In case you needed any more reasons to begin shopping and eating more local and organic foods, maybe a 550 million egg recall will encourage you to make the change??? Recalling over a half a million tainted eggs is scary stuff, especially for those of us who enjoy a good runny yolk.  (By the way, that is one of healthiest ways to enjoy this nutrient dense food!)  I love to visit my chickens or at least know where there are, what they are eating and who takes care of them as they run wild and forage through grass for bugs and grubs.  This natural lifestyle that chickens were meant to have is eggs-actly what makes eggs delicious and nutritious and naturally high in omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin D.  Most chicken farmers eat their own eggs and therefore have the best quality control.  It is a real pleasure to look your farmer in the eye and know exactly what you are putting into your body.  Fortunately more and more people are starting to realize how important it is to know where your food came from, how it was produced or processed and what food your food is eating.  Unfortunately some of this is due to mass recalls and food related mass illness.  These poor chickens stuffed into CAFO’s are pumped with hormones, antibiotics and feed that contains things we would never want to be around, let alone put into our bodies.  All of this mass production leads to a dramatic decline in sanitary conditions and quality control, a rise in disease among the animals and now 550 million tainted eggs are on the shelves of our supermarkets.  Maybe this will be the wake up call to change the way we buy our food for those of us who live in areas where we have access to locally produced and processed animal products.  Not only are you supporting your local economy, but you are feeding your family a safer, more healthful option.  For a list of local farms and farmer’s markets near you, visit http://www.loudounfarms.org

Celebrate Earth day by doing something “green.” Plant a tree or perhaps some organic seeds to grow your own vegetable garden.  Become more aware of one of your daily habits that could be altered to be more earth friendly.  Do you or your kids leave the water running while brushing your teeth?  Do you recycle as much as you can (i.e. empty paper towel rolls, junk mail, even the envelopes with those clear plastic windows?)  Do you drive places you can easily walk?  Find a new purpose to an old worn out this or that.  I like to keep EVERY jar (those who know me are chuckling) from spaghetti sauce to almond butter.  I use the jars for my water that I carry around each day, to store dried beans or rice, to keep track of those extra nails and screws lying around in the junk drawer and most recently my husband needed a pencil/pen holder for his office, viola- I had the perfect jar for that!  Re-using old stuff, instead of buying new, helps to reduce the seemingly endless waste that we as Americans are accumulating on this planet.  The little gestures do go a long way.  One idea for this weekend, visit Purcellville’s “Painting Purcellville Green” event.  The goings on are this Saturday, April 24th from 10am-2pm at the Town Hall.  While your there visit the Purcellville Community Market.  A farmer’s market in conjunction with a “green” event- ah, sounds like a perfect day!  My son and I wandered around the market last weekend discovering some new farms and new treats.  Rob at Community Gardens offered my 15 month old some greens to gnaw on, which he enjoyed thoroughly.  He loved carrying around my fresh salad turnips occasionally taking a bite off the leaves.  Then on to Lothar, the German Master Artisan Butcher.  A few varieties of nitrate-free sausages and we were all set for our BBQ the next day.  He had wonderful suggestions to satisfy both the adults and children, boy was he right!  I thought there were sure to be leftovers we could have for lunch on Monday, but no such luck.  The fresh farm food was too good not to finish.  I love this time of year when you can make a complete meal with all local ingredients.  Check out the event and then create your own Earth day celebration with a “green” family dinner.  Some Community Garden greens, some chicken or beef from Dayspring farm or some sausages from Lothar.  Eating locally is a HUGE “green” gesture that is not only good for the health of the planet, but good for your own health!