Expo West 2011

This past weekend was the big natural products convention Expo West at the Anaheim Convention Center.  For 6 years, I have been braving the crowds, getting goodies and seeing lots of new items that will be making their way into you local natural/alt grocery store. Here are the my faves, tips and other things that I have noticed at the show (in addition to some items we will carry in the shop soon)!

FAVES:

• BEST OF SHOW: the Ecotensil: a biodegradable, foldable spoon that is seriously brilliant...already vendors at EW are using them. Mark my word, you will see this somewhere within the year.

• mushroom kits: you know i am all about the mushies in the Apartment Homestead...well they are now coming to our shop! In a few weeks you can buy your own mushroom growing kits!! Made from old coffee grounds and in recycled packaging, after you grow you mushies-the whole thing composts!  Give it a few weeks but they will be in the shop very soon.
• Fentimans: this soda company has FABULOUS "tonics" seville/mandarin orange or burdock/dandelion brews anyone??-very yummy!
• Dehydrators, yogurt makers and more: found a local carrier of cool dehydrators, soymilk makers and this cool grain/bean cooker...all coming soon!
• awesome kitchen gear: i found this incredible sponge maker AND we will be getting dehydrators, grain mills and cookers in the next few months-LOVED it!

• prickly pear juice: LOVED this and uber yummy.
• Fresh Ginger Ale: had a great talk with owner Bruce Cost who seems to be totally into all things ginger-i want his book!

TRENDS:

• love more culture: there was a great collection of products from Mexico as well as more Korean-grouped booths...lots of global!

• salts n/ spice: a number of salts of all different flavors (see a fave above) and more spices coming out.
• probiotics and more cultures: greek yogurt is happening along with kefir...i am sure there is more on the supplement area, but i didnt make it to that area.
• agave: you are going to see a lot of agave!
• *NEW* you are kind of an a$$: Giovanni Cosmetics-after watching a staff person give out a number of samples to an exhibitor, I asked if I (a buyer, who is a fan, recommends and buys from) could have a sample of something new or a shampoo (which I now USED TO LOVE). I basically had to give an interview deeming myself a small 2" sample. I left before i could get it. Sorry Giovanni, you just lost a fan-DOUCHES.

and finally, for those who want to go in 2012...

TIPS:

• if you can, take a taxi to the show, especially if you have a group of people. Meet somewhere where you have free parking or you can even meet at the parking next to our shop, we are SUPER close to the convention. you will save yourself waiting in massive traffic for parking, paying for parking and saving your feet because you will be doing lots of walking! if you split the cab with 3+ people, you spend about $10 round trip, less if you have more people.
• speaking of walking: this isn't a fashion show, leave the heels at home!
• the outer part of the convention (the booths against the walls and the first few isles/booths in) is where you will see the "new" people who are just starting out...lots of good stuff here. also....
• the lower level of the convention: is where you will see all the indie and really new peeps-VERY MUCH worth it.  

 other great finds:

(BEST BOOTH and ATTITUDE: Hugo Naturals )

(local chica Deanna with Simple Peace making a debut)

(at the same booth were this wooden ties)

(zero cal, vegan, gluten-free and shelf stabilized noodles)

we did it-part 2: Patchwork Long Beach-June 2010

on Monday, June 28th Nicole and i stood in the parking lot of the apartment homestead hugging each other.  although it was not like out hugs of youth when we would giggle and tickle and fall to the ground laughing, it was a "better than that" hug filled with inspiration, gratitude, exhaustion, appreciation and so much more (no tears...no tears, hold it together girl!!!!!)
after a back-breaking month of work we had just completed our 2nd Long Beach Patchwork event, where we saw RECORD crowds at Marine Park...at times, i took peeks at the seriously crowded walkways and i was kind of amazed...the event was more than a success.  what was even more amazing were the number of friends, strangers and vendors who simply came up to say, "thank you for doing this"... how completely gratifying and uplifting.

(Anarchy in the Garden- Adriana f-ing ROCKED her booth)

our dearest thanks to friends, sponsors and volunteers who have not only been vital to making a wonderful community event, but also for our growing friendship which is the best part of the job.

• We Love LB: we love you and look forward to many more events and times together-can you move to SA so we can hang out more often?? :)
• Anarchy in the Garden: had the best booth with gardening lectures, Adriana seriously brought her A-game!
• Makers League of LB: Heather and her hubs Eric had the 2nd best booth with DIY projects and some serious cuteness.
• food: Piaggio on Wheels, Tropical Shaved Ice and Fresh Fries were the nicest people and were rewarded with LONG lines for the entire day.
• volunteers: every single one of our volunteers are just great people-they are the work behind Patchwork so make sure you give them a big thank you when you see them during the holiday shows (they are wearing green aprons with Patchwork logos!)
• music: Deanna/Baby D really brought in the tunes, powered by solar, even with a hurting back :(
• City of LB: for working with us to have a great community event
• vendors: new and old-the support and help make Patchwork something that will "rock the kasbah" for more events to come (which we are planning so exciting holiday events already-cant wait!!)

here are some images of the day.

 

(cutest ever???-yeah i know!!!)

( Graham Street Press workin' it Patchwork-style!!)

(Bike valet-yes this is the only craft fair with bike valet in So-Cal-SUPER popular in LB)

(Shortnin Bread was incredible)

(Poster List-super nice and loved that he didnt need to drive far)

(Lana-the BEST-so great she is going to head the volunteers!)

(mas y mas crowds...)

Most of all: thank you to Niecy Nicole, a woman who is so much more than random. there is love that is more than words can say.

if you are wondering about more patchwork/craft fairs: i will be posting about more patch updates in the late Summer, for now- just relax and enjoy the warm weather!

we did it!-part 1: Patchwork Santa Ana-June 2010

boy oh boy did we have a crazy weekend. this past Sunday, we had the Santa Ana location of out beloved Patchwork event.
even though this is our 8th event, there are always some things that dont go, "perfect in my dreams" kind of way...might have to do with changes because our little dream has grown!
for this event we closed down Buffalo St which was next to our usual bi-parking lot sites...lemme just tell you, street closure is AWESOME: less heat from the pavement (black on the lots) and it looked 100 times better.
i have to say a uber-special shout out to City of Santa Ana & all the residents on Buffalo for making the closure smooth as butter-we thought it would never happen, but it did without the head/heartaches that we thought we would have.
BIT closing the street meant a different way do doing things: new maps, spacing, paperwork, staffing...a few long nights for both nicole and i were made to help make this latest event one of the best events yet! here are some images of things i noticed and loved.

(bike valet: it was a big hit!)

(solar powered music-YES!)

(new to the event: CSUF glassworks-totally gorg!)

(Risa came from SF with her AWESOME screen printed creations)

(Amorviejo, a local fave had a beautiful booth)

(grand central had a great photo set-up)

(still jealour of Makers League's sign-cute right?)

(Estasia of Wadada sportin' the classes and organic movement)

(Kelso Doesn't Dance-check out her little drawers!!!)

(Salvage Life-super cute stuff, she'll be in LB too!)

(i had to have at least 2 people helping-we were SLAMMED the whole day...thank you August and Lisa...i dont know what i would have done without them!)

(Evocal-love their wooden displays!)

(last but not least: Marge getting her photo at Bonnin Designs pet photo booth)

see you soon in Long Beach on JUNE 27th!!!!

Ed Begley and....Delilah Snell ????

well kind of.
for the past 3 years, i have had the honor of presenting at the Spring Garden Show at South Coast Plaza. the peeps at the show have really made an effort to show more green-minded people/topics and they have been super great...have to admit-it is pretty cool b/c i think other than Ed Begley, i think we are the only people who are not in the garden/design industry. i must be doing something right, b/c not only did they ask me back-but they want me to do another topic!

this year, i will be doing the following lecture:

Food Preservation-Making Food Last Longer After Harvesting

Delilah Snell, owner of The Road Less Traveled Store, a locally-based certified green business and Master Food Preserver will demonstrate the various methods of making food last longer after harvesting. Learn about the history of food preservation, cultural significance and how it celebrates flavor and tradition. Tasting samples will also be available as well.

if you are not sick of me already, come by (i might be wearing one of those microphone headsets-i hope not!). I will be speaking on Friday, April 23rd from 2:30-3:30.

the story of hanging out in Long Beach

earlier this week, i was in long beach doing a number of things with several of the new friends i have met over the past year who are doing some amazing things:

In the AM:
met some of the folks of Downtown LB to discuss the possibility of having our indie-craft fair in the Arts area...seems like a good fit and it naturally compliments the urban-type scenery that we have in Santa Ana...lots of old buildings and an eagerness of revival...it seems like it could fit.
This in no way would happen however without the work of community-movers-and-shakers We Love Long Beach. Founded and ran by Scott and his sister Robin Jones, this duo and their supporters, volunteers and board are truly making Long Beach a better place by connecting people and building a strong community...something that we need here in Santa Ana (hint-hint, wink-wink!). i have to admit that while sitting there talking of our ideas and ideals for making our homes/neighborhoods/community a better place i could not help but be inspired and so grateful for meeting each other...

For lunch:
i met with Robin and Scott part 2 and with another stellar LB person Adriana, founder of Anarchy In the Garden who is a woman on mission: to promote the world of gardening, punk-rock style...what were the 4 of us talking about?? Creating a Community Food Day for Long Beach. That's right- celebrating education, growing, community and the spirit that food can only bring for the masses! More to come on that...

(Adriana workin' her garden magic at last year's Patchwork Show in Long Beach)

In the afternoon:

I have heard of {open} and had been wanting to pay a visit, but as any small business owner knows, saying and "doing" are 2 totally different concepts-there is NEVER enough hours in the day nor days in the year that can allow you the time to do and meet who you want. at Patchwork LB, i made it a point to visit with the {open} peeps and what i found was a like-minded, spirited woman co-owner, Se' Reed who i immediately jelled with (pun!). After playing email tag for what seemed forever, we were finally able to meet and was able to visit this Long Beach fave destination-LOVED IT! this is truly a destination if you are in the area!

(an old-school {open} sign)

(se' talkin' books in the attic)

what did we talk about??? besides finding out that Se' and i have a cr*p-load in common and talking feverishly like old friends that had 2 hours to catch-up on 10 years lost, we also want to do few favorite classes in the LB at her space: and Foraged Foods and Preservation for Drinkers...excited about both of these events!!! below are some images from my visit.

(who would have thought i would find this treasure!)

(a fave for both of us-VONNEGUT- long live Cat's Cradle!!!)

(LOVE the artwork and displays here..everything is so special!)

needless to say i am thankful in my budding friendship with the several people i have come to know in Long Beach...to many great and fruitful endeavors! ...MORE TO COME!!!!

adventures with foraged foods

this past weekend, friend and naturalist Joel Robinson and I collaborated on our first Wild Edibles class at the store. Joel was responsible for the foraging and identification portion of the class and i discussed the preparation and made more of the time consuming items.
Hosting a class like this takes a lot of prep time before the students even come in-Joel spends hours foraging for certain plants, not only for identification, but in a quantity that can allow me to make a meal. on my end, i have to research recipes, prepare goods (aka the acorns!) and sample items before we actually make them.

(just a few of the items Joel harvested)

(Deb stopped by to visit and we put her to work smashing acorns!)

i have always wanted to know about foraged and wild foods personally-which is why i had contacted Joel for the class...but i really didn't know how other people would respond to eating acorns, chickweed, wild mustard and artichoke stalks-would people be interested in something like this?
the answer was an overwhelming YES...we had a terrific group of people who not only samples every item Joel brought but had a great time making their lunch (which by the way was terrific!). i even experimented in making a white sage jelly which turned out incredible (you will be seeing this available very soon). below are a few photos of the class.

(preparing salad greens: these ladies were having a blast!)

(another prep station-toasting red peppercorns to flavor some of our dishes)

(just a few of the items that we feasted on-everything was great!)

the event went so well that we have already scheduled another workshop for April 25th and are looking for a few more locations to teach-let me know if you want us to do one with you!

butterfly garden: 18 months later

almost a year and a half ago, we did a workshop at the store with Back to Natives Restoration, a non-profit that is, " is dedicated to the restoration and conservation of Orange County and California wildlands, through education and restoration".
the workshop, in the heat of summer, was the gutting of the horrible vine mess we had in the parking lot and replacing it with native, insect attracting plants that would use little water.

(what we started with-straight up nasty!)

when the blog first started, i posted about the growth of the little garden. This weekend, i went out to look at it again since we are having a workshop about native gardening & upkeep on March 6th...all of a sudden it hit me-dang this thing got huge!

(right after installation of the native butterfly garden, 18 months ago)

(can you even see the butterfly sign anymore!?)

Can you believe that i watered this only the first 4 weeks after it was planted-no joke! i havent touched it aside from taking sage leaves for food/gift wrap and cleaning out the little pieces of liter that blow into it from time to time.

fortunately the past month or so has been pretty wet in Southern CA, which i am thankful for (i am really terrified of the drought and the absolute ignorance of most of the population of it in this area). the rain has made the garden grow event more...to the point of needing a trim.

**MAINTAINING YOUR NATIVE GARDEN workshop will be held March 6th from 10-noon**