Today we celebrate Earth Day. 45 years ago, environmental activists, politicians and communities banded together to rally against the deterioration of the environment. In this decade, we’ve begun to realize the impact of our environmental choices on our food: whether that’s how packaging is discarded, how livestock is raised, or how crops are grown. Make your mark on Earth Day three ways with meals, drinks, and classes.
Dine
782 Cheshire Bridge Road
404-347-9055
You may have seen Brasstown Beef on menus around the city. Woodfire Grill hosts a five-course dinner paired with a chat by owners Steve and Whit Whitmere as they share the story behind their third generation farm. Executive chef Matt Weinstein cooks entrees to highlight Brasstown Beef: smoked beef heart, braised short rib and porcini-crusted tenderloin are among the juicy jewels of beef to taste. Tickets are still available for the dinner and can be made by calling the restaurant. The evening begins at 6:30 with drinks, followed by dinner at 7 p.m.
1017 North Highland, 404-437-7845
1168 Howell Mill Road, 404-496-4393
Saving money is two-fold today: you won’t pay for gas, and you’ll get a free meal. Ride your bike to either YEAH! Burger location and receive an “All-American burger” (or entrée equivalent of $8.99 or less). The promotion is valid all day today, April 22. YEAH! Burger’s pasture to plate initiative reduces carbon emissions by using pasture-raised, grass-fed meats. And both of the restaurant facilities are “certified carbon neutral” by utilizing Energy Star appliances, and composting or recycling waste.
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Sip
The verdict is: Dave Matthews makes a quaffable wine that's equally eco-friendly. In addition to donating $500,000 to environmental organizations (think the Wilderness Society), the labels are made with 100 percent recycled kraft brown paper, the bottles are a quarter-pound lighter than traditional glass, and the Dreaming Tree winery is one of four wineries that implements solar panels for winemaking. Each bottle is $15, and with warm weather sip on the "Everyday" that blends varietals from the central coast of Monterey.
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Boxed water? Yup, and from Canadian springs too (True North Springs in the Notre Dame Bay.) Instead of plastic BPA bottles, the package is made of 74 percent cardboard and pressed paper. This water is a great option for spring and summer outdoor trips. When you finish drinking, you can pop off the cap and bury in the ground; the package decomposes in two to 24 months.
Learn
This week kicks off Emory Point’s Pop Up Wednesdays. The Homestead, Atlanta’s source for learning techniques such as creating medicinal herbs tonics and raising chickens, teaches you how to plant seedlings in a pot made from recycled newspaper- just in time for gardening season. Consider it an outdoor market where tasty food vendors like King of Pops, Pearson Farms and Urban Sprout share their goods with market-goers. Pop-up Wednesdays occurs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
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