So, what does it mean to eat locally?
- - Being conscious of where your food comes from and being able to trace its origins
- Supporting local farmers, eating food that is grown or raised near where you live
- Knowing your food is grown or raised on a small-scale vs. mass produced by a large corporation
1) Visit your community farmer’s market. Depending on the climate in your area, the farmer’s market may be seasonal or year round. It’s a great opportunity to purchase affordable food (sometimes cheaper than your local grocery store), and meet those who are growing the produce, raising the meat, cultivating the honey, etc. In Salt Lake, the Downtown Farmer’s Market runs every Saturday from June-October, and if you don’t arrive early, you’re out of luck. Aside from the amazing fresh produce, you can find honey, a variety of cheese and meat, fresh flowers, etc. Here’s a photo of a few items I picked up last summer - plums, peaches, and a great local honey butter. I am counting down the days until the market opens this year!
2) Another option is to participate in Community Supported Agriculture or a CSA. When you participate in a local farm’s CSA, you’re investing in the farm for a season, and in return you receive a weekly bundle of fresh food from the farm. CSA’s range in cost (from $50 to $800 for a season), but the return on investment is worth it; a fresh basket of fruits and vegetables, meat and cheese - many of which are free from artificial growth hormones, pesticides, etc. You can participate in a variety of CSA’s. Here’s a great site that will connect you with a farmer’s market or CSA in your area: http://www.localharvest.org/
3) While you’re at it, why not just grow it yourself? Don’t have a yard? Community gardens are pieces of land that are gardened and maintained by a group of people, and they're popping up all over urban settings. A great way to meet your neighbors, support the community and grow your own food at the same time. Plots are usually offered for $10-$50 for a single plot for a season. They vary in size, but you have the opportunity to plant anything you’d like...tomatos, blueberries, carrots, pumpkins. Many community gardens offer educational workshops, as well as youth programs. If you’d like to find a community garden in your area, visit: http://www.communitygarden.org.
Tell me, what does 'local food' mean to you? And how do you eat locally?
2) Another option is to participate in Community Supported Agriculture or a CSA. When you participate in a local farm’s CSA, you’re investing in the farm for a season, and in return you receive a weekly bundle of fresh food from the farm. CSA’s range in cost (from $50 to $800 for a season), but the return on investment is worth it; a fresh basket of fruits and vegetables, meat and cheese - many of which are free from artificial growth hormones, pesticides, etc. You can participate in a variety of CSA’s. Here’s a great site that will connect you with a farmer’s market or CSA in your area: http://www.localharvest.org/
3) While you’re at it, why not just grow it yourself? Don’t have a yard? Community gardens are pieces of land that are gardened and maintained by a group of people, and they're popping up all over urban settings. A great way to meet your neighbors, support the community and grow your own food at the same time. Plots are usually offered for $10-$50 for a single plot for a season. They vary in size, but you have the opportunity to plant anything you’d like...tomatos, blueberries, carrots, pumpkins. Many community gardens offer educational workshops, as well as youth programs. If you’d like to find a community garden in your area, visit: http://www.communitygarden.org.
Tell me, what does 'local food' mean to you? And how do you eat locally?
