Is everything at the farmers' market local?

In past weeks, we've been uncovering the mysteries of the local farmers' market. We've asked: "Is the Farmers' Market Safe?" and we've debated affordability in "Is the Farmers' Market More Expensive."

Here's another question I receive often at the Market Info Booth: Is everything at the farmers' market local? You know, it's always the most straight forward questions that can be the most difficult to answer. And in this, unfortunately, the answer will vary from market to market. 

When you go to a farmers' market, it's easy to assume that everything is local. I mean, that's the point, right? Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. We have a local produce market in town that advertises "Farm Fresh Produce." And it does have farm fresh (what most people would assume means "local") produce. However, that "farm fresh" produce is few and far between. In fact, most of the food is shipped in from all over the country, and world, just like the grocery store (which also has a few local items from time to time). 

Thankfully, our farmers' market (completely separate from the local produce market) is all local - with a few exceptions like the coffee isn't grown here, but it's roasted here; or the olive oil that is raised and bottled in Italy, but whose owner lives in our town (the olive orchard is her retirement), brings the oil back home, and is permitted to sell it at our market. But baring those few exceptions, and thanks to a dedicated market board (who screens out any non-locals), any of the fresh fruits and veggies that are sold at our market come from right here in the Brazos Valley. As a result, I can feel good knowing that when I shop at our farmers' market, I'm supporting our local economy. 

I wish I could say that all farmers' markets can boast the same roots, but unfortunately, you'll need to ask anytime you discover a new market. Other ways to tell? Get to know your local food system (check out your state's or county's agricultural charts, talk to Master Gardeners, or local farmers). What's in season each month? If you see cucumbers in December, something's fishy. You better ask.

What about you? Does your farmers' market require that the food be produced locally? If not, how do determine what's local or not? Do you rely on favorite vendors and established relationships? Or do you ask around?

Market to Table - May 28, 2009

Let me tell you. It's been a beautiful and diverse week in food. With two parties last weekend (one with friends and the other to celebrate my Dad's birthday), we added loads of wonderful leftovers to all the goodies I reported on Monday's Local Diet Update. But first, here are this week's highlights...

Veggie Sandwich and Sauteed Veggies - The leftover hummus in the fridge from a friend's party was just begging to be used as a sandwich spread. Plus, with local tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, and onions, a little partially-local guacamole, and my homemade whole-wheat bread (local honey and locally ground flour), well... isn't a nice thick sandwich obvious (not to mention look delicious)? Add a side of sauteed swiss chard and onions from my backyard garden and you have a delicious feast! 

Salmorejo and Smashed Potatoes - A friend of mine from Spain offered me a special Spanish treat this week: Salmorejo. I'd never tried it before. In fact, I don't believe I've ever eaten a soup intended to be served chilled. Well, consider me sold on chilled soups! It was cool, refreshing, and delicious, (particularly after the warm day we spent in the kitchen making jam and baking two cakes). The ingredients were mostly from our local farmers' market (tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, bread). Check it out...

Salmorejo

• 6 medium tomatoes
• 2 large cloves garlic
• 1-1/2 cups stale bread
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• salt and pepper

Soak the bread in water. When tender, remove excess water and mix all ingredients in a blender. Adjust olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste. Chill in fridge and serve.

I enjoyed the soup with a side of all-local Crash Hot Potatoes. The meal was muy delicioso! Gracias Pilar!

Fruit Salad - You didn't think I was going to let you get away without a glimpse of all that local fruit, did you? This is the time of the year in Texas when some of my favorite fruits are available all at the same time. Strawberry season is just wrapping up and blueberry and peach seasons are just starting. I brought them all together for a colorful fruit salad. Together with a handful of Texas pecans and a cup of sage tea (sage from my backyard garden), breakfasts this week were 100% local and completely yummy!

Not pictured are Dave's dinners: egg noodles (farmers' market) and pasta sauce (not local) with a side of steamed green beans (backyard garden) and leftover barbeque from my Dad's party (not local) with a side of steamed carrots and potatoes (farmers' market); and a few meals of my own: all-local cucumber-tomato-onion salad (leftovers from Dad's party); roasted, all-local potatoes, onions, green pepper, and tomatoes (also leftovers from Dad's party), all-local chunky potato soup...

Now who in their right mind would dismiss the wonder and diversity of local food? And I didn't even get a chance to cook that spaghetti squash I bought at the farmers' market last weekend (and believe me, do I have plans for it). I have to say, all these leftovers were a real treat this week. I'm so used to cooking the same old things for myself all the time (I'm a lazy and reluctant cook) that freshening meals up with leftovers prepared by someone else's loving hands was absolutely fabulous!

Now quit drooling (it's not good for your keyboard), head on out to your farmers' market this weekend, and discover the wonderful world of local food for yourself. In the meantime, happy (and mindful) eating!

Barter

In the past few months, a wonderful new world has opened up to me: bartering!

That's right, it's the age old tradition of exchanging goods and services between individuals instead of money and it's alive and well in Bryan-College Station. 

Now until recently, I didn't realize I had much to barter with (or have the confidence to offer what I had to barter), but my time has come. I hope to eventually have enough veggies in the back yard to barter with and to give away to friends and loved ones, but for now, my greatest bartering chip is my homemade, organic, partially-local, honey whole-wheat bread. And for those of you who have tried this recipe, you know it kicks butt! We're talking seriously awesome bread here!

Well, in the past, I've exchanged bread for stewed tomatoes, but most recently, it's bread for fruits and bread for whole wheat flour. Who needs money? Ok. We still need money, but honestly, this bartering stuff is super cool! And I'm hoping to do more of it as my garden grows.

So tell me. Have you ever bartered goods or services? What were they? I hear there's a German community in Spain that barters for everything (replacing their need for money entirely). Have you ever lived in (or visited) such a community?

Jammin' Season

It's that time of year! Get out the water bath canner, the mason jars, and stock up on your favorite fruits. It's jammin' season!

With a batch of strawberry jam already under my belt earlier this year, I was ready to spend some serious jam-making time in the kitchen. Last week, my friend Tammy brought me the season's first peaches promising me a chin-dripping experience. She wasn't kidding! Not only were the peaches gorgeous, but the were sweet, juicy, and PERFECT for a batch of jam. 

Then, as I reported yesterday, I loaded up on blackberries at the farmers' market Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon then became a jam-fest with my friend Pilar as we made two batches of blackberry jam (my mother-in-law's favorite). So in addition to the batch of strawberry jam in April, the batch of peach jam last week, and Saturday's batches of blackberry jam, I'm well on my way towards tasty, homemade gifts that will last throughout the next year. 

One small change in this year's jam session. Last year, I used regular old pectin from the grocery. This year, I jammed smarter. I picked up several boxes of Pomona's Universal Pectin from the natural food store. It's cheaper per batch AND because it uses calcium to activate the fruit's natural pectin, it only uses 2 cups of sugar per batch (vs 5-7 cups of sugar with the other brand that uses sugar to activate the pectin). And since I'm buying organic sugar in bulk (which can get pricey fast), less sugar is good for our bodies and my budget. 

It's amazing to think back just over a year, before I had canned my first jar of anything. How difficult I assumed canning would be, yet here I am canning like a pro! So for those of you hesitant to try, get on out there and give it a go! Ask around for someone to show you (you'll be an expert after the first time, I promise). Chances are, there are people near you who would love to pass on their years of canning experience. Or worst case scenario, check out Alton Brown's canning episodes (Part 1 and Part 2) on YouTube.

Not ready to invest in the supplies? Check out Craigslist or ask around. Many of the supplies now in my home were hand-me-downs from friends and some of Dave's co-workers. When they found out I was canning, they were more than happy to pass on those canning supplies taking up space in the closet at home. Thanks again, everyone!

Now a year after my first jamming session, I'm getting requests from family for refills of their favorite jams. It's about as perfect a birthday, housewarming, or holiday gift as you can get. It's simple, frugal, and will keep friends and loved ones coming back for more. Now, how about one more batch of peach...

For more on how to make jam, visit "Strawberries Preserves" (May 2008)

For more on using Pomona's Universal Pectin, visit "After all that Picking" (Oct 2008)

Local diet update - May 25, 2009

Great news in local food this week. I'm currently harvesting onions, kale, sage, basil, lambs-quarter, green beans, collard greens, lettuce, and swiss chard. All I can say is my meals this week will be on the green side. And a friend has been bringing by loads of goodies too, like onions, chard, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, and watermelon (pictured here). Of course, that means I didn't need much at the farmers' market, but that certainly didn't keep me from browsing. 

Available at this week's Brazos Valley Farmers' Market were:

Veggies: garlic, yellow onions, red onions, white onions, spinach, turnips, beets, swiss chard, yellow squash, red potatoes, white potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, herbs, green beans, cauliflower, eggplant, spaghetti squash, zucchini, and much more...

Fruits: dried cranberries, dried apples, blackberries

Canned Goods: jams, jellies, salsas, pickles, chow-chow, relishes, tomato juice, canned veggies, pickled eggs

Baked Goods: both white and wheat flour egg noodles, yeast breads, sweet breads, cakes, pies, pastries, cornbread, puppy cookies

Other Foods: eggs, olive oil, locally-roasted coffees, grits, cornmeal, whole wheat flour, trail mix, locally-roasted peanuts

Plants: ornamental plants, veggie plants, herbs plants, flowers, fruit trees

Crafts: crocheted boxes, pot-holders, jewelry, soaps, candles, bags, aprons, handmade glass marbles

I concentrated my farmers' market efforts on things I'm not currently producing myself. That's a dozen eggs, four containers of blackberries, dried cranberries, whole wheat flour, puppy cookies, and a spaghetti squash (I couldn't resist). It feels good to be actually producing most of our veggie needs out of the backyard. In fact, it's downright astonishing considering we just started the garden last October! Of course, we still have plenty of red potatoes in the fridge, so not ALL our veggies are from the backyard, but that's pretty close. I might just have farmer blood in me after all!

Check back on Thursday for the "Market to Table" post to see what became of all these local goodies. In the meantime, check out a farmers' market near you (or start your own garden, or find a wonderfully generous friend...) and discover the wonderful world of local food.

Have a great week everyone. And, as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

WTAW Interview

Our local Farmers' Market is in the news with a radio interview that Tanya Miller (VP of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market) and I (as Brazos Locavore Coordinator and founder of the Friends of the Market) did with local radio host Debbie Davis on WTAW. 

Check it out!

Random Friday Thought - Compassion

Last weekend, Kelsey was sick. Really sick. She slept the better part of both days, moaned constantly, cried each time she had to move, and actually bit both Dave and I when we each tried to pick her up. The poor dog was feeling about as crummy as it gets.

Later, during a meditation, I thought back upon the moment that Kelsey bit me. It drew blood, was painful, and ended up getting infected (sheesh!). But at no point was I angry with her. It was this lack of anger that had me baffled. Why was I not angry?

It occurred to me and it was such a simple answer, really - because I knew why she did it; because I knew she was in pain and I therefore had compassion for her even as she lashed out at me. 

This, then, became the focus of my meditation throughout the entire week - that if we truly were able to understand why people do what they do, we would never experience anger, only compassion. In a world where we are so quick to judge, so quick to assume, so quick to react; perhaps if we could pause, imagine life in the other person's shoes, and show true compassion we could create a very different world...

Thanks for letting me be philosophical for the day. Have a great weekend everyone!

Market to Table - May 21, 2009

With an abundance of red potatoes from the market this week, our meals were definitely following a general theme: 'tater goodness! There were boiled potatoes, steamed potatoes, baked potatoes, and... We'll let's get right to it.

Potato Stir Fry - As usual, just start yanking goodies from the fridge. In this case, it was mushrooms, red potatoes, carrots, arugula, dill, yellow squash, onions, and a few teaspoons of cooked wheat berries (all local so far); and a few teaspoons of black beans (not local). I sauteed all the veggies in olive oil (also from the farmers' market), then added the wheat berries and beans in the last moments to heat through. As much stir fry as I eat, you'd think I'd eventually get tired of it, but when the ingredients change from day to day, it's hard to get bored. And it's wonderful colorful! Other stir fries this week included kale, lambs-quarter, basil, and chard - all from my backyard garden. Mmmm!

Scrambled Eggs and Smashed Potatoes - Thankfully, Dave is a potato lover too and enjoys those "Smashed Potatoes" I've been making lately. I have to admit, they are amazing and addictive (and super easy to make)! Along side a couple scrambled eggs, Dave enjoyed several meals of breakfast-for-dinner this week. And, of course, it was completely local! Sneaky as I am, I also added steamed green beans (from our back yard) to a few of his meals this week as well. I'll make a veggie-lover out of him yet!

Nirvana on a Plate (ok, it's just fruit, but it was awesome) - It's not completely local, but most of it is. That's local blackberries to the right. On the left (check this out): I took two dried dates, sliced them in half and removed the seed from each, then stuffed each with a few flakes of coconut and a couple pecans. The stuffed dates are so chewy and sweet they're like candy (with absolutely no sugar added). Of course, the pecans are local, but the dates and coconut aren't. You just can't beat this combination though. It was inspired by a friend at the farmers' market who is a raw foodie. She's also inspired me to make my own raw trail mixes. This week's mix was texas pecans, dried cranberries (bought at the farmers' market), and some of those coconut flakes. Mmm, mmmm! Snacking never tastes so good!

There's more potatoes to be enjoyed so stayed tuned for local goodies next week. I haven't made potato soup in awhile, and there's always Crunchy Chicken's "snappy salted potatoes"...

Find your local farmers' market, join a CSA, or grow your own - once you discover the wonderful world of local food, eating well takes on a whole new meaning. Happy (and mindful) eating!

Brazos Locavores - June Field Trip Announcement

Check out the Brazos Locavores site for the lastest field trip announcement. June's trip will be to Richardson Farms CSA, just outside of Bryan. Hope to see you there!

Is the Farmers' Market more expensive?

As I promote our local farmers' market at festivals and fairs all over town, I get a variety of questions from the community. For instance, two weeks ago I posted about the safety of buying at the farmers' market after having spoken to a concerned citizen. But the question I get more often than any other is: Is the farmers' market more expensive? 

Well, that's a tough question. And my typical answer starts with "Yes and No." We touched on this briefly last month with actual costs, but not so much from a philosophical point of view. For that, we're going to need to delve a little deeper into the market to answer this completely.

Prices

First, let's strictly talk prices. Comparing dollar for dollar, some things I've found are actually cheaper at the market, some are more expensive, and some are about the same. And of course it all depends on what's on sale at your local grocery at any given time. 

Cheaper - at our market, the eggs are WAY cheaper than what you'd find at the grocery. We're running $2.50 for a dozen free-range eggs. Last time I looked in the grocery, it was anywhere from $3.50 a dozen or some are that much per half dozen.

About the same - Veggies, I find, are about the same price (again strictly dollar for dollar) as you'll find in the grocery stores. I'm guessing vendors shop at the grocery occasionally or check out local ads to gage prices. 

More expensive - Fruits are generally more expensive at our market because they are such a rarity, but then it's only certain fruits. Melons are about the same price, but peaches, plums, and berries are definitely pricier dollar for dollar.

But does "dollar for dollar" really account for the true cost of the items we buy, whether from the grocery or from the local farmers' market?

True Cost

I recently read a blog post challenging readers to determine if local/organic foods are too expensive, or are conventionally-grown foods too cheap. I'm a firm believer of the latter. Since the 70's and for good reason, our food system has pushed an agenda of making lots of food available at cheap prices. I mean that's great, right? Well, unfortunately, we've only swung the pendulum to the opposite extreme. Because what we're getting is not just inexpensive food but the quality is seriously lacking as a result. In other words, that cheap food is nutritionally cheap. 

And not only do we have to buy (and eat) more of a conventionally-grown product to get the same nutrition (because conventional growing depletes the soil of nutrients), but we "pay" also (though indirectly) for the damage these monocultures and pesticide-laden crops do to our environment. And this doesn't even take into account the "price we pay" as a community when we give our dollars to big-box grocery stores instead of local farmers, an unfortunately dying breed. We may not pay the price at the check-out counter, but we do eventually pay the price.

What is the true cost of our food? I'm not sure anyone can give you a concrete answer, but you can bet that food grown sustainably and naturally, food grown locally by area farmers is closer to a real price.

So back to our original question: is the farmers' market more expensive? From time to time, you may pay a little more money out of pocket, but if you take into account the rewards to our health (instead of health care costs), to the Earth (instead the cost of depleted resources), and to our local economy (losing local businesses to the mega-cheap big-box stores), then eating locally from your area farmers' market may just be the smartest financial decision you can make. 

What about you? Do you find your local farmers' market more expensive dollar for dollar than the grocery store? Are you willing to pay a little extra for quality, a cleaner environment, and support of the local economy? 

Buying in Bulk - Simple, Green, and Frugal

Often, buying in bulk can be the economical way to go. I've been buying local brown rice out of Houston directly from RiceSelect for less than what I can buy it in the store. And the wheat berries? Well, you can't beat less than $10 for a 50# bag (not open to the public unfortunately, I just happened to get a really awesome deal from a local farm!)

But more than anything what I LOVE about buying in bulk is the lack of packaging. Strangely enough, as I've talked to two of the local markets who provide bulk goods, it's rare that people take advantage of this benefit. Rather than bring their own containers, they just use the ultra-thin plastic bags provided at the bulk counter. This shocked me, actually, because many of the things in the bulk bins aren't that much cheaper or are actually more expensive (because they are organic) than the package versions. I suppose people could be buying these bulk items just because they are organic and not available in a package, but truly they are missing out on one of the greatest benefits of buying in bulk.

Now, I know. I know. That means you have to actually remember to bring your containers, right? But it's no more effort than remembering to bring your cloth grocery totes or your wallet. Just leave them out where you'll remember them or when you write the item on your grocery list, pop an appropriate container in your grocery tote so there's no need to remember.

Now stores have different procedures for bringing your own containers. Our local natural food store is pretty small and it's not a big deal for me to bring in tupperware containers and have the clerks measure tare weight when I first come in and then subtract this weight off when I check out. For the larger natural grocery store, however, this is less feasible. So in the larger store, I tend to bring containers (my own Ziplocks or cloth bags) which won't add much to the weight of my bulk item (since I'll be paying for the container weight also). 

Even easier (and super frugal), there's no reason to spend a lot of money on reusable bags. Grab some ziplocks that you can rewash time and time again or make your own bags. I made these using an old pillowcase. I just cut it in four pieces, then sewed up the sides with a needle and thread (trust me I have NO sewing skills so this is as basic as you get and WAY easy!). A piece of twine to tie the top and I'm ready for the grocery. Shown here are black beans, raw pecans, dried mango, and dried dates. Snack time has come with no extra plastic packaging required!

Now, maybe I'm the odd ball hippie chick making my own cloth bags, so for those of you who would like to go a little more classy, talk to your local grocery about providing cloth bags and canisters in their bulk section. Not only can the store make extra money off the sale of these items, but the tare weight can be stored at the register and automatically taken off when you use the store's bulk containers. I'm working now with one of our local stores, encouraging them to do this very thing. 

So, check out the bulk bins in a grocery or natural food store near you and don't forget to bring your own containers for some bonus green living. It's frugal, it's easy, and Mother Earth will thank you for it!

Local diet update - May 18, 2009

The harvest has begun! At this point it's still small, but I'm pulling anywhere from 6-12 green beans a day, sage, basil, lambs-quarter, kale, and onions. The rest of the garden is blooming and growing so lettuce, chard, collards, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, yellow squash, and spaghetti squash are well on their way (sweet potatoes will be planted within the next 2 weeks). Having eaten out of the pantry most of the last three weeks, I still have a few farmers' market goodies in the fridge - like carrots, red potatoes, eggs, cucumber, one little yellow squash, and copious amounts of dill (next time someone asks me if I'd like a little dill, remind me to clarify what a little means - 2 gallons of dill is A LOT). Then there's plenty of local brown rice, wheat berries, and homemade egg noodles (from the farmers' market) in the pantry and fridge. So the plan was to take it easy again at the farmer's market this weekend. 

Speaking of the farmers' market, this Saturday we had live music from local performer, Joey McGee! Talk about setting the mood! It made the market wonderfully festive and everyone had a great time. We also had the City of Bryan handing out information on recycling and composting. VERY cool! Of course, the highlight of the day is always the food, so let's get to it. Available at this week's farmers' market was:

Veggies: garlic, yellow onions, red onions, white onions, snow peas, spinach, turnips, beets, radishes, swiss chard, yellow squash, red potatoes, white potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, greens, herbs, arugula, green beans, cauliflower, hot peppers

Fruits: dried cranberries, dried apples, blackberries

Canned Goods: jams, jellies, salsas, pickles, chow-chow, relishes, tomato juice, canned veggies, pickled eggs

Baked Goods: both white and wheat flour egg noodles, yeast breads, sweet breads, cakes, pastries, cornbread, puppy cookies

Other Foods: eggs, olive oil, locally-roasted coffees, grits, cornmeal, whole wheat flour, trail mix, raw food snacks, honey

Plants: ornamental plants, veggie plants, herbs plants, flowers, fruit trees

Crafts: dolls, games, journals, wallets, crocheted boxes, pot-holders, jewelry, soaps, candles

What I took home was far more modest, of course. I got a bag of red potatoes, a few red onions, dried cranberries, a jar of tomato juice, 2 containers of blackberries, and puppy cookies. 

This was the first week of blackberries and I'm looking forward to many more berries (and a batch of homemade blackberry jam probably later this month). Between these goodies, my well-stocked fridge, and the back yard harvest picking up, I have no doubt we'll be eating well this week (as always). 

Check back on Thursday for the "Market to Table" post to see what became of all these local goodies. Local is truly a beautiful way to live, so get on out there and check out your own farmers market and experience the wonderful world of local food.

Have a great week everyone. And, as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

Brazos Locavores- Visit to Long Bean Farm

Check out the Brazos Locavore blog to learn more about today's wonderful visit to local CSA Long Bean Farm. And be on the lookout for our next field trip announcement coming soon!

Some people just don't get it...

"The dreaded month has come," I thought as I opened up our bill for our home owners insurance. That once a year $1000 home-owners insurance  bill is a bit of a blow to the budget and I always wince at the sight of it despite the fact that I know in advance how high it will be. 

As he went through the mail I'd set out on the kitchen counter, Dave paused to look at the bill and noticed that the replacement value for our possessions was exorbitantly high. You could cut the insurance company's projection in half (and include our brand new Prius in the total house possessions) and still not come close to our the cost of our meager belongings. So Dave suggested that I call the insurance company to see if we could set the replacement value lower and save a little money on the bill. I did. Here's how the conversation went (I'm paraphrasing here)...

Heather: I was wondering about the "replacement cost" line on our bill. Could we set that lower, maybe by half, to reduce our bill?

Ins Co: Actually, "replacement cost" isn't included on your bill as a separately charged item. It's automatically 75% the cost of your dwelling." But you have to remember that you're insured to replace the items in your home, not what they are worth now.

Heather: No, I understand the idea of "replacement cost," I just know that there's no way that it would cost us $x to replace the things we have in our home. Most everything we have is second hand or has been given to us. 

Ins Co: You may have second hand now, but you couldn't replace it with second hand."

Heather: Um, sure you can. That's what second-hand shops are for.

Ins Co: But if something happened and you had to go out and replace everything in one day, it would cost a lot.

I could have gone on at this point (like the fact that I wouldn't go out and replace everything in one day - how ridiculous and wasteful), but I had pretty much figured out, he just didn't get it. Obviously, as dedicated non-consumers, we're not the typical American family (which of course, makes me proud, though it's frustrating that I can't get my insurance bill lowered). Does the normal american actually have 75% of the value of their house in belongings? Do we need that much stuff? 

Market to Table - May 14, 2009

Welcome back to Pantry Week (Round 3) where I'm whittling down all the preserved soups and stewed tomatoes lining the pantry shelves to prepare for the upcoming Spring/Summer harvest. There's a few oldies but goodies here, as well as some fresh new recipes. Let's get right to it!

Scrambled Eggs, Smashed Potatoes, Steamed Carrots 

Everyone loves breakfast for dinner, right? Well, we do! This was one of Dave's meals this past week and check it out - It's ALL local! The eggs, carrots, olive oil, and red potatoes are from our local farmers' market; the rosemary on the smashed potatoes is from a neighbor's yard (I'll have some of my own rosemary before long, I hope). The best part is Dave loved it all! Yeah for local!

Souped-Up Rice 

Because of Pantry week, I ate lots of what I call "souped up rice." The meal pictured here started out as 1/2 cup of local rice and 1/2 quart of homemade veggie soup. I was really excited when I opened this particular jar, having forgotten that any of the soups I canned earlier this year included black beans (the beans aren't local but a friend had given them - I LOVE black beans). Also in this jar of soup was cabbage, onion, mushrooms, and carrots (all local). Of all the souped-up rice I've eaten over the last three weeks of Pantry Week, this particular batch has been my favorite (I suppose it's those fabulous black beans).  The good news is I had a total of 7 quart jars of this bean and veggie soup, so there is yet some yummy souped-up rice in my future. Mmmm!

Wheat Berry Stir Fry 

As much as I tried to stick to pantry week, I did end up with some fresh veggies from the market last weekend as well as a few things harvested from the garden. Randomly pulling out veggies from the produce drawer (and snatching a few things from the back yard), I ended up with carrots (greens too), onion, broccoli leaves, mushrooms, and dill. All the veggies were chopped and sauteed in a little olive oil. When the veggies were nice and soft, I added some cooked wheat berries, covered, and turned the burner off to let it warm through with the heat already in the saucepan. It's been more than 2 weeks since I'd had a fresh stir fry and this certainly hit the spot. Delicious every time!

Salad

It's getting to be that time of year again - fresh salads! Let me stop and say that on top of the veggies I got at the farmers' market last weekend, a friend at the Monday market gave me the most gorgeous English cucumber. So this beautiful salad consisted of cucumber, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli greens, green beans, green onion, mushrooms, chopped pecans, and dried cranberries. I dressed it with a mix of equal parts olive oil and apple cider vinegar for absolute perfection. And other than the vinegar and the cranberries (though they were dried locally), it's all local!

Of course, I also had lots of local strawberries and canned stewed-tomatoes and rice. I've finally whittled the pantry down to 6 jars of soup and 2 jars of stewed tomatoes. That's a more comfortable stock considering my garden is coming close to exploding with fresh veggies. But I'm ready. Let the harvest begin!

Cradle to Cradle - A book review

I've been in an eco-book mood lately and have hungrily been "eating up" any of the recommended environmentally-inspired books that my local library current has in its collection. Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, having been out for 7 years, has certainly received it shared of rave reviews. Finally, I had the chance to experience it myself.

Immediately impressive was the fact that this book is not actually made of paper (trees everywhere applaud), but rather of plastic resins and inorganic fillers making it waterproof, durable, and recyclable (into a product of equal quality). The material was developed by a manufacturer who dared to think outside the box, which is truly what this book is about - rethinking the manufacturing of the products we all enjoy.

To be honest, I was initially hesitant as I read through the early chapters which included 'Why being "less bad" is no good' - basically the general environmental efforts to date only slows the rate waste instead of eliminating all together, that cutting back (which I advocate myself) just doesn't solve the problem.

Now prepared to hate the rest of the book, I was instead pleasantly surprised at the thoughtfulness that was actually being promoted - not just rethinking the overall system, but rethinking each part of the process, making each power plant, each manufacturing process unique to its location and, in the processes, supporting local economies. And there I was back on track.

With wonderful examples of how both McDonough and Braungart have already started working with large companies to make products that actually benefit nature (not just create "no impact" but positive impact), Cradle to Cradle is an inspiration to anyone looking to make changes to the bigger picture of human consumption.

Personally, I prefer books geared towards what the individual can do to make a difference (working with individuals vs. system), but even for those of us who prefer this individual level inspiration, Cradle to Cradle is a great reminder that we need to challenge our assumptions about consumption, to think outside the box.

Check it out!

Why Each Person's Personal Choices Matter - No Impact Man

Another thought provoking post from No Impact Man. If you're not familiar with his journey, definitely check out his blog archives. He was one of the inspirations that started me on my local food journey.

Today's post, "Why Each Person's Personal Choices Matter," is about the power of individuals to change the world. I believe very strongly in this power. And since I couldn't say it better than No Impact Man himself, I'll send you his way.  

Enjoy!

Keep your chemicals to yourself, thank you!

The weather has been warm, the sky clear, and I've been sneaking in an afternoon walk here and there to take advantage. Sounds lovely, right? 

I thought so until late last week, I set out on my short afternoon stroll. I got as far as 2 blocks from my house and noticed the sound of what I thought was a leaf blower. You know the noise. Mwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Mwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

As I approached the noise, walking innocently along the sidewalk, I stumbled right into the perpetrator. This was no leaf blower, it was some kind of chemical spray. How do I know?

1. In the 90 degree heat, the dude was wearing long sleeves, long pants, AND a gas/chemical mask!
2. Before he saw me (view of me was blocked by a wood fence), his sprayer was aimed in my direction and I COULD FEEL THE LIQUID HIT MY LEGS. 

OMG, OMG, OM freaking G! Blah. I was totally creeped out, turned around, ran home, and scrubbed my legs. If the guy is wearing a gas/chemical mask, that crap can certainly leach in through my skin, right? Anyone know what this is he was spraying? 

Days later, I'm still shuddering at the thought. What makes us think spraying our lawns like this is good? Is it worth poisoning ourselves for a pretty lawn? Excuse me, I'm going to go scrub down again and eat something organic...

Life Inc. - Check it out!

For all you book lovers out there: Looks like there's another wonderful book coming out. Check out the short video from the author.

You can bet I'll be in line at the library for this one...

Local diet update - May 11, 2009

As you can tell from Friday's post, we're very close to harvest time here at SGF (in fact we picked some green beans this weekend). The tomatoes are starting to ripen, and the kale, onions, sage, and lambs-quarter are ready whenever I am. The last two weeks, declared Pantry Weeks, did wonders for whittling those pantry goodies down to a more reasonable size. Who knew I had so much already preserved. Ok. I knew I had so much already preserved, but who goes for the canned stuff when you can have fresh year-round?

Right. Right. So back to the pantry. I'm currently stocking 7 quarts of soup and 8 pints of stewed tomatoes (both 100% deliciously local!!!). I guess that means one more week of Pantry Week (Round 3), although I have plans to sneak in a few fresh meals as well. I already have plenty of potatoes and some whole wheat egg noodles left from the previous farmers' market. Similar to the last couple weeks, the plan was to pick up a few fresh foods, but concentrate my eating efforts on what's already canned. One more week and I should have the pantry ready for the upcoming harvest. But could I keep this is mind when faced with all those gorgeous, fresh veggies at the market?

Saturday morning, we got up early and headed on down to the market to set up our info booth. Twenty-two vendors joined us with another drool-worthy harvest. Calling to me from the four corners of market heaven were:

Veggies: garlic, yellow onions, red onions, green onions, snow peas, spinach, turnips, beets, radishes, artichokes, lettuce, swiss chard, yellow squash, red potatoes, white potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers, kohlrabi, carrots, collard greens, kale, herbs, arugula, green beans, purslane

Fruits: dried cranberries, dried apples, strawberries

Canned Goods: jams, jellies, salsas, pickles, chow-chow, relishes, tomatoes juice, canned veggies

Baked Goods: both white and wheat flour egg noodles, yeast breads, sweet breads, cakes, pastries, cornbread, puppy cookies, 

Other Foods: eggs, olive oil, locally-roasted coffees, grits, cornmeal, whole wheat flour, trail mix, raw food snacks

Plants: ornamental plants, veggie plants, herbs plants, flowers

Crafts: dolls, puzzles, journals, purses, aprons, crocheted boxes, pot-holders, jewelry, soaps, candles

So how did I do? I walked away with wild grape jelly, freshly ground whole wheat flour, two gorgeous tomatoes, a bag of fat carrots, dried cranberries, puppy cookies, trail mix AND (not pictured here) dill (when I chopped it up I ended up with 2 gallon-size ziplock bags full) and 2 packs of dates stuffed with chocolate, nuts, and coconut (not pictured because it was breakfast). 

Back at home, I'm planning the week's meals, keeping in mind my desire to work in those pantry foods. What's on the menu? Well, you'll just have to check back for Thursday's Market to Table post to find out.

In the meantime, I know I'm lucky to have a year-round market, but what about you? Has your market opened for the season? What fresh local goodies have you discovered?

Happy (and mindful) eating!

To find out what's happening in other farmers' markets around the county, check out this week's on To Every Meal There is a Season.

Garden therapy - A backyard garden update (May)

I'm not going to make you read the entire April post of Garden Therapy, just go back and look at the photos before you read any further. No worries. I'll wait...

Back? Ok, remember those photos as you read through this post and keep in mind that this is only a month's growth. Just one month! That's what a little Texas sun and a whole lot of rain will bring!

Now that the garden is so large, I'm going to have to restructure these posts. There are 7 beds now and I'll start with Bed 1 (the original bed we built only 6 months ago). 

Bed 1 (4x4; shallow) - Because this bed was the original one, it's in a constant state of flux in that when we finish with one crop, we immediately plant a new one in that particular square foot. This helps with soil development since we are constantly rotating crops. 

Anyway, this first bed contains the widest variety of plants. That's 3 cucumber plants and a spaghetti squash along the back next to the hog panel trellis; then lambs-quarter, the last of my green onions, and green peppers in the next row; followed by green beans plants in the 3rd row; and sage, green beans and kale in the final row. Everything is growing beautifully and I'm harvesting the onions, kale, and sage on a fairly regular basis. 

Bed 2 (4x8; shallow) - This is by far the most dramatic growth in the last month. The entire back row (along the trellis), and half of the second row, are about 6 different varieties of tomatoes and yes, I already have more than a dozen tomatoes growing just waiting to ripen and tons more blooms. It's VERY exciting! Finishing off the rest of the second row are the most mature of my green bean plants, covered in blooms and teeny tiny green beans. We should be eating green beans before long! Then the two front rows are all baby green pepper plants.

Bed 3 (4x10; deep) - I only have a few onions in this bed right now, but they'll be harvested before long to make room for the sweet potato slips I'm making inside the house. Mmm. Sweet potatoes!

Bed 4 (4x10; deep) - Nothing in this bed yet. It will most likely be full of carrots come Fall though. I may do a second bed of sweet potatoes. We'll see.

Bed 5 (4x9; shallow) - This bed has been completely planted, though the plants are all tiny at this point. Ignore the bricks. They are just there to help me measure the square feet until the plants get a little bigger. As for the goodies inside... The back row is all swiss chard; the second row is sage and basil; the third row is green peppers; and the fourth row is more basil and green peppers. They're all babies at this point, but I'm eager to see what difference a month will make in this bed!

Bed 6 (4x10; shallow) - Bed 6 is also completely planted. I spent extra time organizing the squares so that it would make a beautiful bed once it matured. Every third square foot is either lettuce, swiss chard, or collards. I'm hoping that by staggering the plants, it'll make for a pretty scene from the breakfast table. Again, these are all babies, but a month's growing should do wonders!

Bed 7 (4x10; deep) - This last deep bed also hasn't been planted, but come fall, it'll be onions and maybe some garlic. There's just nothing there now, but dirt. 

Of course, I mentioned that inside I am making two varieties of my own sweet potato slips for (there's a first time for everything). I have absolutely NO idea what I'm doing, but the Vaughns from the farmers' market are coaching me through the process. 

So that's what growing here at SGF Garden Therapy. I've learned so much just in the last 6 months about the life cycle of different plants, the beautiful diversity in different seeds, and how soothing it can be to nurse them from seed to harvest. And to think I'm 35 and just now figuring all this out. What new and exciting things are in store for me next? Stay tuned for next month's Garden Therapy to find out.

Market to Table - May 7, 2009

Welcome back to Pantry Week (Round 2) where I'm trying to eat some of the preserved goodies out of the pantry before my spring and summer harvest begins (and it's coming!). There were lots more soup and rice dishes this week, but also some wonderful fresh goodies in the mix as well. Let's get right to it!

"Souped up" Rice - Ok. I know that just last week I said my canned veggie soup from last fall couldn't be improved up and just had to be eaten as soup. Fine. I admit it. I was mistaken. Throw in a little rice and let that flavorful soup soak right in and this dish went from "delicious" to "for the love of all that is good in the world, this rocks!" The soup, again canned from last fall, contained all-local mushrooms, potatoes, onions, purple hull peas, and spinach. With a little local brown rice, the dish was perfection. The bad news is that I used up the last of the bean soup (all that's left now is cabbage). The good news is I savored every last bite. I don't mind admitting to my mistaken notions about cooking. Especially when they taste this good! 

Breakfast Burritos and Strawberries - I had been skipping breakfast lately (I know. I know) and am trying to get back into the habit. So, I decided, if I was going to eat, it was going to be irresistible and I'd been drooling over Dave's breakfast burritos last week. So I made my own gosh darn breakfast burritos. Basically it's my homemade whole wheat tortillas (wheat flour from farmers' market) filled with sauteed kale, green onions, broccoli stems, lambs-quarter, mushrooms, rice, and some tofu I had to get rid of in the fridge before it went bad. I know it doesn't sound very breakfast-y, but stay with me here. Everything is local except the tofu, of course, and much of it (kale, broccoli, green onions, and lambs-quarter) came from my backyard. And these burritos are just as delicious as they sound, even though it doesn't sound so breakfast-y. Of course, a side of local strawberries certainly doesn't hurt things, does it?

Crash Hot Potatoes - When I saw these "Crash Hot Potatoes" on a recent post of Farmer's Daughter, I just had to try the recipe for myself. It really is simple. Boil small red potatoes in a sauce pan. When they are soft enough to put a fork through, lay them out on a baking sheet that has been drizzled with olive oil. Using a potato masher, smash the potato, then turn masher 90 degrees and mash again Note: I mashed a little too hard - I think this takes some practice to not obliterate them. Anyway, then you brush them with olive oil and top them with some salt, ground pepper, and fresh rosemary. Pop 'em in your oven (or in my case the toaster oven) for 25 minutes at 450 degrees and voila. I'm in potato heaven! Although I think I'll call them "Smashed potatoes." Who cares, they're awesome!

Well, that brings us to the end of another Pantry Week. I'm starting to feel like things are a bit more under control, though I still have 9 jars of soup and 13 jars of stewed tomatoes in the pantry. I think we'll do this whole Pantry Week thing one more time (though I'll be sure to toss in some fresh produce here and there to keep me inspired). 

Have a great Thursday, everyone. And, as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

The Botany of Desire

Today, I posted my very first review for the Blogging Bookworm: The Botany of Desire from Michael Pollan. Check it out!

Collecting rain water

We've had LOTS of rain lately. Many streets in town flooded and a school south of us had to close classes due to floods. Having those raised beds meant that our plants got a good soaking, but it drained right through without us having to worry about them drowning. Pshew!

But that rainwater is precious! The plants just love it compared to the water from the shower and the backyard spigot, which is a bit on the salty side. So when it rains, we try to save as much as we can.

Now, the plan is to eventually get a 150 gallon stock tank, but we're obviously not quite there yet. In the meantime, the old kitty little buckets work GREAT. That happens to be a spot in front of the kitchen window where the gutter is broken and it just pours down off the house - a perfect place for collection!

We originally only had 4 buckets out there, but the rain just wouldn't stop. I ended up spending two days  last week, running all over the house, in and out of the backyard, getting soaked in the process, pulling everything from the house that could possibly hold water - trash cans, watering can, mop bucket... Every time one of the buckets would fill, I'd move it and put an empty one in it's place. 

Sure, it's ain't pretty, and I spent two days looking like a drowned rat, but those buckets saved us several days worth of water, water we won't need from the city. And I really do believe it's all the little things we do that add up to make a big difference in the world.

What about you? Do you collect rainwater for your garden? Have you designed your own barrels? Bought them? Or are you making due like me?

Pedal Power Update - May 2009

Wait, it's been a month already? Seriously?

Ok. Um. I'm going to have to think back on this last month. It was a busy one to be sure. Between the farmers' market, several university festivals, and a few talks I did around town, It's been crazy. I know. I know. I'm supposed to be slowing down - finding balance between activism and personal growth. Maybe next month?

This month was another windy one, and for about half the month, a much needed rainy one. I had to spend a few days indoors because it literally rained all day, but the rest of the time, I was out on my bike, walking, or riding the bus. 

The weather is definitely on the warmer side too. We've been in the 80's for the last few weeks and even had one day where we broke 90 degrees. That's Texas for you. Of course, it makes for a beautiful spring garden and very comfortable bike riding since I only need a light t-shirt and a pair of shorts. I love the feeling of the sun on my skin as I pedal around town getting all our errands run. I even biked to the dentist last week, much to the hygienist's dismay. 

Most of my rides have been within 40 minutes round trip, so everything was short distance, but I definitely got plenty of exercise and saved lots of gas. One funny story before I close...

I was pedaling down the road and noticed that the right hand lane was pretty backed up (waiting for people to get into the right-hand turn lane further up). With no one coming up behind me, I went ahead and entered the next lane and cruised on down closer to the light. I slowed as I got closer to the light because there were now cars in my lane too. A truck driver to my right started hassling me about being in the middle of the road. I looked at him and said, "and yet I'm the one who's actually getting somewhere..." And I rode off through the intersection as he continued to sit. Maybe he should get a bike...

Don't be shy, now. Go experience a little pedal power for yourself. It's addicting, I promise!

Local diet update - May 4, 2009

With a pantry still full of home canned, all-local soups and stewed tomatoes, I'm declaring another week of Pantry Week. All that means is that I'll be focusing on using those pantry foods up vs. buying my usual supply of fresh goodies. That doesn't mean, however, that there aren't any fresh veggies lingering. Not only did I pick up a few things at our local farmers' market this weekend (though far less than I would normally buy), I also did a little harvesting in my own backyard. Let's get right to it!

Saturday was another beautiful day for a farmers' market and 21 vendors came out to display an amazing harvest. In addition to food, we had a local woodturner doing demonstrations and a silent auction with paintings from a local artist, the proceeds of which support the Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market. It was a REALLY exciting day! As far as the edibles, available this week were

Veggies: white potatoes, red potatoes, red onions, yellow onions, green onions, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, yellow squash, patty-pan squash, peppers, beets, beet greens, spinach, collard greens, herbs, lambs-quarter

Fruits: dried apples, dried cranberries

Canned goods: jams, jellies, salsa, tomato juice, pickles, pickled veggies, canned okra, relishes, chow-chow

Baked goods: yeast breads, cornbread, pastries, sweet breads, bagel bites, egg noodles, puppy cookies

Other foods: olive oil, locally-roasted coffees, eggs, ground cornmeal, ground whole wheat flour, locally-roasted peanuts, honey, raw food snacks (crackers, trail mix, fat mints)

Plants: veggie plants, fruit plants, herb plants, ornamental plants

Crafts: journals, puzzles, purses, aprons, pot holders, candles, soaps

Again, with Round 2 of Pantry Week in the works, I didn't need much. I picked up some red potatoes, carrots, an onion, whole wheat flour, eggs, egg noodles, and puppy cookies. I did end up with two special treats. First, it's hard to see, but just above the egg noodles is something called a "fat mint." It's made by my friend who is on a raw diet (and she makes fabulous raw food snacks!). These little mints are delicious. From what I can tell, it's a fig stuffed with chocolate bits, pumpkin seeds, and mint flavoring. Mmm! The second treat is that one of the vendors gave me a "Georgia Jet" sweet potato from which to make sweet potato slips (to be planted later this spring). As for the rest of these fresh goodies, Dave will be enjoying them with his meals this week. But you never know - I might just sneak in a nibble or two...

There were a few items that needed to be harvested from our backyard garden. The broccoli plant, although gorgeous, needed to be pulled as it's just too warm to produce any broccoli. I also pulled about half a dozen green onions, some lambs-quarter, and kale. Ooh, do I have plans for these as I see some yummy breakfast burritos in my future!

With a full kitchen and pantry, we're ready for another exciting week of good eating here at SGF. With the warmer weather comes the opening of farmers' markets all over the country. So get on out there and discover the wonderful world of local food! 

Have a great week, everyone. And, as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

To find out what's happening in other farmers' markets around the county, check out this week's on To Every Meal There is a Season.

Is the farmers' market safe?

Recently, as I hosted a farmers' market booth at a local festival, I had a passer-by ask me an interesting question: Do vendors at the market have to be inspected by the health department?

At first, I assumed the young lady was interested in becoming a vendor, wondering what certifications she needed to obtain to have her application accepted. But as we talked, I realized what she was really asking was "Is the food at the farmers' market safe?" It's a question certainly worth asking, although this was my first time to answer. Frankly, after years of watching documentaries and reading books about what "really" happens in our commercial food infrastructure, the question came as a shock. It's a no-brainer, right? Food at the farmers' market is safer. During last summer's tomato scare, news agencies across the nation encouraged people to visit their farmers' markets where contamination-free produce could be bought with confidence. 

So what makes my farmers' market products safe? As far as I know, only one of our vendors has a certified and inspected commercial kitchen, and none of them are large commercial farms (mostly average people with larger than average gardens). Why should they be preferred over the commercial varieties where inspection and government regulation is required? I suppose I can only speak for myself, but here's why I feel safer shopping at my local farmers' market:

• Direct sales - As I mentioned earlier, my farmers market is a wonderful group of everyday average people with larger than average gardens. Most of them are, in fact, in the business of selling their produce and minimally processed goods (like jams and jellies, pickles, baked breads, etc), so it's not that the market is a hobby for them. What I'm trying to say is that these small farmer/large gardeners don't have salesmen selling their goods. When I visit the market, I have the opportunity to speak directly with the individual who raised the food I'd like to buy. I can ask how it was grown, whether or not pesticides or fertilizers were used, and when it was picked. When you buy at the grocery store, it's a guessing game (ever asked a supermarket produce manager how something was grown? Yeah - good luck!). I love talking to the farmer, the jam maker, the bread baker, and knowing exactly what I'm getting!
• Reputation -  Unlike corporations, which have billions of dollars to cover their mistakes (between food recalls and lawsuits), my farmers' market vendors have only their reputation of producing a consistent quality product to support their families. If they sell a shoddy product or something that makes me sick, I won't be buying from they again will I? - And because I participated in direct sales, I know EXACTLY from whom the product came.
• Sharing the Harvest - To me, this is the most telling of reason of why the farmers' market is safe. I've seen documentaries where commercial farmers refuse to eat the product they've raised because of the amount of chemicals that have been dumped on it - the harvest all goes into the food infrastructure while the farmer tends a small (usually organic) patch that is used just for the family. Not so at my farmers' market. One of my favorite vendors tells me all the time, we grow what we eat and bring the rest to market. To me, that means I'm part of the farmers' extended family. From the food grown in the field to the jam made in the house kitchen, I enjoy the same foods that market vendors' families enjoy. Now on the producing end (I'm privately selling homemade organic whole-wheat bread out of my house), I know this is true. Sure, it's not made in a commercial kitchen, but whomever enjoys a loaf of my bread received the same high quality and attention to detail that I provide my own family. 
• Relationships - Finally, my favorite reason of all - Relationships! As I attend my farmers' market week after week, I build relationship with each of the producers. That translates into a trust you just can't equal with a corporation. I'm never felt chummy with Con-Agra, what can I say? I trust my farmers' market vendors because I know them. They are my friends, my family, my neighbors, my community. 

Surely, I've missed some wonderful reasons why buying from the local farmers' market is safer than the big-box grocery store. Why do you shop at your farmers' market?