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Locavoring, part 1
Aug. 22nd, 2010 02:07 pmI'm thinking of doing these postings once a month or so and including edibles as well as inedibles, with a shoutout to regional stuff as well. We'll see how it goes - mostly I'd like to focus some of the things that we've been doing or could be doing to make our lives greener and more sustaining while supporting our local independent farms and economy. I thought it'd be fun to do some information sharing too so please let me know of cool, locally grown or created things that I should know about.
Today, we just came back from the Kingfield Farmer's Market where we bought tomatoes, basil, green pepper and garlic for pizza tonight, flowers for the living room, and new potatoes and sweet corn for dinner later on in the week. We also had lunch at the Chef Shack (which uses food from the market in its recipes) and enjoyed locally-made sorbet from Sonny's with our pals Sage and Carrie. Also available: smoothies (made via bicycle-powered electricity on site), raspberries (which we forgot to get), cave-aged cheese, miscellaneous greens, pickling cukes, squash, heirloom veggies, meat and eggs, fish, canned goods and sauces, syrup and honey, and handmade bags and other goodies.
Why buy local, apart from the charm of farmer's markets that come complete with live music and lovely food? For starters, more of the money spent at local independent business stays in the local community where it helps to support the kinds of things that make people want to live there to begin with. It also helps promote job growth. Local food and other goods don't need to be transported as far, thereby reducing carbon footprint as well as the freshness of meat and produce. There are additional arguments for community stability and sustainability and so forth. Does it cost more? Well, how much does it cost us in environmental and social impact to have all our goods made/grown elsewhere and shipped in? Even shifting a small amount of the money you're already spending on groceries and other essential helps. Here's a random list of items that you can get grown or made in Minnesota/Wisconsin/Iowa: dairy products including goat and sheep dairy - there's a number of terrific farms in these parts; in season vegetables; in season fruit; wine and beer; clothes; jewelry; handmade paper, books and any other kind of craft or artwork you could possibly wish for; lumber and furniture; wind power (via Windsource Program); locally written, published and/or printed books; music; musical instruments; glassware and pottery; soap, shampoo, moisturizers and related; laundry detergent and cleaning products and the list goes on. Here's a couple of links with some additional information by way of being a "gateway drug" as we say in these parts.
Slow Foods MN
BuyLocalMN
Minnesota Grown
And a couple of local businesses selling locally made goods that I'm quite fond of:
Wood from the Hood - products made from wood harvested in South Minneapolis.
Fire on the Greenway - one of the many fine potteries in these parts
B&Lu Fashions - plus-sized fashions made in St. Paul
Rituals MN - soap and body care products which can be customized. Their scent free moisturizer is teh awesome
Shepherd's Way Farm - sheep's cheese and wool products from Northfield, MN
Today, we just came back from the Kingfield Farmer's Market where we bought tomatoes, basil, green pepper and garlic for pizza tonight, flowers for the living room, and new potatoes and sweet corn for dinner later on in the week. We also had lunch at the Chef Shack (which uses food from the market in its recipes) and enjoyed locally-made sorbet from Sonny's with our pals Sage and Carrie. Also available: smoothies (made via bicycle-powered electricity on site), raspberries (which we forgot to get), cave-aged cheese, miscellaneous greens, pickling cukes, squash, heirloom veggies, meat and eggs, fish, canned goods and sauces, syrup and honey, and handmade bags and other goodies.
Why buy local, apart from the charm of farmer's markets that come complete with live music and lovely food? For starters, more of the money spent at local independent business stays in the local community where it helps to support the kinds of things that make people want to live there to begin with. It also helps promote job growth. Local food and other goods don't need to be transported as far, thereby reducing carbon footprint as well as the freshness of meat and produce. There are additional arguments for community stability and sustainability and so forth. Does it cost more? Well, how much does it cost us in environmental and social impact to have all our goods made/grown elsewhere and shipped in? Even shifting a small amount of the money you're already spending on groceries and other essential helps. Here's a random list of items that you can get grown or made in Minnesota/Wisconsin/Iowa: dairy products including goat and sheep dairy - there's a number of terrific farms in these parts; in season vegetables; in season fruit; wine and beer; clothes; jewelry; handmade paper, books and any other kind of craft or artwork you could possibly wish for; lumber and furniture; wind power (via Windsource Program); locally written, published and/or printed books; music; musical instruments; glassware and pottery; soap, shampoo, moisturizers and related; laundry detergent and cleaning products and the list goes on. Here's a couple of links with some additional information by way of being a "gateway drug" as we say in these parts.
Slow Foods MN
BuyLocalMN
Minnesota Grown
And a couple of local businesses selling locally made goods that I'm quite fond of:
Wood from the Hood - products made from wood harvested in South Minneapolis.
Fire on the Greenway - one of the many fine potteries in these parts
B&Lu Fashions - plus-sized fashions made in St. Paul
Rituals MN - soap and body care products which can be customized. Their scent free moisturizer is teh awesome
Shepherd's Way Farm - sheep's cheese and wool products from Northfield, MN