Tag Archives: Maryland

Pilates Anywhere, Anytime!

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The benefits of Pilates are endless! From injury prevention and weight loss to core strength and rehabilitation, Pilates is the one exercise that everyone should be incorporating into their lives and exercise regimes. I know… “it’s too hard, too easy, not for me, only in shape people can do it, you see a pose and say there’s no way you can get your body to do that!” I’ve heard them all, believe me!

Pilates is a low impact exercise that can be done anywhere. In your home using a DVD, at the gym taking a class, in a Pilates studio taking a private session, on the road when you’re traveling, even in a park or on the beach!

Everyone from pregnant women and new mothers to professional athletes, dancers, and celebrities are taking advantage of the life changing results and health benefits of Pilates. And Pilates is for anyone and everyone, kids, teenagers, adults, and the elderly can all do it!

Pilates is perfect if you’re short on time, too busy to go to the gym, or always traveling. You can see results with just 15 minutes a day! Pilates can relieve chronic pain, boost your energy and mood, stretch tired and strained muscles, build core strength, tone muscles, and gain flexibility. The benefits are endless and you can be a beginner to advanced depending on your fitness level!

So with the warm, long days of summer just around the corner now is the perfect time to get out there and get some exercise. Why not give Pilates a try? You’ve got nothing to lose!

Want to get outside while you get your workout in?? Well now you can! If you live near Ocean City, Maryland or headed that way for vacation this summer come try “Pilates on the Beach!” Take personally instructed Pilates mat classes while you soak up the sun, sand, and salt air! Come check us out at www.pilatesonthebeachocmd.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BeachPilates. Hope to see you out there!

Join a CSA!

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There’s no better time than now to join a CSA! What is a CSA you ask, CSA stands for community supported agriculture. It’s the perfect way to support your local farmers, know where your food is coming from, save money and trips the grocery store, reduce your chemical intake and carbon footprint. How do they work? Search in your area for local farms or organic farms that offer a CSA program. You can usually choose small, medium, or large shares for your CSA. A small share will usually feed 2-3 people a week and a large should feed between 6-8 people. Everything is seasonal so remember, you won’t get tomatoes till at least July because of they’re growing season. Totally different then going to the grocery store and buying tomatoes shipped from Mexico. Those tasteless tomatoes are picked green and sent to the store while it ripens in the box. It’s know it’s hard to wait for these summer indulgences, but they are well worth the wait and it’s totally okay to overeat them all summer! So, as the seasons change and you move in to each growing season you will receive different fruits and vegetables in your basket each week for your CSA pick up/delivery.

This is also a great way to try new produce and new recipes. A CSA will usually last 20-24 weeks depending on what each farmer has decided to grow for the year. So remember in spring, you’ll most likely get lots of lettuces, greens, onions, peas, and root vegetables. Summer is everyone’s favorite, corn, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, beans etc. And fall is filled with squash, pumpkins, greens, beets, carrots, and turnips.

Even with the garden I grow every year, there are somethings I just don’t grow because they take up a lot of space like squash, corn, watermelons. So this year we decided to join a CSA and do a half share for the summer. It’ll give us fresh, organic produce that I don’t normally grow, on our table for 20 weeks for less than $13.75 a week. Can’t beat that! I’ll pick up my basket of fresh produce every week from a designated drop location and rush home completely excited to cook! It’s that simple! Less trips to the grocery store, plus I know I’m getting fresh, organic, local produce, it’s a no brain-er!

So… is it making you think maybe you should join a CSA this year? Here are a few local farmers that do have CSA’s. You can check out their websites, most of them are only taking applications till the end of the month so jump on the opportunity quick, time is running out!

  • Taylor’s Fresh Organics- My family decided to go with this farm this summer, after I met one of the farms head honchos a couple weeks ago. Their drop is right down the street? (They also travel over the bridge to the metropolitan areas as well as all over the Eastern Shore and lower Delaware.) I loved what they had to offer for the 20 weeks and its going to make my life so much easier, save me time and money, and I am supporting my local farmers. At $13 a week to feed 2-3 people, there was no decision to be made. If you do go with Taylor’s tell them I sent ya! :)
  • Greenbranch Farm- I love this farm! Located in Salisbury. They always have a large variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to choose from, as well as local honey, organic eggs, chicken, pork and so much more. Every time I’m in Salisbury. I run by their huge pole barn to stock up on as much as I can!
  • Provident Farm- Love these guys too! They’re my Berlin Farmers Market one stop shop every Friday! Their produce is delicious and gorgeous every week. I stock up on their leeks, kale, Swiss chard, and salad turnips this time of year!
  • The Good Farm-This farm is perfectly located to all us Berlin, Ocean Pines, Ocean City locals. You can find them right on 611. You can’t miss them on the left as you’re heading towards Assateague. They also offer egg shares as well as chicken/duck shares!

These are just a few local farms offering CSA’s to our local areas, be sure to check out there websites for more information and what they have to offer. Hope this information helps a little and maybe you’ll try a CSA this summer and see what all the hype is about! :)

National Nutrition Month!

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March is National Nutrition Month and with today being the first day of spring, there are so many reasons to celebrate! Hopefully old man winter is behind us, (even though he went pretty easy on most of the US this year) which means warmer weather, with that brings fresh fruits and vegetables, outdoor activities and exercise, and fresh air and sunshine.

There are so many reasons to celebrate National Nutrition Month, with obesity, diabetes, and chronic illness on the rise there is no better time than now to decide to get healthy. The Raw Food Institute reports, “…100 years ago, Americans consumed only 10 pounds of sugar a year, now the average American is consuming over 170 POUNDS of sugar a year.” I was dumb founded to hear those numbers. But the more I thought about what Americans are eating every day from lattes and pastries to fast foods and desserts, I guess it does make sense. It’s no wonder this country seems to constantly sick.

So, for the rest of the month why not decide to do something better for yourself. Choose to make better food choices and establish good eating habits. Try one meal a day to really make and effort to eat the entire meal completely thoughtful and nutritious and try it for week!The next week, try making good choices on all your lunches or all your snacking.

Commit yourself to get outside more and get more physical activity and exercise. It can be as simple as mowing the lawn or raking the leaves to walking for 20 minutes to swimming laps at your local pool. The old saying “if you don’t have your health, then you have nothing,” is true. You only get one body and one life! Make today the day you decide to take back your health. Choose to take better care of your family and yourself.

If you live in Maryland or near the Eastern Shore in Virginia and Delaware. Here are a couple extra sites to check out! They contain information on recipes, meet up groups and events for knowledge and information from local farmers, health, and non-profit organizations. Chop Chop Magazine or you can text Chop Chop to 43186 to get information via text from this magazine loaded with information by the state of Maryland or check out Slow Food Delmarva for upcoming events and meetings for the whole family.

Become a Locavore!

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So what is a “Locavore?” People are using this term and vowing to stand by what it means more and more these days .A Locavore is a person who represents or takes part in the growing local food movement. A revolution that seems to be taking this country by storm, people are finally getting fed up, taking a stand, and fighting back for what they belive in. Whether it’s about what our children and families are consuming, how factory farm animals are being treated and raised, or about the artificial preservatives and chemicals that are being put into our everyday foods. Americans want to know why this country has so much chronic disease, diabetes, obesity, and the stigma of being unhealthy. We need to look more at what we’re buying and consuming, even questioning the labels, and marketing ploys we put our trust in into. (But this is a whole other post. I’ll get off my soap box for now!) :)

Locavores are a collaborative effort to build more locally based, self-reliant or food economies,” states www.wikipedia.org. Or in other words people who are committed to eating food that is grown and produced within their local community or region. This usually means within 100 miles of your home or if you live in a more rural area up to 250 miles.

Locavores buy most of their products such as fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, fish, eggs, honey, and other products from their local farmers markets or by joining a CSA.(community supported agriculture) It also provides support to your local farmers and small businesses. Most local farmers will grow organic or use less chemicals on their farms, this reduces air, soil, and water pollution. Buying local also allows you to consume foods that are fresher, better tasting, and more nutritious. Instead of factory farm raised, smothered with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and also trucked for over thousands of miles to get to your grocery stores. Buying local allows you, the consumer to try new seasonal foods and less processed store-bought products.

Summer is finally here and in full force. there is no better time to visit your local farmer markets and stock up on all their incredible fruits and vegetables. You can even purchase home-made breads and baked good, preserves, skin care and beauty products, home-made gifts, fresh cuts flower, and unique annuals and perennials for your yard. I bought two perennial hibiscus plants 3 years ago and every summer I get so excited to see the giant pale pink and fuchsia blooms! It’s extra bonus because I know they’ll come back up and I don’t have to replant them! :)

If you live anywhere on the coast of Maryland or Delaware, here is a list of farmers markets for the local area that are open from now until late September to early October. Berlin’s farmers market stays open all year-long as well as Asbury’s Organic Farmers Market in Salisbury.

Worcester County:

  • Berlin- Open all year on Fridays 10-3, Wednesdays 2-6 during the summer
  • Ocean City- Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays 8-1
  • Pocomoke- Fridays and Saturdays starting at 8:00 am
  • Snow Hill-Tuesdays 2-6
  • Ocean Pines- Saturdays 8-12

Wicomico County:

  • Camden/Asbury Church- All Organic and Open all Year on Tuesdays 3-6 (This is a great one!)
  • Salisbury- Wednesdays and Saturdays 7-12

Delaware Beaches:

  • Fenwick-Mondays and Fridays 8-12
  • Bethany Beach-Sundays and Wednesdays 8-12
  • Rehoboth Beach-Tuesdays 12-4
  • Historic Lewes-MY FAVORITE! (We go at least once a month thru the summer-that’s about 80 miles from my house to go to this farmers market-but the trip is so worth it because it’s sooo good! They also have lots of events and festivals, fun for the whole family!) Saturdays-8-12
  • Selbyville-Saturdays 9-2
  • Millsboro Thursdays 8-12

I hope this post helps you find and support your local farmers markets, find healthier options for your families, while also saving you money, and trying new products and recipe ideas. Well, I’m off to my local market for fresh kale, salad turnips, and fresh cage-free eggs for the week. Happy Hunting and Enjoy!