Whether you're eating an exclusively local diet or just trying a few things on for size, eating locally doesn't have to be a drain on your energy or your pocketbook. Some grow their own food (certainly the most inexpensive option of all), others live in a farming community with roadside stands at every junction, while still others are fortunate to have a wonderful year-round farmers' market. Truly, the hardest part is uncovering food resources in your community. Once you do, eating locally is a breeze (and a tasty one at that)! I'll include some links below on how and why to eat locally at the end of this post. For now, here's how my local diet and local diet resources are faring...I'm happy to say, we set an all-time record on Saturday morning. The Brazos Valley Farmers' Market hosted a total of 31 vendors, the largest single day vendor count in the market's 20 year history. How cool is that?
Of course there were tons of goodies - fruits, veggies, eggs, honey, and crafts. The range of seasons is what's really impressive. We still had some leftovers from the winter seasons, like potatoes, onions, and cabbage; on top of the latest summer goodies like corn, cucumber, tomatoes, and squash. How can you beat that variety?
The local diet here at home is mostly coming out of our backyard: green beans, tomatoes, lettuce, chard, collards, lambs-quarter, onions, sage, and basil. I also have a pantry full of all-local corn, tomatoes, soups, rice, honey, and pinto beans. So, I didn't need much at the farmers' market this week and yet I still ended up with loads of goodies (some of which were generous gifts from friends): red potatoes, a super ripe humongous tomato, plums, white eggplant, peaches, a dozen eggs, whole wheat flour, and two different kinds of puppy cookies.
Of course, I have plans for each and every one of these goodies. Last week, it was blueberry pancakes, stir-fries, corn on the cob, fresh garden salads, and homemade crackers with veggie dip. So what will it be this week? Stay tuned for this week's Market to Table post to find out! In the meantime, Happy (and mindful) eating!
For more information on eating locally, check out the following posts:Go Local!
3 comments:
After hauling home soap, salsa, banana nut bread, tomatoes, roma tomatoes, green peppers, eggplant, green beans(a few pounds), cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, strawberry rhubarb jelly, elderberry jelly, a head of non-local lettuce, corn, eggs, some cookies for the kids, purple hull peas, and two canteloupe-like melons...I knew my work was cut out for me this week. So far, every evening meal has been decorated with at least two vegetables...esp since Vicki's bag included potatoes, chard, greens, cucumbers, green beans, various squashes, spinach, tomatoes, and peppers. Presently in the garden, I still have onions, garlic, carrots, herbs, tomatoes, bell peppers, spinach, green beans, a little bit of small corn, some squash, zucchini, and a few cukes...pickable. The weather is hovering near 100, so I'm not sure what it'll take to keep everything alive and productive. My arms are carrying a nice tan from the sunshine. Vicki is beginning to look darker too. I think she said she works in her gardens over 18 hours a week. That's a lot of vitamin D. Oh and Tanya is talking about starting a local CSA. I shared some of my insights about Home Sweet Farm's CSA and Longbean Farm's CSA. If Vicki and Tanya could collaborate, I think that that would be the ideal situation for consumers...but we'll just have to see what time brings.
One of the veggie vendors, gosh I wish I knew his name(next week I will ask), said he is good friends with Ben Godfrey and goes to Amish country with him all the time, he said he works horses with him sometimes too. We chatted about Ben and Alysha and their move, products and farming.
As I was leaving, Patrick Gendron waved hello which sparked a conversation. I told him that I really loved how large and diverse the market was becoming. I explained that I was carrying my second armload of goodies.Then, I started telling him how I had enjoyed picking veggies with Karen Carrol at his father's farm. I told him that his father is such a great guy with a warm personality. Then I asked him when would his veggies be ready, next week, apparantly...so I guess we have even more local food coming soon.
That is a ton of good lookin' local grub. And with what you already had and got from market, I imagine you are going to have some mighty fine meals this week. I'll be looking forward to your market to table post!
Tammy - Definitely more food coming our way. We had a half dozen people missing last week and there's Patrick and others who usually come with just tomatoes. It's amazing to see how we've grown, and so quickly. We had lots of people comment on how nice the market was last week. Sounds like you have some serious cooking ahead of you this week :) Let me know how you like the melons. I saw them, but didn't get any.
Jennifer - It's hard not to buy one of everything at the market because it does all look really good. With so much food in my backyard (and it being so hot that my greens are starting to bolt), I need to be eating the back yard food and not the farmers' market goodies. That's the hardest part - being at the market for 6 hours and not buying it all :)
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