Loving the Local Life
It’s been a few years now since Mr Chiots and I started to focus on eating as locally as possible. In our quest we’ve discovered so many wonderful farmer’s markets, farms, stores and we’ve made so many new friends along the way. I especially love the Local Roots Market in Wooster, OH. They opened last winter and have been a wonderful resource for us, especially during those long winter months when it can be so difficult to find fresh local vegetables. I grow as much of our food as possible, but my small gardens limit me and sometimes there’s a lull in the harvests.
Last week I purchased these beautiful little heads of organic Banzhaf Red Lettuce “Roxy”. I got 10 small heads of lettuce for $3.50, which we ate up in 2 meals (the photos are of a few heads). We topped them with some homemade passion fruit vinaigrette, homemade cheese and some of those dried cherries I made.
I must buy some seeds for these as they’re quite beautiful and quite tasty, the texture is quite good. Since a local farmer is growing them, I know they’ll do well in my area. I love that they labeled the variety so I can grow them myself if I want to. I found some seeds for this lettuce over at High Mowing Seeds.
What local seasonal foods have you been enjoying recently? Have you ever started growing something you bought from a local farmer?
Filed under Farmer's Market, Going Local | Comments (9)
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to Tweets that mention Loving the Local Life | Chiot’s Run — Topsy.com's comment
What a treasure that market would be. We have been relying on the food I put up this summer/fall, there are no green houses that stay operating around here during the winter. My father tried to keep his going for personal use, but by the end of December the cost of keeping it warm was just too much. Enjoy your local treasure!
-Brenda
to Sense of Home's comment
I’ve just been out into my garden to pick spinach and rainbow chard, but I’ve also still got leeks, parsnips, savoy cabbages and broccoli (Romanesco and purple sprouting). Despite it being cold and wet here the tomatoes in my greenhouse are thriving on my neglect and are still slowly turning red – and are still sweet in flavour!
We’re slowly working our way through the onions and potatoes I dug up a couple of months ago too.
I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog – thank you!
to Nutty Gnome's comment
Growing edibles is new to me so I can stumbling around at the moment. However, I am growing Szechan Pepper and planning on growing Chilean Guava having tasted some a friend who is into climate change edibles had.
to Helen's comment
Helen you are the only one other than me I’ve ever heard of growing your own peppercorns! Kindred spirit. I’ll have to research the chilean guava and see if it can grow in my maritime climate. Thanks for the inspiration!
to Sustainable Eats's comment
Hello! I followed the dried cherry link back to your 2009 post and was wondering if you ever made the marachino cherries? I am curious as I would love to try that next year if you have a tested recipe. I love your blog, it is interesting, amusing and educational!
Thanks,
Janet in Alberta Canada
to Janet Anderson's comment
I did make the cherries but I haven’t tried them yet. I’ll be cracking them open here in the next week or two to make chocolate covered cherries, I’ll try to remember to send you a note to let you know how they turned out. I’m guessing, as with most things, the recipe will need some tweaking.
to Susy's comment
I can’t wait to see your post on them either – this summer I was bummed I never made it to putting up the cherries so that I could make along with you this winter. Next winter for sure I will be doing it with you! They look so beautiful, just like everything you make, Susy.
to Sustainable Eats's comment
It snowed here recently, and the lettuce I planted in fall still looks crisp. Darn, I wish I remembered which variety it is!
to Vegetable Garden Cook's comment