The $10 A Week Challenge.......I Can Do It Easily!!!

http://buylocalshenvalley.org/

This is the very best advice I can give anyone who wants to do the right thing when it comes to eating healthy.  When you want to support the people who spend their days and lives, trying to grow foods that aren't loaded with chemicals, aren't using tons of fuel to ship the foods to you, aren't having to pick the produce before it is ripe in hopes of it ripening by the time it reaches your table, then you need to BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL!!!!

Places like this, help one to do that....http://www.mjfarmersmarket.com/index.html.


Our wonderful neighborhood Farmer's Market







Gerald and Tara
The founders of the Mt.Jackson Farmer's Market

Because of the two people pictured above, we have our amazing farmer's market.  Their dream and desire to have fresh, locally grown produce, locally raised and pasture fed meats, homemade jellies, jams, salsas, honey and sauces, handmade soaps and candles, etc. are the reason we have this market.  More and more people like Gerald and Tara are wanting to support the local small farmers who are struggling today to make a living and are more than willing to provide their neighbors with the best possible foods they can.  WHY wouldn't anyone want to support that?  Oddly enough, it seems as if the government sometimes doesn't want to.  But I am not one to get political, as I don't know that much official information, just the very obvious that everyone sees when they go to a big name grocer and can't find a single vegetable or fruit grown in their own state.  Why, pray tell, do I have to buy an apple from Washington state when I live in one of the BIGGEST apple producing states, and areas for that matter.  Hello Food Lion, Walmart, Martins, Kroger, etc, do you not know we have apples right here in Virginia?  Duh!!!!!!!!   Sorry, sorry, sorry.  Back to being positive.

So, because we do have a lot of amazing people in our county who want to do the right thing, a challenge has been set up to make people more aware of what is right here under our noses.  Introducing the $10 A Week Challenge.  Very simply, the challenge is to spend $10 a week on locally grown and raised foods and/or products.  Various growers and farmer's markets are participating to help raise awareness.  Not only will you be helping out our local community farmers, but your taste buds and body will be soooooooo happy.  When food is picked at it's peak or raised in the most natural way, it takes less time to prepare because it needs little help to taste it's best, so there is no reason NOT to put a healthy, fresh meal on the table everyday.

Now I know I live in Virginia, and this is something Virginia is doing, but I bet if we are doing it, then just about every state has a very similar program if you just check into it.  I don't work for this organization or get any compensation for going on and on about this, but I get a huge amount of satisfaction out of knowing I may be making a few more people more aware of what is out there if you just drive past those big grocers and check out that cute little roadside stand or farmer's market.  Usually there are always some great recipes people want to share, and maybe even some free samplings to nosh on while you are walking around checking out the vendors.  And if you are really lucky, you might even get some live music to entertain you while you shop like we have at the Mt. Jackson Farmer's Market.  But without a doubt you will get to meet some neighbors you may have never met otherwise who share in your love of fresh, local food and goods.

So check it out in your area and see what you can do to make you belly happy and promote awareness to the farmers and growers who just want to make a living by bringing a little happiness to their neighbors.  I really don't think you can be disappointed.

Can you accept The Challenge?  I know I can and so should you.

Veggie Plants for you to take home and grow your own.
Ever Green Gardens

Home made Granola, snap peas and radishes.
Ever Green Gardens

Fresh, pasture fed beef and lamb.
Pork and Fresh Eggs
http://www.jlgreenfarm.com/

The best sauces, dressings, salsas, relishes and fruit butters!!!
No, sorry, the cutie pie is not for sale or I would have bought him right up:)
http://paughsorchard.com/

Handmade aprons, oven mitts and other goodies.
Aunt Esther's Attic

Amazing fresh breads and the most delicious Cinnamon rolls.
Six Days Bread

Live music always make for a festive shopping experience

Fresh early veggies to tempt your taste buds.