One of the newest members of the Cleveland organization Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S) is an organization known for helping people with special needs. Over the past several months, the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Board of DD) has realized ways to help others while helping the environment and the City of Cleveland.

The organization's CleveLand Crops program, in partnership with Stanard Farms and the Ohio State University Extension, is part of the Board of DD's Solutions at Work (S.A.W.) program, which is the state's largest employer of people with disabilities. S.A.W. also operates a discount store in Parma called Just-a-Buck, employing 15 developmentally disabled residents of Cuyahoga County, and Pulley's, a wi-fi coffeehouse in Cleveland's Tyler Village, which employs three adults in the Board of DD program.

CleveLand Crops gives adults with developmental disabilities the chance to nurture plants and vegetables from planting through harvest. The goal of the project is to provide agriculture and employment training for adults by developing 10 sustainable farms that will employ 100 adults from the Board of DD and establishing an Agriculture Education Center at the Stanard Farm to serve as a farming site for CleveLand Crops. Cleveland Crops intends to operate year-round using various facilities in the area.

All of this leads to another goal: repurposing neglected land using sustainable farming practices. Stanard Farm launched in 2010, and this year the Board of DD will open three new farm sites in Cleveland.


SOURCE: Cuyahoga County Board of DD
WRITER: Diane DiPiero

Palookaville Chili, a new restaurant set to open next month in Ohio City, is seeking to reeducate your taste buds. Owner and budding chef Ian P.E., who says he makes "a mean pot of chili," offers a blunt description of what will set his place apart.

"This is gourmet chili, not the slop you'll find at most places," boasts P.E., who lived in San Francisco before returning to Cleveland in 2007. "Most chili is tomato-based and uses ground beef and cinnamon, whereas our beef is cubed, and we use cumin, dried chilis and poblano peppers. It's based off classic Southwestern cuisine and pretty spicy."

Most of the menu items at Palookaville, which will be open for lunch and dinner, are affordably priced in the $5 to $9 range. Some of the menu choices include chicken verde with fresh poblano and tomatillo, a spicy vegan chili with garbanzo beans, and a rotating special. Toppings include sour cream, onions, cheese and peppers. The menu will also include chili dogs, chili-cheese nachos, and tacos.

P.E. is an artist and entrepreneur who grew up in Cleveland's south suburbs. In 2008 he founded the arts publication Pink Eye Magazine with his girlfriend Leigh Ring to fill a void in local arts coverage, yet all the while he dreamed of opening his own restaurant. Frustrated by the lack of quality chili in his hometown, he decided to create his own brand. "There isn't another place in Cleveland to get authentic chili," he claims.

P.E. isn't worried that the vacant storefronts and slow pace of redevelopment along Lorain will deter patrons. He believes his restaurant will benefit from being close to Ohio City's Market District, which is fast becoming a hub for local food entrepreneurs.

"Cleveland is a great place for entrepreneurs, and Lorain is cheap," he says. "In the past, no one had the balls to put something here."


Source: Ian P.E.
Writer: Lee Chilcote

Beekeeping can be a life-changing experience that lowers stress, fosters a greater connection with nature, and promotes biodiversity in your neighborhood. Oh yeah, and it provides a near-endless supply of delicious honey.

Yet raising bees is not always easy, and backyard beekeepers must spend time with their bees every day.

"If you don't pay close attention, you could lose the swarm through pests or disease, " Karen Wishner, President of the Greater Cleveland Beekeepers Association, told a crowd of 200 people at last week's Local Food Cleveland forum on raising backyard livestock.

If you are a first time beekeeper, Wishner recommends taking classes or reading articles to educate yourself, as well as joining a local beekeepers association. The first step is to find a location for the hive. It should be located near a windbreak, facing the morning sun and in a partially shaded location. Beekeepers also need easy access to water and enough room to navigate around the hive.

Start-up costs include purchasing new equipment for the hive, buying the bees, and purchasing a veil, hive tool and smoker. Once you obtain a hive, Wishner recommends paying close attention to its progress, keeping an eye out for damage and checking for the queen. A typical hive will yield one or two combs in the first year, and by the second or third year, it can produce three to four gallons of honey.

Many people find beekeeping therapeutic because bees, by their very nature, require their keepers to stay calm and peaceful. "Minimizing stress is the name of the game; that's what bees like," Wishner said.

Beekeeping is permitted in many communities in Northeast Ohio. In 2009, the City of Cleveland passed progressive legislation that allows residents to raise chickens and bees in limited numbers. On a typical residential lot in Cleveland, two hives are permitted. Wishner recommended that anyone interested in backyard beekeeping consult their local municipal officials before purchasing a hive.

For those interested in learning more about backyard beekeeping, the Northeast Ohio Honeybee Conference will take place on Saturday, May 21st at Baldwin Wallace College, Wishner said. The conference, which costs $25, is open to the public.


Source: Karen Wishner
Writer: Lee Chilcote

At first, John Campanelli didn't tell his wife. No, he doesn't have an obsession with pricey Cuban cigars or engage in secret Friday-night poker nights. Rather, he had hatched a plan to raise chickens.

"My wife thought I was crazy at first, but chickens are easier to take care of than cats -- and they're the only pet that makes you breakfast," Campanelli told an audience of 200 during last week's Local Food Cleveland forum on raising backyard livestock.

Three years into rearing his backyard brood, Campanelli says, "My wife agrees it's the best thing we've ever done -- maybe even better than having kids."

Not only is raising chickens fun and relatively easy, but backyard eggs are fresher, healthier and tastier than their supermarket counterparts, Campanelli explained. He touted other benefits too, such as using chicken droppings as garden fertilizer. Chickens also help rid your yard of insects, are great with people and kids and provide hours of entertainment. "I'm convinced that [chickens] are the reason most rural Americans don't have high speed Internet," he joked.

In 2009, the City of Cleveland passed progressive "chicks and bees" legislation that allows residents to keep chickens, ducks, rabbits and beehives (but not roosters, geese or turkeys). A typical residential lot is allowed no more than six small animals and two hives.

For those interested in raising chickens, Campanelli suggested doing some online research (he cited Backyard Chickens), educating yourself on municipal zoning laws and contacting your neighbors ahead of time to avoid complaints.

While chickens are not high-maintenance, noisy or expensive, they do require food, water and a good coop that is cleaned regularly. Would-be chicken farmers should also learn which breeds are known as being cold hardy, better with people and producing tastier eggs.

For hold-outs who aren't yet convinced that raising yardbirds is now mainstream, look no further than the local bookstore, Campanelli said. Right next to the wedding planning guides in the how-to section is where you'll find "Raising Backyard Chickens for Dummies."


Source: John Campanelli
Writer: Lee Chilcote

Ever wonder who is responsible for the elements of a restaurant that guests don't eat? This engaging video offers a behind-the-scenes look at the artistic players who had a hand in designing Michael Symon's B Spot restaurant. Like Symon, these characters are all "CIA grads." But rather than attending the Culinary Institute of America, Scott Richardson, Paul Sobota and Alexander Lombardo graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art. Thanks to Jeff Mancinetti for providing the video.

A packed house at Monday night's Local Food Cleveland meeting on raising backyard livestock demonstrated growing interest in raising chickens, bees and other animals in urban neighborhoods across Northeast Ohio.

When audience members at the Great Lakes Brewing Company's Tasting Room in Ohio City were asked by event organizer Peter McDermott if they currently were raising backyard livestock or were planning on it, approximately two-thirds raised their hands.

Two years ago, Cleveland City Council passed progressive "chicks and bees" legislation that allowed city residents to raise and keep certain farm animals and bees. Other municipalities in Northeast Ohio also allow residents to keep backyard livestock. Presenters urged audience members to consult their local zoning code and contact their local zoning officials with questions.

The majority of livestock owners in Cleveland tend chickens (not roosters) for eggs or bees for honey, said McDermott, a Network Weaver with Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S). While raising goats, pigs and other animals is also permitted in some places, those animals typically require more land than is available on urban lots.

Despite the growing interest in urban farming and backyard livestock in U.S. cities, many municipalities lag behind. Some zoning codes prohibit or strictly limit keeping chickens, bees and other animals, while others do not address the issue. Presenters urged audience members to educate themselves -- in many Northeast Ohio communities, despite assumptions to the contrary, raising chickens and bees is permitted in some form.

McDermott cited a plethora of benefits to keeping backyard livestock, including saving money on groceries, providing healthy, locally produced foods to residents, and income generation for owners who sell eggs and other products to neighbors or through local markets.

As the local foods movement in Northeast Ohio continues to expand, McDermott challenged audience members to consciously support the infrastructure needed to sustain it, including educating wary public officials at the state and local level.

"Studies show that local food is potentially a $15 billion economy in Northeast Ohio, and in recent years, we've seen a fifteen- to twenty-percent increase per year in local farmers' markets," said McDermott. "The question is, can the market for local foods support continued expansion? Our group is interested in accelerating the progress."


Source: Peter McDermott
Writer: Lee Chilcote

Michele Iacobelli Buckholtz has treasured memories of going to lunch with her dad in Little Italy. He grew up here when it was an Italian neighborhood with markets on nearly every corner. She soaked up the old neighborhood during these childhood visits.

Today, Buckholtz is recreating the tradition of the small Italian market -- with a contemporary twist. She recently renovated an historic storefront at Murray Hill Road and Paul Avenue in Little Italy. It reopened as the Murray Hill Market, which is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and carries fresh produce and groceries.

Patrons of the Murray Hill Market can expect something new with each visit. The specials change daily, based on fresh ingredients and the chef's whim. Some favorites appear consistently, however. Buckholtz offers meatball subs every Thursday, relying upon her mother's recipe of course.

Little Italy has changed since Buckholtz's father grew up here -- there are fewer Italian families now, more students and empty nesters. The small, corner markets have all but disappeared. Yet with the growth of University Circle and sharp condos sprouting up in Little Italy, demand exists for a contemporary market, Buckholtz says. She considers it part of her mission to provide fresh, healthy foods to area residents and employees, an amenity she says is lacking at other neighborhood stores.

The Murray Hill Market is also spicing up the food offerings in Little Italy. Although Italians are no longer the predominant ethnic group here, the restaurants along Mayfield and Murray Hill Roads still offer mostly Italian fare. While Buckholtz specializes in Italian foods, she also offers an array of other ethnic foods, including Jewish and French pastries, Middle Eastern dishes, and Puerto Rican rice and beans.


Source: Murray Hill Market
Writer: Lee Chilcote

When Sam McNulty opens his Ohio City-based Market Garden Brewery later this year, he will join four other micro-distilleries scattered about the state. Cincinnati's Woodstone Creek is the oldest, followed by Columbus' Middle West Spirits, Grandview's Watershed Distillery, and Tom's Foolery in rural Geauga County. Others, too, are waiting in the wings. Sadly, Ohio, a state rich with entrepreneurship and agricultural resources, makes it nearly impossible for them to succeed.

When Mayor Jackson promoted Andrew Watterson from sustainability programs manager to Chief of Sustainability, a cabinet-level position, he illustrated in very certain terms his commitment to sustainability. Watterson will have his work cut out for him. Recently, the City kicked off Sustainable Cleveland 2019, an ambitious 10-year initiative to leverage sustainability as an engine for economic growth while distinguishing Cleveland as a "Green City on a Blue Lake."

Justin Husher graduated with an MBA from Cleveland State University in May of 2008 -- just in time for the collapse of the financial markets.

Instead of wringing his hands, Husher considered his bleak job prospects as a sign. "I never wanted to be a banker," he told the audience at last week's forum on vacant land reuse at Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs. His college major had been botany, and he'd always dreamed of tending the soil.

That's when Husher learned about Reimagining Cleveland, a small grants program that was launched to support the creative reuse of vacant land in the city.

Husher applied to the program, which is managed by Neighborhood Progress (NPI) and funded by the Surdna Foundation and the City of Cleveland. After he was awarded a $7,500 grant, Husher worked with Cleveland's land bank program and Bellaire Puritas Community Development Corp. to cobble together a half-acre of land on W. 130th. Pretty soon, Old Husher's Farm was born.

Husher, who sells his produce at the Gordon Square farmers market and other venues, has a passion for local food. "I like to grow vegetables with storylines, such as heirloom tomatoes," he said. "It's important to learn where our food comes from."

At last week's forum, the young farmer also offered recommendations for improving the business climate for urban agriculture. Husher's wish list includes longer-term leases with property owners and an initiative to help farmers purchase land at affordable prices. He'd also like to see a cooperative stand for urban farmers to sell locally grown food at the West Side Market.

Since Reimagining Cleveland launched in 2008, the program has funded 56 projects to creatively reutilize vacant land in Cleveland. According to the Reimagining Cleveland website, there are an estimated 3,300 acres of vacant land in the city of Cleveland.


Source: Justin Husher, Reimagining Cleveland
Writer: Lee Chilcote

To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld: "Taco Tuesdays -- what's up with that?" Seems that all across this great city, barflies are bellying up to the counter for bottomless plates of dirt-cheap tacos. While the origins of this fad are fuzzy, the rationale behind the trend is simple enough: offer deeply discounted tacos to hungry diners in hopes of upping business on a traditionally slow weeknight. Some fans hit up new spots weekly, while others fashion a taco-themed pub crawl. Soft or crunchy, beef or pork, gourmet or fast-food… Here are some fan faves.

A new Mediterranean-themed restaurant will open this April in the Tudor Arms, a landmark at East 107th and Carnegie Avenue that is undergoing a $22-million makeover to a Double Tree Hotel.

The restaurant will be operated by Samir Khouri, owner of Somer's restaurants in Cleveland, Bedford and North Ridgeville, and Serge Elias, owner of Cedarland at the Clinic, a popular Middle Eastern Restaurant.

Tentatively called the Canopy, the restaurant will feature a menu offering both Mediterranean and American cuisine. It will serve hotel guests as well as the visiting public. It will also have a coffee bar, a party room, and a lounge that will stay open for late-night revelry.

"In addition to serving hotel guests and providing room service, we're marketing it as a meeting place for people who work in University Circle," says Khouri. "We will have valet service, and we're toying with the idea of offering a shuttle for Clinic employees."

The new restaurant offers a testament to the buying power of the University Circle area. With almost 40,000 full-time positions, the Circle is the second largest employment center in the region. A 2010 study by Real Estate Strategies Inc. showed the area is on track to produce about 10,000 new jobs between 2005 and 2015.

Although Cedarland may eventually close -- the building is slated to be demolished to accommodate the Cleveland Clinic's ever-growing appetite for expansion -- the timeline is uncertain, and Khouri says it will stay open at least another two years.


Source: Samir Khouri
Writer: Lee Chilcote

At a public meeting held last week at Market Avenue Wine Bar, planners showed off designs for the future Market Square Park, an Ohio City park slated to receive a $1.5 million makeover this year from the city.

"We hope the new Market Square Park will become the de facto outdoor dining room for the West Side Market," says Ben Trimble, Program Manager with the Ohio City Near West Development Corporation (OCNW). Trimble says the park, located at the corner of Lorain and West 25th, will complement the redevelopment taking place elsewhere in the area.

Plans for revamping the park, which was completed in 1979, date back to at least 2004. OCNW selected it as a candidate for overhaul because of its dated design, lack of connection to the commercial district, and a perception that the park is unsafe.

The park, which was the original site for the West Side Market before the current building was constructed in 1912, has been a focus area for OCNW. The nonprofit helps to coordinate Open Air in Market Square, an outdoor bazaar that takes place on Saturdays throughout the summer, as well as other park programs.

When construction wraps up this fall, Trimble says the park will have "harvest tables" with bench seating, rows of new trees, public artwork with an "orchard ladder" theme defining the park's entranceway, attractive brick pavers, and an elevated stage that will be used for live music, outdoor movies, and other public performances.

Attractive new bus shelters will also be installed outside of Market Square Park. Parkworks and Cleveland Public Art, two nonprofit groups that worked on the park's redesign, say the bus shelters will be well-used. The Lorain and West 25th intersection has the second highest use of any transit waiting area in the city, second only to Public Square.


Source: Ben Trimble
Writer: Lee Chilcote