Organics Odyssey (misc. Organic Foods, Lifestyles, Sites, & Info)

Fellow Foodies--

Check for an UPDATED INFO regarding the United Foods Buyers Club meeting in Herndon, VA area. Check under my thread "Area Restaurants..." under my post called "United Foods Organic Foods Buying Club Info...".

Just PM me or post inquiries under "United Foods Organic Foods.." thread.

Foodie

 

foodie, as always, thanks for the great info!

 

Gryphon and others--

You are welcome. Hope you and your family had a great holiday. We were in Atlanta, Sarasota, FL and Orlando at Disney World. Kiddos enjoyed trip and meeting great-grandparents. Glad to be back home "down on the farm" literally!

I will be posting more info regarding our future plans for a Mennonite Cafe and Store when appropriate. Gotta hit the books again at Kansas State University for my online Food Science/Nutrition classes soon. Oh, well--vacation is over--ugh!

Have a good time--

Foodie

 

For Farmers Markets and CSA(s) Info--check under post "Food Preservation, CSA(s), Farmers Markets..." where I will post related info. "Organics Odyssey..." will be for Organic Info. PM if needed.

Foodie

 

Check out this article for great Organics/Sustainable Food Info--Enjoy--

www.thedailygreen.com (The Daily Green's site/info is a great resource for "all things Green" for the Consumer(s). It has great links and web sites for Sustainable Seafood, Organic Products, Recipes, etc.)

 

Foodie, I have to say i hope you get good info from your studies. There is SO much conflicting information about what you should and shouldn't eat and how to lose weight, it is absolutely ridiculous! Personally I figure whole foods, moderation, excercising, not smoking , or drinking (too much) is the key. could you Pm me some of what you've learned?

 

Brassy and others--

Yep, I am "fixin" (another Southernism) to study late tonight now that kids and hubby are asleep.:indiff2::indiff2: Sure having every thing in moderation is key to any diet or lifestyle. Even alcohol and the other "vices" can ruin one's diet. We drink also but moderately--not like in college days!

Oh well--nothing is ever easy--is it? What info would you like to know about? Just PM me and I can give info on food-related issues, diets, where to buy foods, etc.

I spoke to the Farmer Cooperative out of PA earlier today. He is emailing me a current list of produce for a Buying Club. Of course, the Cooperative has alot more selections in the Early Spring through Late Fall months of the year--but there is still alot to choose from that local grocers cannot or will not carry due to space and other considerations.

The Produce Buying Club's minimum order is only $150.00. The produce is all Certified Organic. So we would look over the list weekly or maybe bi-weekly and decide on how to "split" the orders.

Salad greens (all types), Micro Greens, Sprouts, Heirloom Beans, Peas, Carrots (Baby and Carrots of various colors--purple, orange, yellow), Melons (more that 10 to 20 varieties in the Summer months), Herbs (all types), Potatoes (Fingerlings and all varieties), Apples, Stone Fruits (peachs, plums, nectarines), Heirloom Tomatoes (Amish rarities and over 50 varieties), other types of produce and Amish products. Yogurts, goat milk and goat milk cheeses and Amish meats also can be brought on the Produce Cooperative's delivery truck. The "extras" are paid separately from the Buying Club. The Cooperative networks with farmers and as a "favor" will offer other types of products. Fresh milk is not offered. Cheeses are when available as well as eggs.

When I have the info--I will let you know for those of you interested. I should have all the details "ironed-out" by mid-February or end of February 2008.

Thanks for the interest in "subverting the middlemen" of the grocery industry.

Foodie

 

More Misc. Resources/Reading/etc. for Organics--


www.ota.com (Organic Trade Association's site/info with online directory of all things Organic.)

www.naturalfoodnet.com (Natural Food Net's site/info for National Directory and International Directory of Certified Organic Companies for foods, organic clothing, farms, etc. Great resources. You can buy directories if you wish.)

 

Hey guys, it's Liz at the Loudoun Times-Mirror. I haven't heard from ANYONE about eating organic. I am planning to go out on Tuesday to the drop off in Herndon (I spoke with Lee Ann who organizes it) and talk to people there, but I'd really like to talk to anyone in Ashburn (or anyone reading this) first about why you/ your family want to eat organic and what benefits you feel it provides. It won't be much of a story without some local people in it! So please if you have five minutes give me a call.:cheerleader:

thanks!

703-777-1111

Sorry to bug you guys. If you don't want to comment please don't feel that I am pressuring you! I just wanted to make sure you all knew I was interested in hearing from ya!


Elizabeth Coe

 

Liz and others--

If you check out my posted web sites/links that may you get "started" in seeing about the Local vs. Organic Foods Movement. There are many resources to avail yourselves of when researching.

Alot of "buzzwords" now in the media (printed and video) are "sustainable, local, 100-Mile Diet (a book was written on this subject recently--I can give you the info if interested--great read!), and how far food travels. Alot of people are shopping at Farmers' Markets, CSA(s), Co-ops, Buying Clubs, and other "outlets" to "cut-out" the high fuel costs in transporting food and produce, buying from farms and keeping them in business, and supporting their local farm economy in numerous ways.

For instance, within 100 to 150 miles, I know of over 200 farms or more--depending on your type of farm products--dairy, meats, or produce--where you can get "year-round" produce--organic and non-organic, grassfed meats, sustainable seafood and fish, etc. Yes, there is a fish farm in Frederick, MD and VA areas that are aquaculture farms. I will provide web sites/links if needed.

It may not be Certified Organic; but the farmers uses "organic farming" methods without paying the high certification fees that are required to be labelled "Certified Organic" by the USDA. Labelling is a big marketing game put out by "mega" food companies. That is why the shift in the food and restaurant industries to promote local, sustainable, and "home-grown" foods and products.

Foodie

 

More Misc. Organic Web Sites/Info, etc.--

www.eatwild.com (Eat Wild's site/info for nationwide info on Organic meats, etc. Also, offers a great book about Grassfed meats, etc.)

www.americangrassfed.org (American Grassfed Association's site/info on Grassfed meats of all kinds nationwide. I know of more Grassfed farms that are not listed with the Association if interested.)

 

Fellow Organic Foodies--

I just received my Co-op America 2008 National Green Pages catalog in the mail today. You can also purchase this catalog at Barnes & Noble and Whole Foods Market stores for $9.95 + tax.

This catalog is published by Co-op America and is a HUGE resource of ALL THINGS ORGANIC (i.e. foods, financial investments, baby products, reading resources, grassfed meats, CSA(s)--that the newspapers do NOT list--, eco-friendly "GREEN" building products, furniture, clothing, business support companies, farms, vacation places,etc.) . You can check it out on their web site below. I like having a hard bound copy to refer to sometimes.

Web site is--

www.coopamerica.org (Co-op America's site/info. Great resource.)

I will add more info later on Organic products, etc.

Foodie

 

More Misc. Organic Info, etc.--


I am reading a great new book that has a great resource guide for eating a plant-based diet, organic foods and sustainable living guide, directories for all things Organic, etc. The book was just recently released and the title is called--"Sunfood Living--Resource Guide for Global Health" written by John McCabe. The ISBN #978-1-55643-733-5 and the retail price is $29.95 and well worth the cost.

I found the book at Barnes & Noble in Reston today after picking up my United Foods order in Herndon. Great book to curl up with tonight. The book has numerous web sites with links and cites various studies regarding nutrition and plant-based diets as well as other information that is fascinating.