We’re pleased to announce that we now carry Hartzler Family Dairy milk and rolled butter.

Hartzler Family Farm is located in nearby Wooster, Ohio, near Cleveland. Their products are distributed by our friends at Tiny Footprint Distribution.

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Looking for Easter candy? We have fair trade chocolate bunnies from Divine Chocolate and eggs from Equal Exchange. If you'd like something a little fruitier try YumEarth's gummy bears (equipped with bunny ears just for the occasion).

We have new items to suit your craving for quick Indian food. We now offer Punjabi Chhole (chickpeas) from Jyoti Foods, Pindi Chana from Kitchens of India, and Bombay Potatoes from Tasty Bite.

Want the cool refreshing taste of a margarita (or pina colada or strawberry daiquiri) but you're still at work? Check out these flavors of Ice Chips candy's when you're at the register. Or you could always go for something more traditional like peppermint or ginger...if you're not quite ready for a party.

If you're in the deli you'll see a familiar face, but in a new position. Patrick McGill has stepped up and is now leading the Kirkwood deli. He's still settling in, but we expect some new, creative deli offerings soon. Congratulations Patrick!

For updates on daily soup and sandwich specials follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook.

Heather Beery

Spring is literally just around the corner. While our official frost date may be April 25, there are plenty of things to check out at the East Bloomingfoods Garden Center.

- Seed potatoes and onion sets arrive March 14.  We have Kennebec, Yukon Gold, Red Pontiac, Red Norland, and All Blue potatoes, as well as yellow, white, and red onions.  New this year are Walla Walla sweet onion slips.

- Is your lawn looking shabby after last year’s drought? Be sure to fill in the dead spots with Jaguar turf-type fescue, perfect for shade or sun and high traffic areas. We also carry fertilizers and soil amendments.

- And speaking of lawns, be sure to try out the new  human-powered Fiskars StaySharp Plus lawn mower. It’s fun to cut the grass the Green way!

- It’s nesting season for the birds, and we have added Wild Delight premium bird seed, fortified with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and real fruit. At the risk of sounding anthropomorphic, think of it as a prenatal supplement.

- Of course, we still carry 66 varieties of garden seed in bulk, and almost 500 different packets, plus a wide selection of soil amendments, pest controls, tools, and pots.

- Bedding plants will be here soon, but for the widest variety, now is the time to start your tomato, pepper, and eggplant seedlings; a heat mat will get them off to a fast start.

The free lecture series continues  every other Sunday at 2:00 in the new Patio Room.  Mark your calendars:

- March 24: Ed Burns of Wiggling Winnie’s fame talks about vermiculture (composting with worms).

- April 7: Chris Bobbitt shares tips on better lawn care.

- April 21: Ferrol Johnson of Abundant Harvest Farms speaks about soil improvement and urban gardening.

Gardening and bird watching are America’s two most popular hobbies. Come join the fun at the Garden Center!

Chris Bobbitt

Our garden center at the West Sixth Street store, 2 blocks west of Courthouse Square, will undergo a significant expansion this spring, with a focus on urban, container gardening. We have vegetable, flower, and herb seeds available from Renee's Garden, the Seed Savers Exchange, Red Rosa Farms, and Nature's Crossroads. Schlegel Greenhouse in Indianapolis and Bennett's Greenhouse in Lafayette will be among the companies providing us with flowers and bedding plants. We'll also feature bird baths from Clay City and colorful Mexican pottery from Carlota Gardens. (The folks who run this latter business also operate a non-profit corp. focusing on the exploration, preservation, and conservation of the Sierra Mazateca in Oaxaca, Mexico.)

Are you interested in expanding your gardening activity but need a little guidance? We now have in stock the following books to help ensure your success: The Backyard Homestead; Grow, Cook, Eat; The Complete Guide To Seed Saving; The Kitchen Gardener's Handbook; and Your Farm in The City