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This weblog contains LocallyGrown.net news and the weblog entries from all the markets currently using the system.

To visit the authoring market’s website, click on the market name located in the entry’s title.



 
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Northeast Georgia Locally Grown:  Locally Grown - Availability for October 1st, 2013


Hey Local Food Lovers,

There is a real elegance to a well made meal with simple ingredients. I’m eating for dinner some perfect little zephyr squashes from Shade Creek Farm with mushrooms (oh how I miss Orchard Valley Farm oyster mushrooms don’t you), sweet potato greens sauteed with just a tad chicken bouillon flavor, and tofu (that’s my wife looking out for our protein) then the whole thing over rice. Oh, I must admit there’s a pretty good beer on the side. So simple. Chopsticks and little bowls of course. I know I’m a bit lucky to eat this way so often (mixing of the cultures is so a perk of modern life). But for those who don’t eat with chopsticks, I feel like I’ve described very similar simple meals, but from a slightly different season, and with a more American twang. Cornbread rather than rice, and roasted beats with a cilantro lime sour cream sauce, with beet greens sauteed with garlic. Oh wait, and the cornbread was actually cheddar mini muffins with two different kinds of corn. That was really YUMMY! Oh heck since I made this whole meal before and posted all the photos and recipes I’ll just give you a link to go see if it looks and sounds good. And the good news is we actually have cornmeal for sale right now. Beets? Coming soon?

Should be pinned right to the top
https://www.facebook.com/NGLGmarket

I just had an idea. If you’re enjoying cooking Locally Grown food and have a camera of some kind (and we know that you do) send us a picture of any meal you cook, via e-mail or best to post it on our FACEBOOK (and bonus points if you include a recipe), and we’ll give you $1.00 off your next purchase. Wow, we just made this whole idea up right here and NOW this minute.

You heard right, a 1 BUCK awesome local food COUPON in exchange for a photo of your meal. On average there’s about 60 of you who buy from Locally Grown each week, so if all 60 of you post in the next lets say 4 weeks, we’d be happy to pump some bucks of love back at you. Cause we do love that you buy local food from US, and this may just be the best coupon idea ever! Don’t forget these little steps 1) Cook a meal, 2) Take a pick, 3) Post or e-mail your pic, 4) Then come to pickup (easy to forget that part, oh and first you should order food to pickup of course), 5) Get your food, 6) And remind us, "Hey I posted an awesome food pic and you guys have a COUPON thingy-o!. Then we’ll say Great. You cook good! Maybe I could invite myself over for dinner some time. We don’t come up with great ideas often around here, but this seems kind of great.

Don’t forget to cook folks. Just like you can’t forget to pick okra (even if it’s like 5 days late), and water the plants. It’s dry out there folks.

Ok, two items to plug before signing off.

AMY’S FLAN. It’s under Ethnic/Specialties, which was kind of the them for this e-mail right.

MELONS, WINTER MELON. This is one that folks really need to learn how to cook. I’ll let my wife post a photo and recipe. Here that Ching-Yu, I’m calling you out to earn your BUCK COUPON.

Seriously folks, don’t be shy, MAN or WOMAN UP and fly your LOCAL FOOD FLAG high and strong. Cook something good, don’t forget to mail a picture (post it FB better), get a coupon, participate, enjoy, share.

EAT WELL,

Justin, Chuck, Teri and Andrew

E-MAIL
soque@windstream.net

POST
https://www.facebook.com/NGLGmarket

Farm Where Life is Good:  Online Market is OPEN for Business (Week 40)


Rog taking Allis to task for broken bolts on her tow bar! The seed drill needs to get to work while the sun still shines.

Life on the Farm (Week 40)

We had a little fun that got in the way of opening the market. Ugh, sorry (sheepish grin!) But, back at it.

These warm summer-(f)all days are testing our adaptability scores. We definitely know broccoli varieties chosen for cool fall weather do not like warm summer weather…and other than harvesting and putting in the cooler, we have little we can do about it! And it is quite clear that once a squash plant has experienced 29F temps, it will NOT re-emerge to enjoy 80F temps like us! Rog is also getting quite good at draining all water lines nightly (Agility for Farmers), just in case we are surprised by 60 degree temperature swings and it goes below freezing at night. But, warm sunny days demand water, water, water.

But boc choi and baby mesclun/salad mix are loving it all. So greens are baaaack. Stock up on chlorophyll before the snow flies!

Sneaking away to treat the Mutt to some water-based adventure for a few hours…shhhhh.

We are discovering thru the consumption of “farmer’s potatoes” (those cut by the potato harvester), that many of the Gold Rush baking potatoes have “hollow heart”. This is a developmental problem caused by potato stress (who know potatoes can be as stressed as humans?!) during tuber formation, and is not related to pests or disease. We are unable to screen for it, because externally, potatoes are unblemished. If you receive unacceptable potatoes, please let us know and we will replace them for you.

The Market is now open for a herbs, wheat berries, tomatoes and just a wee bit more.

Ordering will be open from Sunday morning until Monday 8pm. Get your orders in now so harvesting can begin specific to your requests.

Deliveries will be made Wednesday per usual to your chosen Dropsite Location .

Recipes for your consideration

Crunchy slaw with creamy dressing and tangy apple surprise in each bite. ’Tis the apple season.

Boc Choi Apple Slaw

1/3 cup Sour Supreme (Tofutti brand is best)
1/3 cup Veganaise or Nayonaise
2 TBSP white wine vinegar
2 tsp sugar or honey
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp salt
6 cup very thinly sliced bok choi (1-pound head, trimmed)
1 tart apple, julienned or shredded
1 carrot, julienned or shredded
1/2 cup slivered scallions or red onion

Whisk first 6 ingredients together.
Toss with vegetables/fruit; let sit in refrigerator 2-3hrs prior to serving.

Adapted from— Cooking.com


And to say Ta Ta! to the summer season, celebrate (or cry) with a fresh bowl of cool and tangy vegetable soup.

Gazpacho

2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small red onion, diced
1 cucumber, diced
1 medium red bell pepper, roughly chopped
2 lbs tomatoes, diced (approx 8 tomatoes)
1 zucchini, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/8 cup red wine, balsamic or sherry vinegar
1 Tbsp sugar
½-1 fresh jalapen?o, seeded and finely chopped
? cup almonds
One ½-inch slice white bread, torn into 1-inch pieces
½ tsp sea salt, to taste
¼ tsp black pepper, to taste

In the bowl of a food processor or in a blender, combine one-half of all vegetables, all of the almonds, bread, olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Puree until smooth.

Remove to large bowl.

Add the remaining vegetables to the food processor/blender, and pulse until all ingredients are minced but still recognizable.

Combine with puree. Test for salt and pepper.

Chill soup for at least a couple of hours; soup needs to be very cold!

Garnish with cilantro and fresh French bread drizzled with olive oil and grilled.


We eat a lot of gravy…it is a simple one-pan way to make up something flavorful and then just add a protein and top a starch or greens. This recipe is where we start, and modify the herbs as cravings direct.

Gravy Every Day

1 lb mushrooms (your choice), sliced or chopped
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 Tbsp dry)
5-10 leaves fresh sage, chopped (or 1 tsp dry)
Optional/substitutions: 1 tsp thyme (3-4 sprigs), 1 Tbsp chives or garlic chives, chopped
1/4-1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
4 cup vegetable broth/bouillon
1/4-1 tsp sea salt (if needed)
1/2 cup wheat flour or corn starch
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 cup cold water (1/2 cup margarine for high fat version)

Sauté mushrooms, onions, garlic in olive oil until onions clear and mushrooms tender. Add wine (if using); allow to evaporate a few minutes.

Add parsley, sage and black pepper.

Add vegetable broth, cover and bring to a light simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Add salt if desired.

Mix flour and nutritional yeast with cold water in a container with lid. Shake vigorously to create a thick,
pourable paste with no lumps. Add more water as needed.

Alternatively, for high fat version, melt margarine in pan, mix in flour and nutritional yeast. Add more melted margarine as needed to make a paste (roux). Stir over low heat for 2-3min.

Slowly pour paste into simmering broth while stirring constantly with whisk or slotted spoon. Note gravy consistency; stop adding or make up more paste as needed to achieve gravy consistency you prefer.


Warm, creamy, chewy, rich, satisfying. Perfect for pre-school/pre-work sustenance to get you thru until lunch (or snack time!)

Whole Grain Fruit and Nut Hot Breakfast Cereal

1 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins or craisins or dried peaches/apricots
2 cups soymilk (or coconut or almond or hemp or ricemilk)
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups Cooked Wheat Berries, (recipe follows)
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted (see Tip)

Microwave: Place oats, raisins, soymilk and salt in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Stir to combine. Microwave on High, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Stir in cooked wheat berries and microwave again until hot, 1 to 2 minutes more. Let stand for 1 minute. Stir in brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle with toasted almonds and serve.

OR

Stovetop: Bring soymilk to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in oats, fruit and salt. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in cooked wheat berries and cook until heated through, about 1 minute more. Remove from the heat. Stir in brown sugar and cinnamon; let stand for 1 minute. Sprinkle with toasted almonds and serve.

Tip: Toast slivered almonds in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

Cooked Wheat Berries

2 cup wheat berries (hard/high protein varieties work best)
7 cup water
1 tsp salt if desired

Rinse and pick thru to eliminated stones and debris. Add to pot of water (and salt).

Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Drain and rinse. Serve hot or cool for freezer storage.

If storing, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to several months.


If anyone has some good recipes for this week’s ingredients, pop on over to the website and enter them there for everyone’s benefit!.

Subscription Box Highlights

Anticipated this week for the CSA/Subscription Boxes:

Tomatoes
Cucumber
Sweet peppers
Potatoes
Spicy mesclun
Boc choi
Broccoli
Onions
Celery
Melon
Shallots
Garlic
Parsley
Thyme

Start your meal planning now!

We hope to feed you soon!

Roger and Lara



**If you’d like to stop receiving emails, just jump into your account on the website (farmwlig.locallygrown.net, My Account) and scroll to bottom; check appropriate box.

Fresh Harvest, LLC:  Fresh Harvest for September 28th


Fresh Harvest for September 28th
To Contact Us
Fresh Harvest, LLC
Link to Fresh Harvest
Email us!
Tallahassee May
tally@wildblue.net
JohnDrury
john.drury@att.net

Recipes
Mustard Greens with Tomatoes, Onions, and Chilies
by Deborah Madison

Serves 4

2 lb. mustard greens or collards, washed, stems removed, and coarsely chopped
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, peeled, cut into ½-inch squares
3 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
2 to 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 small dried red chilies or several pinches red pepper flakes
salt
vinegar

Steam the greens over boiling water for roughly 5 minutes or until they are tender.
Heat the oil in a large skillet.
Add the onions and cook them over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, garlic, and chilies.
Add salt to taste and cook for another minutes, then add the greens.
Mix everything together and cook until the greens are thoroughly warmed.
Check to see if the greens need additional salt and add if needed.
Add a splash of vinegar and serve.

Market News
Hello!

We have some news for you this week for you Wedge Oak farm buyers. They will be taking this week off of their meat orders, but will still have their eggs available. They are hosting an Outstanding in the Field Dinner on their farm on Thursday evening, and need to focus all of their energy into getting their farm ready! There are still some tickets available to this special event. You can read about it and purchase tickets at outstandinginthefield.com/event/wedge-oak-farm/

Also, they have put their reservations up for their turkeys at Thanksgiving. There is a $25.00 deposit which is paid at the time of making the reservation, and then the rest is due at pick up. You will be contacted by Wedge Oak asking what size turkey preference you have. These turkeys will be frozen, so pick up will probably be the Wednesday a week before Thanksgiving. Details to be worked out soon!

Please make sure to support our other local vendors. Little Seed farm has wonderful soaps and body care products made with their very own goat milk. Dozen Bakery has the wonderful fall time treat of their apple gallette. Also, Bear Creek Farm has some new items up that you will be excited to try!

Lots of great veggies and flowers, as well!

Once again, thanks so much for your support, and we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday!

John and Tallahassee

Coming Events
We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

Conyers Locally Grown:  Available for Friday October 3


I hope this finds you all doing well. Wow, October 3. This year is just cruising by. Here we are entering October. I have to say I am very glad to be here every day. Farming is a pleasure. It is hard work but I am very glad to be able to do it. While I am nowhere near where I was before my accident I am slowly getting things done. The lettuce is going in, more beets, chards, carrots, cabbage, collards, kale, mustard and more are on the way. With broken equipment and soar backs we are making it happen. The pigs are also thriving. They fake a tremendous amour of effort each sag but the pay off is great. The best pork around. Take advantage of it while you can the shares are going quick.

Ordering is open till Wednesday at 8 pm. We will see you on Friday between 5-7 at copy central, 1264 Parker road.

Thank you,
Brady

Atlanta Locally Grown:  Available for Saturday October 4


I hope this finds you all doing well. Wow, October 4. This year is just cruising by. Here we are entering October. I have to say I am very glad to be here every day. Farming is a pleasure. It is hard work but I am very glad to be able to do it. While I am nowhere near where I was before my accident I am slowly getting things done. The lettuce is going in, more beets, chards, carrots, cabbage, collards, kale, mustard and more are on the way. With broken equipment and soar backs we are making it happen. The pigs are also thriving. They fake a tremendous amour of effort each sag but the pay off is great. The best pork around. Take advantage of it while you can the shares are going quick.

Ordering is open till Wednesday at 8 pm. We will see you on Saturday between 9-10 at your selected delivery location.

Thank you,
Brady

Fresh Harvest, LLC:  Fresh Harvest for September 28th


To Contact Us

Fresh Harvest, LLC
Link to Fresh Harvest
Email us!
Tallahassee May
tally@wildblue.net
JohnDrury
john.drury@att.net

Recipes

Mustard Greens with Tomatoes, Onions, and Chilies
by Deborah Madison

Serves 4

2 lb. mustard greens or collards, washed, stems removed, and coarsely chopped
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, peeled, cut into ½-inch squares
3 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
2 to 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 small dried red chilies or several pinches red pepper flakes
salt
vinegar

Steam the greens over boiling water for roughly 5 minutes or until they are tender.
Heat the oil in a large skillet.
Add the onions and cook them over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, garlic, and chilies.
Add salt to taste and cook for another minutes, then add the greens.
Mix everything together and cook until the greens are thoroughly warmed.
Check to see if the greens need additional salt and add if needed.
Add a splash of vinegar and serve.

Market News

Hello!

We have some news for you this week for you Wedge Oak farm buyers. They will be taking this week off of their meat orders, but will still have their eggs available. They are hosting an Outstanding in the Field Dinner on their farm on Thursday evening, and need to focus all of their energy into getting their farm ready! There are still some tickets available to this special event. You can read about it and purchase tickets at outstandinginthefield.com/event/wedge-oak-farm/

Also, they have put their reservations up for their turkeys at Thanksgiving. There is a $25.00 deposit which is paid at the time of making the reservation, and then the rest is due at pick up. You will be contacted by Wedge Oak asking what size turkey preference you have. These turkeys will be frozen, so pick up will probably be the Wednesday a week before Thanksgiving. Details to be worked out soon!

Please make sure to support our other local vendors. Little Seed farm has wonderful soaps and body care products made with their very own goat milk. Dozen Bakery has the wonderful fall time treat of their apple gallette. Also, Bear Creek Farm has some new items up that you will be excited to try!

Lots of great veggies and flowers, as well!

Once again, thanks so much for your support, and we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday!

John and Tallahassee


Coming Events

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

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DeForest, WI:  Availability for week of Sept 28


Last week was the last week of sweet corn. Farmer Rich thanks you for your support and he is looking forward to next season, already. There may be some corn available for freezing, contact him directly if your interested.
This week Forest Run has added some more greens to it’s selections.
And as the days get shorter and the forecast calls for cooler temps, don’t forget to get in your supply of Rusty Dog Coffee before the market season closes.

Athens Locally Grown:  Availability for October 14


It’ll be just a quick “opening bell” email from me tonight. The biggest news of the week is that Athens Locally Grown has finally been approved to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program EBT cards! I say “finally” because I’ve been trying for almost five years, as soon as the USDA approved EBT use at farmers markets, to get ALG accepted into the program. I could go on at length about the bureaucratic odyssey I’ve undergone, but the important thing is we have been accepted. We can’t yet accept EBT payments, however! We still have to get the accounts set up and the equipment in place. I’m hopeful that we’ll have everything we need by the time the Athens Farmers Market (both locations began accepting EBT payments this season) closes for the year next month. If I can make that happen, then there will be an uninterrupted opportunity for those needing EBT to obtain fresh, locally grown food. Athens Locally Grown is not yet part of the Wholesome Wave program (a non-profit that doubles the value of SNAP money spent at farmers markets), but I’ve enquired about becoming a part of it in 2011. I’ll keep you all informed!

Athens Locally Grown Hunter’s Moon Feast: October 23, Saturday, at Boann’s Banks (Royston, Franklin County)

“The October full moon has been known as the “Hunter’s Moon” for millennia, and was a time of feasting throughout the Northern hemisphere. We revive the notion here with a day of feasting at Boann’s Banks (the farm of Athens Locally Grown managers Chris and Eric Wagoner) on the banks of the Broad River outside Royston. It’ll be a low-key affair, without any farm work for you to do. Just good food and drink (Eric will prepare a variety of dishes using locally grown vegetables and locally raised meats, and perhaps brew an adult beverage. There’s also the likelihood of home-brewed beer, and the possibility of good live music. There’ll certainly be good company (all of you), and a river to splash in. There’s even some camping space, for those who really want to enjoy the moon. Come any time, but I’ll be aiming for 2pm to have the BBQ and other dishes ready. Stay as long as you’d like, even into Sunday. Nights are chilly, though, so bring a tent if you’re wanting to do that. There is no charge for Locally Grown members and their families. We do ask that you bring a dish to share, and if it’s made from Locally Grown ingredients, so much the better." You can make your reservations for the feast on the Market page of the website, under the Event Reservations category.

The Athens Farmers Market is held every Saturday morning at Bishop Park from 8am to noon and every Tuesday evening at Little Kings downtown. It’s a totally separate entity from Athens Locally Grown, but you’ll find many of the same growers at both. And of course, you can learn more about that market on their website.

Also, Watkinsville has a thriving farmers market every Saturday morning, behind the Eagle Tavern. And further east, Comer has a nice little market Saturday mornings as well. Please support your local farmers and food producers, where ever you’re able to do so!

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

Athens Locally Grown:  Availability for September 16


To Contact Us

Our Website: http://athens.locallygrown.net
On Twitter: @athlocallygrown
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/athenslocallygrown

Recipes

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Served hot or cold, this soup is packed with a savory-sweet roasted pepper flavor that might have you skipping the main course and opting for a second bowl of soup instead. It’s preferable to use home-made roasted red bell peppers in this soup. From Farmer John’s Cookbook: The Real Dirt On Vegetables.

Serves 4 to 6

3 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 small potato, quartered
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced (1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons)
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon fresh oregano or thyme, or 1/2 tablespoon dried, plus more for garnish
1 tablespoon tomato paste
4 large red bell peppers, roasted, skinned, chopped
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups vegetable or chicken stock or water
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar or more to taste
freshly ground black pepper
salt
freshly grated Parmesan cheese croutons (optional)

1. Melt the butter in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, potato, garlic, bay leaf, and herbs; sauté until potato and onion begin to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add the roasted peppers, paprika, and 1 teaspoon salt; cook for 30 seconds.
2. Pour in stock or water and scrape up any of the flavorful caramelized pieces stuck to the bottom of the pot. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower heat to a gentle simmer; cook, partially covered, for 30 minutes.
3. Purée soup in a blender or food processor or run it through a food mill. Return it to the pot and heat until warmed through. Add the balsamic vinegar and a few grindings of fresh black pepper. Taste; add salt if desired.
4. Garnish each serving with some Parmesan, a little fresh herb, and croutons if desired.

Coming Events

Athens Locally Grown Hunter’s Moon Feast: October 23, Saturday, at Boann’s Banks (Royston, Franklin County)

“The October full moon has been known as the “Hunter’s Moon” for millennia, and was a time of feasting throughout the Northern hemisphere. We revive the notion here with a day of feasting at Boann’s Banks (the farm of Athens Locally Grown managers Chris and Eric Wagoner) on the banks of the Broad River outside Royston. It’ll be a low-key affair, without any farm work for you to do. Just good food and drink (Eric will prepare a variety of dishes using locally grown vegetables and locally raised meats, and perhaps brew an adult beverage. There’s also the possibility of home-brewed beer, and the likelihood of good live music. There’ll certainly be good company (all of you), and a river to splash in. There’s even some camping space, for those who really want to enjoy the moon. Come any time, but I’ll be aiming for 2pm to have the BBQ and other dishes ready. Stay as long as you’d like, even into Sunday. Nights are chilly, though, so bring a tent if you’re wanting to do that. There is no charge for Locally Grown members and their families. We do ask that you bring a dish to share, and if it’s made from Locally Grown ingredients, so much the better." You can make your reservations for the feast on the Market page of the website, under the Event Reservations category.

The Athens Farmers Market is held every Saturday morning at Bishop Park from 8am to noon and every Tuesday evening at Little Kings downtown. It’s a totally separate entity from Athens Locally Grown, but you’ll find many of the same growers at both. And of course, you can learn more about that market on their website.

Please support your local farmers and food producers, where ever you’re able to do so! We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

Market News

August and September bring many new people to Athens, and many new people to Athens Locally Grown, so I thought this week I’d give a brief primer on how ALG works. Those of you who have been with us during these last nine years probably already know all this, but I’ll try to keep it interesting for you too.

First off, ALG is best thought of like a traditional farmers market, because except for the lack of tents and tables, that’s very much how we operate. The growers are putting their own items up for sale directly to you, at prices and quantities they have set. The market volunteers and I are here to make sure it all happens smoothly, but the growers are all selling their products directly to you. GRowers do have to apply to sell through the market, and I personally approve each of them before they list their products. Here’s a summary of the standards we have set:

  • All growers must use sustainable practices and never use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
  • All growers can only sell what they themselves have grown
  • All growers must be from the greater Athens area. Right now, this means within about 75 miles
  • All animals raised for meat or eggs must be pastured
  • Handicrafts must be made primarily from items produced or gathered on the farm
  • Prepared foods must use organic ingredients if at all possible, and locally grown ingredients if at all possible
  • All proper licenses, when required by law, must be obtained

When I’ve turned down requests to sell through ALG (and I have turned down many), the items clearly broke one or more of those standards. There are a few edge cases that I take on a case by case basis, such as coffee. In cases like that, we set the standards as strict as we can. With coffee, for example, the beans must be sustainably grown, they must be roasted locally, and the roaster must have a direct business relationship with the farm that grew the beans.

So, the growers list their available products and set their prices. For most all of the products, they do this before they’ve harvested the items, so they have to estimate how much they will actually have. They’ve gotten pretty good at this guess, but it is a guess, and the unpredictable nature of farming means they may have far less than they thought (thanks to deer, a hail storm, etc.) or they may have far more than they thought (a nice rain can double the growth of lettuce overnight, for example). Most of them are conservative with their estimates, and so they let you continue to order, even if they’ve already sold more than they guessed they’d have. That’s why popular items may have a quantity in the negatives when you look at the listings. The system will still let you order, on the chance that they’ll actually have enough, but you’ll get warnings along the way that you’re taking a gamble.

I do not collect items from the farm, and do not know myself until Thursday afternoon what the growers were able to harvest and bring in to town. The growers do have each other’s contact information, so if one grower is short and another has a surplus, they may arrange with each other to get all the orders filled, but in general, if a grower cannot fill an order for something, they’ll remove that ordered item, and you’ll see a comment on your invoice indicating that. Since i’m not a middle-man, I can’t arrange for substitutions myself.

When the growers bring in the items you ordered on Thursday afternoon, packaged and labelled with your name, I pay them on your behalf out of our shared cash box during the hour before we open the market. Then, you arrive and pay into the cashbox for your order. We then rush to the bank to deposit the money to cover the checks we just wrote to the growers. As explained elsewhere on the website, you are really ordering directly from and paying the growers yourself, but our shared cashbox system makes things convenient for you and them. (Imagine if you ordered from ten growers having to write ten checks when you picked up your items!) This shared cashbox system does mean that if you place an order and then never arrive to pick it up, we’re left holding the bag. For that reason, you are responsible for paying for orders not picked up, and that amount is automatically added on to your next order for your convenience.

For a number of legal reasons, ALG never takes possession of your ordered items. We don’t buy them from the growers and resell them to you, nor do we repackage them in any way. The growers drop off your items for you, and you arrive and pick them up. The market volunteers facilitate that happening. Because of the need to maintain that separation, we cannot deliver, nor can we generally hold your items later than 8pm on Thursday if you fail to come pick them up. We start calling those who haven’t arrived by 7:30, but most of the time we just get answering machines and voice mail. Anything still at our pickup location at 8pm will get divided up among those there at the time, primarily our volunteers, and then we finish loading up the truck and leave. There are some things you can do to insure you won’t get charged for things you didn’t come get:

1. If you know prior to Tuesday at 8pm that you won’t be able to come get your order, send me an email and I will cancel your order.
2. If you find out later that you can’t come, send me an email. So long as I know before market begins, I can put the things you ordered on the “extras” table, and your fellow customers will almost certainly buy them for you.
3. If you discover Thursday while we’re at market that you can’t arrive, give me a call at 706-248-1860. I’ll put your items on the “extras” table, and if they sell, you’ll be off the hook.
4. If you have a cell phone, make sure that number is the number on your account. You can go to the “Your Account” page on the website to be sure. If you’re out and about and I get your home phone or your work phone, no one gets helped.

There’s often a sizable pile of things up for grabs at 8pm. If you’re in the area and want to do a little extra shopping, swing by at about ten til (or wait until then to come get your own order). There may be things for sale you want, and you can save a fellow customer a charge to their account. Our volunteer workers get to split things up as a benefit of working, but paying customers do come first. And it usually seems there are several things sitting there that were in high demand that week.

Finally, we have recently switched to a paperless system, so we do not have paper receipts for you when you pick up your order. An electronic receipt is generated, though, and can be found on the website. Go to the “Your Account” page, view your order history, and you’ll see an invoice for each order. By 2pm on Thursday, it will show what we expect to have for you that evening. After we fill your order, it will show exactly what we packed for you, and what, if anything, was missing. You can view that at any time, even years from now. If we didn’t get you something we should have, or if anything you got was of unacceptable quality, please contact me ASAP. I’ll share the problem with the grower so we can insure it won’t happen again. If you’re logged into the site, most of the growers have their contact info on their profile page (off the “Our Growers” page), so you can contact them directly if you choose.

So, that’s ALG in a nutshell. If you have any questions, concerns, complaints, or even complements, please send them my way!

Thanks so much for your support of Athens Locally Grown and everything we’ve tried to accomplish. With your help, we’ve been able to build something truly great and inspirational to people all across the country, more than you could know. Thank you also for your support of all of our growers, local food, and our rights to eat it. You all are part of what makes Athens such a great area in which to live. We’ll see you on Thursday at Ben’s Bikes at the corner of Pope and Broad Streets from 4:30 to 8pm!

Athens Locally Grown:  Availability for September 2


To Contact Us

Our Website: http://athens.locallygrown.net
On Twitter: @athlocallygrown
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/athenslocallygrown

Recipes

Sweet Potato Pancakes

Serve these for breakfast or as a side dish. Small, even tiny, pan- cakes, topped with spicy pineapple salsa or something creative of your choosing, make ideal hors d’oeuvres. From Farmer John’s Cookbook: The Real Dirt On Vegetables.

Makes about twenty 3 1/2- to 4-inch pancakes

6 medium sweet potatoes (about 2 pounds), peeled and grated
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced or finely chopped
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup vegetable oil

1. Combine the sweet potatoes and onion in a large bowl. Add the flour, eggs, and olive oil; mix well. Stir in the milk, salt, and pepper.
2. Heat the vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Test the heat by dropping a small amount of batter in the pan— if the oil immediately bubbles up around the batter, it has reached the proper temperature. Be careful not to let the oil overheat and smoke.
3. Using a ladle, 1/2 cup measuring cup, or large spoon, drop the pancake batter into the hot oil and then lightly press it into a pancake shape with a spatula. Cook until pancakes are golden brown on the bottom, about 5 minutes, then flip them and cook until brown on the other side, 5 minutes. Remove pancakes and drain on paper towels. Serve immediately or keep them warm in the oven.

Market News

It was back-to-school week at my house this past week. I think adjusting to the new daily routine is harder on my than my daughter, but we’re getting there. It’s a little extra challenging this year, since the Franklin County school system is doing something novel to save some money. By starting school ten minutes earlier and ending a half hour later each day, they were able to shave two whole weeks off the school year. Unfortunately, that means we need to leave the house to meet the bus at 6:30 in the morning, and she gets less than three hours at home in the evening before bedtime. So, it’s more important than ever that meals are quick to prepare, nutrient dense, and her breakfasts need to be substantial enough to get her through lunch, yet easy enough for me to prepare while half asleep (and for her to eat while half asleep). And of course there’s the matter of lunch. Her school is typical of the American school lunch, and so most of the time she takes her own, which I make for her in the morning.

I feel really lucky to have ingredients purchased through Athens Locally Grown to help make my job easier. Breads made from multiple freshly milled grains make great breakfast toast. She likes hers with cinnamon, so I’ve been able to have the jars of wonderful strawberry jam I made early this summer all to myself. Eggs laid by chickens that have been able to forage for bugs and greens produce eggs I can trust. As the mornings turn cooler, we’ll have porridge and grits milled by ALG’s two mills. We can even get kid-friendly items like hotdogs, chicken drumsticks, yogurt, and fruit. She’s a typical kid when it comes to vegetables, but of course there’s enough variety available at ALG that she’s got plenty of new things to try.

We still mix in a few “kid foods”. For instance, there’s a fruity loop cereal we’ve found that is decent, and she’s no stranger to the powdered cheese packet. But I can relax knowing that she’s getting a mix of foods, mostly locally sourced, that is both good for her and filling enough to get her through the challenging daily schedule of a six year old. And really, I have no idea how I’d do it without all the growers supplying such a great variety of products through Athens Locally Grown.

I hope you’re finding our market to be just as useful a resource for your household. There are literally hundreds of people working to supply the market. Just as I’ve become dependent on them, they are all dependent on us as customers. It’s a virtuous cycle, a race to the top, where we all come out winners.

Thanks so much for your support of Athens Locally Grown and everything we’ve tried to accomplish. With your help, we’ve been able to build something truly great and inspirational to people all across the country, more than you could know. Thank you also for your support of all of our growers, local food, and our rights to eat it. You all are part of what makes Athens such a great area in which to live. We’ll see you on Thursday at Ben’s Bikes at the corner of Pope and Broad Streets from 4:30 to 8pm!

Coming Events

Farmer for a Day: September 4, Saturday, at Burnell Farm (Hart County)

“Certified Naturally Grown. We are a produce farm in Royston, Ga. One of are goals is to supply our local community with vegetables grown with no herbicides, chemicals are pesticides. We also raise chickens (Cornish X Rocks) and Rainbow Layers using the same standards as we do with our vegetables. We like to say our birds are DRUG free. We currently farm 9 acres and we have a greenhouse and use raised beds. We also have a 91/2 acre pond.” There are slots still available for both our September Farmer for a Day event, and you can find more details on the Market page of the website, under the Event Reservations category.

Athens Locally Grown Hunter’s Moon Feast: October 23, Saturday, at Boann’s Banks (Royston, Franklin County)

“The October full moon has been known as the “Hunter’s Moon” for millennia, and was a time of feasting throughout the Northern hemisphere. We revive the notion here with a day of feasting at Boann’s Banks (the farm of Athens Locally Grown managers Chris and Eric Wagoner) on the banks of the Broad River outside Royston. It’ll be a low-key affair, without any farm work for you to do. Just good food and drink (Eric will prepare a variety of dishes using locally grown vegetables and locally raised meats, and perhaps brew an adult beverage. There’s also the possibility of home-brewed beer, and the likelihood of good live music. There’ll certainly be good company (all of you), and a river to splash in. There’s even some camping space, for those who really want to enjoy the moon. Come any time, but I’ll be aiming for 2pm to have the BBQ and other dishes ready. Stay as long as you’d like, even into Sunday. Nights are chilly, though, so bring a tent if you’re wanting to do that. There is no charge for Locally Grown members and their families. We do ask that you bring a dish to share, and if it’s made from Locally Grown ingredients, so much the better." You can make your reservations for the feast on the Market page of the website, under the Event Reservations category.

The Athens Farmers Market is held every Saturday morning at Bishop Park from 8am to noon and every Tuesday evening at Little Kings downtown. It’s a totally separate entity from Athens Locally Grown, but you’ll find many of the same growers at both. And of course, you can learn more about that market on their website.

Please support your local farmers and food producers, where ever you’re able to do so!

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!