Tons of cool green events going on this weekend, starting today -cuz we know your weekend starts this early:

Wednesday, May 19
>Get fresh produce at the Roots in the City market: We’ve been alerted the market is still running despite rumors that it had closed for the season. Stop by 4-6 p.m. on the corner of NW 10th Street & 2nd Avenue.

>Join cyclists in a Ride of Silence: Show support for those killed or injured while biking during Bike Safety Month. The group will meet 6:30 p.m. at the Miami Seaquarium.

Thursday, May 20
>Get in the summer mood with this free Raw Picnic Class presented by Whole Foods. Learn how to make delicious and easy to pack raw vegan dishes. 2-3 p.m. at Whole Foods Miami Beach, 1020 Alton Rd.

>Organic Thursdays at Escopazzo: Weekly food and wine tastings at the SoBe organic Italian restaurant. Stop by between 7-9 p.m. for “We Do It Thursdays” and try 4 wines and appetizers for $20. 1311 Washington Ave.

Friday, May 21
>Free medication class: To celebrate Meditation Month, Ayama Yoga Center is offering free meditation classes and discounted packages to newbies every Friday in May. Stop by at 6 p.m. for your free class at the Ayama Yoga Center, 2624 NE 118th St., North Miami Beach.

Saturday, May 22
>Learn about local graffiti art while pedaling around town Emerge Miami brings us another Graffiti Bike Tour of Wynwood. Learn who are the artists behind the street art that has become distinctive of midtown. Meet 10 a.m. at 3501 NW 12th Ave. continue

After hearing much talk about Lifefood Gourmet in Coral Gables, Ecozine made a lunch stop to try the restaurant’s raw vegan cuisine at its new location on Coral Way.

Followed for its cellular enrichment and rejuvenation attributes, the raw food diet is based on the idea that if you cook foods at more than 116 degrees, the enzimes and other nutrients will begin to degrade, losing its nutritional value. Raw foodists use instead dehydration, sprouting and other techniques to cook their meals (living foodists use the same concept, but use more sprouting to bring nutrients from a dormant to an active state).

Lifefood Gourmet owner and raw food chef John Schott, who studied with raw food guru Dr. David Jubb in New York, has a passion for living food and its qualities, which shows in the restaurant’s extensive menu: lasagna, burgers, burritos, nori rolls, four types of pizzas, wraps, pesto Alfredo, tomato and Mexican soups, and a variety of salads.

I ordered one of the most popular dishes, the All Veggie Pizza ($14), and loved every bite of it.

The pizza comes on a dehydrated sprouted quinoa and flaxseed bread topped with spinach, creamy homemade vegan cheese, tomatoes, raw tomato herb sauce, onions, nutmeg sauce and oregano (you can see the delicate layering in the picture).

The pie is preheated in a dehydrator before served to make it a little warm while conserving the freshness of its ingredients, a key to the raw diet.

To drink, I had a spicy and sweet ginger juice.

I was too full after the pizza but couldn’t leave without trying a dessert. I originally went for the cupcakes but there weren’t any left, so I ended up getting a blissful chocolate fudge crepe with fresh strawberries and redberries to go ($9). The wafer was made of apricot flax, and had a crispy yet soft texture, which surprised me considering it was dehydrated. I have to say the chocolate fudge was the best I had in a long time. I later found out they make if from pure cacao beans, which gives the fudge a rich grainy texture and a spicy and bitter flavor.

The menu and flavors is so extensive that I plan to come back and try more things. I specially regret not getting some of their prepackaged apple fries ($6) or Life Chips ($6) to go.


Following what seems to be the norm in the raw food world, prices are in the medium price range, which I attribute to how time consuming preparing raw foods is. I ended up paying a little over $30 (I then realized my pizza was among the priciest menu items). Appetizers, which includes nachos and zucchini rolls sell, for $9-11, entrees for $10-15, soups for $6, desserts for $8-$9 and natural drinks for $4-$10.

Chef Schott, who began his raw food endeavors at the Coconut Grove Farmers Market, is expanding the restaurant into an education center with kitchen apprentice programs, video teachings and other instructive tools, and he’s putting together a lifefood nutrition manual. His menu actually features a human body showing what body part is nourished by each dish. He’s definitely up to something, so stay tuned!

Have you been there? What did you order?

If you go:
Lifefood Gourmet
Opens Mon-Sat, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
1248 SW 22 Street
Miami, Fl 33145
305-856-6767

After a little hesitation, I finally joined a produce buying club called the Organic Produce Buying Club of South Florida (read below for a complete list of CSA’s and buying clubs in South Florida). I got my first box of organic and locally-grown produce yesterday and I’m so pleased with my shipment!

Although a produce buying club is a little different than a Community Supported Agriculture group, they share a similar concept: you support local farmers and get cheaper organic produce.

Basically, a farmer will offer a number of “shares” or memberships to the public at a fixed price, and in turn, customers will receive a weekly -or bi-weekly- shipment of seasonal organic veggies and fruits. Prices are lower than at farmers markets because buyers, as a group, are buying in bulk. Another advantage is that most produce is picked up about 24 hours before the shipment, so you get incredibly fresh food.

This is as close as growing your own organic produce as you can get, even better than a farmer’s market.

The reason I didn’t join a CSA is because of you have to pay for the whole season in advance (about $600) whereas you pay-as-you-go in the buying club.

I have to admit my first shipment exceeded my expectations. I was hesitant because of the price: $49 per box, shipped to a local pickup location twice a month. They explained the box would be enough for a family of three or four who eat four home-prepared meals a week. We’re two at home, and I’m a working-from-home vegetarian who loves to cook, meaning I eat about eight or nine veggie-packed meals at home per week. My worry was that the produce might not be enough and that I would end up paying too much for it.

I decided to still give it a try, and I’m glad I did. This is what I got yesterday:

This is the detailed list:
7 bananas
4 yellow nectarines
7 Valencia oranges
13 ginger gold apples
cilantro
spinach
a red-tip leaf lettuce
an orange cauliflower
a red cabbage
a bag of Cremini mushrooms
baby tomatoes
3 yellow onions
2 garlic heads
11 carrots
2 acorn squashes
4 Russet potatoes

If you don’t like anything in the box, you can always exchange it, but it wasn’t my case.

I also loved the surprise factor à la Iron Chef. I drove back home thinking what would go good with what, what would be the best way to cook those squashes (any suggestions? I never cooked them before), and how I’d use the orange cauliflower to try an Indian recipe with curry that I found a while ago.

Anyway, I compiled a list of local CSAs and buying clubs:
Let me know if you don’t see your CSA here. Also, I’d like to hear your experience with CSAs, tips, which one has worked best for you?

ORGANIC PRODUCE BUYING CLUB OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Area served: Central pickup location in Bal Harbor Islands, satellite locations throughout SoFla.
Cost: $20 membership fee, $49 per shipment, which must be pre-paid during the previous pick-up.
Frequency: Every two weeks
Box size: 25-35 lbs of fruits and veggies.
Notes: Additional produce is available with prior notice. You can request half a shipment too, and they’ll help you find someone to split your share. Volunteer some hours and get a $10-$30 discount from your next share.
More info: Visit www.organicbuyingclubsofla.com

REDLAND ORGANICS
Area served: Located three miles north of Homestead, with additional pickup sites scattered between the Lower Keys and Pompano Beach.
Cost: As a CSA, you pay in advance for the five-month season, $630 for the full share, $375 for half, for 19 to 20 pickups, resulting in $31-$34 per share. Delivery at a pickup location has an additional fee: $40 for pickup in Miami-Dade, $60 in Broward, $100 in the Keys.
Frequency:Weekly
Box size: According to their site, a weekly full share is enough for a family of up to four.
Notes: The season runs for about 22 weeks from mid-November through mid-April. Four-week trial for $170. Additional produce available for purchase.
More info: Visit www.redlandorganics.com

FARM FRESH MIAMI
Area served: Pickups throughout Miami-Dade.
Cost: $50 per box, $30 for half a share, paid in advance during the previous pick-up. There is also a $30 one-time membership fee, and you must pay for your last share when joining to avoid “stand ups.”
Frequency: Every two weeks
Box size: 25-30lbs of produce in the full box, 15+lbs in the split share.
Notes: They are currently offering free one-week trials.
More info: Visit www.farmfreshmiami.com

GREEN CAY PRODUCE
Area served: Located in Boynton Beach, with additional pickup locations in central and southern Palm Beach County
Cost: $34 for a large box ($40 if delivered to a pickup site), $22 for the small box ($28 with delivery). Pay for the 34-week season in advance and get a free box at the end of the season.
Frequency: Either weekly or every other week.
Box size: Large box measures: 13″h x 12″w x 15″l, with eight to 10 items. Small box is 7″h x 11″w x 14″l, with six to eight items.
Notes: Different payment plans available.
More info: Visit Green Cay Produce of Farming Systems Research

WORDEN FARM
Area served: located in Punta Gorda, serves with pickup locations throughout Southwest Florida.
Cost:As a CSA, you pay $600 in advance for the 20-week season, resulting in $30 per share. Additional $60 fee for delivery at a pickup site.
Frequency: Weekly
Box size: According to their site, each shipment has eight or more items, enough for two people.
Notes:Currently open for enrollment. Season runs from the first week of December to the middle of April. Additional produce is available for purchase.
More info: Visit www.wordenfarm.com

09/16/09 update: I found a few more local CSAs I’d like to include in the list:

ANNIE’S ORGANIC PRODUCE BUYING CLUB OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Area served: Pickup locations throughout the tri-county area and the keys.
Cost: $45 per box, half share available for $35.
Frequency: Weekly or bi-weekly
Box size: Up to 35 lbs.
Notes: You can choose among different types of boxes: Florida-grown produce only, more veggies than fruits, veggies for juices only, etc. Also sells organic dairy, meats, nuts, prepared foods like hummus and more.
More info: Visit: www.anniesbuyingclub.com

Fruit juices and smoothies, vegetarian empanadas, organic produce and an endless honey selection; the farmers market at the Normandy Village Marketplace has everything to complement a day at the beach in a friendlier and more tranquil atmosphere than its South Beach counterpart on tourist trap Lincoln Road.

Stop for brunch and pick up a few Argentine empanadas ($1.95 each, three for $5.50) and an iced natural juice ($3.75 to $5.25) before heading down to the beach (just a few blocks away).

Besides regular chicken, meat and tuna empanadas, the Juices & Bites booth (which has a permanent juice bar across the street) sells a broad selection of vegetarian-friendly empanadas including spinach, spinach and cheese, corn and bechamel, broccoli and cheddar, onion and mozzarella, caprese, and three cheese. They also make all sorts of juices and smoothies including strawberry, banana, passion fruit, guava, mango, papaya, carrot and celery, and sell fresh coconut milk (let’s just pretend those soda cans next to the coconuts are not there).

The produce booth is a little pricey (in the $2-for-a-large-mango-price range ) but everything is organic and you can find many rare veggies that regular grocery stores don’t always carry.

Stop by the Bee Land’s booth for, well, you know what to get here. Most honey jars sell for $5-12, although there are a few family size bottles in the $40s. They sell uncommon flavors like eucalyptus honey, and jars with almonds and other nuts inside, as well as bee pollen and royal jelly, used to treat depression, menopause symptoms and other conditions.

The other booths at the market sell orchids and flowers (which I personally have some reservations about buying here or anywhere, but that should be another topic of conservation) as well as handmade jewelry.

Compared to the Lincoln Road market, there are only about six vendors here, meaning less price competition, but hey, it also means less time spent shopping around and more time at the beach.

If you go:
WHAT: Farmers Market at Normandy Village Marketplace
WHERE: 900 Block of 71st Street at the Normandy Isle Fountain, along the Rue Vendome, North Beach.
WHEN: Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Visit www.themarketcompany.org

Yes, Miami has long been the place where the rich, famous and sexy bask next to beachfront five-star resorts, but hotels and spas are figuring out a way to make all that pampering partly carbon-neutral.

An increasing number of Miami’s luxurious spas and hotels are becoming more eco-friendly by using organic and natural products, recycling more and even planting a tree in the Everglades for every facial given.

It has created such a buzz that TreeHugger.com did a feature on it.

Some of the spas and hotels featured include Uhma Spa, in downtown Miami, which sells and uses only 100% natural, organic and cruelty-free products.

There’s also the Mandarin Oriental Miami, which offers guests an excursion to the Everglades, and plants a native tree there for every Herbal Thai Compress Ritual its spa performs.

Here’s another one I’ve been hearing a lot about:

Tahira Salon, in Miami Springs, uses only organic, non-toxic, soy-based and vegan. They even have monthly raw and vegan cooking lessons.

Do you know any other eco-conscious spas in Miami or South Florida? What was your experience like? We’d love to read your comments.

Photo by Dennis Wong

With an endless selection of organic -and mostly local- vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, roots, and herbs, Coconut Grove Farmers’ Market will make you feel proud of living in the Sunshine State.

Glasser Organic Farms, which dominates the farmers’ market, always has fresh, raw and organic ready-to-go vegetable pies, salads, sushi, pizza, hummus, pâtés and spreads, as well as more gourmet dishes like stuffed Portobello mushroom cups. Prices range between $4.95-$10. Get one of their fresh juice or coconut milk bottles for $2.50 to $4.25 ($9.50 for the family-size one).

But that’s not why you’ll keep coming to this market: they also have the best variety of nuts, seeds, grains, dried fruits and mushrooms, and prepared raw foods like flax seed crackers, granola bars, dressings, jams, olives and artichokes in oil, chickpea croquettes… and even 11 types of honey.

Don’t leave Glasser’s without a raw dessert, or take it to go: fruity cakes and pies, ice-creams, fruit salads, and brownies are just some of the treats you’ll find here.

Next to it is the raw food stand Lamoy’s Living Foods, where you can get a sample plate of five raw dishes, like curry pecan cuscus, raw Caesar salad, and a carrot, seaweed and beets salad, for $12. Like the main dishes, the dessert will change every week, but Lemoy (photographed below) will always have something for those with a sweet tooth (she had a raw raspberry pudding last time I was there).

Walk around and you’ll also find booths selling natural supplements and soaps.

If you go:
Coconut Grove Farmer’s Market
3300 Grand Ave.
Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.