We haven't done a Whiteboard Wednesday post in a while, and with the mercury rising, we wanted to bring back a couple dry-erase masterpieces from Don.  We don't know about you, but these make us happy to be on the warm end of winter!

We hope you're having a wonderful week. It's just about time to start plating our crops in the Skagit Valley, and your gardens wherever you are!

With the Olympics going on, there has been a lot to watch, and read over the last couple weeks. We've been trying to keep up with all the good stuff coming through our Organic Feed at the same time, and wanted to share with you today!

The Proper Care and Feeding Of Cheese - Yep, you read that right. Caring for and feeding your cheese! Did you know that keeping cheese wrapped is actually bad? Check out the full story, if for no other reason to find out more about Cheese than anyone else you know! -simplegoodandtasty.com

A Simple Cabin In The Woods - Oh this looks nice! Jennie shows off some cabins in our beloved Washington State's Methow Valley. See you there Jennie! -mysweetgreens.com

Make Your Own Kids Art Supplies - Speaking of Jennie, she shared some great ideas with us this week on our own blog about DIY Art Supplies! This was perfect timing Jennie - with winter storms all around we needed some indoors activities to do with our kids! -blog.cascadianfarm.com

Daffodil Cake -  Cake is an easy way to win over my heart, and this one looked especially interesting and tasty! -makeitfromscratch.blogspot.com

How To Stock Your Pantry - This was a nice refresher, and Shaina is so right about one thing: "Having ingredients on hand means you're less likely to run to the nearest fast food chain." -foodformyfamily.com

Hope you all had a great week! Enjoy the closing ceremonies, and let us know if you try any of the recipes or projects that we posted on our blog! We'd love to see your pictures and hear how it went for you!

Prevention Magazine has a list called "Packaged Foods We Love" and Cascadian Farm's Organic Spinach made the list!

They asked their experts to recommend their favorite packaged foods - the foods they grab off supermarket shelves when they don't have time to cook from scratch. They chose our organic frozen spinach because "The only ingredient here is certified organically grown spinach, unlike frozen veggies packed in high-sugar or high-sodium sauces or glazes." Check out it over at prevention.com.

So go grab a box of spinach and tell us what you think? Megan recently used it in a Pizza recipe and shared it with us on our Facebook Wall.

Thanks for the nod Prevention Mag. Our spinach loves you too!

This week Andrew shared about a Hummus recipe with us on Facebook. We thought that sounded so tasty, we asked him if we could share it with all of you, and he agreed! So below is the recipe from Andrew's girlfriend Karie, and here is a picture of Andrew and Karie, from Virginia Beach, VA:

Andrew & Karie's Hummus Recipe:

• 1 can garbanzos, drain and save liquid
• 1/3 cup tahini
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 roasted red pepper
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped (or other green like parsley or spinach)
• 4-5 slices canned jalapeños, minced
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 lemon juice
• salt and fresh ground pepper

Put all ingredients into food processor and blend until smooth adding one or more of the 3 liquids until it's not to thick to spread on bread. (Makes a great sandwich with mayo, b&b pickles and romaine- yum!)

Thanks for sharing Andrew! And if you have any recipes please share them with us too!

Last week, Kari shared a post about 12 of the most important fruits and vegetables to buy organic. This comes from the Environmental Working Group's list of the worst offenders (it's been dubbed the "Dirty Dozen" as far as pesticides and other chemicals that end up in our food.

This is helpful so that we can make smart shopping choices and avoid putting unnatural chemicals in our bodies. Several of you made great comments on Facebook about why you buy organic for your health:

Kathi writes:

"People are amazed that on my limited budget I insist on organic - but it is an investment in my family's health. You either pay for it now or later in my opinion. I'd rather pay upfront for better food rather than later in medical costs."

Dyan from Miami says:

"My body is not a discount body. I will buy organic whenever I can get it."

We couldn't agree more. The concern for our health and the health of our children is an important factor leading people to choose to look for that organic logo above. But it's not the only motivator. Lisa points out:

"There'also the larger picture to consider here - not just what I'm putting into my body, but what I'm supporting, through my purchases, others in putting into the environment. I may be the only me, but there are billions of humans sharing only one planet Earth."

Well said Lisa! This really has been a major (some would say the major) reason behind the organic movement going back to the 1970s with guys like Gene Kahn trying to figure out how to [drive a tractor and] grow food in a way that works with our natural ecosystems - not against them.

If you're new here, here are is some further reading on why Cascadian Farm cares about organics:

Why Should You Care Abou Organic Farming?

Organic vs. Natural

Controlling Bugs Naturally: Organic Pest Controll

There were so many great articles from our Organic Feed that it was hard to just choose five. Here are some of our favorites and as always, feel free to let us know what articles you liked and any additional thoughts you have.

1. Blackberry Cordial with Cream & Chocolate- This drink recipe just sounds too good to pass up. Psst...want to know where you can find some organic blackberries? -makeitfromscratch.blogspot.com
2. Michael Pollan's "Food Rules": Keep it Simple, Then Simplify - Like Food, Inc.? Lee gives us an overview of Michael Pollan's new book, Food Rules: An Eater's Manual. (A must-read for those starting their path toward responsible eating, and a great refresher for those well on their way.) -simplegoodandtasty.com
3. Earth Friendly Etsy :: Bodhicitta - Not only are these re-purposed bottle glasses adorable, but they really do represent one's trash becoming one's treasure. Very green, indeed! -mysweetgreens.com
4. My 5 Fave Natural Organic Perfumes are at Spirit Beauty Lounge - As you well know, organic doesn't stop at food. Fig+Sage shows us some natural alternatives to those traditional perfumes that are packed with synthetic chemicals. -figandsage.blogspot.com
5. A Wake Up Story - A beautiful, yet hair-raising video about making the world a healthier place for our children. Thanks, Jennie, for the share! -mysweetgreens.com

What did you think of these ideas? Post a comment below, or leave us a note on our Facebook wall!

Valentine's Day is on Sunday! Last week you saw Don's Strawberry Valentine, but this time Don had some fun with the Small Planet Foods logo:

Small Planet Foods Logo

Don took the logo, and made it really SWEET!

So what are you going to do for your Valentine? Share with us. We'll keep it a secret!

Look at what Sustainable Dave (featured in our Organic Feed) carries around in his backback to cut back on waste from single use products.

Great stuff Dave! Thanks for sharing your tips with us.

Last week we showed you the Small Planet Foods office's Valentine's Feast. This week we have another Valentine delight.

Only Don could take dry erase marketers and steal our hearts with his strawberry sweetness.

What are you going to do for your Valentine? Have another look at Jennie's Green Valentine Gift Ideas from last week!