Cedar House Inn & Yurts Featured on Green Gigs

Recently we received an email from Green Gigs, an online blog about green careers, asking us if we would like to be inteviewed for a future story. We were pleased to help.

You can view the interview and story at Green Gigs.

First Friday Free Concerts Schedule 5/1-10/2

Come stay with us and attend one of the free concerts in Dahlonega's Hancock Park.

All concerts are held from 6:30-8:30pm. Arrive early and bring a chair or blanket if you want to sit on the ground. Concerts are on the first Friday of each month beginning 5/1 and ending 10/2/2009. The schedule is as follows:

May 1- Remember When Band- playing songs between 1950-1990.

June 5- Fools Gold- Mountain jazz with combination of rock, blues, country, bluegrass.

July 3- Two bands are featured- Roots and Branches- bluegrass/mountain music, Barefoot Creek-Grand Ol Opry sounds.

August 7- Kurt Thomas- unique voice and compelling style, songwriter.

September 4- Russo and Noe- songs of Sinatra, Rat Pack, Las Vegas style.

October 2- Emerald Rose- Celtic music.

Earth Day- Start Using Reusable Grocery Bags

Happy Earth Day everyone.

I wish that Earth Day was not just a day but something that lasts all year. Imagine if everyone was mindful about recycling, saving electricity and conserving water and gasoline. The world would be a better place for our children and grandchildren in the future.

One thing that everyone could do that requires very little effort and expense is to start using reusable grocery bags when they shop. Every store now sells them but I seldom see anyone using them. America seems to be addicted to those little plastic bags that choke the landfills, pollute the roadways and require fossil fuels/oil in the manufacturing process.

If you do not currently use reusable bags I challenge you to start. Just purchase a few and place them in your car. When you arrive at the grocery store take them inside with you. When you are finished shopping and head to the check out have them ready for the bagger. When asked "paper or plastic" say "neither, I brought my own".

When I go grocery shopping with my wife it seems that she is the only one using reusable bags. It's really sad in my opinion. One day those little plastic disposal bags may be illegal. I certainly hope so.

Do you part to help the Earth. Start using reusable bags today.

Inspiring Action

Be a climate activist on Earth Day and throughout the year. As an eco friendly inn we are trying to do our part however everyone needs to be more mindful of the negative consequences man has on this Earth. A change in thinking and living is not that difficult.

Cedar House Inn and Yurts on Peta Blog

Our inn is mentioned often on blogs since it is somewhat unique compared to traditional bed and breakfast inns. Some of the unique characteristics are eco- friendly, green, yurts, vegetarian and vegan breakfast available and much more.

PETA, an animal rights organization, mentioned our yurts in their blog on the "Top Five Ways to spend your Tax Refund. The yurts were mentioned on the 5th way which was to stay at a vegetarian bed and breakfast inn.

We have supported PETA in the past by giving them 2 free nights for a drawing/contest they were sponsoring. We support their efforts to educate the public on the benefits to the Earth and person in a vegetarian lifestyle.

In regards to serving vegetarian breakfast we do it for the environment, animal rights and it is the healthy thing to do. We primarily follow a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet as innkeepers.

The PETA blog entry is here.

Dahlonega Omnium Bike Race 5/30-31

Come stay with us and attend Dahlonega Omnium Bike Race May 30-31,2009

Montaluce Winery and Estates will be presenting the inaugural Dahlonega Omnium on May 30-31. This 2 day cycling event will bring some of the top Regional Pro and Amateur racers to Lumpkin Co. The Dahlonega Omnium is proud to be a part of a points championship series, the Georgia Cycling Gran Prix.

The Dahlonega Omnnium will consist of 3 events, an individual time trial, Circuit race and Road Race. All events will have a Pro, Amateur, and Women's categories. All 3 events are high speed and fun to watch as riders compete for over $7,500 in cash and prizes. Everyone should come out to Montaluce Winery and Estates for a great weekend of bike racing, food and family. This event is sure to excite everyone as racers are tested lap after lap on the epic climbs and technical turns.

Racer registration: Registration

Hemp - The Environmentally Sustainable Alternative (Part 1)

Hemp has over 25,000 product uses that help the environment including paper, plastics and food. Hemp paper saves the forests and hemp plastic does not require oil. The plant is easy to grow and requires no fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. Why is it illegal in the USA? This is the industrial version. Not the kind you smoke. We use it in our composting toilets at the inn. It is crazy that our government bans this wonderful plant.

Rain Barrel or Water Butt

With the droughts of last year a distant memory and the frequent recent rains we have had many are not probably thinking about water conservation. Last year rain barrels were popular and many found they were hard to find due to market demand by people wanting to save rainwater for garden irrigation.

We added a metal roof onto the inn to catch our rainwater but have not added the required gutters and rainwater chains. Rain barrels are also part of the project.

In the United Kingdom rainwater barrels are called water butts. They come in various shapes and sizes like the rain barrels you can purchase in the USA.

One company has made a rain barrel or water butt in the shape of a persons bottom complete with butt crack and a tattoo above the thong line. They even come in several skin tone colors.

Unfortunately they cannot be purchased in the US. Can you imagine some neighborhoods trying to deny the use of these water butts in the deed restrictions?

What's wrong with looking at a good butt? And a butt that saves precious water?

For more information visit water butt.

Where does your kleenex come from?

At Cedar House Inn we use recycled content tissue and paper products exclusively. Such products can be purchased at most grocery stores. We happen to like the Publix Greenwise paper products. They are not only recycled content but also affordable.

Kleenex which is made by the giant company Kimberly Clarke cuts down ancient old growth forests to make tissue for wiping noses and other things. This is not only environmentally destructive to the trees, wildlife and the Earth. It is also irresponsible.

It's almost as crazy as using clean drinking water to water your grass. That's another topic.

Please watch this video for more information.

Dahlonega GA 1st Friday Free Concert Series

First Friday Concert Series

Location: CORNER OF NORTH PARK STREET/WARWICK STREET IN DOWNTOWN DAHLONEGA

Join us in Hancock Park for this concert series. Bring a picnic and enjoy and array of music throughout the year. Make your plans now to attend all of the shows. Bring friends and family for fun in downtown Dahlonega. Dancing and socializing are encouraged.

This program is supported in part by the Grassroots Arts Program of the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly and in partnership with the Sustainable Arts Society in Blue Ridge."

For more information and schedule contact the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 706-864-3513 or visit the event calendar on our web site.

Dahlonega, GA Appalachian Jams 4/18-11/7

Stay with us and enjoy traditional Appalachian mountain music on the Dahlonega Square.

Downtown Dahlonega Hosts Appalachian Music Jams April 18 Through November 7

As the name implies, the Appalachian Jam gives traditional mountain music players the chance to get together and celebrate the kind of music that has been performed in the Appalachian Mountains for generations. Musicians are invited to bring their instruments and gather on the historic Public Square to jam with the scheduled musicians. Everyone else should come on down and listen or dance. Bring a chair or stool and stay awhile.

For information, contact the Convention & Visitors Bureau at 706-864-3513, or check the event calendar on our web site.

Six Gap Century Bike Race Registration Now Open

Registration for the 21st Annual Six Gap Century and Three Gap Fifty Bike Ride to be held on Sunday, September 27, 2009, is now open.

Every year we look forward to our returning and new guests who participate in this event.

This year there is also the 2nd Annual Valley Ride which is a 35 mile course for those not wishing to ride longer distances. The Valley Ride features some of the most scenic mountainside in the Southeast USA. It will cast a special spotlight onto Yahoola Valley, Turner's Corner and R-Ranch in the Mountains which are located near Cedar House Inn and Yurts.

A major change was made to the route last year bringing the Century Ride up to 11,200 vertical feet of climbing. For registration information, route maps, cue sheets and elevation profiles for the 6 Gap Century, 3 gap Fifty and Valley Ride visit web site.