Silver Diner, a restaurant chain serving Virginia and Maryland, recently decided to offer “fresh and local” food. When I heard this I excitedly ventured out to our closest diner with a group of colleagues. We were ready for some good old fashioned home cooking and jukebox heroes (yes they do have them!). Trouble was not far away though…
The first thing one notices at the new Silver Diner are the advertisements all over the diner for the new local food. The host and server make sure to mention it. The menus …

A seasonal food guide for the Capitol Foodshed which includes DC, Baltimore, Arlington, and Northern Virginia. A full list (pdf) is available from FreshFarm Markets.
Vegetables
Spring
Asparagus, Beets, Greens (Collard, Spinach, Chard, Kale), Mushrooms, Onions, Radishes/Turnips, Squash
Summer
Artichokes, Green/Lima Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Greens (Collard, Chard, Kale, Spinach), Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic/Onions, Peppers, Potatoes, Radishes/Turnips, Squash, Sweet Potatoes
Autumn
Artichokes, Green/Lima Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Greens (Collard, Chard, Kale, Spinach), Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic/Onions, Mushrooms, Peppers, Potatoes, Radishes/Turnips, Squash, Sweet Potatoes
Winter
Greens (Kale, Spinach), Squash – Dec Only: Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Greens (Collard), Garlic, Peppers, Radishes/Turnips
Fruits
Spring
Apples, Strawberries
Summer
Jun: Cherries, Berries (rasp, …

Here is a food claim may shock you.
Farmers markets offer food that is three times better for you than supermarkets.
A study published in September 2007 by the Organic Center discovered this startling fact after looking into our modern food system. They had a theory that food has changed since the 1950s, before the industrial food revolution. To test this they gathered seeds from the 1950s and today, grew them to harvest, and compared their nutrient values.
In nearly every category our modern food was lacking. The study gets complicated and covers …

We love our DC farmers markets. We love our VA farmers markets.
Here in the DC metro area we have an incredible amount of markets (among highest in people/markets ratio). There are multiple markets every day (except Monday) and they are open during your lunch break or in the evenings.
To help you find all these markets A Clean Life offers a brochure (link below) listing them by day/hour/metro.
Lower on the page you will find a comprehensive list of all markets in the DC metro region.
pdf of brochure for download —-  …

I’m proud to announce a new feature!
With Washington, DC’s burgeoning local food movement, more and more restaurants are offering seasonal fare from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and yeah, sometimes West Virginia.
While local offerings at becoming increasingly popular, there are still hurdles. Wine is a foregone conclusion (there are local wines?), asking where food comes from is considered rude (it’s a just a carrot, ok!), and trying to leave without a piece of styrofoam…good luck with that.
It is such an incredible experience that Amy and I are hooked. We’ll be visiting all …

My baby girl challenged me to post my spending habits. Below are all of my purchases for as far back as I can grab. It reflects money spent on only fresh local food since June 1, 2009. Before that it is a mix of grocery stores, whole foods, 7 Eleven, and others.
The point of this is to show that fresh local food is not expensive. I even find it less expensive!
Should you want to try this too remember, like anything in life, it is a process. It’s taken me years …

For the very first post of this blog, which is also the mouthpiece for the nonprofit, A Clean Life, I thought it would be nice to write a little note about why I am doing this.
As an introduction…my name is Steven Mandzik and I want to be a trashman.  I am here with a simple vision:
I want to change the way America deals with trash.
I believe we have a true opportunity to effect change over the next few years. I pledge myself to this vision. Further, I believe in transparency, …