More For Your Market

The Kruth Talks: April 21

A scene from the Fayetteville
Farmer's Market in 2010.

The initial two weeks of the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market turned out nearly 5,000 attendees, according to the market manager Peggy Maringer. Two more divisions of the farmer’s market will open the first week of May. The Sunday morning farmers’ market at the Botanical Gardens (4703 N. Crossover Road) hosts up to 30 vendors offering fresh produce, handmade goods, flowers, eggs and more. The market will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Oct. 30.

The Mill District, located in the parking lot
next to Greenhouse Grille, will be open Thursdays from May 5 to Oct. 27. EBT/Food Stamps, WIC and senior vouchers gladly accepted. Musicians are encouraged to attend.

Earth Day

Friday is Earth Day. A day of volunteerism across the nation to pick up trash around public parks, pay your respects to the planet and grade yourself on common practices of conservation. There will be a special section printed in the April 22 editions of  Northwest Arkansas Newspapers called “Living Green.” Be sure to pick up your copy and learn about local events, companies and facts surrounding Earth Day.

Recycling, Naturally

Ozark Natural Foods is among the businesses in Fayetteville that have staff volunteer to bring used glass, aluminum and plastic to the city recycling drop-off.

Beyond the containers they have inside for their customers, they also have receptacles for battery recycling outside of their building. Pam Swafford, an employee at the store, estimated they take 250 pounds of batteries to the hazardous waste facility every month. All types of batteries are encouraged to be disposed of safely and Ozark Natural Foods provides this drop-off location to the public.

While there, be sure to check out renovations to the building — inside and out — as well as the bountiful supply of local produce and products carried by this co-operative shopping center. They have a great chart for showing what local produce is in-season and when on their website. Check it out: www.ozarknaturalfoods.com/about/produce-calendar.

To Cap It Off

If you have read my column before, you likely have heard my rant about how plastic bottles are recyclable yet not the caps. I decided to look into the matter and found a company that will allow you to send in small plastic bottle caps, which get turned into door mats. Apparently, they stay bright and impervious to weather elements.

I am certainly not the only one to realize that the caps, typically made out of No. 5 plastic, are just one illustration of how fast trash can pile up. Aveda, a company that promotes beauty and environmental leadership, started a cap collection program at schools. As of January 2011, they can no longer accept new schools into the program, having maxed out at 1,600 schools nationwide. I look forward to future cities and corporations leading by innovation and incorporating solutions into manufacturing processes.

Categories: Commentary, In The News