by admin | Jun 25, 2013 | Educator
Today we feature OWG guest blogger, Melodie Griffin, who is dedicated to fighting childhood obesity through her role as a Student Wellness Coordinator with UnitedHealthcare and as the Florida State Coordinator for Action for Healthy Kids. In both roles, she works through schools to encourage students to eat better and move more. All programs Melodie promotes are fully approved by her home based lab rats, five year old son, Howie, and two year old daughter, Hope. You can learn more about Melodie and follow her blog here. (more…)
by admin | Jun 12, 2013 | Grown Up
You’ve probably seen signs around your town or articles on the internet encouraging you to consider buying locally produced goods. In our busy world, it’s much easier to run the local supermarket and gather everything we need for a week rather than taking the time to visit local markets. At times, our budgets or lifestyles don’t allow us the luxury of buying local but if they do, here are a few reasons that you might want to take the whole family to to the market this summer:
- Meet local farmers – At most markets, you’ll meet men and women who are actually working on the farms or have part ownership in the land. They can give you insight into the produce and how it’s grown and tips for cooking produce that might be new to you.
- Samples – At most local markets, you’ll find everything from beekeepers who produce their own honey, to fresh salsas and jams, local yogurt and even some area farm-to-table restaurants. Often they’ll provide samples of their food. It’s a great way to get your kids to try new items.
- Entertainment – Beyond the people watching, these markets have live music, activities for children or even local artists displaying their work.
- Community – Because most farmer’s markets are set up within the local community, it’s a great time to connect with friends and neighbors.
Do you have a great farmer’s market in your community? We’d love to hear more.
by admin | Apr 24, 2013 | Grown Up
With it being National Garden Month, we thought it would be fun to share some ways that you can make gardening a family affair! Of course, when all of the adults are hard at work in the garden, even the youngest kids want to help as well. It’s easy to get nervous about their little feet stomping on tender plants or their little hands pulling something that wasn’t a weed, but we’ve found that they have a great time when we involve them and give them specific “jobs.” (more…)
by admin | Apr 19, 2013 | Grown Up
The theme for Earth Day 2013 is The Face of Climate Change, which was chosen to emphasize the rising impact of climate change on individuals, animals, and places around the world. On Monday April 22nd, people around the world will do their part to help protect the environment. What a great time to educate your kids on some of the simple things that can be done on a daily basis to make a positive impact. This year, make it a goal to celebrate Earth Day in your own way as a family.
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by admin | Apr 17, 2013 | Grown Up
Starting a community garden might sound a bit intimidating at first, but the name alone should offer some relief. Think of it as a fun way for you and your friends and neighbors (those you know and those you don’t) to work together towards a common goal. Not only will you reap the benefits of a bountiful and healthy harvest, but you can have fun in the process! While you may know nothing about gardening, it is likely that there will be some in the community who do have a green thumb; so through collaboration you can figure out what needs to be done in order to get it started. In fact, keep reading for 5 reasons to help you consider joining forces to create a community garden. (more…)
