Bluebird Market Celebrates National Farmers Market Week 2011 with Award-Winning Middle Georgia Producers

The following Georgia Producers have been named for 3rd Annual Top Awards and Blue Ribbons during National Farmers Market Week 2011 by Bluebird Market & CSA. Thank you Middle Georgia farmers and producers for sharing the harvest in our Multiple Farm CSA.

3rd Annual Bluebird Awards, National Farmers Market Week 2011

Best Overall Area Grower –James Family Farm

Best Spalding County Grower –Randall Fuller

Best Middle Georgia Strawberry Growers– Elliott Farms

Best Middle Georgia Raw Honey — Hidden Springs Honey Farm

Best Georgia Peach Ice Cream– Dickey Farms

Best Winter Vegetables – McCrary Farms

Best Heirloom Tomatoes- Down the Lane Creatives

Best Organic Artisan Lettuces — D & A Farms

Best Herb Growers –Dromgoole Herbs

Best Pure Spring Water — Callaway Blue

Best Jersey Cow Cheeses — Sweet Grass Dairy

Best Grass Fed Angus Beef –White Oak Pastures

Best U-Pick Berry Farm – Weaver Berryland Farms

Best Wild Georgia Shrimp –Dubberly’s Seafood

Best Heirloom Apples –Holland Apple Farms

Best Carrots – Hayden Grove Farms

Best Farm Stand — The Rock Ranch

Best Georgia Pecans -  Ellis Brothers

Best Georgia Peanut Products - Plain Peanuts

Best Farm Making an Impact- Koinonia Farm, Birthplace of Habitat for Humanity

Best Daily Summer Harvest – Gardner Farms

Most Affordable Strawberry U-Pick – The Strawberry Patch

Best Georgia Coffee Roaster – Safehouse Coffee and Tea

Best Sustainable Restaurant – Sustainable Seafood

Best Farm to Table Eatery – Concord Cafe

Best Farm to Table Restaurant – Farm Burger

Cottage Industry

Best Marinara Sauce – Parisa’s Marinara

Best Georgia Tearoom Scones and Biscotti - The Jewell Box

Best Organic Granola – Pure Bliss

Best Desserts – Eileen’s – Desserts to Your Door

Best Juices & Smoothies – Arden’s Garden

Best Fruit Ciders – Hillside Orchards

Best Raw Foods Cookie – Sam & Mary’s Raw Karma

Best Organic Grits – Riverview Farms

Best Preserved Foods - Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning

Best Southern Cakes – Baking a Difference

Artisans

Best Pottery – Clayshapers

Best Artisan Graphic Design – Armchair Studios

Best Photography Blog -  The Barefood Photographer

Best Soapmaker – Hartley Soaps

Best Bath and Body Products – Crafters Cottage

Best Handmade Lotions and Gels - Cinder & Bloom

Best Natural Body Products – Willow Soap

Best Candle Making - Buggy Town Candles

Best Recycle Jewelry – Restoration Jewels

Best Artistic Jewelry - My Soul Can Dance

Best Flower Art Photography – MagMoments

Best Folk Art Mosaics – Laurie Sweat

Best Folk Art Paintings – Sam Granger Folk Arts

Best Children’s Illustrator – Linda Hayward 

Best Theatre Props Artist – Fawne DeRosia

Best Restoration Furniture – Barnchasers

Best Photography Studio – PhylmWorks

Sunlit Living Awards

Best Georgia Producers Solutions – Georgia Made Georgia Grown

Best Farm-to-School Program –The Rock Ranch

Best Tourism Guide in Georgia – Brown’s Guide to Georgia

Best Local Arts Council – Thomaston Upson Arts Council

Best Recipes Promoting Healthy Eating – Lizzie Marie Cuisine

Best Organic Distributors - Destiny Organics

Best Produce Public Relations – Vidalia Onion Committee

Best Festival Promoting Local Producers – Doc’tober Days

Best CSA Employee Wellness Program -Liberty Technology 

Best Community Supported Agriculture Advocate – Kitchen Drawer Magazine

Best Local News Supporting Agriculture – The Grip

Best Horticulturist – Mary Pond

Best Greenhouse Facility – Griffin Area Resource Center

Best CSA Employee Benefits – Georgia EPD

People’s Choice Award Votes

Best Georgia Peaches – Dickey Farms

Best Farm to Table Restaurant - Farm Burger

Best U-Pick Strawberries - The Strawberry Patch, Pike Co.

Winners of Bluebird CSA Facebook Poll   What’s your favorite Farm or Georgia Producer and what do they produce?

Gardner Farms

Hogwaller Blueberry BBQ Sauce

Dickey Peaches

Sweet Grass Dairy Cheeses

Visit us Online:  http://bluebirdcsa.com

National Farmers Market Week (August 7-13, 2011) Award Winning Farmers and Producers receive blue ribbons!   We appreciate your dedication and vision!

Bluebird Market and CSA KidsBox Includes Healthy Recipes by Chef Lizzie Just for Kids

If you have been wanting a fun way to share healthy farm fresh foods with your children, Bluebird CSA offers a summer KidsBox!  This affordable $15 weekly share box is filled with Georgia grown goodness your children will love like strawberries, blueberries, peas, cantaloupe, cherry tomatoes and more. 

And, to make it fun in the kitchen with Mom or Dad, Chef Lizzie of Lizzie Marie Cuisine, is sharing a weekly recipe with How-To Videos which encourage children to eat fresh and healthy!  KidsBox Goes beyond Farm to School with farm fresh veggies just for kids!!

Bluebird KidsBox with

Chef Lizzie’s Recipe #1  Fruit Coolers 

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cup Strawberries, remove green, rinse and cut in half
• 3 scoops Watermelon, use an ice cream scoop
• 1 tablespoon Local honey or organic sugar
• 2 cups Crushed ice
• 1/4 cup sparkling water (I like Pellegrino brand)
• Splash of sparkling water
• Optional: if you have fresh mint, rinse a few leaves clean with water and use as a garnish in your glass

Place first 5 ingredients into blender, blend until smooth. If the ingredients are blending easily, add a little extra sparkling water. Pour into glasses and top with a splash of sparkling water which adds a great fizz to the drink. Add a mint leaf to your glass for a fun garnish.  Yields 2 servings.  I added a few blueberries to the batch in the photo which was tasty too.

Watch Chef Lizzie’s How To Video here.

Thank you Chef Lizzie for this healthy recipe using farm fresh berries and melon!

Bluebird Market & CSA KidsBox Features Local Foods Storytime by Sammy Hatcher

Want to peak your child’s interest in farm fresh locally grown foods? 

 This summer Bluebird CSA is offering a KidsBox filled with farm fresh goodness like blueberries, cantaloupe, cherry tomatoes and peas!  Lizzie Marie of Lizzie Marie Cuisine is adding a weekly healthy recipe for kids plus How-To Video and Sammy Hatcher is sharing a read along story about local farms!!  Here is Chapter One from Sammy’s tale!!

Bluebird’s Farm Adventure by Sammy Hatcher

Chapter One 

A   T-A-L-K-I-N-G   Bird!!!

I would like to start, first of all, by introducing myself to you all because my mother told me a long time ago that I should not talk to strangers, so I never do to this day! My name is Sammy. I’m an intern at Bluebird CSA and this morning the most remarkable thing happened to me. I met a TALKING bird. That’s what I said alright–a T-A-L-K-I-N-G bird. The poor little guy can’t even remember his name. Oh! But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me start from the very, very beginning.

Earlier this morning…

I was wandering around Bluebird Greenhouse aimlessly. I was hot and tired and thinking about taking a nap, as it was so late in the morning. (It was 10 o’clock after all and Winnie the Pooh would have been on his third nap by then!) I looked all around to make sure no one saw me leaning against a tree before slowly sliding down until I was in a good napping position. I pulled a hankie from my pocket to cover my face. It was then I noticed all the plants and sunlight peeking underneath the hankie starting to look warm and fuzzy. My eyes began to flutter closed and, as they did, I could see fuzzy bees and fuzzy grass and to my left I could see a fuzzy little bird in a fuzzy little strawberry patch. How nice. As I started to peacefully snooze, I thought about the lovely bird eating his delicious strawberries–but wait–then I realized something. There was no strawberry patch at the Bluebird Greenhouse! I jumped up as quickly as I could, ripping the hankie away as I did. Sure enough, there it was. As sure as I’m sitting here today telling you this story, there was a strawberry patch in a spot where just minutes before there hadn’t been one!

“You’re not asleep.” Said the bird.

A talking bird, too?? What was going on here?

“Did you just talk to me, bird?” I replied.

“I did. I said you aren’t asleep. And, I have a name; we’re not all just named bird, you know.” The bird’s feelings were obviously hurt, I hadn’t meant to be rude.

“Oh, I’m sorry. What is it?”

The bird thought for a moment and then he started to look even more sad than before. “I don’t know what my name is. I don’t know where I came from. I can remember all my favorite fruits and vegetables..”

“Fruits and vegetables?” I chimed in. “But I thought birds mostly ate bugs?”

“Yuck! No way! I don’t eat bugs, I only eat fresh fruits and vegetables; I remember that much. But,I can’t remember who I am.” At that the little blue bird with the soft brown belly hung his head in heartbreak.

“I’m really very sorry, Mr. Bird. I didn’t mean to make you sad. If you want, I could try to help you remember who you are.”

The bird’s head perked up just a little “Oh, really? You would do that for me? But we’ve only just met.”

I shrugged. “You’re sitting in a strawberry patch that came out of thin air and brought you with it, I’m sort of going with the flow at this point.”

The bird jumped up in triumph. “Hooray!” He shouted. “Well, can I go home with you?”

I thought for a moment. “How about you live here at the greenhouse? You can watch over the plants, you’ll be their keeper.”

The bird stuck his chest out regally, like he’d been given a great honor. “I shall do you proud, my lady.” He did a quick bow before asking, “Well, how are we going to find my memory?”

I scratched my chin, “We can go to different places where they grow your favorite foods and maybe you’ll remember a time you were eating them at home and your memory will come back!”

The bird sighed. “I don’t know, that doesn’t sound like a very good plan…”

“Of course it is! You’re an out-of-nowhere talking bird sitting in a magical strawberry patch, crazier things have worked!”

Mr. Bird then jumped up in a fit of hope, excited to try my idea. I told him I would come home and share our story, but before I left I had to ask my friend what his new name should be. He told me he didn’t know, but would just love more than anything for our reader’s to decide. So, to any of you who would like to think of a new name for Mr. Bird, e-mail your answer (or have Mom or Dad help you) to BluebirdandSammy@gmail.com. My bird friend says he’ll be so happy to get a new name that he’d like to send a gift to whoever’s name is picked, just to show his gratitude!

Bluebird Market Supports Lizzie Marie Cuisine as she Launches her Efforts in ‘Kindness Challenge’

Click here to watch the video of Lizzie Marie at Bluebird CSA –Liberty Tech Pickup Location–as seen on USA Today and Rachael Ray ‘Kindness Challenge.’
Click here to visit Lizzie Marie’s Blog with Kindness Challenge Updates.Click here for USA Today Story ‘With the Finish Line in Sight’….

Rachael Ray will air more about the ‘Kindness Challenge’ on Friday, February 18, 2011!! 

Tune in Monday, January 17th, to Rachael Ray Show to see the launch of the USA Today and Do Something.org ‘Kindness Challenge.’ Lizzie Marie Cuisine will bring all the fun of her healthy eating challenge to Bluebird CSA members and farmers in the coming weeks!!

Kindness Challenge Halftime Update–see what Lizzie Marie has been doing to meet her goal!

Rachael Ray comments about the Kindness Challenge!

Watch videos from the Kindness Challenge!

Read more reviews.

Green Celebrity says Kindness Challenge is good news.

Stay tuned at http://www.facebook.com/bluebirdcsa

Become a Bluebird CSA member at http://www.bluebirdcsa.com

Welcome to Bluebird Market an Eco-Friendly Place for local artisans and growers to market their products.

 Bluebird Market is a local organic co-op where artisans and growers market their goods.  Hatch and grow your business at the Bluebird Market.  We are an incubator for local small business owners in Middle Georgia.  This is a Bluebird Victory Garden community gardening sustainability initiative.

Join our efforts for local growers and artisans…buy local for your business by dealing with local market vendors. Shop the market for your business and family. Saturdays 8 am until noon, 215 Barnesville Street, Thomaston, GA.

Bluebird Market Growers and Artisans Hatch an Eco-Friendy Version Farmers Market

Bluebird Market CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)…All the Best

Bluebird CSA…all the best.

Bluebird Market Partners with James Family Farm for CSA

 

Christmas Eve on James Family Farm.

Bluebird Market Top 6 Reasons CSA Partnered with James Family Farm

 Top 6 reasons it is a true delight to be partnered with James Family Farm for the multiple-farm Bluebird CSA :   

1. Certified organic garden
2. received 100 on Certified Kitchen by the Dept. of Ag
3. ranked as a top vendor by neighboring farmers markets
4. Best Overall Grower, Nat’l Farmers Market Week at Bluebird Market 
5. Blue-Ribbon Award Winner on veggies and products  
6. Local Harvest approved




 

 

Bluebird Market Thanks Middle Georgia Growers for Multiple Farm CSA Participation

We are so fortunate to have a multiple farm CSA that provides all the best from our Middle Georgia growers.

Bluebird Market…What is a CSA?

Every family needs a farmer.  Do you know yours?

Bluebird Market–New CSA Coffees and Teas Bonus Box with Bluebird.Festival Blend Signature Coffee

We are delighted to now offer bulk Georgia Roasted and Fair Trade Coffees, our own Bluebird Blend Georgia Roasted Coffee, as well as flavored teas, herb teas and blossom teas in a Bluebird CSA Bonus Box.  This box is an assortment share and will also include when available local honey, fresh Stevia, and/or sugar cane (for making swizzle sticks).

The cost of this bonus box quarter share for 1 person is $15.00.  You may purchase weekly or as a one time bonus box purchase.  You must be signed up for the Bluebird CSA Veggie Box Program to order the special bonus share deals.  You may preorder and pay-by-the-week at Bluebird Market one week and pickup your box at Bluebird  Market the following Saturday from 8 am until noon. 218 N. Center Street, Thomaston, GA.

Bluebird Market CSA Share Recipe Stream

Click here for Bluebird CSA recipe stream.

Bluebird Market Thanks CSA Shareholders for Slow Kitchen Parties

Bluebird Festival Campaign for Farm to School

Help us tip child nutrition in Middle Georgia.

Connecting family farms to local schools for fresh and healthy foods…Georgia peaches, strawberries, blueberries, broccoli, pecans, tomatoes!

Bluebird Market CSA Members Discover the Joys of a Slow Foods Kitchen!

If you are interested in fresh local veggies from Middle Georgia, please click here.

Click here to read a fun blog by Laurie of Kitchen Drawer Magazine as her family discovers the joys of a slow foods kitchen.

Below is a photograph by Laurie showing the contents in her Bluebird share box from May 15, 2010 whole share size suitable for family of 4 at a cost of fifty dollars pre-pay by the week.  Click to read Laurie’s blog “Learning to Eat Local with a Large Family.”

Click here to check out box sizes, costs, pickup locations, and payment options..

Email us at bluebirdmarket@gmail.com for assistance.

Bluebird Market Vegetable Club & Multiple Farm CSA

If you want a share of the bountiful Georgia summer harvest, ’tis the season! 

Join our summer Vegetable Club NOW with a 6-month online shopping membership through December 2010 for $25.00 which is less than $1/week.  This gets you the convenience of ordering weekly online.

Once you register, you may then enjoy the convenience of shopping online for your veggie shares and Add-On products at www.farm2ulonline.com/bluebird   The online shopping window is open Fridays from 8 am – 8 pm.  Register to shop conveniently online here.

With our NEW convenient online ordering, you may order by the week, month or season!!  It’s easy and secure; we love it…check it out here.  

Vegetable Club

It’s simple. We share the Georgia harvest by bringing you the best from family farmers.

This is a 12-week summer harvest community supported agriculture share box. 

The costs for small, medium and large weekly boxes are 

$15  (suitable for 1 person)

$30  (suitable for family of 2)

$50  (suitable for family of 4)

You may pick up (or send someone to pick up) your Vegetable Club share box at Bluebird Market, 218 N. Center Street, Thomaston, GA on Saturdays from 8 am until noon.

LocalHarvest.org encourages when you sign up you commit to the 12-week Vegetable Club as this is a program to support our local farmers (CSA-Community Supported Agriculture).  If you are out of town or cannot pick up your share box, just have someone pick up for you.

When you order online there is a window –so make sure if you are ordering weekly to order between Saturday noon and Monday noon to receive your veggies at your chosen Pickup Location that week.  The nice thing about ordering monthly or seasonally is you are already conveniently on the schedule.  You may skip any week you like.  

Send your name, subject line please type Vegetable Club, and contact information to bluebirdmarket@gmail.com

What is growing now on Georgia family farms includes butter beans, peaches, corn, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbages, brussel sprouts, sweet basil, heirloom veggies, cucumbers, bell peppers and hot peppers, squashes, blueberries, canteloupe, watermelon, okra, potatoes, onions, fresh herbs, and much more.

Share boxes are seasonal and vary depending on what is ready to harvest.

Bluebird Market Connections

Bluebird Market Supports UGA Study Findings — ‘If Each Household in Georgia Spent $10 on Georgia Grown Produce $1.9 Billion Boost to Georgia Economy’

 Bluebird Market is an organic ’buy local’ sustainability intiative working with over 70 Georgia farmers and producers with our multiple farm CSA program. This Bluebird is so Green.

Order conveniently online from local farmers through Bluebird CSA here.  

Bluebird has been advocating for local households to redirect $10/weekly to buy locally grown and organic since we opened on June 6, 2009.

How does buying local impact you?

DIY calculator:

# of households in your community x $10 x 52 weeks = dollars to local growers

Ex: If there are 10,000 households in your community who spend $10 weekly with local growers times 52 weeks would direct over $5 million a year to local growers and your community.  A small life change to –buy local– makes a meaningful impact in our communities.

Read more about the UGA Buy Local study:

Buying Locally Grown Packs Powerful Economic Punch, Study Shows

Consumers Develop Taste for Locally Grown Food

Buying Local Food Could Boost Georgia’s Economy

Bluebird Market SCVNGR Local Foods Trek

Oct. 23, 2010–Play Bluebird SCVNGR Farm to School at The Rock Ranch Growing Up Green .

Check in with SCVNGR or use any cell phone to text to 728647 the keyword Bluebird!

Bluebird Market CSA Community Supported Agriculture Veggie Boxes

Convenient online ordering for Bluebird CSA year round veggie share boxes click here.

 

 

 

 

 

Bluebird Market Farm to School Fun at The Rock Ranch

Bluebird Market Top 5 Benefits to Nourish Your Life with Bluebird CSA

Top 5 benefits you will love with Bluebird Community Supported Agriculture!!
Align your life today with health and sustainability through Bluebird CSA!
Watch and learn how fresh veggies from mulitiple Georgia farms nourish your life by providing what is needed to look and feel great!  From seed to table, nourish life with fresh veggies and community. http://www.farm2uonline.com/bluebird

Bluebird Market CSA New Virginia Highlands PickUp Location Fridays Noon

Bluebird CSA at NEW Virginia Highlands Pickup Location Fridays at noon beginning Friday, November 12, 2010.  Other convenient pickup locations include Atlanta Tradeport (Thursdays) , Liberty Technology in Griffin (Fridays) and Bluebird Market in Thomaston (Saturdays).

1021 Virginia Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia  Map link at Goin Coastal Sustainable Seafood on the corner of Virginia and Highland Avenue next door to the new Yeah! Burger. 

Order your locally grown farm fresh veggie share box online at http://www.farm2uonline.com/bluebird 

View Bluebird CSA Pickup Location 1021 Virginia Avenue Atlanta, GA in a larger map

Bluebird Market Receives Gift Grant for Greenhouse to Serve Farm to Table Community

Thank you Cary Grubbs for the opportunity to better serve the Bluebird Farm2u community with this fine greenhouse facility. Jan Rogers, Community Gardening Advocate, facilitated this gift grant to Bluebird Market and the Griffin farm to table community. Training internships will be made available to those interested in Local Foods Systems.

Come Grow with Bluebird!

Bluebird Market is delighted that this fine local foods system partnership was announced on December 10, 2010, which is Slow Foods International Terra Madre Day.  Translation: Mother Earth.  “Terra Madre Day is being celebrated today with more than 170,000 people taking part in 1,130 events in communities across 125 countries with 250 universities, to promote eating locally and sustainable food production.”

Organized by the global Slow Foods network. Terra Madre (translation: ‘Mother Earth’)

View Larger Map
MAP TO GREENHOUSE

Bluebird Market Invites You to Align Your Life with Health and Sustainability

On this remarkable new 1/1/11 beginning, Bluebird Market invites you to align your life with health and sustainability.

Become a member of our multiple farm Bluebird CSA to enjoy weekly share boxes of all the best Georgia producers have to offer.

Bluebird Market Birdhouses

For Mother’s Day or Easter, you will love this finely Georgia made, handcrafted bluebird house, either single or double. Cedar shingles clear-coated, primed, sage green bead board or your custom color. Installation on painted pole available by artist. www.bluebirdcsa.com

Bluebird Market Happy Valentine’s Day 2011

Bluebird Market Lantern for Earth Hour 2011

Create your lantern and…

REMEMBER TO SWITCH OFF YOUR LIGHTS FOR
EARTH HOUR, 8.30PM, SATURDAY 26TH MARCH

Bluebird Lantern Earth Hour 2011.

Bluebird Market Celebrates American ‘Ag Day’ March 15, 2011

 

Bluebird will award Seed Packets to Encourage Locally Grown efforts for Ag Day 2011.

Bluebird Market CSA Members Will Enjoy 1st Crop from The Rock Ranch of Strawberries, Sweet Corn and More!

Miss Bluebird Princess has fun at The Rock Ranch with Veggie Tales.

Bluebird CSA

will work with The Rock Ranch to provide fresh and locally grown Georgia veggies and berries to CSA members in multiple locations.  The blueberry bushes are about 100 years old and are grown using organic practices to produce sweet and delicious blueberries.  These choice berries, sweet corn and 5-6 products will be offered over the 2011 spring and summer growing seasons through Bluebird CSA.  

Visit The Rock Ranch and enjoy their NEW  U-Pick Strawberry Patch— and if you would like those juicy strawberries delivered to you… straight from The Rock Ranch in a weekly share box, sign up for Bluebird CSA here! 

Bluebird Market CSA– Think of Being First in Line at Favorite Farmers Market Stands

Bluebird CSA Farm to Table share boxes give you the year round opportunity to be first in line at all of your favorite farmers market stands!

As a Multiple Farm CSA local harvest program, we deliver to your convenient pickup location year round…why wait for spring? Sign Up Today here.  

Here’s what’s growing right now on Georgia farms…
Broccoli
Artisan lettuces
Swiss Chard
Rainbow Carrots
Turnip Greens
Collards
Kale
Baby Spinach
Cauliflower
Beets
Sweet Potatoes
Vidalia Green Onions
Brussels Sprouts
Radishes
Cabbages – Savoy, green, red
Arugula
Bok Choy
Pecans
Rosemary
and more heirloom and organic varieties of season winter veggies!