Hi Everybody,

I am hesitant to allow myself the excitement of feeling like Spring is around the corner, even though yesterday was 58 degrees, and we turned the clocks ahead! Is it true we are supposed to get more snow this weekend? I am aching to get outside and turn my soil, and frankly, I have had enough snow this winter to last a lifetime!
This was such a great weekend! I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the TEDx Manhattan event on Saturday at the Times Center, and was blown away by the many excellent talks and inspirational people!? Tom Colicchio opened up the day, followed by Danny Meyer, sharing his story and the new trend of fine quality dining merging with casual dining. The convergence of people seeking high quality foods in a more casual environment and at a more affordable price, is helping to push the food system towards more sustainable products, and drive the market in a positive direction. We heard from Anin Steel on his Real Food Challenge, Ali Partovi on investing in the future of food and sustainable agricultural projects, and Stephen Reily on expanding the local food movement in Kentucky. We finished the morning line-up of speakers with Michelle Merkel’s enlightening talk on the corrupt practices of the EPA (her former employer) and the great work she is now able to do as the co-director of Food and Water Justice, the legal arm of Food and Water Watch. It was a very moving talk, and set the stage for lots of interesting discussions during out delicious lunch, which was provided by Mary Cleaver and her green catering company, The Cleaver Company.
The afternoon was equally inspiring, starting with Deb Eschmeyer, the new Executive Director of the White House’s Let’s Move Campaign, and a passionate advocate of connecting kids with healthy food. Hopefully, her influence will help to reinstate the Healthy School Lunch Program that Congress just cut! Next came Stefanie Sacks, author and nutritionist, encouraging everyone to get back into the kitchen and start cooking with your kids, followed by Dr. Robert Graham, the Director of Integrative Health at Lenox Hill Hospital. Dr. Graham has started the first program to teach doctors how to cook healthy foods, so they can model that for their patients. He shared with us a quote by Wendell Berry that I just love;
?People are fed by the food industry, which pays no attention to health, and are treated by the health industry, which pays no attention to food.?? This is so true, and it is so ridiculous. It makes no sense! Turning doctors on to cooking healthy foods is a great beginning, and will help to turn this around! The next speaker was Marcel Van Ooyen from GrowNYC, expanding programs to bring healthy foods into low income areas, followed by Joel Berg, the Executive Director of the NYC Coalition Against Hunger and then Dana Cowin, Food and Wine’s Editor in Chief.? The second session ended with a TEDx Award presented to Stephen Ritz, an amazing teacher from the South Bronx, the Founder of the Green Bronx Machine, and the keynote speaker to the upcoming Long Island Food Conference. We were entertained by DJ Caverm Moetavation and Alkemia Earth, the only eco-hip hop artists, vegan chefs and educators I know! Their music inspires young people to think about their food, to grow food, and to make better choices.? During the break, many brave souls tried the Bitty Foods, cricket cookies, but I couldn’t cross the line, and stayed with the vegetarian options.
The last session of the day looked more towards the future, with the first speaker being the photographer Henry Hargreaves, sharing his documentations of food and people’s relation to it. Next came my new friend, Shen Tong, Founder of FOOD-X, a food accelerator organization, and Kendra Kimbirauskas, an anti-factory farm advocate and the CEO of SRAP (Socially Responsible Agricultural Project.) Danielle Nierenberg, Founder of Food Tank, shared with us her knowledge of the many amazing projects going on around the world in agriculture, and how women are leading the way, yet they lack in funding and support. So much of her work is helping the women get the support they need. The last speaker of the day, Nikiko Masumoto, brought the house down, with her recitation of her poem, Field of Dreams. You MUST have a listen!
Click here for a link to the TEDx Manhattan speakers. Don’t miss it!

In celebration of International Women’s Day (March 8th) I am going to a screening of the documentary film, Arise, tonight (Wednesday, March 11th) at NYC’s Impact Hub. It is an award winning film about extraordinary women around the world who are working to heal the injustices against the earth. It is a free screening, and there might still be tickets, if you are interested in joining us.

My guest this week on the Progressive Radio Network is Joe Chierchie, the Beer Event Manager at Starfish Junction and a promoter of the craft beer movement. Please join me on Thursday to learn more about the craft beer movement, and how it is growing on Long Island and nationwide.

Remember, my show is recorded live, every Thursday, from 10-11 am, EST.? To tune in, navigate to?PRN.fm?and click the ?Listen Live? button on the left. Also try downloading the?PRN mobile app, and take the station with you wherever you go! If you want to call in during the show with any questions for me or my guest, the call in number is 888-874-4888.

If you can?t tune in at that time, you can listen to the show in the?PRN archives,?or on my website, or through iTunes. You can also access the show by calling in to?The Progressive Radio Network?at 619-550-0869. Please ?like??iEat Green?s Facebook page?and feel free to?rate the show and leave comments on iTunes and on my website. Thank you all for your support.

With love and gratitude,

Bhavani