The annual celebration of Earth Day turned 48 this week, and it's theme: End Plastic Pollution!  

Earth Day is a great way to really focus on what we as people should do in order to protect and preserve this planet in which we live.  It's unfortunate that we have not done a very good job as a whole in this effort.  From hunting for pleasure endangering species, to chopping down vital forests and everything detrimental in between, we have not done a very good job in nurturing OUR earth.  However, now is the perfect opportunity to re-commit, re-connect, and play in the dirt again- figuratively speaking...or maybe not!  

This year's focus is on the need to end plastic pollution.  So many items we purchase to wear, eat, and drink, often if not always, come packaged in plastics of some sort.  In my household, we're doing our part by growing fresh fruits and vegetables to help avoid plastic packaging- garden to table, if you will, ha!  But inquiring minds what to know what you are doing to leave your mark on protecting Mother Earth.  

​Not sure about what you can do?  No worries!  I've formed a list below of excellent steps you can take towards rebuilding a better place in which we dwell.    Which ones will you choose to participate in?  Let me know by posting in the comments below!

AC Art Of Food's Tips To Preserving Mother Earth:

1. Grow your own garden and get your hands dirty!
2. Use reusable drinking water bottles (BPA-free/Glass/Steel), cups, and straws.
3. Bring your own reusable grocery bags to the grocery store and markets.
4. Pack your lunch and bring it in a reusable lunch bag.
5. Utilize cloth napkins and towels instead paper ones.
6. Purchase more ebooks over paper ones! (Like the AC Art Of Food Culinary Health eBook Cook Book Vol.I)      
7. Request to have have local sourced food served in your neighborhood schools.
8. Support farmers and buy local and organic when possible, as often as possible- reducing emissions of food transport and the elimination of pesticides to preserve foods.
9. Reduce meat consumption to reduce carbon emissions produced from the livestock industry.
10. Recycle your non-meat garbage into fertilizer by composting kitchen scraps and using them to fertilize your garden!  (FYI- Aldi's has a freaking TUMBLING compost bins on sale now for $40!!!- get'em while they got'em!)
11. Run the dishwasher only when it's full.
12. Water your garden either first thing in the morning or last thing at night.

Find even more ways at www.earthday.org!

​Article in New York Times describes how the food and wine industry are coming together to give to the people of Haiti.  It is a truly fabulous happening when those from all walks of life and industry can ban together in efforts to relive the suffering people of this country.
Enjoy the link….
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/dining/20bene.html?ref=dining
…or read the article below!
By FLORENCE FABRICANT
Published: January 19, 2010THE food and wine industry is helping to raise money for victims of the earthquake in Haiti.
Philippe Massoud, the chef and owner of Ilili in the Flatiron District, has rallied dozens of restaurants in New York and elsewhere to donate up to 10 percent of sales on Jan. 24 or 25 (and some on both dates) to Dine Out for Haiti, an organization that will distribute the money to Doctors Without Borders, Action Against Hunger and Partners in Health. For more on the program and participating restaurants: dineout4haiti.org.
Alto, Convivio and Marea will donate 10 percent of sales on Jan. 25 to the United NationsWorld Food Program.
Starr Restaurants, which owns Morimoto and Buddakan in New York and many places in Philadelphia, will donate 10 percent of proceeds on Jan. 25 to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.
At Boqueria in the Flatiron district and SoHo, customers are encouraged to help raise $5,993 to buy an emergency medical kit for Doctors Without Borders.
At Astor Wines and Spirits, the proceeds from a tasting class, Elements of Wine, on Jan. 25 will be donated to Haiti Earthquake Relief, which will give the money to Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross. The class, $75, will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The company is also soliciting donations on its Web site: astorwines.com.
Palate Press, an online wine publication, is collecting donated wines from individuals and wineries to sell in its online auction. All sales will benefit the Red Cross: palatepress.com.
A number of fund-raisers for Haiti have already been held. Hearth Restaurant donated 50 percent of revenues on Jan. 19. D’Agostino supermarkets collected donations, and Sprinkles Cupcakes in California donated all sales of its red velvet cupcakes, amounting to $20,000, to the Red Cross on Jan. 16. Thom Bar in SoHo held a fund-raising cocktail party on Jan. 18.
Make it a great tasting day and remember to be good to each other people!

​Please do what you can to help those affected by the horrific earthquake in Haiti last Tuesday on 1/12/10.  Here in Atlanta, Georgia, Hosea Feed The Hungry (HFTH) is taking donations in efforts to send food to the people of Haiti.  Although we see in the news and have read in the papers and on the net where food and clothing are obviously in great need, monetary donations are the quickest way to generate the most needed items to this suffering country.  So please see below the various ways to donate/contribute to these people, our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, and friends of our great human race.  PLEASE HELP!
– Text ‘Haiti’ to 90999 and $10 will be donated and billed to your phone bill.
– Text ‘Yele’ to 501 and $5 will be donated and billed to your phone bill.
– Text ‘CARE’ to 25383 and $10 will be donated towards Haiti disaster relief
-Unicef- https://secure.unicefusa.org/site/Donation2?df_id=6680&6680.donation=form1
Click here to see these and many other ways to give.  http://www.google.com/relief/haitiearthquake/
Please also click here to be directed to Wyclef Jean’s official blog for official updates and information:  http://yele.org
If you have any other VALID/OFFICIAL  resources that you would like to share, please do so by leaving a comment, thanks!


Let’s do our part and be good to each other.