A Better Way to Eat Sweet Potatoes

For most of my life the only time I ate sweet potatoes was at Thanksgiving when they were covered in butter and brown sugar, which is not really the way most vegetables (or foods in general) should be eaten! But then I came to Winston-Salem and started to notice sweet potatoes in the Refectory and on menus in almost every restaurant I visited. One day I tried sweet potato fries and I don’t think I have missed the butter and brown sugar version a bit. I prefer my sweet potato fries baked even though they don’t get as crispy. I think they are so good, especially because they are super easy to make. As an added bonus, sweet potatoes are almost always available locally and cheaply in the supermarket and they are great at any time of the year. I don’t follow a specific recipe to make sweet potato fries, I just cut fresh sweet potatoes into strips, season them with salt and a drizzle of olive oil and put them in the oven for about thirty minutes at 425 degrees. They come out perfectly and taste great!

This week I went for part of a bike ride with the class and also went for a walk with my younger sister over the weekend.

Promoting Travel to Local Farms

One thing I really miss about not living at home is getting to read the newspaper (in my case, Raleigh’s News & Observer) every day. Now I try my best to read the Sunday paper whenever I am at home, like I did this weekend. I was really thrilled to see this article on the back page of the Life section about travelling to different farms in North Carolina. The article is about a book written by Diane Daniel entitled “Farm Fresh North Carolina”. The book chronicles Daniel’s travels around the state going to different farms, farmers markets, roadside stands and other farm-related places. The goal of her book is to encourage readers to make day trips to some of the destinations included and to increase awareness of all the wonderful farms North Carolina has to offer its citizens. Daniel’s book is divided by region and she offers several different itineraries for each area. The article in the paper included ideas for people in Guilford county that mostly centered around Greensboro. They included visiting the Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market (the oldest of its kind in the state, established in 1874), the Edible Schoolyard at the Greensboro Children’s Museum (a great way to educate young children about agriculture), and a number of different restaurants (such as Lucky 32). The article, and Daniel’s book, helps to let people know that there are places out there where they can spend some time learning more about their food and having firsthand experiences with how that food is produced.

This week I went to my yoga class and walked for about an hour. I am writing this before our class outing on Wednesday, but I am planning on biking when we go out on the trail.

10% Campaign

I thought I would provide a link for the 10% campaign that Michelle Ferrier mentioned in class the day she came.  Take the pledge to spend 10% of your food dollars on NC food, here.

Exploring My Local Farmers Markets

After our guest speaker on Monday I decided that while I was home for the weekend I would check out the farmers markets near me with my mom. I started out our adventure by asking my mom why we did not go to farmers markets and she said it was because they were more expensive and had inconvenient times. We soon found out that both of these ideas were false. We first went to the Apex farmers market which was about 3 miles from my house. It was fairly small and there was no produce yet (too early in the season) but there was crafts, barbecue, and baked goods. It was really nice to meet everyone and they were all very friendly, but because we went when it was cold outside we were the only ones there and felt very pressured to buy everything. The next place we went was a local farmer with a roadside stand. It was also not open yet. We then drove to the farmers market in Cary. It was also very small, but it had produce. When I talked to the farmer he informed me that all his food was grown in a greenhouse. This kind of turned my mom and I off, but we did notice that his prices were lower than the grocery store. We also saw that this particular farmers market is open on Saturdays and Tuesdays. As we were driving home we saw another roadside stand that was selling meat. We had to be somewhere else so we didn't have time to stop, but it was nice to learn that we had all of these local food options. I also took advantage of the great weather this weekend by taking an hour long bike ride on the greenways near my house.

The Way We Were

Becoming aware of locally grown foods, through Dr. Allen's class at Salem, made me decide to conduct my project toward the generation before me. Their ages are 70 or older. Communities are becoming more aware of the fresh food markets but when did they start to decline? I interviewed 2 different families asking specific questions pertaining to "local food". My first subject is my mom. Her name is Rebecca Flynt. We will call her Becky. She was brought up on a farm in Georgia. My second subjects are Tom & Lee Essic. They are my neighbors and both Tom and Lee were raised in the city in North Carolina. Both of Lee's grandparents lived on farms. My first statement asked was to define "local food". Tom and Lee replied, "It's food that is grown in town in a general area." Whereas, Becky replied, "It is locally grown in the community or city. I would say within a 20 mile radius." My next question was, Why do you think people today go to the supermarkets or grocery store vs. a farmers market? Becky replied, "it is easier to get everything in one place, in one trip." Tom & Lee said, " Time is a factor. People are busy and it is convenient. There is more emphasis put on the Farmer's Market in local areas. Access has been improving."

I continued my interview by asking questions about organic foods, seasonal foods and fresh grown foods. All 3 were in agreement that organic foods are more expensive with added concerns of "proof of actually being organic, soil content and where organic seeds come from." Becky said, "I don't think most people know the difference. I think fresh grown is better because the nutrients are better. You don't know how long packaged food has been on the shelf or the conditions they were packaged." Tom and Lee stated,"Out of seasonal produce is not as good and usually hard. We just make do during the winter." The next part of the interview pertained to actual access to food while they were growing up. Tom said, "Most of our vegetables were delivered. So was our butter and sausage. Local farmers grew it. We would go to the "City Market on Saturdays to buy our meats, produce and sausage too. They had meats and fish inside and farmers would set up stands around the outside." Lee's family reaped the benefits from her grandfathers' farms. " My grandpa raised chickens, pigs and hogs. They grew vegetables. It was a country place and they had cows. The farms were self-sustaining. In the spring we would get mountain apples and at Christmas we would get oranges because that is what was shipped in. I can remember at Christmas getting an apple, orange, banana and nuts in my stocking." Becky said, " We raised peanuts and beans and grew everything. We had peaches, plums and blackberries. All of our vegetables were picked and canned. We put our meat in the smokehouse in the winter. On the coldest day, animals were slaughtered, cut and rubbed in salt about 1/4 inch thick then wrapped in cheese cloth, placed in a burlap bag until they cured. We didn't use sugar, it was too expensive. I was unaware of any of us going to a grocery store until I was 10. I don't remember going to a grocery store before the 4th or 5th grade." Lee's grandparents used the smoke house, curing method as well but did use sugar curing also.

I then proceeded to ask their opinions about genetically modified seeds. Tom and Lee stated, "You can't control nature. We depend on birds, bees and the wind. Certain trees you have to plant the opposite sex for them to cross pollinate." Becky's comment was, "I think it is a bunch of malarky." All 3 were in agreement with seed banks. Becky replied, " If the seeds are generational, each plant should get better. Keep the good ones and discard the bad ones to keep the line pure." Tom and Lee said, "You should be able to protect thier variety and also patent them like larger companies."

In both households, Becky had 6 unprocessed items and Tom and Lee had 5 unprocessed items. The rest of thier food from vegetables, breads, meats, dairy and fruit were processed. None of the unprocessed food was bought from a local or fresh market.

Piedmont Triad Farmers Market

One of my favorite place to go in the Triad isn't a store, a shopping center, or even a restaurant. My favorite place to go is the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market. The fresh fruits and vegetables are as colorful and vibrant as the farmers who grow them.

It's a great place to shop for some of the best season produce, dairy, and meats from local farms, converse with people who frequent the farmers market, and it's wonderful to hear the farmers talk so proudly about what they grow and how they grow it. It is especially important to me, as a mother, to show my son that huge chain super markets and grocery stores are not the only place to get fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, breads, nuts, and meats.

Sometimes the farmers and individuals running the stands set up samples that you can enjoy before you purchase items. You have to go there during the summer especially, when the watermelons and strawberries are in season and the aroma fills the air so much you can taste it!!

My son, Tytus enjoying some Watermelon :)

As long as our family lives in this area, we will always shop at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market. It not only is a great experience to share with my son, but it also makes me feel great to know that we are supporting our local farmers.

Below are pictures of some of the fresh produce some of the farmers had out last summer. I cant' wait to see all the new things this summer!! I hope this inspires everyone to check it out!!

Visit www.ncfarmfresh.com for a list of NC Farmers Markets and NC Farms you can go to and pick seasonal items :)

Heather Lorenz

Okra anyone?!

The baby Eggplants were amazing :)

A colorful assortment of Pumpkin/Squash

Some yummy Hot Peppers, before they get all the hotness added!

Tytus loves picking out his own food! We eat these with eggs in the morning :)

I believe I left off the interview part of my blog.. Apologies. I interviewed my little one :)

Me: Why do you like going to market with Mommy?
Tytus: Picking out what I want to eat and then eating it
(Mommy is glad about the majority of the farmers not using chemicals)

Me: What is your favorite part of market?
Tytus: Peaches and the peanuts

Me: Would you rather go to a grocery store and shop for our fruits and veggies, or come to market?
Tytus: Duh Mommy... MARKET!!