PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

July 21, 2021

LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE (VIII)

Eat Local Food

There is nothing better than a tomato fresh out of the garden.  There is nothing worse than a tomato that was picked in California before it was ripe, treated with chemicals so it would artificially ripen, transported across the country, and finally arriving at a local store’s produce department.  There is nothing better than eating local food, picked in season and eaten or frozen or canned for later consumption.

A good place to start to look for a ripe tomato fresh out the garden is a local farmer’s market.  This year one of the vendors at our local market had homegrown tomatoes the middle of June.  He was weeks ahead of anyone else.  Needless to say his gems were in great demand and brought a good price.  But they were worth it!  In addition, a farmers market is a good place to buy tomato plants so that you can grow your own.

One can find a variety of items at a farmer’s market.  In the spring a number of vendors are selling plants, some have fresh asparagus, or rhubarb.  As summer approaches other crops become available until sweet corn, just picked, can be found.  Right now local blueberries are in season. Fall brings the appearance of fresh fruits.  One can also find a variety of breads, pastries, jams and jellies, honey, maple syrup, a variety of meat products and various other good things to eat.  Some vendors focus on crafts.  A farmer’s market is a good place for conversation and the sharing of ideas.  Local groups use a market to fund raise.

In the five counties in which my regular musings appear I found a number of farmers markets.  Most are open from May until October.  Here is list of some in the area you might want to check out.

Angola: Saturdays, 8:00 A.M.  – Noon, 317 S. Wayne St.

Wednesdays, 8:00 A.M. – Noon, 206 N. Wayne St.

Auburn: Wednesdays/Saturdays, 7:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M., Main Street between 7^th and 9^th

Avilla: Saturdays, 9:00 A.M. – Noon, E. Albion St.

Bourbon: Tuesdays, 6:00 – 8:00 P.M., corner Main and Center St.

Bremen: Wednesdays, 4:00-7:00 P.M., Parking Lot at corner of Plymouth and South Jackson

Culver: Saturdays, 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.; Tuesdays, 5:00-7:00 P.M.; Culver Town Park

Fremont: Saturdays, 8:00 – Noon, Rocket Ship Pavilion Park

Howe: Saturdays, 7: A.M. – Noon

Kendallville: Fridays, 4:00 – 6:30 P.M., 100 block of N. Main St.

LaGrange: Saturdays, 8:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.; Tuesdays, 1:00-5:00 P.M.

Ligonier: Saturdays, 8:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M., Memorial Park

Plymouth: Saturdays, 7:30-11:30 A.M., River Park Square

A second source of local ripe tomatoes is out of one’s own garden.  We have started getting cherry tomatoes from a plant in a pot on our deck.  The tomatoes in my garden suffered a setback when the Yellow River flooded.  Had to replant!  One of the first produce we harvest each year is rhubarb.  We have a constant supply of mint and herbs.  There is something special about going out to the garden, picking from its bounty and then eating it.  Growing one’s own fruits, herbs, and vegetables enhances one’s place attachment.

For those of us who live in the heartland it is hard to get fresh, local produce from November until April.  By using a variety of tricks one can expand the growing season for one’s garden.  One of the advantages of growing vegetables in pots is that they can be brought in to protect them from cold weather.  It is possible to get a head start on the growing season by starting plants inside under grow lights.  However, I have found this to be a hit and miss affair.

Another way to enjoy the pleasures of fresh produce is by freezing or canning produce fresh from the garden.  We just used the last frozen beans from last year.  I have found that onions harvested in July do well if stored in open air containers in the garage.  We still have a few left from last year.  One need not be limited to what one produces in one’s own garden when it comes to freezing or canning.  Every year Diane freezes a good supply of blueberries.  Forty years ago Diane canned most of what we got out of the garden or bought at a local market.  Today, everything is frozen because it is much easier.

May 11, 2021 the Herald-Republican (Steuben County) had a feature about Lakeside Meats, formerly Lakeside Farm Market, doubling their size and expanding their offerings.  They offer foods you will not find elsewhere and locally raised meats.  Lakeside Meats offers Non-GMO beef, pork & chicken; Non-GMO breads; Amish cheese; goats milk lotions and soaps; local honey; essential oils; eggs; turmeric and ginger.  In addition they have a variety of smoked items.  Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays they have fresh sea food flown in.

Spread across northern Indiana are stores like Lakeside Meats which sell locally raised and processed foods and meats which can not be found are regular big-box retail stores.  Being just steps removed from their origin you the consumer can know how they were raised and grown.  They also help to support the local economy.  Many of the vendors at our local farmers market sell their wears out of their homes or at other locations.  Some of what they produce they process so that it can be purchased from November until April.  You might be surprised the number of places you can buy locally grown products.  There is a whole world of the nature and taste of honey to be discovered. To find them would take a little investigation.

It is easy to love where you live if you love the vegetables, fruits, meats, herbs, maple syrup and honey you can buy there.