An Introduction of Me to You...

Regarding an Introduction of Me to Truly Local Food

I’ve grown up in the garden. I’ve been raised mostly as a farm girl. And now I have the opportunity to work each day to help strengthen and further develop our farming and local food efforts here in Pierce County. However, I will be honest, it was only last year that I truly developed an understanding of kohlrabi.

Realizing that I have so much to learn, I spent the past year and a half growing some more of my own food, as well as my own awareness of why and how someone would “eat as close to home as possible.” (I believe it’s Joel Salatin (www.polyfacefarms.com) that puts it in such terms?)

What steps have I taken personally? Here is a brief glimpse into my local eating efforts. (Pretend we’re sitting around a cup of coffee. This whole electronic conversation thing is so odd, no?)

In the Garden: Last year I started my own seeds and tended to a great little garden at my home in Puyallup. Hundreds of tomatoes later… I’m at it again this year, and especially excited about my heirloom seeds. I’ve decided to get more of my veggie starts from the farmers markets though, as they are reasonably priced and raised with love by our local growers.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Shares: I ate my way though Summer 2007 via a Terry’s Berries> CSA share. This year, recognizing that one person can only eat so many greens on her own, I’m sharing a CSA subscription from Zestful Gardens with my friend at work. Another local CSA is Take Root Farm in Buckley, and a Home Delivery Service based out of Tacoma is Terra Organics.

Farmers Markets and Seasonality: The glory and splendor that is “seasonality” = the first harvest of cherries from Eastern Washington. I found them at the Tacoma Farmers Market last year… Incredible. I decided that ‘seasonality’ is a glass half full/half empty kinda deal. I can be upset because I won’t find berries (that haven’t been shipped in from Chile) in January, or I can be excited because frozen local berries never tasted better and squash soup perfectly fits the chilly weather. My plan has been to indulge while I can, then freeze, or do whatever I do, to whatever I find for those cold winter days, and definitely share these treats with friends and family.

Now that you know a bit of what I’ve been up to…. I’ve taken on this blog as a challenge of sorts, to help expand my knowledge, as well as anyone’s brave enough to read, of how to source some stellar, yet close by provisions. It’s a healthy balance. I still shop at grocery stores, although now with a fairly conscious basket. One must also consider that I am a single person, without kids (though I often do feed a hungry boyfriend). I’m very fortunate to have a little extra time and money to pursue my local food interests. I definitely realize not all of my activities would suit others’ lifestyles… nevertheless; there is a combination out there for everyone. I challenge thee to find yours over the course of this next growing season. Adding local food to your life doesn’t have to be more expensive or inconvenient.

Yet another disclaimer: By no means am I a Master Gardener, a certified local food expert, a top chef, or a completely educated eater. My hope is that these future electronic ramblings will spark interest, at best inspire, or hey, even make you feel like, “I could totally do this better myself.” If any of these feelings come to you, follow them ;).