Local Food

GEDC0421
Originally uploaded by tormash9

There is something really satisfying about sitting down to a meal made up entirely of stuff you grew. Except for the dumplings (I'm not quite ambitious enough to try wheat for flour), the entire meal was raised here.

Now if only my kids could appreciate how good a fresh homegrown tomato is, instead of accusing me of starving them.

Local Eating Again

Kentucky Farm Bureau also has a list of farm markets including these in Madison County:

• Acres of Land Winery
• Baldwin Farm (How could I have forgotten them. We always get our Christmas trees there)
• McQuerry's Family Farm Herbs-N-Heirlooms in Paint Lick
• Warren Farm Greenhouse

Eating Locally

Our family is trying to reduce our carbon footprint and a big part of that is eating locally. We have a large garden, a small flock of chickens, a few goats and I'm seeing a couple cows in our future. Still there are times when we need to buy stuff.

Like coffee. The best place in the county to buy Fair Trade, Organic coffee is Berea Coffee and Tea, Kentucky's first "green" coffee shop. Their long list of coffees can be found here. While you're at their website you can also read about the process they went through to become "green."

Berea College Farms are selling locally raised beef and other meats. You select how much meat you need, how you want it cut (if you select a quarter or side) and then pick it up and pay for it in the fall when it's ready. Berea College is also trying to become sustainable by raising the food they use on campus on their farms.

There are several farmer's markets in Richmond, Berea and Irvine. The organic market in Berea is open on Tuesday and Friday evenings beside Promenade Gallery. There is another Berea market under the stadium beside the pool at Berea Community School, but I'm not sure of the days. In Richmond the market is in the Lowes parking lot on Tuesday afternoon and Saturday morning. There is a list of other markets in the state here.

I mentioned local strawberries in an earlier post, but leave a comment if you know of any other local food options.

Blackberry Winter/Local Strawberries Ready

According to the local farmers, we just had blackberry winter. Blackberries are in full bloom and the temps were 38 degrees the night before last.

How is it that it always happens that way? I think I'll keep track of it for a few years.

If you're looking for local produce, the strawberries at Marcum Farms just up College Hill Road from Waco are ready to pick. $9 a gallon for u-pick, $11 a gallon if they pick. I haven't stopped yet, but last year they were terrific. Melissa made jam and we enjoyed it up until January, so we need to make more this year.