I feel incredibly blessed to live in the Pacific Northwest where accessing locally grown food is so easy! We have always been fortunate to have a little piece of land to grow most of our vegetables, herbs, some of our own meat and of course, pastured eggs. We have a growing herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats that provide us not only with entertainment, but lovely, rich, creamy milk to drink as well as for cheese and yogurt. We also use our milk to create lovely soaps and lotions. So, there is not a lot we need to buy in town. During the Summer months, we preserve and freeze our produce and are beyond blessed to have access to fresh tuna and salmon from the Oregon Coast.
This past Summer, I decided to experience living local by shopping and eating within the season from my local farmer's market. I live just a few miles from McMinnville, Oregon where their Summer market runs through October. So, I set out to get to know the people who bring their products to the market each week to sell. This is not a big market so it was pretty easy in a few weeks to meet and chat with many of the vendors. They are a unique collection of people all of who love the hustle and bustle of people coming and going and they love to talk about their farms and what they grow. They are, for the most part, earthy people deeply connected to the health and well being of our planet and our environment. Elliot from Wooden Mallet Farm in Yamhill raises pastured pork along with some fresh veggies, pastured chickens and eggs. This was his first year doing the market and he was friendly and always ready to share what was happening on the farm, sharing funny stories about the new piggies playing in the fields. Talking with Elliot gave me a sense of how disconnected most of us have become when our food no longer has a face...or, a life that's visible. I consume differently when I know what my food's life story is/was.
A new baby is born at Eola Crest Cattle where their beef is raised from birth to butcher.
Jennifer from Eola Crest Cattle in McMinnville, OR raises angus beef on green pastures; this was her first year at the market as well. Her booth was inviting and she had an iPad display with pictures from her farm and of her cows. The pictures tell a story of animals who are loved and cared for along with mouthwatering pictures of some of the beautiful food dishes she has created from their beef. She also creates beautiful herbed rubs to compliment her dishes which she sells as well. It becomes evident as you engage her in conversation how woven together their lives are in raising and caring of these beautiful animals. Theirs is a family business that started with their daughter in 4-H and turned into a love of raising Angus beef. What makes their business different is that they own the mama cows and the babies are born and raised on their farm. They grow the crops that feed their cattle and the flavor and quality of their meat shine.
Quality ingredients for a healthy meal.
Beth and Erik of Even Pull Farm captured my business with their beautiful array of heirloom and unusual veggies displayed artistically and colorfully. Although not an organic farm, they use organic practices to produce their vegetables. Both are young and enthusiastic about growing food and have integrated their products with some of the local restaurants in our community. They are friendly and knowledgeable and always happy to chat. I was also able to buy in bulk for canning which was a bonus! Because of the relationship I formed with their farm, I decided to do their Winter CSA, which has not disappointed. Their CSA has provided an ample amount of winter foods that have kept us satiated all winter and given us an opportunity to try new foods and truly eat with the season.
Beautifully displayed vegetables from Even Pull Farm at the Thursday market in McMinnville, OR
After the market closed in October, I decided to continue buying my food locally. In addition to my Winter CSA with Even Pull Farms, I stumbled onto one of the best kept secrets in McMinnville! The Farmer's Market at the Grange, a market that has been running for several years, tucked away on Old Sheridan Road off 99W. It offers year round organic produce from Dennison's Farm plus, Jennifer at Eola Crest Cattle sells her beef there once a month through the Winter. I also met Josh Doss from Doss Family Farms who raises pastured Mangalista pork! A Mangalista is a pig from Russia that is known for it's lard. After sampling a few cuts of their pork, we decided to join their meat CSA and are enjoying a nice variety of great tasting pork every month. They have the best lard! I had an opportunity recently to visit their farm and meet their pigs. Do you know pigs sing to their babies while they’re nursing? I feel good consuming meat from animals who are raised humanely and live their lives outdoors on green pasture expressing their unique behaviors...being pigs, or cows or chickens. I will no longer support a meat industry that raises animals inside warehouses or puts a mamma pig in a metal farrowing crate that doesn't allow her to love on her babies. These warehoused animals have no quality of life....how can we expect them to have quality of flavor or nutrition?
The Market at the Grange offers a nice selection of vendors; produce, eggs, honey, pastured lamb and several other nice offerings. I haven't missed the grocery store! Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the way I see the World going and think I can't change it; I probably can't but, I can make changes in my own behavior that may make a difference. The grocery store probably doesn't miss my money and that's okay because my money is making a difference to the farmers in my community and that makes a difference in our World. I encourage you to visit a Farmer's Market, talk to a Farmer and be a change in the World.