lo lo locavore

We are trying to be more aware and responsible with the foods we eat. I've been a doubter of the organic movement and I've been on a budget, and both make it tough! But overall, I think it's worth a try to continue pushing toward more local, natural foods that are raised organically. Especially when I meet up with people like Stella's Les Miller and Aumaine Mott.  


I had a plan to start a garden this year (heirloom seeds! organic methods! raised bed in the backyard!), but I'm not sure with this early summer weather and my current workload that's going to happen. To be honest, it might be a miracle if we can just get rid of all the honeysuckle and poison ivy in the designated garden corner of our sad little yard. Folks, it is not looking good. But, hey, it's a dream and a goal and...someday? Maybe we'll call it a temporary fail.

In the mean time, I fall back on wonderful resources like those offered by established farmers who don't struggle with simple yard work, let alone gardening. It's a great way to move toward responsible - and healthy! - eating, in a more affordable way. Organics and whole foods can seem impossibly expensive and specialized at the big grocery stores, but we've found one of the best ways to jump in is to start close to home, wherever you are. 

Jacob and I used to, when we lived in North Africa and the Middle East as students, look for fun things to do on a budget and I'm not ashamed to say that going to the grocery was a weekly diversion for us. One of the things we got the biggest kick out of was choosing a new, exotic food every week and getting it home to try. Eating local there was a real adventure, let me tell you! Sometimes we had wonderful experiences (fresh figs, gorgeous citrus, halal meats, new cheeses) and others were not so hot (actually, I'll just leave that be).

Now that we're back home, though, we're eschewing the imports and have re-enrolled in Elmwood Stock Farm's CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), and I am literally counting down the days until our first share. Last year was so much fun (even when we got weeks and weeks of kohlrabi - I'm still trying to find recipes for that!). The couple we share our CSA with also has a great hook-up for local eggs, and once farmer's market opens up, we'll have access to lots of local goods like beef, bison, chicken, milk, cheese, and maybe even some herb plants so I check at least one box on the gardening goal sheet. 


If you're in Kentucky, you can visit this site for a list of CSA programs and farms. There is so much variety in offering and locations, so check out the farms in your area to see what they grow (do they do fruits and veggies, veggies and chicken, beef, eggs, etc.), whether they deliver, costs, frequency and term. Our farm offers, in addition to our delivered weekly share, a visit to the farm to see how everything is going. That visit day is always fun and educational and this year we get to go with our buds and their darling little girl, so I think it will be even better (not that we didn't have fun last year!). Can't wait!


PS-It's spring today! This is, of course, exciting news; but did anyone tell Kentucky? Our Commonwealth thinks it's summer! Enjoy these 80s, folks!