Learn great gardening tips and secrets

Any green thumbs out here in Tamarron? Sometimes I wish I was. Gardening is certainly both a science and an art. Some have the knack, some don’t…just ask my plastic plant that died on me last year. Although I am thinking about starting one of those hanging tomato plants. Anyone have one?

In any case, for those that are interested, on May 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Keep Smyrna Beautiful will be hosting their annual Smyrna Garden Tour. Tickets available for $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the tour. All proceeds benefit the new Community Garden project at North Cooper Lake Park. Gardeners will be on hand to share their secrets with you.

Smyrna has fabulous gardens and this year Keep Smyrna Beautiful gives you a chance to get an inside look at the gardening talents of our active and resourceful citizens. For more information, contact Keep Smyrna Beautiful at 770-431-2863.

Cheap, green tips!

Here are a few energy saving tips, courtesy of The Baltimore Sun,  that everyone here at Tamarron can use to help protect the environment.  Happy Earth Day, folks!  Enjoy the planet!

• Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs in the light fixtures you use most, and you’ll save on your electricity bill, since about 15 percent of most bills go toward lighting.
• Use surge protectors to eliminate energy vampires — electronics like your television that sap electricity even when they’re not in use.
• Carry a reusable mug and avoid buying beverages in containers that have to be thrown away.  Pack a few reusable bags and get a discount at some supermarkets. Invest in reusable food containers for storing leftovers or packing lunches instead of purchasing disposable sandwich bags or plastic wrap that also has to be discarded.

One GREAT weekend, several GREAT events!

Alright Tamarron, this coming weekend is one of those weekends that make you love Atlanta. For the next few days, no one in the metro-Atlanta area can use the excuse that they couldn’t find anything fun to do. Music: check. Arts: check. Sports: check. Food, beer and wine: check. Outdoors: check. Traffic: check (hey, everything comes at a cost). It’s all here for the taking. Here is what you need to know:

Sweetwater 420 Festival

If listening to great music, sampling new microbrews and relaxing with your friends at a park (all for the low price of $5) sounds enticing, you’ll want to check out the Sweetwater 420 Festival schedule of events at Candler Park this Saturday, April 17 from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday, April 18 from 12:30 to 8 p.m. Also to note, The Sweetwater 420 Festival is “pet friendly” as well as a very “green friendly” event. While Sweetwater is a local Atlanta brewery, and organization named Planet 420 (hence, Sweetwater 420) sponsors the event to promote education of earth friendly practices. Sounds like a win-win for all.

One of the coolest things about Sweetwater 420 is that the festival is located just two blocks from the Candler Park MARTA station. Head to the closest MARTA station and there is no need to worry about traffic or parking!

Atlanta Dogwood Festival

Along with serving as the unofficial start of spring, the historic Atlanta Dogwood Festival provides the opportunity to spend time with friends and family while providing a creative marketplace for many Atlanta artisans, as well as other artists from around the country. It goes on all day at Piedmont Park from April 16-18. Unfortunately, no pets are allowed.

Additionally, you can purchase tickets for the Homegrown Comedy Binge as well as the Friends of Dogwood Pavilion food and wine tasting experience. Participating restaurants include: Dolce, Nakato, Geisha House, Pacci, The Sun Dial, Taqueria del Sol and many others. Piedmont Park is also very much accessible by MARTA.

Sports

If basketball is your thing, snatch up a ticket to see the Atlanta Hawks first game in the 2010 NBA Playoffs. They start their best-of-seven series against the Milwaukee Bucks at Philips Arena on Saturday, April 17 at 5:30 p.m. The Atlanta Braves also have a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Turner Field this weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (April 16, 17 and 18).

I usually check craigslist first to see if I can snag a good deal on tickets!

In-Season Produce: Markets near Tamarron

Do you shop for your fresh food and produce locally? If not, you may want to give it some serious consideration. Although today’s global market allows us to buy foods grown almost anywhere in the world at any given time, this option is not the most sustainable.

Buying in-season fruits and vegetables that are locally grown helps to eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping foods across the country – and in some cases – the world. Not only does your food dollar go directly to the farmers, but you’re able to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh, better tasting, unprocessed produce. According to the National Resources Defense Council, in-season foods for the state of Georgia (and surrouning areas) include:

Blueberries Cabbage Carrots Greens Snap Beans Strawberries Vidalia Onions Yellow Squash Zucchini Asparagus (Tennessee) Bananas (Florida) Broccoli (Florida, North Carolina) Cantaloupe (Florida) Cauliflower (Florida) Celery (Florida) Chinese Cabbage (Florida) Collards (Tennessee) Cucumber (Florida) Eggplant (Florida) Endive (Florida) Escarole (Florida) Gourds (Tennessee) Grapefruit (Florida) Herbs (Tennessee) Honey (Tennessee) Honeydew Melon (Florida) Indian Corn (Tennessee) Kumquat (Florida)

Leafy greens (North Carolina) Limes (Florida) Mamey Sapote (Florida) Mixed Greens (South Carolina) Mushrooms (Florida, Tennessee) Okra (Florida) Onions (Florida) Oranges (Florida) Papaya (Florida) Peanuts (North Carolina) Pecans* (Alabama) Peppers (Florida) Potatoes (Florida) Radishes (Florida) Scallions (South Carolina) Squash* (Alabama, Florida) Sweet Corn (Florida) Sweet Potatoes * (Alabama, North Carolina) Tangelos (Florida) Tangerines (Florida) Tomatoes (Florida) Watermelon (Florida)

Here is a short list of markets that sell fresh locally grown foods near the Tamarron area. If you can suggest any other markets, leave a comment and let the community know!

Markets near Tamarron

Going Green: Using Georgia peaches to tighten your skin

Check out this easy Do it Yourself recipe courtesy of The Daily Green…

Peach Firming Mask

• 1 ripe peach — peeled and stoned
• 1 egg white

Whip peach and egg white together in a blender till smooth.  Gently pat mixture over face.  Leave on for 30 minutes.  Rinse off with cool water.  Makes 1 application.

Fogelman Management Group is focused on spreading the word about Going Green, a term that signifies the social movement towards environmental conservation, protection and improvement. It’s all about making simple lifestyle choices that will lessen our negative impact on the Earth. Making and using home products with organic materials is just one way to we can make a difference.

Stay tuned to the Tamarron blog throughout the month of April for more tips on how you can play your part.

Go Green Ideas that are Easy to See

Do you want to be green friendly this year? You can do so in both ways big and small. One of the small things to do is to find eyeglasses that are eco-friendly. You can click here to read about ICU Eyewear and other companies who are designing sleek eyeglasses that keep the environment in mind.