Georgia Citizens Create Legacies by Planting Trees in The Grove

/PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to educate, engage and encourage Georgians to plant trees and protect Georgia's urban tree canopy, the Georgia Urban Forest Council (GUFC) and the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) have joined forces to create a new Web site and online community called The Grove, GeorgiaGrove.org.

The Grove allows families and friends to share the experience of planting trees and commemorating special life moments. The Grove members can share their memories by uploading pictures and stories of their tree planting experiences for others to see and discuss. The Grove members can also create groups, or "groves," to connect, share and interact with other members within the virtual community.

"This is a great tool that allows families to create a legacy and leave a positive mark on the world for their children and grandchildren to enjoy," said Mary Lynne Beckley, director of the Georgia Urban Forest Council. "By planting trees, we renew our commitment to protecting Georgia's green legacy, ensuring future generations will share in the life events we celebrated, while enjoying the benefits of living in healthy communities."

To be a part of The Grove, Georgia residents can log onto GeorgiaGrove.org. There they can create a free account, plant a tree with family and friends, take pictures of the occasion, then upload their photos and post their stories to share the experience with other Grove members. In addition, The Grove offers an interactive Tree Match Tool that provides guidance on choosing the right tree to commemorate a special event, as well as information on tree planting, tree care tips and the benefits of maintaining a healthy urban forest.

According to GFC, Georgia's urban forests have been diminishing, due to the rapid growth in development. To counteract the negative impact of tree loss, Georgia residents must be informed, educated and activated to help plant trees and preserve urban forest health.

"Strategically planted trees improve energy efficiency in homes, encourage people to linger and shop longer in business districts, provide shade to keep our cities cool and make communities healthier and safer places to live," said Larry Morris, associate chief of sustainable forestry with Georgia Forestry Commission. "It is important to encourage Georgia residents to plant trees and help develop vital green infrastructures, which offset the impact of grey infrastructures such as roads and utilities, and help sustain Georgia's green legacy."

The Grove is part of GUFC and GFC's Create Your Legacy initiative, which aims to educate citizens about the ways tree loss impacts the economy, the environment, our health and our social interactions. For more information or to share a legacy, log onto GeorgiaGrove.org today and share a tree planting experience.

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Alligator Chili: A Treat For Curious Eaters

NF Note: Alligators in chili? That's not common around these parts. However, we know there are scores of Fayette County citizens who have their roots down in the bayou.

(NAPSI)-It's time to set the record straight on an often misunderstood Louisiana delicacy.

Those who are leery of trying Louisiana alligator meat often fear that the flavor will be too exotic, but Chef John Folse, a Louisiana restaurateur, knows otherwise. "Alligator is one of those swamp floor pantry ingredients that adapt so well to all of the cooking techniques in Southern cooking," said Folse. "So whether served in a classic fashion or smothered in a sauce piquante, the flavor of alligator is excellent."

Folse introduces curious eaters to alligator meat at his restaurant, Lafitte's Landing at Bittersweet Plantation in Donaldsonville, La. It is here that Chef Folse serves alligator sausage as an appetizer. The meat's leanness and versatility have put its popularity on the rise, and alligator meat is appearing in kitchens just as notable as Chef John Folse's around the country. This recipe is from his cookbook:

Alligator Chili

Prep Time: 1.5 Hours

Yields: 6 Servings

3 pounds alligator meat, diced

½ cup vegetable oil

2 cups diced onions

1 cup diced celery

1 cup diced bell peppers

2 tablespoons minced garlic

2 tablespoons diced jalapeño peppers

1 (16-ounce) can pinto beans

3 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce

1 cup chicken stock

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon cumin

Salt and cracked black pepper to taste

Granulated garlic to taste

In a large Dutch oven, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add alligator and sauté 20 minutes to render juices. Add onions, celery, bell peppers, minced garlic and jalapeño peppers and sauté 3−5 minutes or until wilted. Add pinto beans, tomato sauce and chicken stock. Bring to a low boil, then reduce to simmer. Stir in chili powder and cumin and cook approximately 1 hour or until alligator is tender, stirring occasionally. Season to taste using salt, pepper and granulated garlic. Serve over spaghetti, if desired.

For more great recipes, visit www.LouisianaSeafood.com.

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Bicycle Miles Ridden at Repulican and Democrtic Conventions Tell The Tale

NF Note: We see people all over Peachtree City, Fayetteville and Tyrone on their bikes everyday. Wonder how many miles our citizens log in an eight day period? Let us know if you've got an estimate!

Miles ridden at both conventions? 41,724 miles in 8 days. Wow!
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Bike-sharing is the international social movement where bikes are positioned at designated stations throughout cities for individuals to use for short trips. It is a viable transportation alternative for those who prefer an environmentally friendly, cost-effective and healthy way to travel.

Humana pioneered the bike-sharing program in 2007 in its corporate hometown of Louisville, Ky. The initiative focuses on fun as well as health by encouraging people to get on a bike and ride with friends, just like when they were kids. Twenty-one percent of those riding at Humana were not previously involved in exercise activity.

BUSINESS WIRE --Delegates, visitors to Denver, Minneapolis and St. Paul, and residents of the host cities for this year’s national political conventions made it clear over the past two weeks that they enthusiastically endorse bicycle-sharing for the good of America’s health and environment.

“We’re thrilled with the energy we felt and the feedback we received from everyone who took a Freewheelin ride at the conventions,” said Jonathan Lord, M.D., Humana’s chief innovation officer. “From the young man who learned to ride a bicycle on his first Freewheelin ride to the gentleman who rode more than 100 miles in an effort to support hurricane victims, Freewheelin demonstrated the enormous potential of bike-sharing in the U.S.”

Before the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, with Hurricane Gustav bearing down on the Gulf Coast, The Humana Foundation and Bikes Belong Foundation said they would jointly donate $10 for each mile pedaled at the RNC. The 15,141 miles ridden in Minneapolis and St. Paul translate into a donation to the American Red Cross hurricane-relief fund of $151,414.

Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong, believes the success of Freewheelin at the conventions signals a turning point for bicycling and bike-sharing in the U.S.

“At each convention, elected officials from across the nation took rides, watched their friends and relatives have fun with Freewheelin, and witnessed the benefits of riding bikes for short trips,” Blumenthal said. “Now these same elected officials are returning home with new information and new enthusiasm about what bike-sharing could mean for their communities.

“When you consider that nearly half of all car trips in the U.S. are three miles or less, gas prices continue to hover at record levels, and Americans are getting more serious about protecting our environment, I’m hopeful we are seeing the beginning of a new golden era of bicycling transportation in our country.”

Dr. Lord, of Humana, added: “The obesity epidemic is causing a health crisis in our country. We eat too much and exercise too little. Promoting bicycling enables us to start down a new path in an effort to encourage Americans to take action if they want to live healthier lives.”

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