Learning Where Food Comes From

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I'm always surprised when purchasing some produce at the market and the checker does not recognize what type of fruit or vegetable I am buying. A typical exchange...

Checker: "What's this?"
Me: "It's kale."
Checker: "Huh, what do you do with it?"
Me: "Oh all kinds of things. Soups, stews, salads, saute it. Its really good for you."
Checker: "Oh. Never heard of it before."

I'm equally worried by all the reports that most children these days can not identify what animal their meat comes from or name more than a handful of fruits and vegetables. How did we become so disconnected from our food and so limited in the variety of produce we eat? More and more you hear about how involving children in the production of their own food, usually through a school or community garden, not only encourages them to eat more fruits and vegetables, but also provides an invaluable education about where food comes from. I hope that these programs continue to expand. Fortunately my family has been blessed with a lovely yard where our children can experience vegetable gardening first hand.

Anyone who has kids knows it doesn't take much convincing to get them to dig in the dirt. My daughter absolutely loves to garden along side me and is very enthusiastic about watering, weeding, and planting. Right now its all about enjoying the sunshine together and having fun. I love the excitement of young children as they realize that a little seed grows into a big plant and its flower turns into a vegetable. As my children grow, I hope growing their own vegetables will not only lead to a lifetime of healthy eating habits, but also an awareness of the origins of our food. More than just learning to identify different vegetables and the seasons they naturally grow in, its learning about the importance of clean water and fertile soil. Learning that beneficial insects and microorganisms are something to be nurtured, not eliminated. Learning that mono-cultures and a reliance on a handful of crops is risky and resource intensive. Learning how not to waste the resources and food you have. And learning to build a community of gardeners with whom you can share knowledge, exchange seeds, and swap excess garden produce. I hope they learn that healthy food and the farmers who grow it are something we all to often take for granted in this country.

Of course you don't need a yard to enjoy growing some of your own food. A few pots on a balcony or front porch can provide an enormous amount of enjoyment and some delicious veggies. Growing your own food can certainly provide a new perspective on the larger issues surrounding our industrialized food system. But just as importantly, nurturing a little garden plot can provide some much needed nourishment for the soul.

Return of the Farmers' Markets

One of my favorite things about Portland is the abundance of Farmers' Markets. There are a few that go year round, but this week marked the beginning of most. It seems that almost every neighborhood has one, making it easy to find a nearby market 7 days a week. I absolutely love Farmers' Markets. To me they represent what food shopping should be all about. You support local businesses, connect with the producers of your food, and generally enjoy the experience rather than dreading the chore of going to the store. So I celebrate the return of Farmers' Markets by saying good-bye to the grocery store.

This evening was the opening day of our little neighborhood market. My daughter and I spent over three hours there! Our shopping was done within 20 minutes, but it was such a lovely evening that we just didn't want to leave. So I bought a basket of strawberries, some fresh bread and local cheese, and set up camp on the grass near the calypso band. Within seconds my daughter had her shoes off and had joined the large group of children partly dancing, partly running through all the picnickers, stopping by just long enough to grab another handful of berries - which she seemed to do from every family she passed by. I feel fairly confident that she prefers these shopping experiences to being tied down in a shopping cart. Next time you are at your Farmers' Market, stop and people watch for awhile. As people buy their food for the week, they are strolling, not rushing, conversing with the vendors rather than simply answering, "credit or debit?", their children are happy, they run into friends, and the whole atmosphere is festive rather than stressful. I plan on making this my normal shopping experience rather than the exception.

Learning to shop the Farmers' Markets (and I mean really shop, not just pick up a few things for fun) takes practice. We have become so accustomed to having whatever produce we want year round. This is a skill I'm still working on. It can be particularly difficult in the spring, when there isn't much available beyond the early spring greens like kale and chard. Today's finds included swiss chard, kale, bok choy, sugar peas, butter lettuce, and radishes. I was pleasantly surprised to find some early zucchini.


I am always super happy when I make it to the market early enough to get some eggs - these go fast! Just look how beautiful these are!




This is a great book for the Farmers' Market shopper as well as the backyard gardener...

"The Victory Garden Cookbook" by Marian Morash

This lovely book is organized by fruit / vegetable. So lets say you happen to find an abundance of chard and kale at the Farmers' Market but have no idea what to do with it. This book outlines the basics of storage and preparation as well as providing more than a few simple, flexible recipes using each particular vegetable. It even gives tips on growing your own if you are so inclined.

My eventual goal is to purchase a small share of a CSA to supplement our garden for all our produce needs. But until then, you'll find me at least once a week at a local Farmers' Market.

Learning to Love our Local Library

When the weather is sunny and warm, finding ways to entertain a toddler is easy. However, in the lovely Pacific Northwest, rainy days are more the norm. We often find ourselves sitting (or in my daughter's case, bouncing) around the house looking for something to do. I found myself falling into the trap of feeling the need to buy more toys. "You bored sweet pea? Lets go to Toy's r Us and get some new toys." Actually its more like, "you're driving me nuts, lets go buy you some entertainment." Even worse is the temptation to turn on the cartoons. Anyone with kids knows that the novelty of a new toy quickly wears off and it is soon forgotten - its a vicious cycle. So began our search for less expensive, more fulfilling entertainment. Plus, I don't want to teach my children that shopping is an appropriate antidote for boredom.

We started with an obvious one, our local library. Remember those? I'll admit I've long neglected my library in favor of bookstores (which have been my financial downfall). But I'm committed to using the library more and my credit card less to support my book habit. Anyways, the library, it turns out, is a great source of entertainment for a toddler. On nice days we walk, on the rainy days we ride the bus (don't let public transportation with children intimidate you, they love it!). Some days we attend story time, other days we just read a few books and pick out some to bring home. My daughter never tires of these trips or reading.

Seems simple, but that's the point. Family entertainment doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive. A $2 bus ticket and a library card - endless enjoyment that will last long after the next hottest toy leaves the shelves.