10-Day Local Food Challenge
After over half century of obtaining our food primarily from grocery stores and fast food places, with little thought to the quality of the food, many more people are waking up to wondering what is really in their food. Hardly a day goes by without yet another news story that gives us cause to pause and be concerned about the food we are consuming. While the news can be a bit disconcerting, the good news is that more people are becoming aware that what we've thought of as food is often "food like substances," a favorite phrase from Michale Pollan.
Becoming more aware and waking up to what is really in our food is resulting in more people showing up at farmers' markets, looking for healthy food. We see this trend spreading from coast to coast, resulting in books, blogs, and documentaries about food and how it is grown/raised, along with how the growing methods are affecting people and the environment in which we live. A brief documentary, Relational Eating by Vicki Robin, tells of her experience following a 10-mile diet for a month.
Admitting that a 10-mile diet is extreme and something that most people could not and would not want to try, she has now modified this "experiment" to a 10-Day/100-Mile diet. Words from her website gives additional insight as to how this can be do-able for each of us: :
While on that page, you can click on the Background tab (on the left) and find information about registering for a tele-class to be held on September 23.
If you would like more information about how to eat local right here in your own neighborhood, you are invited to attend The Whys & Hows of Eating Local: A Series That Takes the Mystery Out of Eating Local, which will be held at the same location as our farmers' market. See the Reminders section below for further details.
After over half century of obtaining our food primarily from grocery stores and fast food places, with little thought to the quality of the food, many more people are waking up to wondering what is really in their food. Hardly a day goes by without yet another news story that gives us cause to pause and be concerned about the food we are consuming. While the news can be a bit disconcerting, the good news is that more people are becoming aware that what we've thought of as food is often "food like substances," a favorite phrase from Michale Pollan.
Becoming more aware and waking up to what is really in our food is resulting in more people showing up at farmers' markets, looking for healthy food. We see this trend spreading from coast to coast, resulting in books, blogs, and documentaries about food and how it is grown/raised, along with how the growing methods are affecting people and the environment in which we live. A brief documentary, Relational Eating by Vicki Robin, tells of her experience following a 10-mile diet for a month.
Admitting that a 10-mile diet is extreme and something that most people could not and would not want to try, she has now modified this "experiment" to a 10-Day/100-Mile diet. Words from her website gives additional insight as to how this can be do-able for each of us: :
If you are interested in participating in the 10-Day/100 Mile Diet, or simply want to follow the stories of those who will be participating, you may find more information here.Local used to be the way everyone ate. Could it be again? Let’s run the 10-Day Local Food Challenge and see. How local can we go? For how long? The challenge isn’t just “can you do it?” It’s “can we do it? Can we all bring our eating closer to home? And if not, why not?
The experiment is simple: For 10 days or more eat food grown within 100 miles or less of your home. Give yourself 10 or fewer exotics, foods from afar (like coffee or oil) to make it do-able.
While on that page, you can click on the Background tab (on the left) and find information about registering for a tele-class to be held on September 23.
If you would like more information about how to eat local right here in your own neighborhood, you are invited to attend The Whys & Hows of Eating Local: A Series That Takes the Mystery Out of Eating Local, which will be held at the same location as our farmers' market. See the Reminders section below for further details.
REMINDERS
While some of you are long-time readers of the newsletter, people who are new to the market are reading the newsletter for the first time; therefore, the Reminders section is included each week so new folks can see what's happening around the market and around town.
IMPORTANT LOCAL HAPPENING
Although this series has already begun, it's not too late to attend the remaining sessions, as each session is stand alone.
When: Tuesdays July 29, August 26, September 30, October 28
Time:7:00-9:00P.M.
*We encourage participants to
attend all four sessions; nevertheless, each session is stand alone and
participants may pick and choose which sessions they wish to attend. Sessions 1 & 2 cover the Whys. Sessions 3 & 4 cover the Hows.
While some of you are long-time readers of the newsletter, people who are new to the market are reading the newsletter for the first time; therefore, the Reminders section is included each week so new folks can see what's happening around the market and around town.
IMPORTANT LOCAL HAPPENING
THE WHYS & HOWS OF EATING LOCAL
A Series That Takes the Mystery Out
of Eating Local
Although this series has already begun, it's not too late to attend the remaining sessions, as each session is stand alone.
When: Tuesdays July 29, August 26, September 30, October 28
Time:7:00-9:00P.M.
Where: Cheviot
United Methodist Church
3820 Westwood Northern Blvd. 45211
Cost: $10 (free) per session**,
$30 (free) for series**
Student rate; $5 (free) per session**, $15 (free) for series**
Presented by Learning to Live Sustainably,
with support from Lettuce Eat Well Farmers’ Market
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| Click image to enlarge |
**The sessions are essentially
free because each participant will receive 10, 30, 5, or 15 free Market Bucks, redeemable at any
vendor booth at Lettuce Eat Well Farmers’ Market.
Thanks to the folks at Cheviot
UMC for allowing the program to be held at their church.
To RSVP or for further information, call (513) 481-1914 or email mary.learningtolivesustainably@gmail.com
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NEW AT THIS SUMMER'S MARKET
PRE-ORDER AND SAVE $$$
Would you like to save $$$ on your food purchases while not compromising on quality? We thought your answer would be yes, so we devised a way for you to accomplish this. During the summer market season, a number of our vendors will be participating in Pre-order and Save $$$. Following are examples of the promotions that two vendors will be offering: Angelia’s Homemade Pies (& more) will be offering a 10% discount on all pre-ordered baked goods. Learning to Live Sustainably (L2LS): After customers have pre-ordered a total of 12 loaves of bread they will receive their 13th loaf free.
As if Saving $$$ isn't enough, Pre-ordering has additional bonuses for both customers and vendors. When you pre-order your items you are ensured that your favorite foods will not be sold out before you arrive at market. Additionally, pre-ordering cuts down on waste of perishable foods. When you let your favorite vendors know in advance what items you want to purchase, the vendors can then produce/harvest the quantities needed to supply their customers. Furthermore, our already-overly-busy vendors can use their time to make what their customers most want. Stop by your favorite vendors' booths to inquire about how to Pre-order and Save $$$.
As more vendors become involved in the Pre-order and Save $$$ promos we will highlight them in future newsletters. You can also see up-to-the-minute news on the market's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/lewfm.org
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Produce Perks
For
those who noticed the new logo at the bottom of the newsletter recently
and wondered what it means, here is the good news about a new program
that began this summer. Produce Perks is an incentive program that is
meant to encourage and help those who receive EBT (formerly known as
food stamps) purchase more produce. Produce Perks is a dollar for
dollar match (up to $10), with the matching dollars used on produce.
The Produce Perks website offers the following additional information:
Please
help us spread the word about this very worthwhile program. One way to
help get the word out is to stop by the market management booth to pick
up brochures to share with those you know who receive EBT benefits. You
could also leave brochures at your church, doctor or dentist's office,
or any locations that would permit you to do so. For
those who noticed the new logo at the bottom of the newsletter recently
and wondered what it means, here is the good news about a new program
that began this summer. Produce Perks is an incentive program that is
meant to encourage and help those who receive EBT (formerly known as
food stamps) purchase more produce. Produce Perks is a dollar for
dollar match (up to $10), with the matching dollars used on produce.
The Produce Perks website offers the following additional information:“Produce Perks” is an initiative modeled after a similar program in Cuyahoga County. It is administered by OSU Extension, Hamilton County as a partnership of OSU Extension, Hamilton County; the City of Cincinnati Health Department; and the City of Cincinnati Creating Healthy Communities initiative. Focus is on access and affordability of healthy fruits and vegetables for under-served consumers.
Produce Perks are incentive tokens given to customers at participating farmers’ markets who use an Ohio Direction Card (“electronic benefits transfer” or EBT card) to purchase food. A customer wishing to use their food assistance benefits can swipe their card at one central terminal, located at participating market’s information booths, and ask to withdraw a desired amount. The market provides tokens for the transaction and additional Produce Perks that can be spent on fruits and vegetables. As the name suggests, Produce Perks are only good for purchasing fruits and vegetables. All other tokens purchased with the Ohio Direction Card are good to use on eligible items at the market.
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Parkland Homestead will not be at market during the month of September. Look for their return in October.
For a full listing of our vendors, their products, and services including:
- Kids & Krafts (available starting at about 4:15), where the kids can have loads of fun so you can leisurely shop the market
- Many food and non-food items
- and a list of vendors who accept credit cards
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WANTED: VOLUNTEERS. We're always looking for volunteers! If you're available to lend a hand at the Market any time between 1:30pm and 7:30pm on Fridays, or during the week for more behind the scenes activities, check out the link below to contact us! Our greatest need is help with set up from 1:30 until 3:00 and take down from 7:00 until 7:30.
VENDORS: We currently have openings for a meat vendor, produce vendors, and vendors offering value added items. If you are interested or know someone who might be, you may email us through the link below.
Vendors/Volunteers Click Here!
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BRIGHT IDEA
While we would like to take credit for the following Bright Idea, alas we can't. This Bright Idea was submitted by Kerry Wood,
Pastor of Cheviot United Methodist Church. For his Bright Idea Kerry
will receive five Market Bucks, which he can spend at any of the vendor
booths. If you would like to receive free Market Bucks, email us your
Bright Idea and if it is chosen for inclusion in the newsletter you,
too, will receive five Market Bucks. Email your Bright Idea to
lewfmlocal@gmail.comBarters' Corner Do you have a skill or talent that you could teach to others? Perhaps you know how to grow your own food, or how to preserve the abundance of summer produce and could share that knowledge with others. Maybe you have extra gardening tools, or canning or other food related equipment you are willing to share. You can put your skills and/or unused equipment to good use by bartering with others who want what you have and have what you want.
If you wish to participate in the Barters' Corner email us at lewfmlocal@gmail.com.
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BARTERS' CORNER UPDATE
Following are previous submissions to the Barters' Corner:
My passion in life is sustainable living which includes gardening, homesteading etc. So I have been learning tons about that. I know how to fix computers and have worked in the IT field for years. As for what I need, anything to do with gardening and homesteading.
Would anyone be interested in bartering for Acupuncture or medical massage?
I love gardening and teaching people how to become urban gardeners. I grow typical vegetables like tomatoes and peppers but also corn and mushrooms. I also grow medicinal herbs such as yarrow, horehound and toothache plant. I know how to water bath can and pressure can. My boyfriend also does silver smelting. We would love to learn to become more energy self sufficient. Also, I have an up coming business venture that I think will greatly benefit the local farmers' markets. I'm planning on opening a incubator kitchen for individuals to rent so they can sell their items at local markets.
These sound like great opportunities for folks to connect with one another and share skills. If you would like to connect with and of these people you may email us and we will forward your info. Or if you have other skills or items you would like to barter, email us and we will add you to our Barters' Corner. Email us at lewfmlocal@gmail.com
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Please share this newsletter with friends and family to help spread the word about LEWFM!
We hope to see you real soon at Lettuce Eat Well Farmers' Market!
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