CHARLOTTE -- The bride wore white. The guests ate green.

Well, OK -- the bride's dress was actually ivory. And the environmental correctness of the food at the early May wedding of Laura Paynter and Robert Burton wasn't as important as the source.

It was all local, from the dates stuffed with Bosky Acres goat cheese and wrapped with Grateful Growers prosciutto to the chilled asparagus from Rhodesdale Farm in Grover.

Although she had never catered a wedding before, private chef Hollace Stephenson of Tastemakers of Charlotte was excited to work on a reception that reflected the values of the couple: all of the food was locally produced. 'It's all about eating well and living well,' Stephenson says. - CHARLOTTE OBSERVER PHOTO BY GARY O'BRIEN

"Eat local" has been a grass-roots catchphrase for a while, spawning the word locavore, the explosion of farmers markets, even restaurant menus naming the farm that raised the chicken on your dinner plate.

Now this grass-roots movement is seeking a permanent voice in state government. Legislation in both the state House and Senate proposes the creation of a 24-person Sustainable Local Food Policy Council.

A few definitions may be in order. "Local" means food grown within North Carolina. "Sustainable food" is a product of farming that enhances the environment, sustains the economic viability of the farm and improves the quality of life for both farmer and society.
More Local & State

May 19, 2009

After dealing with ticks for the last few weeks, it's nice to see that
Jason is having a chicken coop built. Our hope is that we not only have
a natural way to get rid of bugs, weeds, and even create fertizlier but
that we also have a source of eggs and meat when the time comes. Katie
suggested we call it the Egg McMansion. 

(Frankie continues work on a coop that will hold around 50 chickens)

May 18, 2009

After weeks of tilling, planting, and constant weeding we finally had
some sprouts! Though there certainly has been no shortage of rain as
late, our number one concern still remains water capture. Slowly we
began to collect water barrels and totes and now have approximately
1000 gallons of storage capacity. 

Thanks to Frankie we also now have a platform to raise the barrels
off the ground so we can gravity feed the water onto the fields. Water
will flow from the roof of our shed and trickle into the barrels from a
gutter system we are currently designing. 

Practically Natural Inaugural Conference Scheduled for May 30, 2009
CARY, NC - May 11, 2009 – Practically Natural, a high-energy event focused on natural health and the environment, today announced Cary will be home to its inaugural conference. The event will feature prominent speakers, a green marketplace, an eco-fashion show and networking opportunities. The premiere Practically Natural conference will take place Saturday, May 30, 2009, at Cary’s Prestonwood Country Club from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Registration is $75 (early bird registration is $65) and includes breakfast and lunchwww.practicallynatural.com.

Practically Natural is designed to help consumers make informed choices that result in a healthier and

Charting the Course for Supporting Sustainable Business in NC

You are cordially invited to join the Sustainable NC Business Council
and FutureWave Consulting in a unique and dynamic "collaboratory" for
Charting the Course for Supporting Sustainable Business in North
Carolina.

Thursday, May 21st
8:30am - 5:00pm
Chapel Hill, NC

The need...and opportunity...for growing our "green business" sector has
never been more urgent. At the same time, many of our most dedicated and
innovative entrepreneurs and business leaders are struggling in the
economic downturn.

Organizations of all kinds across the state – nonprofits,

SJF Summit on the New Green Economy, Durham, June 2-3

The time is NOW for entrepreneurs, investors, policy makers, and community leaders to come together to share strategies for investing in and building the new green economy. Billions of federal stimulus dollars are available to help kick start new sustainable businesses that will become market leaders as we emerge from the recession.

NC Triangle EGB Presents

Green Building Tour: North Carolina Botanical Gardens

Saturday, May 23
2:30pm

Join the North Carolina Triangle Chapter of the Emerging Green Builders as we tour the under-construction Education Center at the North Carolina Botanical Gardens! The Education Center is applying to become only the second building in North Carolina to achieve LEED Platinum status. Its green features include photovoltaic panels and geothermal wells, stormwater retention ponds, extensive daylighting, and cisterns for rainwater collection.

The Education Center is located in Chapel Hill on Mason Farm Road near the intersection with Fordham Boulevard. Their website is: http://www.ncbg.unc.edu.

Governor Bev Perdue pledged her full support today for
building a sustainable local food economy for North
Carolina during remarks at the Farm to Fork Summit in Raleigh.

“I’m on your team. Tell me what you need to grow this whole
new industry,” she said to a large gathering of sustainable farmers and
agricultural officials, activists, chefs, entrepreneurs and community advocates
from across the state. . “If you need a Sustainable Agriculture Council, you
tell me… I understand..I will join with you.”

Catering to your conscience
More people are saying‘I do' to wedding menus that use local,organic foods –
even if it costs a bit more green.
By Kathleen Purvis
kpurvis@charlotteobserver.com

Want to know more?

Some caterers who are doing local food:

Tastemakers of Charlotte, 980-253-4870, www.tastemakersofcharlotte.com.

Something Classic, 704-377-4202, www.somethingclassic.com. Some local ingredients, all recyclable and compostable products.

Field of Greens, Mooresville. Some local ingredients. 704-660-9995.