It’s been ages since I’ve posted anything, but it’s not for want of information or activity. It’s been a busy time and incredibly we’re actually nearing the deadline for the fall issue!
Our summer issue has been a huge hit and we are officially out of magazines! There may be a few left here and there, but for Local Table news keep in touch with the website.
The big news is that we are doing a fundraising campaign to help build Local Table’s Farm to Plate food hub – a link between Tennessee farmers and local businesses. Food retailers, restaurants, hospitals, school systems, food banks and more will be able to easily find the items they are looking for and connect directly to the producer. We won’t be able to do it without your support. Times are very tough and every dollar is important and we truly appreciate your efforts to help us achieve our goal!
http://www.gofundme.com/LTFarmToPlate
Also, new to our website are some of the Nashville Food Bloggers. Check ‘em out and we’ll add more as go along!
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Catching Up
Monday, July 23rd, 2012Farmers Markets Opening
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012Our spring local food season is in full swing! Neighborhood farmers markets are opening, 12 South today, www.12southfarmersmarket.com, and East Nashville, www.eastnashvillemarket.com, tomorrow and the West Nashville market, http://www.goodfoodforgoodpeople.org/westnashvillefarmersmarket/ has moved to it’s summer spot in Sylvan Park’s Richland Park. Check out our farm guide to find out the schedule of your local market.
Our warm spring weather has moved a lot of crops up 2-4 weeks, so many area farmers markets where trucks just pull up to sell have been busy for a few weeks now. Strawberries are a month early, so don’t miss out on the sweetest, freshest berries you can possibly get! Besides spring produce, local artisans – bakers, cheesemakers, candlemakers all can be found at the farmers market.
Farmers markets are great for our neighborhoods, our health, the farmers and keeping our state green.
A Sense of Place
Thursday, March 29th, 2012I’ve always believed my love of getting my hands in the dirt was my desire to be rooted to a place. So, when Michael Ableman, (www.fieldsofplenty.com) the keynote speaker at last weekend’s Tennessee Organic Grower’s Conference (www.tnorganics.org), opened his remarks with talking about ‘a love of place’ – his words rang true in my heart.
In this time of great social and political change, he said ‘it’s the confluence of details that make the difference in our lives’ – not the huge radical changes.
He also spoke about what most of us already know – food and agriculture is the keystone of our lives – food has the most profound ripple effect on everyone of us. “The survival of each one of us is tied to the rest of us.”
Ableman’s words spoke true. His description of a farm as not an isolated endeavor, but part of a vast network tying a community together.
Ableman’s description of his own farm, Foxglove Farm, www.foxglovefarmbc.ca, and it’s quiet glimpses into the past, brought to mind the recent arrowhead I had unearthed in my own garden. We are tied to the past and to the future. It may be cliche to say, but we are only the caretakers of our place and it’s important to make your place more fruitful and alive than we found it.
I’d always wanted an old farm house where I could enjoy the plantings of a past resident. Unfortunately, our place had been pasture too long and there where no old gardens. But, after being here for over 7 years, our gardens are filled with color and even the woodland natives are more abundant!
Life nurtures life!
Worried about Pink Slime?
Saturday, March 17th, 2012The news is all a buzz about ‘pink slime’ – the ‘lean beef trimmings’ processed and then re-added to ground beef. It’s in virtually all of the ground beef at your local grocers. I heard yesterday that it’s actually hard to find commercially available hamburger without it. However, you can get pink slime free beef by buying from a local farmer. All you get is 100% beef , go to www.localtablenet, click on the farm guide and then search beef. No worries about what you’re feeding your family and just in time for spring cook outs!
West Wind Farms' cow
Waiting for spring
Friday, March 2nd, 2012
It’s pouring down rain and the skies are that eerie color of grey black. Storms are supposed to be here all day. Yesterday it was a perfect blue sky day of mid sixty temps and I was lucky enough to spend part of it in the garden. I’m still waiting for the birth of our goat mamas Lizzy and Jane’s babies and yesterday I ordered chicks!
It’s spring in Tennessee and I love it! I saw my first trillium yesterday and more of my favorite wildflowers aren’t far behind. It’s a time of anticipation, expectation and all things are possible in the garden. The garden hasn’t been ravaged by flood, drought or pests yet and I know this will be the best garden yet!
I’m also waiting for the delivery of the Spring issue of Local Table and hope to start getting out and around Middle Tennessee over the weekend and for the next few weeks.
Please let me know if you’d like to help spread the word and put magazines out in your community!
