Produce Patch Keeps Gettin Better!!

Hey hungry Tritons!

The patio of Cafe V was the setting for Farm 2 U today.
Nancy Filtz, Retail Manager of the UCSD Place and Markets, came out with yet another gorgeous display of local and organic produce. Woohoo!The samples keep getting better and better! Today there were three beautiful glass dispensers filled with incredible naturally infused waters.
To the left was pineapple water with orange slices, in the middle was water infused with cucumber and mint leaves, and finally (my favorite) cantaloupe water to the right.
They were the most delicious natural flavor combinations when paired with ice cold water!

The Villagers are familiar with these Chico bags, but for those of you who don't live in the transfer housing, these bags are awesome! They are made from several recycled plastic water bottles (7 I believe).
They're cool because they collapse into themselves to fit into a little bag (seen here), and can be pulled out to the size of a book bag. They come equipped with a carabiner, so you can hook the bag onto your key chain. Yep, HDH hooks it up!

Gotta love samples....slices of organic grapefruits, oranges, and lemons were free to try.
I sampled the Pink Lady Apples because I had never heard of them before. They were amazingly crisp and sweet!
Nancy was being the gracious host that she is, by offering to cut up some lemons for me to try. She's the greatest!
Check out how the setting sun highlights the broccoli.......so fresh and so green green. : )

The freshly picked local flowers were bursting with color. I was told the organic strawberries to the left were selling fast!
I sampled the free hummus that complimented the three different pita chip samples, which all can be found in your local Place and Market on campus. The pita chip variety consisting of cinnamon and sugar, cilantro and jalapeno, and garlic were all incredible!
Dining dollars go a long way at these farmer's markets because you get incredibly fresh produce, and the comfort of knowing you're contributing to fair-trade practices in support of local farmers.
These venues provide a chance to come hang out, and enjoy the beautiful weather we've been having. Today we had the privilege of experiencing the incredible sunset on the Cafe V patio.
Come out next Wed. the 24th to Foodworx Place and Market (3:30-6:30pm), where you can expect more Farm 2 U treats.

Housing and Dining truly loves to see UCSD students and the surrounding community happy and thriving! Keep up the great work HDH!

Wishing you health and happiness Tritons. : )

~Hilary

Bringin the "Farm 2 U"! Plus awesome "green cleaning" tips.

Woohoo! The Produce Patch Farm 2 U farmer's market made it's much anticipated debut today in front of Goody's.

See the tents in the background? ; )
Students that happened to be cruisin by usually ended up buying something from the market. I mean, it's hard to resist delicious looking produce that's local and organic!Mmmmm.....the pita chips were a popular item, and the fresh flowers were gorgeous. All items were locally produced.The pita chip and hummus samples were a definite plus! While snaking, you could read up on where the pita chips came from, by reading the print-outs they provided. : )An incredible list of all the local farms involved was stationed on the table. Under each farm listing was the produce they provided for the market, and the prices of the items.
Check it out guys.....they had garlic, fingerling potatoes (by the basket), orange carrots, swiss chard, onions, and more. Some of the bios about the local farms were propped up right next to the produce they grew. How convenient!
I bought a bundle of the organic white carrots because I was curious to see what they tasted like. : ) And I jumped on the chance to get some avocados, Fuji apples, and oranges.

ALL PURCHASED WITH MY DINING DOLLARS! Yay!

They also accept cash, Triton cash, and at the next location (Earl's Place and Market) they are going to set up a system so students can use credit cards.Every Wednesday people! Different location. Be on the lookout.
Better yet, mark your calendars because here's the list of where to be when. : )
Happy shopping Tritons!

On another note, in case you were wondering how to clean in a "green" way....
Here are some of the tip from on online article on the subject:

Cleaning “Green"

http://www.backtohealthcare.com/doctor.asp?chiropractor=10379S&X=658345:359339:901
(To see the full list of tips, just click on this link).

So what about cleaning green? How would you go about making this transition in order to keep your home environment safer and healthier? Here are some tips on living and cleaning green:

• Open windows and let the fresh air in and toxins out, weather permitting.

• Don’t rely on product advertising claims that a product is “natural,” since there really are no standards in place to monitor this. Look at product labels instead.

• Use baking soda in the wash cycle as a fabric softener or vinegar to soften clothes and reduce static cling. Just a little bit does the trick!

• Chlorine bleach is highly caustic and can be fatal if swallowed. Bleach that goes down the drain produces reproductive, neurological, and immune-system toxins. Use a white vinegar/water solution that helps to kill mold, bacteria and viruses and can be used to clean bathrooms and windows.

• Avoid the use of all types of aerosols that can irritate eyes, noses and lungs. Aerosols contain toxic and flammable ingredients, as well as fragrances, that can produce allergic and asthmatic reactions.

You're awesome Tritons!

<3 Hil