MOM's Organic Market Blog

Nectarine Weekend!

Posted on June 11, 2014 by MOM's Organic Market

Here at MOMs we’re gearing up for a Friday delivery of fresh, organic yellow nectarines that we’ll have on a super sale all weekend and into next week, as supplies permit.

Besides the fact that biting into a ripe organic nectarine is one of the greatest delights in modern life, there are many wonderful recipes for nectarines. Perhaps one will debut in your home for Father’s Day:

Nectarine and Blue Cheese Salad with Plum Vinaigrette

Tomato, Nectarine and Mozzarella Salad

Nectarine Upside Down Cake (gluten-free)

Spiced Peach and Nectarine Jam with Candied Ginger

Caramelized Nectarines

Grilled Nectarines with Feta

Rustic Nectarine and Blackberry Crostata with Cornmeal Crust

Nectarine-Mint Wine Spritzer

Learn more about how to store and eat nectarines here! And remember to avoid the heavy pesticides used on conventional nectarines by purchasing certified organic. You’ll do some good for the earth, too, when you support organics!

Nectarine Weekend: Friday June 13 to Sunday June 15!

Posted in Fruits, Organic Food, Recipes | Tagged candied ginger, certified organic, cornmeal crust, Father's Day, gluten free, grilled nectarines with feta, mozzarella salad, nectarine, nectarine jam, Nectarine Weekend, plum vinaigrette, rustic crostata, super sale, upside down cake, wine spritzer, yellow nectarines | 1 Comment

Fair Trade Excursions

Posted on June 4, 2014 by kristabeck809

When I started working at MOM’s almost 6 years ago, I became instantly infatuated with Equal Exchange and the work they were doing in Fair Trade. The day I received the coveted EE zip up hoodie was a pretty great day. EE has been around since 1986 working to promote what they refer to as “authentic fair trade” – supporting small farmer cooperatives. This model encourages big change and economic sustainability through supporting collective units of farmers and communities. The Fair Trade system was designed to support safe working conditions, economic sustainability, farmer community development, environmentally sound growing practices and appropriate payment. This is the essence of the Fair Trade label.

This past December, I was invited to come along with Mayorga Coffee staff to visit the Cinco de Junio Co-op in Las Sabanas, Nicaragua. We visited two farms associated with the co-op, Finca San Jose and Finca La Sirena.

Mayorga has taken great interest in figuring out a way for coffee farmers to maintain income while dealing with roya armarillo (coffee rust) that is causing major plant damage on many farms. One of the ideas is growing chia seeds. As this is a brand-new project Mayorga is funding, I was able to witness a round table discussion about project logistcs. The farmers asked questions about payment, fears of failure, what-if-someone-came-along-with-a-better -offer, how it would be transported, etc. I felt as though I was witnessing the essence of the farmer-to-distributor relationship. Mayorga clearly cares about the well being of the farmers behind the brand and works hard to maintain strong, direct relationships with each farmer. They make regular visits to all farms and are very involved in supporting farmers as they continue to grow and thrive. More recently, I visited the Equal Exchange facility outside of Boston. Upon arriving we spent some time learning from the coffee quality control manager.

She’s been involved with EE for quite some time and really knows her stuff. She talked about coffee batch quality checks. The first step is appearance. Coffee should all be uniform and free of damage. Unfortunately there are times when coffee needs to be rejected for not meeting quality standards. Upon rejecting the batch, she does what she can to help the farmers resolve the issue whether it be going out to the farm to help them understand what Equal Exchange is looking for, providing education needed, or perhaps providing technical support. This represents another example of farmer and distributor working together to support a superb model of trade. The model of farmer relationships is an important one. Without the farmer, industries would fail. The Fair Trade Model creates a strong connection between consumer and producer, and is a reminder of the people involved in the food process.

Krista works at multiple MOM’s locations.

Posted in Farmers | Tagged coffee, Equal Exchange, fair trade, farmers, mayorga, Nicaragua | Leave a comment

How to Get a Wheelbarrow Out of Your Living Room

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Roland

MOM’s employees tend to be do-it-yourselfers. In my case, when my wife and I purchased our first home, we took on a fixer-upper. Alas, mumble-mumble years later we’re still fixing it up. Late last summer my darling wife lovingly mentioned that it was time to get the wheelbarrow out of what should be our living room. It was time for a garden shed.

How big should our new shed be? It needed to fit a ten foot ladder, a lawn mower, a wheelbarrow, garden tools, miscellaneous lumber, and full sheets of plywood. A barn style roof would help with the lumber storage, and we figured a floor plan of eight feet by twelve feet (some might call it half the size of a living room) would fit everything nicely.

The kits and pre-built sheds we saw all seemed to cost too much, and weren’t very well constructed. After drawing up some detailed plans, we figured out that I could build something of better quality for a more affordable price. I ordered the materials, and scheduled a full week off work.

I started by pouring concrete footings, and building the platform.

Pic02 - Copy After four days, I began to realize I may not have allotted enough time for this project.

Pic03 - Copy After the platform came construction of the wall framing and roof trusses. I built them atop the new platform, then moved each section over near the rain garden until they were ready to go up. I reused salvaged lumber where I could.

Pic04 - Copy My photographer (a.k.a. bride) lent me a hand getting the walls up, and throughout the construction.

Pic05 - Copy After the fourth wall was up, I started putting roof trusses into place.

Pic06 - Copy I finished the trusses as my week of vacation ended. Next came roof sheathing and siding … on my days off.

Pic07 - Copy I fully admit, there were a few “do as I say, not as I do” moments during this project. Never stand on the top step of a ladder. Also, never smash your finger really hard with a hammer.

Pic08 - Copy Next I applied trim along the roof line, roofing paper, and shingles. My wife began the painting. The shed’s window is one we replaced from our kitchen.

Pic09 - Copy Trim boards went into place next. Then I used the cut out sections of siding to build a large entry door, and two small doors for the overhead lumber storage.

Pic10 - Copy The last warm days of the season allowed us to finish the first coat of paint, and to apply caulk along all the trim boards. The next coats of paint would have been barn-red, but cold weather precluded them. A mere two months after beginning my one week project, I set into place a salvaged railroad tie as the shed’s front step.

I wish I could tell you our living room now sports a comfortable settee and coffee table. However, what you would actually find are boxes of flooring, long pieces of crown molding, numerous tools, and of course several gallons of barn-red paint.

Roland works at MOM’s in Rockville, MD

Posted in Gardening, Reuse | 4 Comments

We can Adapt to Anything

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Eva

Humans can get used to just about anything. Isn’t that amazing? We are great at hedonic adaptation – also known as “getting used to stuff.” After an adjustment period, we can recalibrate our happiness even in unfortunate circumstances. We adapt when a family member becomes ill or when we move to a new place. We can adapt to budgets, exercise routines, less money, new diets, etc.

Studies show that after a number of months, lottery winners and people recently paralyzed by accidents rate their happiness about the same. THE SAME, people! Mr Money Mustache explains why,

Well, it turns out that when a person jumps to a new level of material convenience, he loses the ability to enjoy the things he previously thought were pretty neat. A cold Bud Light was once a true delight after a work day for the lottery winner, but after the win he quits the job and takes up high-end scotch, poured by a personal butler. Both serve the same purpose, and the pleasure is about the same. Similarly, when moving down the hedonic scale, either voluntarily or involuntarily, we can learn to appreciate simpler things with just as much gusto as we would have appreciated more expensive things. I truly love the sound of the wheels of my bike slicing through the quiet wind on an open road, just as much as I enjoyed the whirring sound of the gear-driven camshafts and the rich tuned exhaust note of my old VFR800 motorcycle.

There are tons of things over my lifetime that have changed for the better of our environment: people use reusable bags, bring refillable water bottles, drive smaller cars, drive electric cars, buy more organic foods, and more. Ten years ago, would you have shaken your at the idea of carrying reusable bags or a refillable water bottle? A habit that once seemed like a burden is now normal, and we’re happy to bring bags or carry bottles. I’m getting myself in the habit of reusing produce bags. What’s the point of grabbing a new bag for lettuce each time I’m at MOM’s, when the bags I got last time are practically good as new?

In general, I think we underestimate our adaptability. How often have you balked at the idea of changing your habits, routine, or lifestyle? We’re used to doing things a certain way, and we don’t always question the why. Why do people commute many miles in expensive cars by themselves? Why do we buy new clothes each year? Why do we throw so much away?

What are some ways you’ve changed, that 5 or 10 years ago would’ve seemed impossible? What purposes do your habits serve? How could you change them to something simpler with less impact on the environment?

I have a few personal examples… and I want to hear yours! What environmental lifestyle habits can we adapt to?

It’s Screen Free Week – how hard would it be to adapt to a truly screen free week??

Eva works at MOM’s Central Office

Posted in Energy Resources, Family, Water | Tagged adapt, green-minded, habits, hedonic adaptation, hedonic treadmill, human nature, routine | 3 Comments

Day On The Bay

Posted on May 3, 2014 by alyssabdh

A great deal of my childhood was spent on the Chesapeake Bay, netting crabs (or trying to), collecting oyster shells, and waving at passing sailboats. My great grandmother would steam blue crabs and we’d sit in the sunshine and talk about small town stuff. A recent visit showed me that the bay is healing after decades of pollution and neglect. I like to remember that every little act of conservation and responsible waste disposal (recycling, repurposing, reusing) is aiding the bay’s healing.

A live owl hosts the MD Park Service tent at a neighborhood festival.

Solar panels on a roof.

Oxford-Bellevue Ferry

Signs in this area once warned against swimming in polluted waters, now signs boast a wetlands conservation area. Please note: sailboats pollute much less than motor boats.

Learn more about the Chesapeake Bay at cbf.org!

Alyssa works at multiple MOMs locations.

Posted in Ecology, Local, Water | Tagged blue crabs, CBF.org, Chesapeake Bay, Conservation, East Coast, Maryland, MD Park Service, owls, Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, recycling, repurposing, reusing, sail boats, shoreline, waste disposal, wetlands conservations | Leave a comment

Majestic Creature in its Natural…WAIT.

Posted on April 15, 2014 by Eva

What natural creatures do you see every day? I see squirrels and deer pretty often. And insects! Stink bugs are common in my house, and I’m starting to see bees and moths regularly. Occasionally I see a chipmunk or rabbit, too.

I have a good friend who has family in South Africa. When her cousins visit the U.S., they marvel at the squirrels and deer we have everywhere. My friend and I always find this hilarious because in South Africa seeing giraffes, elephants, monkeys, lions, zebras, and hippos is no big deal. Really!? A giraffe is a thousand times more interesting than a squirrel! It’s all what you’re used to….

Which brings me to this little creature. It’s pretty common in most of the world, and most of us are used to seeing it in our daily lives:

Pretty well done, don’t you think?

Posted in Ecology, Recycling, Water | Tagged majestic creature, mockumentary, natural habitat, plastic bags, The Majestic Plastic Bag | Leave a comment

Eyes On Your Kids

Posted on April 4, 2014 by alyssabdh

You’re the parent. You’re the boss. You make the decisions for your family. Right?

Well, food marketers have noticed that there’s a very influential lobbyist, of sorts, in your midst: Your child.

photo by Mike Mozart via flickr CC

Children have an impressive repertoire of tactics to convince their parents to make purchases, including whining, crying, pleading, arguing, pretty-pleasing. Even the most stalwart of parents become weathered and worn down by these tactics at times.

The problem is, children aren’t choosing their preferred products based on what’s good for them, or even based on what tastes good. Food marketers have realized kids can be “bought” by their emotions.

When a child watches a movie or a TV show with an admirable character in the lead, they identify, emotionally, with that character. The character becomes a part of their lives, someone they adore, someone they imitate, and someone they trust.

Who better to help your child decide how to make life decisions, right? [I hope every parent is thinking “WRONG – that’s my job!”]

A Cornell University study is exposing just how carefully marketing executives are designing product packaging (specifically cereal) to make absolutely sure your child gets the message they want them to get (usually: Buy me!).

The study shows that cereal marketed to kids dons characters with large eyes that are pointed down, towards the eye-level of your child, and perhaps more alarming – that it works. The practice is seen to build brand trust and loyalty.

“Findings show that brand trust was 16% higher and the feeling of connection to the brand was 28% higher when the rabbit made eye contact,” says an article from the Food Psychology Department of Cornell University.

Some healthy food manufacturers are interested in using the same tactics to sell healthier foods to kids. Problem is, if the practice is acceptable in the healthy foods aisle, it will be acceptable in the chips & dip aisle too. What we create is a thick, nearly impassible wall of marketing to kids. On the other side of the wall, is our ability to teach our kids healthy eating habits based on nutrition, calorie needs, and taste (not just artificially-enhanced flavors, but the taste of an actual whole food!).

photo by Renato Ganoza via flickr CC

We don’t accept manufacturers using cartoon characters on cigarettes, alcohol, or power saws. Of course, we can tell our kids “No” and we can explain why they can’t play with a circular saw, and we can teach them that cigarettes are unhealthy. But, we don’t accept marketing these products to kids because it’s just wrong. We should be less accepting of these methods in food marketing as well, no matter the food.

You might already know that MOMs has a policy against carrying products that are marketed to kids using branded cartoon characters (note the Barbara’s cereals missing from the shelves currently), but you can read more about the dawn of this policy here:

http://scottscompostpile.com/2012/08/02/low-blow/

Additionally, you might consider supporting this organization: Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. Follow them on twitter: @commercialfree and Like them on facebook!

Alyssa works at multiple MOMs locations.

Posted in Children, Family, News | Tagged brand loyalty, brand trust, branded characters, calorie needs, cartoon characters, cartoon eyes, cereal, commercial free childhood, Cornell University, eating habits, eye contact, Food Psychology Department, healthy food, marketing tactics, marketing to kids, MOMs policy, nutrition needs | 3 Comments

Dandelions Are Our Friends

Posted on March 23, 2014 by kristabeck809

Dandelions contain protein, calcium, iron, Vitamins A & C. There are uses for almost every part of the plant. The roots and greens can be used to make a tonic that promotes digestion and acts as a diuretic. Dandelions are also known for their liver support. You know that white milky stuff that comes out when you puncture the bud of a dandelion? Apply that to a wart several times a day and the wart dissolves!

Not only are dandelions edible for us, they are edible for animals. Small birds eat the seeds, pigs gorge themselves on dandelions, rabbits thrive off of dandelion and you can even sneak dandelion into your dog’s food for smoother digestion.

Just remember, when considering foraging for wild dandelion, be sure to gather from unpolluted and chemical free areas!

Below are some awesome uses for dandelions:

1) Dandelion Wine

2) Dandelion Root Tea

3) Sautee’d Dandelions

4) Boiled Dandelions

5) Fried Dandelion Fritters

6) Dandelion Salad

Posted in Lawns, Recipes | Tagged dandelion tea, dandelion wine, dandelions, fritters, lawn, recipes | Leave a comment

Lawn Lunch

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Eva

You may have a salad growing in your yard.

There are lots of reasons not to treat your lawn with chemicals and pesticides, and one of them is that your yard may be edible! You may find your relationship with pesky weeds changing once you realize that they are also tasty greens.

As a kid, I remember eating salads with dandelion greens harvested from our yard, and seeing home-grown pansies as a garnish on dishes. I felt a little weird eating them at first, but “weird” is usually adjustable.

However, don’t go out today and start gnawing on your ivy. Always check an unfamiliar plant with someone from your local Native Plant Society or by careful research. And try just a nibble first. Best to find out if you dislike something or it doesn’t agree with you before you make a plateful for dinner.

Here are some of the many options!

Lamb’s quarters

Amaranth

Purslane

Curled Dock

Lamb’s Quarters – a relative of spinach which raw actually has more iron, protein and b12 than spinach or cabbage!

Green Amaranth – mild-tasting with a hairy stem, these are a great veggie side-dish.

Purslane – a ground-hugging, purpleish-red green rich in iron and calcium.

Curled Dock – this guy can grow up to five feet tall with small, green blossoms. Rather strong tasting, but delicious creamed or double-boiled.

These and many more wild edible plants could be growing in your yard!

Eva works at MOM’s Central Office

Posted in Ecology, Gardening, Lawns, Native plants, Vegetables | Tagged backyard, foraging, greens, lawn, weeds, yards | 2 Comments

Changing Up The Lawn

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Heather

Even though the week started out snow-covered, I am still thinking about fixing my lawn this coming spring.

Along with my natural lawn maintenance plan, I am searching for ways to create low maintenance lawn alternatives. I want to add some color and texture to my little plot of land, while hopefully creating a place for bees and butterflies to pollinate without being tainted by pesticides. These are some lawn alternatives that I have found and seem relatively easy to execute.

Groundcover
Groundcover has little to no maintenance, can choke out weeds, create a mulch, and some are nitrogen-fixing. Examples of high-quality groundcover include: Alyssum, Tapien, Contoneaster, Bishops Weed, and Juniper. The only drawback to ground cover is that it does not hold up well to a great deal of foot traffic and is better suited for areas that have low human and pet activity.

Clover
Clover keeps coming up! It seems to be the wonder healer to all your lawn care issues. It is nitrogen-fixing, reduces soil compaction, grows quickly, is inexpensive, and requires no fertilizers. The best variety I hear is Dutch White – make sure it is not covered in herbicide or fertilizer when you purchase it!

Ornamental Grasses
Grasses are low maintenance, they grow well in many soils, and have very few pests. They are also really good for privacy as some can grow many feet high.

Flower and Shrub Beds
Flower and shrub beds require the most maintenance but if you choose only a few native varieties, your maintenance will be minimal. There are many varieties of flowers and shrubs giving you the ability to grow them in sun and shade and in any color imaginable. You can plant these in open bed or raised bed plantings, and are a good option for uneven ground.

I have already talked about my plans for planting clover, but I think I will also dedicate a small piece of my plot to creating a butterfly and bee flower bed. I have the seeds, I just need to sow them!