You Tube Video, Just Do One

Have you ever wanted to change the world? Here’s your chance.

Greg Horn, author of Living Green, is on a worldwide quest for the best short video articulating personal-action solutions for a better planet. The website containing more information is slated to launch 11/18, with contest guidelines shortly thereafter! Take a peak at Greg's message to you here:

Happy Halloween!

One of the lovely houses in town that makes Halloween a treat!

Apple Cider Press

Last weekend my husband's family uncovered a 100 year old cider press. So, we pressed apples for cider. End result: 100 lbs of hand-picked apples yields about 6 gallons of Rich Cider. I think the smiling face at the end of the photos says it all - delicious!

Roasted Root Vegetables!

Among the Harvest season, root vegetables are a favorite. Root vegetables are plants that are used as vegetables. My dad would always chop up the root vegetables into the same size pieces and roasted them with a little salt, peeper, and olive oil. Roast in an oven 375 for about 30-35 minutes or until the edges are brown and caramelized. You can always add flavor with spices-and remember to garnish with some fresh chopped herbs! Here are some great varieties to choose from:

Potatoes
Yams
Onions
Turnips or Rutabaga
Parsnips (looks like a white carrot)
Carrots
Sweet potatoes
Beets

Carving Pumpkins...or Squash!

Carving pumpkins always promises fun…but don't limit yourself to the traditional orange Jack O’ Lantern. For a change, other squash will lend themselves to carving and décor just as well. Try carving acorn squash and use them as hanging luminaria. Carving has never been easier since adults and children can now select from a broad range of stencils and carving tools on the market to yield spectacular results. Many are even optimized for safe use by the very young so almost everyone can participate.

Your family’s decorating efforts don’t need to be limited to carving. Try painting pumpkins and squash using painter’s tape along with craft paint, antiquing stain, and water-based varnish. For those of you that live in colder climates, try using an assortment of cut up vegetables to attach to your pumpkin or squash with toothpicks to create your own Halloween character! Decorative dried gourds can be used all year…and they are often used as part of fall displays with dried corn and greens both inside and outside the home.

Whether you’re going to use them for décor or for a special addition to seasonal menus, enjoy the season and have fun exploring the markets and discovering new squash favorites!

Healthier Alternatives to Hand Out on Halloween

Halloween and candy seems to go hand in hand these days….but it doesn’t have to! There are alternatives to what you hand out to those trick or treaters this Halloween. Here are few different options to what you could consider handing out
• 100% All Fruit Leathers or Fruit Snacks
• Organic Granola Bars
• Organic Raisins
• Organic Peanuts in the Shell
• Pretzels
• Organic Trail Mix
• Organic Pre-Packaged Apple Slices and Baby Carrots

Try your local dollar store for some alternatives, like Halloween pencils, stickers, rulers, erasers, and other festive items/toys to avoid the sugar!

Fair Trade Chocolates!

In efforts to help raise awareness of Fair Trade, I thought it would be nice to share with all of you the various types of chocolates you can purchase, online and in your local grocery store. See what selections they have to offer and consider handing out these special goodies on Halloween!
• Endangered Species Chocolates
• Dagoba Chocolates
• Sweet Earth Chocolates
• Greens & Blacks Chocolate
• Lake Champlain Chocolates
• Newmans Own Chocolates
• Cost Plus World Market

Let us know what you find!