Buy Local – Support Local

Over the past few years the Bloom household has been moving toward buying more and more from local makers, farmers, butchers, bakers, etc. It is wonderful to know where my food was grown, and what went into growing those amazing veggies, or beef, or chicken, or fruit. We have been realizing how many chemicals and toxins are in the grocery stores. Roundup, known as glyphosate tests in most store bought produce because of the big agriculture practices. What seems like super healthy choices actually add those unwanted chemicals to our diet, which lead to health issues. Yikes.

So as we have become aware of issues with food we have begun searching for better options. One thing is growing some of our own produce. We have turned more than half of our back yard into a garden with veggies, berry bushes, flowers and lots of herbs. I wanted Victoria Rhubarb and could not find plants in the greenhouses so i bought seeds and started them indoors. We do not use any chemicals on our garden which I love but can also be an adventure to get ahead of the birds, and insects. I planted elderberry bushes 3 years ago and they are gloriously blooming, but in past years the birds feasted on them before they could be picked!!! Nets are coming! And i have to say there is nothing better than visiting the garden to pick a salad fresh, wash it, and have it for a meal within an hour…. fresh, crisp, tasty.

But what we cant grow we buy. This year we subscribed to a CSA (Consumer Supported Agriculture) that brings us a share of vegetables, fruit, and meat all raised or grown within a 50 mile radius of Cleveland. Two weeks ago we picked up a flat of ohio grown strawberries. And our CSA starts next week… i am so excited to get it.

We have made a list of two butcher shops we visit for our meat, and a few orchards for fruit. In ohio it is blueberry season, and there is a lovely orchard (organic chemical free) in Hiram that we just love to visit. And there are the ethnic shops around town – a greek import shop that makes all kinds of wonderful things including spinach pies with flakey philo dough. We are close to a number of ukranian shops that sell home made pierogi, fresh sausage and european delights.

So how about you ? Do you seek out local alternatives for your food sources?