Birmingham Civil Rights Institute remembers terrorism

The 16th Avenue Baptist Church was bombed 50 years ago. It was Sept. 15, 1963. In this photo an American flag is raised by firetrucks on the anniversary of 9/11

On Sept 11, our nation was focused on remembering in 9/11 and the terrorist attack in New York, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania. That day, the Eco-cowgirl and her sidekick arrived in Birmingham where preparations were in order to remember the terror inflicted on United States citizens by some of our own citizens...the bombing of the 16th Avenue Baptist Church.  Four girls attending Sunday school were killed. The church is next door to the Civil Rights Institute. 

Four girls who were attending Sunday school were killed in the bombing.

Do you know the significance of the statue of an attacking dog?

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Freedom Riders bus

 The Eco-cowgirl writes

Today we went to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in downtown Birmingham, AL. It is a great interactive museum that takes you back to what life was like late 1950's and early 1960's for blacks in the South. 

The courage of these people in face of violence is amazing. I don't understand how anyone can justify treating another person the way the blacks were treated.

16th Avenue Baptist Church

 The 16th St. Baptist Church across the street from the institute was bombed on Sept. 15, 1963 killing four girls. 

This week marks the 50th anniversary of the bombing and march for civil rights so the institute was having special events this week. 

A must see if you're in Birmingham!

The Eco-cowgirl finds a unique college in North Carolina

On Sept. 7 the Eco-cowgirl her sidekick were in Ashveille and visited  a unique restaurant

Here's what Eco-cowgirl has to say:

So many organic and vegan friendly places here! Also Warren Wilson College is really beautiful and cool. It has some of the best native landscaping and green architectural design I've seen.

Sustainability is woven into the fabric of Warren Wilson College

The campus specializes in sustainable farming with greenhouses and fields right on site.
See:
What kind of college has no football, no fraternities or sororities, and believes that one person can change the world?


Written — at The Green Sage.

See this story:
Could Asheville become a hub for green economy?

Eco-Cowgirl and her sidekick impressed with Asheville's commitment to healthy lifestyle

The eco-cowgirl, Rebecca, and her grandmother are on an ecological journey, traveling to wherever their wanderlust takes them. 

Eco-cowgirl writes:

Yum, yum kettle corn and it's organic and low salt!

We happened to be in Asheville, N.C. during Organicfest, a "celebration of everything organic," held in the town's downtown plaza.

There were all kinds of venders displaying crafts made from recycled and earth-friendly materials, organic food, growing systems, local farms, and many informational booths.

Grandma Janette learning more about bees

My grandma and I stopped to talk with a man working to protect bees and promoting the health benefits of honey and bee pollen.  He travels around the US educating people about bees and beekeeping. He doesn't wear any protection when working in his hives and says bee stings have taken away his muscle pain.

Another booth we stopped at had a home hydroponic that grew plants by only running water with added nutrients over the plants' roots. It works indoors and outdoors and can grow enough food for a family of four.

Grandma Janette poses beside some hydroponically grown plants.

My grandma lives in a condo and thought it would be great for her patio. I think it would be nice to have in the winter to grow fresh leafy greens.

When we were done looking at all the booths we stopped and got a treat from a local vendor selling ice cream.  Being vegan, I usually don't get to eat ice cream unless I buy a nondairy kind at a grocery store. Lucky for me all the ice cream to this booth were vegan and some made with mostly raw ingredients!

General sillyness with my grandma.

What a difference it is to go to an event and actually be able to find things I can and want to eat. I left Asheville feeling very impressed with the community's commitment to organic, local food and healthy lifestyle.

Remember to recycle...ya'll

Can a vegan find happiness at the Minnesota State Fair?

Foods at the Minnesota State Fair from the Minneapolis.Eater.com

The Minnesota State Fair is known for it's crazy deep-fat fried foods and food-on-a-stick. My husband and I went there two years ago when I was still only vegetarian and not vegan. Everything we saw was over-sized, we were still on our Weight Watchers plan and we were aghast at the portions and the decadence of all the foods. We ended up getting milkshakes, back then we were still of the mindset that "milk-does-a-body-good."

I'm from the old-school days when fair food meant cotton candy and popcorn not stuff like deep fat fried candy bars or deep fat fried cheese curds. But many people attend the fair with the express purpose of eating something usual and deep fat fried.

When my father was a teenager he brought his hogs to the fair and won grand champion. Looking over the livestock and visiting machinery hill was a must do. Taking a ride on the midway or attending a rock or country concert are also usually on my list of must dos.

 This year I decided it would be a challenge for me to try to find something vegan to eat.

We thought our vegan food was going to have to be beer and cotton candy. But we weren't even inside of the gate 15 minutes when I spotted a trailer selling pita or "pocket bread" sandwiches. I was hungry and ordered right away.  Mine had some falafel (deep fat fried chick peas) so I guess that was my fried food, but I succeeded in getting something vegan right away. Quite frankly it was kinda of let down because it was so easy.

Success in getting something vegan to eat at the Minnesota State Fair.

Right after I ate my pita sandwich, we headed across the street to the Farmers Union Coffee Shop to see if I could get a soy latte. I could (yeah!). It was a hot day so they asked me if I wanted it iced. I said yes and my husband and I sat in their nice little patio away from the crowded street.

Soy latte at the Farmers Union Coffee Shop on Dan Patch Avenue.