Planet Garden Advocates Caring for Children as Top Priority

Top Priority by Patti Robinson
　
“If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do matters very much,” was Jackie Kennedy’s philosophy to encourage putting children first in the lives of parents. I totally validate caring for our children as top priority because what could be more important than the life of a child?
For Middle Georgia Moms of any age who would like to check out a group that offers real support for you in your efforts at being a mother, MOMS Club is a great choice.
MOMS Club of Griffin Thomaston Area is open to mothers in Spalding, Lamar, Upson and Pike counties and offers a set of nationwide principles that puts mothers with children as a top priority. The first open house in our area was held on Tuesday, Oct. 27th at Bluebird Market and was a great boost for our local moms. They enjoyed lemongrass hand massages with a delightful aroma and hot apple cider.
The next MOMS Club Open House event, if you missed the Thomaston Open House, will be at Life Springs Methodist Church in Meansville. You can find details about time and place online at http://www.momsclubofgtarea.com.
It has been a pleasure to meet and get to know the enthusiastic Phyllis Bryan, MOMS Club of Griffin Thomaston Area Founder and President, while working on the MOMS Club Open House Bluebird Market event. I’m so impressed at her willingness to serve our community and tireless energetic support of our local mothers. It is also encouraging for me to see young mothers who are involved in our community efforts to encourage curbside recycling. MOMS Club came out as volunteers to The Rock Ranch and spent the day painting tomatoes and cucumbers of Bob and Larry of Veggie Tales on children’s faces. They also gave out red and green Bob and Larry balloons and the line was long for all of this fun and energy given to children learning about “Growing Up Green.”
We are so fortunate to have this group for our moms who are striving to cope in a hurried world of fast food and lifestyles. MOMS Club Open House gave us a quiet moment to reflect while we were treated with a lemongrass hand therapy. It is so nice to sit down and just have a cup of cider in a cozy room with mothers who are all there to support each other in an abundant and flourishing manner.
Prevention states that those who live to be 100 have several things in common and one of the most important is a strong network of friends. MOMS Club is the place to make friends for our local mothers. My advice is find out more and be a part. Of all the busy things in our lives, being a mother and being supported in those efforts is just about one of the most valuable.  Your efforts as a mom are life-changing each day for you and your family, and it’s beneficial to have a support team. Supporting Moms is the top priority for MOMS Club.
Enrich your life on Saturdays at the Bluebird Market. Explore with us each week to discover simple ways we can affordably contribute to sustainable and renewable eco-friendly living. Find resources online at http://www.momsclubofgtarea.com
 and http:// www.bluebirdmarket.com

Email EE questions to: bluebirdmarket@gmail.com.

 

 

 

MOMS Club of Griffin Thomaston Area was founded by Phyllis Bryan, right, shown here serving pumpkin pie at MOMS Club Bluebird Market Open House

 

Planet Garden Girl Scout Granola

The Girls Scout in Middle Georgia had a fun learning experience on “Growing Up Green” at The Rock Ranch last Saturday.  Local Scouts stopped in Bluebird Market for an earlybird breakfast and to learn how to make healthy, warm breakfast cereals at the Bluebird Market Kitchen Show. Girl Scouts also learned how buying locally grown produce is part of Growing Up Green as they shopped at the Bluebird Farmer’s Market.
The Kitchen Show was a lesson especially chosen for Girl Scouts about quick and easy preparation for a delicious and nutritious breakfast cereal.  Scout Leader, Cindy Friar, stated Girl Scout Granola would also be great as a trail mix on their hikes.
Alice Verseman was delighted to be chosen by popular audience response as one of the Bluebird Market Kitchen Show Hosts. Auditions continue this week with Bess Mayo sharing her W. African Pumpkin Soup and Bob James will teach us about Winter Squashes, including acorn, butternut and yellow squash. Judi Waterman will also be available for questions on how to cook a pumpkin. Be sure to email bluebirdmarket@gmail.com if you have a recipe you would like to audition with for the Kitchen Show.
Alice Versemann hosted the informative cooking lesson on easy preparation of healthy and warm homemade breakfast cereals. Here is the recipe for Girl Scout Granola using fresh and local produce in season like Georgia pecans, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.
Find all the Bluebird Kitchen Show recipes online at http://www.culinate.com/market/bluebird+market
　
Girl Scout Granola
4 cups old fashioned Quaker Oats
1/2 cup craisins
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cut sunflower seeds
1/2 cup Georgia pecans
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 cup local honey
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup light brown sugar or turbinado sugar(optional)
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
　
Steps
　
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix oats, fruits, seeds, nuts and cinnamon in large bowl.
Combine honey, syrup, brown sugar and oil in a glass bowl and heat together in microwave. Pour over oat mixture tossing with a spoon. Spread evenly on cookie sheet and bake, stirring occasionally, for about 25 minutes or until toasted. Cool completely and break into chunks.
Store in airtight glass jar for up to one month.

Enrich your life on Saturdays at the Bluebird Market. Explore with us each week to discover simple ways we can affordably contribute to sustainable and renewable eco-friendly living. Find resources online at http://www.bluebirdmarket.com. Email EE questions to: bluebirdmarket@gmail.com.

Planet Garden Encourages Youth Businesses

While many young people are directed toward seeking employment in the fast food industry, one young teenager has a brighter idea. Angelica Clayton will be launching her new custom greeting card line at Bluebird Market this Saturday, October 31st at 10:30 am. “We will have a fun morning learning about the “coolest” greeting cards,” Angelica states. As an Entrepreneur-Friendly organic market, Bluebird Market encourages all ages to launch/hatch a business. Invite your friends to check out your business endeavor or merchandise at Bluebird Market. Which of the 50 states is at the very top in our country for entrepreneurs? The State of Georgia leads the nation in 2009 Ranking #1 nationwide for Entrepreneurship! As young people, like Angelica Clayton, reach out to try new ideas aiming to hatch their own business, they are an inspiration for others to think “outside the fast food box.” We are excited to have this young entrepreneur invite her friends and Middle Georgia business and community leaders over to Bluebird Market this Saturday, October 31st at 10:30 for “Coffee, Chocolates and Cards”– an event which promises to be fun and informative! I’m especially delighted about creative ideas that offer ways for our local business owners to affordably say thank you to their best customers. Besides being a great way to say hello, greeting cards are fun to send during the holiday tradition of giving and celebrating. Another reason I want to attend is because we participated with several other local businesses in “Growing Up Green.” I have been seeking a meaningful way to thank everyone at The Rock Ranch for hosting the event and to express my appreciation to special volunteers. I will be listening this Saturday to Angelica give affordable solutions for a nice way of saying…I like the way you are building our community. This is a free program and everyone is welcome for “Coffee, Chocolate and Cards.” Bluebird Market is located in the former RC Cola building at 215 Barnesville Street in Thomaston. RSVP online at: http://bit.ly/4B5W2S and enrich your life on Saturday at Bluebird Market. Explore with us each week to discover simple ways we can affordably contribute to sustainable and renewable eco-friendly living. Find resources online at http://www.bluebirdmarket.com or contact: bluebirdmarket@gmail.com