Renfroe Middle School is getting in on the gardening craze.

Barrett writes in that the Decatur school with host “Renfroe Volunteer Garden Day” on March 27th at 10am, behind the old gym, to cultivate the beginnings of a new garden on school property.

According to Barrett, “The project is a collaboration between Renfroe, Project R.E.A.L., and the Oakhurst Community Garden. Project R.E.A.L. is the after-school program at Renfroe which is run by the City of Decatur.”

Photo above: Renfroe students planting seeds that will be transferred to the garden in April. (courtesy of Barrett)

After hearing the news about the Decatur Farmer’s Market’s new Saturday time-slot, I followed up with a couple of questions; including asking about major hurdle of getting farmers on a Saturday morning when the popular Morningside market is in full swing.

Here’s Nicole Coleson’s response…

There are a few motivations. For the most part, the local community has been asking for it for years and the City is taking a more active role. Also, there are more farmers now then there used to be. Morningside is very well established and has a waiting list for farmers. We are attempting to do two things; provide an opportunity for the new farmers, and get Morningside farmers to participate in both markets. This has proven to be a challenge to staff but we have had some interest in dual-participation. If you know of any farmers or people interested in staffing a booth let me know.

But for now, we have a critical mass to get up and running. The other good thing is that we have organic coffee, bread, and pastries which have great appeal.

The Decatur Farmer’s Market website now also has a map showing exactly where the market will take place at the Trinity/McDonough intersection.  View it after the jump.
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Very exciting news!  Check this out!  Nicole sends along this press release…

SATURDAY FARMERS MARKET LAUNCHING IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR

The City of Decatur, GA will soon have a Farmers Market on Saturday, in addition to the existing Wednesday Market. The Saturday Farmers Market will start on May 15, 2010 with a grand opening event featuring live music, a children’s area and breakfast goodies from 9-12noon in its second location at the corner of Trinity and McDonough, centrally located in downtown Decatur.

It will run every Saturday morning year-round, with plenty of free parking and a short walk from the Marta and Decatur Square.

Every Saturday – Summer 9a.m – - 12 p.m.

Location: 500 block at North McDonough Street and Trinity Street

I’m trying to determine whether by “Trinity and McDonough” they mean the Maloof parking lot or the grounds of the new DeKalb Courthouse. Streetview of the intersection after the jump.

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Here’s more concise, visual evidence of what I’ve been intermittently blathering about as of late.

With a chart like this, it’s little wonder why more forward-thinking cities like Decatur are feeling obligated to step in and provide a little more support for the local production of fruits and vegetables.

Chart courtesy of Good Medicine.

h/t: The Consumerist

Looks like the plans of a Greek Diner in the old Atlanta Bread Company space are history…or we just never had it more than 50% right.

Carl reports on Twitter…

Spoke with future #DecaturGA eatery at 205 E PDL: same ownership as Marietta Diner, plans to be open 24/7.

Definitely diner fare.  Check out the menu of the Marietta Diner HERE.

From the New York Times Diner’s Journal…

My chef friend Scott Peacock called today to confirm that he has resigned from the Watershed restaurant in Atlanta to pursue new projects.

Scott had been with Watershed for 11 years, during which the restaurant become known for its interpretations of Southern food, including fried chicken, which regularly sells out on Tuesday nights, the only night it is available. Last week, the James Beard Foundation named him a semi-finalist in the Outstanding Chef category, a nationwide award.

Emily Saliers, a co-owner of Watershed, gave me a follow-up call this afternoon. She is one half of the Indigo Girls, and is in Miami getting ready for one of their concerts tonight. She called the separation “amicable.” The crew at the Watershed, which is accustomed to working without Mr. Peacock when he travels, will continue to put out the same food while Ms. Saliers and her co-owner, Ross Jones, search for a new executive chef.

According to the post, Peacock’s future plans include working on a documentary and writing books.

Thanks to Amanda for forwarding.

UPDATE II: Menu details, again from Farm 255 owner Olivia Sargeant…

a simple menu, including other proteins such as chicken and pork and lamb (also pasture or forest raised, and from our regional farmer-partners). there will be salads and vegetarian options, chef-driven sides and condiments like “marrownaise” and housemade ketchup, kid-friendly fried things like onion rings and okra, and seasonal veggies too. organic milk milkshakes and root beer floats and the like…things that make us all happy.

farm burger will be beer & wine only and like all new places we will cross our fingers that the powers that be award us our coveted license in time for our opening, as we’ve done our due diligence. beer will be like-minded to our food and highlight local folks, artisanal methods, and unique offerings. the can will be ubiquitous, as it’s less wasteful and more fun.

UPDATE: Here’s a response I just received from Farm 255’s owner…

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From the Wheel report of Carlo Petrini’s talk at Emory last night…

“When my grandfather finished his meal, he would collect the bread crumbs from the table, and if one fell to the floor, he would pick it up and kiss it,” Petrini said.

But now, he said, young people are not aware of the cultural importance of food.

“If your great-grandmother knew about this, she would be very anxious,” Petrini said, as he pointed to a student in the front row. “If you could talk to her and tell her you live in a society where you spend more to lose weight than to eat, your great-grandmother would say you are crazy.”

After conflicting rumors as to its fate AFTER some debate over a needed parking variance, Carl posted this pic on Flickr verifying that Farm Burger is indeed moving into the old Viola Voila Space on West Ponce.  There’s been a good deal of action around the space over the past 2 weeks, but they must have just put up the signs.

Farm Burger does have a website, but no menu thus far.  Just a newsletter sign-up.

America loves to specialize its movements.

Some people swear by local food.  Others argue for durable local economies.  Still others see worker’s rights as the most important call to action.

And there’s little wrong with this natural evolution of American thought…just as long as we recognize that at some point, in order to realize the full potential of ANY these individual movements, they really should be integrated.  Otherwise, many of these movements could easily be phased into the very global, industrialized system they each once shunned.

Food writer Corby Kummer’s latest article in The Atlantic, is just another example of this kind of specialized focus. The piece documents his discovery of quality organic selections at a nearby Wal-Mart Supercenter, and the resulting internal struggle to contemplate Wal-Mart as a competitor of Whole Foods.

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