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)

Yesterday, Jenna learned how to make her own peanut butter at the Natural Foods Coop

My box of groceries from Jamisons Orchard. Oh yeah!!!

Watermelon with SEEDS!  Have not had this since I was a kid. Fun fun

Free range chicken from Sandy River Pork accompanied by fresh, local veggies made for a fantastic meal last Sunday. 

I love berry season

Growing up in Alberta, I always anxiously awaited the arrival of BC fruit. Every year I would give myself a tummy ache gorging on cherries. Since leaving I have not had a lot of luck finding fruit that I enjoyed the same way (with the exception of the apples in Quebec). Until this year in Virginia.

We are very lucky in that there is a small farm quite close to us. I have developed the habit of stopping in with the kids to see what's available at Jamison's Orchard. Lately it's been blackberries, raspberries and peaches. As in the ones in the picture in my previous blog.

Yesterday they also had plums. I had to take a picture of the blackberries and plums. They have the biggest blackberries I have ever seen, but also the smallest plums I have ever seen. What do you think?

A new beginning in Roanoke

April 1, 2011 my husband packed most of his things into his car and drove the 10 hour drive from Rhode Island to Roanoke, Virginia to begin the next phase of our life. The kids and I followed (thankfully he came back up and drove with us) on May 8th - Mother's Day (let's save my feelings about the 12+ hour drive with the 4 of us, our dog and our 3 fish for another time!)

 He was offered a wonderful job here in Roanoke and it has given our family the opportunity to discover yet another beautiful part of the country, and continent.

As our third major move in 6 years (Calgary to Montreal in 2005, Montreal to Rhode Island in 2007, Rhode Island to Roanoke in 2011) we have been lucky enough to see areas I never dreamed I would be able to get to.

It is sure nice to be back in the mountains. I enjoyed the ocean, but I have discovered at the heart of it I am a mountain girl. I have a wonderful view from my house and I am grateful for it every day.

I am also grateful to be living in an area where so much food can be produced. And for so long. Now, I grew up eating vegetables from the garden, but the growing season in Alberta is just so much shorter. We have been discovering all the farmers markets, have bought a quarter of beef that is not only grass fed, but grass finished - and from the same farmer bought a half a pig, our weekly supply of eggs, and last week even got a chicken!

The kids and I have been enjoying adventures in the kitchen for some time now. Especially my daughter Jenna (hence the blog name). But, I think our kitchen adventures have just begun.

Here's a picture of Jenna enjoying the beater after making whipped cream to go on the top of our selection of local peaches, blackberries and raspberries.