Thursday, March 26, 2009

Farmers market at City Beverage

City Beverage’s e-newsletter this week brought the news that they’re starting a small farmers market on Saturday afternoons. Starting April 25, Shore Farms Organics will bring organic produce and perennials to sell on the first and third Saturdays of the month from noon to 4 p.m. I’m excited about this, because I welcome any further opportunities to buy organic produce—plus it’s at a great time for us non-morning people. (April 25 is also the day of City Beverage’s tent sale, so even more reason to stop by.)

City Beverage’s weekly wine tasting this Friday, from 4-7 p.m., will be organic wines. The store is at 915 Burke St.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Earth Hour

The World Wildlife Fund is asking people to turn off their lights for one hour this Saturday at 8:30 p.m. to show concern about global warming and a commitment to finding a solution. Businesses and landmarks around the world are participating, too. All Marriott hotels will be participating, and Coca-Cola will turn off iconic signs around the world. Also going dark for an hour will be the Acropolis in Athens; the Eiffel Tower; the Empire State Building; and the Sphinx and Great Pyramids of Giza.

This sounds like a great opportunity to study the night sky, roast some marshmallows around a campfire, sit on the porch and talk to your neighbors or have a candlelight dinner. You can find out more information at the official Web site.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

March odds and ends

*March 20 marks the annual Great American Meatout. See if you can get your carnivorous friends to go meatless for the day!

*Delicious Living magazine has a list of its top green cleaners. At their Web site, you can also check out some suggestions for making your home more eco-friendly.

*Wow, I wish I could be in Seattle this weekend for VegFest.

*Here’s a fun-looking Web site I just discovered: Ecorazzi, described as “the latest in green gossip.” Want to know who was partying at a green night club in New York? Or which celeb loves Vegenaise? Or which singer is donating profits from a new song to the Humane Society? Then this site is for you!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Xia update

Xia, an Asian restaurant at 134 N. Spruce St. in downtown Winston-Salem, has updated its menu to include a vegetarian section.

Some of the items were available by special order before—for example, you could order a vegetarian version of the Lemongrass Chicken with Asparagus by saying “leave out the chicken and add tofu.” But it’s easier and nicer to be able to say, “I’ll have the Lemongrass Tofu, please.” And I’m really looking forward to trying the Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps and the Cantonese Tofu Chow Fun.

Here’s a big thank-you to Xia for the change. I wish more restaurants would follow suit, by clearly indicating which menu items are vegetarian or vegan, or can be made so. It feels more welcoming. And by making me aware of more veg options, it’ll bring me back in again more often.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Investigator interview

ITime magazine has published an interview with “Pete,” the undercover investigator featured in Death on a Factory Farm.

In it, he speaks touchingly of how he got into this line of work: “My initial plan in life was to become a cop and then join the FBI. But I started to learn that the worst things I’ve ever read about humans being doing to each other—similar if not identical things happen to animals on a mass scale. I felt that there were enough people in law enforcement, but there weren’t enough people working in animal rights.”—and of the toll it has taken on him: “It’s a very depressing life and it’s a very lonely life.”

It’s an intriguing glimpse into his life.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Death on a Factory Farm

A new HBO documentary, Death on a Factory Farm, will have its premiere at 10 p.m. next Monday, March 16. It follows an undercover investigation by the Humane Farming Association into cruel practices at an industrial-style hog farm.

It appears that this will be a powerful film, judging by the clips now available on YouTube. They are painful to watch; but important: “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” — Gretchen Wyler, who started the Genesis Awards to recognize TV shows and films that bring attention to animal issues.

Hopefully the documentary will reach many people, to show the ugly reality behind meat.

If you can’t catch the film next Monday, HBO has scheduled showing through the month of March. For more information, visit the film’s HBO site.

Death on a Factory Farm

A new HBO documentary, Death on a Factory Farm, will have its premiere at 10 p.m. next Monday, March 16. It follows an undercover investigation by the Humane Farming Association into cruel practices at an industrial-style hog farm.

It appears that this will be a powerful film, judging by the clips now available on YouTube. They are painful to watch; but important: “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” — Gretchen Wyler, who started the Genesis Awards to recognize TV shows and films that bring attention to animal issues.

Hopefully the documentary will reach many people, to open their eyes to the ugly reality behind meat.

If you can’t catch the film next Monday, HBO has scheduled showing through the month of March. For more information, visit the film’s HBO site.