This Stylish Table Is the “Next Generation” of Automated Urban Farming

One of the more promising urban-farm concepts is not in New York, Los Angeles, or any other major city. It’s in Charlottesville, Virginia, courtesy of one University of Virginia alum and a very small team of employees.

Recent grad Alexander Olsen started Babylon Micro-Farms in 2016, as part of the UVA student entrepreneurial clubhouse, HackCville. An early prototype won $6,500 from Green Initiatives Funding Tomorrow, part of the UVA student council.

Now, Olsen and six other employees are working to get the hydroponic farms inside the homes of consumers, billing them as “the next generation home appliance.”

Read the FULL STORY at: “TheSpoon.Tech“

6 More Reasons to Love DUTCH Hormone Testing

I am super excited!  Yes, my excitement is over a hormone test.  You may have already noticed how much I love using DUTCH hormone testing with my clients.  I talk about it a lot on my Instagram and often even show you a glimpse into the results I see with my own clients.  The great news is that they are adding even more beneficial information and not changing the price, not even by one penny!

What are they adding?

They are adding six organic acids tests (OATs).  Organic acids are metabolic byproducts of cellular metabolism and they can be measured from a urine sample.  This comprehensive hormone test is already super informative, but now it’s even better.  Starting January 2, 2018, Precision Analytical, Inc.  is adding three neurotransmitter metabolites to offer insights into symptoms such as mood disorders and fatigue, and will be combined with markers for vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and glutathione deficiency.  A neurotransmitter is a substance that sends signals between nerve cells in the brain and they body.

Neurotransmitter Metabolites

Homovanillate (HVA) the primary metabolite of dopamine

Vanilmandelate (VMA) the primary metabolite of norepinephrine/epinephrine

5- Hydroxyindoleacetate (5HIAA) the primary metabolite of serotonin

These three organic acids are the primary metabolites of dopamine, norephinephrine and serotonin.  Dopamine is produced by the brain and acts as a chemical messenger between brain cells.  If dopamine is low it can contribute to fatigue, low motivation, inability to handle stress, Parkinson’s, ADHD, depression, and addiction issues.

Norephinephrine is released from the adrenal glands as part of the body’s response to stress.  With this information we get even more insight into the adrenal and HPA (hypothalamus pituitary adrenal) axis function.  Low levels of norepinephrine may also lead to conditions such as ADHD, depressions, and very low blood pressure.

Many clients with low hormone levels report symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and depression. Serotonin deficiency can also contribute significantly to these issues.  Prolonged periods of stress, poor diet, toxins, and hormone changes can lead to depleted serotonin levels.  Serotonin affects every part of your body and is responsible for many important functions including bowel movements, sleep, bone health, and sexual function.  If your levels aren’t in balance, it can impact your mental, physical, and emotional health.

Nutritional Organic Acids

Methylmalonate marker for vitamin B12

Xanthurenate marker for vitamin B6

Pyroglutamate marker for glutathione

These three organic acids act as functional markers of nutrient deficiency.  When the body has inadequate cellular levels of vitamin B12, vitamin B6, or glutathione, levels of their corresponding organic acid build up and spill into the urine.  In some cases, these markers are more effective than measuring the nutrient directly in the blood.  Organic acid tests show you if you have enough of a nutrient to meet your specific metabolic needs; one step up from simply counting how much of a vitamin is in your blood.  Not all vitamins are stored in the blood.  Vitamin B12 is stored in the liver, so blood levels may not be the most accurate.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is thought to be one of the leading nutrient deficiencies.  It is an important nutrient to support your mood, energy levels, heart, skin, hair, memory, and digestion.  B12 is also essential when addressing adrenal fatigue and hormonal balance due to its link to adrenal cortex stress.  Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include fatigue, brain fog, memory problems, muscle weakness, unsteady gait, numbness, tingling, depression, migraines/headaches, and low blood pressure.

Vitamin B6 benefits the nervous system, balanced blood sugar levels, mood, immune system, and energy levels.  Symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency include changes in mood, such as irritability, anxiety and depression, confusion, muscle pains, low energy, or fatigue.  Birth control pills tend to create lower levels of vitamin B6 and B12 so if you have ever taken oral contraceptives you may be deficient.

Glutathione is one of the most potent antioxidants in the human body.  It is especially important in getting rid of toxins and can protect against cancer, aging, heart problems, and brain diseases.  Poor diet, pollution, toxins, medications, stress, trauma, aging, and infections can deplete your glutathione levels.

You can see why I am so thrilled that Precision Analytical, Inc. continues to add to the already advanced DUTCH test for hormones.  I am excited to see how my clients will benefit from these additions.  Ready to work on balancing your hormones and get a comprehensive look at your personal levels?  Schedule a FREE 30 minute discovery call using the link below.

Schedule Your FREE 30 Minute Discovery Call

The post 6 More Reasons to Love DUTCH Hormone Testing appeared first on The Organic Dietitian.

Loosened Restrictions Could Bring More Urban Farms

-Chattanooga city officials recently approved an ordinance that makes it easier for residents to establish urban farms within city limits.-

“From the front, D.B. Reisen’s home looks no different than any other lining Davidson Road.

Step out back, however, and you’ll find a dozen chickens clustered in a shed, 15 sheep grazing under the protection of a coyote-kicking guard horse, and a trio of cattle watching it all lazily from behind a hot-wire fence.

The scene is not completely uncommon along the well-trafficked corridor. A handful of Reisen’s neighbors house goats, donkeys and chickens of their own.”

Read the FULL STORY at: “TimesFreePress.com“

CropSwap is Hosting a FREE Seed Club Giveaway!

Our friends at CropSwap are hosting another giveaway!

Enter to win a FREE 3 Month Subscription to our Monthly Seed & Garden Club. Entering is fast and easy!

Just head on over to their Instagram page at http://ift.tt/2pC8t2p, to enter. Good-luck!

To LEARN MORE about our Monthly Seed & Garden Club, please visit us at: http://ift.tt/1Su1g8E

Oakland Museum of California Embraces Urban Farming in its New Exhibition

The Oakland Museum of California unveiled its new exhibit “Take Root: Oakland Grows Food” over the weekend. It highlights the different food communities and how food is grown by residents within in the city.

“The Oakland Museum of California is really interested in social justice issues and how they effect the citizens living here,” says Sarah Seiter, the curator. “There’s a lot of issues with food access in Oakland.”

Listen to the STORY here: “https://ww2.kqed.org“

“Focusing on the cultivation of food right here in Oakland, the exhibition looks at how positive ecological practices are happening—and can continue to evolve—in our own backyard.  “Urban gardens are a vital part of our cities, and are places where people not only cultivate food but also grow community and nurture healthy ecosystems,” says Associate Curator of Natural Sciences Sarah Seiter.”

“The exhibition is divided into three main sections. The first explores where gardens grow, and the conditions that help or impede successful urban gardening. Interactive maps show “food deserts”—the areas with compromised access to food—and areas with higher degrees of gentrification and soil contamination.”

Another section takes a deep dive into garden ecosystems, examining how things grow, and the organisms and conditions that impact cultivation. Curious about which insects are friends and which ones aren’t? Want to know how different species—including humans—come together to create a productive garden? Interactive displays allow visitors to explore inter-species relationships, inviting them to learn about helpful pollinators, harmful parasites, and other living things. And a play area encourages kids to immerse themselves in a fanciful garden-like setting. “It’s all about interaction,” Seiter explains. “We want to offer opportunities for wonder, engagement, and fun.” via: “http://museumca.org“

Tour Rob Greenfield’s Simple Sustainable Apartment

“Want to see what my life was like 3 years ago when I still lived in a “normal apartment?” I think many of you may find this more relatable and achievable than living in a tiny house or with just 111 possessions so I’m really excited to share this with you!” Rob Greenfield

#urbanorganicgardener – Real-Time Instagrams

WIN a FREE 3 Month Subscription to UOG’s Monthly Seed Club!

Los Olivos Park in Phoenix could be home to urban farm, market

“PHOENIX – Los Olivos Park in Phoenix could be home to a first-of-its-kind urban farm, market and education center.

“There’s nowhere that a child can go today, [who] lives in the core of Phoenix — in this neighborhood, to actually see a working example of agriculture,” said Aric Mei, a local restaurateur behind the project. Mei is working with Matthew Moore, a friend and fourth-generation Valley farmer. ”

Read the FULL STORY, at: “ABC15.com“

Money being raised to turn Indy home into place for people to learn urban gardening

“INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – An effort to create urban gardens on the northwest side of Indianapolis is moving ahead. The Kheprw Institute is raising $30,000 to renovate a home on Boulevard Place and turn it into an urban agriculture learning lab.

The community will be invited to learn how to create their own urban garden and borrow tools to help them get started.

The home will include a board of health-approved kitchen to teach families how to prepare the food they grow themselves. The goal is to address a food access crisis in the area.”

Read the FULL STORY at: “Fox59.com“

Take a Stroll Through Detroit’s Urban Agrihood

“While Detroit has many urban farms, the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI) has recently amped up the discussion about development around these farms. Last winter, the non-profit announced their proposed urban agrihood around their two-acre farm in the North End. Curbed’s video team recently visited the farm to see the impact on real estate in the area.

An agrihood is an alternative neighborhood growth model, positioning agriculture as the centerpiece of a mixed-use development. There are some agrihoods around the country, but this is the first within a city.

MUFI is working on renovating a three-story blighted building into a community center near the farm. In the video, a recent home buyer in the area discusses the appeal of living near a farm like this in an urban environment, noting its proximity and easy access to attractions in the city—the Qline and the Fisher Building are just a few blocks away.”

Read the FULL STORY at: “Detroit.curbed.com“

Immune Boosting Elderberry Lavender Latte

It is now cold and flu season, a time when everyone tries to find ways to boost their immune system to prevent catching the next virus making the rounds.  My husband recently experienced his first illness of the season – luckily I didn’t end up with it myself.  I like to attribute that to my conscious effort to take care of my immune system all year long.  A new concoction that I whipped up to do just that is this Immune Boosting Elderberry Lavender Latte.  All year long I have been searching for the perfect way to incorporate elderberries into a recipe.  I tried elderberry ice cream and even elderberry chia pudding.  Both good, but this Immune Boosting Elderberry Lavender Latte is LIFE!

You can leave out the lavender, but I have been obsessed with all things floral lately.  I am not just talking about using lavender essential oil (although amazing in a bath) or buying a bouquet of roses.  I love using dehydrated flowers in nourishing recipes, too.  Flowers can have a ton of health benefits.  Lavender is an herb that can promote restful sleep, improve mood, and help reduce stress.  The good polyphenols (antioxidants) in lavender can reduce bloating and support healthy levels of gut bacteria.  Since much of your immune system is located in your gut it is important to support it as much as possible.

Elderberry is commonly used to boost the immune system particularly during a cold or the flu due to its antiviral properties (1).  These little berries have anthocyanidins (which gives them their purple color) that can help stimulate the immune system.  The nutrients in elderberries can also support healthy levels of inflammation, which may also benefit someone suffering from a sinus infection.

It doesn’t end there; raw honey also has some beneficial antimicrobial, antiviral and antibacterial properties (2, 3).  Much of this is due to the natural vitamins, enzymes, antioxidants, and other important nutrients found in raw honey.

Boost your immune system with a Elderberry Lavender Latte @organicRD
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Not only can this latte support a healthy immune system but it is free of caffeine.  I often recommend my clients avoid all caffeine even if it just for a few months.  Caffeine triggers your bodies stress response so it can be hard on the often already stressed out adrenal glands.  Your liver also has to work on metabolizing caffeine which can contribute to estrogen dominance.  Other great caffeine free alternatives to that morning jolt of caffeine also include my Homemade Herbal Coffee or Molasses Milk.

Hope you have a healthy winter season!

 

Immune Boosting Elderberry Lavender Latte

 

Print

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

25 mins

 

Immune Boosting Elderberry Lavender Latte Author: Sara Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 25 mins Serves: 1

Author: Sara

Serves: 1

Ingredients

• 2 cups almond milk
• 2 teaspoons dried elderberries
• ½ teaspoon dried food grade lavender flowers
• 1 tablespoon coconut butter
• drizzle raw honey to taste
• 1 scoop collagen powder

Instructions

1. Add the almond milk, elderberries and lavender to a small sauce pan.
2. Warm over low heat and allow the mixture to steep for about 20 minutes.
3. Use a fine mesh strainer to strain the milk into a blender.
4. Add the coconut butter, honey and collagen powder.
5. Blend until smooth and frothy.
6. Serve immediately.

3.4.3177

 

The post Immune Boosting Elderberry Lavender Latte appeared first on The Organic Dietitian.

Woman Sues City Of Tulsa For Cutting Down Her Edible Garden

“A Tulsa woman is suing the city’s code enforcement officers after she said they cut down her garden with no cause.

Denise Morrison said she has more than 100 plant varieties in her front and back yards and all of them are edible and have a purpose.

She knows which ones will treat arthritis, which will make your food spicy, which ones keep mosquitoes away and treat bug bites, but she said none of that matter to city inspectors.”

Watch the Video: NewsOn6.com – Tulsa, OK – News, Weather, Video and Sports – KOTV.com |

Read the FULL STORY at: “NewsOn6.com“

This Underground Urban Farm Also Heats The Building Above It

“Underneath a 26-floor office tower in Stockholm, an underground space once used as an archive for a newspaper will soon become a farm. And because of a unique business model, the urban farmers growing greens in the new farm won’t pay rent–their farm will pay for itself in heat.

Like some other indoor farms, the Plantagon CityFarm, set to begin production in early 2018, will grow greens in vertical towers under LED lights. But by capturing the heat from the lights–heat that would normally have to be vented out of the room and require air conditioning to keep the plants from overheating–the farm operators can send it into a heat storage system for the office building, and the heat can be used to help keep the offices warm through the winter.”

Read the FULL STORY at: “FastCompany.com“

This Urban Farm is Growing Over 40 Varieties of HOT Peppers!

“Not too far off Mopac in southwest Austin there’s an urban garden growing all sorts of peppers. Alejandra Rodriguez Bougton tells us more about La Flaca Urban Gardens.”

Story via: “Fox7Austin.com“

Gluten Free Fruitcake Bars – A Modern Twist on a Classic

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sprouts Farmers Market.  All opinions are 100% mine. 

I have a confession to make: I have never eaten a piece of fruitcake in my entire life.  I remember that my grandpa loved fruitcake; we bought him one for the holidays every year, famous for its neon-colored fruit pieces.  Fruitcake has been around for a very long time.  In the 16th century it was discovered that fruit could be preserved in high concentrations of sugar, which created an abundance of candied fruit.  This made fruitcakes very popular.  You may have heard the jokes about how fruitcakes last forever.  Fruitcakes that contain a lot of alcohol are essentially preserved and can last for years.  Overall this holiday dessert has gotten a bad wrap but I gave it a makeover with my Gluten Free Fruitcake Bars.

 

Part of my Gluten Free Fruitcake Bars makeover includes swapping out brightly colored candied fruit for more nutritious organic dried fruit from Sprouts Farmers Market abundant bulk bins.  Soaking the dried fruit for about an hour plumps them up and helps introduce more moisture into the bars.  Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom are some of my favorite spices and they add traditional holiday flavors to these bars.  Sprouts has an amazing selection of organic spices. Spices are my secret weapons to adding delicious flavor to all my recipes.

Be sure to visit Sprouts’ “Incredible Bulk Sale” which runs from 12/8-12/10/2017.  All “scoopable” bulk items will be 25 percent off during this sale.  The perfect time to purchase ingredients to make these Gluten Free Fruitcake Bars.

In true Organic Dietitian fashion these bars are gluten-free and void of any refined sugar.  In fact, I kept the overall sugar content down by swapping out some of the brown coconut sugar for more natural applesauce.  This trick also helps keep the bars super moist and delicious!  So, if you are like me and don’t think fruitcake is your thing, then I challenge you to give these Gluten Free Fruitcake Bars a try.

 

Gluten Free Fruitcake Bars

 

Print

Prep time

1 hour

Cook time

35 mins

Total time

1 hour 35 mins

 

A modern take on the traditional holiday fruitcake. Full of dried fruit, warming spices, and crunchy pecans in one gluten free and vegan treat.

Author: Sara

Serves: 16

Ingredients

• ½ cup brown coconut sugar
• ½ cup unsweetened and plain applesauce
• 1 ¼ cup water
• ½ cup coconut oil
• 1 cup Sprouts bulk bin organic raisins
• 1 cup Sprouts bulk bin organic dried cranberries
• 1 ½ cups 1:1 gluten free flour mix (such as Bob’s Red Mill brand)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon Sprouts brand organic nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon Sprouts brand organic cloves
• ¼ teaspoon Sprouts brand organic cardamom
• 2 teaspoon Sprouts brand organic cinnamon
• ½ cup Sprouts bulk bin organic pecans, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix the first five ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil; remove from heat and cool for one hour while the dried fruit rehydrates.
3. In a separate bowl, add the flour and blend in the other dry ingredients.
4. Stir in the cooled fruit mixture.
5. Mix in the chopped nuts.
6. Spread dough evenly in an 8x8 baking pan lined with parchment paper. The dough will be thick.
7. Bake 35-40 minutes until fully set and cooked through.
8. Allow the bars to cool and gently cut into 16 squares with a serrated knife.
9. Store tightly covered for up to three days.
10. Fruitcake will keep up to a week in the fridge, but the bars with harden in the fridge due to the coconut oil. Can soften on the counter before serving.

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The post Gluten Free Fruitcake Bars – A Modern Twist on a Classic appeared first on The Organic Dietitian.

Apple and Sweet Potato Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

This post is in partnership with BCBSAZ but all thoughts are my own. 

Nourishing Arizona was started by BCBSAZ (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona) to help educate our community about nutrition and why it matters.  We see the health problems that result from poor nutrition.  While good nutrition is only one piece of the health puzzle, it is an important component.  I see it every day in my private practice – how changing what you eat can impact how you feel.  One obstacle that seems to come up over and over is lack of time to spend in the kitchen cooking nourishing meals.  Before you visit the drive thru, I want to introduce you to easy sheet pan dinners.  All you need is your favorite seasonal vegetables, a good protein source, and a sheet pan.  A healthy and tasty dinner can be on the table in 30 minutes or less.

I recently posted a picture in my Instagram stories showing a sheet tray full of vegetables that I was going to roast for the week.  Surprisingly I got some questions about what vegetables I used, what seasoning I put on them, and how I roasted them.  Spending most of my life loving the time I can spend in the kitchen combined with a nutrition background, I tend to forget that not everyone is a food expert.  Lets spend some time talking about how to season and roast vegetables in one pan and how to make it a complete meal without a lot of effort.

Sheet pan dinners can make eating healthier easier.  There are hundreds of combinations you can use to switch the flavors up and better yet have one pan to clean at the end of the meal.  And do it all in 30 minutes!

Tips to creating an easy sheet pan dinner|

Give harder vegetables like potatoes and carrots more time to cook.  If you are adding a softer vegetable like asparagus or tomatoes, add them 10-15 minutes before the pan comes out of the oven so they don’t get mushy.

Keep the vegetables roughly the same size.  When adding potatoes, bell peppers or onions, cut the ingredients to the same size (3/4 – 1 inch pieces work well) to ensure they cook at the same rate of time.

Line the sheet pan with unbleached parchment paper or a silpat to make clean up super easy.

Lightly coat the vegetables with coconut or avocado oil before roasting to prevent them from drying out while cooking.

Any protein works well, including salmon, chicken, pork, or beef.  Keep the pieces the size of a deck of cards.  Too small and they will dry out and get tough.  To large and they won’t cook all the way through.  If using shrimp, add the shrimp halfway into cooking your vegetables.

Don’t overcrowd the sheet pan.  Keep everything to one layer for even cooking.  You can always cook your meal on two sheet pans if you are feeding more people.

Ideas to get your creative juices flowing|

• Salmon, Brussels sprouts, and butternut squash with honey mustard and pecans
• Sliced sausage, bell peppers, green beans, red onion, and halved fingerling potatoes seasoned with salt and pepper
• Chicken, tomatoes, zucchini, and onion with Italian seasoning
• Shrimp, bell peppers, and onion with taco seasoning and squeezed with lime before serving
• Apple and sweet potato chicken sheet pan dinner (recipe below)

Leftover Tip|  Cut the chicken into cubes.  Serve the chicken and roasted vegetables and apples over chopped kale (or your favorite green) and top with a simple dressing.  Mix 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons avocado or olive oil, and a squirt of Dijon mustard into a jar.  Shake the jar to mix the dressing and pour over the salad.  Done! 

Apple and Sweet Potato Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

35 mins

 

Apple and Sweet Potato Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner Author: Sara Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 25 mins Total time: 35 mins Serves: 4

Author: Sara

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 large sweet potato, cut into ¾ inch pieces (about 3 cups)
• 2 cored apples, cut into ¾ inch pieces (I used Gala)
• 1 medium red onion, peeled and cut into ¾ inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon fresh or dry thyme
• ½ teaspoon allspice
• 1 pound chicken thighs

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Mix the spices together in a small bowl.
3. Coat the potato, apple, and onion in coconut oil.
4. Sprinkle half of the seasoning mixture onto the vegetables and mix to coat.
5. Spread the vegetables and apple mixture into a single layer on a lined 13x18 inch sheet pan.
6. Season both sides of the chicken with the other half of the seasoning mix.
7. Place the chicken on top of the vegetables.
8. Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender and chicken is cooked through.
9. Serve immediately.

3.4.3177

 

The post Apple and Sweet Potato Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner appeared first on The Organic Dietitian.

Organic board: aeroponics out, hydroponics, aquaponics in

“At long last, hydroponic organic produce suppliers can breathe easier.

By a vote of 8 to 7, the National Organic Standards Board on Nov. 1 rejected proposals to make hydroponic and aquaponic production methods prohibited under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program.

The prelude to the NOSB meeting generated intense lobbying efforts by the National Organic Coalition, the Cornucopia Institute and others promoting the necessity of soil-based organic production systems. However, their efforts to prohibit hydroponic systems for organic production were turned back by the NOSB, delivering a win to organic producers such as Wholesum Harvest and the greenhouse lobbying group, the Coalition for Sustainable Organics.”

Read the FULL STORY, at: “ThePacker.com“

Landowners spurn tax breaks to convert vacant lots to urban farms

Starting this month, Long Beach landowners who don’t convert their vacant parcels to small urban farms or community gardens will be billed a monthly fee to pay for city code enforcement officers to monitor the lots so they don’t turn into illegal dumping grounds or havens for crime.

The city will be charging owners a $53 dollar monthly fee to cover oversight of some 618 vacant lots, said Larry Rich, manager of Long Beach’s office of sustainability says.

“People will end up having to pay an additional fee to the city to have a vacant lot,” Rich said. They can avoid that fee if they do urban agriculture there instead.”

Read the FULL STORY at: “SCPR.org“

Extra Strength Seed Trays from Bootstrap Farmer!

Learn more about Bootstrap Farmer and check out their products, HERE!

WHAT WE DO

At Bootstrap Farmer, we want to help you get your small farm, garden or business off the ground.  Whether that’s through our equipment line, fertility management services or our blog resources, we are here to help make your project a success.

HOW IT STARTED…

Bootstrap Farmer sprung out of my Farm-to-Table Food Truck Model, Veg2Bowl,  in Eastern North Carolina.  I was growing vegetables & herbs in high tunnel greenhouses which would go right onto the mobile kitchen. Since it’s a certified commercial kitchen, I am able to harvest, prepare and serve it in meals to customers all on the same day with little to no waste.

Some of the foods that I most frequently grow are lettuce, kale, chard, microgreens, tomatoes, peppers, and onions.  And of course, a few chickens for pasture raised eggs. I was doing a local & fresh version of Blue Apron, except everything was already prepared ready to eat or ready to be heated, along with private events & festivals.

AN IDEA…

For better or worse, while I was building the farm for Veg2Bowl, I was noticing tons of things on my little farm that I wish were better or more efficient. After months of research, I had figured out the most efficient way to build a high tunnel greenhouse, because knowing I had to build it myself with savings from living with mom & dad, I was not going to waste a dime.  Then while running the farm, I had the tiny idea of making seed trays so durable, I’d stop breaking them myself.

Maybe it was because I had already quit my previous job and left everything behind, I was feeling adventurous? I still don’t know, but, what I did know is that I could provide value to people. From there, there was no turning back.  The idea to create an ultra durable seed tray & a better high-tunnel greenhouse kit was the germination of Bootstrap Farmer, which has now grown into something I could have never imagined.

THE EVOLUTION…

However… that came at a cost.  I was struggling trying to run 2 completely new businesses.  I was running a food truck, greenhouses and building an e-commerce business – all from scratch & all by myself (did I mention I also had no previous experience in any of it?)  Somehow, by some miracle, both businesses were off to a great start, but it was becoming clear, in order to build either one of them into a long-term business, something had to change.

Check out the rest of their products, HERE!

Jellyfish Barge: The 750 sq ft Floating Agricultural Greenhouse!

“Thinking about having your own greenhouse but not sure about how to be practical, efficient and environmentally friendly? If you want to check the previous 3 points and at the same time use simple materials and low-cost technology in an innovative approach to growing plants, than this following project will be perfect!

The 750 square feet octagonal shape barge is probably the most creative greenhouse in recent times. Jellyfish Barge, as it is known, floats on the water due to recycled plastic barrels but it is also a solar powered greenhouse. Besides the solar and wind sources, which by the way provide with enough energy to power-up the pumps or any fans included in the greenhouse, you even have the water waves giving energy! How cool is that? Grow your garden on this unique system.

Check out the project in further detail to learn all about how it works and to get a better look at the planter ladder system inside. If you were pondering about choosing a greenhouse design before, you surely made up your mind thanks to this genius floating greenhouse!”

See more at: “GoodsHomeDesign.com“

Meet Malawi: Indoor Gardening Just Got Real [INDIEGOGO Campaign]

Just Grow has taken the mess and stress out of bringing nature indoors to nourish your mind, body, and life. Our innovative indoor garden, Malawi is an ecosystem that helps you grow food and connect with nature.

Americans spend 93% of their time indoors and only 7% outdoors. This creates a negative impact on our minds, bodies, and the planet. The problem is, our living spaces weren’t designed to coexist with nature which has been found to reduce stress and anxiety. Just Grow designs cutting-edge indoor gardens that use a small-scale ecosystem to combine sustainable living with modern design.

BACK this project on INDIEGOGOLearn more about Elegant & Sustainable Indoor Gardening, HERE! 

Community Gardens are Spreading Across the USA

“Community gardens are spreading across the USA! The community garden movement started in the early 1900’s. Today there are over 18,000 community gardens in the USA and Canada! From urban cities to small towns, they are helping the grow-your-own-food movement to flourish. Community gardens offer a place to grow food for people who don’t have the space, a place to learn from each other and help each other, a refuge for people and wildlife, and simply a place to grow fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables. Do you have a community garden in your community? Join one or start one today with your friends!

Rob Greenfield is an adventurer, activist, and humanitarian for a sustainable and just world. He donates 100% of his media income to grassroots nonprofits. His YouTube channel is a source for all things sustainable living, off the grid, simple living, zero waste, tiny house, grow your own food, cycling, and green.”

Vertical Gardening – 11 ways to get your vegetables to grow up

TIP 1– Soft, pouch-type containers are best for shallow roots like herbs, onions and succulents. Plants such as strawberries, lettuces and bushy veggies such as peppers like a larger, more rigid container. Tomatoes do best in large pots with some kind of support, like a cage.

TIP 2– Some kits have self-watering systems, but Forster just uses a “cute little watering can” to keep her patio garden hydrated. Don’t let your plants sit too long in standing water — that can suffocate the roots — but do find a way to contain the runoff from your plants so you don’t make a mess or drip on the balcony downstairs. Giving plants a little elevation, by perching it up on bricks or rocks inside a tray, would do the trick.

TIP 3– Use a good quality potting soil so roots can stretch and breath and make the most of their container. “‘Fluffy’ soils are best,” she said, “with stuff like peat moss, perlite and compost.”

Read MORE ways you can GROW VERTICALLY, HERE: “LATimes.com“

Butterfly gardening relieves stress, provides homes for declining species

“Butterfly gardening can be a relaxing and rewarding experience for people across all ages and backgrounds. For students, it may seem like a hassle and unwanted expense to find the right materials and proper equipment for gardening. However, with enough information and many resources to consult on campus, students can still tend to a small garden.

Butterflies are majestic and intricate creatures, especially when provided the chance to look at them up close without worrying about one flying off immediately. They are also pollinators, which are vital to keeping ecosystems running.

One of the most important aspects to keep in mind when butterfly gardening is knowing the environment, as well as the types of plants that will thrive and attract butterflies. Many guides exist on the internet, but do not necessarily pertain to the Davis and Sacramento areas and weather patterns. If space is a problem in a dorm or apartment, getting a window box on a balcony with enough sunlight and the correct plant can still provide a great habitat for butterflies.”

Read the FULL STORY at: “TheAggie.org“

23 Nutritous Recipes to Eat Seasonally and Buy Local This Fall

This post was created in partnership with BCBSAZ but all thoughts are my own.  I was recently invited to be a part of a Sugar Swap promoting Nourishing Arizona with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ).  The goal of the event was to make it easier for the community to get free fresh fruits and vegetables.  People visited the Uptown Farmers Market and swapped any food item with more than seven grams of sugar in exchange for $5 in Homegrown Healthy Bucks, good for fresh produce.  The wrappers from the donated food items became part of a creative art installation made by a local artist.

It was an amazing event and I was pleasantly surprised to see a number of kids exchange their Halloween candy  for something more nutritious.  Getting kids involved in cooking, planning meals, and even shopping for fresh healthy foods can get them excited about eating well.  Teaching kids from a young age the importance of healthy eating is one of the best lessons they can learn.

Eating local – and with the Seasons!

A lesson for all of us to learn is the importance of  how to eat seasonally and locally.  Doing so ensures that you are getting the most nutrient-dense and fresh foods.  Produce starts losing its nutritional value as soon as it is harvested.  Items that travel long distances to make it to your local grocery store lose vitamins and minerals along the way. When you buy locally, you are not only supporting your community, you’re also reaping more health benefits from your food.

Try it out!

I challenge you to start swapping out processed foods and unnatural sugar for some fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables.  Roasted apple or pears sprinkled with cinnamon can replace sugary treats.  Scrambled eggs with sauteed vegetables can replace that morning bowl of cereal.  Start at home. Spend some time with your kids examining the food labels on some items in your pantry.  Teach your kids about what to look at including looking for a low sugar content and how to spot processed ingredients.  Even create your own type of Homegrown Healthy Bucks at home (use Monopoly money!) to get the kids more involved with grocery shopping.

Starting nutrition education at an early age can set your kids up for a lifetime of good habits.  Getting them involved by shopping at your local farmers market is an educational activity and the kids can speak directly to the farmers about how food is grown.  Then when you stock your fridge with some nutritious fruits and vegetables you can use the recipes below to get started cooking.

Here are some recipes I recommend that call for in-season produce:

Sparkling Apple Pear Cider

Crock Pot Apple Pie Amaranth Porridge

Roasted Beet and Arugula Salad

Arugula and Date Salad

Bacon Wrapped Basil Stuffed Mushrooms

Back to Basics Green Smoothie

Cauliflower and Broccoli Salad

Carrot Pudding

Carrot and Beet Cakes with Avocado Mash

Sweet Potato and Kale Corn Chowder

Corn Fritters with Chipotle Cream

Cucumber Mint Slushy

Healthy Green Bean Casserole

Green Beans and Carrots in Tomato Sauce

Crock Pot Pear Butter

Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans, and Mushrooms

Sesame Sweet Potato Noodles

Fudgy Double Pumpkin Brownies

Kabucha Squash Egg Quiche

Kale and Butternut Squash Breakfast Bowl

Toasted Tomato Vinaigrette

Salmon Dill Zucchini Noodles

Grilled Zucchini with Pea, Mint, and Ginger Pesto

The post 23 Nutritous Recipes to Eat Seasonally and Buy Local This Fall appeared first on The Organic Dietitian.

He gave up a career in software to start urban gardening company My Sunny Balcony

After 10 years as a software professional, Sriram Aravamudan found his calling in beautifying Bengaluru’s balconies with My Sunny Balcony. Read his inspiring #PassionToPaycheck story below.

My Sunny Balcony – the name conjures up images of warm sunshine on cold winter mornings, steaming cups of tea, and gently swaying palms and bright bougainvillea flowers in equally bright planters.

I could go on with the imagery, more so as it is so far from what it really is – it’s rainy in Bengaluru, my balcony is flooded, the swing is wet and my plants have hung their heads in defeat!

Read the full story at: “YourStory.com“

Hydroponic Veggies Are Taking Over Organic, And A Move To Ban Them Fails

“Dave Chapman and dozens of other longtime organic farmers packed a meeting of the National Organic Standards Board in Jacksonville, Fla., this week. It was their last-ditch effort to strip the organic label from a tide of fluid-fed, “hydroponic” greenhouse-grown vegetables that they think represent a betrayal of true organic principles.

“It really goes to the foundation of what organic farming means,” says Chapman, who grows vegetables on his farm in East Thetford, Vt. Abby Youngblood, executive director of the National Organic Coalition, said that “we’re seeing, here in Jacksonville, a lot of support for the founding principles of organic, which are really about soil health, regenerating the soil,” rather than simply feeding plants the nutrients that they need.

Their protests, however, failed to convince a majority of the board, which voted, 8-7, against a ban on hydroponic methods in organic farming.”

Read the REST OF THE STORY, at: “NPR.org“

7 tips to ensure a flourishing indoor herb garden

“If you live in an apartment block or, have a tiny garden and would love to start your own herb garden, we have good news for you:  don’t allow either of these factors to deter you.

You really can create your own herb garden indoors – all you need is a sunny balcony or, an unused space on your naturally-lit kitchen counter. Creating your very own herb garden really is that simple, not to mention incredibly rewarding.

The benefits are innumerable, from enjoying more flavourful food, to lower grocery costs as well as it being a wonderful way to teach your children about nature and caring for a garden.”

Read the rest of the article HERE!

Why you shouldn’t clean up the garden this fall

Question: I’ve heard conflicting information about fall-winter garden clean up. Some advice says clean up and cut back perennials. Other sources say to leave seed heads and leaves, etc., for wildlife habitat. Which advice is better?

Answer: If you love nature, then I say leave the garden with her leaves, berries, pods and seeds for the birds, bees, bugs, snakes and salamanders.

READ the REASONS WHY you shouldn’t clean up your garden this fall, here: “StatesmanJournal.com“

Turns Out Bees Can Be Right- or Left-Handed, Just Like Humans

“Researchers have discovered that bees can have a preference for left or right – influencing their decisions while they navigate obstacles in flight.

Unlike humans, though, bees don’t seem to favour one or the other across the wider population. But any individual bee could either be strongly left- or right-biased in equal proportion, and some have no preference at all.”

Read more about this at: “ScienceAlert.com“

Dairy-Free Loaded Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sprouts Farmers Market. All opinions are 100% mine.  This time of the year people are starting to plan big get-togethers with family and friends.  Spending time with loved ones is a big reason why I love the holidays.  What is one thing that is always present during these special events?  Lots of good food that you can share with a crowd!  This Dairy-Free Loaded Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese is the perfect entrée.  Pumpkin adds a fun fall twist and omitting the cheese helps ensure that those with dairy intolerances still have a tasty option.

I don’t know about you but whenever I have a lot of people over everyone seems to be following a different diet.  Maybe you have some friends that are vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, or grain-free.  This dish will satisfy everyone.

I start by using lentil pasta to bump up the protein content for my meat-free friends.  Then I serve some additional toppings on the side to create a fun mac and cheese bar.  Your guests can customize their meal with additions like diced bacon, sliced chicken, sautéed spinach or kale, parmesan cheese, or toasted breadcrumbs. This allows your guests to get creative and make a meal that fits their own needs and tastes.

It doesn’t have to be expensive to create healthy and delicious food for a crowd.  Dairy-Free Loaded Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese is a cost effective way to make a dish that just about everyone can enjoy.  What are your favorite ways to feed a crowd?

Dairy-Free Loaded Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

30 mins

 

Author: Sara

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons Sprouts Brand coconut oil
• 4-6 cups chopped broccoli, cauliflower, and butternut squash (cut into same size pieces as the pasta)
• 1- 15 oz. can Sprouts Brand organic canned pumpkin
• 2 teaspoons Sprouts Brand organic garlic powder
• ½ teaspoons Sprouts Brand organic ground cumin
• 1 teaspoons Sprouts Brand organic onion powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• ½ cup nutritional yeast
• 2 cups unflavored and unsweetened almond milk
• 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 16 ounces lentil pasta, cooked as directed

Instructions

1. Toss the chopped vegetables in coconut oil and spread into an even layer on a lined baking sheet.
2. Roast the vegetables in the oven until tender, about 15 minutes.
3. In a blender add all of the ingredients for the dairy free pumpkin sauce (from canned pumpkin to apple cider vinegar).
4. Blend until creamy.
5. Toss together the cooked pasta, roasted vegetables, and pumpkin sauce in a large stock pot over medium heat on the stove.
6. Coat the vegetables and pasta in the pumpkin sauce.
7. Cook on the stove until the sauce is heated through, about 5-8 minutes.
8. Transfer to a large serving dish and serve immediately.

3.4.3177

 

The post Dairy-Free Loaded Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese appeared first on The Organic Dietitian.