The food gifts that have started coming are amazing. It is like a wedding or a funeral. People want to support you and so they do it with food. It started with a butternut squash from Amy, then a huge bowl of spinach from Lewis's garden, a jar of apple butter with accompanying apples from Liz, Chicken Salad from Eli, Turnips from Tom, more spinach from Lewis, and a huge bag of oranges from Vanessa(yes the oranges were from Florida, but they can count because no extra fuel was expended in their transport - her parents brought them back from vacation - did I mention that they are SOOO juicy and yummy?)
Just like a wedding or funeral I feel very loved and supported - and really this whole thing is much easier than a wedding or funeral (and way way easier than having a baby).
2 comments:
Hi Cathy!
I am really emjoying reading about your latest exploits. I hope you are wearing a hat with an elephant trunk while you do this!!!!
Love,
Virginia
Dear Cathy,
Thanks for making the point about food purchased and brought to you while traveling for another reason. This is quite similar to the trucking idea of avoiding dead-heading home empty. It could make a significant dent in our total fuel use while, at the same time, supporting a more diverse diet and extending the sales reach of farmers oriented to the local market.
My wife, Elaine, and I have worked for 13 years developing first our local tailgate market (the Black Mountain Tailgate Market) and, in addition for the last 4 years, a 6 day a week year-round store for local food--the Black Mountain Farmers Market--about 18 miles to your east.
Right now, we are setting up contracts with local growers to produce food for our market.
Throughout the history of the Mountain Tailgate Market Association, we have been the strongest voice for expansion of small tailgate markets into every local community. Our farmers market grew out of our tailgate market. Small markets like ours, provide the way to connect market growers and customers most efficiently during the winter months. Our growers are interested in extending their seasons but need to know that the customers exist to buy what they produce. Without the customers willing to buy what is being produced locally, none of this sustainable. We don't have trust funds to keep us open.
Finally, you are fortunate to be only a few miles from Carolina Bison--the largest bison herd in the Southeast--and several trout farms. They, too, need more customers!
Thanks for the blog.
Harry Hamil
Black Mountain, NC
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