"Dahlonega: It's Not Just For Tourists Anymore"

GMUUC Social Action Conversation Cafe will meet Wednesday 7-9PM, June 13, 2007, at the Georgia Mountains Unitarian Universalist Church, 439 S. Park Street, Dahlonega.

Dr. David Broad, NGCSU chair of the sociology and psychology department, will lead a discussion on: "Dahlonega: It's not just for tourists anymore."

This topic will focus on new urbanism principles, such as population density, walkability, architectural preservation and encouragement of quality new building of public places, quality education, etc.

This is a very timely and important topic for Dahlonega since the area is experiencing growth and people relocating from the Atlanta area and across the country.

Join us with your ideas of what we want for our hometown and how to turn those ideas into realities that benefit our community. Bringing cookies, sodas, and other goodies to share will be appreciated.

For more information and directions visit www.gmuuc.org

Creativity Key to Economic Growth

We just received our June 2007 issue to Ode Magazine, www.odemagazine.com.

It contained a small article about the research conducted by US economist, Richard Florida, on the "creative class". His findings were very interesting.

He states that "creativity is key to economic growth". He developed a creativity index to rank various US cities and "found that cities with happening nightlife, diversity, lots of young people, thriving gay culture and lively musical scenes scored the highest". These are the "places that attract hip innovators".

Dahlonega for a small town is showing signs of improvement in these areas as well. Crimson Moon and other establishments are featuring some great nightlife as evidenced by the vitality downtown. Greater diversity is also becoming more evident. Artists are moving to the area.

We have witnessed some very positive changes since we moved here about five years ago. I predict the creative side of Dahlonega to grow even more and bring economic growth.

Dahlonega's CSA- Community Sponsored Agriculture

I recently just finished Michael Pollan's book, "The Ominivore's Dilemma." The book is about the food we eat in America, how it is processed, transported and where it comes from. I checked it out of our Lumpkin County Library.

Today many of us are becoming more aware about the impact of our food production on the environment and global warming. Organically grown food once was part of the vegetarian sector but now becoming more mainstream. You can even find an organic section at the Dahlonega Walmart. Unfortunately most of Walmart's organics originate from across the country which takes a great deal of fossil fuel for transport. My wife and I visited the Whole Foods Market in Sandy Springs yesterday and noticed many of their products travel great distances.

Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA) farms are popular in many parts of the country. They enable a family or individual to purchase a share of the produce grown by a local farmer. The consumer benefits through fresher food, knowing where and how it is grown and paying a set price for the subscription. Weekly pick ups are arranged with the farmer and the contents varies with what is grown at a particular time. If the share contains more vegetables than needed by a particular family it may be shared with another.

The farmer benefits from the CSA by knowing what is planted will be purchased. The farmer also is able to educate the consumer or purchaser of the share how the vegetable is grown. A relationship with the farmer occurs that benefits both parties.

The environment benefits from a CSA since the food is grown locally. No need to transport the vegetables for great distances that require fossil fuels and adds to global warming. Many CSA's use organic principles. No use of pesticides, herbicides and dangerous chemicals that can damage the ecosystem and watersheds.

Revival Gardens, a local organic farm west of Dahlonega, has a CSA program starting in July. To find out more information on this innovative and progressive program visit http://www.localharvest.org/csadrops.jsp?id=8804.

Support our local CSA farm in Dahlonega.

Garden Expo May 19th & 20th

Using native plants in your landscape is great for the environment. They require less water than other plants. Often insects are not attracted to native plants either. They also require less fertilizer and care in many cases. Progressive Dahlonegan's now have the opportunity to learn more about native plants in the area.

If more homeowners would give up the traditional fertilizer, insecticide, herbicide loaded lawns our environment would benefit. They would also require less frequent watering which is very important this time of year.

Native plants and wildflower lawns are a great solution.

Visit the Garden Expo May 19 & 20 in Dahlonega

This event held by the Master Gardeners of Lumpkin will be held in Handcock Park (just off the square in Dahlonega. The Expo includes a large plant and seed sale and speakers presenting programs on various topics. Also available at the festival will be a demonstration garden of native plants, wildflower walks, and children's activities. Activities include plant sale and clinic, garden related displays and information, children’s gardening activities, wildflower walk, Propogating Native Plants program (Doug Cain, Master Gardener), Making Trough Gardens, seed starting, problem plants program, and Growing Native Plants program..

Contact Todd and Amy Strickland, Hummingbird Lane 706-864-5991 E-mail: hummingbirdlane@alltel.net.