As many of you well know, I am a vegetarian. That said, I am in love with a man and am raising children who will eat animal products (I am hoping that someday my children, of their own will, will decide to be vegetarians, however, similar to my husband’s and my own approach to teaching our children religion, we are not going to push a specific philosophy or lifestyle). So, after a bit of research, I decided that I would feel best if my family ate meat from farms where the animals were loved and had led a good life.
I then stopped over at Local Harvest to find the closest market or farm that sells local meats and animal products. I know that this sounds like a promotion (it’s not, and in any case, it’s just me sharing a bit about my lifestyle with you all), though if you and your family are not already eating locally in one way, shape, or form, you might want to check out this little diddy on why you might want to buy and eat local.
Ah, now getting back to the story. I drove 40 minutes or so from my town to a small market that specializes in selling local products. There I met a wonderful small business owner who eagerly showed me around her store and helped me find excellent quality meat from farmers that she deals with personally (I realize the best option is to purchase directly from the farmer, though, in this case, I have to say that her store makes eating local quite convenient, especially for my family, since we don’t always plan out our weekly menus so well). She also introduced me to Trickling Springs Creamery‘s certified organic milk that is produced by grass-fed cows, is chemical, antibiotic and synthetic free, and well, tastes absolutely delicious. Have a previously shared how as a former soy milk lover, I have only drank cow’s milk in my current pregnancy? Whatever the reason, my body just seems to crave milk this time around.
Another neat thing about drinking (and thus purchasing) milk from a local creamery is that the milk is stored in glass containers . . . it tastes awesome and not to be preachy, but these containers are used over and over again, and well, we all know that “reuse” is one of those green keywords.
As for local meats, I selected free range, hormone and antibiotic free meats from Fields of Athenry, which is a family farm in Purcellville, Virginia (just a few towns over from where we live). And yes, even though I am a vegetarian and often will not handle meat, I cooked up a few lamb sausage links for dinner this evening. My husband says it is the best sausage ever. Can you believe he said that about something I cooked? :-) Sorry folks, but cooking is not my forte.
So, being that we have to (and like to) eat, I am wondering, do agricultural practices and/or a commitment to the environment influence the way your family shops and eats? If so, what kinds of local products do you find or have you had a hard time finding? I’m hoping to expand my family’s palate and make a better effort to eat what grows around here.
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Stacy, I’m enjoying Mama-Om, :-) We canned peaches this past fall, though I think I prefer freezing foods to canning (nutritionally, I think you may get a bigger bang for buck with freezing than with canning; I’ll have to look into it). Also, I too wish we could grow more of our own food . . . for now, we’re doing the best we can by growing our tomatoes and cucumbers and then purchasing organic produce as well as locally grown produce.
emma, thank you for the local tips! I’d never heard of Polyface, though I’m sure my husband would be interested in trying their products. I’ll check with Wegman’s too about where they purchase meats. I agree that it is a bit of a drive out to Hamilton, though I reason that if done every 2 weeks, the fuel expended is worth supporting local farmers and shops.
abbie, I’m going to take your endorsement of Polyface (in addition to emma’s) as a sign that this farm is one worth supporting and purchasing from.
Wow, you live near polyface? I’d jump at the chance to try their meats.
Not sure if you’re also aware (for convenience sake) that the farmstand on 7 (halfway to wolftrap) carries local meat (frozen) – want to say it’s the polyface farm meats. Expensive, but meets what you’re looking for. Also, there are meat stand “vendors” from local meat farms at most of the local farm markets (as while 40 mins roundtrip makes a cool occasional field trip, not the greenest or most relaxing decision for a weekly shop). Some of the local farms also partner with the csa’s (I’m currently a csa member of graceland midland farm; they have dairy – eggs/cheese – from a local farm). Wegmans stocks lots of local (produce at least)- might also be worth a call to the butcher over there to see what local farms they (might) use (if they do).
I’m reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle right now. I am enjoying it, and it is tying things together that have been percolating for me for almost ten years. We went pretty much ALL organic after my son was born, we go to the farmer’s market weekly when it’s on, we support a CSA farm… We are lucky to have a coop grocery store that emphasizes local, but I actually wish it were more like the farmer’s market. My kids always want the delectable fruit that is inevitably from Mexico or California, and it is hard for me to deny them.
Where I’d like to do more and am not is in growing more of our own food (we have a very small and random garden), cook more creatively/spontaneously, canning, etc. I think that slowly we will get there…
Thank you for visiting my blog!!
Blessings,
Stacy
Amber, I totally understand craving out of season fruits and veggies (I just love avacados, bananas, mangoes); we try to do our best to shop and eat local, and at the same time, I am not trying to walk a fine line. I ask questions about where food came from, was purchased, etc. (which some friends and family may find trying at times), but my heart and mind are in the right place. I simply want for my family to eat healthy foods that were produced in an ethical, environmentally mindful fashion. Thus, I don’t feel so bad about not eating as many processed veg products, even though I do think that vegetarianism can benefit the environment too.
abbie (and Amber too), I wonder what or how we can acquire foods that are not in large supply locally without depending so much on these items needing to be shipped far (and thus contributing to poor agricultural practices).
I’m set with meats, veggies and fruits, dairy, and eggs. Grains like flour, cornmeal and rice seem to be the only things that are problematic.
I eat local when it’s possible. Which isn’t always, I like bananas, you know? But I do visit my local farmer’s market and belong to a buying club that specializes in local and organic options.
I am not a vegetarian, but it is important to me to know that my meat was raised ethically. I have found an excellent supplier of range-fed beef, for example. Milk has been harder, because here in Canada we have a milk marketing board that closely controls the supply. I have found a local dairy that sells organic milk in glass bottles, which I feel good about.