Solar Powered Aeroponic Tower Garden by Juice Plus+, Fla. Updated

Gardening and sunlight go together in a different way with Juice Plus+. They sell aeroponic Tower Gardens.  Plants grow vertically instead of horizontally like for hydroponic systems. "I like this one especially for South Florida because the roots are not underwater," said Juice Plus+ distributor Joe Daugirdas.

Solar powered Tower Garden by Juice Plus+, Royal Palm Beach, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

"I have a prototype solar powered growing tower," said Daugirdas during an interview at the Sunday morning Royal Palm Green Market. It will harness the energy of the sun directly to power the Growing Tower 's 15-watt water pump.

He also has a solar conversion box style that converts the tower's Alternating Current (AC) needs to Direct Current (DC) so it can be plugged into a solar panel.

Solar conversion kit for Tower Garden by Juice Plus+,
Royal Palm Beach Green Market, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

At the Royal Palm Beach Green Market he had three 15-watt solar panels set up with an 80-watt inverter. "It is a bit over engineered. The three panels can run a Tower Garden, a cell phone charger, a fan, and two lights," Daugirdas said.

Gel-cell batteries are best for solar systems according to Daugirdas, "This battery can run for two days of tower needs even in cloudy conditions," added Daugirdas.

Five week vegetable growth on Tower Garden by Juice Plus+,  Joe and Christina
Daugirdas at Fresh Fest,
West Palm Beach, Fla., Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

The Tower Garden is great for growing plants fast because it oxygenates the roots with water and air, "This is five weeks of growth," said Daugirdas pointing to the residential use Tower Garden, "We've been eating off of it all week."

You can buy a residential Tower Garden for $525 or pay $45 month with interest free financing. To find out more about the Tower Garden by Juice Plus+, call Christine Daugirdas at 561-719-1394 or email her at christine@jpfl4u.com

You can also find out more about the Tower Garden by going to

http://towergarden.jpfl4u.com

Fresh Fest 2014, West Palm Beach, Fla: Yoga, Wheatgrass Juice & More

West Palm Beach, Fla--It was the perfect day for Fresh Fest 2014. Held at the Meyer Amphitheater in downtown West Palm Beach, this first time event organized by Sevyn Productions LLC attracted many people. "We're excited with the turn out," said Kierston Hodges co-owner of Sevyn Productions LLC.

Fresh Fest participants dancing to the Zoomba beat, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

Vendors selling healthy food options ringed the central green area where people danced, did yoga and Pilates, watched cooking demonstrators, and listened to speakers.  There was even a reading of The Lorax book for children.

Fresh Fest participants buying wheat grass and other items
from Got Sprouts Inc. West Palm Beach, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

There were many Palm Beach County based businesses like Got Sprouts Inc., a certified organic wheatgrass and fresh sprouts grower that also sells organic seeds, juicing machines and knowledge.

And there was also Juice Plus+ who brought along an individual aeroponic Tower Garden for people to grow their own vegetables.

Brian Hetrich of Hippocrates Health Institution, Fresh Fest,
West Palm Beach, Fla., Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

The Hippocrates Health Institute, a natural and alternative health nonprofit that helps people improve their health was there.

"It's really good to see the young people here. It's the generation we want to reach," said Hippocrates Health Institute volunteer Brian Hetrich.

The institute's co-director Dr. Brian Clement gave talks on the benefits of eating a vegan vegetarian raw-food diet.

Fresh juiced vegetables and fruit at Fresh Fest, West Palm Beach,
Fla., Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

There was also Go Green! a fresh vegetable and fruit juicing company from Miami-Dade. They sold juices made from unexpected ingredients like kale, lemon, ginger, spinach, and papaya.

Juice Plus+ aeroponic Tower Garden, Fresh Fest, West Palm Beach,
Fla., Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

"We want to bring health awareness to the community," said Hodges who is a recent graduate of the University of Florida in event management. She and her business partner Branndi Lewis are very much into health and wellness.

Their company motto is, "Health is your birthright. Love this life. A wholly healthy life."

Next year they want to expand Fresh Fest to include Flagler Drive. They also want to showcase local companies, so there can be a greater sense of community.

To find out more about their production company you can email them at sevynproductions@gmail.com

 Or call Hodges at (863) 450-6206

Francesca's Terra Verde Farm Club 2014 Cooking Class, Jupiter, Fla. UPDATED

Jupiter, Fla.—Last month’s Francesca’s Terra Verde Farm Club cooking class was fun. It was their first in 2014. Held at Kitchen Works in Jupiter the event attracted a dozen or so South Florida cooking student foodies. R. Francesca Golub, President and founder of the farm club was the culinary instructor.

R. Francesca Golub, President Francesca's Terra Verde Farm Club, talking to
cooking students, Jupiter, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

Golub’s enthusiasm bubbled as she guided guests through the informational booklet and recipes that came with the class. The menu consisted of coconut chicken satay, butternut squash soup, and cauliflower gluten-free muffins.

Hand washing before cooking begins at Francesca's Terra Verde
Farm Club cooking class, Jupiter, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

Then everyone moved to the kitchen to cook but not before they were instructed to wash their hands.

“Alright we’re going to cook fast in an hour,” said Golub, “What we’ll do is break up into groups. Who here has experience with chicken?”

The other two recipes were delegated in the same manner.

Francesca's Terra Verde Farm Club cooking class, chopping squash,
 Jupiter, Fla. Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

Golub energetically ran from group to group showing them, in a lead and follow style, how to prepare their recipes. 

Peeling ginger with a spoon at Francesca's Terra Verde Farm Club
cooking class, Jupiter, Fla. Copyright 2014 by
Helen A Lockey

She also gave out many food preparation secretes from how to find the grain of a chicken breast to the best way to peel ginger—with a spoon to minimize the loss of ginger.

Uncooked cauliflower muffins, Francesca's Terra Verde Farm Club
cooking class, Jupiter, Fla. Copyright 2014 by
Helen A Lockey

The cauliflower muffin recipe, which consisted of a list of ingredients and no quantities, proved a bit too challenging for some cooking students. Golub came to their rescue and said, “Cooking is a sensual art. You see it. You taste it. You feel it. You cook with your hands. It’s all about texture.” Then she demonstrated how much of each ingredient to add to get the right texture.

Butternut squash soup, Francesca's Terra Verde Farm Club
cooking class, Jupiter, Fla. Copyright 2014 by
Helen A Lockey

Then end result, after about an hour, was a large pot of hot butternut squash soup.

Gluten-free cauliflower muffin with coconut chicken satay,
Francesca's Terra Verde Farm Club cooking class, Jupiter,
Fla. Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

And tender coconut rolled spicy chicken satay with a moist, slightly crispy aromatic roasted cauliflower gluten-free muffin.

October 2014 UPDATE:
Francesca's Terra Verde Club is now closed.