Farmers' Market Shopping

The DC metro area is home to over 160 farmers' markets.  Many Potomac students say that their families try to eat more sustainably by shopping at their local market as often as possible.  With so many options, there is a market reasonably close to almost every neighborhood!

List of DC farmers' markets: http://dc.about.com/od/restaurants/a/FarmersMktsDC.htm

I happen to be a huge fan of my local farmers' market.  Located in the center of downtown Bethesda, the Bethesda farmers' market is bustling every Sunday morning.  Below are the names of my favorite vendors.

Vendors list at the Bethesda farm market:
 http://bccdcrealestate.com/files/2012/04/SAM_7854-239x425.jpg

Cookinut by Sweet Nuttings:

 - Dedicated to making simple food from high quality ingredients that customers can order online and buy at farmers' markets

Website: http://www.sweetnuttings.com/

Stonyman Gourmet Farmer:

 - Family farm in the Blue Ridge mountains - Little Washington, VA

 - Sells local meat and cheese

Website: http://www.stonymangourmetfarmer.com/

Liberty Delight Farms:

 - Family owned All Natural Meat producer in Reisterstown, MD

 - Sells at farmers' markets, does home delivery

 - Main products are meat, poultry, and eggs

Wesbsite: http://www.libertydelightfarms.com/

Map of farmers' markets in the DC area:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/lifestyle/dc-farmers-markets-interactive-map/

Planting a garden

Why it's good for the environment:

- Extra local produce - no CO2 emissions from shipping
- Small-scale farming takes less of a toll on soil and surroundings than massive fields

Why it's good for you:

- Fresh
- Inexpensive compared to supermarket produce
- Not packaged in plastic, covered in wax, or sprayed with pesticide

Veggies to plant that will provide throughout the growing season: tomatoes, peppers, squash, lettuce

Herbs that you can use in cooking: cilantro, basil, oregano, thyme, dill, rosemary, tarragon

For more information: http://www.bhg.com/gardening/vegetable/vegetables/planning-your-first-vegetable-garden/

Gardening as a way to get food on the table: http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/blogs/q-a-starting-a-garden-part-1 

Find out what will grow in your garden: http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/questions/how-do-i-learn-what-will-grow-best-in-my-backyard

http://www.fugoolive.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/vegetable_garden_tomato.jpg

Some fruits and veggies to avoid and others to stock up on!

The Environmental Working Group has put forth a list of the fruits and vegetables that are consistently the most pesticide-laden and another list of items that are generally more safe.  There are 13 on the "avoid" list and 15 on the "eat" list:

Highlights from the "avoid" list: apples, grapes

Highlights from the "eat" list: asparagus, mango

For more information and the complete lists:
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php

BUYING GROCERY ITEMS IN BULK

Packaging and containers amount to 80 million tons of waste per year in the United States

BENEFITS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

- Waste less packaging (plastic, cardstock, etc)

- Bulk products are often less processed, more local, and more fresh

BENEFITS FOR YOUR WALLET

- Pay for less packaging

- Lower prices, especially if you buy in greater quantities

http://www.stacymakescents.com/wp-content/uploads/bulk-bins.jpg

For more information on the benefits of buying in bulk and for tips on what products to buy: http://www.frontiercoop.com/learn/bulk_advantages.php

EINKORN FLOUR

"man's first form of cultivated wheat"

The type of wheat that most of us consume today has been genetically altered so that it contains more gluten because this change has made large- scale food production easier.

What makes einkorn healthier than regular wheat:

It's high in

- Protein

- Fatty acids

- Phosphorous

- Vitamin B6 (health benefits include improved nerve and brain function, protein digestion, etc)

- Potassium

- Carotenoids (health benefit is that it helps prevent cancer)

- It's low in gluten

For more information on nutrition, history, and purchasing: http://www.einkorn.com/

http://jovialfoods.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Picture-421.jpg

HOMEGROWN HARVEST

(formerly SOUTH MOUNTAIN VEGGIES)

Get fresh vegetables delivered to your door!


Veggies arrive at your doorstep 1-2 days after being harvested.  Setting up your personal delivery schedule is easy; there are no sign-up fees, season commitments, or pre-paid shares.  All products are organic, completely non-GMO, pesticide-free, and antibiotic-free.

How to get your veggies: 

Visit the website where you will see different sized bags that represent different quantities of veggies that you could receive each week.  Select a bag size and then choose your veggies once a week from a menu of seasonal options.

GET VEGGIES NOW: http://www.smveggies.deliverybizpro.com/summary.php?go=products

THE ORGANIC BUTCHER OF MCLEAN

What to buy:  meat, seafood, wine, cheese

What makes the products sustainable? 

Meat is antibiotic and hormone free, certified humane, and almost entirely from Virginia.

Seafood is only 24 hours out of the water and is harvested sustainably.

Produce is pesticide-free and almost entirely from Virginia.

Wine is local.

Specialty items including seasonings, dressings, sauces, marinades, and rubs are local or homemade.

Visit the website here: http://www.theorganicbutcher.com/ml_home.html

 Delivery service coming soon. Sign up for the mailing list here: http://www.theorganicbutcher.com/ml_delivery.html

6712 Old Dominion Dr  McLean, VA 22101(703) 790-8300

What does the Graham family do to eat more sustainably?

1) Eat organic foods

2) Sometimes shop from farmers' markets

3) Mom tries to make family eat less meat

What does the Ayenew family do to eat more sustainably?

1) Buy only grass fed beef

2) Eat very little processed foods

3) Lucas eats paleo

4) Keep leftovers after meals and eat them at next meal

What does the Mencia family do to eat more sustainably?

1) Buy organic food from Whole Foods

2) Buy from Vienna farmers' market

What does the Hoffman family do to eat more sustainably?

1) Tend a large veggie garden in front yard: carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, etc

2) Order veggies from Hometown Harvest (formerly South Mountain Veggies)
Get veggies delivered to your door: http://www.smveggies.deliverybizpro.com/summary.php?go=products

3) Bake homemade bread, granola, yogurt
No-knead homemade bread: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/081mrex.html?_r=0
Slowcooker recipe for yogurt: http://www.pepperlynn.com/2013/03/slow-cooker-yogurt-with-honey-almond-granola/

4) Bake homemade bread with einkorn flour, which is healthier than standard white flour because it has a lower glycemic count, less gluten, and is higher in protein
Learn about benefits of einkorn flour: http://www.einkorn.com/

5) Hunt deer (harvest 1 animal/season)
Skin, clean, butcher, freeze - lasts 1 year

What does the Goldman family do to eat more sustainably?

1) Buy 80% of meat at the Organic Butcher in McLean
What you can buy at the Organic Butcher shop: http://www.theorganicbutcher.com/ml_products.html

What does the Lane family do to eat more sustainably?

1) Tara is a vegetarian
Pros of switching to a vegetarian diet: http://www.chooseveg.com/vegan-substitutes.asp

2) Buy free-range and grass-fed poultry and meat

3) Rarely eat out

4) Maintain peach trees and small herb and vegetable garden
How you can grow cilantro, Tara's favorite fresh ingredient: http://www.sunset.com/garden/flowers-plants/better-way-grow-cilantro-00400000017171/

What does the Preston family do to eat more sustainably?

1) Shop local foods section at Whole Foods
Locally Grown - Whole Foods Market: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/locally-grown

2) Starting to shop more at local farmers' market
Yelp review of Vienna farmers' market: http://www.yelp.com/biz/vienna-saturday-farmers-market-vienna

What does the Tucker family do to eat more sustainably?

1) Buy predominantly local and organic produce
Pros of buying local food: http://www.cuesa.org/page/how-far-does-your-food-travel-get-your-plate

2) Compost veggie scraps, coffee grounds, etc and use compost in garden
How to compost at home: http://eartheasy.com/grow_compost.html

If you do eat out:

Founding Farmers (DC and Montgomery County): Seasonal and local ingredients from family farms
http://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/

Tabard Inn (Dupont): Check out the green roof!
http://www.tabardinn.com/

Restaurant Nora (North of Dupont): 1st certified organic restaurant in US
http://www.noras.com/

Eat at a restaurant that's participating in Farm-to-Table restaurant week (July 14-21):
http://www.eatlocalfirstdc.com/farm-to-table/

Additional reviews of ecologically responsible restaurants:
http://www.slowfooddc.org/local-resources/

What does the Waldo family do to eat more sustainably?

1) Eat only organic, free range poultry and organic, grass fed meat
Learn about grass fed meat: http://www.eatwild.com/basics.html
Buy organic meat in McLean: http://www.theorganicbutcher.com/ml_home.html

2) Eat at restaurants only 2-3 times/year
Learn why eating out regularly can be detrimental to your health: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/family-dinner-how_b_806114.html

3) Eat red meat only 2-3 times/month
Learn about the benefits of eating less red meat/more white meat from an fitness perspective: http://www.menshealth.co.uk/food-nutrition/what-to-eat/Snack-off-red-meat-versus-white-meat

What does the Resor family do to eat more sustainably?

1) Buy milk and vegetables from South Mountain Creamery in Middletown, MD

http://www.southmountaincreamery.com/summary.php?go=products&cat=7

2) Keep 2 chickens so that we have fresh, local eggs every day

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/

General sources for Sustainability blog project:

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/economy/2008-10-27-local-grown-farms-produce_N.htm

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/about-our-products/food-safety/irradiation-us-and-canada

http://www.eatlocalfirstdc.com/

http://www.localharvest.org/

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060528/spectrum/main1.htm  

http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/benefits-of-b6-vitamin/2011/02/10/id/385671

http://www.helpguide.org/life/organic_foods_pesticides_gmo.htm

http://life.gaiam.com/article/benefits-eating-what-s-season

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/vegetable/vegetables/planning-your-first-vegetable-garden/