Food has long been associated with American holidays. Cookouts for Independence Day. Turkey (or tofurkey) for Thanksgiving Day. This year, celebrate Earth Day by making local and organic foods a part of your day and month! Earth Day is a time to reflect on how we can make a positive impact on the environment. Choosing sustainable, local and organic foods is one way to do that Ð every day.
Here are five fun tips for celebrating the Earth this month with food:
1. Eat only local or organic for the day.
Have you dipped your toe into local or organic food, but never dove in all the way? Earth Day is the perfect time to devote the dayÕs meals local and organic food. Remember to plan the menus in advance and pick up some fresh, local, organic and all natural foods from the Co-op.
2. Support a sustainable deli or restaurant.
No need to prepare the meal yourself. The Tidal Creek Co-op Caf offers organic and locally grown foods on our new menu and you can feel good supporting a locally owned business that supports the earth. The Co-op Caf is open every day and serves breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. through 3 p.m. and dinner from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
3. Join a CSA.
Community Supported Agriculture consists of individuals who pledge their financial support to farms in return for a portion of the seasonÕs harvest. In return for the investment, members receive regular bundles of fresh, local food from the farm during harvest months. To locate a CSA near you, visit Local HarvestÕs CSA locator at www.localharvest.org.
4. Attend or hold an Earth Dinner.
Earth Dinners are specially formatted dinner parties in which guests dine on local and organic foods while discussing their relationships with food. It’s a joyful, animated and inspiring, food-focused party held at least once a year, connecting people to the earth, their food and each other.
a joyful, animated and inspiring, food-focused party held at least once a year, connecting people to the earth, their food and each other. – See more at: http://rootstock.coop/earth-dinner/#sthash.ltdlzkj5.dpuf
Dinner tools and conversation starters can be downloaded at www.earthdinner.org.
5. Plant your own garden.
ItÕs not all about eating on Earth Day. Consider spending April 22nd planning or even breaking the soil on your own vegetable garden. No room for a garden? Consider creating a community garden with friends and neighbors.
GET INVOLVED & CELEBRATE THE EARTH THIS MONTH!
Check out our Events Calendar for fun Earth Day related events happening around town all month long.