Community Gardens

"width: 16px; height: 16px; background: transparent url(http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/sociable/images/services-sprite.png) no-repeat; background-position:-325px -1px" class

View the Original article

Home Stretch on Salad Bar Project

within a 50-mile radius of a Whole Foods Market store is eligible to apply. F3 will be accepting grant applications through November 1st. Schools selected by F3 will be announced by January 15, 2011 and salad bar kits will be shipped to schools within a month.

Any parent, teacher, food service worker or other concerned person can make sure that eligible schools are aware of The Salad Bar Project. In fact, we know that parents and teachers are often the drivers of making great new things like this happen for their schools. We’re depending on you to help get the word out about the grants so a school administrator can complete the online grant application.

Within 50 miles of any of our stores, you will find a range of schools in neighborhoods of varying economic levels. We believe that all kids deserve healthy lunches, regardless of their economic background or geographic location. That why it’s exciting that The Salad Bar Project is designed to keep growing and expanding to many more schools over time. We are jumpstarting the process with the help of our customers

View the Original article

Family Meal Ideas for Four

bread (there’s a coupon for $1.00 off a large loaf on page A9 of the in-store guide) with hearty mustard. Combine baby spinach, sliced apples and toasted walnuts for a salad.

WEDNESDAY: Entrée Salad Supper

Make beautiful salads with smoked salmon over romaine, cucumber, tomatoes and fresh dill. Drizzle with lemon juice and extra-virgin olive oil; top with homemade rye croutons.

THURSDAY: Pasta Night

Toss whole wheat pasta with browned slices of The Original Brat Hans Chicken Sausage, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts and broccoli florets. Make sure to use the coupon on page A9 of the in-store The Whole Deal. You’ll save $1.00 on the sausage.

View the Original article

Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti

"width: 16px; height: 16px; background: transparent url(http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/sociable/images/services-sprite.png) no-repeat; background-position:-325px -1px" class

View the Original article

Pattern Review ~ Tabitha Bag PDF Pattern from Flossie Teacakes

Simone from Brooch the Subject is a stylish mom of two who also loves vintage jewelry. As an independent designer, Simone is in the middle of writing her own patterns, but she set aside some time to review the Tabitha Bag from Flossie Teacakes. The Tabitha Bag and Lis iPhone Holder are PDF sewing patterns; you can purchase and then get to work sewing right away! Visit Simone at Brooch the Subject, take a look at her introduction and enjoy her review today.

View the Original article

IBOL II and Free Fabric Friday

Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air – explode softly – and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth – boxes of Crayolas.  And we wouldn’t go cheap, either – not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination.

View the Original article

FFF Winners + Fabric Deal of the Day!

We have a new promotion on Facebook. Every day we’ll post one fabric that is half price. One fabric, one day, half off.  We won’t announce it on the blog, so follow us over there if you want to catch the Fabric Deal of the Day!

The winners of one yard of free fabric are Teresa N, Bess, Suzanne, Rochelle, Melanie H.

Congratulations! Look for an email from us soon.

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 12th, 2010 at 10:08 pm and is filed under Contests & Giveaways. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. One Response to “” bess responds: Posted: September 13th, 2010 at 6:53 am →

yay!!!!! i’m so excited – thank you!!!

Leave a ReplyClick here to cancel reply.

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

XHTML: You can use these tags:
View the Original article

Join us for a Jump Rope Dress Sew-Along

Our fabulous hostess, Amy from Badskirt, is here today to tell you all about our two-week Jump Rope Dress Sew-Along. If you still don’t have your pattern, purchase today and get caught up this weekend!

Welcome!
Welcome to the Jump Rope Dress Sew-Along at Sew,Mama,Sew! with your cohosts Amy of Badskirt, Amanda of Sasikirana, and Jeanne of Night Knitter. This sew-along is based on the Jump Rope Dress pattern by Oliver

View the Original article

Free Fabric Friday

Well, Jump Rope Sew-Alongers, you have the weekend to catch up to our contributors. We’re enjoying your process photos on Flickr and can’t wait to see your finished dresses!

For the rest of you who aren’t sewing along, I encourage you to take a look at the posts from this week. Amy, Amanda and Jeanne are amazing sewing instructors. If you ever need help with tracing your pattern and cutting your fabric, creating a placket, making a collar, or setting in sleeves, you should bookmark these posts! You can comment in any of the sew-along posts to win a new Oliver

View the Original article

Featured Creativity ~ Kid Embroidery

Our Embroidery on Kids’ Stuff photo pool is full of colorful projects sewn by wide range of ages. We dedicated a whole month to hand sewing last year, but if you still need a little help with design, don’t forget to take a look at the selection of darling patterns from Penguin & Fish in the shop. Here’s a peek at a few of our favorites from the photo pool:

View the Original article

Free Fabric Friday and Jump Rope Dress Sew-Along

The Jump Rope Dress Sew-Along is almost here! Do you have your pattern yet? (The small and large sizes are both on sale.) If you’re sewing along, we’re sure you’ll appreciate the help of our expert contributors. Even if you’re not sewing along, you should definitely make a point to stop by anyway. The Oliver

View the Original article

Winners

Our five Free Fabric Friday are: jill (jillderosa4), Stacey (gallyslp), Julie, Denise & Lisa (lisa.lee)

Congratulations! You each win one yard of fabric from Sew,Mama,Sew! We’ll be in touch with details later today.

We also have our last two Back to School pattern to announce…

Pink Fig Miss Kitty Apron Top & Dress Winner: Laura (lauradavis05)

Emilie Rebekah Designs Asa Poncho Winner: Alexandra

We’ll email later today!

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 5th, 2010 at 10:09 pm and is filed under Contests & Giveaways. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. 3 Responses to “” Sonja Greene responds: Posted: September 6th, 2010 at 4:30 am →

Congratulations to the ! YAY!!!

Maisy responds: Posted: September 6th, 2010 at 6:02 am →

Congratulations to all of the lucky !!!

Lisa responds: Posted: September 6th, 2010 at 6:30 am →

Woo-hoo! Now I can’t say I never win anything. Congrats to everyone else who won this holiday weekend.

Leave a ReplyClick here to cancel reply.

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

XHTML: You can use these tags:
View the Original article

Ineeka Tea

"width: 16px; height: 16px; background: transparent url(http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/sociable/images/services-sprite.png) no-repeat; background-position:-325px -1px" class

View the Original article

The Search for Non-Styrofoam Trays

For several years we have been working with a company that makes packaging from bull rush fiber. Bull rush is a grassy material that grows wild on the hillsides of China, harvested by hand by local workers. Its main advantages over Styrofoam are that it comes from a renewable resource and is compostable. It is also organic, GMO-free, chlorine and bleach-free and FDA approved. So far in our stores, this material has been used in tubs for salads, portion cups and small serving plates.

The most recent development from this manufacturer is a line of various sizes of flat trays that can be used to wrap and display meat, produce and seafood. Some of our stores have experimented with these trays with limited success. The challenges we found:

Cost twice as much as their Styrofoam equivalentAre much heavier than StyrofoamTend to begin breaking down (the ultimate desire) too soonAre a color that does not have as much eye appeal as a black Styrofoam tray

We kept working to see if we could make the compostable bull rush fiber trays a more viable option. We collected our company-wide annual Styrofoam tray usage to gain an aggregate cost advantage. We worked with the manufacturer to offer as many gridded surface trays as possible so they would hold up better under moisture conditions and the tight stretch wrap that seals the packages for freshness. In addition we sourced a compostable soaker pad to absorb much of the moisture that contributes to the deterioration the trays. After making these changes, the manufacturer is now in the process of visiting our stores and delivering sample kits for inspection and further testing.

View the Original article

Happy Birthday Wishes

our big 3-0!

From Transfair:

From Dogfish Head Brewery:

From Country Natural Beef:

From Wellshire Farms:

Share this:

View the Original article

Exclusive Interview: Ray Lamontagne and the Pariah Dogs

It’s a rare occasion that the celebrated singer-songwriter Ray Lamontagne offers insight into his persona beyond the music. He is a character steeped in lore and mystique… he doesn’t let us know exactly when the heartbreak began in his tender songs, or in his quiet life.

The exclusive interview we have for you (see the video below) won’t answer that question. Nonetheless, we are grateful to Ray Lamontagne & The Pariah Dogs and RCA/Jive Records for providing us with an enticing interview that reaffirms the mystery surrounding Ray’s music, and that shows the sincerity of his relationship with his band-mates. As the band and Ray describe, their acclaimed new album arose magically, out of thin-air sessions of musical honesty between trusted friends.

View the Original article

Kids and Career Choices

One of my sons, at age 11, has settled on a career path: He’s joining the Coast Guard. He’s doing so in part because the Coast Guard is a cool organization, but also because he knows that I, a Coast Guard retiree, get a guaranteed monthly retirement check. He’s very aware that many of his friends’ parents, since the recession started, have lost jobs or taken pay cuts.

He thought about becoming a photojournalist, like my husband, but we told him that photojournalism is a highly competitive field that doesn’t pay much. As a pragmatic child who likes his creature comforts, he’s opted (for now) for the more financially secure choice.

The recession, I believe, has made kids think about career choices in a more practical way. I don’t think kids should limit themselves, but the bottom line is important for everyone to consider. The  Bureau of Labor Statistics has a lot of good information on that aspect, for career-changers as well as for those just starting out.

There’s a great site for kids that answers these questions on 60 different occupations:


View the Original article

Rate this Recipe: Broccoli with Tofu

If you’re not already a vegetarian, have you ever considered having one vegetarian meal a week? Ortrying to eat healthier, meatless meals for a day?

This recipe is from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Keep the Beat

View the Original article

Let Your Kids Help in the Kitchen

My friend’s 6-year-old daughter wanted to be Bobby Flay one morning and created a new snack: tomato with yogurt and sprinkles. I love the fact that this little girl got an idea in her head and created a brand new snack all on her own. Hey producers of The Next Food Network Star

View the Original article

Peak Produce: Summer into Fall

The most successful early apple variety is the Gala – it is a great flavored versatile apple. If you buy precut apples, chances are it’s a Gala. The Gala also stores very well and has been successfully grown all over the U.S. Following Galas on the harvest timetable are a steady stream of golden varieties – starting with the early Gingergold and continuing with the Golden Supreme and eventually followed by the more commonly recognized Golden Delicious. The Jonagold (a cross between an antique variety Jonathan and Golden Delicious apple) is one of the prized early apples of the season.

Another early class of apple best eaten close to harvest time is the Macintosh. This white fleshed, uniquely flavored, highly aromatic apple has variations depending on where you are in the U.S. Among these are the Macoun, Empire, Fortune and Cortland. The latest star of

View the Original article

Celebrate Oktoberfest

Hans came from Germany to the U.S. in 1987 and his first job was as a meat cutter at Whole Foods Market. A few years later, he left to start his own business creating sausages. We were sad to see him go, but excited about offering his all-natural sausages in our stores. Then, in 2007 he began crafting a line of authentic German sausages exclusively for Whole Foods Market.

These sausages contain no added nitrates or nitrites, MSG, sugar, fillers or artificial colors or flavors. Just all-natural, quality ingredients with the pure flavors you expect at Whole Foods Market. In fact, they are made exclusively for us from pigs raised on vegetarian feed without antibiotics

View the Original article

Let’s Celebrate: Vendors That Give Back

Email this

One of our seven Core Values is “Caring about our Communities and our Environment” and we embody that Core Value by doing our part to lessen our impact on the environment, and by giving back to the communities where we do business. In honor of this Core Value, we’d like to give a “shout out” to a few of our vendor suppliers who created products especially for our 30th birthday, with portions of the sales donated to organizations and foundations supporting the health and well-being of our greater global community!

Pirate’s Booty: Aged White Cheddar Pirate’s Booty


View the Original article

Amazing Salad Bar Project Update

within a 50-mile radius of a Whole Foods Market store is eligible to apply. F3 will be accepting grant applications from September 1st through November 1st. Schools selected by F3 will be announced by January 15, 2011 and salad bar kits will be shipped to schools within a month.

Any parent, teacher, food service worker or other concerned person can make sure that eligible schools are aware of The Salad Bar Project. In fact, we know that parents and teachers are often the drivers of making great new things like this happen for their schools. We’re depending on you to help get the word out about the grants so a school administrator can complete the online grant application.

The grant money, raised by customer donations, will be used to buy the physical salad bar. Each school that is chosen will receive a portable, five-well Cambro salad bar complete with utensils, pan inserts, chilling pads and training tools. Chef Ann’s The Lunch Box will provide the necessary training tools and ongoing support to help ensure proper management. The food on these salad bars will be provided through the schools current buying channels for procuring food.

A few customers have asked about the 50-mile radius requirement. Within 50 miles of any of our stores, you will find a range of schools in neighborhoods of varying economic levels. We absolutely believe that all kids deserve healthy lunches, regardless of their economic background or geographic location. That why it’s exciting that The Salad Bar Project is designed to keep growing and expanding to many more schools over time. We are jumpstarting the process with the help of our customers. Our team members and customers let us know that, in addition to fundraising for community schools, they also want to participate and volunteer in these schools to help make a difference. The 50-mile parameter was established as a way to fulfill the desire of our team members and customers to make a difference locally

View the Original article

Ever Been to Texas?

featured daily in nearly 200 live music venues around the city. The city’s hills and lakes also lend themselves to abundant kayaking, hiking, cycling and other activities.

Lubbock


View the Original article

Birthday Party on a Budget

Make your own punch, lemonade or coolers. Concoct something a little out of the ordinary like Cherry-Cucumber Coolers or any of these other refreshing recipes.Do something such as games and crafts and scavenger hunts, etc. vs. buying toys or gifts for every attendee. Isn’t FUN the point?Join OUR Birthday Party; stores are celebrating the weekend of the 17th. Find what’s happening at your local store.

Need a gift for the birthday boy or girl? Well, what about a gift card? You control the amount so it suits your budget and they get to pick out just what they want. That makes everyone happy!

By the way, we don’t expect any gifts for our birthday. Just keep celebrating and sharing your passion for the highest quality natural and organic products. Thanks to your help, with every passing year food choices are better and more affordable.

Got any fun tips for big birthday fun on a small budget?

Share this:

View the Original article

We’re Turning 30!

brand products.

1998 The first proposed National Organic Standards rule allows the use of GMOs, biosolids (sewage sludge) and irradiation in products labeled organic. We rally customers and team members in a successful store-based, letter-writing campaign and the rules are rewritten!

View the Original article

Learn to Cook: Simple Pesto

cup nuts, such as walnuts or pine nuts, or sunflower kernels

2 cups packed chopped raw herbs/greens, such as basil, kale or parsley

View the Original article

Leading the Green Packaging Charge

years) in the works, and we are walking our talk by switching to a 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content bottle for several store-brand supplements. Our 365 brand body care items are also in 50% PCR content HDPE (high-density polyethylene) bottles as well.

Look for the leaf symbol on our Whole Foods Market brand supplements, which indicates that the bottles are made from 100% PCR PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic. We expect to have all of our house-brand Whole Foods Market supplement products switched to PCR packaging by late 2010.

As a leader in sustainability, we know that post consumer waste recycled materials are the way to go. They require less energy and water to produce, and they generate far fewer greenhouse gases, while diverting reusable materials out of the landfill and reducing reliance on virgin petrochemicals.

View the Original article

30th Birthday Trip: Winning Entries

my Whole Foods seems like a little community within the community. The staff is knowledgeable, helpful, quirky as all get out and I love it. They remember me and make jokes and suggest foods I might want to try. They sing along to the songs piped into the store. It’s the people behind my Whole Foods that keep me coming back every week. Where else are you going to find the beer guy singing along to Madonna?

From Gayle in Newton, MA
Never in my life have I encountered anyone who loves Whole Foods the way that I do. My roommate finds her peace at temple; my friend does yoga. My brother drives to clear his head; I go to Whole Foods Market. Every store is a haven for me.

View the Original article

Let’s Celebrate our Whole Body

When we reflect on our 30 years in business, we feel extremely lucky to have partnered with such amazing vendors – some who’ve been around since the day we opened our doors. They’ve really helped us become what we are today. To honor our 30th birthday, some of these long-term vendor partners created some very special products. A present to us and to you! Here are some of these special products you’ll find in our Whole Body department. Later this week we’ll post about products in other areas of the store.

Nature’s Way: Men’s & Women’s Multi-Vitamin Alive! Whole Food Energizer

View the Original article

Cooking in a College Apartment

Just like eggs can be served any time of day, so can beans. Keep an assortment of your favorite canned beans – kidney, garbanzo, black, refried – and you’ll be able to put together a meal quickly. A few bean-based ideas:

Turn a large green salad into a meal by topping with kidney beans for a protein boost.Toss together garbanzo beans, diced tomato, avocado and cucumber along with your favorite dressing for a delicious filling for whole wheat tortillas.Combine black beans with corn, diced bell peppers, cilantro and taco seasoning and serve over salad greens with a few corn chips as a garnish.Use low-sodium refried beans and grated cheese to make tacos or burritos. Add some rotisserie chicken like in these Quick Chicken Tostadas.

And here are some of my other favorite go-to dishes for simple college life cooking:

Pasta: My classic stand-by. Go for whole grain pasta topped with your favorite jarred pasta sauce. Add some frozen veggies for a nutrient boost – I like broccoli. Just stir in and heat along with the sauce. Be sure to add a salad!

View the Original article

Last Day for Serger Contest Entries

Today is the last day to submit your serger contest entry.  We’ll begin judging tomorrow and announce the winner next week!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 8:52 am and is filed under Etc.... You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. 11 Responses to “” Ellen Thomas responds: Posted: August 31st, 2010 at 1:05 pm →

If I were lucky enough to win the Serger, I would be able to clear all my unfinished garments and start feeling better about myself in terms of style and conscience.

Here’s hoping !!

Jane responds: Posted: August 31st, 2010 at 3:48 pm →

I would love a new serger for my new home in Oregon!!!

View the Original article

Back to School Idea ~ Satchel Nature Kit

Kelly from kellyhogaboom.org joins us today to talk about her Back to School Nature Kit idea. Kelly created a satchel with some special added features, and equipped her daughter with the tools she’d need for outdoor exploration. Learn more about Kelly in her introduction. Below you’ll also find links to some of our favorite related tutorials so you can take Kelly’s idea and make it your own!

View the Original article

Back to School in Review

We hope you enjoyed our Back to School tutorials, patterns and giveaways! Now you can take inspiration from the series into the months ahead (with the kids back to school perhaps there will be more time to sew?!). We want to extend a special thanks to our board members, Rae and Shelly, and to all of our talented contributors. Thank you to Husqvarna Viking for sponsoring the incredible serger giveaway (we’ll announce the lucky winner on Monday)! Thanks also to the many companies who contributed Back to School patterns for our features and giveaways.

Here are all of our Back to School tutorials in one handy, linkable page:

View the Original article

Thank You

all for your incredible kindness. Our family is overwhelmed with your support, prayers and well wishes; I am so touched by the many amazing, personal experiences you’ve shared. I feel enveloped with positive energy and ready to forge ahead into the pregnancy home stretch here (figuratively, of course!– I’ll still look very inactive!). It is a great daily joy (and much-needed distraction) to be a part of the community here at Sew,Mama,Sew!

We know we are blessed, with hope and with the love of so many people.

,
Beth

This entry was posted on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 8:21 pm and is filed under Etc.... You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Leave a ReplyClick here to cancel reply.

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

XHTML: You can use these tags:
View the Original article

August 29 ~ Back to School Pattern: Sophie Tunic

Sis Boom Sophie Tunic sewn by Marnie Peck, Mom 2 Four

Like many of us, Marnie sews in the evenings after the kids are down. She doesn’t consider herself an expert, but she can sew entire outfits in one evening thanks to the clear and uncomplicated instructions found in all Sis Boom patterns including the Sophie Tunic.  Marnie admits that quite often patterns can be frustrating, but sewing the tunic was actually fun! The Sophie Tunic comes in a large size range of 6/12 months to 11/12 years, and is another PDF pattern which you can start sewing right away after you purchase & download the pattern.

View the Original article

August 30 ~ Back to School Pattern: Asa Poncho

The Asa Poncho pattern is available in unisex sizes 2 Yrs – 10 Yrs.

Pattern Info:
This pullover poncho is fully lined (and reversible!) and features full drape falling at the wrist, cozy hood, stylish topstitching, and a neck wrap for tying or tucking (or just letting lay flat!). It’s perfect for girls and boys this fall! Easy and fast, and guaranteed to look very fashionable.

View the Original article

Rate this Recipe: Grilled Shrimp

once a month, I'll review a recipe from the government. Think Julie and Julia. Our first recipe is from FDA's Office of Women's Health: Diabetes Recipe Cards (also available in Spanish). You can order this free recipe and other recipes online from the Federal Citizen Information Center.

Recipe: Grilled Shrimp with Pasta and Pineapple Salsa

I made a few tweaks:

I bought fresh pineapple, already cut instead of canned. I used half of a green pepper instead of 1 jalapeno pepper. I bought fresh, deveined shrimp; I just had to peel them so it saved me time. You can also buy a package of frozen shrimp already peeled and deveined; thaw it out according to the directions on the package. I bought whole wheat rotini pasta to make it a little healthier. I cooked it according to the package.

Cooking experience:

I don’t own an outdoor grill, so I used an indoor grill pan, sprayed with cooking oil. I set the burner to medium-high.

This recipe required a lot of chopping, so I probably would make this on the weekend unless I pre-chopped everything beforehand. I also used a mini-chop to dice the onions - less tears for me.

It took me about an hour from start to finish. Maybe if my knife skills were better, it would’ve saved me time.

View the Original article

Tips for Staying Safe Online

Do you want to learn how to protect your computer from viruses and other threats, but don't know where to look? October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and it might be a good time to take a look at some of the tips and facts offered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT).

Apparently hackers have been busy. According to US-CERT, if you're connecting a new computer to the Internet, nowadays it can take only minutes for a hacker to exploit the security on some networks. See the Tech Tip for how to protect your new computer before connecting it to the Internet.

Some tips to keep your computer secure:

Maintain up-to-date antivirus software.  Download software programs and updates directly from the vendor's website. Don't follow unsolicited links or open unsolicited e-mail messages (pdf). Use caution when visiting websites you don't trust. Ditto for downloading and installing programs. Protect your privacy and avoid social engineering and phishing attacks (when an attacker contacts you under false pretenses and tries to trick you into providing your private information). Sign up for cyber security alerts and cyber security tips.

And if the security of your computer has been compromised, see how to recover from a Trojan horse or virus (pdf), report a phishing site, or notify federal law enforcement if you're a victim of Internet fraud.

For more information on common online threats, protecting your privacy and maintaining your security, and reporting Internet fraud and Internet-related crime, visit USA.gov's FAQ and the Federal Citizen Information Center's publications.

View the Original article

Safe Battery Disposal

I don't need 8 hours of battery power from my laptop, but when my computer couldn't last an hour away from the socket I decided to pony up for a new battery. After a few minutes of careful research online, I found a deal on a replacement.

Since I had never replaced a laptop battery, I didn't know if I could throw away my old computer battery. It turns out that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has many resources available for electronic disposal and recycling and a specific page devoted to batteries.

I found that not all batteries contain toxic materials, but some do contain cadmium and mercury which can pose a threat to the environment. While it's not illegal to throw away most batteries, it's best to recycle them. The EPA directs those who want to recycle to the Earth911 website where you can plug in your zip code and find a spot to recycle rechargeable and single use batteries in your area.

When I punched in my zip code, I found that in addition to a local county recycling center, my local grocery store recycles batteries. I'll probably drop off my laptop batteries when I go shopping.

How do you dispose of your batteries?

View the Original article

Housing Help

It’s a familiar story on the evening news: the housing market is bad, and more and more Americans are struggling to pay their mortgage, or can’t pay their mortgage at all. I know that when you’re an economist it’s important to think about the housing market, but when I hear stories like that I think about families that are in trouble.

If you or someone you know is having problems keeping up with the mortgage, it’s important to know that the Department of Housing and Urban Development sponsors housing counseling agencies that can advise you on buying a home, renting a home, defaults, foreclosures, and credit issues.  The Department of Agriculture also has rural development offices in each state that can help people who live in rural areas.

There are a number of things you can do to avoid foreclosure when you’re having financial trouble.  If you see trouble down the road, don’t hesitate and seek out assistance now.

View the Original article

Organizing for 2010

Did hell freeze over and someone forgot to tell me? I didn't notice, but was the moon in the 7th house and Jupiter aligned with Mars? (Ageof Aquarius? Doesn't ring a bell? Never mind.) I don't know what rare event occurred, but something influenced me last weekend, because I did something that I never do... I organized my paperwork! Just last week, in my blog, I mentioned my total lack of interest in organizing, but on Saturday, something compelled me to sit down tosift through the mounds of paper.

My first inclination was to take all of my paper crap (technical term) and, without sorting through any of it, just dump it in a plastic bin to be stashed in the garage attic, never to see the light of day. I resisted that urge and sortedthrough it. I discovered that quite a bit of it could be thrown away. I organized and filed everything in the expandable folder I had purchased a year ago. I labeled the folder

View the Original article

Deadly Radon in Your Home?

"Feet of a baby girl wearing green socks. Text reads "Living Healthy and Green Starts from the ground up. Test your home for Radon. www.epa.gov/radon"" /

View the Original article

Vegetable Garden Dreams

flannel PJ’s, making soup, organizing, re-arranging furniture and seed shopping. There’s something comforting about looking through garden catalogs with their beautiful photos of people working in the garden, bountiful harvests, and flowers in bloom. I want my garden to be green and bountiful too!

I love to play in the dirt, I love fresh vegetables, and I can’t wait to start planting. Last night I had a hard time putting the seed catalog down. I couldn’t decide what variety of butternut squash to plant. My husband would prefer no squash, but it won’t kill him to eat a few

View the Original article

Compost Bin

I’ve been composting yard waste and food scraps for nearly a decade. My method, and I think using the term method is even a little too fancy, is the heap method. In essence, we have an out of view place near the garden where we dump food scraps and yard trimmings and then never think of it again. See how easy backyard composting can be?

There are, of course, more efficient methods of composting if you’re willing to put even just a little effort into it. These more efficient methods will yield better quality soil and it’ll be ready for you to use in a shorter period of time. I’m in no rush because the previous owner of my house had a few horses, so I’ve got a mountain of nice aged horse manure to fertilize my garden for many years to come.

The heap method of composting has worked well for many years, but we hit a snag: the puppy. From what I can tell, there are few things in life more enticing to a puppy than a big pile of decomposing food scraps. Not only is she eating my good compost material, I worry that there might be some people food in there that’s not so good for a dog.

So begins my quest for a new puppy-proof composting method. While I’ve been looking through the garden catalogs I’ve seen many lovely bins that you can buy and are shipped ready to assemble in your yard. But when I see a $100 price tag I wonder if this is something I can do myself and save some money. The answer is yes! There are a number of different types of s you can build yourself, and they’re made from materials that are pretty easy to get. I think I’m going to keep it simple and build a wire mesh bin or maybe just a simple pallet bin. What works for you?

View the Original article

Fire Prevention

When I was in college, students, who had a little too much to drink, were always pulling the dorm fire alarms in the middle of the night and then running off. These alarm pranks had become a real problem in my dorm and seemed to be happening weekly.

I considered myself lucky that I lived on the ground floor and sometimes I would be a little slow evacuatingmy room. I assumed it was always just another prank. I had a friend in the dorm who took the fire alarm very seriously and she would come bang on the door to make sure we were getting up and going outside. She became upset with my slacker attitude about evacuating my room every time the fire alarm went off.

I found out why. She lost 2 brothers in a house fire. Her family lived out in the country on a farm, andfrequently used a space heater during the winter. Her parents woke up in the middle of the night to flames and smoke. They were able to get my friend and her sisters out of the house, but the little boys were upstairs in a back bedroom and fire blocked the way.

Her father had loaned his ladder to a neighbor, so when he couldn't get up the stairs, he ran outside totheir bedroom window in an attempt to get the boys to jump out the window. The boys were afraid and wouldn't jump. Her father ran to the neighbor's house to get the ladder, but by the time he got back, the heat and flames kept him from getting into the bedroom. The fire department came, but it was too late. The boys' bodies were foundhuddled together in the closet.

Across the country, stories similar to this one happen all too frequently. In the District of Columbia alone, 9 people died in home fires in January of 2009. January and February are typically the busiest months of the year for firefighters.

Firefighters will tell you that a small fire can become an out of control fire within minutes. Plan ahead and practice escape routes with every member of your family. Knowing what to do and doing it quickly can save your family. Check out these resources and learn more about preventing home fires, steps to take to survive a fire, and what to do to after a fire:

FEMA's Fire HazardsFireSafety.govSaftey Tips: Winter FiresU.S. Fire Administration's Website

View the Original article

Read Across America Day

I could go on and on.

Reading children’s books is a fun part of having kids, and today is . Read Across America, sponsored by the National Education Association, is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss.

The research is clear: children who are read to, and who read for pleasure, are more successful in school than children who do not. Reading is a wonderful way to spend fun time with any child, and reading gives a child the gift of lifetime learning. So get in touch with your favorite children's books of the past and discover some new treasures with a child. Read to a kid today.

View the Original article

Census 2010 Forms

I got mine, did you get yours? It’s March and the Census Bureau is in full gear making sure census forms are delivered to every home in the United States and Puerto Rico.

The good news is that it’s easy - when you get your form, just answer the 10 questions and mail the form back in the postage-paid envelope they provide (the form cannot be completed online). It only took me a couple of minutes to complete mine.

If you don't mail the form back, you may receive a visit from a census taker, who will ask you the questions from the form.  I don’t like random visitors to bother me at home, so I filled out the form and sent it back last week.

The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States, and is required by the Constitution to take place every 10 years. Each question helps to determine how more than $400 billion will be allocated to communities across the country. That’s a lot of money

View the Original article

Recycle While Spring Cleaning

Spring starts Saturday and I realize some of you might be thinking about spring cleaning/organizing. For those of you who are looking at cleaning out the basement, I encourage you to look into recycling that old junk. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that recycling saves energy, reduces pollution and even maintains and creates manufacturing jobs in the U.S. I've been a recycling junkie since I can remember. I still recall the days of home recycling where you had to look for a number on a plastic bottle to see if you could recycle it. Nowadays I wonder sometimes if I have more recycling than I have garbage each week. 

The types of things you can recycle will depend on your local recycling centers. I'm lucky enough to live in an area where I can recycle just about anything. As I've pointed out before, you can recycle computer batteries, so you should expect the sky to be the limit when you check to see what local centers will take. The EPA provides guides on what you can reduce, reuse and recycle in your home, office and community.

How much do you recycle each week?

View the Original article

Federal Student Financial Aid Program

If you are a parent of a college-bound senior, your life is probably consumed these days with talk of college. First, there is the drama of your child deciding on which college(s) to apply to for admission. As your child is anxiously awaiting that all important acceptance letter from the dream school of his/her choice, perhaps you arementally working out which money tree to pick the tuition money from. What, no money tree growing in your back yard?

It's time for plan B. There are a lot of grant, loan and scholarship options out there, but it can be daunting trying to find them. The first resource you might want to visit is USA.gov’s Education page for information about the Federal Student Aid program. The online FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form and guidelines for filling it out simplify the process considerably. You should know that many scholarship applications require you to fill out a FAFSA form, so this is the best place to start the process for tuition assistance. While you are going through this application process, make sure to pay close attention to federal and state loan deadlines. You’ll want to file well before the deadline, so you can receive aid before funds run out.

The Department of Education offers a handy student budget calculator. You can plug in tuition costs, room and board and other expensesalong with how much money you have in student loans or grants to get an idea of where you stand financially. While you are working the numbers, don't forget to include your kids in the process too, especially since they may be the ones signing on the dotted line to pay back the money if loans are involved. They are becoming adults and they should have an understanding of what this is costing and perhaps that will make them work harder in school. You may alsowant to have them visit College.gov where they can learn to be money savvy at college. They’ll find money saving tips, learn to set up a budget and avoid common scams that target students.

Getting your kid off to college can be quite the challenge, both emotionally and financially, but in the long run they will reap the benefits. Hopefully, this adventure is starting your child out on the right path to a bright future, but let's not forget the real reward for you.  Once he/she is gone, you can turn his/her bedroom into that reading/craft/exercise room that you have always wanted! After getting through all of that drama, you deserve it!

Here are some additional resources that you may find useful:

ABC’s of Financial AidFCIC Financial Aid LinksFinancial Aid for Foreign SchoolsFinancial Aid for the Post-High School Education of Your Child with Special Needs.Military’s Tuition SupportStudents.gov - Pay for Your Education

View the Original article

Prom Night Safety

My neighbor was telling me about her daughter's excitement over her upcoming prom. I felt a tug of regret. I never went to my high school prom. I'll be honest, I was never asked. I was not the type of girl to inspire crushes from guys in high school. I like to think of it as being a late bloomer. I figure I will begin to bloom when I am 80... just in time for the

View the Original article

Cooking Safely on the Grill

I’ve really been into grilling this year. I like it because of how food cooked on the grill tastes, because I can make a meal without heating up the house or producing a mountain of dirty dishes, and most of all I like to sit down and relax in the cool evening air while I patiently wait for my food to be done. For the record, I’m an old-fashioned charcoal grill girl, and sometimes I get really old fashioned and cook over an open fire.

The thing that always bugs me when I’m cooking meat on the grill is that it’s hard to tell when it’s done. I love that smoky goodness, but I’d rather not serve it with a side of food borne illness. Luckily you can take a little care and safely prepare food on an outdoor grill even if you, or someone you cook for is especially at risk, like pregnant women or people with compromised immune systems. Last week I bought one of those instant read thermometer forks to help me tell when my food is cooked to a safe temperature. I’m still getting the hang of it, but it’s going to be a better method than going by the color of the meat.

Remember too that red meat and poultry aren’t the only things you can cook on a grill. I’ve been experimenting with vegetables on the grill, and you know what?  It turns out that I love asparagus! I just toss it with a little olive oil, the juice of a fresh lemon and a little salt and pepper, then give it indirect heat for about 5 minutes on each side. I’m happy to eat the whole bunch!

Next I want to try fruit on the grill and I’m looking at recipes. Anybody have a good one?

View the Original article

Adopting a Child

Years ago, after a period of struggling with infertility and failed attempts to get pregnant, my husband and I began exploring the option of . We eventually decided to not pursue adoption, but for many couples unable to have a child, adoption is an excellent alternative. There are tens of thousands of children adopted every year in the U.S.

Adoption can be a complicated and expensive process. In the U.S., adoption laws vary from state to state. Intercountry adoption is even more complicated, because not only do U.S. federal and state laws need to be considered, but the laws of the child’s home country come into play. Navigating through either type of adoption process can take a considerable amount of time and can become incredibly stressful.

One of the important steps to a successful adoption is learning about, and fully understanding, theadoption process. There are so many things to prepare and consider when contemplating an adoption. The good news is that there are many resources available for families considering adoption. Here are just a few resources that I found:

Adoption Assistance by StateAdoptUsKidsAdoption Support GroupsChild Welfare Information GatewayCosts of AdoptingList of Child Welfare Related OrganizationsMedlinePlus AdoptionNational Foster Care & Adoption Directory SearchSupport Groups for Adopting FamiliesTax Adoption Credit

For those of you pursuing adoption, my thoughts are with you as you navigate this journey. If you have an adoption story or experiences that you are willing to share, please post a comment.

View the Original article

Be Prepared When Storms Knock Out Power

Just a few weeks ago, I wrote a post about not being caught off-guard in summer storms. Sometimes I need to learn to take my own advice.

 This past Sunday a wicked thunderstorm tore through the Maryland, DC and Virginia area. There were tornado warnings in some areas and, though I don't think any funnel clouds were actually spotted, the storm left quite a mess to clean up.

I wasn't the least bit prepared for it. I had no idea storms were in the forecast. I was busy helping a friend move.

By the time I got back home, I found out my house had been without electricity for eight hours. Traffic lights were out everywhere, creating back-ups while police tried to direct traffic at some of the busiest intersections.

As I stumbled up the stairs by the glow from my cell phone screen, I tried to remember where I'd stashed my flashlight. I knew I had one somewhere, but of course when I found it the batteries were almost dead so the light flickered a lot.

Luckily, my power came back on about a half hour later. Being able to run the fans and the air conditioner helped cool the stuffiness and I was lucky that none of the food in my fridge had gone bad.

Several of my friends and coworkers aren't expecting to get their power back until the end of the week. They're getting by on candlelight and flashlights and eating most of their meals at restaurants since all the food in their fridges has gone bad.

It's a crappy situation all around, but stuff like this always reminds me of the importance of being prepared in an emergency. FEMA has a great list of things to keep on hand, just in case, as well as advice on how to put a disaster kit together.

I know I need to find some new batteries for my flashlight. What's one thing you need to do to be prepared for the next big storm?

View the Original article

What are Lil’ Ziggy and Buckaroo?

Email this

If you guessed artisan cheeses, you’d be right! And you won’t find them anywhere other than in our stores because award-winning artisan cheesemakers Sue Conley and Peggy Smith of Cowgirl Creamery and Mary Keehn of Cypress Grove developed these two exclusive cheeses to celebrate Whole Foods Market’s Big 3-0. What a cool present!

Cowgirl Creamery’s Buckaroo (named by one of our team members through an internal contest) is a versatile washed-rind cow’s milk cheese minimally aged 60 days and made from organic milk from nearby Straus Family Creamery. Here’s a video where I’m actually helping make the cheese, along with our co-CEO Walter Robb.

Cowgirl Creamery created Buckaroo as a small production organic cheese in a great price range that you could either use in cooking or as a table cheese. Buckaroo is creamy with

View the Original article

Apply for a Free School Salad Bar

We know that our customers care about their local schools. So your role is to help us get the word out about the grants. Any public schools – elementary schools, middle schools or high schools – within a 50-mile radius of a Whole Foods Market store are eligible to apply. F3 will be accepting grant applications from September 1st through November 1st. Schools selected by F3 will be announced by January 15, 2011 and salad bar kits will be shipped to schools within a month.

Any parent, teacher, food service worker or other concerned person can make sure that eligible schools are aware of The Salad Bar Project. In fact, we know that parents and teachers are often the drivers of making great new things like this happen for their schools. We’re depending on you to help get the word out about the grants so a school administrator can complete the online grant application.

And just in case you are wondering, the food on these salad bars will be provided through the schools current buying channels for procuring food. The grant money, raised by customer donations, will be used to buy the actual salad bar. Each school that is chosen will receive a portable, five-well Cambro salad bar complete with utensils, pan inserts, chilling pads and training tools. The Lunch Box will provide the necessary training tools and ongoing support to help ensure proper management.

More than 31 million children rely on the National School Lunch Program every school day. For many of these kids, school lunch is their only complete meal of the day. Let’s make sure that salad bar choices are part of that meal!

Learn more in our salad bar FAQ, encourage your local school to visit The Salad Bar Project to apply for a grant, and continue to donate to the cause at the registers or online. Thanks for your support!

Share this:

View the Original article

Grass-fed Beef: Rancher Spotlight 3

Fifteen years ago, Mark and Lynne Faille began to raise grass-fed beef for personal health reasons. Today, Simply Grazin’s six ranches sell their beef to local restaurants and Whole Foods Market. The primarily Angus herds roam freely and feed on a diet of clover and timothy hay. Simply Grazin’ practices rotational grazing, and the cattle have enough pasture to last them throughout the spring, summer and fall-they receive no grain at all. Organic hay is harvested all summer long and stored for their consumption throughout the long winter months. Ranches are located in New Jersey, New York and Virginia.

Grass-fed beef from Simply Grazin’ is available in our stores in Western Connecticut, New York and New Jersey (excluding Marlton and Princeton).

Maui Cattle
Kahului, HI

View the Original article

Spread the Sprouts Around

Salads are a go, as you know, but not just the leafy-green type. Try them on crunchy vegetable salads, steamed vegetable salads as well as bean and grain salads. I like them as a garnish to egg, potato, chicken and shrimp salad, too. To spice up your sprouts, try this idea for Firecracker Chicken Salad with Pineapple and Mango.Try them rolled up in sushi.Mung beans are super popular with Asian salads and noodle dishes. Here’s a great recipe for Asian Tofu and Sprout Salad and here’s a favorite for a Quick Noodle Salad with Tofu and Vegetables.Juice them with other veggies or fresh fruits.Add them to coleslaw – they are delicious that way!If you love Thai food, then you will love the sprouts that garnish our Pad Thai Tofu.Throw them into stir-fries.Make a summery soup and stir them in.Mix them into cottage cheese, cream cheese or goat cheese and spread on sandwiches or crackers.Mix and match your sprouts depending on your recipe. Here’s a blend of sunflower and mung bean sprouts in a delicious Beet Salad with Arugula.Carrots join sunflower sprouts in this refreshing Carrot and Sunflower Sprout Salad with Basil and Green Peppercorn Oil.Eat them fresh, as is, with a bit of your favorite salad dressing.Serve them over rice pilaf and other hot cooked grain (or bean) dishes.Toss them with a lovely dressing and use them as a bed for skewered meats, tempeh, tofu or fish and vegetables -kabobs on a bed of sprouts!

Sprouts should be kept cold at no higher than 40

View the Original article

Peak Pick – Figs and Grapes

Black Mission Figs

Figs have a special place in my heart because of my great Aunt Bell. Her yard, behind her house about two miles from downtown Jackson, Mississippi, was my late summer childhood playground and in it were three gigantic fig trees. Years of aluminum pie pans hung from the branches of these trees – the first and only line of defense against a steady stream of crows. Eating warm figs right from the trees and watching my great aunt make fig preserves were two great childhood memories – listening to the “tis, tis, tis” of the pressure cooker as the fragrance of cooking figs filled the kitchen.

View the Original article

Grass-fed Beef: Rancher Spotlight 2

At its inception in 1880, Cold Spring Ranch operated as a diverse livestock operation in Western Maine. After operating as a dairy from the 1950’s until the mid 90’s, Gabe Clark started raising grass-fed beef on his 240-acre ranch. Today, Cold Spring encompasses five ranches where Gabe grazes Angus cattle. The cattle roam freely throughout their lives and the ranch places an emphasis on humane animal treatment. Gabe also focuses on supporting his local economy with his all-Maine based company.

Grass-fed beef from Cold Spring Ranch is available in our store in Maine.

Panorama
Vina, CA

View the Original article

Food52 Grand Prize Winning Recipe

"width: 16px; height: 16px; background: transparent url(http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/sociable/images/services-sprite.png) no-repeat; background-position:-325px -1px" class

View the Original article