Green Energy Ohio Tour - Saturday & Sunday - October 1 & 2, 2011

Green Energy Ohio Tour - Saturday & Sunday - October 1 & 2, 2011

Welcome to the 2011 Green Energy Ohio Tour, organized by Green Energy Ohio (GEO)!     

GEO is the Ohio Chapter of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), and GEO's 9th Annual Tour is part of the National Solar Tour managed by ASES.  Formerly known as the "Ohio Solar Tour," in 2011 this FREE event is renamed the Green Energy Ohio Tour to better reflect the solar, wind, biomass, energy efficiency and other clean energy technologies.  

Thanks to Ohio Department of Development as Tour Sponsor and Tour Donors  and the hundreds of Site Owners and GEO Volunteers across Ohio!

This FREE statewide event on October 1 & 2 provides the unique opportunity for people to visit and  talk with owners living and working with clean energy technologies.   

Use GEO's website as an interactive tool to search 261 Open House Sites (see search tabs above) and over a dozen Guided Tours  in 137 communities in 51 counties across Ohio featured solar, wind, biomass, green design, energy-saving technologies and much more!  Register on-line and at each Tour Day Site for chances to win a FREE donated solar or energy efficiency site assessement.

Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here.

DIY: Puppet Theater

This is a super easy project that we created one day because we had a large piece of cardboard.

I scored the cardboard approximately 8"-12" from each end to create the structure for the theater.  Then I cut an opening to use as the place where the theater would take place.

Then the kids colored and decorated the inside and outside of the puppet theater.

Next I took a couple of pieces of fabric we had leftover and cut them to be a little larger than 1/2 the opening.  I taped a string across the top of the opening and used safety pins to secure the fabric to the string.  I also taped two loops of string on each side of the curtain to create hold backs for the curtains.

Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here. 

Local Green Events - 2011 Eat Local Challenge - Local Matters

2011 Eat Local Challenge - Local Matters

How to Participate:

1. The first step is easy: Choose at least three different ways through which you pledge to eat local.
2. Complete each activity and mark the card with a marker or sticker.
3. Spread the word!  Tell your friends about the challenge and join us for some great events during the Local Foods Week, October 1-8.
4. After you’ve completed three or more activities, submit it to Local Matters by October 14^th to be entered in the grand prize drawing!

You can submit your information online here.

You can also pick up and submit your Pledge Card at one of the following locations:

• The Greener Grocer and North Market
• Cup O’ Joe locations around Columbus
• Columbus Metro Libraries

CONTEST/PRIZE INFO

• 6 months of groceries through the Greener Grocer‘s Weekly Fresh Market Bag (WFMB)
• A pantry makeover from the Hills Market
• Catering for an event from Two Caterers
• A cooking class with Local Matters’ own Chef RB

More ideas for eating local and delicious

• Do your weekly shopping at a Farmers Market
• Challenge yourself to prepare a dinner using as many local ingredients as possible. (and then of course, feast with your friends or family!)
• Visit the farm of a local food that you purchase
• Try a vegetable or fruit that you’ve never tried before!
• Eat at a restaurant that uses local ingredients.
• Host a barbeque using local Ohio meats (try Bluescreek Farm Meats or Weiland’s Gourmet Market)
• Learn to can or preserve local foods so you can enjoy your jam all year long!
• Go berrypicking at a “U-Pick” farm
• Plant a fall garden.
• Buy a share of a farm through a CSA (community supported agriculture).

Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here.

Local Green Events - Local Foods Week (Sept. 30 - Oct. 8)

Schedule of Events:

Friday, September 30Local Foods Week Happy Hour (5-8 pm)
Visit bars and restaurants around Columbus to taste some of the best local brews, wines and liquors around along with some great food specials! Participating restaurants include Harvest Pizzeria, Latitude 41, Alana’s, Deepwood, SPAGIO, MoJoe Lounge Downtown and more.
 

Saturday, October 1

Kids Cook Off Challenge at WOSU@COSI (10 am – 1 pm) Admission is free
Join us for a special Local Matters Kids Cook-off Challenge! Sign up your 5-12 year old to compete in this fun, hands-on and delicious experience. In addition to the cook off we’ll have a variety of activities for kids of all ages and an Ohio apple tasting. For more information or to sign up your son or daughter for the Kids Cook Off Challenge email Lyndsey at murphylyndsey@gmail.com. Spaces are limited so sign up today!
Location: WOSU@COSI, 333 W. Broad St, Columbus

Grilled Cheese Throwdown in the Short North (4–7 pm) $5 admission
Chefs will compete alongside talented amateurs for the title of “grilled cheese master” using local breads, cheeses and toppings. Featured chefs include reigning “master” Kevin Caskey of Skillet, David MacLennan of Latitude 41, Catie Randazzo of the Jury Room, and Jeff Lindemeyer of Cameron’s American Bistro. Taste their amazing creations and cast your vote for the winner! Tickets are limited so reserve a spot for your taste buds today! http://grilledcheesethrowdown.eventbrite.com
Location: Poplar Park (just north of MoJoe Lounge) 600 N. High St, Columbus, OH

Yummy! Art Show Opening at Brothers Drake Meadery (7-11 pm) Admission is free
Yummy! is an art exhibition hosted by the Couchfire Collective which explores eating, drinking, cooking, dining, and everything related to food. Yummy! will showcase food-themed artwork by local artists as well as raise funds for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank and promote Local Matters’ Local Foods Week! Please bring non-perishable food items or a monetary donation for the foodbank. More details can be found here.
Location: Brothers Drake Meadery, 26 E. 5th Avenue, Columbus, 43201

Near East Side Harvest Festival (10 am-10 pm) $3 adults, $1 12-18 year olds, kids free
This festival will feature art, food demonstrations, music from jazz artist Sabrina Tutstone, a kids zone, and local growers. Sponsored by Full Circle Soil.
Location: 462 Kimball Place (at Mound), Columbus, OH 43205
 

Sunday, October 2

Food Cart Rally at Eartha Limited (4-8 pm) $5 ticket includes 1 drink ticket
An evening of music, drinks and amazing food from a dozen food carts celebrating local ingredients! Presented in partnership with the Small Business Beanstalk and Eartha Limited. And, with the help of Eartha Limited, the event will be zero waste! Tickets are limited to ensure short lines and adequate food for all. Purchase your tickets now! at  http://foodcartrally.eventbrite.com

Location: Eartha Limited, 371 Maier Place, Columbus, OH 43215 (on the Whittier Peninsula in Scioto Audubon Park)

Monday, October 3

Food Forum on Urban Farming at the Wexner Center (6:00-8:30 pm) Admission is free
We will hold a special edition of our monthly Central Ohio Food Forum featuring the experts! Urban farmers from all over Central Ohio will be on hand to share their stories and photographs from their operations. RSVP to make sure you have a seat! http://octoberfoodforum2011.eventbrite.com
Location: Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St, Columbus, OH

Speakers include:
Wayne Shingler, Frijolito Farms
Trish Dehnbostel, Hoover YMCA Gardens
Ashley Laughlin, Franklinton Garden
Joseph Swain, Swainway Urban Farm
Jerry Ra, Compost & Gardens
Jessica Roach, Homesteader
Yolanda Moser, Godman Guild Association
Bill Dawson, Franklin Park Conservatory
Roger Beck, Cornerstone Garden
Tuesday, October 4

Movie Night at the Drexel in Bexley (7-9 pm) $7 admission
The inspiring documentary Fresh! will be screened and delicious movie snacks will be available. Tickets are limited so get yours today! http://lfwmovienight.eventbrite.com
Location: Drexel Theatre, 2254 E. Main St., Bexley, OH

Local Food Tour with Columbus Food Adventures
Local Foods Week tour presented by Columbus Food Adventures highlighting some of the city’s most talented chefs who emphasize local sourcing. Tour stops will include Skillet, Harvest Pizza, Market 65, Latitude 41, and Knead.
This tour is sold out!

Wednesday, October 5

Hungry Planet Presentation at Franklin Park Conservatory (7-9 pm) Admission is free
Presentation about the work of Local Matters as part of the Hungry Planet lecture series along with a cooking demonstration by Executive Director, Michael Jones.
Location: Garden Campus at Franklin Park Conservatory (accessed from S. Franklin Park Drive)

Local Food Tour with Columbus Food Adventures
Local Foods Week tour presented by Columbus Food Adventures highlighting some of the city’s most talented chefs who emphasize local sourcing. Tour stops will include Skillet, Harvest Pizza, Market 65, Latitude 41, and Knead.
This tour is sold out!

Thursday, October 6
Local Drink Tasting at House Wine (6-9 pm) $15
House Wine will offer a variety of Ohio beverages like Rockmill Brewery’s beers, mead from Brothers Drake, along with additional Ohio beers, wines and bites for their Thursday night tasting. Hosted in partnership with Drink Up Columbus.
Location: House Wine, 644 N. High St, Worthington, OH 43085

Speak Easy at Wild Goose Creative (7-9 pm) $5
This hilarious story telling event will focus on local food with the theme “Ohio Grown” in honor of Local Matters’ Local Foods Week! Event details can be found here.
Location: Wild Goose Creative, 2491 Summit St., Columbus, OH 43202

Fall Family Fun Dinner w/ Jeni (6-8:30 pm) $10 adults; $5 kids
Hills Market will present a buffet of Hills Own house-made chicken tenders (made with Gerber Chicken from Kidron, Ohio), Ohio sweet potato wedges and Ohio apple sauce. They will have Snowville Creamery milk to drink and Jeni Britton Bauer from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams will present her Pumpkin Tiramisu Parfait for dessert. Ohio wine and beer cash bar will be available.
Reservations are required and can be made by calling 614.846.3220. Please let us know how many adults and how many kids (10 and under) will be in your party. Seating will be outside on our heated Veranda, so please dress accordingly.
Location: The Hills Market | 7860 Olentangy River Road Columbus, OH 43235

Jeni’s Happy Hour and Fall Flavor Preview (5-7 pm)
Preview Jeni’s Pumpkin Tiramisu Parfait during happy hour. Pumpkins, coffee, crean and whipped cream are all Ohio ingredients. Sales of the pumpkin parfaits will benefit Local Matters.
Location: Jeni’s locations (except German Village)

Local Food Tour with Columbus Food Adventures
Local Foods Week tour presented by Columbus Food Adventures highlighting some of the city’s most talented chefs who emphasize local sourcing. Tour stops will include Skillet, Harvest Pizza, Market 65, Latitude 41, and Knead.
One more ticket left – here!
 

Friday, October 7

Harvest Dinner (6-9 pm) $100 for dinner and the ball
Prior to the Harvest Ball, the Harvest Dinner will feature a fabulous seasonal five course dinner by Two Caterers. Suggested dress is cocktail attire. Tickets are now available!

Harvest Ball (9 pm-midnight) $20 in advance, $25 at the door
A party of grand proportions featuring great music from MoJoFlo, delicious local bites, a dessert bar and delightful drinks! Tickets are now available!
Location: Grange Insurance Audubon Center | 505 W. Whittier St., Columbus, OH 43215
Saturday, October 8

Market to Market Ride and North Market Harvest Festival (8 am -12 pm)
Ride your bike from the North Market to the Hills Market (and back!) or start in Worthington and make your way south. The Market to Market Ride is entering it’s fifth go-round with a special theme – Zombies vs. Pirates! Get into the fun of fall with this ride for foodies and cyclists of all ages. Details are available here.

You can read more here.

Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here.

Whole Foods Market® - This Week's Hot Deals (Ohio)

These prices are valid from September 28 thru October 4.

You can read all about the current coupon deals available in both the whole deal and available to print online here.

Sales appear to be regional or even by State. Please confirm with your store their coupon policy as some stores will allow you to use one manufacturer coupon + one Whole Foods coupon per item.

UPDATE:  Whole Foods (Dublin) is no longer accepting stacked coupons due to a change in store management. 


One Day Deals!    

TBD

This Week's Hot Deals!

FROM OUR BUTCHER Air-Chilled Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast
Roast with garlic and lemon for a quick, comforting meal. Raised on a
100% vegetarian diet with no antibiotics ever.
$4.99 lb
Reg. $6.49 lb

PERU Asparagus
Tender and tasty, these stalks make the ultimate side dish when serving meats and fish, whether broiled, roasted or quickly steamed in the microwave. Asparagus also adds nice flavor to stir-fries.
$2.99 lb
Reg. $3.99 lb

FARM-RAISED IN THAILAND Farm-Raised Shrimp Skewers
Grill, broil or steam for an appetizer or main course. Made with previously frozen, 28/34 count shrimp. Available in Plain, BBQ, Tandoori or Teriyaki flavors.
$2.00 ea
Reg. $2.49 ea

IMAGINE FOODS Organic Soups
Simmered with fresh herbs and seasonings. Add a crusty loaf of bread, and you’ve got a meal. In selected varieties.
(14.5 oz)
2 for $5
Reg. $3.19 ea
$1/2 Manuf. Coupon available here
+
$1/1 Whole Foods Coupon available here
Total:  $1 each! (If your Whole Foods allows you to stack coupons)

FROM OUR BUTCHER 90% Lean Ground Sirloin
$4.99 lb
Reg. $6.49 lb

FROM OUR BUTCHER Ground Turkey Breast
$5.49 lb
Reg. $6.99 lb

RICE FRUIT, GARDNERS, PENNSYLVANIA Gala Apples
(3-lb bag)
$2.99 ea
Reg. $3.99 ea

CALIFORNIA Organic Red Grapes
$2.49 lb
Reg. $3.49 lb

CALIFORNIA Pomegranates
$1.99 ea
Reg. $2.99 ea

FROM OUR CHEESEMONGERS Leerdammer Light Cheese
Perfect for melting on sandwiches!
$7.99 lb
Reg. $11.99 lb

NATURE’S PATH Organic Gluten-Free Cereal
In selected varieties. Non-GMO!
(10 – 13.25 oz)
2 for $7
Reg. $4.49 ea

CENTO San Marzano Tomatoes
(28 oz)
2 for $7
Reg. $4.99 ea

SLICED IN OUR DELI Smoked Turkey Breast
$7.49 lb
Reg. $9.99 lb

PROBAR Halo Bars
In selected varieties.
(1.3 oz)
4 for $5
Reg. $1.69 ea

SPECTRUM Ground Flaxseed
(14 oz)
$4.99 ea
Reg. $6.99 ea
$2/1 Whole Foods Coupon available here

GARDEN OF EATIN' Organic Tortilla Chips
(9 oz)
2 for $5
Reg. $3.49 ea

These Hot Deals! are local to Whole Foods Market - Ohio locations.

Check out even more Whole Foods Market deals by visiting Healthy Life Deals.

DIY: Freezing Peppers

So another step towards preserving food for the winter months included chopping lots of peppers and freezing in quart size freezer bags.  This is a super simple way to include great produce into your diet for minimal cost.  My husband makes a terrific pasta dish with red and yellow diced peppers and when he makes this in the winter it costs a fortune (in my opinion) to purchase from our local grocer.  However, by preserving these peppers now we will also save money.

I purchased two large baskets of peppers for $14 at a Produce Auction.

We chopped the peppers for my husband's pasta dish, chopped green peppers for use in texas chili and strips of peppers for use in other dishes and for fajitas. 

Want to hear something really sad?  After placing all these nicely cut peppers in my new deep freeze, the deep freeze stopped working and I lost it all!  Fortunately since our local Farmer's Market is still in full swing I was able to partially replenish the chopped peppers.

Saving Family Green's 2011 Food Preservation List to date:

DIY:  Freezing and Canning Tomato Sauce
DIY:  Freezing Corn 
DIY:  Homemade Pesto 


Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here.

Whole Foods Market® - This Week's Hot Deals (Ohio)

These prices are valid from September 21 thru September 27.

You can read all about the current coupon deals available in both the whole deal and available to print online here.

Sales appear to be regional or even by State. Please confirm with your store their coupon policy as some stores will allow you to use one manufacturer coupon + one Whole Foods coupon per item.

UPDATE:  Whole Foods (Dublin) is no longer accepting stacked coupons due to a change in store management. 


One Day Deals!    

TBD

This Week's Hot Deals!

CALIFORNIA/WASHINGTON Organic Bartlett Pears
Honey sweet and juicy. Stock up for snacking or try sliced and served for dessert with a dollop of ricotta and a drizzle of honey.
$1.79 lb
Reg. $2.49 lb

PENNSYLVANIA Organic Butternut Squash
99¢ lb
Reg. $1.69 lb

CALIFORNIA Organic Mixed Baby Kale
(5 oz)
$2.99 ea
Reg. $3.99 ea

FROM OUR BUTCHER Air-Chilled Buffalo-Style Chicken Wings
$2.49 lb
Reg. $3.49 lb

FROM OUR BUTCHER Beef Kabobs
In select flavors.
$7.99 lb
Reg. $9.99 lb

FROM OUR BUTCHER Flat Iron Steak
One of our great cuts for less! It’s a perfect steak for grilling and extra-tasty with one of our in-house marinades.
$7.99 lb
Reg. $9.99 lb

PRODUCT OF USA Wild-Caught King Salmon Fillet
Big, rich flavor and packed with omega-3s. Grill or pan-sear; serve with salsa, salad or a stir-fry.
$16.99 lb
Reg. $19.99 lb

CASCADIAN FARM Organic Granola Bars
Packed with satisfying organic ingredients for quick breakfasts and great snacking. In select varieties.
(7.4 oz)
2 for $7
Reg. $4.49 ea

EROS Organic Greek Yogurt
In select varieties. (6 oz)
4 for $5
Reg. $1.99 ea

STARFISH Gluten-Free Battered Haddock
Heat and serve! (10 oz)
$5.99 ea
Reg. $8.99 ea

NAKED Coconut Water
(11.2 fl oz)
2 for $3
Reg. $1.99 ea
$1/1 Manuf. Coupon available here

ODWALLA Smoothies 
In select flavors.
(64 fl oz)
$7.49 ea
Reg. $8.49 ea

SLICED IN OUR DELI WELLSHIRE FARMS Corned Beef
$8.49 lb
Reg. $10.99 lb

COUNTRY LIFE Dolphin Pals Kids Chewable Multivitamins
(90 tabs)
$12.99 ea
Reg. $19.99 ea

TOM’S OF MAINE Deodorant Bonus Pack
Get a free trial-sized soap with the purchase of a regular stick deodorant.
(2.25 oz)
Reg. $4.99 ea
$1/1 Manuf. Coupon 9/18 SmartSource Insert

ETHNIC GOURMET Frozen Entrées
In select flavors.
(10 – 11 oz)
2 for $6
Reg. $4.69 ea

These Hot Deals! are local to Whole Foods Market - Ohio locations.

Check out even more Whole Foods Market deals by visiting Healthy Life Deals.