Good Product, Good People,
Good Earth
Good Earth
More Than a Store

Good Earth is a locally owned produce and garden center that specializes in providing the freshest and tastiest local fruits, veggies, clean meats, eggs and dairy from local farmers. We also support local bakers, families and artisans by selling amazing breads,  casseroles, sweets, oils, jarred goods, dried goods, soaps, candles and oh so much more! Over the years, our faithful customers have repeatedly requested non-local produce that cannot be grown in our area, so we provide these products too. This time of year, you'll find our greenhouse full of gorgeous houseplants and succulents, from the classics you know and love to incredibly unique varieties you won't find anywhere else. You can get almost anything else on-line or at the big box stores, but get the freshest produce and most beautiful plants right here at Good Earth. Come see how we've grown!

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Food and Mood
Cynthia F Catts,  RD, LD

Did you know that your brain is a reflection of the nutrients it receives from the food you
feed it? Your brain needs nourishment, and whether you are upbeat or feeling blue is
strongly influenced by how your "second brain" (your digestive tract) digests and absorbs the "information" you are eating. Thus, your mood is a mirror not only of what you eat, but also how you digest!

Here are a few nutrition tips to boost your mood and lift your spirit:
1. Nourish your brain with healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, seeds, olives and
extra-virgin olive, peanut or pecan oil.
2. "B-happy" by including whole foods such as our white acre peas, pink eye peas, butter beans, and dark green leafy veggies like dark lettuce, collards, spinach, and kale. All of these foods contain lots of B vitamins which enhance mood.
3. Color your plate with fresh veggies, fruits, and turmeric that deliver tons of
antioxidants and anti-inflammatory gems that keep brain and gut cells healthy.
4. Capitalize on cephalic digestion, which means getting maximum nutrition from your meals and snacks by savoring your food, eating with mindfulness, and thoroughly chewing every bite.

Enjoy! Be smart! Be happy!

The Farmer's Market
Honey, will you please bee mine?

You might think it's a little too early for  Valentine's Day puns, and you'd be right- we'll save those for the next newsletter. This week, however, it's all about the HONEY, and not just because I'm typing this with a sore throat. Our customers are bee-yond loyal to our local honeys, and for good reason! When you buy big-brand honey from a box store, you could very well be eating a mixture of honey from multiple countries-- how bzzzarre, right? You don't need your honey to be worldly, and in fact, many of our customers tell us that our honey helps prevent and alleviate many of their seasonal allergies because the bees that make it forage locally. You'll even notice slight color and taste variations in each batch of honey depending on the season. This time of year, the honey is a little darker and more aromatic. We are loving it stirred into tea or hot toddies, drizzled over biscuits or cornmeal pancakes, added to marinades and salad dressings, or simply slurped by the spoonful to ease that awful tickle that seems to plague all of our throats. Did you know that there are over ten ways to buy honey at Good Earth? You'll find ginger and turmeric infused honey, honey with the comb, the wildly popular Elderberry & Honey Tonic, cinnamon and cocoa creamed honey, vanilla bean infused honey, honey smothered pecans, and more! Many of our honey products are proudly produced by Georgia bees, including the bees at Scott Family Farm and Augusta Honey Company. So don't worry, bee happy, eat honey!
Our Greenhouse
What is that plant??

We've been getting this question a lot regarding one of our most interesting greenhouse additions, and if you've been by lately, you will likely have noticed it adorning our new display wall! These colorful, showy plants comprise a small part of the bromeliad family, and they make very unique and surprisingly hardy houseplants. You might not recognize all of the varieties in the greenhouse, but you're likely well acquainted with their cousin, the pineapple! Bromeliads are typically found in the tropics and subtropics, growing under forest canopies on trees or rocks. The best way to mimic this environment in your home is to keep your bromeliad in bright light but out of direct sun, as many varieties may burn easily.  You'll notice that your bromeliad has a little cup in the middle of its foliage. Bromeliads like holding a bit of water in this "tank" in addition to soil that stays slightly moist. However, too much water in the cup or in the soil may cause rotting of the flower or root ball, so practice temperance! If your home is particularly dry, try misting your plant periodically to increase humidity levels. Once temperatures begin to stay above 50 degrees, feel free to move your bromeliad to a bright, shaded porch where it will thrive in our warm, humid climate! Once your bromeliad matures, it will eventually put off "pups." The mother plant will begin to slowly fade after this point, but simply remove the pups from the mother plant and re-pot to propagate! There aren't too many pest or toxicity concerns with this care-free friend. Pests are uncommon and, while kitties may enjoy crunching on its sturdy foliage, bromeliads are non-toxic. We have dozens of varieties to peruse and from which to choose, so come explore!

Good Earth Produce & Garden Center

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