Many folks have asked me about local farmers markets, where to find a directory, and my recent “Pedals to Produce” bike ride, organized by the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition.

Here’s a helpful directory to local farm stands and farmers markets on the Georgia Organics website, integrated with Google Maps so you can find a market near you!

It’s a great time for fall season veggies like root vegetables, cabbage, kale, collards….Ode to the Brassicas!

My e-mailbox is bursting with vegetable, planting, growing and good eating resources! Classes may be local (Atlanta) but many have great websites with helpful tips and products, for wherever you grow or cook!  Check it out:

Farmer D Organics

Oakhurst Community Garden Project

Truly Living Urban Farms

Georgia Organics

Slow Food International

Cook’s Warehouse

“Flavors of Georgia” Festival

Atlanta Community Food Bank

April is Global Service Month and several of these organizations rely on volunteers, so go eat, plant and serve!

On feminism and gender equity, I would like to focus efforts on alleviating barriers and challenges to success–poverty, healthcare, education, childcare–as well as constructively eliminating remaining bias or prejudice, among men and women. We all have some stereotypes and blindspots to work on.  Women remain grossly underrepresented in Congress (16%) and in top corporate leadership (3% are CEOs). The White House Project is one good organization that promotes and trains women for elective office and civic participation. We definitely need a more diverse and robust pipeline. Running my own campaign and serving in local public office was one of the most fulfilling and challenging experiences. Go Vote, Run, Lead!

As for beauty pageants, folks are surprised when they hear me point out the differences between the scholarship pageants and other bikini-fur coat-and-sports car pageants. Since I attended dozens of pageants to watch my sister compete (and win—she paid part of her college tuition with scholarship awards), I  know the difference between chiffon, gold lame and taffeta,  dyeing matching pumps and how to do Asian glamour make-up. I learned the Top 10 Interview Questions and have seen the best and the worst talent performances. Actually, I would probably be a pretty good American Idol judge!

Like fashion trends, if you wait long enough, the “look” will be in style again. After years of ribbing, especially from family members, my BYO habits are in-style, hopefully to stay, and they would make my frugal Chinese grandma proud!

As kids, we used to laugh at my non-English speaking grandma when she tore her thin Kleenex tissues into quarters and stuffed them into the little silk pocket of her Chinese vest, despite my father’s reassurances that if she ran out, we’d buy her another box.  On my first trip to Beijing in 1988, I recall having to bring our own bowls and plates when buying food from the street vendors.  Unfortunately, everything had turned to styrofoam disposables when I went back in 1994.

Most of us are familiar with tearing open the individually wrapped, disposable chopsticks at Asian restaurants. As someone who hates to waste food and loves leftovers, I don’t like having to use disposable take-home containers. (I kept a couple of Tupperware in my trunk but kept forgetting to carry them into the restaurant.) Like remembering the shopping bags, it takes a change of habit and advance thinking. I’ve also started a transition to glass containers. (Tip: I collected a dozen large glass pickle/olive jars, perfect for storing flours, rice, etc.  free from a deli.)

I’m excited by the increased public awareness, new organizations like GreenPlate and more choices of reusable, portable eatware and energy efficient cookware on the market. Now, we can spread the BYO Movement and I won’t be the only hipster whipping out my cool BYO-Chopsticks!

I’m testing out a few different types of portable chopsticks and cutlery and will share my feedback. Stay tuned…

Amazing Portable, Uplugged Eco-Cooking Pot

Love my Tuff Mug!

Check back for more posts on my favorite eco-friendly products!

For more on favorite eco-friendly eating and cookware, see my Favorites and Recommendations in the side bar

We were excited to be featured guests on the show, “All the Latest ATL” on People TV  focused on Sustainable Living.

The show will air on Monday, Nov. 16 (12:30 pm) and Thursday, Nov. 19 (9:00 pm), Ch. 24 and livecast on PeopleTV.org)

My mother and I talked about Chinese Southern Belle’s mission of bringing people together around food and using food as a means to encourage dialogue and increase awareness and support of diverse cultures,  sustainable agriculture and local economies.  We also presented our food dishes, which reflected both the sustainability theme of eating local and seasonally and a blend of our Chinese and Southern heritage.

Our 5-minute  interview segment begins at 17:00 (follows youth hosts interview).  I also make closing remarks as co-host reminding folks to check out low-energy eco-cooking pots (which we used to cook our dishes), BYO utensils when eating out (e.g. re-usable chopsticks) and other innovative  products on our website.

A big thank you to Buford Highway Farmers Market who was a sponsor and donated wonderful fresh vegetables,  snacks and grocery items for the dishes we featured in our interview and food made for the show, cast and crew. They will be hosting our Eat, Learn & Shop Demo Series on Saturdays in November and December. Come see us and visit their amazing multicultural supermarket, just outside I-285.

I’ll post the www.bliptv.com link after the show airs so check back!

I had a great time getting to know my fellow female co-hosts, the youth interviewer and fascinating guests (mayoral candidate, State Judge candidate, youth artist, U.S. Air Force pilot turned spiritual leader).

Stay tuned for more…:)

I know he was an imperfect man and not a good partner for you, and I didn’t spend much time with him. Yet, I was shocked and saddened by Eric’s passing. Maybe because he dared to be different and forged his own path, despite the public criticism and estrangement from his family.  Maybe because I’m also reflecting on my own journey and role in this world. In reality, you have to be pretty abnormal NOT to be upset by what’s going on politically, environmentally and economically, especially in the last few years.  I sensed his self-centeredness, but I also remembered his ability to tap different parts of you—your creativity, entrepreneurial gifts, awareness about the environment–which few others have done.

He seemed to be a go-getter in his own way, perhaps too much in his own way. His “radical” vision was in part, shared by others in the “permaculture” and farmtech/organic community and his contributions seemed worthwhile, especially in that context. It is a movement that is respected and gaining globally. Others apparently knew him better. I read the heartfelt and admiring comments about the news of his passing from other farmers. Apparently, he was highly respected for his technical ingenuity and walking the talk.

I searched his name and found a few websites that featured his work, inventions and recent entries, including a haunting, final one which described his illness and attempted self-treatment in detail. It’s tragic that he died in a hospital in China right before he was scheduled to visit his family in California for Thanksgiving. I’m not sure if his family was aware of his contributions or activities in the organic farming community so maybe they will appreciate this letter, too.

Love,

Natalie