I’m a huge fan of all things local.
I support the farmers and businesses in my area as often as possible.
I do my best to avoid big box stores, with the exception of an occasional Costco trip, simply because our finances have changed and the in-laws have a membership. I haven’t stepped a single foot in a mammoth grocery store chain in a very long time; not since I swore them off, over a year ago for mass marketing diabetes and heart disease, but that’s a whole different story, and I’m going to try to stay on point today. Shocker, I know.
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There are so many worthwhile reasons you should invest in the businesses in your area. It helps support and build your own local community, it reduces the environmental impact, it brings jobs to those in need and food to your table. I especially like that last one, which means I will continue to put my money where my mouth is, and I encourage you to do the same. Feel free to insert your dirty joke of choice here; I recommend something to do with mouths, money and menage a trois. That last one is always a winner.
Instead of going off on a tangent today, I’m going to share the ways I give back to my community, and show exactly how it translates into a day of eats. It is What I Ate Wednesday after all, and I wouldn’t want to miss the party.
I signed up for another year with Geauga Family Farms CSA program. CSA stands for “Community Supported Agriculture,” and you are basically purchasing a share in your local farm. In return, you get seasonal, local produce on a weekly basis for as long as your CSA program lasts. Mine begins in June, and I am twitchy-tail excited for it to start, pretending of course I have a tail. Just to be clear, I don’t.
In the meantime, I spend my weekly produce allowance at the farmers markets in the area. I’m a huge fan of the Downtown Farmers Market at the 5th Street Arcades. I usually zip over on my lunch hour on Fridays and get enough eggs, greens and cheese to last me the week. Sometimes I’ll visit the Spice Hound and get a seasoning or two or three or four. At only a buck a bag, it’s easy to go crazy.
Lately though, I’ve been scoring these amazing soft pretzels from Breadheads Breadery. These little gems have been making their way into many of my meals with good reason. They’re fantastic, and also really hard to photograph, I might add. You can find those antics on my Instagram account. I’ve tried the Everything Pretzel (swoon), the Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel (the Hubby and I exchanged words over this guy), the Rosemary Garlic Pretzel (my personal favorite) and most recently the Sourdough French Pretzel (can you say faceplant?).
It’s pretty clear I’ve got a soft spot in my otherwise hard heart for these guys. They work day in and day out to feed me and you. How can you not love that?
Now, I want to take it one step further and share just how my local love and living made their way into my Saturday eats.
Breakfast: granola bread toast from the Breadsmith, smeared in butter with a side of coffee. Carbs don’t scare me.
Second Breakfast: a fruit filled smoothie using strawberries and blueberries I froze last summer, kale from the farmers market and a banana from somewhere far away and tropical. Hey, you can’t win ’em all, although they do have a banana tree right now at the Botanical Gardens. Maybe I can interest them in a food swap: a bunch of bananas for a bag of granola? I’d totally take that deal.
Lunch: Grilled Cheese with more of the Breadsmith’s fantastic granola bread and some grass-fed Swiss cheese from the farmers market. Say hello to my little friend.
Dinner: Kale tips sautéed in olive oil and garlic, fried eggs, and pretzels all from the 5th Street market. I also threw in one of Jenn’s Sweet Potato Chickpea Burgers, made from sweet potatoes I had gotten during my winter CSA.
Dessert: Lemon Ginger Gelato from The Sweet Spot, a neighborhood joint which uses local, organic and natural ingredients whenever possible. I heart them.
See, I told you I like to put my money where my mouth is. Now about that….
The pretzel man is this close to bumping the cheese guy on my list. That’s how you know it’s serious.
Do you frequent the farmers markets in your area? Do you think you could feed yourself for a day or even a week from farmers market finds? What’s your favorite local hangout?
Today’s post is being shared with She Eats Fresh Food Wednesdays because Kristy is my girl and she’s a local lover too.
caren says
May 7, 2014 at 11:06 AMYou know, I have a farmers market literally 50 feet from my house every saturday morning. The idea of shopping there is great, but the reality is typically an $80 hit to my wallet and only one small bag of groceries to show for it.
It kinda urks me. Although I continue to buy $6 dips and $3 cauliflowers anyway….
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Meghan says
May 8, 2014 at 9:18 AMSo if you’re buying expensive food anyway….
Do one Saturday trip to the market for me. 🙂
Leigha @ Minougirl says
May 7, 2014 at 1:09 PMI am SO excited for the farmers market to come to my town in Michigan!! There is nothing that tastes better than locally grown, fresh produce. Last year I even sold my own green beans and tomatoes I grew in my garden!
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Meghan says
May 8, 2014 at 9:19 AMAre you for real? You sold your own beans and tomatoes? Now I am thoroughly impressed. I think we need to hang out. 🙂 Maybe I could score some tomatoes off of you.
Madison @ Eating for Balance says
May 7, 2014 at 5:45 PMWhile in volleyball I literally consisted on pretzels alone for away games. They were the only things I could rely on to be “okay” at each school 🙂
I made it to a total of ZERO farmers markets last summer even though I made it my goal to go to one every week. This summer I will make it my goal of just one.
We have a Local Roots with all local products where we go for grass-fed beef sometimes. During better seasons they also have a ton of produce I think!
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Meghan says
May 8, 2014 at 9:21 AMYes you should check them out! We can actually get meat through our CSA so sometimes I get the Hubby’s beef from them. It ends up being more economical than getting the organic, grass fed versions at our local grocery store, which I was surprised about it. Same goes for the eggs, and I already preordered a dozen a week. Again!!
Pretzels = perfection.
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
May 7, 2014 at 6:22 PMI tried, girl, I really did. I wanted to support my local farmers’ market, but the prices there are INSAN! making it super hard to justify going on a regular basis. The grocery store I frequent does stock a lot of Alberta grown produce, though, which I try to load up on during the summer months. I really wish I could plant my own garden, but I a) live in a condo with no room to plant, and b) have a tendency to kill plants. My parents plant tomatoes, which I end up stealing 🙂
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Meghan says
May 8, 2014 at 9:24 AMYep, I understand. They can be pricey, but without big corporations to pay their expenses, it can show in their prices. The produce usually makes it worthwhile, since I find it to be a better quality, and I get to meet some really cool new people in the process. I can only hope that if more people frequent the farmers markets, we can slowly change the supply and demand model, so eventually they will come down in prices. Maybe one day.
Either way, I adore your honesty. 🙂
Sarah Pie says
May 7, 2014 at 9:29 PMYet another reason I am so excited to soon be in charge of my own food (and have a real paycheck to buy it with!) My CSA starts mid-June and I cannot wait 🙂
Those pretzels look amazing and if I was in your shoes I would be all over them too, cheese man better watch his back.
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Meghan says
May 8, 2014 at 9:26 AMI am so excited for you to get your first CSA. During the season, it’s one of the highlights of my week….seeing what veggies will come at me and what the heck I’m going to do with them all. I can’t wait for you to experience the same. 🙂 🙂
Brittany says
May 7, 2014 at 11:55 PMI freaking love you. You are my kind of people. I DO LOVE Costco though…please don’t shun me entirely. I need to buy local more, it’s much easier in the summer.
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Meghan says
May 8, 2014 at 9:27 AMYou’re my kind of people too. I won’t hate on your Costco loving ways, partially because I understand. I have a 10 pound bag of organic brown rice in my pantry from there. Sometimes the price and quantity are too good to resist.
So much easier in the summer. You need to go farmers marketing. 🙂
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
May 8, 2014 at 7:15 AMGuess what?!?! We’re signing up for a CSA! Finally found one that will deliver and is affordable! So excited 🙂
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Meghan says
May 8, 2014 at 9:29 AMGet the Ef out of DODGE! I am so happy and excited for you! I think you may love it. Please tell me you’ll pick it up every week (even if they do deliver) in your bubby.
Melissa @ Step Into My Kitchen says
May 8, 2014 at 10:54 AMI try very hard to get most of my produce, meat and cheese from farmers markets and/or my CSA. It’s worth the effort to me, for all the reasons you listed!
Meghan says
May 10, 2014 at 9:46 AMI agree whole heartedly. 🙂
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
May 10, 2014 at 6:04 AMI wish we had a CSA like initiative here in Sydney- they have the delivery of fruit and veg but it’s from chained supermarkets- fail whale. The same goes for farmer’s markets- they are not ‘markets’ but rather companies buying a space outside on a Saturday to flaunt their products!
Those pretzels…faceplant is the most noteworthy adjective for it.
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Meghan says
May 10, 2014 at 9:47 AMThe pretzels are amazing. I missed them yesterday since I was driving to Buffalo to see the family. I will have to live vicariously through my own pictures. 🙂
Anne says
May 14, 2014 at 1:16 PMWe just signed up fopr the CSA, too…
As for finances – we’re lucky, because we think our CSA is a very good deal – but that can vary. The farmer’s market does, too – some things are more expensive than the supermarket, some less – all are better quality… Our local store doessn’t have a good produce section, and that makes a difference. There’s another not too far away that does – but it’s at least as expensive as the farmer’s market!
Money is tight for us right now, so we pay attantion to these things – but it boils down to – we eat more vegetables when we buy them fresh and local. We center our meals around them. And that’s better for us, however we look at it.
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Meghan says
May 14, 2014 at 7:45 PMAmen. We do eat better with the CSA which in turn makes us feel better.
I’m glad you’re able to swing a CSA too. Ours actually does payment plans now, which can be very helpful.
Emilie says
May 14, 2014 at 9:14 PMI did a CSA membership last summer and loved it. I didn’t have the cash when the time came to sign up again this year but I do plan on stopping at their farm stand as much as possible. My brother is really into gardening so I get a lot of produce from him (3/4 of a mile away, how’s that for local?) and he also has 13 chickens so I get all of my eggs from him too. I’m not too familiar with farmer’s markets in my area but it is on my to-do list. That bread looks incredible!
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Meghan says
May 17, 2014 at 4:30 PMNow THAT’S local! That’s awesome your brother is into gardening.
My CSA started offering payment plans, so next year you might want to ask about that. I was able to get a deal for signing up early (last December early!).
Have fun exploring the farmers markets in your area. That would be an ideal day for me.
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli says
May 24, 2014 at 7:32 AMLove this. And I love you! Also, I am fully aware that I began a sentence with the word “and”…promise never to do this again if you bring me a pretzel to Blend! Oh SNAP, I made a rhyme! Bam!
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Meghan says
May 24, 2014 at 9:57 AMI would bring a pretzel if the market were a day earlier for sure. Instead you’ll have to settle for granola. 🙂