new "dirty dozen" produce list released...

the newest version of the "dirty dozen" and "clean 15" lists have been issued. check them out and choose your produce accordingly. there's also a free app for iphones. more info at: http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/

EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce

Dirty Dozen

Buy these organic

1

Apples

2

Celery

3

Strawberries

4

Peaches

5

Spinach

6

Nectarines
– imported

7

Grapes – imported

8

Sweet bell peppers

9

Potatoes

10

Blueberries
– domestic

11

Lettuce

12

Kale/collard greens

Clean 15

Lowest in Pesticide

1

Onions

2

Sweet Corn

3

Pineapples

4

Avocado

5

Asparagus

6

Sweet peas

7

Mangoes

8

Eggplant

9

Cantaloupe
- domestic

10

Kiwi

11

Cabbage

12

Watermelon

13

Sweet potatoes

14

Grapefruit

15

Mushrooms

one of our (many) backyard gems...

there's a little park about two miles from our house called quail hollow ranch. i've been hearing about it for months now, but haven't had a chance to visit. today was a beautiful day for a hike, so off i went. it is hard to believe that we live in a place with some many amazing spots within five minutes of our house (and they are free!). we will definitely be going back to this gem...herons, wildflowers, lizards, turkeys all while quail and acorn woodpeckers were serenading me. perfect.

 great blue heron & owl clover

 turkey! (it even had little fluffy babies)

 rattle snake grass

 sticky monkey flower

western fence lizard (i think)

bush lupin