Checked out your local CSA options lately?

Family and friends complaining about the cost of local or organic produce?  Direct them to their nearest CSA (community supported agriculture). 

Photo: Laryssa Wirstiuk, The Jersey City Independent

It's a great way for consumers to buy seasonal from local farmers.  Every week or so during the season, CSA participants received a large box of vegetables or fruit from their farmer.  Singles don't tune out.  There are many CSAs that offer reduced portions for smaller households.  Also, consider sharing your order with a friend or co-worker.  CSAs are also great for farmers because they can better plan their seasonal crops and proudly share their labor of love with their neighbors in the surrounding community.

A friend of CG suggested we check out Garden State organic produce from Purple Dragon Organic Food Coop.  Not sure where to go to find local produce in your area?  Check with Local Harvest for CSAs, coops and farmers markets near you.  They have a helpful directory that will allow you to search by city, state or zip code.  Happy munching!

Green Festival 2012 NYC: A Recap

by Ayana Free, Editor

I had a wonderful time attending the Green Festival 2012 on Earth Day, Sunday April 22.  There were great speakers, fun exhibits for the kids, and wonderful green products to sample.  Here is a summary of my favorites:

PANEL:  "Occupy the Dream Presents: Corporations are not People, Money is not Speech!" - Occupying the Main Stage was an engaging panel on the impact of the Citizens United decision and the adverse impact of money on democratic politics.  Occupy the Dream panelSpeakers Russell Simmons, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, David DeGraw, Josh Silver spoke passionately about the issues and answered audience questions, motivating young attendants to get involved and remain active in local and national politics. 

PAMPER: There were numerous women-owned companies selling fantastic green products.  The Lotus Odyssey sells aromatic hand-crafted soaps made with essential oils.  The proceeds go to support a women's shelter in India.  I purchased a Lucky Seven bag (with small bars of seven different soaps).  So far, Devi Nectar is my favorite bar.  It has a natural exfoliant and smells amazing. 

MUNCH: There were several delicious vegetarian and vegan vendors.  I also sampled some delicious chocolate and vegan cheese.  My chocolate award goes to Divine.  These scrumptions chocolate bars are made with fair trade, shade-grown and sun-dried cocoa beans from a women-owned co-op in Ghana.  The co-op also owns a portion of the business.  Try their dark chocolate with ginger and orange! No need to wait for a special occasion or the next Green Festival to treat yourself to this chocolate goodness.  I picked up a bar at my nearest Duane Reade.   

FASHION: I tried on several of Sprout's new timepieces.  Looking for an eco-luxe watch?  Consider Sprout's new line.  
This new line (non-vegan) features corn resin cases, mother of pearl dials, conflict-free diamond accents and fish leather scale bands. 

Want to get involved?  The Green Festival is headed to Chicago this upcoming weekend (May 5-6), then to Washington, DC in September and out west to both San Francisco and LA in November.  Please click here for scheduling details. 

Earth Day 2012 in the NYC: Celebrate the Earth in the Big Apple

The weather is great!  Take your bike and pets to the park.  On your way, explore Earth Day activities all over the NYC. There are tons of great, green events all throughout all the five boroughs. 

Manhattan

Everything’s Grand

Take the train to Earth Day New York’s Annual NYC EarthFair inside and outside the Grand Central Terminal.  There are lots of kid friendly activities, including books, nutrition and outdoor concerts.

Where: Grand Central Terminal, 87 E 42nd Street

When: Fri-Sat, April 19-21 (inside in Vanderbilt Hall) and Fri-Sat, April 20-21 (outside Grand Central).

Bright Lights, Big City

Sometimes it’s fun to play tourist.  Head to Times Square, enjoy the exhibits, green vehicle display and fun concerts, including Broadway performers. 

Where: Times Square

When: Sat, April 21

Go Big, Go Sustainable

For a veritable explosion of activity, go to the New York City Green Festival at the Jacob Javits Center.  Come check out a host of exhibits and excellent featured speakers, including Van Jones!

Where: Jacob Javits Center, 655 W. 34th Street

When: Sat-Sun, April 21-22, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Bronx

Plant Trees by the Riverside

Bronx River Alliance volunteers will plant native plants and shrubs donated by Million Trees NYC along the waterfront to green the park and protect the Bronx River. 

Where: Shoelace Park - 217th Street at Bronx Blvd 

When:  Sat, April 21 10-1pm

Brooklyn

Green goods in the heart of BK

Celebrate the Earth in Green in Bklyn - a great one-stop local eco shop.  They have a full day of activities planned including community gardening, vegan treats and local honey tasting.

Where: Green in BKLYN, 432 Myrtle Ave 

When:  Sun, April 22

April showers bring May flowers

Celebrate Earth day in May at the fifth annual Go Green! Greenpoint! Earth Day Festival in McCarren Park in the center of Greenpoint & Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Bring the kids and dogs to this great community event complete with educational exhibits, arts & crafts, children's activities, and live music.

When: Sat, May 5, 11 AM - 5 PM 

Where: McCarren Park, Brooklyn

Queens

Flowers for princesses and princes

Wander through the Queens Botanical Garden with your little ones.  Head to the Earth Day children’s activity table, free with admission.

Where: Queens Botanical Garden,
 43-50 Main Street, 
Flushing  

When: Sun, April 22, 1-4pm

Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Three Women Leaders

What could be a better posthumous nod to Wangari Maathai than the recognition of three outstanding women leaders and activists for the Nobel Peace Prize?  The winners were Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, fellow Liberian and peace activist Leymah Gbowee, and Yemeni pro-democracy campaigner Tawakul Karman.  The Nobel Prize Committee announced that collectively, these women are being honored for their "non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work." President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee  

Besides Maathai, there have been nine other women awarded this distinction.  This year's award winners demonstrate, as Maathai did, that women of color can make powerful changes in the world by having the courage to speak their truths.  Their focused tenacity in the face of political and violent opposition is inspiring.  Hopefully, this award will bring increased attention to women's rights and peace-building efforts, particularly in Africa and the Middle East.  Yemeni activist Tawakul Karman

In Memoriam: Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai, Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, passed away at the age of 71.  Known around the world for her activism and advocacy for women, Maathai may be best remembered for the simple courage of encouraging women to plant trees.  She founded the Green Belt Movement in the 1970's, teaching women to plant trees as a way to maintain the fuel supply and prevent soil erosion.  Discouraged by the Kenyan government and dissuaded by her university faculty peers, she faced life's challenges with humor, grace and strength. 

Here at chocolate granola, we take a moment of silence to remember this great woman warrior, peace maker, activist.  Please see below for news coverage of her passing, interview clips and other links.

• NYTimes coverage of her passing
• Environmental icon: 
• Memories from her colleagues  
• Nobel prize interview and recognition 
• Kenyan and United Nations legacy