Time to sign up with a CSA for seasonal local food

The first day of spring might be seven weeks away, but if you want to support local farmers and enjoy a weekly share of their produce during the warmer seasons, you should sign up now for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

As the Washington Post's Leigh Lambert notes in "Where to Sign Up for a CSA," these programs can be pick-up or delivery and work like so: You pay an annual or seasonal membership fee and then each week you receive a box of produce -- a share of the harvest -- for a certain number of weeks. Usually you have to go pick up the share.

Farms and farmer's markets run these programs. I can highly recommend the CSA provided by Norman's Farm Market. We started it last fall and enjoyed all of the produce, especially the things that were knew to us, such as tiny eggplants of all different colors; orange and purple cauliflowers; and baby bok choy, which we had never cooked before.

If you've never done a CSA, try it out -- you'll be amazed at the bounty of our local farms! Click the Post article link above for a list of local CSAs. To find more farms and farmer's markets near you, try the Local Harvest site.

Echoing the call: Help Haiti any way you can

I was somewhat surprised to get an e-mail last week from the International Medical Corps (IMC), asking me if I'd mention their Haiti earthquake relief efforts in this blog and let people know how to help.

This blog doesn't get a ton of traffic, which is why I was surprised to be noticed. Happily surprised, though!

Since I had never heard of IMC, I did some quick research and found that yes, they are for real -- CNN lists them on its Impact Your World/How to Help Haiti page. IMC is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization, founded by volunteer doctors and nurses and dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through relief and development programs. Its emergency relief team is in Haiti. Thousands of injured quake victims need medical assistance. To donate $10 to IMC, text the word "Haiti" to 85944. You can also visit their Web site to donate larger amounts.

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Get more info about helping Haiti from these sites:

- CNN has a huge list of aid organizations, what they are providing, and how to text donations to some of them
- The Greater Washington Haiti Relief Committee. This site lists many ways you can help by donating or volunteering.

GWHRC site has a mention of how GreenTHINK, a network of environmental stewards located in the DC Metro Region, would like to sponsor a doctor or nurse who wishes to volunteer their services in Haiti but need financial assistance with travel, food, etc. Kudos to GreenTHINK! It shows how non-profits and NGOs of all types are responding to help.

- CitySports. In the spirit of helping and of reuse, CitySports is supporting Soles4Souls' effort to collect 1 million pairs of shoes for Haiti. Starting Monday, January 25th, through February 7th customers can drop off gently worn men’s, women’s and children’s footwear to any City Sports location. Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. They distribute these shoes, free of charge, to people in need around the world.

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I'm a one-man operation here. I've made a donation to the Red Cross for Haiti relief. Please do what you can to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

In winter, some farmer's markets keep going

I've been a bit slow to post this, so my apologies. A few weeks ago the WaPost had a story about winter farmer's markets ("Hot stuff, out in the cold") -- and they mentioned maybe 10 or 12 of them. I was surprised there are so many.

The farm market I did a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) half-share with last fall, Norman's Farm Market, is providing a winter CSA of meat, eggs and cheese, but I don't think they have a stand open in winter.

The Post has a great interactive map of year-round farmer's markets. Also, NBC4's Wendy Rieger did a Quick Bites video spot, in which the Post's food editor, Joe Yonan, explains what kinds of items you can find at farmer's markets in winter.

Have you gone to a market this winter? What did you think? Post a comment here!

Three new green countertops

In yesterday's Post, Katherine Salant profiles three new countertop materials: IceStone, Bio-Glass and Eco.

Her article ("New shades of green for your kitchen") was in the Real Estate section.

IceStone is made from concrete with bits of recycled glass in it; Bio-Glass from recycled bottles; and Eco from recycled glass, porcelain, stones and ash. All three products sounded expensive ($80-$160 per square foot), but if you can afford one of them, they're worth considering.

Have you bought green furnishings for your kitchen? Tell me about it!

Green events calendar for January in the DC area

Jan. 7 - First Thursday Happy Hour with Bethesda Green
Where: Redwood restaurant, in the Bethesda Lane pedestrian mall, 7121 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
When: 5-8 p.m.

Jan. 9 - Urban Composting
Break it down! Who knew composting in the city could be so easy? Cindy Olson from Eco-Coach will teach you how to compost with no smell, no fuss, and no muss.
Where: Greater Goods, 1626 U Street NW, Washington, DC
When: 11 a.m., Free (but please RSVP to classes@greatergoods.com)

Jan. 9 - ECycling at Whole Foods in Bethesda
They will NOT accept televisions at this event.
Where: 5269 River Road, Bethesda, Md. 20816
When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free

Jan. 10 - RainScapes, Rain Gardens and Conservation
Ann English is a Rainscapes Program Planning Specialist with the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection. Rainscapes help to solve problems caused by too much stormwater runoff. Her talk will highlight examples of creative and beautiful Rainscapes and present information on how to design and plant these types of landscapes on residential properties.
Where: Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md.
When: 2-3:30 p.m. Free

Jan. 12 - Green Business Certification Courses begin at Montgomery College

Jan. 14 - Green Incentives
Join us to learn how greening your home can save you money. Cindy Olson from Eco-Coach will cover alternative green energy sources in your area, tax credits and rebates, and other financial incentives.
Where: Greater Goods, 1626 U Street NW, Washington, DC
When: 7 p.m., Free (but please RSVP to classes@greatergoods.com)

Jan. 16 - Moving Toward Native
Sandra Clinton is the founder and president of Clinton & Associates, PC, award winning, nationally recognized landscape architects. Clinton & Associates utilizes sustainable practices integrating renewable materials and native plants in their projects. Increasing the diversity of plant and animal habitats in our gardents encourages the return of bees, birds, and butterflies. She will speak about incorporating native plants into designed landscapes using examples from landscape architects on the forefront of this movement including Roberto Burle Marx; Oehme, van Sweden & Associates; Jeff Charlesworth; and Clinton & Associates.
Where: Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md.
When: 2-3:30 p.m. Free

Jan. 16 - Seal the Deal - Weatherproofing Your Home
That space heater just isn't cutting it! If your house or apartment is uncomfortably cold in the winter, then this class is for you. You will learn cost effective ways to make your space more comfortable during cold weather. Caulking, window films, weatherstripping, and insulation will be covered.
Where: Greater Goods, 1626 U Street NW, Washington, DC
When: 11 a.m., Free (but please RSVP to classes@greatergoods.com)

Jan. 18 - Gardening for Wildlife
Sheila Emond, proprietor of the Wild Bird Center in Wheaton, will give a presentation on natural methods of improving the habitat in suburban back yards in order to attract desirable wildlife. Topics will include using native plants to attract birds, butterflies and beneficial insects, supplemental feeding, and features in addition to food such as water, shelter and nesting sites. Preferences of local summer and winter birds will be presented, as well as ways to assist migrating birds. A few bird-feeding myths will be busted!
Where: Brookside Gardens Visitor Center, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902
When: 8-9 pm Free

Jan. 19 - Discussion on the Copenhagen Conference
Rabbi Warren Stone from Temple Emanuel in Kensington will discuss his experience as an official delegate at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
Where: Bethesda Green, 2nd floor, 4825 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Md.
When: 12-1:30 p.m.

Jan. 23 - Healthy Homes
Create a healthy home for your children & family. Learn how to improve your indoor air quality, and reduce your children's risk of asthma & allergies.
Where: Greater Goods, 1626 U Street NW, Washington, DC
When: 11 a.m., Free (but please RSVP to classes@greatergoods.com)

Jan. 30 - Fourth Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange
Sponsored by Washington Gardener Magazine.
Where: Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902
When: 12pm – 4pm

Bag tax is the least we can do

As of New Year's Day, when you buy items at stores in the District that sell food and/or alchohol, you'll pay 5 cents per shopping bag the store provides to carry your goods home.

The bag fees will fund the clean up of the Anacostia River. A Washington Post article about the new fee quotes some DC shoppers complaining about the cost -- but the cost is truly minimal. At 5 cents per bag, if you required five bags per week, that would be a mere $13 per year. Ten bags a week, $26 per year -- truly a pittance to pay to clean up the river.

Of course, you can avoid the fee by bringing your own reusable bag, which is the whole point. Fewer bags in the community mean fewer end up in the river.

DC lawmakers estimate the fee will generate $3.6 million for the river in its first year. How about Montgomery and P.G. Counties pass a similar fee to generate funds to chip in for the clean up? After all, the river's tributaries begin in those locations.

Do you agree? Post your comment here!