Author: GreenBeet

Earth Day Parade & Seed Demo with GreenBeet

Backyard Farmer GreenBeet teaching kids about seeds.

The sun is shining. The birds are twirping. What a great day for an Earth Day parade! Join me at the Capitol Heights Academy, where K-5th graders,their families and friends will enjoy an event filled with live music, crafts, and green-living tips. This includes a seed demo by yours truly, Backyard Farmer GreenBeet. I’ll be making seed kits for kids to take home and plant. Your kid is going to want one, too!

The event is being hosted by the Leadership class of the Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce. The leadership team adopted the Capitol Heights Academy’s afterschool program as their ongoing community project, calling it the Green Monster project. So far, the kids have learned about recycling, composting, gardening, nutrition, and living a green life. This is my kind of project! I hope you will join us for the fun.

Event details:
What: Green Monsters Earth Day Festival
When: 11am – 1pm TODAY, Saturday, April 17
Where: Capitol Heights Academy, 2520 33rd Ave (just off Broadway behind Immaculate Conception Church)
Who: YOU!

GreenBeet on TV Tonight!

GreenBeet (that's me) giggling and holding a cake while everyone is hard at work shoveling dirt.

Tune in to the DIY Network tonight at 7:00 PM for a show called Turf War. Tonight’s episode features yours truly.

Turf War is a new reality TV show developed and produced by local company Idea Factory. The show pits two neighbors against each other in a battle for the most picture-perfect yard. As you can imagine, my husband and I aimed for a green-theme in our landscape. In only two days, we seek to transform our backyard from a weed patch to a drought-tolerant thing of beauty.

Will our green lifestyle win out in the end? Can we do it all in just two days? Am I extreme enough to handle the tough competition? Will all my experience in the veggie garden be enough to get me through this show? You can expect lots of drama, intrigue, and sore muscles in a real-life story taking place in my back yard.

For a sneak peak, click here.

Earth Day Celebration Sunday

Earth Day is officially April 22. But here in Sac, we like to do things ahead of the trends. That’s why we’re celebrating Earth Day this Sunday, April 11th at Southside Park from 12:00 to 5:00 PM, conveniently located across the street from the Downtown Farmers’ Market, so you can plan for a very earth-friendly day.

Earth Day festivities include music, cuisine, and one of my favorites: a capoeira performance!  If you aren’t familiar with capoeira, it’s a high-energy form of Brazilian dance that mixes in martial arts technique. Trust me–it’s super cool! Sacramento’s popular capoeira studio Agua de Beber will be performing. They begin at 1:00 PM with a big batucada parade followed by the capoeira demonstration.

You’ll also find a host of vendors sharing information about how to make your life a little greener and healthier. Come on out for a little peace, love, and earth-hugging. It’ll put a smile on your face.

Visit Two FREE Museums Today

Snapshot from The Migrant Project website, where you can find a full gallery of photos from the collection.

Today’s a gorgeous day to get out and exercise your brain. Lucky for you, there are two museums offering FREE admission: California State Railroad Museum and The California Museum.

California State Railroad Museum, located at 111 I Street in Old Sacramento, offers two events (also free) while you explore. At 11 a.m., Rick Nahmias holds a lecture and book signing of his new book The Migrant Project: Contemporary California Farm Workers. This photo documentary book features forty black-and-white images of the often invisible faces of our state’s agricultural industry.

Photos from the book are also displayed in a 1920s refrigerated produce car in the museum–an interesting tie in for an industry that has built its success on the labor of those depicted in the images.

At 2 p.m., you can attend a multi-media presentation and panel discussion on the subject of fair food.

Meanwhile, at The California Museum, Continue reading “Visit Two FREE Museums Today”

Local Food Blogger Earns Two Top Award Nominations

Hank Shaw: Hunger Angler Gardener Cook (photo from his website)

There’s only one way to describe local food blogger Hank Shaw today: on fire! The writer was nominated this morning for the prestigious James Beard Award for his down-to-earth food blog Hunter Angler Gardener Cook. Earlier, his blog was also nominated by the International Association of Culinary Professionals for a Bert Greene Award. He finds out in April if he’s won the latter, and in May if he’s won the prior.

Last year, Hunter Angler Gardener Cook was also nominated for a James Beard Award, but the metal went to Sunset Magazine’s blog.  That’s right: our local guy was competing against a big company who can afford to pay their bloggers. My bets are on Mr. Shaw for this year’s award. Read it for yourself! I think you’ll love it.

It’s No Blarney: St. Patty’s Day Parade Held Today

Fare lads and lasses won’t want to miss their lucky chance to celebrate all things Irish at today’s St. Patty’s Day parade in Ol’ Sac. Bag pipes, kilts, and green beer abound! This FREE event begins with a parade at 1:00 PM at 2nd and L Streets.

But beware of parking leprechauns! All Ol’ Sac streets will be closed, so make plans to slide in on a rainbow or use your feet.

The event is hosted by the Old Sacramento Business Association. For more details, visit their website.

Evil Weather Lurks Tonight

Batten down the hatches! We’re in for record cold in Sacramento tonight. The evil weathermen have teamed with Mother Nature in a wretched plot to suffer the force of frost upon us. You can just feel it in the graying clouds corroding our skies.

You can’t save yourself, but for god sake, save your garden! Throw some old sheets over those tender greens tonight.

May the lord save your soul—and your cilantro!

Sacramento is the New L.A.

If you spent any time at all on the corner of 10th and O Streets today, you probably spotted someone famous. There was no shortage of celebrities at The California Museum, turning Sacramento citizens into quintessential paparazzi. Some Sacramentans even waited in line for an hour and a half to see it all.

And who could blame them? An all-star line-up of female celebrities turned out to support their pal and our First Lady, Maria Shriver for her big Day at the Museum, a free event sponsored by The Governor and First Lady’s Women’s Conference in honor of Women’s History Month. Everyone from Iron Chef Cat Cora and Lisa Ling to Erin Brockovich and Rita Moreno were on hand to celebrate the accomplishments of California’s women (including their own).

If the renowned company alone wasn’t enough to spark your enthusiasm, all the inspiration in the room surely did. Poems were recited. Meals were cooked. Books were read. Photos were displayed. Artists painted. Tears were shed. Proud voices were raised in praise. There were also men speedily taking notes, trying to soak up every wise word that was uttered. Short of singing “Kumbaya,” this was one emotional-filled day!

Does all this mean that Sacramento has become the new L.A.? Continue reading “Sacramento is the New L.A.”

All-Star Line-Up Celebrates California Women

This Thursday, March 4, First Lady Maria Shriver partners with The California Museum for a FREE “Day at the Museum,” a celebration of California’s leading ladies. Prepare to be inspired! The all-star line-up includes Iron Chef Cat Cora and Sacramento’s own Biba Caggiano (owner of Biba Restaurant), Sacramento-native Lisa Ling, the original founders of Sacramento nonprofit WEAVE, California’s top female elected officials, astronaut Sally Ride, environmental activist Erin Brockovich, and many more!

Festivities also include yoga, chef demonstrations, basket weaving, Indian drumming, exhibits, music, you name it! You’ll be kicking yourself if you miss this grand affair. And you’ve gotta admit the price is right. Here are the details: Continue reading “All-Star Line-Up Celebrates California Women”