“Our food system belongs in the hands of many family farmers, not under the control of a handful of corporations.”
–Willie Nelson, Co-Founder of Farm Aid
In my locavore adventures, I have discovered a new way of life; one that positively affects my community, my health—and the health of my 12 and 15 year old tax deductions, and that which allows me definitive advantage: choice. I live in an area that offers fresh produce, free of insecticides and chemicals—if I choose to buy it. I live in a community that is made up of organic growers whose efforts I can support. I can choose to keep my food dollars in this area. Perhaps choice is the main reason that I have decided to move toward a diet that is made up of local food. It hasn’t been a sudden or complete succession from my previous diet, as no lasting and sustainable change can be made suddenly.
This choice to “go local” is not without cost, but the weight of that choice is what lends its significance.
The reality is that buying local requires a significant budget adjustment. Not a decision I make lightly. What are the factors that justify the higher cost? Taste? Perhaps. For some, taste may be the only motivator necessary for increasing the percentage of their budget that goes toward food cost. For me and my little dependents, the worth (made up of more than mere taste) must exceed the cost. The benefits of eating healthy food, building a strong local economy, and participating in a system that gives control to local growers who protect the soil justify (exponentially) the higher cost involved.
After I made the choice to GO LOCAL, I needed to know where to go to find locally produced food.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Local growers sell shares of their production in baskets or bundles. You can purchase a share for determined number of weeks or months and what you pay into it supports the farmer. CSAs can be ordered directly through the producer and at a local co-op. Since you pay for the CSA at the beginning of the season, when you pick up your basket once a week or month, it’s like being handed free food.
The Purple Porch Co-op connects the producers and the customers directly, even at times creating an opportunity for the consumers to influence the growers in what to grow. This is a unique opportunity as there are not many consumer controlled markets available.
Farmer’s Market
We have many options for buying local food in this area: South Bend, Elkhart, Goshen, and Plymouth. Farmer’s markets attract farmers within 150 miles to one area. If you are looking specifically for local organic growers, I encourage you to talk to the sellers at each of the booths to find out what growing methods they use, getting to know the producer in the process.
Support Farm-To-Table Restaurants (and attend planned meal events)
Local Farm-to-Table restaurants purchase produce and meat from local growers to build their menus, such as American Kitchen in St. Joseph, MI and Spire, in LaPorte, IN. Corndance Tavern, in Mishawaka, Ind. is an offshoot of a bison farm located in LaPorte County. Several area restaurants offer occasional Farm-to-Table meals. Fiddler’s Hearth offers a meal once or twice in the summer. Clay Bottom Farm also offers such a meal on their farm in Goshen.
Grow your own!
Gardens can be grown in the most local of locations, our own yards. Last summer, I grew Roma tomatoes, sweet, hot cherry, and jalapeno peppers, lettuces, basil, and parsley. I also had cucumbers and zucchini. It was very rewarding to grow all of the ingredients to can 12 jars of a fire-roasted salsa (which disappeared in as many weeks).
The quest, adventure, journey…whatever words describe best the path of discovery to become a local eater is a life-changing one and has been for me. You learn much about your habits, how you really take care of yourself when you’re not aware of your choices, and how your actions can not only affect your own health, but people whom you’ve never met, people that live in your shared community, who grow organically and love the soil, one of our greatest resources.
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