Sooooooooooo…today I had THREE finals (is that even legal?). FML!

8am was Organic Chemistry

3:45pm was Developmental Nutrition

6pm was Recent Developments in Foods

Li-ter-a-lly, my lucid dreams last night looked like this (frankly, I was kinda scared I couldn’t make them stop):

chain propagation steps in the monochlorinaton of methane

soaponification reaction. We actually did this in lab and made soap! Betcha didn't know soap is made out of 3 fatty acids and sodium! (Shortening and salt)

carbohydrate reactions, which surprisingly, was the easiest material we covered

Not joking! Reactions, over and over and over and over and over and over again (followed by a very disturbing nightmare). Anyone who has taken Organic Chem knows you have to know allathat TIMES 379.  I can’t. Actually I did, but the exam was tricky…so…(fingers crossed?)

I digress.

The point of this post is to say that on my way home, I decided to treat myself to a mini-sweet potato pie ($1 at Abu’s Bakery) and a Haagen Daz mini cup (can’t beat 3.6 ounces!). Oh, and a glass of vino. Remember: everyone deserves a treat from time-to-time (albeit small portions), so make sure to balance all of your hard work and healthy meals with something  that isn’t so perfect. You’re taste buds (and spirit) will thank you for it.

Ok – now time to study for my two finals tomorrow. Say a prayer ya’ll!

mmm

**UPDATE**

I got 4  A’s and a B+ in Organic Chem! Thanks for anyone who said a prayer. That was THE most challenging semester of my life! =)

“Plant some plants & cultivate some cultivation!

Whether you’re growing things on a Lower East Side balcony, a Bushwick rooftop or in Greenpoint ’s oil-slicked soil, we’ve got something for you. We’ll be covering everything from container gardening to full-fledged backyard farms, beginning to end.

We’ll start with seeds, sprouts and cuttings, then as Spring moves on we’ll get to keeping your grown-up plants feeling healthy and free from pests.

Navigate the mysteries of PROPER DRAINAGE, the esoteric meanderings of the NITROGEN CYCLE, and map the hidden world of MICRONUTRIENTS. We can’t promise you tomatoes as big as your head, but that won’t stop us from trying!

some places to get excited about the spring: container gardening (from a college, so it must be right), all the heirloom seeds you can dream about, and local farms that are totally awesome–Added Value, Stone Barns, Queens Farm Museum.

Just so we’re clear!: Every class meets once a week for a month. $25 gets you four classes about screenprinting, or four classes about scents, or four classes about doing cartwheels or whatnot.

And how do you sign up?

Oh that’s easy. Just click this peculiarly-colored animal:

We only have a limited number of spots per class – about a dozen – so be sure to sign up before class fills up!

Aaaand if you want to take multiple courses but $25/each seems like way too much? Sign up for one of ‘em, then fire us an email and we can totally work something out.

View all March-April 2010 classes“

If you are an NY resident, you are probably familiar with the Council on the Environment of New York City, the organization that sponsors the infamous Green Markets located in tons of neighborhoods.

Anyway, CENYC has 18 markets that are open year-round. Eighteen! One right in my neighborhood every Saturday. The number of markets more than doubles during the season (usually June to October).

For non-New Yorkers, these websites can point you in the direction of markets or CSA’s in your hood:

• Local Harvest
  
• The Feds
  
• CSA Center

This is pretty fantastic. GrowTruck travels to all five boroughs to deliver garden tools, plants, and horticultural advice to community gardeners, schools, and neighborhood block associations. The Grow Truck loans out both specialized and common manual garden tools, and may also be able to deliver plants, soil, or other garden supplies you have arranged to be donated.

To borrow tools, fill out the Tool Loan Form and fax to (212) 788-7913, Attn: OSG Tool Loan or mail to:

Council on the Environment of NYC
Attn: OSG Tool Loan
51 Chambers Street, Room 228
New York, New York 10007

To obtain other Grow Truck services and/or ask questions about tool loans, call 212-788-7935 or email here.

Eating healthy is hard when you are broke. I’m sure we would all like to buy only organic fruits and veggies, but sometimes you gotta prioritize. According to Dr. Weil (ya’ll know about Dr. Weil? If not click here) there are some produce items that you’re better off eating organic becasue common growing practices make these crops the most likely to contain pesticide residues. On the flip side, there are 12 produce items that you don’t have to buy organic because they pose little threat of pesticide contamination. What a relief.

Produce you should buy Organic:

1. Apples
2. Peaches
3. Bell Peppers
4. Pears
5. Celery
6. Potatoes
7. Cherries
8. Raspberries
9. Imported Grapes
10. Spinach
11. Nectarines
12. Strawberries

Non-Organic will suffice:

1. Asparagus
2. Kiwi
3. Avocados
4. Mangos
5. Bananas
6. Onions
7. Broccoli
8. Papaya
9. Cauliflower
10. Pineapples
11. Corn (sweet, frozen)
12. Peas (sweet, frozen)

Any questions?

My homegirl Shay Olivarria (owner of Bigger Than Your Block, an organization that provides financial literacy workshops for students) writes a “Money Matters” column for http://squarerootz.net/, my other website. This week’s column is about how to save money on groceries. Very informative. Check it.

Part 1: Money Management in 1 Minute – Save Money on Groceries

We should all be watching our pennies right now so I want to share a few money saving tips:

#1 Look for discounts on groceries by shopping at co-ops and dividing among friends.

#2 Create a small window garden to save on herbs and small fruits and veggies.

#3 Set a food budget and stick to it.

Part 2: Reader Question:

I heard about places that you can buy meat, veggies, etc. from off the farm. What’s that about?

It’s good that you’re thinking about these things. We should all be thinking about where our food comes from and how it’s handled before it lands on our dinner plates. What you’ve heard of is Community Supported Agriculture. It’s a process by which you can pay a farmer for a portion of meat, fruit, and vegetables that you can pick up at designated times during the year. This is good for two main reasons.

The first good reason to go this route is because you’re buying local. Buying local helps protect our environment by spending less on fuels to transport the food which also means less pollution in the air. It also may help you figure out where your food is coming from and how it’s been grown or raised. In case you haven’t heard about Alimentarius Codex there are many people deciding what is and isn’t okay for you to consume. You can find a farmer that is organic by Local Harvest. Making sure that you are aware of what chemicals, hormones, and pesticides are in your food is an important piece in creating a healthy environment for yourself.

The second good reason is that the food is usually much cheaper. Buying directly from the farm helps keep costs low for the farmer. Those savings can be passed on to you. Think about it. You’ll get fresh, delicious meat and produce several times a year cheaper than you could get at the grocery store.

All in all choosing to buy from a local farmer is a good idea. Let me know if you have other tips on saving money at the grocery store.