On our cider tour two weeks ago we were amazed & delighted by the local food culture center that has sprung up at the crossroads of Chimacum, Washington.
The first thing we found was the Farm's Reach Cafe -- diner style food made with local ingredients: beautiful soup, salad, sandwiches, and pastries. I don't think the chocolate was a local product, but most of the menu is.
The next day we found the
Chimacum Corner Farmstand, which is full of lovely local stuff, and enough from beyond the immediate area to make dinner (pasta, wine, dessert). We wanted to try everything and bought a bunch of multi-color carrots in white, orange, and purple.
The burgeoning local food movement shows the creative, determined, and optimistic ways that people -- especially young people -- are responding to our food-energy-climate crisis. Growing your own and eating local provide fresh and nourishing food. And support the local economy. And take money away from the industrial food system. And establish bonds between people and their land. And reduce the amount of toxins used on our food -- assuming that a lot of this gardening and farming is organic or no-spray. And help people learn about food, science, nature, botany, biochemistry, nutrition, and cooking. And encourage creativity in the kitchen! and create beauty in the landscape. Done right, with permaculture techniques, growing food can sequester carbon in the soil, addressing the problem of global warming.
And of course
Broadforks are really helpful if you want to grow food without plowing or tilling.
