Support your local economy. Simple as that.

The holidays are fast approaching. What are you doing for the holidays? Are you eating out? going over to a family members house? or are you cooking? Regardless of what you are doing try to go to local farmers markets or farm to table restaurants and support your local economy! The benefits for supporting your local economy are endless, and if people really begin to support their local economy, perhaps we can start to help our community and bring prices down (that don't need to be wasted on gas). Buy only what is in season (that means don't buy summer fruits in the winter!!! Especially because they probably have some chemical on them), buy local beef, pork, chicken, turkey (and try to get one without hormones and by-products), we got an organic turkey from a local farm for Thanksgiving and boy can you taste the difference!!! When you begin to switch your way of thinking and your way of life, that not only sustains you, but sustains the earth too, you will begin to see the benefits. Our earth is suffering, the economy is in shambles, gas prices keep climbing, and the weather is just awful. I can't stress enough, how important it is to treat our Earth with respect, to treat it like our home and treat it like our body... This can be done through small steps like supporting your local economy :)

I also found out that One Caroline Street in Saratoga is a sustainable, farm to table restaurant! I will be eating their on New Years Eve!!! :)

If we could have as many farm to table restaurants as we do chain restaurants, can you imagine what a world that would be? A lot healthier and probably we'd have a better local economy!

As goes with farm to table restaurants, it is also important to support local markets!!! In Troy, NY there is the Pioneer Co-op and the business is not doing that great, but they offer really great products...it would be ashame if it went out of business due to the lack of sales...When the Holidays are over my friends and I plan on becoming members! I urge you, especially if you live in Troy, to go and shop their and support them(even if it's just 30 dollars). If you don't live in Troy or NYS for that matter, go and support your local economy and buy at co-ops and farmers markets (that bring fresh and local ingridients and businesses together). Think of the millions of dollars that these huge super stores are making and think about where the products are coming from...Wouldn't you love the satisfaction of buying locally and contributing to the local economy I know  I do... so we'll leave it at that.

So for the holidays, take this thought and put it into action, help yourself and help your community...SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY!!!

Happy Holidays!

A ripple in the water

  So I am starting to research different farm to table restaurants around the country, but seeing as I am from New York State, I am going to start with a list from there. I just want to clarify that I am in no way, shape, or form  endorsing or advertising these restaurants...I am just giving you healthy and sustainable options. Did you know that the farm to table restaurants cuts down on our carbon foot print, and mostly everything is organic and sustainable...on top of that we are supporting our local economy and local farmers (not the mega farms)

So Anyways here is a beginning list of local restaurants following this movement, or at the very least-using local and sustainable supplies... Many of these websites can be found via google.

-Jake Moon, located in Clarksville, NY

-Cella Bistro, located in Schenectady, NY

-New World Bar and Bistro, located in Albany, NY

-Terrapin Restaurant, located in Rhinebeck, NY

-Restaurant North, located in Armank, NY

-Blue Hill at Stone Barns, located in Pocantico Hills, NY

-Applewood, located in Brooklyn, NY

-The Wright at the Guggenheim, located in Manhattan, NY

* I will continue to add to this list for NY and eventually add some for a variety of states and cities in the continental US... Feel free to let me know of other sustainable, organic, and/or farm-to-table restaurants...

In the meantime, check out this website I found... it has a lot of neat and interesting information...

Sustainable Table

We can make the world a better place, by going back to the simpler things in life and supporting our local economy. By using sustainable materials and locally grown food, we will not use as much gas or chemicals, or other toxic products that not only harm the environment, but also harm our bodies.

We need to take time out of our lives and think about the consequences of our actions and strive to make a change every day. If we make a small change, others will be inspired to make a small change, and one small change from everyone can make a big change for us all!



I'm backkkk.

I am back...as obvious as that is. I feel like I am writing to no-one, but maybe, eventually, people will start to catch on to this. Anyways- has anyone been doing anything to save energy or have you gone completely green? Remember unplugging electronics and only using air conditioners on extremely hot days( 90-100 degrees) are good ways to keep down your use of energy. Did you do any gardening this summer? Gardening can relieve stress and anxiety and it also helps the environment! Another great thing about gardening is you can plant your own vegetables and use them throughout the summer months or freeze them for the cold months ahead. We planted tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, mint, basil, sage, thyme, peppers, and greenbeans...We used all of our vegetables for a variety of meals and those meals were so fresh and delicious. I believe you can taste the difference between non-organic store-bought food (especially fruits and vegetables) and stuff that comes from your house or an organic farm...A great way to garden organically is to purchase organic soil, and of course do not use any pesticides or chemicals to help your plants grow...because who really wants the residuals in their bodies? Planting flowers is also a great thing, I find flowers to be relaxing and they really pull houses together in the summer. Flowers also give me hope, they are a happy blossom of hope to me. As we begin to enter into these colder months it is important to harvest any last vegetables and fruits you have and make plenty of homemade dishes. Or you can support locally owned businesses and go to farmers markets and pick up their fresh produce. Another wonderful fall activity to do with your friends or family is apple picking, you are out with people, enjoying fresh air, and getting some physical activity in. Besides all of that great stuff you can make a fresh apple pie (instead of the frozen, processed, grocery store kind) or homemade applesauce, which by the way, is about a thousand times more delicious than store bought apple sauce. I really like buying stuff that you know is local or are able to pick yourself...it is comfort to me. 

If you can't make it to your local farmers markets try to go to a local whole foods store or fresh market, the options are endless and mostly organic. They also have very fresh options and are pretty affordable (almost the same price as a regular grocery store)... I highly recommend it!

Another great way to get fresh and organic food is by going to restaurants that support the farm to table movement! I love this idea and think all restauranteurs should begin using this.

If you ever find yourself in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, you must try SaltAir...they are one of these restaurants and the food is fresh and excellent...

Next blog I will try and make a list of restaurants that follow these concepts, just as an FYI...I hope also to add some homemade recipies in that blog as well.

Happy October and keep going Green! :)

Calm before the storm

I am back!!!! Though it is sad to see no one has been commenting or even viewing this blog. Well to update a little, I became overwhelmed with school and various life happenings and never found the time to write. However it is a new year, and with a new year comes a clean slate and any type of change we set our mind to. Speaking of change, if there are any readers, did you find a way to make a change in your community?


Working towards keeping ourselves and our planet healthy is a constant change I am working towards!
Eating healthier now the holidays are over is a great way to start that change. Supporting local farmers and accessing local farmers markets are the perfect way to eat healthy and help give back to our community. The healthier we eat the healthier our life becomes as we find ourselves making better decisions and very different lifestyle  changes. I vow to make many changes in my lifestyle and I will update you alll every once in a while. The more I learn the more I will write about. Change starts from within, how we use it is how everything will turn out.


So, as I know this is short I promise i will offer helpful tips for a new year, to help us get through these crazy times.