Here are a few of our favorite ideas:
Plant a row for the hungry. A great way to celebrate local food is to decide to share it, and planting a row for the hungry is one of the best ways to do that. Whether or not you've signed up for the potato pledge, you can pick up a few extra plants at the Project Grow plant sale and know those little gems will help a neighbor. Now, how cool is that?
Head to the farmer's market. One of the most fun ways out there to celebrate local food is a trip to the farmers market. Meet the growers and producers that are just around the corner or right in your backyard, sample their wares, and take home a few favorites.
Consider growing some of your own. Think of this as the year to finally plant that garden, sneak a few tomato or basil plants in the flowerbed out front to start that edible landscape you've always been thinking of, or do a combo pot of edible flowers, herbs, and greens!
Take a local farm tour and see what's out there. SIMBY (Sustainability in My Back Yard) Agritours is another fun way to meet growers and producers in person, but this time on the farm. Check out their schedule of upcoming tours and hop on along!
Join a CSA. Fresh vegetables grown locally by folks on the ground - literally - of the local food movement. Another one of the best and easiest ways to be part of a local food movement find a comprehensive guide at The Farmer's Marketer.
Volunteer with Project Grow. You can't get much more local than a community garden. Check out ways you can lend a hand and be part of the fun!
Got more ideas? Let us know and we'll be more than glad to share them with our readers!
2 comments:
Another alternative (recently on CNN) if you are growing more food than you need is to visit www.AmpleHarvest.org - a site that helps diminish hunger by enabling gardeners to share their garden produce/herbs with neighborhood food pantries.
The site is free both for the food pantries and the gardeners using it.
More than 2,000 food pantries nationwide are already on it and more are signing up daily.
It includes preferred delivery times, driving instructions to the pantry as well as (in many cases) information about store bought items also needed by the pantry (for after the growing season).
If your community has a food pantry, make sure they register on www.AmpleHarvest.org.
Thanks! Those are great ideas and links. Keep 'em coming!
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