We made it on the front cover of Doral News!

Get your copy! We are on the front page and the article is on pages 10 & 11.

DFM's first radio interview on Actualidad 1020 AM

This Saturday, Carlos Abad and I visited the studios of Actualidad 1020 in Coral Gables. Radio show host Carlos Herradez conducts a news radio show about the city of Doral every Saturday from 1:00pm to 2:00pm. So, there we were, right on time! I thought we looked pretty funny, each of us with headphones on and a big foamy microphone right in front of our noses. There were lots of electronic equipment and we sat around a tall table with tall chairs while Carlos H. introduced the show and his guests. Carlos A. and and were both very nervous, and I'm sure you could tell if you listened to the show! I'm trying to get the recorded version so I can link it to this blog and you too can listen to it.
But, in spite of our jittery voices, radio host, and his producer Andreina made us feel right at home from the get go.
All along, radio listeners were calling and asking when and where the market would open. It was a very nice surprise that the phones kept ringing and Andreina kept giving out information.
It was really a neat experience. Carlos H. asked a few questions regarding how the idea came about. Some radio listeners were asking about solar energy and Carlos A. did a good job explaining the basics of solar panels.
See you all on Halloween day!

We'll be on the FRONT COVER!

Yes, Doral Farmers Market will be featured in the front cover of Ciudad Doral Newspaper in both English and Spanish versions! Look for it tomorrow all over the city of Doral. Enjoy!

We realized that Mansi and I did not have a picture together. So, here we are. It was improvised and the lighting was all wrong, but, I just wanted you to see who we are. -- more later.

We need your support on Oct. 14th.

CITY OF DORAL, FLORIDA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 at 1:00
p.m. the City of Doral City Council will hold a Council Zoning Meeting. The
Meeting will take place at the City of Doral, City Hall Council Chambers
located at 8300 N.W. 53rd Street, Suite 100, Doral, Florida 33166.

The City of Doral complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities
Act. Individuals with disabilities requiring special accommodations or assistance
should call the City of Doral at (305) 593-6725 of such need at least 24 hours (1
days) in advance.

Barbara Herrera
City Clerk, City of Doral

City of Pembroke Pines Farmers Market

Saturday, Mansi and I visited the first Farmers Market in the City of Pembroke Pines. The location was quite nice. Plenty of parking spaces and vendors were not crammed. It was laid out on each side of the sidewalks. We did not like the fact that the produce truck was right behind their booth and it was the first thing we saw as we entered the area. We did like the booth for kids to plant their seeds into egg carton containers. Brilliant idea to teach kids how to give life to this wonderful seed that will eventually bear fruit!
We counted about 120 cars in the parking lot. Not bad for a first day!
Overall they had a good vendor mix. Although, we would have like to see more fruits and vegetables. Natural teas, healing coffees, wonderful pasta, aromatic flavored olive oils, potted plants, hand made ornaments, jams, dips, jewelry, guacamole & salsas filled in the area with each individual's charm. We spent about one hour as the sun was getting strong and the humidity was elevated. Rain was inevitable and by the time we got home, it was indeed pouring.
We met some great people and had a good time in Pembroke Pines. Good luck to you Northern neighbors!

Free energy at the Home Show!

My father had free tickets to the Home Show in Miami Beach. So, we decided that it would be a good way to spend the afternoon. Unlike past Home Shows, I made sure my credit card were left behind so it would not turn out to be a very expensive "free" show.
In all honesty, I was disappointed. It was not as good as the shows in the past. I did not see anything that made me go wow. However, I did see at least 5-6 stalls that offered Solar Energy choices to heat up water or for the entire home. Unfortunately, the vendors were not very excited to talk to me. So, I just picked up some brochures to review at home.
Now Daniel from ArteZanos Inc has something to say. And, he actually spoke with me for a few minutes. He specializes in sustainable roofing systems. Check out http://www.artezanos.com/.
I had just read an article regarding rooftop gardens a few days ago. Something that I had not really pondered before. And, here it was, right in front of me... Wild stuff! But, it could really make a difference on your electrical bill and it would forever change the look of the community. I wonder if my HOA would go for this? No more pressure cleaning the roof tiles! :-)
Next year, I'll bring my credit card.

Stay healthy,
-- Andrea

A "rare" trip for your taste buds

Last night, my husband and children attended the Rare Fruit Council’s meeting (http://tropicalfruitnews.org/) held at the Miami Museum of Science (http://www.miamisci.org/index.html).
Not knowing what to expect, we showed up a little early and were greeted by some amicable folks. Immediately, they offered to try their rare fruits. Soon, people continued to pour in, and before we knew it, there was a vast display of colors, textures and smells that as I had never seen before. My kids went straight for the fresh strawberries! I ventured to try the guanabana and passion fruit, and was that a delightful shock to my taste buds! My husband loved the mango pie. We saved all the seeds so we can start some plants.
Unfortunately, I had to take my kids to do a diaper change and 2 minutes into it, the meeting got started. Thanks to my husband and his impromptu Toastmasters skills, he was able to make the announcement of our existence as a Farmers Market. By the time I got back, the meeting was well underway. I passed out some flyers and vendor applications, and then enjoyed the presentation by Lynda LaRocca on Brazil’s Pantanal’s and is flora & some fauna.
Lynda projected very interesting and inviting images of the Pantanal. I was impressed with the enormity of the country’s savanna and the beautiful and ever changing display of various plants and flowers. The blue skipper was a rare find, and Lynda captured a beautiful image on her first few days there.
As a child, fruit was always abundant in my house. We always had a basket full of apples, pears, oranges, bananas, plums, and in the summer, it was a treat to have watermelon and melons as well as pineapple and peaches. But, if you really want to challenge your senses, attend the next meeting on September 9th. I look forward to it. This time, my husband will be in charge of potty duty so I can do a short presentation on the Doral Farmers Market! J

Redlands 2nd Visit

Last Saturday we loaded up the family and made our way down to Homestead/Redlands area once again. We had a list of addresses to visit. But, first we stopped at El Taco Toro (http://miami.citysearch.com/profile/2455056/homestead_fl/el_toro_taco.html) for some authentic Mexican lunch. Food was great, way too much for one person to handle! The chili con queso was more like queso con chili, and it was as fat as it sounds… tasted great! The ambiance was just right… not too formal, but very nice and comfortable. The staff was friendly and accommodating. The prices were decent, but I hear there are better prices for good food out there too. We’ll have to try out other places in our next adventure.
My parents, Aldo & Maria Elena had lunch with us and then headed home. The heat was almost unbearable. Mansi and my husband were true troopers. Our kids were great too! We were on a quest to meet some farmers and make some friends. And, we certainly did!
After lunch, we headed out to Robert is Here (http://www.robertishere.com/) so the kids could spend some time in the petting zoo. It was extremely hot. But, the boys loved it. Romir was in heaven! We left some flyers with Robert. We found a guy across the street from the fruit stand selling interesting art, blankets and artifacts. So, Mansi approached him and got his information.
Then we visited Farmer Bob (http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M26409), who was ready with his application all filled out and handed it to us. Mansi bought a pound of longams for snacking on the way home.
The next stop was at our very own winery http://www.schneblywinery.com/ . By then, Romir was asleep. Everett & Nathan were still up and excited. We tried 5 different wines and ended up buying a case! Lychee and sweet avocado were my favorite.
We continued our journey to the Fruit & Spice park hoping form some more information. We managed to get a list of the areas fruit growers. And, Mansi will be contacting everyone soon.
It was getting late and the heat was really getting to us. So, we decided to make Whitneys (http://www.redlandriot.com/Whitneys.html) our last stop. And, just meeting these very enthusiastic, wonderful people was worth our trip. By now, Everett & Nathan were asleep in the car, so we parked under a huge avocado tree and Matt stayed with them in the car. Romir was checking out the local fruits. Mansi and I got a delicious smoothie. The mango smoothie was as fresh as you can get. Mine was passion fruit and it was absolutely delightful. I shared mine with Matt who had dozed off in the car. Chris and Glenn made us feel right at home. They had great ideas and they committed to participating in our Market. They have a perfect setup out there: nice comfortable & shady chairs, big fans that not only blow off the heat but also the mosquitoes, well laid out display of fruits and friendly owners and staff. They will bring fruits and vegetables as well as jams, pasta sauces and home made products from all the produce & fruits they grow themselves. Some organic, some conventional, it all looked just wonderful. We tried their guacamole with goat cheese and pistachios dip. Very interesting flavor with a hint of spice. Loved it! The mango bread was heavenly and the warm garlic rolls were just what we needed to make our way back home. Whitney’s just was an inviting place to just “hang out” and beat the summer heat.
Thanks to our husbands and kids for putting up with our crazy ideas. Overall, a fun Saturday! More news to come… keep checking this blog and facebook for updates.

Blueprints are ready

Carlos finished the plans for the Market. It looks awesome and really... well... the location is just perfect! We are very excited and should be able to submit the application to the City within the next couple of weeks. Thank you Carlos!
It's amazing how it all falls into place. We've got more and more vendors... and variety: Organic produce, conventional produce & fruits, flowers, natural jewelry, natural soaps, hoping for home-made ice cream made with local fruits, rare flowers, and of course, water!
Mansi has been hitting the phones and contacting every farm related person that we can get a hold off...Andrea has been figuring out the permits and licensing requirements. October 31st seems like a long time away, but it really is just around the corner.