The Farmer's Market

Roanoke has an excellent Farmer's Market. I love getting to know the people who grow my food. I love that there is so much fresh food produced so close to where we live. I was thinking of this last night as we were out at a "nicer" place for supper. This "nicer" place had lettuce in their salad that I'm pretty sure was brought across the country in a refrigerator truck, and the lamb I ordered that was mutton at it's best. I've met several farmers in the area who produce free range, grass fed animals and naturally grown produce. Why are local restaurants not making use of the excellent food that is being produced on their doorstep?

I missed going to the market today and sent my dear husband in my place. The kids were asleep and only one of us could go. He was off at 7am to get the best selection of produce (which he did). While he was gone I spent some time reading from the book The Untold Story of Milk by Ron Schmid and came across a quote that describes exactly how I was feeling about food this morning:

I think we're happiest when our sense of purpose is intact and when we feel that our place in the universe is secure and harmonious. Producing and using foods in traditional, time-honored ways is in tune with something that resides very deep in the souls of humankind.... Going to farmers' markets and purchasing fresh cheeses, fruits and vegetables is a soul-nourishing activity.

Soul nourishing indeed. I find eating and providing my family with good quality, local (or better yet home grown) food makes my soul shine.

(Pictured are the fresh blueberries my husband brought home for our breakfast. They were added into my homemade pancakes - with milk from a local dairy and pork sausage from Sandy River Pork)