FruitWhirled In Effect

The newest thing in #NHV as of late has been this amazing contraption we've seen downtown and at various farmers' markets. It's called FruitWhirled and it's operated by Ahna Johnson. From her website:



"Ahna started formulating the idea for Fruit Whirled years earlier on a trip in South America where fresh fruit smoothies are widely available from street vendors. A commitment to reduce carbon pollution led to the idea of using a bike blender to spin the smoothies and the search for how to make this idea a reality was on. After years of dreaming up the idea of Fruit Whirled, the business finally got its back wheel off the ground in the summer of 2013."

[source: FruitWhirled.Com "About" section]



You can follow her operation on Twitter and Instagram. The Twitter Feed is particularly helpful because it tells you where and when to expect the FruitWhirled bicycle smoothie operation. She also has a calendar that can help you determine not just where to find FruitWhirled, but also what other cool and interesting events attract vendors like hers.

On A Roll

Here's an example of how you can turn some cheap stuff from the garden into something masterful, like the Hobbit Roll.  This particular type of sushi is created by simply using the following ingredients:

• Swiss Chard (or rainbow chard)
• Quinoa (keen-wah)
• Tofu 
• Mushrooms

How to make. 

Cut Tofu into strips, and also slice Mushrooms.  Place in a pan with a light amount of oil, and cook these items for about 10 minutes.  

Boil water for the Quinoa (radio of quinoa:water= 1:2).  Let cook in boiling water until all the water has been absorbed.  

At about 10 minutes, steam the Chard.    

You can make sushi out of just about anything, but Chard, Quinoa and Tofu are ingredients of choice for many Hobbits because they're so jam-packed with nutrition.  Chard is full of minerals, while Quinoa has more amino acids than any other solo grain.

This photo slideshow demonstrates the whole process.  Enjoy and eat well!

Now that all of your ingredients are ready, you can begin the process.  Rolling sushi is a bit difficult, and using alternative ingredients doesn't make it much easier.  At the end of the day, maybe all you get is a big pile of stuff.  It may or may not be fancy.  At least it's healthy stuff.

The Beauty of Springtime and Farmers Markets is...

Slate from the Grove welcomes you to the Wooster Square Farmers Market.  Hang out with Nicki, Lise and Jason Sobocinski as they teach a group of high school students about some of the most important things in life:  nutritious, health, cooking, and making delicious food.  This is just a teaser for the educational programming being produced by Lisa Amadeo and Nicki Chavoya who together make the production company known as Outpost.  They are volunteering to bring you educational entertainment!

New Urban Farming

(The following, I didn't write obviously because everything is spelled correctly and it sounds official.)

New Haven, CT – New Haven Farms, whose mission is to promote health and community development through urban agriculture, is pleased to announce that it will hold its first fundraiser. New Haven Farms began as a garden for a small group of Chabaso Bakery employees. After a successful partnership with the Fair Haven Community Health Center, the idea of expanding the garden into an urban farm to provide fresh produce to those at risk for such leading factors as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure gained momentous support across the greater New Haven community.

The Sowing Seeds event will take place Saturday April 14, 2012 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bentara Restaurant, 76 Orange Street in New Haven. Admission is $20 per person or $30 for two tickets. Tickets can be purchased online at www.newhavenfarms.org prior to the event. Tickets may also be purchased at the door the day of the event on a first come, first served basis.  Admission includes light refreshments and live music. A cash bar is available. Funds raised during this event will go directly toward helping New Haven Farms meet its 2012 goal of increasing the number of at-risk families with access to fresh, quality produce.

On the heels two community meetings in January and March, New Haven Farms is seeking support and funding to scale-up its current operations. In 2012, New Haven Farms aims to establish enough credibility and financial security to work with the City of New Haven Parks Commission to farm an unutilized plot of land at Quinnipiac River Park. This area of the park contains ideal soil conditions for growing.

For more information about the event, to make a tax-deductible donation or to volunteer, visit the New Haven Farms website at www.newhavenfarms.org.

Also seen on the Environment Calendar.