Eating only what grows around you

[Alicia Leonard]

I really liked this article. With the recent food scares, I'm thinking of doing something like this on a local level. If anyone wants to chime in about where to buy produce, meats, or anything else edible in Walton County post it here and I will post the article as soon as it's published in the Herald.

Once the purview of foodies and hippies, 'locavorism' is going mainstream


When Katherine Gray takes her kids to the grocery store, they can pick out as many apples and pears as their hearts desire. But bananas? Pineapples? Mangoes? Sorry kids, if they weren’t grown within 100 miles of Gray’s house in Portland, Ore., chances are they won’t make it into the grocery cart.For years, the idea of eating only food grown locally and in season was reserved for upscale chefs like Alice Waters of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Calif., or serious hippies living off the grid, while the rest of us didn’t think twice about gulping down blueberries from Chile or avocadoes from Mexico.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24994028/

[Minnie]

I love supporting our local Farmer's Market.

[Miss Critter]

I saw that article today, and was wondering if there's a local co-op we can join. I'd love to have a steady supply of freshly grown fruits and vegetables, and maybe a local farmer or two would appreciate the guaranteed investment. Any takers?

[SWGB]

Toni's Farmers Market in North Grayton.

Look for the little cart on 283 just north of Mystic Porte shopping center. Keep in mind it's not Publix so sometimes the pickings are slim, but what you do get is top quality local grown produce.

Toni also supplies some of the local restaurants. I had never had a blue berry sorbet until Sunday and it was incredible.

[elgordoboy]

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[30A Skunkape]

We will always have an ample bounty of organic, eco-friendly, cheap, local, minimally carbon footprint stomping, Salmonella free, fair trade, nutritious seaweed here. Does anything else grow in sand besides St Joe pinions?

[Miss Critter]

We will always have an ample bounty of organic, eco-friendly, cheap, local, minimally carbon footprint stomping, Salmonella free, fair trade, nutritious seaweed here. Does anything else grow in sand besides St Joe pinions?

Isn't seaweed one of the healthiest things you can eat? Instead of paying for supplements, I'll just head on down to the beach.

[scooterbug44]

We had an amazing Farmer's Market every Saturday and a small one every Wednesday where I grew up. The array of food and products was amazing - baked goods & sweets, honeys & preserves, fruits and vegetables, meats and cheeses, plants & flowers, it was at one of the 100-200 different booths.

I am hoping that as demand grows, Toni and others will continue to offer more items. My motivation isn't so much saving the planet as getting flavorful and non-conveyor belt fruits and veggies.

Are there any nearby pick your own produce places? Would be a fun activity.

[Smiling JOe]

Every Saturday, from 8am - noon, you will find a local farmer's market in Seaside (yes, Seaside), next to Raw & Juicy. There are some good people involved in getting this thing off the ground, so go check it out, and buy local when possible.

In St Andrews (Panama City), at the south end of Beck Ave where the dock is located, there is a farmers market set up on Saturday mornings. I have yet to go, but I understand that there are several fisherman selling freshly caught fish, in addition to a few other produce and fruit growers. If anyone goes, report back to us.

aleonard, you cannot write that story without making reference to Guy Clark's song about "Home-grown Tomatoes." Google it for the lyrics.

one line from the song --
"I know what this Country needs, it's a home-grown tomato in every yard you see."

If we each had a home grown tomato, we wouldn't be having a poopy tomato problem in the US right now. Not only that, it would get us back in touch with the Earth, re-focusing us on the important things in life. There are many bits of knowledge to be gained from growing your own tomato plant, and I don't think you could explore them all in the length of one book. There are life lessons to be learned, and life lessons to be taught to other generations, connecting grandpas to grand-daughters, and so much more.

Go plant a tomato seed.

[scooterbug44]

Are there multiple vendors at the Seaside Saturday Market? I thought it was just Toni and I already go to her shop weekly, so I didn't check it out.

I tried growing tomatoes 5 different times last summer, so my contribution to the local harvest has been changed to lettuce, herbs, rhubarb (1/6 plants has survived), cucumbers, and beans.

[Smiling JOe]

I believe the farmers' market in Seaside started with Jen, Toni and maybe Dan (Amavida Coffee), and they are trying to "grow it." Sprinkle a little love on top, and it will grow. They would love to have other local growers come and join in, and it isn't just growers who would be welcome. You can stop by Raw and Juicy to speak to Jen or maybe Christin about it, and get more details.

Thanks to Seaside for allowing such a cool thing to happen.

[scooterbug44]

Cool!

FYI, the free Publix wine bags you get for buying 4 or more bottles are great for toting Farmer's market items because the divisions keep stuff from squishing each other.

[Miss Critter]

one line from the song --
"I know what this Country needs, it's a home-grown tomato in every yard you see."

Or this from Lewis Grizzard: "It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato."

Thanks for the info on Seaside. I'll have to check it out.

[Smiling JOe]

aleonard, also remember to include in your article, For the Health of It, located in Blue Mtn Beach, which is another great source for local food and sundries.

[Evangeline]

Although it's not terribly near SoWal, there are U-pick places in Baker that have strawberries in season and currently have blueberries and peaches. The peach and blueberry farms are past the Acres of Strawberries place and I don't know the name of the peach people, but the blueberries are grown at J&J Farms and I believe they're $1/pound.

[SWGB]

Although it's not terribly near SoWal, there are U-pick places in Baker that have strawberries in season and currently have blueberries and peaches. The peach and blueberry farms are past the Acres of Strawberries place and I don't know the name of the peach people, but the blueberries are grown at J&J Farms and I believe they're $1/pound.

If you want to avoid the drive and save some gas I believe that's where Toni get's hers.

[scooterbug44]

I think so - she's had some great peaches and blueberries lately!

[cp]

Its funny how everything that's "in" now like eating locally grown stuff has really just come full circle from the past. Isn't that what we all did in the 50s and 60's??You had a garden or bought at the local produce stand in the summer,canned and froze what you could of any and every thing and ate off it all winter.
Right now, lots of my freinds and neighbors are knee deep canning green beans and squach. next winter,they'll have great tasting food!
Now if my peppers and tomatoes would just turn red!

[Smiling JOe]

50"s and 60's? I grew up doing that in the 70's and 80's. I've shelled more peas, stringed and frenched more beans, and shucked, silked and creamed more corn than your average bear.

[Alicia Leonard]

Every Saturday, from 8am - noon, you will find a local farmer's market in Seaside (yes, Seaside), next to Raw & Juicy. There are some good people involved in getting this thing off the ground, so go check it out, and buy local when possible.

In St Andrews (Panama City), at the south end of Beck Ave where the dock is located, there is a farmers market set up on Saturday mornings. I have yet to go, but I understand that there are several fisherman selling freshly caught fish, in addition to a few other produce and fruit growers. If anyone goes, report back to us.

aleonard, you cannot write that story without making reference to Guy Clark's song about "Home-grown Tomatoes." Google it for the lyrics.

one line from the song --
"I know what this Country needs, it's a home-grown tomato in every yard you see."

If we each had a home grown tomato, we wouldn't be having a poopy tomato problem in the US right now. Not only that, it would get us back in touch with the Earth, re-focusing us on the important things in life. There are many bits of knowledge to be gained from growing your own tomato plant, and I don't think you could explore them all in the length of one book. There are life lessons to be learned, and life lessons to be taught to other generations, connecting grandpas to grand-daughters, and so much more.

Go plant a tomato seed.

I'll post some pics of my two little hardy plants soon

[cp]

I agree! I think its just a great way for the young ones to connect with the land .

[Romeosmydog]

A little birdie told me that a CSA (or CSF) is about to come available to this area. I heard from a source that the farmers are just working the soil to transition it to organic. For those of you that are unfamiliar with CSA's it stands for Community Supported Agriculture/Farm. These farms are usually organic, although it would be nearly impossible in Florida seeing that to my knowledge we have no organic tilth. (Peaboy would be the expert on this). The farms are run similar to co-ops, but you "invest" in them up front much like the stock market. Each week, when the veggies or fruits are harvested you go and pick up "your share". The box usually has a recipe included for that weeks harvest. Some weeks you leave with 5 watermelons, a bunch of mint, cucumbers and 2 dozen tomatoes, other weeks you have daikon and plums.

Buying veggies like this has obvious advantages as well as disadvantages. Local seasonal eating would be ideal. I just crave melon, berries and tomatoes all summer long! However, there are always risks in investing early in something especially when your investment is reliant upon the weather. For instance, a drought could severely impact the amount of veggies you and your family eat in a season....so could a hurricane.

In my personal fantasy land For the Health of It (Peaboy please don't kill me) would be the picking up point for a local CSF. I could go there each week and pick up my share and add to it all of the wonderful fresh produce and veggies that For the Health of It carries.

I hope that the CSA story is not just a rumor and it wont be too long until the soil is right and the CSA can become a reality. Until then I am sure I will be in the dog house with Peaboy for suggesting that he become involved in yet another way to keep him busy beyond busy.

[cp]

A little birdie told me that a CSA (or CSF) is about to come available to this area. I heard from a source that the farmers are just working the soil to transition it to organic. For those of you that are unfamiliar with CSA's it stands for Community Supported Agriculture/Farm. These farms are usually organic, although it would be nearly impossible in Florida seeing that to my knowledge we have no organic tilth. (Peaboy would be the expert on this). The farms are run similar to co-ops, but you "invest" in them up front much like the stock market. Each week, when the veggies or fruits are harvested you go and pick up "your share". The box usually has a recipe included for that weeks harvest. Some weeks you leave with 5 watermelons, a bunch of mint, cucumbers and 2 dozen tomatoes, other weeks you have daikon and plums.

Buying veggies like this has obvious advantages as well as disadvantages. Local seasonal eating would be ideal. I just crave melon, berries and tomatoes all summer long! However, there are always risks in investing early in something especially when your investment is reliant upon the weather. For instance, a drought could severely impact the amount of veggies you and your family eat in a season....so could a hurricane.

In my personal fantasy land For the Health of It (Peaboy please don't kill me) would be the picking up point for a local CSF. I could go there each week and pick up my share and add to it all of the wonderful fresh produce and veggies that For the Health of It carries.

I hope that the CSA story is not just a rumor and it wont be too long until the soil is right and the CSA can become a reality. Until then I am sure I will be in the dog house with Peaboy for suggesting that he become involved in yet another way to keep him busy beyond busy.

Who actually works the garden?

[Romeosmydog]

That depends on the CSA. The ones that I have read about the farmer/landholder works it. That is how it differs from a co-op. Although Nell Newman (Paul's daughter) wrote about one that was worked at least partially by the community. I have not heard about how the local one will function. If it will function at all. The closest CSA in Florida is in Live Oak. There is also one in B'ham.

[Alicia Leonard]

Grayt info RMD. If you hear more please pm me with any info.

[scooterbug44]

They had a film about it at last year's MountainFilm. From what I remember, there was a family/staff that worked on the farm, but members of the CSA also chipped in labor to help plant etc.

Very cool idea!

[kathydwells]

I have a bag full of fresh mater's and green onions from my daddy's garden. YUMMY!!!!! Nothing like a homegrown mater sandwich!!!

[ShallowsNole]

50"s and 60's? I grew up doing that in the 70's and 80's. I've shelled more peas, stringed and frenched more beans, and shucked, silked and creamed more corn than your average bear.

Fuzz and his cousin once came home from a visit to the family in NoWal with the bed of cousin's Ford Ranger filled with peas. Not peas in bags or buckets, the BACK OF THE TRUCK was full of peas. Loose.

Between cousin and his wife and Fuzz and me, we got about half of them shelled, blanched and put up before the rest sweated to death in the floor of our garage. My fingernails were black for at least a week. But, we had peas and cornbread all winter!

I miss those days...

[DD]

Fuzz and his cousin once came home from a visit to the family in NoWal with the bed of cousin's Ford Ranger filled with peas. Not peas in bags or buckets, the BACK OF THE TRUCK was full of peas. Loose.

Between cousin and his wife and Fuzz and me, we got about half of them shelled, blanched and put up before the rest sweated to death in the floor of our garage. My fingernails were black for at least a week. But, we had peas and cornbread all winter!

I miss those days...

SN--Watch out. You just may be nominated to be a writer in the cookbook. Great story!

[cp]

SN--Watch out. You just may be nominated to be a writer in the cookbook. Great story!

I SN's stories!!! Her blog about Eden is the best!