Another Good Read

Need a little inspiration for local eating? Check out Plenty: One man, one woman and a raucous year of eating locally by Alisa Smith & J. B. Mackinnon (the creators of the 100 mile diet) and prepare to laugh and be amazed. I am shocked by the resources that they found within 100 miles of home. Because of them, I feel hopeful about our quest for local organic flour - it has to be out there - do you have any leads?

Jen just sent me this great article about an Indiana community's 100 mile potluck. We should try it here.

Oh my gosh!

Real people read this blog besides myself! I'd better post something! Well, it bears telling that Graber Farms was AWESOME, but it's a good thing we went when we did because the blueberry season is short, and so were those bushes. We got just under six pounds of berries, though I think we only got that many because a spunky kitten followed us to the fields and kept our kids happily busy. We have been thrilled with the flavor of the berries, and were sad they were out by the following weekend.

Going to Graber...

We're going blueberry picking with friends at Graber Farms, a local organic farm next Saturday. We'll let you know all about it!

Barr Street Market to open soon!

The Barr Street Market is a farmers market with a great variety of locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, beeswax products, baked goods, organic produce, fresh-cut flowers, live music, a kid craft table, and more! And it's kicking off Saturday, July 12th at 9:00 a.m.-- just in time for Three Rivers Festival. The market will be on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. at the corner of Barr and East Wayne Street.

We can also pick up a Green Guide by Grassroots Green that contains money-saving coupons as well as articles about green living. They cost $15-- a cost that can be partially recouped right at the Barr St. Market (some of the vendors are right there at the market and have coupons in the book). Proceeds benefit Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana, who put on the market each year.

There are even more local food choices available this year-- let's check it out!

Side Yard Eats

This is a photo of the herb patch that sits outside of our kitchen door. It is my favorite part of our garden - it is so easy to grow herbs. I had no idea. And it is rewarding to step outside and snip something to flavor dinner. We are still using basil that we dried last summer.
We purchased most of our plants at the Botanical Conservatory plant sale in May, but they have plants for sale year-round at the Conservatory. Give them a call to see what they have available. I have also picked up herb plants at Schmucker's Produce Market (12815 Doty Road- 46774)

More people saying no to high food prices

While researching rain barrels online lately I came across yet another article describing a family that decided to rip out a huge portion of yard to garden in reaction to high food prices. The Wall Street Journal blog post is a couple weeks old now, but the sentiment is completely salient. More and more people are discovering gardening, and for more and more reasons.

As first-year gardeners, we've already made a lot of mistakes with our three raised beds. We started far too late for many things. But this week our family rejoiced over spinach, bronze lettuce, a new crown of broccoli, three green cherry tomatoes, a tiny patty pan squash, three lil green peppers, bean blossoms, and sweet peas. We knew it would probably happen, and yet it is still amazing and slightly surprising. We sit back and laugh in wonder at how it all works, and creep back out to see what has changed by the end of the day. Our eldest child is convinced that her singing is helping, a la one of her favorite stories, The Giant Carrot. (There isn't room for her to dance like the character Isabelle). And who's to say? Even with our late start, things seem to be going well enough, so the singing might be just the thing.

Co-op update

OK, Kat has her own blog going now, and will have updates going soon. You can find it here. Check it out if you're interested in joining a food co-op where you'll have one place to go for fresh local produce, eggs, meats, and other products you've ordered.

You will be the pick-up person from time to time as well, but only occasionally-- as opposed to near-constantly (as the person who is not currently producing everything needed for sustainable living in their own backyard might be doing now).

I'm feeling great about a new way to feed our bellies with healthy, fresh, local foods, boost local economy, utilize the possible cost-savings of a co-op, and reduce my carbon footprint by not driving to five places to get the items I want for our family. Way to go, Kat! This project will assist many people in many, many ways.