Learn about the slow food movement!

Here is a short compilation of graphics about the slow food movement. Enjoy!

Learn about the chemistry of smog!

Below is the link to a Potomac AP Chemistry student's Powerpoint presentation about smog.  See the notes below each slide for details.

Farmers' Market Shopping

The DC metro area is home to over 160 farmers' markets.  Many Potomac students say that their families try to eat more sustainably by shopping at their local market as often as possible.  With so many options, there is a market reasonably close to almost every neighborhood!

List of DC farmers' markets: http://dc.about.com/od/restaurants/a/FarmersMktsDC.htm

I happen to be a huge fan of my local farmers' market.  Located in the center of downtown Bethesda, the Bethesda farmers' market is bustling every Sunday morning.  Below are the names of my favorite vendors.

Vendors list at the Bethesda farm market:
 http://bccdcrealestate.com/files/2012/04/SAM_7854-239x425.jpg

Cookinut by Sweet Nuttings:

 - Dedicated to making simple food from high quality ingredients that customers can order online and buy at farmers' markets

Website: http://www.sweetnuttings.com/

Stonyman Gourmet Farmer:

 - Family farm in the Blue Ridge mountains - Little Washington, VA

 - Sells local meat and cheese

Website: http://www.stonymangourmetfarmer.com/

Liberty Delight Farms:

 - Family owned All Natural Meat producer in Reisterstown, MD

 - Sells at farmers' markets, does home delivery

 - Main products are meat, poultry, and eggs

Wesbsite: http://www.libertydelightfarms.com/

Map of farmers' markets in the DC area:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/lifestyle/dc-farmers-markets-interactive-map/

Planting a garden

Why it's good for the environment:

- Extra local produce - no CO2 emissions from shipping
- Small-scale farming takes less of a toll on soil and surroundings than massive fields

Why it's good for you:

- Fresh
- Inexpensive compared to supermarket produce
- Not packaged in plastic, covered in wax, or sprayed with pesticide

Veggies to plant that will provide throughout the growing season: tomatoes, peppers, squash, lettuce

Herbs that you can use in cooking: cilantro, basil, oregano, thyme, dill, rosemary, tarragon

For more information: http://www.bhg.com/gardening/vegetable/vegetables/planning-your-first-vegetable-garden/

Gardening as a way to get food on the table: http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/blogs/q-a-starting-a-garden-part-1 

Find out what will grow in your garden: http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/questions/how-do-i-learn-what-will-grow-best-in-my-backyard

http://www.fugoolive.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/vegetable_garden_tomato.jpg

Some fruits and veggies to avoid and others to stock up on!

The Environmental Working Group has put forth a list of the fruits and vegetables that are consistently the most pesticide-laden and another list of items that are generally more safe.  There are 13 on the "avoid" list and 15 on the "eat" list:

Highlights from the "avoid" list: apples, grapes

Highlights from the "eat" list: asparagus, mango

For more information and the complete lists:
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php

BUYING GROCERY ITEMS IN BULK

Packaging and containers amount to 80 million tons of waste per year in the United States

BENEFITS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

- Waste less packaging (plastic, cardstock, etc)

- Bulk products are often less processed, more local, and more fresh

BENEFITS FOR YOUR WALLET

- Pay for less packaging

- Lower prices, especially if you buy in greater quantities

http://www.stacymakescents.com/wp-content/uploads/bulk-bins.jpg

For more information on the benefits of buying in bulk and for tips on what products to buy: http://www.frontiercoop.com/learn/bulk_advantages.php

EINKORN FLOUR

"man's first form of cultivated wheat"

The type of wheat that most of us consume today has been genetically altered so that it contains more gluten because this change has made large- scale food production easier.

What makes einkorn healthier than regular wheat:

It's high in

- Protein

- Fatty acids

- Phosphorous

- Vitamin B6 (health benefits include improved nerve and brain function, protein digestion, etc)

- Potassium

- Carotenoids (health benefit is that it helps prevent cancer)

- It's low in gluten

For more information on nutrition, history, and purchasing: http://www.einkorn.com/

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