April is Here – Get Ready for Locally Grown Food!
It’s a big month. April is Garden Month and right around the corner, on April 22, is Earth Day. Though I didn’t grow up on a farm, as a kid I would dream about how wonderful that could be – the animals, the fields, the ‘homemade’ food. As an adult, I am a huge fan of local farmers who work very, very hard so that I can eat the best vegetables, fruits, eggs, honey, meat, chicken and more.
Local Food Has a Field-Full of Advantages!
What’s so great about local food?
Its awesome flavors. If you’ve never tested that, I recommend you visit a local farm or farmer’s market and buy some Spring leafy greens such as spinach, kale or chard, grown in or near your county. Then, buy the same thing at your local grocery store, grown hundreds of miles away. Finally, cook the greens in 2 separate pans by lightly sauteing with a touch of garlic, olive oil and the tiniest pinch of salt. Taste and judge.
Its ongoing support of community. Farmers are an important group in the community. The same way you like to buy hardware supplies from the local business or eat at a hometown restaurant, you can support local agriculture. Also, the farmers typically purchase seeds and supplies, and hire local employees which helps your community.
Its respect for the Earth. Many local farms use sustainable systems to grow food and/or raise livestock and they sell locally. When this happens, the Earth benefits by fewer man-made chemicals entering the air, soil and water. Earth-friendly composting, crop selections and rotations put less stress on the environment, too. And, a smaller carbon footprint results when the farm harvest is distributed near by.
Get On-Board with Local Food!
There are simple ways to enjoy the flavors and support the cause. Get out to your local farmer’s market, buy a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership or plant a garden in your yard. Then, savor your harvest. Email me if you need help figuring out how to prepare locally grown vegetables and herbs or need advice on a CSA or farmer’s market choice. I’ll be happy to help!
Which farm or farmer’s market will you try this week?
I have a small garden in the back yard. The vegetables tastes so much better. I am going to make a point to find a farmers market close to get what we can’t grow.
Isn’t it fun to grow your own? I have a small herb garden in my yard as well as a few raspberry bushes and a whole lot of blueberry bushes. Nothing tastes better:) Thank you for your comment.