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April/May 2009 - Back to the Basics
 Released April 15, 2009

How often is it that you actually see a chef in the garden? Through Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA), Whitestone Farm grows it and 61 Main loads it onto your plate -- fresh from Russell and Kristina Cutts’ farm, with loving preparation by chef Jenna Schreiber. 400 Edition applauds their efforts to go back to the basics of fresh, local products provided in an earth-friendly way.

Whitestone Farm provides garden favorites like mesclun salad, tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, peppers, carrots, winter greens, and such. They cultivate indigenous plants such as Jerusalem artichoke, blackberries, blueberries, mushrooms, woods-violet and wood-sorrel. Naturalized mus**** and lambsquarters grow alongside starts of spinach, tatsoi, beets, and cabbage. Their herbs are predominantly heirloom varieties such as garlic chives, Egyptian walking onions, lemon thyme, and chocolate mint. Annual membership in the CSA is $50.00 and members get 10% off of all marked products. A visit to the Whitestone Farm Stand just north of Jasper on Highway 515 is well worth the trip. See their web site, www.whitestonefarm.biz, for directions and more information.

As much fun as the farm experience is, one of 400 Edition’s favorite ways to enjoy these fresh products is by ordering them at 61 Main in historic downtown Jasper. 61 Main ’s 100% commitment to the concept of farm-to-table is inspiring, especially since they serve it up in such a tasty fashion. If you haven’t eaten there yet, we can’t wait for you to see how delightful fresh-from-the-farm dining can be. You can read all about our recent dining experience in Good Eating on page 23. See www.61Main.com to get more information about Jenna and her team.

This month’s issue provides other examples of folks who are keeping things simple. No need for shrink wrap, or packaging that requires a chainsaw for removal. By sticking with the basics, we consume only what is necessary and support local suppliers.

Don’t hold back; tell us how you really feel about 400 Edition. We love receiving feedback from our readers and advertisers. Call us at 706-867-6455, toll free at 866-867-7557, or send an email to info@400edition.com.

 

10/15/2008 - Angela Mitchell

According to the 2007 "F as in Fat" report put out by the Trust for America's Health, more than one in four Georgians are obese, with the peach (pie) state ranking 14th fattest in the nation.
But for Pickens, with three brand new health-conscious businesses now open in downtown Jasper (and one well-established health food store, Life is Good off of Cove Road), folks who want to change their sordid deep-fried pasts now have a nearer chance at success.
"I had a lady come into my store the other day," said Sandy Gerhardt, owner of the freshly opened Natural Market Place on Main Street, "and she said, 'You know, Jasper isn't as homogeneous as people think it is.'"
Gerhardt's customer, who was commenting on Main Street's all-organic addition, touched on an interesting point. Pickens County, a safe haven for southern yummies like biscuits and gravy and even pork skins, is also attractive nesting grounds for the organically minded sprout-asaurus and adventurous buckwheat eaters.
There's a small rural town in western Wales called Machenllyth. It is strikingly similar to Jasper -- just subtract the chain stores and restaurants and add sheep and pubs. The town even has a slate quarry nearby, Llwyngwern, and a weekly farmers' market on Wednesdays.
But unlike Jasper, Machenllyth is home to the Center for Alternative Technology, Europe's leading eco-center dedicated to researching sustainable energy sources. According to the center's website, this alt-tech ground zero began there 30 years ago as nothing more than a "community dedicated to eco-friendly principles," a philosophy that seems to be gaining strength now in our own "First Mountain City."
Simply put, earthy places like Pickens and west Wales attract earthy people. And earthy people typically practice and promote ideals and actions good for their bodies and good for the environment.
Continued on page 20A
61 Main, the new restaurant in a building that just a few weeks ago housed the successful Three Sisters restaurant, now has photographs of fresh veggies, a wild rabbit and bright green grass framed in reclaimed barn wood on the back wall. All that makes a pleasantly overt statement about owner/chef Jenna Schreiber's mission: keeping her food as seasonal, as organic, and as local as possible.
"We are going to make a weekly trip to the farmers market and rotate our menu with what's in season," Schreiber said. She said she will be purchasing the bulk of her produce from Whitestone Farms in Talking Rock and will be using a special, signature blend from local coffee roasters, Foggy Hollow Coffee. And she'll be seeking out whatever other suitable local food products she can get her hands on, Schreiber indicated.
This means that beyond merely offering Pickens' residents healthy alternatives for eating and living, the county's multiple salubrious pursuits are also strengthening our community and bringing its health-conscious, organic undercurrents bubbling to the surface.
What's more, each offers something unique and dovetails with the others in such a way that we can use them in tandem rather than on an either/or basis.
For example, Shake Healthy, the nutritional club now located downtown, is a good place to stop if you don't have time to eat at 61 Main or cook at home with items from the Natural Market Place, but just need a little something to get you through the day.
Owner Colleen Collins blends meal-replacement shakes in the store, and if you do have a little extra time and are looking to whittle off a few (or several) pounds, you can pay $1 more and get a body consultation and a green tea to help you on your way.
Just because we live where soul food dominates, doesn't mean (as the "F as in Fat" report said) that a quarter of us Georgians have to be more rolly than pole-y. And just because there isn't a Whole Foods around here for 50 miles, those of us interested in non-irradiated grains don't have to settle for less anymore.
So here's a little thumbprint of each new toxin-fighting, gut-busting establishment, all oh-so-conveniently located within a mile of one another.
(Just don't forget about Life is Good Health Food Store which offers local produce for purchase, massages by Sunny, plus lots of wares and fare from local craftsmen and farmers, and even has it's own deli, Dreama, that uses all organic and/or local ingredients).

Natural Market Place

What It Is -- A well-stocked grocer of all-natural, all-organic foods (including frozen veggies and microwave meals), herbs, vitamins, non-irradiated bulk grains, nuts and teas, spices, cleaning supplies, animal care, books, beauty care, and a huge selection of wheat/gluten free products.
No kidding. It's a full-fledged natural grocery store without the produce.
Where it is -- 69 N. Main Street, Jasper.

Philosophy - Helping people change their mindset about eating and living in a way that is good for their body and soul. "I am a big believer in positive thinking," Gerhardt said, who also feels that changing poor habits slowly results in long term, rather than short term, results.
And according to the website, it is a place "where heart-centered individuals find community."
Why you should go -- Owner Sandy has been in the natural food business for over 10 years and truly practices what she preaches. Combined, she and her husband David are a veritable treasure trove of healthy-living advice. (Not to mention it's fun and inspiring to browse through all the unfamiliar noodles, soaps and gluten-free pizza crusts).

Plans for the future -- Informational classes, cooking classes (to be given by co-owner David Gerhardt), and quantum biofeedback sessions.

Want to know more? -- Call 706-253-6933 or visit www.naturalmarketplace.net (Keep in mind the website has not been updated since the Gerhardt's transplanted their store from Marietta, which included a juice bar and produce section. Due to size constraints they were unable to bring those features to the new location.)

61 Main

What it is - An organic take on the Three Sisters restaurant concept. "They had a good start," Schreiber said of the former business. "We are just going to finish the job."

Where it is -- 61 N. Main Street in the old Three Sister's Cafe.

Philosophy -- Owner Schreiber said, “We want to be a part of the slow-food movement as much as we can.” 61 Main will serve Southern-inspired food with an organic, healthy twist.

Why you should go -- First and foremost, you will be supporting your community, and your squash won't have to travel 1,000 miles coming to your plate.
Second, for those of you who enjoyed Three Sisters, 61 Main will be serving many similar lunch items including the popular 3 Sisters Salad Sandwich. A.M. (Schreiber's version of breakfast) will include fresh bagels and breads from a nearby bakery, house-made granola and yogurt.
Unlike Three Sisters, however, dinner will be full-menu with rotating meals and specials. Some items, like lamb stew, will come and go with the season, and others, like the 61 Chicken, will be year-round staples.
There is also Monday-night football with snacks and libations from the full bar, which includes a very nice wine list.
Future plans -- Music during bar hours (after 10 p.m.).

Want to know more? -- Call 706-253-7289 or visit www.61main.com, currently under construction, but where menus are currently posted for viewing.

Shake Healthy

What it is -- A nutritional club that offers blended shakes (hearty enough to replace one meal and made with HerbalLife supplements), green teas, and body analysis consultations. Supplements are available to purchase for home-blending as well.
Where it is -- Mark Whitfield Street in downtown Jasper, behind The Old Jail.
Philosophy -- Owner Colleen Collins says drinking one shake a day helps maintain weight, and drinking two a day helps you lose weight. Being a product user herself, Collins has lost 25 pounds since she began drinking the shakes just over five months ago.
Shakes come in dozens of flavors and are made with a soy-based HerbaLife formula.
Why you should go -- For $5 you get a shake, a green tea and a consultation including body mass index, personal protein factor, resting metabolism, and ideal body weight. But you can just buy a shake for $4 if you are on the go, plus Collins carries a full line of HerbaLife products.
Future Plans -- Weight loss competitions possibly beginning later this month.
Want to know more? Call 706-692-9728

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