Nutrition Month: Eat Locally for Better Health and a Better Planet

eat-local-environmentally-friendly-eating                 Photo from 3.bp.blogspot

Have you been making an effort to “eat locally?” Lots of people are! Growing your own food or buying it from local farmers is good for you and the environment. Eating locally helps reduce greenhouse gasses created through mass production and distribution of food. It also helps you to eat fruits and vegetables that are in season, which taste better and can expand the variety of produce you eat. Here’s how you can make changes that will benefit your health and the planet:

  • Join a CSA program. Community supported agriculture (CSA) allows you to buy a share from a nearby farm. CSA subscribers receive a weekly box of freshly-picked produce for a set fee. There are many farms that deliver food to locations right in Decatur. Visit localharvest.org/csa to find a location near you.
  • Have a green thumb? Grow fruits and vegetables in your own backyard. If you don’t have the outdoor space, take advantage of the many community gardens in Decatur that you can rent for a small fee.
  • Shop at local farmers markets. The Decatur Farmers Market operates year-round and only sells produce grown within 100 miles of Decatur. There is even a dietitian on-site to give you cooking ideas and tell you more about the participating farms. Visit cfmatl.org/decatur for hours and a list of vendors.

Decatur Farmers Market Bike Fest Wednesday

DFM Bike Fest Graphic - March 15 2017

Decatur Active Living will be there, so stop by our table and find out about biking opportunities in Decatur. Decatur Police will be registering bikes, so ride on over!

For information about biking in Decatur, visit decaturga.com/biking.

Free Yoga at Decatur Farmers Market on Saturday!

dha                Logo2

Decatur Healing Arts is partnering with the Decatur Farmers Market to provide a free community yoga class on Saturday May 21 and May 28 at 10 am. Bring a mat and some water and join Cheryl on May 21 and Vlad on May 28 on the lawn of the First Baptist Church. After class you can do some healthy shopping at the organic farmers market.

See you at the market!

Decatur Healing Arts is located in East Decatur Station and offers a variety of classes and services.

 

Decatur Farmers Market Has A Lot Going on This Week!

Decatur Farmers Market is excited to announce its Saturday Market Grand Opening this Saturday, April 2nd,  9am-1pm at our new Saturday location on the lawn of the First Baptist Church, 308 Clairemont Avenue on the corner of Clairemont and Commerce Street. In addition to the return of your favorite vendors, the market will feature exciting new vendors. Mayor Patti Garrett, a long-time Decatur market shopper, will be on hand to cut the ribbon for the Grand Opening of this new Saturday location.

The Wednesday Decatur Farmers Market is having its Spring Launch this Wednesday, March 30th at this same Decatur First Baptist Church location. Hours tomorrow and from now on will be 4pm-7pm.  The Wednesday Market will have the same vendors who have been with us through the winter as well as some exciting new vendors.

Savannah Haseler Chef Demo 2015 - 5x5SPECIAL TREAT: Tomorrow at 6PM at the Wednesday market, Savannah Haseler of Twain’s Brewpub & Billiards will be cooking up a delicious tasting of what’s available at market! Come check out her chef demo and talk to her about Twain’s soon-to-open Comet Pub & Lanes featuring her special take on bowling alley cuisine!

 

 

Ever wonder which is faster – a turnip or a carrot? Here’s your chance to find out!!!

DFM Veggie Pinewood Derby

Come to the Decatur Farmers Market’s spectacular, first ever Veggie Pinewood Derby!

 

Wednesday, February 24, 3:00 – 6:00 PM, on the front lawn of Decatur First Baptist Church.

Contestants will transform humble vegetables into fast and fabulous race cars to compete for prizes from King of Pops!

Free to enter for the young;  $3 donation for the young at heart. Sign up at the market info booth on race day

Don’t miss out on your chance to race a carrot and a turnip!

Races will take place every half hour from 3:30 to 5:30pm.

 

Shop your local Decatur Farmers Market. Eat healthy, fresh and local; support small businesses; create community!

Dress Up Fido for a Halloween Costume Parade!

This sounds like loads of fun! Be sure to register so they know how many to expect.

Quick links:

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1689338304615844/

Doggy Costume Contest registration: http://www.farmatl.org/markets/decatur/
DFM-dog-contest-halloween

 

 

 

Eat Local Challenge – Next Week

postcard-4.25inx5.5in-h-front

Eat Local!

Starts Sunday September 13th, 2015 and ends Sunday September 19th, 2015.

Join us in taking the challenge to eat locally for a week! By seeking out what’s available locally, you get to know your agricultural landscape and the community within, connecting you closer to the land and all it has to offer. And, in this transition of summer into fall, there are so many delicious varieties of produce available to try right now!

How to Participate in the Challenge

All you have to do is try! You can participate in any way – from Ultra Strict and eating entirely local for 7 days to Ultra Lenient and having just a few tastes of local throughout the week. No need to sign up for anything, just share your experiences by tagging us on social media (links & handles below) and remember to include the hashtag #EatLocalATL and you’ll be entered into our raffle to win a gift basket valued at $250! Each time you share increases your chances to win this awesome prize. We’ll post resources to our website leading up to challenge to help you along the way (where to shop & what to make). We have some wonderful restaurants partnering with us to offer local dishes throughout the week, and we’re throwing a dine out on Sunday the 19th. Plus, Global Growers’ Network is hosting their annual Decatur’s Dinner Party, featuring a multi-course menu from talented Decatur chefs. We’ll post on our our facebook pages to keep you up on participating restaurants, so be sure to follow the markets in your neighborhoods, and join our event to get all the info in one place. Just don’t forget to pick up an Eat Local button at our markets!

For more information click here.

Local, Organically Grown Produce: Order and Pick up at the Farmers Market

glob al growers header

Do you love eating local, organically grown food fresh from the farm? Pick up your weekly box of produce at the Wednesday afternoon Decatur Farmers Market from 4-7 pm, or Sundays from 12-2 pm at Decatur First United Methodist.  Check out Global Growers’ brand-spankin’ new website and online store, where you can become a Farm Share member: www.globalgrowers.org/csa  #globalgrowers

Deliveries start the week of May 3.

growers

 

 

 

 

Ride Your Bike to the Market Wednesday and Get Rewarded!

DFM Bike to the Market Promo Graphic

The Decatur Farmers Market wants YOU to make Earth Day a day of healthy habits.

Ride your bicycle to the Decatur Farmers Market on Earth Day (April 22nd) and receive $5 in tokens to spend at the market!

Visit the Information Booth to get your tokens, AND, while you are there, visit with the Decatur Police Department officers who will be offering FREE bicycle registration.

The Wednesday Decatur Farmers Market is on the front lawn of Decatur First Baptist Church from 4PM to 7PM.

Stay Active in Decatur This Weekend

Decatur_Skyline-7952-smThe weather should be nice this weekend so get outside and enjoy Decatur!

Stroll on over to the Decatur Visitor’s Center/Decatur Arts Alliance Friday night, March 20 for the art opening Sightings  6 until 8 pm. Sightings features mixed media works by artist Terry Drahos, who divides her time between rural Nova Scotia and Atlanta. The event is free to the community.

On Saturday, Decatur Healing Arts, located in East Decatur Station, is having an open house. Stroll or bike on over to sample classes, get information on ways to stay healthy, and more. Click here for the demo schedule. Be sure to stay for my “all-levels yoga class” demo at 3:30 pm!

It will be a great weekend to pump up the tires and dust off the bike for a ride around Decatur and Avondale. Check out the Southern Bicycle League Ride Calendar for some local rides to join.

Time to recycle! Decatur Public Works located at 2635 Talley Street is holding an Electronics Recycling, Syrofoam Recycling and Shred event on Saturday, from 9 am until 1 pm. Information is here.

Stop by the Decatur Farmers Market for some fresh fruit and veggies, freshly baked bread, jams and more. Held weekly at the corner of N. McDonough and Trinity Place from 10 am until 1 pm.

Pick up or download one of the the Decatur Walking Tour brochures and explore a new part of the city. Brochures are available at the Decatur Recreation Center and the Decatur Visitor’s Center, or download one here.

On Sunday morning, join the cheering section for the Georgia Marathon in front of the Old Courthouse on Ponce. Runners will hit our city limits aorund 8 am. Be there to cheer them on! More info here.

What other ideas do you have for getting outside this weekend?