Farmers' Markets, Buying Locally, Getting Involved, And Lots Of Links

Do you ever get that feeling that there has to be more to life? Sometimes I feel like all I do is work. I'm sure you must think that too sometimes, right? I know that's not true. I know I find time here and there to spend with my friends and family, I make and eat delicious meals and desserts, and I even read a book I really enjoy from time to time. (Right now it's Spoon Fed: How Eight Cooks Saved My Life.)

But sometimes I get so wrapped up in the daily grind that I start wondering to myself if this is how my whole life is going to be. Get up, work, sleep, get up (wishing I had gotten more sleep), work, sleep. I get really caught up in thinking that I'm always working toward something, and I end up not focusing on the present as much as I should. I don't mean to say I shouldn't be ambitious or have goals, but I try to remember that I can't be happy about where I am or what I have now if I just keep thinking about what's ahead all the time. And for people like me, who plan way too much, it's good to remember that plans sometimes change -- or get ruined -- and there's nothing we can do about it. The only thing that can be counted on is the here and now.

Don't get me wrong: I love what I do -- who wouldn't love making sticky buns and correcting grammar? You know what they say: Choose a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life. In that way I'm lucky because I get to do two things I love for work: baking and editing. So getting up, working, and sleeping is just fine for me, but it's what I do to pay my bills (and to learn and enrich my life, etc.)

Sometimes some part of me thinks I should be doing more... for others. (Are you still with me? I think I'm having a bit of trouble getting everything that's in my head right now into words and coherent sentences!)

I don't know how soon I'll do it, but somehow, even in some small way, I'd like to get involved in the local food movement -- knowing where food comes from, raising awareness of it, and supporting local products (am I calling it by the right name?). Whenever I talk about volunteering, my wonderful and exhaustively supportive boyfriend reminds me that I work all the time and asks me how I could possibly find time to volunteer. The answer is that I don't know, but I'd still like to do it. And there should be some way that I can. And I don't really want that way to be donating money. If I had it, I would certainly donate it (and I have made small contributions here and there when I could), but I'd much rather do something.

I am just starting to look into all the options out there. One of the most appealing things I found was Share Our Strength's Operation Frontline.

"Operation Frontline is a groundbreaking cooking-based nutrition education program that teaches families how to prepare healthy, tasty meals on a limited budget."

How amazing does that sound? I could help other people by doing something I already love to do. Unfortunately, right now the course schedules don't fit my schedule or a course that does fit my schedule is not in my area. I am keeping this as an option though and am planning to check back often for opportunities.

One thing I already do is support my local farmers' market. And why wouldn't I? Who doesn't want to eat fresh produce? It's a win-win. Do you shop at a farmers' market, or have you joined a CSA or something similar? Just this past weekend I bought bright, fragrant basil and some beautiful, juicy strawberries, and I'll share what I made with them soon.

And I'm going to try my best to participate in the Strawberry Dessert Festival -- I don't see how buying and savoring a delicious strawberry dessert, the proceeds from which benefit Mass. farmers' markets, could be all that difficult.

I sometimes think that if everyone just did one small thing or just made one small change, we could undo this national food mess we've gotten ourselves into.

I won't even begin to say I've done enough research yet. And I won't pretend I do everything right. I may shop at farmers' markets and look for local products while shopping at Whole Foods, but I also shop at normal grocery stores. Sometimes I bring my reusable bag, but sometimes I don't because I really want some paper bags... so I have something to put my recyclables in.

I apologize again for being a little all over the place in this post. It's kind of me organizing my thoughts and ideas... figuring things out as I go. I guess I'm writing this because I want to hear what you do and what you think. I want your advice, your suggestions, and your insight. Is this something you care about? Is it something you're passionate about?

Are you involved in the local food movement at all? What do you do? What can I do?

Here are a bunch of links to sites and books that I'm finding helpful in my quest to learn more about local food, sustainability, slow food, and all sorts of things I'm not yet aware of.

Links (suggestions welcome)

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Boston Organics

Community-Supported Agriculture: An Introduction to CSA

Edible: A Celebration of Local Foods

edible Boston

FarmerJane.org

Fast, Fresh & Green

Farm Locator

FoodRoutes

Food Rules: An Eater's Manual

the gastrognomes (Good Food Jobs)

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food

LocalHarvest

Market Vegetarian: Easy Organic Recipes for Every Occasion

Mass Farmers Markets

PRK's Next Meet-Up: Slow Food on No Dough

Share Our Strength's Operation Frontline

Slow Food Boston

Slow Food USA

Sustainable Food

Sustainable Table

"To Market, To Market, 10 Top Summer Cookbooks," NPR