most beautiful and rare Bird-foot Violet, Viola pedata. Greg Schneider from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will also present on the fascinating work of the Ohio Heritage Botanists. A special FREE program Friday evening April 30th will preview the diversity of Shawnee State Park.<br /><br />There will be other bonuses, too, such as special evening field trips, vendors, and an optional trip to The Eulett Center and more. The center of activities will be the beautiful Shawnee Lodge and Resort, located in the heart of the forest. Take this opportunity to hike the newest properties in TNC’s Sunshine Corridor, visit a private preserve, improve your photography skills or kayak the Scioto Brush Creek. You will be amazed to discover the diversity in southern Ohio!<br /><br />Please, visit the website at <a href="http://www.flora-quest.com/">www.flora-quest.com</a> for more information. Registration and complete trip descriptions are available on-line.<br /><br />Flora-Quest will be May 1 & 2 at Shawnee State Park.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo: Bird-foot Violet, Viola pedata credit John Howard</span>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-56103766606556107632010-03-04T14:02:00.001-08:002010-03-04T14:06:33.921-08:00Organic Baby Spinach Salad with Coconut-Lime Dressing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ng61-8-F2rPucVwfA3wNr72YSF-LVW07umf14v3zzDqsbFknpDL9kPvVJu1CJsE08JZdGLZCR-qu0PEaq-KAVCBdi95GSBgReTkPjn0bJnjVO02v94ZuPMFJcrfagzVzVuZiSQJXL67e/s1600-h/shutterstock_44947759.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ng61-8-F2rPucVwfA3wNr72YSF-LVW07umf14v3zzDqsbFknpDL9kPvVJu1CJsE08JZdGLZCR-qu0PEaq-KAVCBdi95GSBgReTkPjn0bJnjVO02v94ZuPMFJcrfagzVzVuZiSQJXL67e/s200/shutterstock_44947759.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444902817396659586" /></a><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>INGREDIENTS:</b></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">Dressing:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">- 2 Tbsp unsweetened coconut milk</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">- Grated zest of 1 lime</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">- 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">- 2-1/2 tsp sugar</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">- 2 tsp grated fresh ginger</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">- 1/4 tsp Asian chile sauce</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">- Sea salt, to taste</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Salad:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">- 5 oz organic baby spinach</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">- 1 small organic carrot, coarsely grated</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">- 1/2 cup each julienned mango & papaya</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">- 1/3 cup julienned jicama</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">- 1/4 cup roasted, salted sunflower seeds</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">- 2 Tbsp shredded sweet coconut</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>DIRECTIONS:</b></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">Make the dressing by combining the ingredients in a jar and shake</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">vigorously.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Place the spinach and carrot in a large bowl. Add two-thirds of the dressing</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">and toss. Divide the dressed mixture between 4 plates and garnish each</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">serving with some of the mango, papaya, jicama, sunflower seeds, and</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">coconut. Drizzle the remaining dressing atop each salad and serve</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">immediately.</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Source: Earthbound Farm Organic</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">http://www.ebfarm.com/recipes/recipeView.aspx?rID=58</span></span></p><p></p>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-9995696078889481152010-03-04T13:57:00.000-08:002010-03-04T14:01:47.655-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YeHV8tyVDILWVZOSlO4bZpBK_hdUbHbj9cN9Wdvs3iD3itTG9msOgMWsqXQujok2VKu3LJOwb05ODuT8xL0Huac2fXAPPaDZOUc7pLKAGdIbQF-89j0UaU8UH1xIuMNovX5fwVT8-5yA/s1600-h/EcoFunLogo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YeHV8tyVDILWVZOSlO4bZpBK_hdUbHbj9cN9Wdvs3iD3itTG9msOgMWsqXQujok2VKu3LJOwb05ODuT8xL0Huac2fXAPPaDZOUc7pLKAGdIbQF-89j0UaU8UH1xIuMNovX5fwVT8-5yA/s200/EcoFunLogo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444901634539420418" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">1. Glass reformed from recycled glass instead of raw materials reduces air</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">pollution up to 20% and water pollution by 50%.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">2. Americans use 50 million tons of paper per year, consuming a little more</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">than 850 million trees.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">3. If 25% of families replace 10 plastic bags with reusable bags, it would</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">reduce production by at least 2.5 billion bags per year.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">4. By turning your central heating thermostat down by one degree, your fuel</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">consumption can be cut up to 10%.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">5. In Malaysia, 125 acres of tropical forest has more species of trees than</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">the entire continent of North America has.</span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Consolas, serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-17389409468600666582010-03-01T12:16:00.001-08:002010-03-01T13:10:05.029-08:00March Promotion: Organic Vegetable Garden Supplies Giveaway!At the end of March, we are giving one lucky person an <span style="font-weight: bold;">Organic Vegetable Garden Supplies Package </span>from<span style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.marvinsorganicgardens.com/">Marvin's Organic Gardens!</a></span> Here are the details of what you can win and how:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TO ENTER:</span><br />Tell us what your favorite veggie is and how you like it prepared. You can post this information on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/marvinsorganicgardens">Facebook Fan Page</a> or you can comment directly on this blog entry. Either way, your veggie and preparation will count as one submission. You may enter up to 2 times per person. You must enter by March 31, 2010.<br /><br />At the end of the month, Marvin, owner of <a href="http://www.marvinsorganicgardens.com/">Marvin's Organic Gardens</a>, will pick his favorite entry. You could post a recipe or a picture of your family eating the veggie. Originality and creativity are highly encouraged!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzhlUQbnSFjHcZd_uRUnh950cjCP57XLEMGFGHFEpAMJtIUOY8iFngBSLCTUnQFrQBc2JmhZxD9N-HARsbD32glFL9wvasE2GIR0bWYNp0jl9otdl6QCJbY0MOouCHu6Wab5NcThLpD10/s1600-h/J01C0027-main_Full.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzhlUQbnSFjHcZd_uRUnh950cjCP57XLEMGFGHFEpAMJtIUOY8iFngBSLCTUnQFrQBc2JmhZxD9N-HARsbD32glFL9wvasE2GIR0bWYNp0jl9otdl6QCJbY0MOouCHu6Wab5NcThLpD10/s200/J01C0027-main_Full.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443775512594145442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">WHAT YOU WIN:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">An </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Organic Vegetable Garden Supplies Package</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">! </span>You will receive 1.5 yards of <a href="http://www.marvinsorganicgardens.com/">Marvin's Organic Garden's</a> homemade compost, 1 yard of shredded leaf mulch, 10 organic vegetable plants and 4 packets of organic seeds. We will also include 1 roll of our <span style="font-weight: bold;">NEW Control Roll</span> to help control weeds and watering needs. <span style="font-style: italic;">Value of $175.00</span>.Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-61517335646798320882010-02-16T12:04:00.000-08:002010-02-16T12:13:22.167-08:00Organic Strawberry Rhubarb Compote with Streusel Topping<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1BMWMFDL9jITf7_CYOzviyushD1FJNQH5XtL0UX4jBWKV4lS22mcy-eEzzh9bX8pL0VyCtwL5ce67K3ZGY44mtOsOeKmtOxEFGNCNifyXJDYBeH_LLmkUgp8muYtllcYuuY9RLoiMkFm/s1600-h/shutterstock_27787018.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1BMWMFDL9jITf7_CYOzviyushD1FJNQH5XtL0UX4jBWKV4lS22mcy-eEzzh9bX8pL0VyCtwL5ce67K3ZGY44mtOsOeKmtOxEFGNCNifyXJDYBeH_LLmkUgp8muYtllcYuuY9RLoiMkFm/s200/shutterstock_27787018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438935574389963266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >INGREDIENTS:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Compote:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >- 1 1/4 cups sugar</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >- 3 Tbsp of potato starch</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >- 6 Cups strawberries, trimmed & halved</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >- 4 Cups rhubarb stalks, cut crosswise into 1/2” slices</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >- 2 tsp fresh lemon juice</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >- 1 tsp grated fresh lemon zest</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Streusel Topping:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >- 1 1/2 cups flour</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >- 1/2 cup brown sugar</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >- 1/4 cup white sugar</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >- Pinch of salt</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >- 1 tsp cinnamon</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >- 1 Tbsp grated orange zest</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >- 8 oz butter, @ room temperature</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >- 1/2 cup of walnuts</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >DIRECTIONS:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Preheat oven to 425°. Prepare compote: Stir together sugar & potato starch. Toss with strawberries, rhubarb, lemon juice & zest. Transfer mixture to an ungreased shallow 3-qt (13x9x2) baking dish. Prepare streusel and bake: Combine flour, sugars, salt cinnamon and zest. Work butter into mixture with your fingers until combined into a crumbly mixture. Add nuts, stir to combine. Spoon topping over compote. Bake on a sheet pan (to catch the juices) until top is browned and filling is bubbly, about 30-45 minutes. Cool to warm on rack before serving. This can also be served with vanilla bean ice cream.</span><br /></span>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-27443995193064324662010-02-16T11:59:00.002-08:002010-02-16T12:03:35.936-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdHJwTX76bFYWwEcLjHKj8lOeH7T4JZ7hgFY8CBD_NVA2FqAu-8-CfD0yLa0sQdYd1x7ZJSZOqNz7S1hm6KL4qy6jpER3hwfqvxDjtIxjYZQeu0ct6bWu5XeoTGSYbtYh5l6Bn1GVVLAf/s1600-h/EcoFunLogo.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdHJwTX76bFYWwEcLjHKj8lOeH7T4JZ7hgFY8CBD_NVA2FqAu-8-CfD0yLa0sQdYd1x7ZJSZOqNz7S1hm6KL4qy6jpER3hwfqvxDjtIxjYZQeu0ct6bWu5XeoTGSYbtYh5l6Bn1GVVLAf/s200/EcoFunLogo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438934106734109618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ63aghVhBrNyfYBSuOZSwqDr8QTOEZTgcGOOpajczA0bGYYNX4tdDXZfkeaM4lEMi27txHxPiCpG67-5lQkAwtoJPOunqkfUIHCrAUlv9RVTyQ-T9Chj2MVH9cOL2y1wF7t9QOWJv60E1/s1600-h/EcoFunLogo.jpg"><br /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />1<span style="font-family:georgia;">. Food is the #1 least recycled material.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">2. The average American produces 4 lbs. of landfill waste per day; that’s</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> more than 50 tons over a lifetime!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">3. Food and paper are biodegradable in nature, but not in landfills due to</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> lack of oxygen.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"> 4. Food and paper are the two largest contributors to landfills and make up</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> more than half of all landfill waste.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"> 5. One ton of recycled paper can save up to 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> and 4,000 kilowats of electricity.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">(Source: www.smarthome.duke.edu/downloads/compost facts)</span>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-35064734175020163142010-01-18T12:47:00.000-08:002010-01-21T08:37:39.239-08:00Buckwheat Blueberry Pancakes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IbxcGGod4vn-2F5wk8fuhZ3nctBE2cskKq1VLlYE1NCd7zihDyvKlhqKMSe3BuFnkvUqsYq639uwcLzpy2qE9jYP3fmavo5fddDMMnQmSQ4TybA8q1TnrPX5Ndjf7FH8jEbod3Ai4lUk/s1600-h/shutterstock_41295466.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IbxcGGod4vn-2F5wk8fuhZ3nctBE2cskKq1VLlYE1NCd7zihDyvKlhqKMSe3BuFnkvUqsYq639uwcLzpy2qE9jYP3fmavo5fddDMMnQmSQ4TybA8q1TnrPX5Ndjf7FH8jEbod3Ai4lUk/s200/shutterstock_41295466.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428185732790608194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style=";font-family:georgia;" ><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;" >INGREDIENTS:</span></span></span></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" >• 1 cup buckwheat pancake mix</span> <span style=";font-family:georgia;" ><br />• 1 egg</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" >• 1/2 cup quick cooking oats</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" >• 1 tsp ground cinnamon</span> <span style=";font-family:georgia;" ><br />• 1 tsp vanilla extract</span> <span style=";font-family:georgia;" ><br />• 1 cup low fat buttermilk</span> <span style=";font-family:georgia;" ><br />• 3/4 cup skim milk</span> <span style=";font-family:georgia;" ><br />• 2 tbsp sugar-free syrup</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" >• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" >• 2 tsp butter<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >DIRECTIONS:</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" > </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" ><br />Combine pancake mix, oats, cinnamon, vanilla, buttermilk, skim milk, egg and</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" > syrup in a large bowl. Add blueberries. Heat a griddle or non stick skillet</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" > over medium and coat with cooking spray. Drop batter onto griddle or skillet</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" > in 1/4 cupfuls for small pancakes or 1/2 cupfuls for large ones. Cook</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;" > pancakes until brown and cooked through, about 3-4 minutes per side. </span></span>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-84721133979710496972010-01-12T09:51:00.000-08:002010-01-21T08:32:30.713-08:00Perfect Lasagna<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjPORQeWXq3T6BKFipy3_3qSKCk0gwU5O62mgfB-f0cuB6CuTN8Om6LTUPRB97DNq1_k3WF8VppwfTv_TFzQG1LGr8YMZp3I6JyobIJX043gpbsSHoTQj6Tjr5QQc5VB-UqVK1jxsrGrn/s1600-h/shutterstock_1415894.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjPORQeWXq3T6BKFipy3_3qSKCk0gwU5O62mgfB-f0cuB6CuTN8Om6LTUPRB97DNq1_k3WF8VppwfTv_TFzQG1LGr8YMZp3I6JyobIJX043gpbsSHoTQj6Tjr5QQc5VB-UqVK1jxsrGrn/s200/shutterstock_1415894.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425915703585903554" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: left; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Consolas;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);font-family:Consolas,-webkit-fantasy;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></span></p></span></span></div> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Consolas;font-size:13px;"></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Consolas;font-size:13px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Consolas;font-size:13px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Consolas;font-size:13px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Consolas;font-size:13px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Consolas;font-size:13px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Consolas;font-size:13px;"><br /></p><p face="Consolas" size="13px" style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><br /></p><p face="Consolas" size="13px" style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Per serving: (1 lasagna):</span></p> <p face="Consolas" size="13px" style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">348 calories, 7 g fat, 3 g sat fat, 0 g trans fat, 46 mg chol, 1,012 mg sod, 44 g carb, 6 g fib, 29 g prot, 431 mg calc</span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:Consolas;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p> <p face="Consolas" size="13px" style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">INGREDIENTS:</span></b></p> <p face="Consolas" size="13px" style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">1 small zucchini, sliced</span></p> <p face="Consolas" size="13px" style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">1 c frozen loose-packed cut-leaf spinach</span></p> <p face="Consolas" size="13px" style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">1 c sliced cremini mushrooms</span></p> <p face="Consolas" size="13px" style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">1⁄4 tsp salt</span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Consolas; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">1 c fat free ricotta cheese</span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Consolas; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">4 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese</span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Consolas; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">1⁄4 tsp dried oregano</span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Consolas; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">1/8 tsp red pepper flakes</span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Consolas; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">1 c pasta sauce with roasted peppers</span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Consolas; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">3 (3 1⁄2 X 6 3⁄4 inch) no boil lasagna noodles, halved crosswire</span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:Consolas;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Consolas; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">DIRECTIONS:</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Consolas; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Preheat oven to 375. Spray 2 (5”) square baking dishes or 2 (11⁄2 X 5 3⁄4 X 8”) foil pans with nonstick spray. Mix zucchini, spinach and mushrooms on microwavable plate. Cover and microwave on High until vegetables are crisp-tender, 3-4 minutes, stirring once after 2 minutes. Drain; stir in 1/8 tsp salt. Mix ricotta, 3 tbsp Parmesan, oregano, red pepper flakes, and remaining 1/8 tsp salt in bowl. In each baking dish, layer in order, 2 tbsp sauce, 1 half noodle, half of ricotta mixture, 2 tbsp sauce, 1 half noodle, 1⁄4 cup sauce, and 1⁄2 tbsp Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes.Uncover and bake until bubbling, 10-15 minutes.</span></p><p></p>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-50406538142218842582009-12-21T07:41:00.000-08:002009-12-21T08:14:52.061-08:00Win $500 from Marvin's Organic Gardens<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Today is the day! The big day! The day we announce how you can WIN $500 towards a landscape job from <a href="http://www.marvinsorganicgardens.com">Marvin's Organic Gardens</a>!</span></span><br /><br />We know that it is cold outside - and today, there is even snow on the ground. But think about April and May - when the sun is out and the ground is starting to get warm. New growth is showing up all around you. Your neighbors are in their yards preparing their beds and mowing their lawns. <span style="font-weight: bold;">WAIT!</span> You take a look around your yard and it is <span style="font-weight: bold;">NOT</span> looking like what you want it to look at. Actually - you have been looking at it this way for a few years but haven't done anything about it. You are just so busy that you haven't had time - and even if you did have the time, you would have no idea about how to even start.<br /><br />Well, before you just start tearing things out of your yard and pouring gravel over all your grass so you don't have to worry about it anymore, <a href="http://www.marvinsorganicgardens.com">Marvin's Organic Gardens</a> wants to help you - by giving away $500 to one lucky <a href="http://www.facebook.com/marvinsorganicgardens"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook Fan</span></a>, to use towards their landscaping job this Spring. That's right - $500 to start the makeover in your yard.<br /><br />All you have to do to be entered to win is become a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/marvinsorganicgardens">Fan of Marvin's Organic Gardens on Facebook</a>. Here's the deal though - <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">we MUST have 650 Fans by January 15th, 2010 in order to give away the prize</span> - and we need your help to do this. Tell your friends, your family, your co-workers to become <a href="http://www.facebook.com/marvinsorganicgardens">Fans of Marvin's Organic Gardens on Facebook.</a> The easiest way to do this is by going to the Marvin's Organic Gardens page on Facebook and clicking on the "Suggest To Friends" button on the top left of your screen (right under our logo). Then, you can select everyone you want to send a suggestion to.<br /><br />Want another way to be entered to win? Leave a comment on our blog and we will enter your name in to the drawing again! If you leave 5 comments, we will enter your name 5 more times! You still have to be a Facebook fan, but this gives you additional chances to win that $500!<br /><br />Here are the rules:<br />1. Promotion is running from December 21st through January 31st.<br />2. In order for us to give away this prize, we <b>MUST have AT LEAST 650 fans by January 31st, 2010</b>!<br />3. You MUST be a fan of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/marvinsorganicgardens">Marvin's Organic Gardens</a><a title="FB" href="http://www.facebook.com/marvinsorganicgardens" mce_href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-It-Tight-Fitness/206386992354?ref=nf" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/marvinsorganicgardens"> on Facebook</a> to be entered to win.<br />4. This prize is non-transferable and cannot be split between multiple people.<br />5. The prize is $500 to be used towards a landscape job with Marvin's Organic Gardens.<br />6. Prize will be announced and winner will be contacted by February 15th, 2010.<br /><br />Got questions, email <a href="mailto:%20audrey@hellotarte.com">Audrey</a> and she can answer all your questions.<br />Thank you for all your support and good luck!Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-36145585924695182062009-12-15T07:52:00.000-08:002010-02-16T12:12:56.473-08:00Winter Potpourri<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjGR9aJHl9JeGC97OWZTmAX_bu9kv8cpQLFIn-T2nFHmpjAVfL-YgfajeK7F8hacguWLgI-fxmgQ_2eZlidGDDsXUP5jqxoZOZt09_D9ZxjqMO_-s6kcDYLU8FNfj9ZZ2vWwInkqJROF9/s1600-h/shutterstock_6351517.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjGR9aJHl9JeGC97OWZTmAX_bu9kv8cpQLFIn-T2nFHmpjAVfL-YgfajeK7F8hacguWLgI-fxmgQ_2eZlidGDDsXUP5jqxoZOZt09_D9ZxjqMO_-s6kcDYLU8FNfj9ZZ2vWwInkqJROF9/s200/shutterstock_6351517.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415491637962324290" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div style="font-family: georgia;"><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>INGREDIENTS:</b></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">- 6 Cinnamon sticks</p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">- Several Pinecones</p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">- 2 cups Dried Sage</p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">- Grated & dried Citrus Peel</p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">- Allspice, whole or ground</p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">- 1 cup Fresh Balsam or Evergreen needles</p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">- 2 cups Juniper berries</p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">- 20 drops of your favorite natural scented oil </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> (such as winterberry, peppermint or lavender)</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>DIRECTIONS:</b></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">Toss and place in a decorative bowl. Smell and enjoy!</p></div>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-49804101089478397382009-11-18T10:06:00.000-08:002009-11-18T10:10:23.273-08:00Easy Corn Chowder<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQ9MGVefMBvA8uuo5p1A5H03CxSAz2YzjXodbze9l7wi4EWdpuEgHbX8tNHgOUW-qAvtWg5dSrzU3SRpIE9O1Dk7wreUBlYWHrdue4k865lSoeDINi2YoeSGUtXIGM7OqavUPeTRtUI9S/s1600/shutterstock_12431590.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQ9MGVefMBvA8uuo5p1A5H03CxSAz2YzjXodbze9l7wi4EWdpuEgHbX8tNHgOUW-qAvtWg5dSrzU3SRpIE9O1Dk7wreUBlYWHrdue4k865lSoeDINi2YoeSGUtXIGM7OqavUPeTRtUI9S/s200/shutterstock_12431590.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405507225899806674" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><b><br /></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b>INGREDIENTS:</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1 onion, chopped</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 3 cups milk</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- S&P to taste</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 4 slices bacon, diced</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1 (14.75 oz) can cream-style corn</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1 1/2 cups cubed potatoes</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1 (10.75 oz) can condensed cream</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> of mushroom soup</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b>DIRECTIONS:</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute bacon and onions until onions are tender, about 7 minutes. Add the corn, potatoes, soup, milk, and salt & pepper. Raise heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer about 25-35 minutes or until the potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.</span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Consolas, fantasy;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-25413692370867659502009-10-14T09:56:00.001-07:002009-10-14T10:06:13.954-07:00Recipe of the Month- Easy Pumpkin Pie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGCiSRWOzjvvgje-bAuCFWGyvqZKJCOq88ud7ZRvB_TQaubkDAwnbrNoLj1mgFwSis6t1C6dg-6-MKVUa5Q2MZM2Xr5aYdGq-5F-hDBCzf_8X2oo2KJQcYUH27PkMU6EWUb84BS93GQON/s1600-h/shutterstock_11570467.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGCiSRWOzjvvgje-bAuCFWGyvqZKJCOq88ud7ZRvB_TQaubkDAwnbrNoLj1mgFwSis6t1C6dg-6-MKVUa5Q2MZM2Xr5aYdGq-5F-hDBCzf_8X2oo2KJQcYUH27PkMU6EWUb84BS93GQON/s200/shutterstock_11570467.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392502824895423106" /></a><br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">INGREDIENTS:</span></b></span><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 3/4 cup sugar</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1/2 teaspoon salt</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1 1/4 cup evaporated milk</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 2 eggs, beaten</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1 pie crust</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; min-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">DIRECTIONS:</span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Heat oven to 425°. In large bowl, mix filling ingredients. Pour into pie crust. Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°; bake 40-50 minutes longer or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool for 2 hours. Serve or refrigerate until serving time. Top with whipped cream or serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Store in refrigerator.</span></p></div>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-5782733329270722112009-09-11T11:43:00.000-07:002009-09-11T11:51:29.217-07:00Recipe of the Month -Hot Mulled Cider<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zWHvXG6qFcZKCheoXI_WTTmREEP-PCj9ThVcGbreysYp0Qg6XGjdlEGNReXy11Hj3oJB8_9sG26X7Nf9yY0w6rsLKFUAOAon6dnTIyPVBjtxSExBkCtSAUXfWef_WsnXni6_Kbdl2Yp6/s1600-h/shutterstock_8248363.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zWHvXG6qFcZKCheoXI_WTTmREEP-PCj9ThVcGbreysYp0Qg6XGjdlEGNReXy11Hj3oJB8_9sG26X7Nf9yY0w6rsLKFUAOAon6dnTIyPVBjtxSExBkCtSAUXfWef_WsnXni6_Kbdl2Yp6/s200/shutterstock_8248363.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380282767039449458" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b> INGREDIENTS:</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> - 1/2 gallon of fresh, unfiltered apple cider</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> - 1 orange</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> - 15 cloves</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> - 4 3-inch sticks of cinnamon</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> - 15 allspice berries</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> - 1 teaspoon of nutmeg</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> - 7 pods of cardamon</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> - 1/4 cup brown sugar</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, fantasy;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> <b>DIRECTIONS:</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> Put cider into a 3qt saucepan, cover, turn the heat on medium-high. While</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> cider is heating up, take a vegetable peeler and peel away a couple thick strips of peel from the orange. Press about half of the cloves into the peeled part of the orange. Place orange, orange peel strips, the remaining cloves, and the rest of the ingredients into the sauce pan with the cider.</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, fantasy;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Keep covered and heat the mulled cider mixture to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes on low heat. Strain the hot mulled cider away from the orange, cloves, and other spices. Serve hot. Add a cinnamon stick to each cup if desired.</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, fantasy;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">* You can add a touch of bourbon, brandy, or rum!</span></p>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-50588544751114875682009-08-06T06:53:00.000-07:002009-08-06T07:00:39.082-07:00Recipe Of The Month - Fresh Pico De Gallo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0T00hV8PXEo7bBsInSjxNFufYnt4mZYBGLJHUq4xvSRLBMqaNZTPajWTSvSWQokjeu760UeJ1LbcULGDjmNcOuA3AtYFpNbGv6cYi7fxdAXz7R2tFeeSxjd_hxjPyObgUUCTqSFo50Ii/s1600-h/shutterstock_17272561.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0T00hV8PXEo7bBsInSjxNFufYnt4mZYBGLJHUq4xvSRLBMqaNZTPajWTSvSWQokjeu760UeJ1LbcULGDjmNcOuA3AtYFpNbGv6cYi7fxdAXz7R2tFeeSxjd_hxjPyObgUUCTqSFo50Ii/s200/shutterstock_17272561.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366849413787132322" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Consolas, fantasy;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Consolas, fantasy;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Consolas, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Consolas, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Consolas, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b>INGREDIENTS:</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 8-10 Roma tomatoes (seeded)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1/2 Red onion (to taste)</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1 Jalapeno pepper (or more to taste)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 2 Medium cloves garlic</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- Juice of one lime</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1 Tablespoon olive oil</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 4 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1 Teaspoon coarse salt</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1/2 Teaspoon fresh ground black pepper</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b>DIRECTIONS:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Seed and dice tomatoes. Chop onion, jalapeno and garlic to a fine consistency. To these ingredients, add the fresh cilantro, salt, pepper, olive oil and lime. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!</span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-7912637116613261542009-07-08T08:36:00.000-07:002009-07-08T08:51:23.994-07:00Recipe Of The Month - Blueberry Jam<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;"><b><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMOVpkx_SCVa3Yqn6tphkDWYrTuiSnevP1dFTlPL6wBUeSCXv50bBTVrCqUgwWawJgpOoYKv_B-ODlB3U56iVMeN6FYFjTcqXoOQafJZ1wZuuIrlecWeJGv50TYYWclmeGDVYLUFm_MhY/s200/shutterstock_1866206.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356116101798689890" /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;"><b><br /></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><b>INGREDIENTS:</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">- 6 cups blueberries<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">- 7 cups sugar<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">- 2 (3 oz) packs of pectin<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">- 3/4 tsp unsalted butter<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">- 3 tbsp lemon juice<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><b>DIRECTIONS:</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Combine the blueberries, lemon juice and 3 and a half cups of sugar in a pan and let stand for 1 hour. After 1 hour, add the remaining sugar and place the pan over a medium-high heat; stir constantly until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mix to a boil for two minutes. Remove the pan from the flame and skim off any foam that accumulates. Place the pan over the heat again for 1 minute to boil. Again, remove and skim off the foam. Add the butter and bring the mixture to a boil again. Add the pectin and stir constantly. Boil for 1 minute. Skim off the foam. Allow the jam to cool for 7 minutes before adding it to canning jars. Close the jars and bath them in 250-degree water for 10 minutes to create a seal.</span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-40354014819617877802009-06-05T08:35:00.000-07:002009-06-05T08:46:22.787-07:00Recipe of the Month- Turkey Stuffed Peppers<!--StartFragment--><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);"><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AOdDGUMDof7UiU81H6ZDUtYBFcSQdtW30uHsKG9Q1MkCNlZtDoiR_Tii24s6188aIHv7Zy1CHAMrbMWzD6ySaQV0C__-y2Lp025EHdqML1uk637tDm8107GtzToeH0yznBHrqBs44UBW/s200/shutterstock_16563973%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.jp" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343869083286630434" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></span></span></span><div><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);"><br /></span></span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">INGREDIENTS:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1 lb. ground turkey<br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1/2 c. instant rice<br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1/2 c. grated carrot<br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1/4 c. chopped onion<br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 3 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley<br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1-2 cloves garlic, minced<br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 1 (12 oz.) can tomato sauce, divided<br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 4 sm. green peppers<br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">DIRECTIONS</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Combine turkey, rice, carrot, onion, parsley, garlic and 1 cup tomato sauce in medium bowl. Salt and pepper to taste; mix well. Cut tops off peppers. Discard seeds and membranes. Spoon turkey mixture into peppers. Arrange in baking dish 8x8x2; cover with plastic wrap. Microwave at High (100% powder) 8-10 minutes, rotating after half the cooking time, until peppers and rice are tender. Spoon remaining tomato sauce over peppers. Microwave at High(100% power) 1 minute. Let stand covered 3 minutes.</span></span></span></span><!--EndFragment--></div>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-84999692690729055162009-05-06T13:19:00.000-07:002009-05-12T07:09:08.343-07:00Thank you!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fIWUDmRdvHbpeDu6soIabi6FuZn2P0WP0O9RJD-GWUc3qmT2_fcdRb_RVQRtOrESlQnobaoy086v3uzJPQH-_FQdXYnZ0MHkbVL_hyphenhyphenqqQsGLDhBx0jzkAMa7k-IrjKytE91Rej2KbscD/s1600-h/ThinkGreen_Logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 121px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fIWUDmRdvHbpeDu6soIabi6FuZn2P0WP0O9RJD-GWUc3qmT2_fcdRb_RVQRtOrESlQnobaoy086v3uzJPQH-_FQdXYnZ0MHkbVL_hyphenhyphenqqQsGLDhBx0jzkAMa7k-IrjKytE91Rej2KbscD/s200/ThinkGreen_Logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334939176622917714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />What a huge success <a href="http://marvinsorganicgardens.com/earthday09.php"><span style="font-weight: bold;">thinkGREEN 2009</span></a> was!<br /><br />We want to give an especially big thank you to our title sponsor, <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/">Whole Foods</a>! We are so happy that they were a part of the event! A huge thank you also goes out to <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://cinweekly.cincinnati.com/">CinWeekly</a> for being our media sponsor. We couldn't have done it all without you both.<br /><br />Check out the pictures from the event <a href="http://marvinsorganicgardens.com/thinkgreen09.php">here</a>.<br /><br />Thank you to all our vendors & participants from our <span style="font-weight: bold;">2nd Annual thinkGREEN Earth Day Event</span>! What an amazing day it was! Over 750 people showed up to meet with our vendors and learn more about how to live a greener life. We hope to see you all back next year.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.basilico-organic.com/">Basilico Organic Restaurant</a><br /><a href="http://www.ecodiscoveries.com/">EcoDiscoveries</a><br /><a href="http://www.endeavorlc.net/">Endeavor Learning Center</a><br /><a href="http://www.facepaintingbytuesday.com/">Face Painting by Tuesday</a><br /><a href="http://www.farmfreshdelivery.com/">Farm Fresh Delivery</a><br /><a href="http://www.goodnaturedbaby.com/">Good Natured Baby</a><br /><a href="http://www.grannysgardenschool.com/">Granny’s Garden School</a><br /><a href="http://www.greenbirdhouse.com/">GreenBird</a><br /><a href="http://www.greenirene.com/">Green Irene</a><br /><a href="http://www.healthyindoorservices.com/">Healthy Indoor Services </a><br /><a href="http://www.imagoearth.org/">Imago</a><br /><a href="http://www.lucidsalon.com/">Lucid Salon</a><br /><a href="http://www.mantrawellnesscenter.com/">Mantra Wellness Center</a><br /><a href="http://www.millcreekrestoration.org/">Millcreek Restoration</a><br /><a href="http://www.naturalawakeningscincinnati.com/">Natural Awakenings Magazine</a><br />Oxygenation Station<br /><a href="http://www.puredoggy.com/">Pure Doggy Organic Bakery</a><br /><a href="http://www.responsibleservices.com/">Responsible Services</a><br /><a href="http://www.rumpke.com/Recycling/Overview.asp">Rumpke</a><br /><a href="http://www.sibcycline.com/agentwebsites/default.aspx?a=366">Sheri Garrett, Sibcy Cline Green Realtor</a><br /><a href="http://www.sunrockfarm.org/">Sunrock Farm</a><br /><a href="http://www.pamperedchef.biz/mrpotter">The Pampered Chef</a><br />The Veg Head<br /><a href="http://www.smartcentercincinnati.com/">Smart Car</a><br /><a href="http://www.cincinnatibirds.com/wildones/">Wild Ones</a>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-27499487284782830442009-05-06T13:17:00.000-07:002009-05-06T13:19:05.770-07:00Recipe of the Month - Watermelon Sorbet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MIAxBwMeDoSPHMSB6iE6NH3r8Uq1dhn5dlCJp8hw85mxZb1ka5SUO5tszVWR0S5kiP_D4SFRZ6Pug_JN_-ag5XyaukVf-cHH8vLSEiif5Fvv3YqsZ_eYa1_ATCJpdKgDCHvVDoWEzQyO/s1600-h/shutterstock_25557013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MIAxBwMeDoSPHMSB6iE6NH3r8Uq1dhn5dlCJp8hw85mxZb1ka5SUO5tszVWR0S5kiP_D4SFRZ6Pug_JN_-ag5XyaukVf-cHH8vLSEiif5Fvv3YqsZ_eYa1_ATCJpdKgDCHvVDoWEzQyO/s200/shutterstock_25557013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332808063328296786" border="0" /></a>Ingredients:<br />- 1 cup sugar<br />- 1/2 cup corn syrup<br />- 4 T. lemon juice<br />- 3 T. grenadine<br />- 3 fresh mint leaves<br />- 1 (3lb) seedless watermelon<br /><br />Directions:<br />In a small saucepan, bring sugar, syrup, lemon juice, grenadine & mint leaves to a boil dissolving the sugar granules. Let cool slightly. Cut the rind off the watermelon and cut into chunks. Puree half of the chopped watermelon in a blender. Strain into a large glass bowl. Repeat with remaining watermelon. Add slightly cooled syrup mixture and mix well to incorporate. Place sorbet into a 2-qt plastic container and freeze for 3-4 hours.Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-74517430574188524752009-04-09T09:23:00.000-07:002009-04-09T09:27:03.343-07:00Recipe of the Month - Eggplant Tahini<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqLLPk84BxsSxDFa3TwfE0uqh9fblmk7vj2_szLA77JHWk9JsCzMaIbZagFg14VHfrVLxiQdFGa2EJJLjLjf3TDxk4uxlDLOsiZSj_0JH7lEuCZWkoIaKH2wisRDuc2A7Z4WcC8lpEwza/s1600-h/shutterstock_648901.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqLLPk84BxsSxDFa3TwfE0uqh9fblmk7vj2_szLA77JHWk9JsCzMaIbZagFg14VHfrVLxiQdFGa2EJJLjLjf3TDxk4uxlDLOsiZSj_0JH7lEuCZWkoIaKH2wisRDuc2A7Z4WcC8lpEwza/s200/shutterstock_648901.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322728748662328946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ingredients:<br />- 2 1/2 T. coconut oil<br />- 1 large eggplant<br />- 4 C. water<br />- 5 T. lemon juice<br />- 1/4 C. tahini (sesame seed paste)<br />- 2 T. fresh garlic, peeled & finely chopped<br />- 4 T. olive oil<br />- 1/2 C. red bell peppers, sliced<br />- 1/2 C. yellow bell peppers, sliced<br />- 1 C. roma or plum tomatoes, diced<br />- Sea salt & black pepper<br />- 2 T. fresh dill, chopped<br /><br />Directions:<br />Preheat oven to 375º. Grease a small to medium- sized baking dish with coconut oil. Use a fork to pierce the eggplant several times, then place it in the baking dish.Bake until tender, about 45-50 minutes. Allow cooked eggplant to cool enough for you to handle it; you can place it in a large bowl of cold water to cool quickly. Remove the peel once you are able to handle it. Drain in colander until eggplant cools completely. Squeeze pulp to eliminate bitter juices, then process until smooth in a food processor.<br /><br />To the eggplant puree, add lemon juice, tahini, and garlic, and process again to bring all ingredients together. In a large bowl, combine pureed eggplant mixture, olive oil, red and yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, fresh dill, sea salt, and black pepper and toss. Serve on a bed of your favorite whole grain or with toasted pita chips!Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-4374984984650503052009-04-02T08:46:00.000-07:002009-04-02T08:49:49.956-07:00I want HR 875 and S 425 withdrawn from the floors of Congress immediately.Please tell everyone who wants organic foods.....<br /><br />CALL THE CAPITOL SWITCH BOARD at 202 - 224 - 3121 and tell them:<br />"I want HR 875 and S 425 withdrawn from the floors of Congress immediately."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.opednews.com/articles/Monsanto-s-dream-bill-HR-by-Linn-Cohen-Cole-090309-337.html">http://www.opednews.com/articles/Monsanto-s-dream-bill-HR-by-Linn-Cohen-Cole-090309-337.html</a><br /><br />and<br /><br /><a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-875">http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-875</a><br /><br /><br />US House and Senate are about (in a week and a half) to vote on bill that will OUTLAW ORGANIC FARMING (bill HR 875). There is an enormous rush to get this into law within the next 2 weeks before people realize what is happening.<br /><br />Main backer and lobbyist is Monsanto – chemical and genetic engineering giant corporation (and Cargill, ADM, and about 35 other related agri-giants). This bill will require organic farms to use specific fertilizers and poisonous insect sprays dictated by the newly formed agency to "make sure there is no danger to the public food supply". This will include backyard gardens that grow food only for a family and not for sales.<br /><br />If this passes then NO more heirloom clean seeds but only Monsanto genetically altered seeds that are now showing up with unexpected diseases in humans.<br /><br />There is a video on the subject.<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epXNJNjYBvw&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epXNJNjYBvw&feature=related</a><br /><br />And another one:<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeWVkTU1s1E">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeWVkTU1s1E</a><br /><br />The name on this outrageous food plan is:<br />Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 (bill HR 875).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS IS REAL, FOLKS! PASS THIS ALONG TO ALL CONCERNED ON YOUR MAILING LISTS & CALL YOUR SENATE REPS TODAY!</span><br /><br />Get on that phone and burn up the wires. Get anyone else you can to do the same thing. The House and Senate <span style="font-weight: bold;">WILL</span> pass this if they are not massively threatened with loss of their position...They only fear your voice and your vote.<br /><br />The best thing to do is go to <a href="www.house.gov/writerep">www.house.gov/writerep</a>. All you have to do is put in your zip and it will give you your congressperson and how to get in touch with them. When you call their office someone will answer the phone, just tell them <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(politely)</span> that you are calling to express your views on HR 875. Tell them your views, they'll take your name and address and pass your comments along to the congressperson.<br /><br />The following link is a list of the U.S. senators and their contact info:<br /><a href="http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm">http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm</a>Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-50888635301670503452009-03-12T12:57:00.000-07:002009-03-12T13:02:28.459-07:00Jamaican Jerk Sauce<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhih-jADZdAEvwYsyqjz17PFSEfNH4FTsOcRitCGtvBRUdF9y6DqvTMXRqYNNkE1WWMs466T3zaMNklxmD-k-_8bNLaKRPZ5Mrx0rHChyOfuURi38FKz7IP0IKG-009Re4JWWmFPTX9-5KN/s1600-h/shutterstock_1415896.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhih-jADZdAEvwYsyqjz17PFSEfNH4FTsOcRitCGtvBRUdF9y6DqvTMXRqYNNkE1WWMs466T3zaMNklxmD-k-_8bNLaKRPZ5Mrx0rHChyOfuURi38FKz7IP0IKG-009Re4JWWmFPTX9-5KN/s200/shutterstock_1415896.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312393210754964898" border="0" /></a><br />This recipe is for "Jamaican Jerk Sauce". Its time to start firing up the grills, and enjoy the coming spring! Jerk sauce is essentially a sweet and spicy glaze, almost a caribean BBQ. Jerk refers to the fact that the sauce is usually used on "jerked" chicken, meaning chicken that is slow grilled and pulled, but you can literally put it on anything and get great results.<br /><br />In Jamaica, real jerk chicken is slow cooked over an open fire, utilizing the wood from the Pimento tree, not the pimento pepper plant, which allspice is harvested. Additionally, the main spice in the sauce is allspice, which is not a blend of spices, but a berry on a tree. Think of allspice as a more fragrant type of peppercorn. There is a lot of sweetener in Jerk, be it Molasses or brown sugar, so remember not to put the food over a fire, but to the side of it instead, to keep the sweetener from burning on your food.<br /><br />While we're on the subject, I'll explain the difference between BBQ'ing and grilling. When you put food directly in the path of heat, it is called "Grilling". Grilling is done at a much hotter temperature, than BBQ-ing. Hotter temperatures mean a few things: If you are cooking a protein, i.e., meat or fish, the protein will contract faster at higher temperatures, which is why your burgers always end up meatballs instead of nice flat patties. The other bad thing about high heat, is that fat cooks out too fast to be absorbed into the protein, which is why less fatty proteins should be cooked slow and low, and fatty cuts can be cooked at high temps. For example, you grill steaks, but not briskets or ribs.<br /><br />The trick to cooking Jerk food properly is to BBQ it, not grill it. In BBQ cooking, the food should NOT be in the path of the heat. When you build your fire in the grill, build it to one side, and put the food on the other, and SHUT THE LID! By doing this, you will basically slow cook the food like an oven, and simultaneously smoke it. It will take considerably longer, but it's always nice to enjoy some time to yourself and enjoy the great outdoors, especially in the spring. If you can get some nice real wood (or wood chips), cedar, alder apple or cherry, use it. You will be really impressed by the flavor difference.<br /><br />WILDFLOWER JERK SAUCE<br />Makes 1 quart, which is a lot — but it lasts almost forever — and you will become addicted to it! Very easy to make, just put it all in a blender and puree!<br /><br />- 2 Tbl Allspice<br />- 2 Tbl fresh Thyme or about a 3 or 4 sprigs 6" long or so (Marvins has a great Thyme called "Lemon Thyme" that is perfect for this)<br />- 1/2 Scotch Bonnet Pepper, or an orange Habenero (This is one of the signature ingredients, but it is very hot, wear gloves when you touch it. You can add more or less to taste when you are finished blending it.)<br />- 1 tsp Black pepper<br />-2 fresh Sage leaves<br />- 8 gloves of garlic<br />- 2 cups of Molasses (or brown sugar)<br />- 1/4 cup olive oil<br />- 1/4 cup Soy Sauce<br />- 3/4 cup wine vinegar<br />- 1/2 cup Organic Orange Juice<br />- Juice of 4 limes<br />- 2 whole green onions, more if you like green onions<br />- 1 cup of diced sweet onions<br />- a couple of scrapes of Nutmeg<br />- a big pinch of ground cinnamon<br />- Salt to taste, but you don't have to have it in this one!<br /><br />Turn on the reggae, grab a cold beverage and enjoy!Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519661573091607269.post-55537040525357631802009-03-04T17:20:00.001-08:002009-03-04T17:27:06.505-08:00Our Title Sponsor for thinkGREEN 2009!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yD4m-_mMAecu45pQubwSfqGSdVNft6j6zOjMnWEpFXWBj7vh6HXGR0YTGkWbVNVsE2B5L8zUhwYmuCrJoI3nkYGXAR4PZmr2UwsO9rLVCs9vSvcjuDbX-CK7nnR71y3QloUtCZHEEsiO/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 83px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yD4m-_mMAecu45pQubwSfqGSdVNft6j6zOjMnWEpFXWBj7vh6HXGR0YTGkWbVNVsE2B5L8zUhwYmuCrJoI3nkYGXAR4PZmr2UwsO9rLVCs9vSvcjuDbX-CK7nnR71y3QloUtCZHEEsiO/s200/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309508626588939394" border="0" /></a><br />Whole Foods (Deerfield Towne Center & Rookwood) have agreed to be this year's thinkGREEN title sponsor! We are so excited to have them be a part of this year's event again! Please mark your calendars for April 25th from noon til 6:30pm for the thinkGREEN Earth Day event! For more information go to the <a href="http://marvinsorganicgardens.com/earthday09.php">Marvin's Organic Gardens</a> website.<br /><br />If you are intersted in participating in the event as a vendor, please contact Audrey Keyes at 513-984-8278 or Drew Overbeck at 513-200-4872.Marvin's Organic Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13149477197640369043noreply@blogger.com0