June Thrive Challenge

Comment

Comment by Sandra Lalonde on June 7, 2010 at 1:37pm

The local farmers market in Barrie is my favourite place in town. I love the idea that I am supporting local growers that take the care to grow sustainably. As a nutritionist I encourage everyone to eat in season and local as much as possible and remind them that we have a market every Saturday where they can buy the freshest possible food for their tables. A couple of local farms have begun to provide winter food baskets so that we have access to fresh local food all year long. I am also excited that my veggie garden has finally been built and planted. I am looking forward to the harvest in a couple of months. Scraps and ends do not go to waste around here. The dogs enjoy fresh veggies as much as we do and whatever is not suitable for them is composted for the gardens.

Comment by Gloria Vaughan on June 7, 2010 at 1:21pm

This week at the farmer's market I bought various greens and radishes for my salad. When trimming the radishes I just didn't have the ehart to throw out all of those besutiful leaves so I made them into a delicious pesto with basil leaves, cashews, Vega EFA Oil Blend and a bit of sea salt! Radish leaf pesto rocks!

Comment by Joanna Silva on June 7, 2010 at 1:10pm

We joined our local CSA. I know that everything I get will be organic and in season. I also get many things that I might not normally buy, so I get to experiment with new recipes.

Comment by Cheryl on June 7, 2010 at 1:00pm

Create your own neighborhood veggie co-op by partnering with a local grower. We found a local farmer at a Farmer's Market that we liked. We organized a list of interested neighbors and now we all get a weekly, farmer selected basket of veggies year round delivered right to our neighborhood. We take turns hosting veggie pickup, collecting money, and emailing the group. We get awesome, fresh organic vegetables and, since the farmer selects them, we try vegetables we might not ordinarily buy.

Comment by Keith Diehl on June 7, 2010 at 12:48pm

South Coast Farms in San Juan Capistrano, CA has a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program which I recently signed up for. Each week, I go to a local pick-up area and receive a basket of local/organic produce. It has been great and I would recommend that anyone who can seek out a similar program near them.

Comment by Jan Plotkin on June 7, 2010 at 12:39pm

I am very lucky to be able to live in a place where I can eat mostly local foods. We have a huge farmer's market year round every Wednesday and Saturday where all the local growers sell what they produce. I can buy not only local, but organic olives, cheeses, olive oils, wines, wool, breads, rices, juices, and seasonal fruits, veggies and plants. I also shop at my local food Coop where I purposely look for produce, olives, oils, vinegars etc. that support my local watershed. Our Coop has signs up for us to tell us which farm the produce comes from. We have a local wine section as well. I am sure to look on all packaged goods (when I choose to buy them) to see where it comes from and try to keep it as local as I can. In addition to these great options, we have a few organic, local U Pick farms where I go to pick with my kids. It is always a fun adventure and warm apricots right from the tree can't be beat. I have a garden of mostly flowers and succulents, but also have a bed where I intensely plant chard, kale, onions, lettuce and bok choi in the winter and tomatoes, peppers, and basil and other herbs in the summer.

I know not everyone has access like I do to local, organic foods, but I think if we are more aware of available choices we can make a difference. I always challenge people who say that they can't find local foods to get out there online or do some sort of investigation and find something local whether it is honey, rice, root vegetable or berries. Reduce packaged goods, try to buy fruits and veggies in season and if it can't be local try to find the closest source. The food tastes better, it supports a local community, is probably healthier and reduces your carbon footprint.

Comment by Gary Ferruggia on June 7, 2010 at 11:23am

Once the harvesting season started in my area (NJ, USA), I started going to the local pick-your-own farms. I recently moved, and luckily there are two great places within 10 miles of me. The past few weekends I've gone, I've picked my own Strawberries, Cherries, Spinach, Peas and Lettuces. I've made it a Saturday morning ritual and will continue to go through the fall. It's great supporting the local businesses, you know exactly where your food is coming from and it's more economical. I'm also looking forward to trying some new locally grown fruits and vegetables that I haven't tried; one thing I haven't tried that will be available during July and August is Indian and Chinese Bittermelon; sounds interesting...
The only problem is, I really stock up when I go and my refrigerator and freezer are packed! That's not a bad thing though; it forces you to get creative by trying some new recipes or just eating more of the good stuff you have!

Comment by Christina Habberjam on June 7, 2010 at 11:03am

I buy the local products available at Heatherlea Farm Market! http://heatherleafarmmarket.ca/

Comment by shanell habraken on June 7, 2010 at 9:20am

I do all of the above. We have our own garden, its not large but i try to grow as much as I can. My freinds and I share seeds and then our crops. My children love it, sometimes we cant find them because they r sitting in the middle eating what ever is ready to harvest. I also love farmers markets, I go to all of them in my community which is a large number. Then in the fall my freinds and I get together and perserve everything we can by either freexzing it or canning. There is nothing better then popping the top on ur homemaid salsa or pulling out roasted tomatoes from the freezer in the cold winter months to remind me of summer. I know exactly what i'm feeding my family and its wonderfull.

Comment by Sherrie on June 7, 2010 at 9:01am

All of the above!!! I shop at the local market when they begin in the summer and end in the fall. The community I live in is trying to start up a year round market and I am trying to get more involved with that project.
I also shop at the local co-op, buying local when I can and going organic at least 80% of the time. I am a vegan so it gets tricky for me sometimes but I feel the way I live and the foods I eat help to sustain he world around me. I am always trying to be better and do more!

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