Clairmont Heights Civic Association

Have you been thinking about raising chickens in your Atlanta back yard? Been a while since you’ve seen big, fresh eggs with that fat yellowish-orange yolk? Or are you already over hearing about egg recalls (and how many other food recalls?…) in the news? Now’s your chance to raise your own flock of chickens! The following info came from the Reynoldstown yahoo group:

On Saturday August 28th starting at 9 a.m. we will be hosting the second annual Chicks for Charity fundraiser by the Atlanta Backyard Poultry Meetup group and nationally known chicken expert and radio personality Andy the Chicken Whisperer.

They will be giving away 1000 baby chicks and collecting donations for the East Atlanta Kids Club. There will be 2 avian vets present to answer your chicken rearing questions. Also there will be a rolling store to supply you with everything you need to start raising your own.

Andy the Chicken Whisperer will be doing a live broadcast from the market that morning.

The market is located at the corner of N. McDonough St. and E. Trinity Place 1 block south of the square next to Decatur High School. Plenty of free parking in the Calloway Building lot at the corner of Trinity Place and Commerce Dr. The entrance is off Commerce Dr.

Be sure to check your local zoning laws before coming to get some chicks!

Anna Millman  |  404-402-9409  |  anna@annamillman.com  |  www.annamillman.com

John Wolfinger in Virginia Highland heeded Anna’s advice and looked up the Atlanta chicken rules:

I just checked our ordinances relating to chickens – we are allowed a maximum of 25 chickens, allowing 2 square feet of land per birds over 4 months of age.

Wondering about Decatur chickens? Your answer lies with the Oakhurst Community Garden! They offer a class on Chicks in the City – and even have an annual tour of chicken coops in Decatur by the same name. You can find a full list of classes on raising chickens and general animal husbandry on the NEW Oakhurst Community Garden website.

Who do you know that’s on an environmental mission and taking great strides to make Atlanta a more healthy, sustainable place to live? Cox Conserves Heroes is designed to recognize people in our communities “who create, preserve or enhance places for everyone to enjoy – parks, greenways, gardens, waterways, plazas, streets and public squares.” Through this award, the Trust for Public Land and WSB-TV hope to inspire neighbors to get more involved in their communities as well as to donate dollars to non-profits to help them accomplish their mission.

Here are more details on how to nominate someone for the Cox Conserves Heroes award:

Nominations are being accepted through August 20 at 5:00 p.m. To nominate an individual, visit www.wsbtv.com/community. (Eligible nominees cannot receive financial compensation for their conservation work.)

Following the nomination stage, the Cox Conserves Judging Circle, a group of local environmental and civic leaders, will select five finalists. The winning Hero, chosen by an online public vote, will be awarded $5,000 to donate to the environmental nonprofit of his or her choice. The four finalists will each receive $1,250 to donate to their nonprofits of choice.

Atlanta’s 2010 Cox Conserves Heroes Timeline:

• July 19 – August 20: Call for Nominations – Nominations accepted online. To nominate an individual, visit www.wsbtv.com/community.
• October 11 – November 8: Cast Your Vote – Videos of the finalists are posted and the public votes.
• Mid-November: Winner Announcement – Atlanta’s 2010 Cox Conserves Hero will be revealed.

This is the second year for Atlanta’s Cox Conserves Heroes program. Don Wells – an advocate for conserving and enjoying the open spaces of the North Georgia Mountains – was named Atlanta’s 2009 Cox Conserves Hero. As Wells’ environmental nonprofit of choice, Mountain Stewards received $5,000 that was used to build new public trails and connect students with nature through outdoor classrooms. The 2009 finalists were Angelou Ezeilo, Evonne Blythers, Doug Williams and R.R. Harris.

The Cox Conserves Heroes program was created through a partnership between The Trust for Public Land and Cox Enterprises, the parent company of Channel 2 WSB-TV, to honor everyday conservationists. The program also runs in New Orleans, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle. For more information, visit www.CoxConservesHeroes.com or find us on Facebook.

What are you doing on Tuesday, August 31st? Come out and support the Atlanta ToolBank and meet volunteers and employees of the ToolBank and associated non-profits! The Atlanta ToolBank is having a mixer at STATS near the CNN Center with free food, live music, and two free drinks!

• What: Toolapalooza 2010
• When: Tuesday, August 31st from 7 – 10 p.m.
• Where: STATS in downtown Atlanta, 300 Marietta Street, 30310 (by the Omni Hotel)
• How much: $20 gets you in and gets you two free drinks, food, and live music. Click here to order online!
• Bonus! You might win an iPad! You can purchase raffle tickets or, better yet, bring a pair of suede leather work gloves for a FREE raffle ticket and a chance for your very own iPad.

“What is the Atlanta ToolBank and why should I go?” The Atlanta ToolBank is a non-profit that supplies tools to other non-profits and organizations to help them work on project they wouldn’t otherwise have the resources to accomplish. Thanks to Gina, CJ, Patty, and the team, we’ve been able to borrow hundreds of dollars worth of tools to help clean the Atlanta BeltLine, install artists’ work for Art on the BeltLine, and more. So next time your organization has a charitable cause they’re working towards and need to borrow the tools to make it happen, visit the Atlanta ToolBank!

Today, Our Green Atlanta is featuring a guest blogger! As it turns out, my cousin Polly does very similar volunteer coordination work with Heifer International to the type of volunteer work that I do with the Atlanta BeltLine. Heifer International is an amazing, inspiring organization and you should read more about it right now:

In addition to being Jenny’s cousin (and therefore privy to all sorts of funny stories about her), I am the Area Volunteer Coordinator for a really amazing organization called Heifer Project International Jenny is letting me guest-blog because I believe that the followers of Our Green Atlanta would be interested in and passionate about the type of work that Heifer does.  If, after reading the scintillating summary below, you would like to learn more about Heifer or volunteering, please respond to this post, friend the Atlanta volunteer organization on Facebook (Heifer in Atlanta), or check out their website at www.heifer.org. This is the first of a series of blog entries focusing on the different aspects of Heifer’s work. Today’s blog will give a brief overview…

Heifer Project International (HPI) is a non-governmental, non-profit aid organization that was begun in 1944 with the goal of sustainable, long-term community development. Heifer is not a relief organization like the Red Cross; instead, HPI partners with community organizations and leadership to achieve long range goals of ecologically respectful economic growth. Heifer’s mission focuses on ending hunger, combating poverty and caring for the Earth via seven initiatives: agroecology, animal well-being, gender equity, HIV/AIDS awareness/assistance, microenterprise, urban agriculture, and youth programs. Heifer’s approach towards development equips individuals and communities with the training and resources necessary to obtain a sustainable source of food and income and manage that source in an ecologically appropriate manner. HPI offers 30 different kinds of livestock, trees, or seeds to project partners as they work towards long term, sustainable development.

Instead of a top-down approach, HPI is entirely a grass-roots organization.  All country staff are from the areas they serve, and to meet their goals of community development, Heifer partners with other, existing humanitarian groups – preferably indigenous to an area, but they will also partner with larger NGOs such as Save the Children – to achieve their goals. Heifer’s policy is to never tell communities what they need, but instead, to ask how they can be helpers as individuals reach their own goals.

Before the first gifts of livestock or seeds are given, Heifer will have already been in a community anywhere from 6 months to one year giving training and supporting the community as they develop the skills necessary to care for themselves and the gift they will be given. HPI considers this training process integral to long term project success/sustainability as well as goals of gender equity. Field staff offer training on everything from how to manage a business for individuals receiving microloans to what medications are needed to keep a hive of bees healthy. Once individuals receive a gift of life stock, seeds, microloan or training, they become responsible for passing on the gift (where an individual or community has to present to another individual or community something of the same value as they were already given – a flock of chicks, a pregnant cow, the same amount of money given in a microloan, etc.) This concept of passing on the gift is the most significant of Heifer’s twelve cornerstones.

These cornerstones are the framework guiding HPI’s practice and are the reasons that HPI is so protean, sustainable and successful. They are: passing on the gift, accountability (individuals and communities must reach self-established goals), sharing and caring, sustainability and self-reliance, improved animal management, nutrition and income, gender and family focus, genuine need and justice, improving the environment, full participation (of all family/community members, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, educational background, etc.), training and education, and spirituality (as appropriate to whichever group). HPI believes that these guiding structures provide the scaffolding to achieve socially just and economically appropriate development. Throughout the process, the goal is to leverage existing community knowledge and strengths while equipping individuals for advocacy by using the cornerstones above.

Heifer’s goal is to end their initial involvement with a community within 5 to 6 years. By that point, HPI hopes that their cornerstones have become community values so that community members will continue to pass on the gift long after they are gone. Heifer believes at this time that groups should be well versed in advocacy and that bonds committing communities to each other and to development should be well established. However, communities can re-apply for a different type of project help at the end of the first term. For example, in northern Honduras, a community that originally received gifts of livestock ten years ago has reapplied and is now working with microloans to establish a small, marketable milk and cheese business.

HPI began nearly seventy years ago with one man organizing the original donation of 16 cows to families in Puerto Rico. Today, 10.4 million families can trace improvements in their life to Heifer’s work as direct beneficiaries or recipients of a gift pass on. HPI runs nearly 900 projects in 28 U.S. states and 53 different countries.

Cash for Caulkers is on its way! Earlier this summer the House of Representatives passed the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010. The bill still needs to be approved by the Senate, but supporters predict it will be approved before the end of the summer.

In the meantime, homeowners need to “do their homework.” The bill offers two rebate programs and each one has unique requirements:

The Silver Star program provides a $1,000 rebate for each retrofit described in the bill. The maximum amount paid out will be $3,000 or 50% of the total cost, whichever is lower. For example, if a homeowner spends a total of $4,000 on eligible retrofits, they will get $2,000 or 50% back as a rebate. If they spend $8,000 on eligible retrofits, they would only receive $3,000 in rebates instead of $4,000 (which would be 50% of the cost).

To qualify for the Gold Star program, homeowners must reduce their total home energy consumption by 20%. A $3,000 rebate will be rewarded for this reduction. Homeowners can receive an additional $1,000 for each additional 5% reduction, up to a total rebate of $8,000 or 50% of the total retrofit cost. Rebates may be provided for any of the retrofits listed under the Silver Star program, or for any other energy-saving measure, including: home energy management systems, high-efficiency appliances, highly reflective roofing, awnings, canopies, and similar external fenestration (window) attachments, automatic boiler water temperature controllers, energy-efficient wood products, insulated vinyl siding, and mechanical air circulation and heat exchangers in a passive-solar home.

The Home Star bill also outlines 13 different types of retrofits eligible for funding. Again, each one has unique requirements and rebate amounts. Fortunately there are many online resources that provide details. For example, Estimating Software Advice has created an easy-to-read table that lists the 13 retrofits, along with their eligibility details:

Click here to continue reading their report! And thanks to Houston of Software Advice for sharing this. I’ve been thinking of some energy improvements I’d like to do to my house – maybe I’ll take care of those this fall!

Trees Atlanta is encouraging Atlanta residents to attend a training opportunity to expand and gain specialized knowledge about trees and tree care. The more people we have out there looking out for our urban forests, the better! And Trees Atlanta is one of the best organizations to make it happen.

The Trees Atlanta TreeKeepers Certification Program is Trees Atlanta’s volunteer training and certification program that applies skill, appreciation, and pride to the stewardship of our urban forest.  TreeKeepers consists of seven workshops, including indoor & outdoor activities, presentations, and engaging hands-on demonstrations.  Each three-hour session takes place at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, and is taught by Trees Atlanta staff or community tree professionals.  Upon completion of the program, which includes volunteering 24 hours to tree projects, graduates will receive an official TreeKeepers hat, a native tree, a training manual, and a signed TreeKeepers certificate, as well as opportunities to put their new knowledge into action.  Register now!

Training will take place on the following dates from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. with a light breakfast served beforehand: August 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, and September 11th, 18th, and 25th.  The cost is $65 and TreeKeepers will receive an official TreeKeepers hat, a manual, a native tree, and a signed certificate when they have volunteered 24 hours to tree projects, whether with Trees Atlanta or another organization.

To assist toward the completion of these hours, Trees Atlanta has regular planting, tree care, and forest restoration projects where TreeKeeper leadership is valued. Additionally, TreeKeepers may choose to work independently in their own community.

Don’t forget to register now! You can also contact Bethany at Trees Atlanta at 404-681-4898.

Thanks to Katherine for passing along the following information about a new way for families to get involved replanting trees in Atlanta:

I wanted to share info on a new social networking community for tree enthusiasts called The Grove (www.AmericanGrove.org/thegrove). The site launched this spring to encourage families to plant more trees in their neighborhoods, and we have our own community on the site – the Georgia Grove (http://www.americangrove.org/ga/).

The goal of the site is to inspire people to plant trees to counteract our shrinking urban tree canopy. The Grove helps potential tree planters get started by including a tree match tool that pairs tree meanings with life events — such as the birth of a child — or to honor the memory of a loved one. The site also shares tree care and planting tips and articles about sustainable living. Visitors to The Grove can even upload pictures with captions of trees they planted.

I hope this site can serve as a fun tool to help us keep Atlanta green.

Me, too!

Medlock Community Garden at the corner of Scott Circle and Willivee Drive celebrates its inaugural year - welcome to the neighborhood!

When Atlanta was hit with unprecedented rains last September, Burnt Fork Creek overflowed its banks and swallowed houses in my Decatur neighborhood. A few homes were beyond repair and turned over to FEMA. One of those houses is now the site of the Medlock Community Garden at the crossroads of Scott Circle and Willivee Drive. I’ve been driving by every day for the past few months watching the fence go up, the raised flower beds emerge, the mulch pile spread to cover ground, and a stunning array of vegetables and plants take root.

I stopped by on my bike some weeks ago and talked to one of the founders, who lives around the corner. She said that, once the neighborhood found out that the property had been acquired by FEMA, they started the process of asking to have the land for their own garden. As it turns out, the government would rather have the land in active use and adopted by the neighborhood than to stand as an empty lot, and so turned it over to Medlock Park residents who rent the plots out. Beyond that, I’m not sure how the administration of the garden is handled. Reservations went quickly and it wasn’t long before all of the spaces were taken. I guess that’s to be expected when you have an open, sunny lot in the middle a tree-filled neighborhood where sunlight peaks through the leaves!

I’ll keep you posted as I find out more about the garden – just wanted to share that Decatur has a new community garden! Neighbors are frequently there working on the garden, so stop by sometime and say hi. Oh, and Medlock Community Garden isn’t necessarily the official name yet – it was in flux when I went by – but is the most logical for the sake of conversation.

Last weekend, my boyfriend, extended family, and I went Georgia blueberry picking at Washington Farms about an hour outside of Atlanta. I went in with high hopes of walking away with a cooler of full of berries like we did with strawberries before, but alas, blueberries are more time consuming to pick (nevermind that they’re about a tenth the size of a strawberry). So each of us ended up walking away with a little less than one gallon each. Not enough to last me the year as I’d hoped, but certainly enough to make one cobbler a day for a week and still have some to spare.

Picking blueberries at Washington Farms on a bright July day (maybe sunscreen would have been a good idea)

Washington Farms is extremely easy to find and they give clear directions on their website from just about any direction you could be coming from. They have two farms (one in Watkinsville and one in Loganville) and you should call ahead of time to make sure they still have blueberries left (the season will be winding down). They also have strawberry picking in the spring and pumpkins and fun activities for kids in the fall.

After we left Washington Farms in Watkinsville, we went back to my cousin’s farm house to cook up some of the blueberries as well as feed the chickens…

They didn't get blueberries, but they seemed alright with their diet of bugs and feed

And pick tomatoes (only if they exceeded 5 pounds in weight)…

Caprese salad anyone?

Overall, this summer’s berry picking was a success and I’m looking forward to more blueberries and strawberries next year!

Within minutes of Farm Burger opening in Decatur, Zack turned to me and simultaneously declared his hunger and desire to try this new place that served hamburgers made with local beef (sourced in part from one of our frequent farms, White Oak Pastures). It took a few weeks, but we finally dined in recently, later on a Sunday evening after the crowds had died down.

My second time around at Farm Burger in Decatur, I just got the kid's meal for a pint-sized afternoon snack. That and my apple juice box hit the spot.

About a year and a half ago, I decided to cut down on (and then cut out) eating meat of unknown origins, and to stick to meat that came from sustainable farms in Georgia. I thought that it would essentially leave me a vegetarian, without claiming myself as such. However, places like Farm Burger make it easy to be a principled meat-eater – and with delicious burgers, too.

Burgers are made to order and you can choose a variety of your own toppings or pick from one of the house burgers with a savory combination of flavors. The decor is that of a southern home / barn with a picnic-table feel. I’m no food critic, but definitely wanted to share with you that these tasty burgers are worth a visit to Farm Burger – especially if you’re going for the more eco-friendly lifestyle. And for those that are true vegetarians, there is a veggie burger option, too!

For all the times I try to explain to people why grassfed beef is better, here is a great, quick synopsis from the Farm Burger website – “Why grassfed beef?”

Farm Burger also supports these other local and sustainable Georgia farms, including the following:

White Oak Pastures
Moore Family Farms (my CSA you’ve probably seen me write about)
Red Mule Grits
Riverview Farm
Sequatchie Cove
Woodland Gardens
Crystal Organics
Love is Love Farm
Enchanted Mountain Trout
Sparkman’s Dairy
Roots Farm
Backyard Harvest
Gum Creek Farm
Featherwise Farms

And check out these other sustainable burger joints around town (for the sustainable eater):

• Yeah! Burger (now open in White Provision on Atlanta’s west side)
• Farmstead 303 (now open in Decatur, too)

I just wanted to share this quick video from Moore Farms and Friends, a CSA (community supported agriculture) that delivers local Georgia produce and food to dozens of drop-off points around Atlanta each week. I’m going on my second year with them and am excited to get my box this week from Sawicki’s in Decatur. In addition to fresh food (and they have a wide range of dairy, meat, eggs, herbs, preserves, and more), the owners Will and Laurie will include recipes in their weekly newsletter with tips on how to cook items in that week’s box.

On Sunday, June 27th, Moore Farm and Friends members are invited to tour three farms as part of the Summer Farm Tour and Big Pig Roast. The tour is $25 per adult (kids 12 and under are free) and follows this schedule:

• 10 a.m. (EST) Udderly Cool Dairy Tour – Roopville, GA
• 11:45 a.m. (EST) Mt Gilead Farm Tour – Newell, AL
• 1 p.m. (EST) Moore Farms Tour and Big Pig Roast – Woodland, AL

Each ticket includes a meal (with vegetarian or omnivore options). The Big Pig Roast will feature chefs Steven Herman of Haven and Matt Swickerath of Valenza. (My stomach is already rumbling thinking of the last time Will Moore served as master of ceremonies for a pig roast from some of Atlanta’s top chefs… you’ll want to be there!)

You can find out more about Moore Farm and Friends, buy tickets, and sign up for their CSA service (you pay each week, so no long-term commitments, and you can join any time) on their website, www.MooreFarmsandFriends.com.

This past Saturday, Mason Mill Park officially broke ground on the renovation master plans for our new park. Not only is it exciting to have this Atlanta tennis landmark revamped and improved, but I’m definitely looking forward to the future bridge connecting the controversial PATH Foundation’s trail to Mason Mill Park – and to Emory and beyond. I have not been a fan of the PATH trail (connecting Medlock Park to Mason Mill Park) for several reasons (the destruction of pristine forest ranking high on the list), including the “path to nowhere” refrain that reverberated through our neighborhood. If PATH could connect the trail to places beyond two parks located only one mile apart, I could more easily get on board, but a few major roadblocks have stood in the way – one them being the CSX railroad tracks that the proposed bridge will now fly over, so I’m happier about that.

Here is the update I received from my Laurel Ridge yahoo group:

The county has officially selected a contractor for construction to improve the day-use area of Mason Mill Park (30033). The construction costs, not to exceed $2.1 million, will be funded by the county parks bond.

The improvements include a full-scale play area, new dog park, relocated parking spaces, and improved storm water management. The day-use construction is the first phase of a $7 million master plan for the entire park. To see the plans for the day-use area and the entire park, see links at the bottom. The plans reflect the consensus of county citizens at five public meetings from September 2008 to February 2010.

In conjunction with the day-use renovations, PATH has contracted for a path over the railroad tracks in Mason Mill Park in order to connect that park to Medlock Park.

I try to attend the Mason Mill meetings whenever possible, so I’ll be sure to keep you updated as I find out more.

To check out Mason Mill Park, visit 1340 McConnell Drive, Decatur 30033-3539. To stroll in the woods, continue on McConnell until it deadends into a gravel parking lot, where you can follow a walking trail into the woods, across the railroad tracks, across Burnt Fork Creek, and into the woods.

Looking for a summer event for young professionals that combines your love of Atlanta parks with your love for local SweetWater beer? Of course you are. Join fellow greenspace-lovers for Pints for Park Pride, a special event supporting Atlanta’s only nonprofit working with communities to improve parks all over Atlanta.

• When: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 from 6 – 9 p.m.
• Where: SweetWater Brewery at 195 Ottley Drive Atlanta, GA 30324
• How much: $21 (prices go up to $30 after June 14th)
• Sign me up: click here to RSVP

You can also view the PDF invite here. I’ll be out there and I’d love to meet you, so come out and say hi!

You can read more about Park Pride and their mission to green Atlanta on their website: www.parkpride.org. And become a fan on facebook at: www.facebook.com/parkpride!

Atlanta welcomed to the scene our newest sustainable restaurant in White Provision on the west side last night! “YEAH! Burger” will focus on locally-sourced meat (from White Oak Pastures – a favorite of Zack’s and mine), eco-friendly materials and practices, and organic foods with the ultimate goal of creating a zero waste zone. The trend of sustainable dining seems to be one that sticking, and one that I hope will become the norm in the near future.

Read on for the press release here and let me know what you think once you’ve had a chance to try it!

Oh yeah, BONUS! You know the car wash at the corner of Virginia and North Highland in the heart of Virginia Highland? That’s already slated for the next YEAH! Burger, opening this fall (thanks to my inside connection at work, who’s brother is one of the investors making this happen).

Shaun Doty to Launch YEAH! BURGER at White Provision in June 2010
Established local chef will open a 2,400-square-foot eco-friendly, fast-casual burger eatery in Atlanta’s Westside community

ATLANTA (May 25, 2010) – Leading real estate investment firm Jamestown announced today that celebrated Chef Shaun Doty of Shaun’s in Inman Park and entrepreneur Erik Maier will open YEAH! BURGER at White Provision, a restored mixed-use project that delivers distinctive restaurant space, condo units, retail, showroom and office space in Westside Atlanta. Opening on Thursday, June 10, the restaurant will feature customizable burgers made with White Oak Pastures grass-fed beef from South Georgia, nitrate-free hot dogs, hand-cut French fries, organic salads and Straus Family Creamery organic ice cream, all served in a comfortable “California casual” setting. YEAH! BURGER re-imagines the classic American burger joint as a fast-casual eatery with a strong commitment to real, all-natural ingredients and sustainability.

“We are proud to welcome YEAH! BURGER to White Provision. Shaun Doty is an Atlanta industry veteran who will further establish our community as a premier dining and shopping destination on the Westside,” said Chris Faussemagne, principal of White Provision Development Company. “Doty has embraced the story of White Provision as he developed his restaurant, and we are confident it will be an excellent addition to our vibrant, sustainable mixed-use district.”

As the newest restaurant addition to White Provision, Doty’s burger venture will become part of a thriving culinary community that includes rustic and casual dining from acclaimed Chefs Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison at Abattoir, local favorite West Egg Café and the neighborhood tavern Ormsby’s from restaurateur Warren Bruno. Just steps away, Bacchanalia, Quinones at Bacchanalia, Star Provisions and JCT. Kitchen & Bar, as well as the casual eateries FIGO Pasta and Taqueria del Sol, add to the local flavor at Westside Provisions District, a joint community combining White Provision and Westside Urban Market.

Doty is a nationally acclaimed chef recognized for his ingredient-driven cuisine, simple preparations and responsible environmental practices. His namesake restaurant, Shaun’s, opened in Atlanta in 2006 to numerous local and national accolades, including a spot on Esquire’s Best New Restaurants list in 2007. Located at 1168 Howell Mill Road at 14th Street, YEAH! BURGER will serve organic burgers, salads, shakes and more Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, visit www.yeahburger.com.

White Provision
White Provision is a distinctive, modern destination forming Midtown Atlanta’s gateway to the Westside neighborhood at the corner of 14th Street and Howell Mill Road. Under the direction of developers Chris Faussemagne, Mike Millett, and Michael Phillips, and leading asset acquisition and management firm Jamestown, this sophisticated mixed-use project delivers an artistic, upscale synergy among office space, 94 innovative and elegant condominium units, and highly desirable boutique retail, showroom and restaurant space. In transforming the Westside Atlanta community, White Provision cultivates a complementary mix of commercial tenants and residential buyers to create a natural extension of the neighborhood identity. With a dedication to aesthetics and authenticity, the team’s vision for White Provision centers on lasting quality, long-term value and a sense of community.

The sales center at White Provision, located at 1100 Howell Mill Road, is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be reached at 404.815.0460. Visit White Provision at 1170 Howell Mill Road or online at www.whiteprovision.com.

###

MEDIA CONTACT:
White Provision and Jamestown:
Kelly Spikes / Taylor Trepte
v. 404.888.9348
f. 404.888.9349
kspikes@thereynoldsgroupinc.com
taylor@thereynoldsgroupinc.com

YEAH! Burger and Chef Shaun Doty:
Melissa Libby & Associates
McCall Mastroianni
v. 404.816.3068
mccall@melissalibbypr.com

A few weeks ago, Chris Thorman, who blogs about rental property software, shared with me an article about the mix of green housing and the rental market, which I found to be especially intriguing as it is a goal of mine to own several eco-friendly investment properties (maybe by the time I’m 60, but who’s counting?). As hot topics go, sustainable housing has ranked high on the list of select real estate agencies, new housing construction companies, and corporate offices (think Earth Share and LEED certifications), but how many property managers have green rental homes?

Of the over 4,300 people who have earned the Green Designation, approximately 60 of them are property managers. Even though NAR’s Green Designation is only a 18-hour course, it can lay an important foundation in sustainability for property manager.

And how can green property management make a significant impact on our environment? Chris explains:

One of the main reasons why green property management is becoming increasingly important is the fact that buildings account for 50-80% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Many experts are pointing to reducing building greenhouse gas emissions as the most effective and least cost-prohibitive way to fight global warming.

In addition, there are approximately 300,000 property managers in the United States, managing over 90 million tenants. That’s nearly one-third of the U.S. population depending on another person to manage their building’s sustainability.

Instead of just one home owner responsible for greening one home, a property manager has the opportunity to engage many residents in the practices of sustainable living and reduce their carbon footprint through community-wide changes to properties.

Read the full article here: Ask your landlord about their green credentials.

Atlanta and Decatur, I would like to introduce you to the Kirkwood Community Garden and Urban Forest, a five-acre section of land that’s leaving behind its former life as an unofficial dumping ground. The garden itself is already carved out with raised flower beds and space for ample sunshine thanks to the Kirkwood Community Garden volunteers.

Kirkwood Community Garden and Urban Forest in Atlanta is breathing new life to an old dumping ground

Beyond the community garden, paths ramble into the Kirkwood Urban Forest, where dogs and owners enjoy evening walks. While the garden is gaining ground, the Kirkwood volunteers could use helping taming the wildness of these five acres. If you’re interested in clearing, gardening, building, meeting your neighbors, spending some time in the sun, please stop by the garden and ask how you can lend a hand! You can also contact the garden at kirkwood-community-garden+owner@googlegroups.com.

The Kirkwood Community Garden is located at 1807 Dixie Street, Atlanta, 30317 (map it!).

Kirkwood Community Garden volunteers of all ages are transforming this space and would love your help!

The Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons invites us to join them on June 26th, 2010 for a Lantern Parade as part of Art on the BeltLine from Irwin / Krog, up the BeltLine trail, to Park Tavern in Piedmont Park!

Looking for something to do the next full moon? What about a Lantern Parade with Art on the BeltLine and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons? I just received this from Chantelle, who is putting together this swaray as her performance piece – and she needs all of us.

The Latern Parade is on Saturday night, June 26, with a full moon rise at 9:15! What luck! We will have a tailgate line-up 8-9 at Irwin & Krog and step off at 9pm. We expect to arrive at Park Tavern around 10:30ish, where will tie the lanterns to the fence and have a cold one! We have 4 lantern-making workshops coming up. They are free and only a 30 minute to 2-hour time commitment. A lantern would be a lovely memento for anyone to have from the 1st ever Art on the BeltLine! But the Coleman in your garage works just fine, too.

All the info is here: www.gratefulgluttons.com.

After Zack's and my trip to LCCL Strawberry Farm in Rome, GA, we had so many buckets of strawberries, we almost filled up and entire (big) cooler

Wow – based on the overwhelming popularity of my Georgia strawberry picking post last year, I decided to do a quick update for 2010. Turns out, a LOT of people love strawberries and are out looking for berry picking in Atlanta and the surrounding areas. I just got a postcard from LCCL Strawberry Farm where we went last year and they are open for business! Here are a few Georgia strawberry picking spots (and please let me know which others you know of!):

1. LCCL Strawberry Farm  | 3743 Old Dalton Road, Rome, GA, 30165  |  Mon-Sat 8:30 a.m – 6 p.m. & Sun 1 – 5 p.m.  |  You might want to call ahead to make sure they still have fresh berries that day: 706.295.2587  |  visit the website for prices, directions, tips, etc.: www.LCCLStrawberryFarm.com |  Did I mention they also have homemade strawberry ice cream and homemade strawberry jam? Mmmm…
2. Washington Farms |  With two locations, you can’t miss out!  |  Mon – Sat 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. (closed Sundays)  |  You might want to call ahead just in case to make sure there are ripe berries to pick  |  Check the website for more info: www.washingtonfarms.net |  Oh yeah, they have blackberries and blueberries, too! And fun family activities throughout the warmer seasons.

• 5691 Hog Mountain Road (Hwy.53), Watkinsville, GA 30677  |  Phone: (706) 769-0627
• 270 Willowwind Drive, Loganville, GA 30052  |  Phone: (770) 554-8119

3. Calhoun Produce |  Call ahead for availability and hours!  They also have two locations:

• 5075 Hawpond Road, Ashburn, GA  |  229-273-1887
• 3649 U.S. Hwy 82, West Sylvester, Georgia  (Turner County)  |  229-777-0824

These are just three out of many in Georgia – enough to get you started hopefully. Don’t forget that strawberry season is typically from April until mid-June, so don’t wait! You can also find more places to pick-your-own of all fruit varieties online at www.pickyourown.org/GA.htm.

With Art on the BeltLine opening on June 5th, 2010 (in Gordon White Park – check art.beltline.org for calendar of events!), our artists are incredibly busy installing their works in these final two weekends. Next weekend, May 29-30, 2010 from 10 a.m. til 5 p.m., the Cabbagetown Artists’ Tribe will be putting the finishing touches on their piece, “The Pardoned Eden Garden,” and have sent along this call for volunteer assistance (check out the project’s progress on facebook):

It‘s time to install art on the Beltline!!!

Come be a part of the art! Help hang those beautiful, wild, and creative birds that you and your neighbors made. Give a hand to groom the grounds of The Pardoned Eden garden. Participate in placing the perfect punctuation to a community art project!

Saturday, May 29 and Sunday, May 30 from 10-5 behind the Depot on Memorial Drive.

Rakes, shovels, ladders, wire, and other knickknacks are appreciated. Woman power, man power, child power and everything-in-between power are needed!

It’ll be a party (with some of the fixins).

You do not have to be a resident to come help. You do not have to be an artist. You do not have to have made a bird or participated in this project before. ALL ARE WELCOME!

In case you haven’t heard, The Cabbagetown Artist Tribe was awarded the opportunity to contribute art to the Atlanta Beltline, which will be popping up around Atlanta this spring. It’s a community art project and your neighbors spent the last two weekends making beautiful and creative birds as part of the project. Now it’s time to install and complete the work. Come join and be a part of it!

I love a good Atlanta farmers’ market and love even more that we have so many great ones to choose from. At the beginning of May, the East Lake Farmers’ Market opened up for it’s May through October season, giving Atlanta’s east-siders another local food option. Here’s what the folks over at the East Lake Farmers’ Market (“ELF”) had to say:

Over 100 of you came to shop each week in 2009, helping us to redefine “Second & Hosea.” We plan to continue to bring positive activity and healthy things to this former high-crime corner.

And here are the details:

• What: East Lake Farmers Market
• When: Every Saturday from May through October from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Where: the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Hosea L Williams Dr, Atlanta, 30317 (map it!)