Posts Tagged ‘local food’

TEDxCLE…Cooking makes us human

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

I have to preface these post with a shout out:  the images are from Kyle Roth, a local photographer who does beautiful work and who is a big champion of Cleveland, be sure to read his blog at North Coast Lifestyle and Epstein Design Partners.

Michael Ruhlman is an author and culinary grad. As he stood on the stage and talked, I found myself nodding. He spoke about food and cooking. I can tell you from personally experience that most people do not know what most veggies are, or how they are raised. We are becoming farther detached from our food. He gave us a great talk about food and how cooking are what makes us human.. He quoted from Richard Wrangham’s book, Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human. Taking us from our food preparation has made us more separate and more unhealthy. He spoke about how we feed our livestock foods that they were never meant to eat. Furthermore, social problems and illness are on the rise as more of our food is processed and provided to us. Cooking makes us think about what we are eating. It takes effort, which brings families together. When you cook, you look for better ingredients and you learn more about what you are eating and how to make your life better.


Michael Ruhlman is so passionate that he helped to start North Union Farmer’s Market, which has grown to one of the top farmers markets in the region, with multiple locations around the city.  He showed us slides of some local producers.  Local farms that are doing good things by raising humanely produced pigs that are well treated and humanely slaughtered.   Local food is making a comeback because we are starting to learn that cooking makes us better, and not cooking takes stuff away from our lives.  We can change things now, simply by taking the time and effort to cook for ourselves and our family. One of the things he mentioned was voting with our dollars. When we buy raw ingredients and cook, we spend our money in support of those who are promoting this industry. On the other hand, those who do spent money on crap are voting for more crap.  So what do you want to vote for?  And take the time to pick up a pan, rather than McDonald’s for dinner.

image courtesy of Susie Sharp

Google Buzz

Tags: , ,
Posted in Arts & Culture, Cleveland, Green | 1 Comment »

How green is your restaurant?

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

I was looking through the EcoWatch Journal the other day-a great publication, by the way, and highly recommended.  I was reading a great article about Crocker park and how it does not recycle.  In case you do not know, Crocker Park was a combination live, work, shop community built in Westlake, Ohio.  The idea was to take the concept of a “lifestyle center” which is the name for an outdoor mall, usually constructed to look like a city, and add to it.  They added office space and residential units.  This essentially made Crocker Park a miniature town.  I love the development.  It is constructed like many developments in the Seattle Metro area.  Being more than just shopping, the residents and office dwellers have restaurants, art events, town square activities and there are places to sit and just watch the world go by.  That is why I was so disappointed to hear that this one of a kind development did not offer recycling to its residents or its commercial tenants.  It is bad enough for retail and offices, but when you throw busy, popular restaurants like the Cheesecake Factory into the mix, and you have a lot of materials that are going into the landfill.

There are heroes to celebrate.  Many of the employees of places like Trader Joe’s actually collect their own recycling and take it home or to drop off stations on their own time.  This is the kind of dedication that we need to make real change in the region.  For the management team at Crocker Park, though, it is more of business as usual.  It truly is a shame, too, because a recycling program could actually save them money.  It cost less in garbage fees to have someone take all of the glass, plastic, and paper out of the mix.  Charities actually make money on paper waste, and some churches have included can and bottle collection in their fundraising programs.  Why then, would a company whose job it is to make money bypass the obvious and pay more to have their trash hauled away.  It is plainly laziness and shortsightedness at its best.  If you think of all the recyclable waste generated by restaurants and bars in a major metropolitan area, the need for commercial recycling is more important than a residential one.  Let’s face it, vodka doesn’t come in a biodegradable bag and McDonald’s uses tons of paper goods.

On the other end of the spectrum, comes The Greenhouse Tavern.  Now if you are the type that like to read this blog, then you already know about The Greenhouse Tavern.  You know about the design features, like rescued reused barn boards and the poured concrete bar with glass from their own bottles.  You know about their efforts to celebrate local ingredients and use fresh local foods.  You must know about how Chef Jonathan Sawyer is creating delicious dishes and promoting fine cooking in the region.  You probably know about  the plans to add a greenhouse to the roof to be the only restaurant in the region who grows their own herbs and maybe the first at all inside a major city.  What should know that they are the first Certified Green Restaurant in Ohio.  But what you may not know are some of the things that they do to get that designation.  The highlight for me is the attention paid to waste.  In order to recycle in that little slice of restaurant heaven (E 4th), they had to convince someone to give up their valuable parking spot to accommodate a dumpster.  Then to keep from adding to the waste stream outside their doors, they looked at to go containers and doggy bags.  From an email that I received:

At The Greenhouse Tavern we take our green restaurant certification very seriously.  We use a sugar cane photodegradable to go box.  It is compostable and can be tossed in your garden.  We do not offer to go silverware or napkins.  We recycle and reuse all of our glass.

Now, The Greenhouse Tavern sits in Cleveland, in a downtown location, in a city that doesn’t offer full curbside recycling.  Still, these guys show such a commitment, that it puts the restaurants of Crocker Park to shame.  If any one of the major tenants at Crocker demanded recycling within the project, the management would cave and offer it.  Still, no one even tries.  So how green is the restaurant that you like to go to?  Have you asked?  I say skip the trip out to the burbs and keep you money flowing to those businesses who are doing the right thing…

Google Buzz

Tags: ,
Posted in Arts & Culture, Cleveland, Green | 2 Comments »

Cleveland Foodie tells you where to shop!

Monday, December 14th, 2009

In my efforts to highlight local companies for the holidays, I ran across this post from local Cleveland food critic, Michelle V.  Her blog is called Cleveland Foodie, and she gets to visit local restaurants and review them for a living.  I completely hate her for having my dream job, but love her for her words.  She writes in a clear and friendly manner about all things in the Cleveland restaurant scene, and anything food related could become the topic of a post.  I was pleasantly surprised to read about all her favorite local places to shop. I  have followed her blog for about a year, taking in her tips about the best spots for a quick lunch, or a nice dinner.  She has written about some of the same favorites (like Jeni’s Ice Cream) and since we seem to appreciate the same things, I trust her judgement when it comes to food.  so I was surprised to read her take on local shopping.  she mentions some of my favorites, like Duo Home and Stove Monkeys, but also some places that I didn’t know about, like Mr Brisket (who is sending food to the troops) and Next.  She is even giving away a gift card and discounts on her blog!  So get your eyes over to her site for great shopping ideas, and subscribe to get the best updates on Cleveland eating there is!

I also want to add that Tuesday is your last chance this year to shop at the Tremont Farmers Market. From their email:

Available this Tueday:
Winter squash (acorn and butternut), onions, potatoes (red-skinned and white), collards and mustard greens, lettuce, arugula, carrots, and sprouts; (maybe even brussel sprouts and parsnips!). Pasture raised beef and chickens, and eggs from happy hens. Fresh roasted coffee and beans; tea and tea related gift baskets; whole grain breads, waffles, granolas, pies and yummy vegan food to eat on the spot. Cheese made from content grass-fed cows; vegan and hemp based baked goods; honey and maple syrup; awesome Irish soda breads and scrumptious Gaelic food; salsas and hot sauces with related gift baskets, and a vast array of spices. AND, knitted goods, jewelry made from silverware, artwork crafted out of found materials and stoneware pottery. Remember to bring your knives or other dull objects to be sharpened!

There will be local artists and vendors for gift giving, live music, and they even take the Ohio Direction Card. See you there, but leave me some of the sprouts…

Google Buzz

Tags: , ,
Posted in Arts & Culture, Cleveland | No Comments »

To Market to market

Friday, November 20th, 2009

There is still time to get in on your local Farmer’s Markets. This Saturday (Nov. 21st) the Gordon Square Farmer’s Market is having their holiday market from 11am till 1pm. I am thinking of the Turnip Greens and Hot Southern Mustard Greens for Thanksgiving. There will be pies and breads, Lettuce, Radishes, Collards, Crookneck Butternut Squash (5+pounds a piece) and Herb Wreaths (they will also be taking orders for these)-all from the Eco Village! Thymekeepers will have Skin Creams, Spider Necklaces, Bracelets, Dried and Fresh Herbs and Dried Herb Blends-all great for holiday gifts! Speaking of gifts, Berry Good Farm are selling Jellies, Jams and some other stuff! Buying local is great, and food is the gift of love! You can finish off the holiday meal with their pies & pumpkin Rolls, and fresh Bread & Dinner Rolls. Oh, and you can order your Christmas trees!

If you miss it, there is another shot with the Tremont Farmer’s Market. On Tuesday (Nov. 24th) they are hosting an indoor event at the Pilgrim Church, right by the park at 2592 W.14th Street, from 4-7pm. In addition to the fruits and veggies, there will be live music, grass fed meat, locally roasted coffee, and baked goods. Just in time for holiday gifts, there will be gift baskets, knitted goods, and jewelry. You can even get your knife sharpened! To top things off, my friend Nicole McGee of Second Time Designs and her cohort Trish supplies will be there. These guys are my heroes as they turn things like trash and used items into beautiful designed works of art. At least go and see how beautiful old stuff can be reborn!

Google Buzz

Tags: , ,
Posted in Arts & Culture, Cleveland, Green | No Comments »

Geauga Family Farms Cooperative-get your meat local!

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

IS MEAT ON THE MENU for you & your family & friends?
Geauga Family Farms Cooperative can put dinner on your table and put your mind at ease about the source of your meal.

Our producers are raising beef — a variety of breeds, 100% grass-fed and grass-and-grain diet — as well as pork and chicken.

Available now for ordering:
BEEF
* Piedmontese ‘heart healthy’ beef, 100% grass-fed, certified organic diet (Dominic Marchese, Manna Farm, producer)
– 1/4 hanging, cut to order: $3.59 per lb hanging weight (sold out)
– ground beef, frozen and wrapped to your order: $3.95 per lb on orders less than 25#; $3.75 per lb for 25# or more

* Black Angus and Black Angus-Limousin cross ground beef, grass-and-grain diet (Aden Byler, producer)
– frozen and wrapped to your order: $3.25 per lb on orders less than 25#; $3.00 per lb for 25# or more

* Hereford beef, grass fed all summer, some grain last spring (Matthew Hershberger, producer)
– cut and wrapped to your order for the whole (~ 900#), half (~450#) or quarter (~225#): $3.25 per lb hanging weight

* 100% grass-fed, Black Angus and Highland (Scott Boehnlein, New Creation Farm, producer)
– ground beef: $3.79 per lb on orders less than 20#; $3.25 per lb for 20# or more
– family packs for your freezer, roasts, steaks, stew meat, ground meat: please call for varieties and pricing
– whole, half, quarter cut and wrapped to your order: please call for availability and pricing

PORK
– Berkshire and Mulefoot breeds (Scott Boehnlein, New Creation Farm, producer)
– whole, half, quarter cut to order: please call for availability and pricing
– family packages, roasts, chops, sausages: please call for varieties and pricing

CHICKEN — call the farmer directly to order — must be picked up at the farm
– broilers, 4# to 6# dressed weight: $2.50#
– call Noah Yutzy, Jr. 440-548-5497 or Andy Miller 440-548-5697 or Marvin Hershberger 440-548-2399 or Emanuel Kempf 440-313-5346 to order, and pick up at the farm

We can arrange delivery for beef and pork.
With questions or to order beef and pork, call Iva Mae Hershberger 440-548-2399 or send a message to gfamilyfarms@aol.com.

Please share this message with family and friends, if you wish – the farmers will appreciate it!

Google Buzz

Tags: ,
Posted in Cleveland, Green | 4 Comments »

Oberlin, local food, Issue 2

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Oberlin College has a whole agriculture program that operates a farm. The food they raise helps supply the coop and dining halls. Now THAT is local food!

Then, I ran across this video through a friend’s profile on Facebook.

Google Buzz

Tags: , ,
Posted in Green | 2 Comments »

How green is your glass?

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Knowing where your products come from and what is in them is key to making an impact on your carbon footprint. When it comes to food and drink, it is more than just the foods you buy, it is in the things you drink! So whether you like to booze it up, have a glass of vino with dinner or pound a few brewskis with your buddies, you can have an impact on the planet. Here are some things you should know:

To reduce carbon, buy local! Most states have local breweries and wineries these days. Buying an all organic wine from the Chile, or an organic beer from across the country is great, but to reduce carbon, you should see what is being done in your own neighborhood. Right here is Cleveland, we have the Great Lakes Brewing Company. They are a sustainable company with a great mindset. While all their ingredients may not be organic, most are. They use local ingredients in the brewing process as well as at the brew pub restaurant. They have a zero waste initiative, and use bio-mimicry to create closed loop systems to reduce waste, while growing and promoting growth of ingredients. Nearly every state in the union has some form of winery business. While quality varies from state to state, vineyard to vineyard, by buying the nearest selection, you will promote local economies and farmers while lowering your carbon output. When it comes to liquor, seek out the nearest distiller of your favorite beverage. We distill many types of liquor right here in the US, and spending a few extra bucks could make you feel better in more ways than one.

Go Organic! Unlike a mere 10 years ago when I was selling wine and beer at retail, there are a multitude of choices for organic beer and wine these days. None too soon, either, as alcoholic beverages may be a big sector of the supply chain that uses a lot of pesticides and herbicides. According to the Beer Expert, the hops used in the fermentation of beer are estimated to be sprayed up to 14 times each year with around 15 different pesticide products. Furthermore, in order to have that perfect color, nice frothy head, or long legs beer and wine are often treated with chemical preservatives to keep them in their best shape for your consumption. Once again, buying local helps eliminate the need for additives, as there is less need for preservatives. Liquor has joined the bandwagon as well. Organic distilleries are popping up across the spectrum. Among the things that can cause a hangover are the chemical additives in liquor, so by choosing organic, you may be lessening your chance of a rough “morning after.” While most pesticides and herbicides do not evaporate at the lower temperature of alcohol, and thus do not transfer easily into most alcohols in the distilling process, it is what is added after the distilling that concerns me.

Read Your Labels and Know Your Terms! If you want to make an impact, you need to read the labels of the items you purchase. Look for sulphites added. They occur naturally, but are added (mostly to wine) as a preservative and can be the cause of headaches for those who are sensitive. When buying wine, know that they come in 4 stages of organic-ness. Contains organic grapes means that less than 70% of the grapes are organic and sulphites can be added. Made with organic grapes mean there is more than 70% organic grapes, but may still have added sulphites. Organic wine has at least 95% organic grapes and 100% organic wine means just that. These last two cannot have any added sulphites. Another term that is popping up everywhere is biodynamic. This means that vineyards (and even some breweries and distilleries) are working to not harm any aspect of the environment-water, soil, wildlife-and perhaps even improve it. Certified Organic beers can still have up to 5% non organic ingredients, but that has been limited to hard to source ingredients in the brew.

Consider the Container! The less packaging the better! It is always better to buy a magnum of wine for a dinner party that 2 regular bottles. Same with fifths and gallons of liquor. Does the packaging contain recycled material? Pound for pound, corks are still better for the environment that plastic corks or screw tops. Aluminum is more quickly and easily recycled than glass.

So you can do some good, even while getting your drink on! Just drink responsibly!

Google Buzz

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Green | No Comments »

Local Food Week October 3-9

Sunday, October 4th, 2009

Patterson Farm Apples

To kick off local food week, I started out at Gordon Square Farmer’s Market. Okay, let’s face it, I needed some fresh produce and I try to buy local whenever I can, so I usually go to the Tremont Farmers Market on Tuesdays and Gordon Square on Saturday. The thing about buying at farmers market, is that local produce is just plain better. I sometimes get to chat with the actual farmers or growers of the veggies that I am buying. It is usually nice and ripe, and ready for eating. The produce is ripened on the vine (or tree or whatever) so the end result is a fruit or veggie that gets the most important part of its growing cycle with water and nutrients from the place it is supposed to get them. In case you didn’t know this, tomatoes from far away are usually picked very green, and then blasted with gasses to make them turn red when you put them on the shelf at the local market. This means those tomatoes may look ripe, but are usually still far from ready. I have even seen more producers doing the same thing with tomatoes still on the vine. I used to buy these in the winter months as they were most likely to be riper when shipped, but now I am seeing more producers using this technique to fool shoppers who think that the produce is better still on the vine.

To celebrate local foods, Columbus has a slate of events going on around town all week long. I have yet to see much out of the norm for Cleveland, but there must be some to share. I got some great information from the Local Matters website. Among the statistics that I found important:

Over 99% of food grown in Ohio is shipped out of state. Interesting thing to consider when most of the vendors at the west Side market are selling produce from out of state.

One in three Ohio children is expected to contract diabetes.

In Franklin County, the obesity rate among preschoolers is 20% and 45% for 3rd graders. I am sure that is can’t be much better in Cleveland.

The communities of Franklinton, Hilltop, Linden and the Southside lack access to fresh, healthy food on a daily basis. Obesity and diabetes rates in these communities are some of the highest in the city of Columbus. This only shows the problem of food deserts on communities. The poorer the neighborhood, the poorer the diet. The sector of the population that most needs good food and health care are getting the least of both.

Just a few facts that should get everyone thinking about the importance of local foods. Check out Local Food Cleveland to join in the discussion with other local residents.


We also went to our annual Patterson’s Farm event. This is the big event every year, where I get hang out with our friends’ kids, watching them slide, paint pumpkins, and ride the pony. We also get to have some of the best freshly picked apples in the state. When these great orchards are available so readily, why are we bringing most of ours into Ohio from places like Washington State and New Zealand? We also picked up our annual local pumpkin. Check them out for a fall trip with your kids, and get some great local apples and produce.

Google Buzz

Tags: , ,
Posted in Cleveland, Green | No Comments »

Food Deserts

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009

We have often had the discussion about food deserts. The areas with the most need for low cost groceries are often those who cannot get a grocery store chain to come to their neighborhood. This means that residents of these more needy neighborhoods are often paying even more for their food bill every month, as they spend there food budget at convenience stores or tiny, higher cost shops. The situation is even worse in rural areas and underdeveloped countries. Meanwhile, in some places we see competing grocery stores within a few block or even across the street from one another. I was so happy to see Brian Cummings work with a local corner store to help them carry a few fresh veggies for residents nearby, who had less access to quality food.

Timothy Smith over at the Cleveland Greenhouse Project alerted me to this video so I thought I would share it with you. Please watch it! It is a clip from the feature length Poly Cultures: Food Where we Live from Less Productions.

Google Buzz

Tags: , ,
Posted in Arts & Culture, Cleveland, Green | No Comments »