Best Pick for the Weekend

The warm spring around these parts is bringing an early crop of fresh strawberries. This is a good weekend to find a pick-your-own berry farm and stock up on these juicy fruits before they pass. You can even freeze them for smoothies and other treats later. Support your family farms and check out Local Harvest for a farm near you. Happy weekend!

Turkey Day

It's time to start planning the menu for Thanksgiving. You may be serving tofu turkey, but if your plans include the more traditional bird then think local. By that I don't mean the local supermarket. Consider a healthier option over the frozen bird and seek out your local turkey farmer at Local Harvest. You'll find many varieties, including organic and heritage breeds, which are favored for their rich flavor. A small family turkey farm is more likely to be using diverse feed, which also offers more flavor--unlike industrial farms. Plus you'll be supporting your local economy, which is more in the spirit of the season.

For those of you that don't plan on cooking, but will be making reservations, then check out the Eat Well Guide for restaurants that support local.

Photo from flickr

Labor Day

Happy Labor Day Everyone. It's a great weekend to take a ride in the country and visit farm stands for some apples, mums and your first pumpkin of the season. Visit Local Harvest to find family farms and farm events near you.

Here's a Seed of an Idea

This picture fills me with hope. I'm getting excited about my gardens again. For those of us in the northeast it's time to take out those garden journals and start planning. Every year I say I'm not going to purchase any more plants. Sometimes I think my gardens might be worth more than my house. But I'm weak when I get to the garden centers.

A good way save is to plant from seed. Last year I did most of my annuals and cut flowers from seed. It was a great project for my daughter too. She was pleased to see her hard work turn into vases of flowers. I recycle the plastic six-pack containers that annuals typically come in, along with the garden trays. I just line the six-packs up on the trays, fill them with soil and have my daughter stick in the seeds.

A great resource for seeds is Local Harvest. Many are from small family farms and you may be able to stay local too.

Happy planting!