Great organic deal!

Had to share a recent find: Hi Health has Sensible Foods Apple Harvest snacks on sale for $1 per bag! (And they taste good!) The convenient, crunch-dried snack is 100% certified organic, fat free, gluten free, GMO free, no added sugar and preservative free. I went a bit crazy, but that's okay. Check out other flavors available and stock up while supplies last!

Summertime snacks

I've heard a lot of moms (and babysitters) asking what kind of healthy but fun treats to give their kiddos while they're home for the summer. I put together a few easy, organic, (and healthy!) snacks to keep them ready for all of those summer activities. Enjoy!

Ants on a Log (a trusty favorite) Organic peanut butter, organic celery & raisins *You can find store-brand organic peanut butter lines that are a bit cheaper than the traditional organic lines (Safeway, Albertsons, Frys, Trader Joes, etc.). Organic celery is important, since it is one of the top 12 vegetables with the highest pesticides. You can always dice up the celery and add it to some gazpacho or something else yummy. See Organic Arizona - Resource for all things organic in Arizona: Organic on a budget Pt. 2

Frozen grapes Speaks for itself. Buy your favorite organic grapes, rinse 'em off and pop them in freezer bags and freeze. One of my favorites during the summer.

Frozen fruit yogurt pops (5 LOVE these! Courtesy of Nazarina of Giddygastronome.com) 1 bottle organic orange juice 1 can peaches in light syrup 1/2 cantaloupe approx. 4 strawberries 1 banana 2 apricots 3 peaches 2 oranges 2 small containers organic, vanilla Greek yogurt 1/4 cup evaporated milk 2 tsp. honey Grab some organic Greek yogurt and buy some of your favorite fruit from your local farmer's market; i.e., peaches, strawberries, blueberries, mangoes, etc. Puree the fruit and mix with the yogurt. Blend with remaining ingredients. Fill up popsicle mold of your choice and freeze overnight. Voila! Yummy, cool AND healthy. Every now and then I'll throw in some shredded coconut and pretend I'm on a beach somewhere :)


Raspberry Sorbet / Slush For those that can't eat dairy, this is a great alternative to the fruit yogurt pops. You can alter the sugar content to your liking. 2/3 cup superfine sugar 1 cup water 23 oz. pureed raspberries 1/4 cup lime juice Mix lime juice with raspberries. Combine sugar & water in medium saucepan and stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat to cool. Mix puree and cool sugar syrup. Pour mixture into a square pan. Freeze for approx. 1 hr, remove and scrape mixture, return to the freezer and repeat 2-3 times.

Cheese chips A tasty alternative to chips. Buy slices of your childs favorite organic cheese. (Swiss seems to cook better). Preheat oven to 325. Cut up slices into chip-sized chunks. Bake for 10-15 minutes depending on how well you want it done.

Monkey Treats Popsicle sticks, bananas cut in half, crushed organic cereal or nuts, melted (organic) semi-sweet chocolate chips. Insert popsicle stick into flat (cut) part of the banana. Freeze for about an hour. Dip banana in melted chocolate then roll in nuts or crushed organic cereal. Wrap the treat in wax paper and freeze until chocolate is melted. Enjoy!

Veggies 'N Dip (or fruit) Cut up a bunch of colorful, organic veggies/fruit and pair with organic light dressing, hummus or yogurt.

If all else fails, stick with watermelon - you can't go wrong!

"What's 'Organic' About Organic?"

Organic Consumers Association

Planting Calendar for the clueless

If you're like me, you have no idea what to plant, when to plant it, etc., when it comes to your organic garden. Dave, The Garden Guy posted this planting calendar to make your gardening life easier. It's extremely user-friendly and offers tips to help you maintain your greenery.

Planting Calendar

Summertime

Some more quick tips for the summer....

We live in the desert and it's 100+ degrees; perfect for drying your clothes outside. Grab an old-fashioned clothes line and some laundry pins and take advantage of the sunshine. PLUS, save on energy costs by not running the dryer and avoiding heating the house up while doing so, (especially when it's 100 degrees at 8 at night). Just make sure to bring it in when you see the black monsoon clouds rolling in - your neighbor doesn't want your undies stuck in their trees or cacti.

Adjust your watering. You may have to bump up watering for your organic garden during the summer, but make sure you're doing it when it's most beneficial. Don't water in the middle of the day - it will evaporate before it gets a chance to get to the roots. Stick to early am or evening.

Photo: © Jonathan Wood / Getty Images

While we're talking about our organic gardens or plants... spread some organic mulch around to help retain that water, (especially if your yard is as hard as ours).

I know I've mentioned it before, but fans make a HUGE (and cheap!) difference in cooling rooms. They can allow you to bump up the air a couple of degrees, while still feeling cool.

Take advantage of the monsoons! Free watering! :) But make sure to turn off watering systems so you don't flood your backyard. Hope everyone is staying cool!

Kudos!

I'm so excited to see the local grocers coming out with their own lines of organic canned goods. I've been especially impressed with Fry's and Safeway with their 'store brands' of organic canned goods. It's supply and demand - if you're local grocer doesn't offer a wide selection, let them know! Hopefully, other stores will follow their lead and realize that families want to be healthier but want a more wallet-friendly way to do so. We have to think long term - the health choices we make now will effect our wallets and lifestyles in the future (i.e., the cost of reactive medicine after your already sick vs. proactive health measures).
I know I've said it before, but I've received a lot of questions from friends and family memebers... you don't have to eat all organic - just do what you can. The small changes will add up to a big difference.

Millions of Peaches, Peaches for Me...

Sorry to be such a slacker lately --- just put the house up for sale and things have been crazy (as usual). I completely forgot to blog about the awesomeness that is Schnepf Farm's organic peaches! I did make it out to their U-Pick though. Although they're not officially labeled 'organic', they are local, (a 4th generation family farm...still in existence in AZ!) AND they're grown with the use of pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals. (I picked enough peaches to have peach pie, crepes, ice cream, cobbler, shakes, etc., for months.) You can even lease your own peach tree for a year! (Seriously thinking about it...)

I highly recommend checking it out next year --- and while you're at it, head down the street to the Queen Creek Olive Mill (organic olive goodness...). Schnepf also offers cool, four course dinners in their peach orchard, courtesy of some of the valley's finest chefs. Check out their site for the next date. Can't wait until next year! I promise I will be on the ball next time :) (And hopefully, I'll have a bunch of new peach recipes!) Have a fabulous weekend!

HOT! HOT! HOT!

I'm sure you've noticed the 100+ degree oven outside already. APS and SRP have posted some helpful tips to reduce energy consumption, save you money and keep you cool this summer.

APS.com SRP.com

My tips: drink LOTS of water and provide lots of water for your pets, (if you think you've had enough, drink more!), head north for a break from the temps, enjoy monsoon season (RAIN!!!), invest in fans, lots of fans, -and- find your local pool or make friends with someone who has one! :)

R.I.P. mini garden...

So...after a month or so, I've decided to start over in my pursuit of my mini container garden. We had an over-watering incident and I don't think the poor veggie & herb stubs are going to recover. (Pair that with our 'glorious' summer temps at 100 degrees and the poor things just couldn't hack it...tear). I'm a little bummed, I have to admit, but I'm determined (and stubborn enough) to start over and try it again. I would post pictures, but it's quite a sad sight, so I'll spare you that.

In loving memory of Mini Garden #1...
(I think a little "Taps" playing in the background is appropriate)

Push the pedals

Don't forget, May 11th-15th is Bike to Work Week! Air up those tires, bust out that helmet and get pedalin'! I know it's a bit toasty out, but just think of the pollution you'll keep out of the air, AND the great workout you'll get, (bathing suit season is here after all).

Photo Courtesy of Trek Bikes & MtbikeAz.com

Do It Green

Check out the D.I.G. (Do It Green) event this Saturday from 8am-2pm at Haus Modern Living at Camelback and Central in Phoenix.

What is CSA and what's the big deal?

In all the talk about organic, you may notice the term CSA being thrown around. Another way to stick to an organic lifestyle (and to support the local growing community,) includes buying locally grown, organic products.

CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, organization is essentially a group of individuals or families that purchase a a share of crops prior to a growing season from a local farmer(s). In return, the farmer(s) will designate a portion or basket from the crop each week to each contributing member. This usually is a mix of whatever fruit or veggie is seasonal. This 'method' can usually end up saving families money and allows for more efficient meal-planning --- most CSA's offer a schedule ahead of time so ya'll know what you're getting. I also love that you get a variety of stuff --- (if you're like me, you tend to get in to a routine picking and preparing the same kinds of veggies every time). This has allowed for some great recipe experimentation/concoctions in our house.

Some CSA communities even offer free delivery...though not every community has this option available and you may have to drive to a drop-off or meeting point to pick up your produce on specific days. However, if you're looking to support farmers in your area and want to ensure a more healthy lifestyle for your family, a CSA group may be the way to go. For more information and to find your local CSA, visit Local Harvest.

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day is relevant to our lives now more than ever. Our daily choices can either make or break our environment for future generations. I know there's a LOT of advice out there involving living a more eco-friendly lifestyle and it can be quite overwhelming. Start out small if you can --- Every bit helps.


Here's a list of environmentally friendly tasks you can easily accomplish in your family without going broke. I'm sure we've heard of some of these....

• Have you seen those reusable grocery bags in stores? They're all fairly cheap (between $1-$2 each) and nearly every store has them. Better yet, go to Michael's (or any craft store or dollar store) and pick some plain ones out and let your kids (or you!) decorate them using paint, markers or iron-ons. Fun art and environmentally-conscious project all in one!

• Switch a few of your light bulbs out for CFL's. A lot of utility companies (APS in Arizona) are offering discounts on CFL's at Home Depot.

• Grow your own veggies/fruits/herbs. I'm about 2 weeks into my gardening endeavor --- nothing exciting happening yet. It's a great way to ensure what you're eating isn't tainted with pesticides and other chemicals and give you a better appreciation for nature and the food we eat.

• RECYCLE! I know a lot of communities don't offer recycle bins so this may be a bit more difficult, but if your community does, take advantage of it! The City of Phoenix offers large recycling bins.

• With our triple digit Arizona summer quickly approaching, it's easy to flip the switch on that A/C. Consider installing (or using if you don't!) a ceiling fan in the busiest rooms in your house. The circulating air will make it feel cooler in the room. If that's not an option, try installing a programmable thermostat so your air isn't running when you're not home. You can find them at the hardware store between $25-$70 depending on how hi-tech you want to go.

• Switch to Cold Water detergent. You'll save money and energy by not heating the water.

Here's a list of Earth Day happenings around Arizona (and some Earth Day stuff you can do at home too). I know it's going to be 90+ degrees outside, but hopefully you can get out and enjoy it. It's up to us to make changes today for future generations.

Clean Air Days (Tucson)
ASU Global Institute of Sustainability (Tempe)
Earth Day Crafts
Earth Day 5K & Green Expo (Tempe)
For the Earth Corporation (Phoenix)
Earth Day Celebration (Phoenix Country Day School - Paradise Valley)
Every Day is Earth Day (Scottsdale)
Earth Day (Phoenix)
Qwest Earth Day 2009
Earth Day Phoenix 2009 (Phoenix)
Preservation for Generations (Scottsdale)
Quiessence Restaurant & the Farm at South Mountain Veggie Dinner & Tour
Disney's Earth Movie
Do Just 1 Thing (Martha Stewart)

One of the nation's "Greenest" universities here in AZ

Did you know that Arizona State is one of the first universities in the nation to offer a School of Sustainability? I had no idea - and I have several ASU alum friends who had no clue (ahem...).

The school, which opened in 2007, offers degrees in sustainability at all levels (B.A./B.S.-Ph.D.) and hosts a variety of seminars and events with the eco-conscious in mind, including growing organic food on campus.

"Our mission is to bring together multiple disciplines and leaders to create and share knowledge, train a new generation of scholars and practitioners, and develop practical solutions to some of the most pressing environmental, economic, and social challenges of sustainability, especially as they relate to urban areas." ~ ASU School of Sustainability

A very belated congrats to ASU in their efforts to promote a more organic lifestyle in the next generations of Americans.

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Maybe I don't have a 'black' thumb!

I found this awesome gardening "tool" in my quest to plant an organic garden of my own:

It's called the EasyBloom Plant Sensor. Basically, you stick it in the ground where you want those herbs and veggies to grow and it analyzes everything from temperature to drainage. After about 24hrs, plug the device into your computer's USB port and the EasyBloom will tell you which plants (from a database of 5,000!) will thrive well in your soil environment. (SWEET!) It's an investment, (it's $60), but I think it's well worth it when you consider how many trial and error things I've planted that have totaled well over $6o.

Organic Housekeeping

Organic Housekeeping: I've heard rave reviews about this clear and concise book by Ellen Sandbeck. In it, she provides tons of valuable advice for organic cleaning in the home and why it's important to avoid so many of the chemical cleaners we're all guilty of using on a daily basis (I'm the WORST offender with my Lysol, etc.). I'm headed out to buy my own copy today!

30 Days, 30 Ways...Tips for going green

To celebrate Earth Month, Whole Foods is sending a 'green' tweet a day. Follow them on Twitter: WholeFoods

Carefree Farmer's Market Weekend Event

This weekend only, the Carefree Farmers Market will be open Friday - Sunday during the Sonoran Festival of Fine Art in Carefree, AZ. Usually only open to the public on Fridays, the farmers market will feature local growers and products (some organic!). Admission is free and the weather should be great!

Roadrunner Park Farmer's Market

A friend of mine just told me about a cool farmer's market in in the north Phoenix / west Scottsdale area at Roadrunner Park on the corner of Cactus and 36th Street (near PV Mall).

She said there are a TON local farmers there with local produce, dairy and other miscellaneous products, along with a variety of local artists showcasing their goods every Saturday. Sweet! AND they accept credit cards... woo hoo! Well-behaved canine family members are also welcome (so, not mine...) and admission and parking are FREE. Double 'woo hoo'! I hear parking can be a bit crazy though, so head out early (starts at 8am and ends at 1pm) and check it out.

Chemical-Free Kids

Chemical-Free Kids is a great book for parents about the importance of limiting chemicals (dyes, synthetics, etc.) in your child's diet. Check out this interview clip from News Channel 3 in Phoenix with Chemical-Free Kids author, Anthony Zolezzi as well as the CFK website for more information about the book including recipes, facts, sign up for their e-newsletter and the CFK Tip of the Day.