Become a Lacavore
Do you enjoying buying and eating food that is locally grown and produced? Do you find yourself doing this more often than not? This could mean your a Lacavore. This is when a person only eats food that is locally growna nd produced.
Tip #1: Frequent Your Farmer's Market
Visiting your local farmer's market is your first step toward becoming a locavore. Keep an eye out for both fresh fruits and vegetables, and as many local foods as you can find. Make sure you look for dairy products, eggs, honey, grains, dry beans, meats, herbs, teas, and soy products. If you need a bouquet of fresh flowers, some dried fruit for snacking, a bar of soap, or some candles, find them at your local farmer's market.
Tip #2: Get to Know Your Farmers
During your frequent trips to the farmer's market, try and introduce yourself to some of your favorite vendors and take an interest and learn about their farms. If they offer a farm tour make it a priority to go and see where your food comes from. Bring the whole family!
If you have trouble locating farms in your area, search for local growers at localharvest.org.
Tip #3: Don't be Afraid to Barter and Trade
Bartering for mutually needed goods has a real place in modern locavore society. Trading goods can build community and takes no extraneous energy or packaging. Would you be interested in volunteering a few hours labor per week in exchange for some produce? Maybe the farm could use your web skills to market their products in return for a CSA share. Why dont you offer to help and see what happens.
Tip #4: Buy Foods In Season or Join a CSA
Fresh strawberries in the middle of January have no place in the locavore diet. Instead, become knowledgeable about what foods are harvested during which months in your area (Essex) and make sure you stock up on what's fresh. Eating in season tastes so much more delicious and you will soon lose your craving for those tasteless Mexican strawberries and other out of season. Dine on fresh greens in the spring, tomatoes and basil during the summer, roasted root vegetables in the fall, and hearty bean and beef stew in the winter.
Tip #5: Grow Your Own Food
Plant produce in your own garden and eat as local as you can get! If you do not have an established garden plot read up on soil amending and garden prep to get yourself started. Why not join a community garden if you don't have the space to grow food on your own property.
Tip #6: Preserve the Harvest
Canning, drying, and freezing summer-fresh foods for winter eating is an important step to ensure your local diet can last throughout the whole year. Learn basic canning skills, such as how to sun-dry foods, and the best foods to freeze. An electric dehydrator can be a big help to stock up on dried fruits, dried tomatoes, and fruit leathers.
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Best Local Food & Produce while traveling
6 Great Tips How To Discover The Best Local Food and Produce When You Travel 1) Research
Like all the best things, they take time and dedication to get right. Take some time to research using all the great information sources and services out there before you go. Planning a great itinerary doesn't hem you in but just gives you a better chance of hitting some of the best spots!
2) Follow your nose
Even the most researched trips don't always turn out exactly as you'd hoped. So we say don't be afraid to follow your nose. If you walk past a restaurant that is bursting with local diners, it's probably be safe to say that they are serving great food.
3) Enjoy the journey
Staying positive and upbeat when finding a good spot to eat is very essential. Dragging friends and family around a city and getting lost on empty tummies is not advisable. Make your search for the perfect dining experience a journey, take your time and combine 'slow food' with 'slow travel'. While you're looking for that perfect local restaurant, you're likely to be lead off the beaten tourist track, so enjoy the journey.
4) Ask your favourite producers
If you're a real foodie, you'll have a few producers or restaurants that you feel very passionate about, and often go to. Ask these people what they know about the area that you're going to. They may have suppliers or customers their who they may recommend to you. That way you'll be building on what you already know and love.
5) Check local credentials
It's advisable to ask your hosts in the destination, if they use local produce in their cooking. It may be that local product is too expensive for the travel industry to use but if you tell them that you are particularly interested in it, they may make that choice to switch to local suppliers in an attept to gain more custom. Whatever the situation, it will be interesting to find out. Even if they do not use local food, ask where you can find it and take that step on your own.
6) Talk to Local People
The most simple rule to remember when you travel is to ask the local people. If they offer you restaurants or markets tailored for tourists, ask them where they eat and where they shop. Local people not only eat the local food but many people who you meet will also be proud of local tradition and keen to share it with you.
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Local Produce News Articals
Does Buying Local Really Matter?
For many years it has been questioned wether or not buying local produce really matter or not.
Zach Hagadone has looked back on vaious discussions and has written a well structured blog on his thoughts on the matter. Feel free to comment on Zack's artical and tell him your views and opinion.
Found At: http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/does-buying-local-really-matter/Content?oid=1558745
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How CSAs promise produce for the season
"It originally started one farm, one family connecting as a way to support agriculture and feed your family," said Greg Cox of Boardman Hill Farm.
It has developed over the years as a way for families to buy their produce, meats and dairy through local farms instead of commercial box stores"
Found At: http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=12305740
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