Finding Local Producers

Sustainably Sadie

Finding Local Producers

So we’ve spent the last week bragging on all the Made in the USA products we have around the home, whilst waving our American flags proudly.  Now, let’s focus in a little closer to home.  We’re coming into that magical harvest season; and the close to home produce tastes the sweetest.  What food products do you love to get locally?  How do you connect with local producers? 

We were just in Missoula for the Garden City Car Show with my parents and it was so much fun to walk through the Farmer’s Markets.  With the heat of the summer, I am craving fresh fruit and veggies but there is not much variety available yet locally.  Summer has just begun.  Harvest time seems so far away.  The booths were full of cucumbers, onions, carrots and greens but even in Missoula it seemed like slim pickins for fresh foods.  So we ventured to the Good Food Store to fill the large cooler I brought and…the organic apples were from New Zealand.  Of course, because it’s the end of June and apples aren’t ready for harvest in the Northwest or Rocky Mountains until the fall. 

What is the cost of fulfilling our cravings?  Thousands of gallons of petrol?  Damage to the natural environment?  Are humans suffering during the process of getting those products into your home?  Not just the kids who complain about helping to unload the car after a trip to the grocery store, but women and children who are working in sub-human conditions.  A few years ago, there was a news story to stay away from Chilean grapes.  The women picking the grapes were denied drinking water and would drink the run off from the grape irrigation that contained pesticides and was making the women horribly ill.  

The only way to know exactly where your food comes from, who handles it and how it is handled is to harvest it yourself.  Or buy from local producers you know and trust.  I’ve only canned once, four years ago.  As we get closer to harvest and fall, I would love to hear your suggestions, tips and successes for putting up food.  Share at www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com or sustainablysadie@hotmail.com.  My canning was limited to apple sauce and apples in light syrup.  I also froze corn in gallon bags; picked the ears myself and the corn lasted through winter. 

Sure, you can buy a bag of frozen corn at the store for $1.29.  But trust me; the stuff you pick yourself tastes the sweetest.  Teach and share the experience with your children and then you’ve fed them for a lifetime. 

Twin Bits

Jackson’s Garden in Sheridan has a new VISTA summer associate who is coordinating activities at the Garden including Volunteer work days, the Kids’ Club program and the Thursday night Farmer’s Market.  Volunteer work days are Tuesdays and Saturdays, 8 am to 1 pm.  Thursday Farmer’s Market is 5 pm to 7 pm at the Main Street Park, corner of Main Street and Mill.  Jackson's Garden is sponsoring a summer Kid's Club, a youth led organization open to all kids of the Ruby Valley, ages 6 to 12 years old.  The Kid's Club will plant, tend and harvest vegetables from their own plot as well as experience preparing and tasting healthy foods.  Art projects and having fun at the Garden are also planned. 

The Kid's Club will meet the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 10am to 12pm at the Garden.  July 11 is the date of next Kids’ Club.  Snacks will be served and parents are encouraged to attend. Please contact Janet Marsh at 842-5888 for more information or Check out Jackson’s Garden website, https://sites.google.com/site/jacksonsgardeninc/home and *Like* them on Facebook. 

The Twin Bridges Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday 9 am to Noon.  The Hutterites will return Saturday July 7^th and, for the rest of the summer, will be at every TB Farmer’s Market.  

 Coree Martin has stepped down as Twin Bridges Farmer’s Market “Market Master.”  In the interim, the TBCA is looking for TBCA members, as well as nonmembers to "adopt a market day".  Duties would include: putting out signage on Friday afternoon, being at Main Street Park at 8 am, on Saturday, to greet vendors, help with set up, document vendors, collect fees, & to help with break down at noon. The task is relatively simple but as there is not one person to do it all, we would greatly appreciate a donated Saturday.
Volunteers are needed for the following dates:
July 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th (4Fs)
August 4th, 11th (Fair), 18th, 25th
September 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd. 29th
If you are interested in hosting a particular date, please contact Paula Kinoshita, at The Old Hotel (684-5959) ASAP, as we would like to get the rest of the season sorted out.
In addition, we are looking for a new Market Master for Summer Season 2013. If you or anyone you know might be interested, please contact me for further details.

Sheridan Festival & Car Show is Saturday July 28 and Sunday July 29.  Activities include BBQ, art show, great music and more!

Floating Flotillas and Fish Fantasies in Twin Bridges is Saturday July 28.  Activities include 3 on 3 basketball tournament, River Parade, Kids Games, BBQ and more!  Better start designing your float, the River Parade starts at 11 am.  Contact Aaron Griffin with any questions, agriffin@twinfalcons.org or 596-0187 cell. 

River’s Edge Gallery hours are 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday thru Saturday. 

I’m here to help promote Ruby Valley events and spread community information.  Post comments at www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com, email sustainablysadie@hotmail.com, call 406-531-1422 and send snail mail to P.O. Box 491, TB  59754.  Thanks for reading and sharing, Sarah Miller.