'The Plant' at Piedmont Biofuels: The Beet, Weaver Street's E-Newsletter

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'The Plant' at Piedmont Biofuels:
Now on the Piedmont Farm Tour!
by Emily Buehler, Contributing Writer
Piedmont Biofuels is no stranger to the Piedmont Farm Tour, but this year "The Plant" on Lorax Lane in Pittsboro makes its debut. The Plant makes commercial biodiesel—up to 4000 gallons a day. Visitors can see the process up close, but that doesn't begin to describe a visit to The Plant. The Plant is located at the end of a peaceful, forested road just east of Pittsboro. The Lorax greets you at the end of the driveway, and once you are amid the brightly colored buildings and wacky flower planters, you feel a bit like you're in a Dr. Seuss book. More

Piedmont Farm Tour
Farm Tour Kick-off!
Jazz Brunch!
Earth Action Day

Board Meeting

Farmers' Markets
Maple View Challenge

April Wine Dinner
Local Farms/Local Art

Weekly Produce Specials
Weekly Meat Specials

Value Recipe: Barlow's Blackened Catfish



'The Plant' at Piedmont Biofuels continued
The site was built from the remains of a government funded defense project, now rehabilitated into a small community of businesses and gardens: in addition to Piedmont Biofuels, space at The Plant is rented to an accounting firm that specializes in green tax incentives; the Abundance Foundation, a nonprofit with the goal of increasing public awareness of sustainable energy usage and local food consumption; and the Eastern Carolina Organics farmer co-op, which stores produce at the site before distribution. Near the entrance is a white building with pink trim, reminiscent of a giant glazed petit four. This is the filling station. It's straw bale with a protective coating of cob; quick and cheap to build and well-insulated. Glass windows face south, keeping the station's biodiesel tank toasty and the fuel flowing smoothly. A solar panel on the roof (with a battery backup) runs the tank's pump. Just beyond is a greenhouse of hydroponically grown lettuce, and beyond that spread more gardens. Originally, the fields produced vegetable oil for biodiesel production, but this became impractical and Piedmont Biofuels looked to other sources. Now the farm grows a wide variety of produce and sells at markets. Another greenhouse houses the worm composting operation: the worms are munching on the shredded paper waste from The Plant's offices, as well as food waste from the nearby Chatham Marketplace Co-op. Biodiesel production begins with a giant cement-colored tank, labeled "FEEDSTOCK OIL" in wobbly green stencil print. The incoming oil waits in this holding tank to be pumped across the road to the reactor room. They are currently using chicken fat, a waste product of chicken processing plants, abundant in North Carolina. Originally they used eastern Carolina soybean oil, but this grew expensive so they learned to use chicken fat. Next they plan to learn to use low-quality waste vegetable oils from area restaurants. To make biodiesel, the oil is mixed with methanol and a catalyst. An oil sample is taken, and the reaction inputs are adjusted; this must be done with every batch of oil that comes in, because slight variations can cause the products to be off. Then the methanol and catalyst are injected into the reaction tank. In five hours, about 2000 gallons of biodiesel are produced; this is moved to the "settle tank" and the process begins again. Working from 7 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week, The Plant produces over 100,000 gallons a month; they are at capacity until their new settle tanks are ready. Across the street from the reactor room is the lab. The oils samples are tested here, and after reaction, the biodiesel is tested to make sure it meets standards. Data and a fuel sample are saved for each batch; twice when customers had quality problems, Piedmont Biofuels had the data to show the problem was not the fuel. Test samples of biodiesel are taken during the washing phase, which happens in a vast warehouse of tanks. While the biodiesel-making reaction seems simple enough, many contaminants must be washed from the end product. This is done with water, sprayed in and drained out repeatedly, and with a chemical filter that pulls out soaps, methanol, and glycerine. The fuel must also be dried by bubbling air through it. At last, the fuel is stored in the red holding tank, where it waits to be loaded into a truck outside. You can read about biofuels online, but it's a complicated topic. Concerns have been raised about the inability of biofuels to meet our whole society's fuel needs, the destruction of ecosystems to plant crops used for biofuels, and the costs and energy of transporting biofuel or its ingredients around the globe. There's also concern that food price increases are the result of crops going to biofuel production. Piedmont Biofuels gets beyond these issues. They're not just making biofuel; they're making locally produced biofuel, with locally grown plants or waste oils. They're committed to finding sustainable oil sources and to learning how to use new ones. For a fascinating visit on the Farm Tour, stop by The Plant and learn about biofuel production. Visit the greenhouses and the worms. And if that's not enough, did I mention they have a playground? Piedmont Farm Tour maps and buttons are available at Weaver Street Market.

Weekly Produce Specials - THESE SALES ARE EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY, April 16 through TUESDAY, April 22.


	Organic, Imported Red Plums	$2.59 lb	Special Buy
	Organic, Texas Rio Red Star Grapefruit	$1.59 lb	last of the season
	Organic, Florida Cherry Tomatoes	2 pints $5.00

Weekly Meat & Seafood Specials

	Beef Chuck Roasts	USDA Choice $3.99 lb	All natural save 80¢ lb
	Ground Beef Chuck	USDA Choice $3.99 lb	All Natural save 60¢ lb
	Local, Farm raised Catfish Fillets	$7.99 lb	All Natural save $2.00 lb
Read more about other Weaver Street Market Specials.


Value Recipe: Barlow's Blackened Catfish

INGREDIENTS: • 1 pound catfish fillets (This week's WSM special: Local farm raised, all natural Catfish Fillets $7.99/lb, save $2.00/lb!) • 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper • 2 teaspoons lemon pepper • 2 teaspoons garlic powder • 2 tablespoons butter (This Month's Co-op Advantage Special: Organic Earth Balance Buttery Sticks $2.79, 16 oz. box, reg. price $2.99) • 2 teaspoons salt • 2 teaspoons pepper • 1 cup Italian-style salad dressing (This Month's Co-op Advantage Special: Annie's Naturals Dressings $1.99, 8 oz., save $1.30!) DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking dish. 2. In a shallow, medium bowl, mix cayenne pepper, lemon pepper, garlic powder, salt and pepper. 3. Brush both sides of catfish fillets with butter. Rub fillets with the cayenne pepper mixture on both sides. 4. Heat a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat until really hot. Add fillets, and fry approximately 2 minutes on each side, until slightly blackened. 5. Arrange blackened fillets in a single layer in the prepared baking dish, and coat with Italian-style salad dressing. Bake 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until fish is easily flaked with a fork. Serves 4. from http://allrecipes.com
Find more recipes here.



Piedmont Farm Tour

Saturday, April 19 Sunday, April 20 New Hours! 1-6 pm Tickets $30, $25 in advance 35 farms to choose from 5 new farms this year! Maps and buttons available at Weaver Street Market!
Read more about the Farm Tour here.

Farm Tour Kick-Off

Thursday, April 17 6:00 - 8:00 pm on the lawn in Carrboro Meet and mingle with farmers! Enjoy live music, and taste wine by local vineyards on the tour. Buy a button/ticket and pick up a map! Purchase a Farm Tour T-shirt - 100% organic cotton!

Jazz Brunch!

Sunday, April 20 11 am - 1 pm Jazz & More Brunch at Weaver Street Market is here! Hot food, with cool tunes is a great way to start your Sunday. Inside, we'll have fresh scones, muffins and sweet pastries in our bake case; fresh, hot coffee and a barista to make that special coffee drink; and an array of eggs, grits, pancakes or French Toast to fill you up! Outside, under the oaks, you'll hear a range of local bands playing Jazz, Americana, Blues, and Bluegrass; keeping everybody happy and dancing. April 20 - The Tim Stambaugh Band - Bluegrass, Celtic, Folk & traditional.
View schedule to date here.
View more Weaver Street Market events here.

Earth Action Day

Saturday, April 26, 2008 11 am - 4 pm The Town of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department will present a new Earth Day Celebration on the plaza atop the James C. Wallace Parking Deck. Earth Action Day on the Plaza will bring Earth Day to a Chapel Hill downtown shopping and entertainment destination. A free event for the whole family, Earth Day on the Plaza will provide local residents and visitors an opportunity to learn about the various environmental issues that affect the Orange County region.
Learn more about Earth Action Day here.



Board Meeting

Wednesday, April 16 All Owners are Invited... All owners of the Co-op are invited to join the Board of Directors at a meeting with the Board's Elections Task Force on Wednesday, April 16 at 6:30pm in the conference room of the Community Realty building. The Task Force, comprised of worker and consumer owners, was convened to study and report to the Board on two areas: a clear set of election rules and a strategy for increasing voter turnout. This Task Force will present its report to the Board during a pre-meeting session before the Board's regularly scheduled meeting later that evening. For more information, contact Jacob Myers, Board chair and committee member, here.
Sign up for the Board e-newsletter here.

Farmers' Markets

Summer is fast approaching and most of the local Farmers' Markets are opening for the season, or will be soon. The following is a list of the markets we know of.

Carrboro Farmers' Market
301 West Main Street in Carrboro
Saturdays, 7 AM to 12 noon
Wednesdays, 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM starts April 9th!

Southern Village Farmers' Market
On Market Street in Southern Village
Thursdays, 4 PM to 7 PM starts May 1st!

Visit the Carrboro Farmers' Market website here.

Hillsborough Farmers' Market
At the Suntrust Parking Lot at 128 N. Churton Street
Saturdays, 8 AM to 12 noon

241 S. Churton Street just south of the new Cardinal Bank
Wednesdays, 4 PM to 7 PM

Visit the Hillsborough Farmers' Market website here.

Orange County Farmers' Market
At the Public Market House in Hillsborough
Saturdays, 8 AM to 12 noon

The Farmers of Orange's South Estes Farmers' Market
201 S. Estes Drive in the University Mall parking lot outside A Southern Season
Saturdays, 8 AM to 12 noon

Visit the Farmers' of Orange website here.
Learn more about the South Estes Farmers' Market here.

Durham Farmers' Market
In the Pavilion at Durham Central Park on Foster Street
Saturdays, 8 AM to 12 noon
Wednesdays, 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM starts May 7th!

Visit the Durham Farmers' Market website here.

Pittsboro Farmers' Market
At the County Fairgrounds off 64 East in Pittsboro
Thursdays, 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM

Visit the Pittsboro Farmers' Market website here.

Also look for the Fearrington Farmers' Market on Tuesdays at 4 PM to start sometime in April, and the Saxapahaw Farmers' Market on Saturdays from 5PM to 8 PM to begin in May!

Visit the Fearrington Farmers' Market website here.
Visit the Saxapahaw Farmers' Market website here.

Maple View Challenge

Sunday, April 20
Moorehead Planetarium
Race 11:00 am
Register 10:00 am
Ever heard of the Krispy Kreme Challenge, where crazy students at NC State eat a whole dozen donuts? Well this year we are starting Chapel Hill's own home grown version of this whimsical road race. Nourish International, a UNC student-run aid organization, is teaming up with Maple View Ice Cream to put on a race of epic (pro)portions!

Participants will run from the Planetarium on UNC's campus down Cameron Avenue to Carrborro, eat a pint of Maple View ice cream, and race back as quick as they can to compete for prizes including an iPod Touch, $100 to Maggiano's Italian Restaurant, $90 to Rockfish Grille, one full weekend of paddling or camping from REI and many more! Prizes will be given to serious competitors and leisurely walkers too, so everyone has a chance to win. It's like any other 5K, but with Ice Cream to boot!

The race will take place on Sunday, April 20th and is open to anyone interested. Students, Chapel Hill and Carrborro residents, kids, runners, walkers...if you like Maple View ice cream, you can take part! Registration is only $15, and you can sign up this Saturday at the Carrboro and Dairyland Maple View Ice Cream locations from 12:00-3:00 or sign up on the morning of the race. So sign up, even the cows are excited!


April Wine Dinner

Australian Wines with Importer, Robert Whale Monday, April 21 7:00 - 9:30 pm For this exciting wine dinner, Panzanella welcomes special guest, Robert Whale, president and founder of Robert Whale Selections, importer of fine Australian wines. With 2 decades of experience traveling and tasting throughout Australia and New Zealand in search of unique, site-specific, boutique wines, Robert has become identified with top-quality wine producers from Down Under. The importer's book represents wines that are food-compatible with balance, structure and elegance. This is an opposite style of many Australian wines, which frequently offer more flavor and oak than elegance and character. Please join us for this celebration of delicious, wonderfully made Australian wines, and meet an importer who dares to be different. Plenty of marvelous food will be prepared by Panzanella Chef, Chris Capron. The cost of this event is $45 per person; space is limited, so reserve early. Please pay in advance and pick up a ticket for this tasting at either Panzanella or the customer service desk at Weaver Street Market in Carrboro.
Visit Panzanella's website to view all menus (lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch).
Sign up for Panzanella's Enewsletter here.

Local Farms/Local Art

A Group Art Exhibit Celebrating the 13th Annual Piedmont Farm Tour Now through June 1, 2008 Public Reception: Monday, April 28, 5:30-7:30 PM This April and May, Panzanella presents a juried exhibit of works based on NC farms. The show celebrates the thirteenth annual Piedmont Farm Tour, which takes place Saturday and Sunday, April 19th and 20th. The exhibit includes painting, drawing and photography created by 26 North Carolina artists. Vote for Art: Now through Sunday, April 27th, Panzanella guests will be invited to vote for their favorite piece in the show. The 3 artists with the most votes will win gift certificates for use at any Weaver Street Market and Panzanella. Prizes will be awarded at the Artist Reception, April 28.