Information and resources for eating only food locally produced in Whatcom County
A reader wrote in with this question recently: “Do you know if there is any data about whether Whatcom County produces enough food to feed its population?”Short answer is, “Perhaps yes, if we eat mostly berries.” I’m just joking (sort of). The real answer is much more complicated. Continue Reading
Fifteen years ago, Krista Rome began a small garden in her yard as a way of getting more connected with her food. Each year she enjoyed what she calls “peaceful tinkering,” tending her garden with basic hand tools. Then in 2008 she read three books back to back which changed her life: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver; Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan; and Plenty by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon, who first wrote about the locavore “100-mile diet” (eating only foods produced within a 100-mile radius of where you live). Continue Reading
Category : About Food Sources, CSAs, Whatcom Locavore Basics, Where to Buy Local Food
This list of farms offering Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs was taken from the 2012 Whatcom Food & Farm Finder by permission of the publisher, Sustainable Connections. Wherever possible, the Farm Name is linked to their website for more information. Learn more about what a CSA is and how it works. Continue Reading
Category : About Food Sources, CSAs, Whatcom Locavore Basics, Where to Buy Local Food
Photo by Fir0002
If you read these articles frequently (and may you and your descendants be blessed forever if you do!), you’ve probably seen me mention Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. If you want to start improving the quality of food you eat by buying locally grown ingredients, CSAs are the single easiest way to begin–and to save money! Continue Reading
Category : CSAs, Whatcom Locavore Basics
Locavores are people who eat only locally grown food as much as possible. Personally, I try to eat only food grown in Whatcom County.
If you want to give it a try, here are some things I’ve learned over the past two years that may help you get started. Continue Reading
Category : About Food Sources, CSAs, Home Delivery, Where to Buy Local Food
Last week Acme Farms + Kitchen (AF+K) announced they will soon be opening a storefront location in downtown Bellingham. Along with the location will come some new services. Continue Reading
Category : January, Recipes, Side Dishes, Vegetarian
Winter meals in the northwest corner of the Pacific Northwest are all about warmth, stick-to-your-ribs heartiness, and flavors with substance. For locavores, winter is also about root vegetables, the kinds of things that are harvested in late fall and can be stored over the winter. Continue Reading
Category : About Food Sources, CSAs, Home Delivery, Where to Buy Local Food
Our first delivery from Acme Farms + Kitchen (AF+K) arrived last week, and included an unexpected surprise! I had anticipated the beautiful, high quality organic food. I know some of the farms where the food was grown and they consistently produce nothing less than excellence. The big surprise was the packaging. AF+K has taken “reduce, reuse, recycle” to new heights. Continue Reading
Category : About Food Sources, CSAs, Home Delivery, Where to Buy Local Food
Last week I mentioned the reduced access to locally grown foods during the winter months when the Farmers Markets are closed. This week, in following up on a suggestion from Marvin Fast at Red Barn Lavender Farm, I discovered a new business which provides a perfect solution–Acme Farms + Kitchen (AF+K). Continue Reading
This omelet recipe is a perfect example of incredible local flavors. Cascadia Farms shiitake mushrooms are the highlight–they make nonlocal shiitakes seem like tasteless paste. I’m certain you’ll savor this dish.
We’re fortunate to have a diverse variety of locally made cheese from which to choose. I use local goudas a lot because they often come flavored with herbs or spices. For this recipe, though, I used a plain gouda made from goat milk. The goat milk flavor was all that was needed to balance the eggs. Continue Reading
Category : About Food Sources, CSAs, January, Main Dishes, Menu Ideas, Recipes
When I think of classic comfort food, I think of meatloaf. When I was a child, meatloaf was my favorite main dish. Top with a little Worcestershire sauce and ketchup, serve mashed potatoes and green beans on the side, and I was a happy kid.
Others must feel the same way. “Meatloaf” is one of the top five recipes people search for on the Food Network web site, and it’s categorized there as a “Comfort Food.” Continue Reading
Category : About Food Sources, CSAs, Where to Buy Local Food
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs are one of the easiest ways to get a steady, affordable supply of locally grown foods during the growing season. It also gives a farmer some cash at a time of the year when they are spending money for seeds, and guarantees sale of a percentage of their crops in advance. Continue Reading
Finding locally grown organic food can be a fascinating treasure hunt, but it also can be time consuming, especially at first. Here are some food finding tips to help jumpstart your locavore lifestyle:
1. Start close to home.
You may have noticed that I mention some farms more frequently than others. That’s because they are the best sources I’ve found close enough to my normal errand routes to be convenient. My goal is to find the quality I want as close to home as possible. I go to Half Acre Farm for u-picking vegetables, but you may be able to locate a u-pick you like closer to where you live. Continue Reading
