Where to Find Heritage, Free-Range, and Organic Turkeys

Posted on by Sacha Cohen

Heritage TurkeyThanksgiving is right around the corner. Do you know where your turkey is? If you haven’t already ordered a bird, there may still be time to get one that’s organic and/or locally-raised.

The advantages of ordering a non-commercial bird are plentiful: If it’s certified organic, you can rest assured that it wasn’t injected with antibiotics and has been fed organic feed.

Other types of birds–including free-range and pasturized–weren’t confined to cages or subjected to inhumane living conditions.

There are also Heritage turkeys, which are the ancestors of the common broad-breasted white industrial breed of turkey that account for almost all of the supermarket turkeys sold today. They dine on fresh grass and insects and lead relatively long, happy lives.

By buying a free-range, organic, or Heritage turkey, you’re not only getting a better bird, you’re supporting small local farmers.

Ready to order? Here are some local farms and shops where you can find a splendid turkey to be the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving celebration:

Ayshire Farm: Organic

Cibola Farms: Pasture-raised and heritage

Eastern Market: Locally raised

Let’s Meat on the Avenue: Free-range

Maple Lawn Farm: Free-range

MOMs Organic: Local free-range and organic free-range

Whole Foods: Organic and heritage, depending on location

YES! Organic: Organic and free-range, depending on location

Does the idea of a tough bird fill you with dread? To make sure your turkey turns out moist and tasty, consider brining it. Here’s an apple-brined turkey with herbs recipe from the Washington Post. Your friends and family will, um, gobble, gobble it up.

Green November Events

Posted on by Sacha Cohen

green drinkWhether you’re in the mood for a trunk show, book signing, or a big blowout party, November has it all.

First Thursday Happy Hour with Bethesda Green

When: November 5th, 5-7
Where: Redwood Restaurant

Join Bethesda Green for casual conversation and social networking at one of the new restaurants within Bethesda Lane.

Book Talk: Greening Your Small Business

When: November 14th, 1:00 pm
Where: Politics & Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave.

Jennifer Kaplan will discuss her new book, Greening Your Small Business. Her comprehensive guide is for companies too small to hire a consultant to help them go green. The book covers basics such as recycling, reducing waste and reducing the IT footprint, as well as considering wider concerns such as green marketing and communications, green business travel, and green employee benefits.

Goodwill Travelin’ Trunk Show

When: November 14th, 11am-2pm
Where: Greater Goods, 1626 U St. NW

Calling all fashionistas, designers, and eco-friendly shoppers! Goodwill of Greater Washington’s Travelin’ Trunk Show will be returning to Greater Goods with racks and racks of contemporary and vintage fashions along with donated fabrics and buttons. The charity will also be accepting donations of items that have outgrown your home (or closet). All proceeds from this event will support Goodwill’s mission to educate, train, employ, and place people with disabilities and disadvantages throughout the greater DC area.

Live Green’s Big Green Bash

When: November 19th, 6-8:30
Where: The Reef, 2446 18th St. NW

Join Live Green for delicious food, drink specials, and prizes at the Big Green Bash. Everyone who recruits at least three new Live Green members automatically receives a $20 gift certificate to Java Green or Sticky Fingers and is entered into a raffle to win other fab prizes like a flight anywhere in the continental US from Green Earth Travel. Get your tickets today.