How did you help to save the planet today?

Hey Cameron Landing residents.  For Earth Day today, did you take any steps or help improve the environment now or for the future?  If so, share with your neighbors!  In the meantime, enjoy this video for Michael Jackson’s Earth Song!

One GREAT weekend, several GREAT events!

Alright Cameron Landing, 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 Cameron Landing

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 Cameron Landing area. If you can suggest any other markets, leave a comment and let the community know!

Markets near Cameron Landing

Camping anyone?

Anyone interested in going camping?  The nearby Panola Mountain State Park is running a family camping clinic this weekend on Saturday, April 10.  According to the AJC…

The clinic allows the whole family to build confidence and develop an appreciation of the natural world through science education, exploration, and the classic fun of camping.

The clinic runs from 2pm on Saturday until the next day and participants must bring their own camping gear.  The price for a family of three is $50.  Price for two is $35.  For more info, call 770-389-7801.  Happy camping!

Going Green: How to make your windows and glass sparkle with natural products

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

No-Streak Glass Cleaner

• 1/4 cup undiluted white vinegar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 quart warm water

Combine ingredients and divide into spray bottles.  For a lint-free shine, wipe dry with a sheet of crumpled newspaper or a coffee filter.

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 Brassfield Park blog throughout the month of April for more tips on how you can play your part.

Bring on the Bargains!

While we’re still feeling the chill from one of Georgia’s coldest winters ever, we can’t can’t forget that summer will be here sooner than we think!  If you have little ones at home, you might want to get an early jump on some quality used items, such as toys and bikes.

Check out the Tykes, Tots & Teens website for information on their annual consignment sale going on at the Georgia International Horse Park this weekend.  There should be some great bargains to jump on.  Let me know if you find anything good!

How Long Do You Take in the Shower?

Yes, that’s a personal question and no, you do not have to answer here. It’s just something to think about. The longer you are in the shower, the more water you use. Yes, that’s a duh statement, but when you are trying to go green you have to think about these everyday tasks. When you limit your time under the showerhead you can save water and save on your heating bill as well. So if you aren’t doing it to go green, you can do it to save green.

Make Your Apartment a Green Space

Do you want to green your space, but not really sure how? Well then you’ve come to the right place. Minimizing your energy or adding a household plant are two simple things you can do to make your apartment a “go green” space. You can check out some more green suggestions here.