greetings garden family & friends,

another year and my how we have grown! The 3rd Annual Collard Green Cook-Off and Wellness Expo was our best ever, with over 250 in attendance and tremendous support from community members, community businesses, health organizations and restaurants. 

there were massages, yoga, health counseling, credit counseling, live music, art, art vendors and spoken word artistry like you’ve never heard before.

there were collard greens, corn bread, yams, okra  our famous WE TEA and…

MO’ GREENS if you please!

for the youth we had face painting, pumpkin carving, storytelling and garden games.

all this ‘FOR FREE’!

all I can say is, “shoulda’ been there cause i just cain’t tell ya!”

we love growing food…we love growing community…and

this is why we garden:

to eat. to live. to work. to play. to laugh. to love. to give.

SPECIAL THANKS to our 2011 Collard Green Cook-Off Sponsors

Music:

Asha Binta

Equanimity Sounds -  DJ  Tommy Fluker, DJ Ray, DJ Omari

Malik Cox

The Eclectics (Brother Leslie & friends)

Spoken word by Real Life Poets





Kids' art activities by Shekere Making of Real Life Poets

Face painting by Willowmina

Pumpkin carving by UAB Volunteers 

Local artists:

Quilts and aprons by House of Gwen - Gwen Wallace

Paintings and murals by Christopher Andrews





Chair yoga demos by India Henson Yoga

Massage by Tiffani Billups and Staci Fluker - Touch by an Angel (Staci, below, was our Cook-Off winner!)

Herbal health by Golden Temple

Financial health by BB&T Bank Bus

Physical activity:



The Walking Schoolbus Crew - United Way of Central Alabama, Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities and Birmingham City Schools

YMCA  - Western Area

Bethesda Family Life Center - Salestia Robinson

Last (but not least) - the FOOD!

Produce donated by Kristie Waters, Adams Produce 

Collard Greens donated by Maurice Bothwell, Finley Avenue Farmer's Market  

Cornbread by Chris Dupont, Cafe Dupont              

Peas by Cliff and Maureen Holt,  Little Savannah   

Collard Green Quiche by Corey Hinkel, Mix Restaurant               

Garden cooking demo and vegan cornbread by Thyme Randall, The Underground Cooking Academy

Raw Food demo by Sage Wellness & Lifestyle - Sandra Everette

Cook Pots donated by Melissa Ramey - BRESCO, Inc.



of course, we cannot forget our tremendous volunteers...



and finally, the judges!

peace

&

ENDLESS gratitude

from the fields

ama