Announcing
Thankful Thursdays
Inspired by our patrons support
we are pleased to offer
HALF OFF
any appetizer
with the purchase of any entree
every Thursday in August!
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Gaia Mama
So many people have been interested in another side project of Dandelion - that baby belly Julie is sporting! The little sprout is due August 22nd, so you might see a little bit less of Julie around the cafe in the next month or two, but you can keep up to date on her planned homebirth on her mama blog: Gaia Mama |
IN THE COOLER
Artisan Root Beer
Virgil's Root Beer is one man's passion to create the finest
root beer ever produced.
It's a micro-brewed & made with all-natural ingredients.
They use herbs imported from around the world and unbleached pure cane
sugar. The recipe uses the finest ingredients: Anise
in Spain, Licorice in France, Vanilla in Madagascar, Cinnamon in
Ceylon, Cloves and Nutmeg in Indonesia, Wintergreen and Cassia Oil in
China, Pimento Berry oil in Jamaica, Balsam oil in Peru and back home
Sweet Birch and Molasses in the USA.
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New Business
on the Block!
Michael Arthur would like to announce the opening of his new acupuncture studio: Michael Arthur
Acupuncture The studio is located at at 622 N. Thornton Avenue, Suite
B, Orlando, FL, 32803.
It is right behind
Dandelion Communitea
Cafe!
Please stop by and see their new space and meet Michael!
If you have any questions about acupuncture and its numerous benefits for your health and well-being, please give Michael a call at 407-574-2871.
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Your Water Fillin' Station!
We are proud to be the first cafe in Florida to partner with TapIt to serve as a filling station for water bottlers on the go using our filtered water supply.
We long ago stopped selling bottled water once we learned about the issues surrounding water privatization & urge you to educate yourself on this topic, as it is a critical issue for our entire global community.
New: Special report on Fiji Water & Your WATER footprint!l
Thanks to alert customer Brian O'Hollaran for tapping us!
Available Exclusively At Dandelion Communitea Cafe
(for the moment)!
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Affiliations Julie's Radio Show Airing on WPRK 91.5 FM ______  Think Local First! ______  Our Neighborhood
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 Our Approach to Food
______
 Our Seal of Approval
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Greetings!
On the eve of motherhood (more info on that here), I sit in gratitude & joy to be bringing my child into such a great community. With the recent success of phase one of our Community Supported Enterprise (CSE) plan to shift Dandy into a place where it can thrive in our community, I have been so encouraged by the faith, support and well wishes coming our way. In the last month as people express their support for Dandelion, I've come to realize that the work we do to educate the community about healthy living has impacted so many lives in a positive way. My signature phrase is "Be the change you wish to see!" (thank you, Gandhi for your example!) and all the effort that goes into running a conscious business has been well worth it after hearing all of the stories & impressions our patrons have been sharing with me. In this newsletter, I want to introduce our philosophy behind flexitarianism. I've gotten a lot of questions about how to make the transition to a healthier diet, and in each newsletter moving forward, I will highlight a different aspect of my personal journey for inspiration on what incremental change you can incorporate into your life for a healthier, happier you. It is up to each of us to make meaningful measures to improve our lives & it's time to fully realize that YOU are the one you've been waiting for! |
 Gratefully yours, Julie Norris, Co-Proprietor
Dandelion Communitea Cafe
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Go Flexitarian
What the heck is a flexitarian, you ask?
 We loosely define it as: a person who makes conscious consumption decisions,
but it usually entails a reduction in processed foods, meat and/or
dairy consumption with an increase in whole foods, organics and
local/seasonal ingredients.
Why Flexitarian?
In these changing times, sensible flexibility is the key to taking
responsibility for any personal habits that may have contributed to the
current environmental & social crisis of dis-ease and unhappiness
our consumer culture has become accustomed to in recent years.
Nothing has had more collective impact on our wellness than the food on our fork,
and unbeknownst to many of us, we've been part of a large-scale
experiment at the hands of efficiency-minded food manufacturers who are
eyeing a bottom line with disregard for the side affects to human,
animal and planetary well-being.
The mass production & processing of "foodstuff" has yielded
highly subsidized, nutrient deficient and allergy prone foods that are
typically loaded with chemicals, additives, preservatives and colorings
that our bodies simply do not know what to do with. Diabetes, heart disease, obesity and hormone difficulties abound on this low nutrient, low cost fake food diet.
In the process, animal husbandry practices have long strayed from the
idyllic farm with healthy & happy cows at pasture to virtual
overcrowded prisons wrought with disease and a quality of life that is
next to none.
By making conscious consumption decisions one step at a time,
you can change your eating habits by losing your addictions to sugar,
unhealthy fats and reduce your exposure to toxins, antibiotics and
other harmful ingredients that have infiltrated our mass produced food
system.
Resources for Flexitarians
Stay Tuned...
Interested in joining the flexitarian movement but confused about where to start? Stay tuned as Julie outlines the first ten steps of her flexitarian journey to help motivate you.
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Communitea Gift Card Investment Program
Invest in our growth!
The second phase of our Community Supported Enterprise (CSE) program is up & running! Enough people have chipped in to relieve the immediate cash crisis, that we now feel comfortable offering our loyal patrons a true investment in our growth.
In a nutshell:
- Buy a gift card
- Get MORE $value than you paid for! (Earn up to $200)
- We issue you a series of gift cards over time.
- At your option, we will also feature you on our blog & in our Dandy Investors Directory, with a link to your business or blog, .
Did you chip in $25 or more? You can convert your chip
in to a gift card investment. Click here for details.
Seven smart investors have taken advantage of this opportunity to invest locally, earning them a nice return on their purchase.
Investor Profile: Jim Lussier with Mateer Harbert
 Jim Lussier is excited when his legal skills help small businesses succeed. He notes: "The spirit of 'new age' entrepreneurs like the Dandelion Communitea family makes me excited and happy. Quality products and service spring from quality people."
Jim is a local attorney working for Mateer & Harbert.
We can tell you from experience that he is a very smart man who gives well thought out & sound legal advice.
Jim chipped in $11.11, donated legal counsel (priceless!) & invested at $250.
Want to join Jim? Check out our Communitea Investment Opportunities
Prefer to get a cash return? Micro-lending is also an option.
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From Farm To Fork
Aug. 14, 2009 | By Megan Stokes in The Voice
 When Sarah Slack feels like having a salad, she doesn't head for the refrigerator. Instead she goes out to the garden behind her home near the Orlando International Airport and picks salad greens and peppers to quench her craving."It's a great feeling to know where my food comes from and to have everything so fresh," she said.More East Orlando residents are jumping on the local food movement that has been brewing in the area for nearly a year.
Last month Ourlando's Local Food Alliance - a Progressive Local Alliance for Community Enrichment program - had its first public meeting where more than 50 local restaurant owners, farmers, grocers, policy makers and community members brainstormed ways to get more locally grown food on Orlando's menu.The benefits of local food include a more healthful, fresh product, a stronger connection between the consumer and their plate, reduced carbon emissions by cutting transportation, and lower food costs.
Join this Alliance TODAY at our Communitea Potluck! (See below for details!)
Read entire article here: From farm to fork | The Voice
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Update: Keep Dandelion Cooking!
This Portion of the Program Was A Success!
We raised $6,500
in online & in-cafe contributions!
(But, why?
Click here for the story.)
See who chipped in!
We officially ended this phase of the program on August 11th, but some awesome folks are still wanting to chip in.
If you are one of these people, you can do so in the cafe by adding it to your bill OR you can still do so online here.
This is part one of our Community Supported Enterprise program. For background on our situation & to see the full program, please visit: http://dandelioncommunitea.com/sustain/ |
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Upcoming Events at Dandelion
Green Drinks, Thursday, August 20 @ 7pm [More Info]
Topics: Local Food Economy & Fall Gardening
Green
Drinks is the only place in Orlando where you can eat, drink, enjoy
great music and talk and learn about the issues concerning OurLando's
community.
New Moon Circle, Thursday, August 20 @ 7pm [More Info]
Full Moon Circle, Thursday, September 4th @ 7pm
These rhythm circles are geared for musicians that play softer drums
like frame, tabla, jugs, bells or any other type of light percussion
instruments. Guitar, sitar, didgeridoo, signing bowls, flute,
harmonica, signing and laughter also have a home under the Bodhi Tree
each and every New and Full Moon.
Art Opening, Thursday, September 9th @ 7pm [More Info]
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Community Potlucks: All bellies agree - yummy & fun!
Our vegetarian potlucks are the newest bestest community gathering events in town!
Each evening is open to the public, and hosted by a local organization. There are different "themes" so please be sure to check the potluck page for details.
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