Okay, I just have to say it because turkey has been on my mind the last couple of days.
I try to present everything I've learned over the last few years in a positive light simply because it's healthier to be for something (local food, restaurants, and farmers) than against something (misguided government policy, corporate greed, and public apathy). But it's my blog and today I choose to be pissed off about this.
Mother Earth recently wrote a blurb about a Rolling Stones report on Smithfield Farms, one of the biggest, nastiest, greediest corporations on the planet. And….they own Butterball. So if extolling the virtues of local farmers, tasty meats, and community doesn’t get people off their duffs and making the effort to contact a local turkey farmer, perhaps the gruesome reality of Smithfield World will.
Argh!
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If you want a locally raised turkey for your Thanksgiving dinner now's the time to order your turkey. I'm waiting to hear back from other growers to confirm they're taking orders but one farmer is taking orders right now.
Rise and Shine Farms is getting geared up for the season so contact them and get your order in now.
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From my inbox to you:
Don’t wait until annual Farm Food and Harvest event this fall …… See what is growing soon, and often!
We don’t want anyone to miss out on seeing the Mediterranean Garden Demonstration plot, as it is bursting at the seams with big healthy crops of Beans, Lettuces, Melons, Squash, Cucumbers, Peppers (including the Internet famous Aleppo Pepper, among several other pepper-types, Pimento, Paprika, Hot and Sweet varieties).
There is seed Spinach, and Beets, Herbs, Flowers, the Cedars of Lebanon Tomato, along with the Big Heirloom types, Giant Syrian, Nesema Yellow, and Omar Lebanese.
See the very large plant, a very strange radish that we suspect is actually horseradish (we will see). Sorghum, and Pumpkin and other Winter Squash are also represented along with the succulent green veggie, high in Vitamins and Omega 3 - Purslane, which we offer to ethnic groups by the 1 LB packs.
The special 20X60' plot is small by farming standards, but full of wonderful veggies descendant from seeds obtained at USDA germ-plasm seed bank in the late 40’s! Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Italy, ETC, are the countries responsible for these beautiful vegetables. Some of the lush growth is dedicated to seed production and saving, to carry on Virginia’s family heritage (Syrian/Lebanese. This Demonstration kitchen garden is not the only thing growing, of course.
Now is the time to take the mini-tour, and see what your farmers and our wonderful Food-For Work Volunteers and other helpers have been doing all spring and early summer - to bring locally grown organic produce to the area's fresh food lovers. Everyone is welcome to come and see what is happening at Custom Garden Farms.
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If you don't know it already let me tell you right off -- being a small farmer in the 21st century is tough. The government stacks the deck in favor of big agriculture and development, and relentless processed food marketing constantly draws our attention away from tasty, healthy food and towards convenient, artificially cheap food. You gotta wonder why they stay on the farm.
Here's a little insight from one of our best local farmers. Check out this video produced by Gary Romano at Sierra Valley Farms.
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It's official! Northern Nevada now has its own Slow Food convivium called Slow Food Reno. Go here to see what the group has been up to. Or even better, go to Slow Food USA to see what other, longer established groups have been doing in their own communities.
Slow Food is about eating good, fresh food, preferably locally grown food (depending on your perspective...and hey, I am a local food advocate am I not!), visiting, and connecting with our friends, families, neighbors, and potential new friends. Slow Food is also about food justice, food security, artesian food, endangered food, cooking, imbibing, growing…anything that has to do with food outside the fast food system. There’s room all perspectives, interest levels, and skills. Go to Slow Food Reno or Slow Food USA to find out more.
By the way, when thinking about or interacting with Slow Food it helps to remember that the key word here is “slow”. I’ve been involved with Slow Food activities for a couple of years now and must always remind myself that the international organization does not work well with hard and fast deadlines and timeframes. For example, even though SFR has been official for a few weeks, the group is not yet included on the Slow Food USA convivium list. Relax…have something to eat and a glass of wine with your favorite other while you wait.
Woo hoo!
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This time of year is ambrosia for people who like to eat close to home. Each year the number of northern Nevada farmers markets increases, as does the number of potential urban and rural farmers taking a shot a growing human food (called "specialty crops" in the agriculture industry) in Nevada. Granted, many of the farmers at the markets hail from California. These farmers grow where the growing season is longer and the temperatures are friendlier. I really appreciate what they do, but still, my heart is with Nevada farmers for food-security and economic reasons, and because I love them as individuals. Nevada farmers are working hard to expand the growing season and available varieties. On-farm markets are just one more way to buy the food they grow.
If there's anything more fun than shopping at the farmers markets it's shopping right on the farm. If you haven't had a chance to do this yet I highly recommend it. Take the family and friends and make it a day.
Shopping at on-farm markets are really great for a couple of reasons. First, it allows the farmer to stay close to their property and growing chores. Farming takes a lot of effort, dedication, and time. On-farm markets means farmers and their customers can meet, talk, support each other, and share wonderful food while at the same time allowing the farmer to stay on farm as much as possible.
Second, most of us know so little about where our food comes from…a visit to a real farm helps lift the veil on our very secretive food production system, and helps us understand what it really takes to produce quality, real food.
And it’s fun. When was the last time you petted a goat? I swear…they act like giant puppies. And you can only pet one on a farm.
This just in - some information on a local Nevada on-farm market.
Custom Gardens On-Farm, Farmer’s Green-Market
3701 Elm Street, Silver Springs, Nevada
Farm Open Sundays, June to October
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Artichokes to Zucchini,
herbs, vine, and bush fruit, (Tree Fruit as Mother
Nature permits) and other edible treats.
Public Welcome, Demonstration Plot & Farm Tours
We are approved to redeem SFMNP senior nutrition coupons for in-season fresh produce.
ALL Green-Market Produce GROWN ON SITE!
Contact The Farmers
Ray or Virginia Johnson
At 775-577-2069 or Email
customgardens@mindspring.com
for a map and crop informatio
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Soon we'll have more options for purchasing food grown by really local farmers. More Nevada farmers are starting on-farm markets, or farm stands.
Getting fresh food from the farm to the market, while simultaneously running a farm can be a challenge. The food distribution system that delivers our food to the supermarket is not available to local farmers and it doesn't work with fresh food, so farmers have to come up with other innovative ways to get their product to us. Some are returning to the use of farm stands, which connect us to the fresh food and give us an opportunity to relearn where food comes from.
From my mailbox to you,
"Visit Custom Gardens On-farm Farmer's Market, Sundays beginning June 21, 10am-2pm. Meet the farmers, take a tour of the farm, and fill your market bag with locally-grown, certified organic produce. For directions to the farm, call (775) 577-2069 or go to Custom Gardens.
More farm stands will be opening soon. Visit Nevada Grown for more information."
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This just in....
There's a new farmers market in Fallon. The Grower's Market is held each Saturday, 9:00 to 1:00, at the Slanted Porch, 310 S. Taylor Street.
It started a couple of weeks ago, around May 30th, and will continue until it's done...no specific end date yet.
For updates contact The Slanted Porch at 775-423-4489.
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RENO
California and Booth Street
Saturdays, 8am to 1pm, June 6th – October 3rd
West Street Urban Market
West Street between 1st & 2nd
Sundays, 9am to 1pm, June 14th – September 13th
Shopper’s Square
S. Virginia and Plumb
Tuesdays, 8am to 1pm, June 9th - October 6th
Somersett Town Square, 7650 Town Square Way
Wednesdays, 4-8pm, June 10–Aug 26
Linda, (775) 787-4500 Ext 311
www.somersett.com
Tamarack Junction Casino
13101 S Virginia
Fridays, 8am to 1pm, June 12th – October 9th,
SPARKS
United Methodist Church
1231 Pyramid Way
Tuesdays, 8am-1pm, June 2-Sep 15
Everett, (775)358-0925
Sparks Hometowne Farmers' Market on Victorian Square.
Thursdays from 4pm to 9pm, June 11th to ?
CARSON CITY
3rd & Curry St
Saturdays, 9am-1pm, June 27-Oct 3
Linda, (775) 882-6741
www.carsonfarmersmarket.com
Pony Express Pavilion
East 50 (Williams) & Saliman
Wednesdays 3pm – 7pm, June 10th – September 2nd
DAYTON
Community Roots Nursery
Hwy 50 & 2nd Ave,
Thursdays, 4-7pm, June 25-September
Wendy, (775)250-7884
FALLON
Churchill County Fairgrounds
325 Sheckler Rd
Tuesdays, 4:00-8:30 pm, June 16 – Aug 25 (closed July 7)
Don, (775) 427-3428
Grower's Market
The Slanted Porch, 310 S. Taylor Street
Saturdays, 9:00-1:00, May 30th - TBA
The Slanted Porch at 775-423-4489
GARDNERVILLE
Lampe Park
Wednesdays, 8am-1pm, June 3 - Sep 16
Jana, (775)782-9828
http://www.douglascountynv.gov/sites/recdept/Adult.cfm
MINDEN
Downtown, Esmeralda Avenue
Tuesdays, 4-8pm, June 2 - September
Roxanne, (775) 782-2444
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