Nuts.

Things have been a little busy the last few months- which for me should be expected- but I still manage to get swept up in a wave of my obligations and overwhelmed with self-imposed expectations. That being said, I have started over 6 different blog posts since the last one and never made time to finish them- but nothing motivates me like a good story. So here it goes.

Lately, Dan and I have been on different schedules. I am working the during the day and early evening and he is working the evening into the late night- so it is not uncommon for him to slip into the house under the cover of night.

Last week would be somewhat of an exception. Needless to say there was a little post-work indulgence one night after work that blurred into the wee hours of morning. I woke around 5:45 am to the sounds of a Dan finding his way to the guest room in a touch-and-go fashion. I considered getting up to check-in but it was frigid in the house and my aversion to the cold inspired me to leave him to his own devices.

About an hour and half later I woke up to the dogs tap-dancing around the bedroom with more enthusiasm than usual. As soon as I let them out, they ran to the guest room door and demanded to be let in. I will admit, I initially assumed they just desperately missed Dan, until I opened the door and they flew to the back of the room. At this point I left them to their own devices and headed to the kitchen for tea when I discovered the back door wide open. Before I could think too much about it, I heard Foxy in the front room going bananas (while Dan slept soundly).

We have had a lone rat or two make itself at home in the house and I always highly encourage the dogs to hunt them to the death. During these chases, Foxy makes a very unique whine/giddy/freaked out noise that was at that moment escaping her, so I decided to figure out the cause. As quietly as possible, I started moving a filing cabinet, boxes, and wires while the dogs became increasingly beside themselves. As soon as an opening presented itself, Foxy dove into the back corner and before I could react, a small furry rodent flew at my head and onto the curtains (cue startled screaming and dog barking). The trapped critter was flaying around in the curtains trying to escape when I realized we did not have a rat on our hands after-all.

It was a squirrel.

At this point I start laughing in that nervous but entertained way while exclaiming the word SQUIRREL intermingled with explicatives...

I know what you are thinking- this is the point where Dan shot out of bed, charged to my rescue and removed the wild beast. But you are seriously underestimating his ability to sleep through anything. Literally.

So meanwhile I have to drag the dogs, frothing at the mouth with sheer delight at our captive squirrel, and lock them out of the room.

I emptied a box and tried to corner the little guy using a broom but this elicited a glorious chase that included an attempt to escape up our blocked chimney, a rousing tour of Dan's closet, and an excursion through a chest of drawers. Meanwhile, Foxy has managed to wedge a surprisingly significant portion of her head under the door to watch. After a good chase, the squirrel and I found ourselves in a stand-off with our eyes locked as he perched onto of an oscillating fan and I promised him "I want you out as much as you want to be out- I will not hurt you" but he was not buying what I was selling.

After 30 or more minutes he eventually barricaded himself in a corner as seen in the picture.

Finally I popped one of our window screens out, created a barricade, and proceeded to wait the little guy out. The minute he showed his face, I went full broom on him and he flew through the air, out the window, and landed about 15 feet below on the sidewalk. He darted straight into traffic while I screamed "NOOOOOO" for fear that after all of my efforts he would end up as the exclamation point on a skid-mark. Yet my uninvited house guest managed to make his way into a tree and off to safety while chattering a stream of running commentary- which no doubt was about the crazy banchee and her two canine henchmen living in the house.

Needless to say, I was a little late to work, but thankfully my boss accepted my "Late Due to Squirrel" excuse.

In the end, Dan slept through the whole thing.

A few of my favorite things...

Regardless of work, personal life, health, or weather- there are a few things that always make me smile.

The first being the four feathered ladies that live in my backyard... their little chicken personalities always make me laugh- from their array of noises to their sideways glances- I am equally amused every-time I am in the yard with them (especially when they try and eat Dan's toes and he has to run to save himself.) One of the best parts of my day is when I go out in the yard to call them in... they always get uber excited and half the time they fly to me. I have attempted to upload a short video of me feeding them meal-worms- hopefully it works!



The second being my great friends. There are so many great people in Charleston and I am lucky enough to know a few of them. Whether I am in need of volunteers for a garden work day or under the weather with a cold (like this past weekend), someone always comes to the rescue!

Here are a few pics from my last impromptu garden clean-up.

Memory

In 2004, my best friend Jennie and I spent a summer backpacking through Europe. We visited Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, England and France. I could tell you hundreds of stories about that trip but there is one that is sharp in my mind today.

While we were in France, I took a train to visit my Aunt Nawal in Paris, where she lived with her husband and son. Since she had lived in Paris for the last half of my life, we never really had a chance to get to know one another as adults. Beyond the childhood memories of her, the things that I always stuck out in my mind about Nawal were that she loved to laugh, she was extremely beautiful and she had voice that could bring a room to tears.

We spent the day, just the two of us, catching up on the years since we had spent time together- looking through photos, talking about relationships, debating choices we had made, and laughing at ourselves. For the first time, we learned about each other as women and as friends. Although I had planned to head back when it got dark, we ended up opening a bottle of wine and enjoying an impromptu dinner. As anyone that has ever known Nawal or myself, you can only imagine how many dirty jokes we exchanged, giggling like school girls. As the second bottle of wine opened, we started talking about our family. Through this conversation, I realized how close my Aunt was with my father, even though they have ten years between them. She helped me to understand a lot of things about him that I would have never known otherwise and for that I am very grateful. After we finished up dinner, I had to run to the station to catch the last train, feeling the warm glow of a fantastic evening. After than night, I saw my aunt three more times, but nothing that could compare to our time in Paris.

Throughout all of these years, she has been battling with cancer. When I saw her in Paris, she joked about her wig and made light of the changes chemo was causing her body but she did not dwell on the subject or pity herself. Her battle lasted so long, I started to think that she was going to win, despite what I was told by my family. Monday I received the call that she was gone.

When you lose someone that is so far away, it is hard to embrace the sense of loss. I have spent the last two days thinking a lot about her but unable to grieve, until my father shared the most beautiful recording of my aunt singing the song Memory. I cannot upload it here but I will share the lyrics because the could not be more heart-breakingly appropriate for our beloved Nawal.

She dedicated the song to my father: "To my big brother Gregory: the best pilot, the best lawyer, and the best big brother in the whole wide world."

Memory:

Daylight
See the dew on the sunflower
And a rose that is fading
Roses whither away
Like the sunflower
I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
I am waiting for the day . . .

Midnight
Not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory?
She is smiling alone
In the lamplight
The withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan

Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again

Every streetlamp
Seems to beat a fatalistic warning
Someone mutters
And the streetlamp gutters
And soon it will be morning

Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I musn't give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin

Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
The streetlamp dies, another night is over
Another day is dawning

Touch me
It's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me
You'll understand what happiness is

Look
A new day has begun

May she rest in peace.

Back to the Start

Yesterday I spent the afternoon and evening hosting a Growers Group at a small local farm; I was able to see their cattle operation, their processing facility, and meet a number of other local livestock and meat producers. Although I am vegetarian and do not believe in slaughtering animals for food, I also believe in supporting small family farms and helping those farmers striving to provide animals with a healthier life and more humane slaughtering (I have a hard time typing those two words side by side- but that is a whole other blog post.)

All of the farmers that I met were such genuinely nice down-to-earth people; they work extremely hard for a living, are passionate about their livelihoods, and are more informed about their field of work than any other group I have been involved with.

I have a lot to learn about the entire meat production side of farming but the more I talk to people and research, the more complicated I realize the whole process has become. I am amazed that small farmers have even survived through all of the red tape, regulation, and corporate subsidizing. Thankfully, it seems as though the tides are turning towards a greater awareness of the importance of our small local farms, the need to re-build the local food economy, and the consequences of corporate farming. I think this little video below does a great job of creating a visual, despite the fact that it is actually a commercial. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMfSGt6rHos&feature=player_embedded

Hurricane Basics

Thanks to Miss Irene, many Charlestonians are gearing up for what could be one of their first Category 3 hurricanes they may have ever experienced. This is not to say that Charleston does not have hurricanes (although the past few years have been good to us), but rather we have a lot of people that are inland transplants that may have never had the experience first hand.

In my discussion the last day and half, I have been shocked to hear how little people actually know about what to do when there is a chance of a hurricane. It is for this reason that I am writing this post, in the hopes that even if this storm does not hit, perhaps a few people may be more prepared than before.

1. Your property:

I list this first because this is something that people often forget until it is too late.

• Make sure you have renters/homeowner's insurance. For renters, this can often been purchased the same week of a storm and is generally very affordable.
  
• Pack all valuable documents in water-safe containers, make copies to be kept somewhere separate.
  
• Take pictures of every room in your house.
• Take pictures of all valuable items.
• Buy plastic tubs for all items that could be damaged by water but that you would not be able to evacuate with.
  
• Make a list of what items you will take with you in case of evacuation.
  
• If you are in danger of flooding, raise everything off the ground with cinder-blocks, create a sandbag wall around your doors, and duck-tape the bottom seams of the doors from the inside and outside (I have seen more than one case of this actually stopping water from coming in.)
• If you are going to leave your house and evacuate, move valuables away from windows, cover with tarps, hang hurricane protection over your windows, and take what you can.
• Consider parking your vehicle in a parking deck to avoid damage and/or flooding.
  

2. Supplies:

This is a checklist from NOAA. Also consider what you would need to take in case of an evacuation.

Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days

• Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days

— non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices
— foods for infants or the elderly
— snack foods
— non-electric can opener
— cooking tools / fuel (propane camping stove and fuel)
— paper plates / plastic utensils

• Blankets / Pillows, etc.

• Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes

• First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs

• Special Items - for babies and the elderly

• Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes

• Flashlight / Batteries

• Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio

• Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set

• Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods

• Keys

• Toys, Books and Games

• Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag

— insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.

• Tools - keep a set with you during the storm

• Vehicle fuel tanks filled (buy extra gas can and fill as well)
  

• Pet care items

— proper identification / immunization records / medications
— ample supply of food and water
— a carrier or cage
— muzzle and leash

3. To stay or to go:

Obviously, you need to make this decision based on what is most appropriate for you and your situation. That being said, here are some things to consider.

• What category is the storm? Category 3 and above should evacuate but if you are living in an area that could flood, be cut off by flooding of roads, or is isolated- any hurricane can pose a threat.
  
• What type of home do you live in? Can your house get flooded? Are their any large trees over your house that could come through the house? Do you have a safe place in the house with no windows that you can safely hide? If flood waters rose, would you be able to climb to higher ground?
• If you were to be cut off from power and water for 7-10 days, would you be able to survive off of the supplies you currently have?
• Do you have somewhere safer to go? Consider asking around with family, friends and co-workers to see if there is an alternative place for you to go, how long you can stay, and if your pets are welcome.
  
• Will your employer expect you to return the day after the hurricane? You would be surprised.
  

4. Other things people often forget.

• If you evacuate, shut off your water valves, cut-off your main breaker, and unplug everything before you leave.
  
• Getting contact information from your neighbors so if you evacuate you can find out how your house is.
  
• Extra coolers filled with ice-packs to unpack your fridge into if the power goes out.
  
• Generator and fuel is always a fun item (if you have the money...)
• Fill your bath-tubs and sinks with water the night/day of the hurricane... this way you will have even more potable water.
  
• Expect excessive evacuation delays and how much gas this could potentially use.
  
• In addition to filling your car with gas, check all fluids, tire pressure, filters, etc.
• Either own or know someone with a chain-saw and fuel.
  
• Let other people know your plan so they don't have to worry!
  

Due to sheer exhaustion, I am going to give this a rest and hope that Irene will as well!!

Stay safe and always remember- it is better safe than sorry. So buy everything you could ever need and keep the receipts in case you don't!!

There have been many people in my life that have never understood the path that I have taken or why I have chosen to struggle when there were seemingly easier routes to follow. Although it has at times worn me down to a shadow of myself, it has become clear that having strong beliefs and convictions is a burden worth bearing.

“A little integrity is better than any career.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let the good times roll.

Neal, Jamie, and I riding a pig in Cincinnati, OH

This weekend my friend Jamie from college came to visit from Ohio. We had not seen each other in over two years since her wedding and prior to that maybe once since living in Wilmington, NC. Jamie and I met the end of my freshman year of college at UNCW because she lived in the same apartment complex as one of my best friends. The first impression I had of Jamie was that she was ridiculously proud of being from Ohio (did you know that 8 of our presidents are from OH, it is the birthplace of the wright brothers, and that buckeyes are goodluck?), she loved sports (Go Buckeyes!), and she would say exactly what she was thinking (while laughing the whole time). What I loved about her was that even though we had completely different political views and many differing beliefs, she was always up for and adventure and you could count on her to be there when you needed her.

My sophomore year we ended up all living together in a neighborhood called Yesteroak, which was the beginning of what would be three years of being her roommate and many insane memories. There were a lot of cul-de-sac parties, late nights of playing nintendo, girl fights (sometimes involving nintendo), dance parties, dog chasing, broken hearts, pig-pickins, and growing pains.

When she arrived Friday night it was as though I had just seen her last week. There is something about having lived with someone for several years that creates a level of comfort similar to family. No matter what you have gone through or how long it has been you tend to fall back into your routine without any trouble.

Saturday while I worked the farmers market she went with Dan on the bike ride for Edwin and then biked to Marion square to meet up with me. Before she arrived I had gotten a call that there were some loose chickens in someone's front yard (my boss told me I could add the title Chicken Wrangler to my resume if I could catch them). So when Jamie found me, we jumped in the truck and went on a chicken hunt. Next thing I know I have caught a hen and cannot find the rest of the flock. I peek over the fence and see the other six hanging out next door. As it turns out, they live at the neighbors house under the porch and are owned by a guy that obviously knows nothing about chickens (including that they fly, need water, and that roosters are illegal downtown). Needless to say, if they get loose again, I may not be returning them.

From there we headed home and then to Sullivan's Island. We hung out under the cloud covered sky, watching storms roll past, and eventually got chased away by the tide. I realized that I need to spend way more time at the beach, especially in the late afternoon.

After beaching it, we stopped at a local bar to get a drink, at which point we decided we wanted to find a dock to sit on and enjoy the sunset. With our to-go drinks and Jamee's fishing pole we headed out onto a small and unblocked private dock. We put our feet in the water, cast out the line, watched the sun melt into the water, and talked about the good ole days.

As if the moment could not get any better, dolphins broke the surface and began curiously investigating what our private dock party was all about. This same moment could have easily occurred 6 years ago except that now we talk about our careers, being in committed relationships, and considering a life with children.


Sunday after brunch we headed into downtown to walk King street, visit the market, explore some of my favorite spots, and visit Dan at work. We took a bike taxi to dinner, dodged the rain-drops, and finally headed home to go to bed. The weekend was nothing incredibly out of the ordinary but it was nice because for a few days I was able to enjoy the comfort of an old friend, share my world with someone that genuinely cared, and laugh until it hurt.


I know that in 6 more years we will look back nostalgically on weekends like this one and envy our freedom and youth... but I have no doubt that we continue to enjoy whatever it is we happen to be doing.

Everything will be okay.

I promise my next post will be full of pictures, fun stories, and happy thoughts. For now I have to share some videos that support a lot of my thoughts from the last post. Please know that I do not necessarily agree with everything these people have to say but I like their overall messages.

Here is a video of a man doing what a lot of us wish we could in a way that I found ridiculously entertaining.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAQrsA3m8Bg&feature=player_embedded#at=453

Then there is this music video for "Words I Never Said" by Lupe Fiasco that makes a pretty strong statement...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22l1sf5JZD0

The last one is another Lupe Fiasco song that is a little more inspirational, especially for kids that are growing up in bad neighborhoods...my favorite verse is:

"So no matter what you been through
no matter what you into
no matter what you see when you look outside your window
brown grass or green grass
picket fence or barbed wire
Never ever put them down
you just lift your arms higher
raise em till’ your arms tired
Let em’ know you’re there
That you struggling and survivin’ that you gonna persevere
Yeah, ain’t no body leavin, no body goin’ home
even if they turn the lights out the show is goin’ on!"



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haHMGIBaanQ

Proud to be an American

Monday night was was the annual celebration of the day our country declared our independence... I spent the evening with friends, riding bikes, and being awed by the sound and sight of fireworks going off less a few hundred feet away. As the reverberations pounded my chest, I thought about how impressive it is that we have harnessed the power of chemical reactions to create something so beautiful. The visual spectacle was accompanied by iconic American music like the Top Gun soundtrack and Born in the USA, both of which brought a smile to my face along with a reminder that the essence of the 4th of July celebration has changed dramatically since 1776.

When the show concluded, we walked our bikes through the crowds planning our next stop. As we walked, a guy in front of me finished his tall-boy (beer), crushed it up and threw it into the bushes. Unable to contain myself, I blurted "Seriously?" to the back of his head. He cocked his head to the side and arrogantly grunted "Yeah". To which I replied, "Proud to be an American." His parting words of justification were, "Yeah, I do what I want."

This basically sums ups my overall disappointment with the average American. Fly the stars and stripes, attend a baseball game, watch the fireworks, get drunk, and then carelessly live your life to your own comfort and convenience. This guy was just one more of the millions that seems to confuse independence for entitlement, freedom for free reign, and pride for ego. This situation deserves a poster in which fireworks are going off in the background and this red-white-and-blue patriot is littering next to a pristine marsh.. across the top it would simply say "FAIL".

It seems the Land of the Free has given a little too much leeway in all the wrong places. Our consumer driven economy has skewed the values of our country so much that we have sold our principles and quality of life for a few more pennies. People have put their own privileges above the rights of others so that they can live cheap, easy, and convenient lifestyles full of instant gratification and self indulgence. I could go off on this tangent for weeks but I think you all get the point. Back to my iconic 4th of July...

After this less than inspiring run-in, we all headed back to the house and decided to play a board game. We settled on playing "Life", since none of us had played since childhood. After a thorough briefing, we got rolling. You start with a mini-van, you must choose between going straight into a career or accruing $40k of debt for a degree, and then you take a spin. Along the way, you stop to get your career and salary, get married, have kids, win and lose money, buy a house, choose to purchase insurance, play the stock market, and make decisions that mirror those being made everyday. Of course the person with the most money and assets wins in the end. Within minutes of beginning we all realized that this game is a lot more entertaining when we were younger and these types of decisions were too far in the future to be taken seriously. We softened the blow of this reality with a few drinks, competing stories of financial woes, some upbeat music, and the occasionally self-depreciating joke.

Playing as a adult comes with a much different perspective and when your mini-van driving game piece ends up accruing debt, getting stuck with a low-paying job, and being left behind your peers on the board- it starts to feel a little too much like the real thing.

This brings me back again to the idea of what it means to be an American. There are so many movies, television shows, songs, commercials and games similar to "Life" that further reinforce the idea that there is a standard operating procedure for becoming a successful adult in the United States. It gives the impression that there is a "right way", that you can win or lose, and that the winner is the one with all of the money. Yet this expectation and set of rules has resulted in the highest rate of divorce, bankruptcy, and suicide since the 1950s and more people are on mood and behavioral modifying medications than ever. It is this "right way" that pushed me to feel inadequate, left me doubting my decisions, and created a constant pressure for me to achieve traditional success that left me with stomach ulcers and debt.

I recently watched the documentary God Grew Tired of Us and it left me with the most bizarre mix of hope and disappointment on this same subject. It tells the story of the thousands of boys ages 3- 13 that fled their country of Sudan to avoid being killed or enslaved and spent almost a decade as refugees. Of these refugees, 3800 were selected to be re-settled in the United States. You watch them leave a refugee village that is small and lacking in supplies but full of brotherhood, friendship, and laughter with hope that the US holds the key to a better life. The young men must overcome the immense cultural and physical differences of coming to a new country and prepare to repay the debt that they have accrued for their travels. The story unfolds as they struggled to learn our customs, speak better English, and adjust to the American way of life.

Over the span of four years there is a transformation of these young men as they find jobs, send money home, try and stay connect with each other, and struggle to overcome their alienation of being immigrants. I cringed when I watched as they were harassed by police officers for traveling in groups, ignored by other pedestrians when they needed help, and mocked for their accents; this lack of compassion combined with the pressure resulted in the complete mental breakdown of one of the young men that had to be institutionalized. In many of the interviews they talk about they missed the sense of community, openness, and friendship that is such an integral part of their country. They felt a sense of disillusionment at how hard they had to work to gain so little, leaving them with no time for their family and a never ending sense of backsliding.

These young men had seen such unimaginable things, survived walking hundreds of miles carrying one another, lived through attacks from wild animals, and entered man-hood as orphaned refugees only to end up in America scraping for minimum wage and losing themselves in the isolation of our society. Towards the end it shows many of the young men gathering at a conference to re-connect with each other and in many cases and address the issues that many of them were facing and there was a glimmer of hope in their unfailing ambition.

I was inspired by the hearts and the strength of these young men that had endured so much pain and suffering and continued to work so hard in hopes of changing their lives. I then think about how many people grow-up in the United States surrounded by type of opportunities these boys crossed a desert and an ocean for and take it for granted. How many people their age are sleepwalking through life ungrateful, seeking instant gratification, never questioning anything, always trying to buy something bigger and better, and seeking out to the quickest and easiest way to die fat and happy.

Perhaps it is time we all stop and consider what it is to be an American and how we need to start re-defining that. To me being an American should mean that I respect the freedom so many have died for by using it to strengthen my community and my country. When I am successful, I should delight in the opportunity to share my time, experience, and bounty with those that are less fortunate. I will celebrate my independence by defending my right to make my own decisions about my life and my body. To ensure that the leaders of my country are strong I will use my voice to guide their decisions and vote for those that I believe in. I believe that every body of government, business, and corporation should operate in a way they can be proud of and hold policies of transparency with no fear of third party auditing. Although my funds are limited, I will use my money wisely and support the local economy that supports me by buying from local businesses, restaurants, and farmers. It is time that we demand that our country is shaped democratically by the voice of the people and not the corporations and groups with deep pockets. I am proud to be an American but I am not yet proud of many of my fellow Americans, something I hope will change with time.

I think it is time we start holding each other to a higher standard, to start exploring and supporting new and different ways of living, to learn from cultures much older than ours, to meet our neighbors, and to become a country of individuals that believes in something greater than ourselves.

Adventures in Farmland...

Last weekend I was able to spend three glorious days traveling from one farm to the next with Daniel, starting in Conway, SC and ending somewhere outside of Greenville, SC. We toured eight farms total, spending around an hour and half on average at each farm. Needless to say, it was an awesome weekend full of great people, an abundance of vegetables, all kinds of animals, and beautiful places.

On Friday we visited Freewoods Farm, Thompson Farm, LW Paul Living Museum in conjunction with a Clemson program. We learned about the history around African American farmers, saw some interesting agri-tourism ideas, and got some hands-on experience at another living history farm. The LW Paul Living Museum was my favorite of the day because it included info on cane sugar, corn milling, timber sawing, tobacco cutting/stringing/curing, mule cultivation, potato storage and other fun historical building examples. I even got to try the plow behind the mule! Here are the pictures of all three:


Saturday we headed over to the Clemson Student farm, Barrioz Family Farm, and Baird Family Farm. At Clemson we were able to hear three phenomenal speakers talk about how to control pests organically including weeds, insects, and diseases. I also got to see an old friend from college which was great! Barrioz Family Farm was a nice example of a market garden that had some great terracing and a cute little tractor. Our final farm for the day was a little trickier to find and we ended up cutting through a private drive full of goats to get to our final destination (a bonus!). Baird Family Farm had a great set up that included bottom lands, a stream, forested hills, and upland fields. They let us walk in their stream, tour their fields, and feed their pig.

Sunday we headed to Bio-way farm and then onto Early Bird Worm Farm. Bio-way was utilizing some strategies in permaculture, which I cannot get enough of. He had some really neat forest plants that were edible and/or medicinal as well as mushroom logs and native flowers. Early Bird Worm Farm was hands down the best part of the tours. This farm makes its living raising and selling worms but also processes deer/chickens, raises rabbits, grows/sells vegetables, grows mushrooms, processes corn, and hosts a variety of critters including sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, ducks, rabbits, and dogs. We ended up staying at this farm talking to the farmer until it was dark and left with our car full of farm fresh goodies.

Here are the pictures:

In the end I managed to meet a lot of great people, learned a lot of new techniques for organic growing, scored a little tan, plowed a field, saw tobacco flowers, pet a pig, ate fresh veggies, discovered jam called FROG (figs, raspberries, oranges, and ginger), bought a plant that helps toothaches, and became even more inspired to homestead.

I think this quote pretty much sums up the trip:

"Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous and they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bands."

–Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Jay (Aug. 23, 1785)

Getting adjusted.

Although I am down to just one job, I don't want anyone to worry that I will get bored or lack any kind of adventure. As usual every day is different and today was another action packed one.

I woke up early with my usual routine of dog feeding and garden maintenance... then I headed off to start the day at Joseph Fields farm playing with the goats and apprentices. After showing the apprentices about de-worming, hoof clipping, and other critter related info, I chatted with Joseph about dealing with blossom end rot and left determined to figure out if he is allowed to use Calcium Nitrate since he is certified organic.

I stopped at the Bogarden for my daily check in and somehow managed to get a $45 ticket for being half-way in a no-parking zone for less than 5 minutes. Are meter maids human or have they had their bodies snatched by aliens? They are eerily lacking compassion or hearing, even when given basil as a peace offering. Just as I am putting the ticket in my car, a neighbor drives past just to yell at me for having my truck parked in a no-parking zone. Not feeling the love on the corner of Bogard and Rutledge today... but at least the Sunflowers are looking good.

After that expensive stop-off, I made it back to the office for desk work where I cranked out emails/phone meetings and created a Lowcountry Farmers Google Group that I am excited about. I then went to a new small restaurant in Park Circle where I ate jicama for the first time (yum!) and was served a very expensive Mojito without the alcohol... the old guy serving me clearly thought I was underage but didn't have the guts to ask-awkward.

Then I came home to play with the dogs, do some dishes, and hang out session with one of my close friends. When she left, I headed out to check our the freshly cut grass and as usual ended up in the garden. I weeded and fought pests, both of which have gained significant ground recently. Between aphids, squash bugs, and squash vine borers, I am get all kinds of hands-on organic pest management experience.

To rewarded myself, I harvested peppers, cucumbers, collards, squash, beans, tomatoes, okra, and herbs for dinner. Afterward I made some herb butter to use later on and shared the recipe with my sister and mom.

Needless to say, I now spend my day doing what I love and I have time after work to spend time with the people I love, in the places I love.

All of my hard work pays off... finally.

As you may have noticed by now, I like to keep things interesting in my life. Over the last few months I have been struggling to balance my Director Position with Fields to Families with working as a full-time nanny (plus babysitting, landscaping, dog walking, etc.).

Myself and Dale Snyder of Sweetgrass Garden Co-op, a farm dedicated to growing food for the hungry of the Lowcountry.

She is a little less cute when you arrive at 4:30am and leave at 7pm.

I have had very little time, energy, or money to allow to me to stay connected with friends and family as I was working days, nights, and weekends. I honestly avoided blogging for fear of scaring people into thinking I was going to have a full-blown meltdown... which was not far from reality.

Just as I felt as if I had lost my way, I was presented with the opportunity to take on a new position with Lowcountry Local First (non-profit that supports the shift to buying local) as the Director of Sustainable Agriculture. This was a tricky offer because the person that held this position before me was a friend of mine and I felt very committed to Fields to Families. This being said, I could not ignore the fact that I needed a full-time salary and the position was perfect for me. So over the last month I informed my board at Fields to Families as well as my nanny family that I would be leaving. I slowly began taking on responsibility at LLF while tying up loose ends at my previous positions.

Yesterday was my first day solely working with LLF and for the first time in almost five years, I will finally have only one job. Okay, let me say that again. For the first time in almost five years, I will finally have only ONE JOB. This alone is like a gift from the heavens. You can read the email announcement that was sent out at the very bottom of this post. In summary, I will be running a department that does the following:

-the Growing New Farmers program to partner farming apprentices with farming mentors (which I helped pilot last year). We currently have three Teaching Assistants, four full-time apprentices, and 15 part-time apprentices. See a pic below...

-the New and Beginning Farmers program to work with farmers that have farmed 10 years or less receive statewide trainings.
-the Fresh on the Menu program to connect Chefs, Farmers, Producers, and the general public.
- the Growers Group program to host farm tours, guest speakers, and networking for local growers.
- Other fun and exciting farm related things!!

So what the heck have I been doing in the last few months besides working (because of course, I love a good juggling act).

Throughout this whole season I have continued to work hard on the Bogarden project, which has been a great labor of love. Daniel and I also worked closely with our co-conspirators at the Holy City Bike Co-op to plan and facilitate Bike! Bike! Southeast, a bicycling conference that was attended by over 75 people from several states and a variety of cities. This and other efforts has led to the presentation of an award next week from the City, although I am still unsure what I am actually receiving :-)

Dan leading the group through Hampton Park to the Lowcountry Roller Derby bout.

Here is a short video that was produced about the Bogarden this month by a woman named Melanie Creech that did a great job:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BFuw10aG8k&feature=channel_video_title

There is also another news story style video as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCmcCxC2qRM&feature=relmfu

As far as life on the home-front, Daniel and I have been using what little free time we have to start our own little homestead. We have tilled a large plot of 7 rows and planted tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, watermelon, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, onions, and okra. We put up a fence to stop the dogs from doing their own "tilling" and unwanted fertilizing and planted some perennials out-front. Dan scavenged some bricks from the yard and dug a nice little fire pit for us. Using mostly salvaged materials we have been making slow and steady process on our chicken coop... which is turning into high-end avian housing for a small flock of upscale chickens. As usual, I have my ridiculously large collection of potted flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruit trees scatter throughout the property. The compost bin that Dan made from salvaged wood is currently hosting some gloriously rich looking black gold.

So overall... life has been busy and will continue to be busy... at least now I can have more time for play. And sleep, yes, sleep.

Here is the job announcement:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Lowcountry Local First <Lowcountry_Local_First@mail.vresp.com>
Date: Fri, Apr 8, 2011 at 12:25 PM
Subject: LLF Announces new Director of Sustainable Agriculture

Nikki Seibert new Director of Sustainable Agriculture for LLF!

As things are growing all over the Lowcountry so are we! We are excited to announce that Nikki Seibert will be joining us at Lowcountry Local First as the Director of our Sustainable Agriculture Program, Farm Fresh Food!

As many of you know LLF has been working in this area since our inception partnering with SCDA to promote “Fresh on the Menu” by reaching out to those restaurants looking to source local food and farmers seeking new markets.

Nikki has played an integral role with the LLF team over the past year and half when piloting our Growing New Farmers Program and our online market Farm Fresh Market. Nikki has participated as an apprentice in our program and then gone on to lead Fields to Families as their Executive Director. Her ability to build community is apparent in what she has already accomplished with the Bogarden and the Holy City Bike Co-op. We know that her professionalism and desire for excellence make her the perfect choice for sustaining and building on our current programming.

Nikki will be joining us starting April 18^th please join me in welcoming her to the team!

Locally Yours,

Jamee

BIO:
Nikki Seibert is a passionate local leader in the environmental and social justice movements in the Lowcountry whose diverse experience has allowed her to initiate significant change.

With a BA in Environmental Studies from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and several years working in Environmental Education and Outreach, she moved to Charleston in 2007 to work for Habitat for Humanity as an AmeriCorps Construction Crew Leader. After her service year, she developed an award winning green building program for Sea Island Habitat that gained local and regional recognition beyond just the construction changes but the homeowner education, community outreach, and staff trainings. During this time, she also completed her Masters of Environmental Studies at the College of Charleston, ran the campus’s recycling program, wrote and reported for The Digitel, and blogged about her car-free lifestyle. After the completion of her Masters, she continued working for Habitat but also assisted Charleston County Human Services Commission in the development of their Housing program as a part-time case worker. In 2010, she joined three friends in the creation of the Bogarden community garden on the corner of Bogard and Rutledge Ave which received a City of Charleston Community Pride Award.

The above efforts earned her the Dana Beach Award, the Leadership in Sustainability Award, the Outstanding Graduate Student Award, the Carolina Recycling Association “Behind the Scenes” Award, and a Post and Courier High Profile.

When the LLF Growing New Farmers program was announced, Nikki immediately saw her opportunity to turn her lifetime hobby of working with gardens into a career shift. Her time as a farming apprentice exposed her to all of the elements of the local food system and ultimately led to her position as the Director for Fields to Families.

She is excited for the opportunity to focus her attention on the Sustainable Agriculture program for Lowcountry Local First and is excited to continue its success!

Living La Vida Locavore

Locavore: A person that eats foods primarily grown or produced in a 100 mile radius from where they live.

As of yesterday, spring is officially here. Over the last few weeks, I have been visiting farms to talk to the farmers their plans, their anxieties, and of course, to walk the remaining fields of winter crops in the company of bees seeking out plants bolting into flower. As if looking into the future of their season, I took a peek into the warm, humid greenhouses, giddy with excitement at the overflowing trays of lettuce, peas, beans, tomatoes, herbs, and flowers.

Pete Ambrose in his Greenhouse

The excitement is not just in the fields but spreading into the cities. Local residents are brightening up their yards with early blooms and filling their gardens with small seedling vegetables and herbs. Farmers Market managers are holding meetings to refresh the regulars and welcome in the huge flux of new vendors. March has already ushered in the Food and Wine Festival, the Kid's Fair, College Spring Breaks, Gleanings, and soon the Carolina Yard/Gardening School. April will be filled with Earth Day events, the Chef's Potluck, Clean City Sweep, and many other outdoor events.

Bogarden Workday March 19th, 2011

Locally, regionally, and nationally there has been a lot of focus on the small farmer, eating locally grown and produced products, and supporting local vendors. Following on the heels of the organic food wave, consumers are beginning to realize that there is more to food that how it is grown but where it is grown as well. The benefits of eating local produce/products, supporting a local economy, and having a connection to your food are becoming more understood, accepted, and appreciated. For Charlestonians, we are truly lucky to be in a city that has such a love affair with food and the growers/producers to support it.

Charleston boasts some of the South's best chefs, farmers, food artisans, and markets. I am lucky enough to have spent the last few years in Charleston getting to know where to shop, who to buy from, where to eat, and how to get the best of the best in this wonderful southern city.

After many requests for advice regarding the local food movement in Charleston, I am finally compiling some of the information that I have discovered. Much of this information was taken from other website and simply compiled all together and I am grateful for LLF, USDA, and the PickYourOwn websites. Follow along as I take you on a step by step tour of what it takes to become a Locavore in Lowcountry.

Let us begin the journey to a more exciting, healthier, and tastier menu. The first step is to consider the season. Although your local grocery store may have a variety of produce year round does not mean that you can actually find watermelon in Charleston in February. If you do not see it at the farmers market, it is probably not growing in Charleston. There are a number of websites that will help you identify what is in season in your state during any given month, such as the SC Department of Agriculture’s Certified SC Grown’s: http://www.certifiedscgrown.com/ or Providence Produce’s website: http://www.providenceproduce.com/index-4.html.

The next step is actually acquiring the food. The only way to know exactly where your food came from and how it was grown is to grow it yourself. If you are a gardener or want to try your hand at growing your own produce, look for the zone on the back of the seed packets and plant according to the recommended months for your area. Consider purchasing vegetable/herb seedlings from the incredible selection at Sea Island Savory Herbs on Johns Island, especially if you are interested in heirlooms and non-traditional plants. If you don’t have a yard, consider container gardening or getting a plot at one of the community gardens in town.

If you are currently shaking your head because you know you will never have the time or energy to have a garden, have no fear. Because even if you have a yard or garden, it would be extremely difficult to supply all of your fruits and vegetables, much less everything else you need for your family such as eggs, pasta, grains, meat, milk, and cheese. The best way to get hold of these is to buy direct from local producers so your money goes straight to the source and you are guaranteed to get a fresher product. Direct purchasing can be done through Community Supported Agriculture shares, Farmers Markets, Farm Stands and U-pick.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA):

The best way to guarantee that you will have a steady supply of fresh local vegetables all season is to take part in Community Supported Agriculture or CSA. The CSA model allows for someone to purchase a share in the farm for a season and in return they receive a specific amount of produce/meat each week. Some farms have pick-up locations while others will deliver and most offer different size shares. It is important to think about purchasing a share before the season is in full swing so the farmers can plan according and plant enough for everyone. If it is your first time, I recommend getting a smaller share or splitting a share with a friend or neighbor until you are used to the process. In addition to produce, Charleston also has CSAs for seafood, beef, and other locally raised animal products. Who is currently offering a CSA in the Charleston Area? Check out the list below:

Abundant Seafood
843-478-5078
abundantseafood@gmail.com
Visit the website

Ambrose Family CSA Farm
Selkirk Plantation Road
Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487
843-559-9999
ambrosecsa@stonofarmmarket.com
Visit the website

Clammer Dave's Sustainable Gourmet
1522 Macoma Road
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466
843-343-2970
dave@clammerdave.com
Visit the website

Cordray Farms (beef)
6708 County Line Rd
Ravenell, SC 29470
843-766-7922
michael@cordrays.com
Visit the website

Cypress Artisan Meat Share
843-727-0111
savourcraig@aol.com
Visit the website

Green Grocer (Beef)
2463 Leadenwah Dr
Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487
843-559-5095

Gruber Family CSA Farm
265 Old Bell Road.
St. George, SC 29477
843-563-1159 or 843-693-7069
info@Gruber-CSA-Farm.com
Visit the website

Joseph Fields Farm CSA
3129 River Road
Johns Island, SC 29455
843-729-9606/843-830-8612
jfieldsfarmllc@bellsouth.net

Legare Farms CSA
2620 Handscome Point Road
Johns Island, SC 29455
843-599-0763
legarefarms@bellsouth.net

Marshview Organic Farm
12 Georgees Trail
Saint Helena Island, SC 29920
843-838-3709
Sara.Reynolds@beaufort.k12.sc.us

Our Local Foods CSA
P.O. Box 6
McClellanville, SC 29458
843-887-3500
info@ourlocalfoods.com
Visit the website

Pinckney's Produce CSA
P.O. Box 229
Vance, SC 29163
803-492-3521
info@pinckneysproduce.com
Visit the website

Rosebank Farms CSA
4455 Betsy Kerrison Parkway
John’s Island, SC 29455
(843) 768-0508
csa@rosebankfarms.com
Visit the website

Thackery Farm CSA
Wadmalaw, SC
(843) 559-9058
info@thackerayfarms.com

Farmers Markets:

Despite popular belief that the only Farmers Market in Charleston is in Marion Square, there are actually ten local farmers markets in the Charleston area where you can meet the producers face to face. From vegetables and fruit to beef and eggs, you can find just about everything at the local markets. See the listings below.

Awendaw Farmers and Fresh Seafood Market

Contact: Donna Smith
Address: Town Hall, 6971 Doar Rd, Awendaw, SC 29429
Hours Of Operation: 2nd Saturday if the month, 9:00 - Noon
Email: awendaw@tds.net
Telephone: 843-928-3100

Charleston Farmers Market
Facility Type: Open-Air
Contact: Karen Williams
Address: Marion Square at King St. & Calhoun St., Charleston, SC 29401
Hours Of Operation: Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Seasons Operation: April 9th-November
Programs Accepted: SFMNP - Senior Checks, WIC Vouchers
Email: farmersmarket@ci.charleston.sc.us
Telephone: 843-724-7309, 843-724-7309

Freshfields Village Farmers Market

Facility Type: Open-Air
Contact: Trish Pruitt
Address: Market Location: 149 Village Green Ln, Johns Island, SC 29455
Mailing Address: 130 Gardeners Circle, PMB 125, Johns Island, SC 29455
Directions: Crossroads of Kiawah, Seabrook, and Johns Island
Hours Of Operation: Monday 4:00 - 8:00 pm
Seasons Operation: June - August
Email: tpruitt@kiawahisland.com
Telephone: 843-768-6491, 843-768-6491
Fax: 843-768-6493
Web Site: http://www.freshfieldsvillage.com

James Island Presbyterian Church Farmers Market-Seeds of Hope

Facility Type: Open-Air
Contact: Donna Bryan
Address: Market Location: Ft. Johnson & Folly Rd., 1632 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, Contact Mailing Address: PO Box 11349, Columbia, SC 29206
Contact: Henry Meeuwse
Hours Of Operation: Wednesday 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Friday 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Seasons Operation: SEASONAL
Programs Accepted: SFMNP - Senior Checks, WIC Vouchers
Email: dhbryan@bellsouth.net
Telephone: Church: 843-795-3111

John Wesley United Methodist Church-Seeds of Hope

Facility Type: Open-Air
Contact: Donna Bryan
Address: 661 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407
Hours Of Operation: Saturday 8:00 a.m. - Noon
Seasons Operation: Seasonal, June to October
Programs Accepted: EBT/SNAP, WIC Vouchers
Telephone: Church # 843-766-5596

Mount Pleasant Farmers Market

Facility Type: Open-Air
Contact: Tracy Ritcher|
Address: Moultrie Middle School, Coleman Blvd. & Simmons St., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
|Hours Of Operation: Tuesdays, 4 p.m. - dark
Seasons Operation: SEASONAL (April-October)
Programs Accepted: SFMNP - Senior Checks, WIC Vouchers
Email: trichter@townofmountpleasant.com
Telephone: 843-884-8517, 843-884-8517
Web Site: http://www.townofmountpleasant.com/index.cfm?section=11&page=6

MUSC Farmers Market

Facility Type: Open-Air
Contact: Annie Lovering
Address: 171 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 29401
Directions: Located in the Horseshoe
Hours Of Operation: Fridays 7:00 am-3:00 pm
Programs Accepted: SFMNP - Senior Checks, WIC Vouchers
Telephone: 843-792-1245, 843-792-1245

North Charleston/Hanahan Farmers Market

Facility Type: Open-Air/Covered
Contact: Belinda Swindler
Address: 4800 Park Circle, North Charleston, SC, Mailing Address: PO Box 190016, Dept. 700, N. Charleston, SC 29419
Hours Of Operation: Thursdays, 2 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Seasons Operation: SEASONAL
Programs Accepted: EBT/SNAP, SFMNP - Senior Checks, WIC Vouchers
Email: belindaswindler@yahoo.com
Telephone: 843-745-1028

Ralph H. Johnson Medical Center Farmers Market

Contact: Nancy Gannon
Address: 109 Bee St., Charleston, SC 29401
Hours Of Operation: Wednesdays 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Seasons Operation: April-December
Programs Accepted: SFMNP - Senior Checks, WIC Vouchers
Email: nancy.gannon@va.gov
Telephone: 843-789-7607, 843-789-7607

Town of Summerville Farmer’s Market:

Location: First Citizens Bank next to Town Hall.
Hours of Operation: 8am-until
Season: April-fall
Website: http://tinyurl.com/4v23oc8

Farm Stands/On-site Purchasing

Nothing compares to going straight to action and buying from the source. On-site purchasing and farm stands are another great direct connection to farm produce and are often open everyday, with hours beyond the months of the farmers markets.

Our Local Foods

10882 Highway 17
North McClellanville, SC 29458
(843) 887-3500
info@ourlocalfoods.com

Boone Hall Farm

1235 State Road S-10-97
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464-9020
(843) 884-4371

The Tomato Shed/Stono Market/Ambrose Farm

842 Main Road
SC 29455
(843) 559-9999

Rosebank Farm Stand

Coming this summer!

(843) 768-9139

Fields Farm Stand

3129 River Road
John's Island, South Carolina
(843) 559-3694

Tea Plantation

6617 Maybank Highway
Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487
(843) 559-0383

Irving House Vineyard

6775 Bears Bluff Road
Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487-6812
(843) 559-6867

Geechie Boy Market and Mill

2995 Hwy 174
Edisto Island, SC 29438

U-Pick:
For those that are interesting in getting their hands dirty, there are a number of farms that allow people to pick produce directly from the farm at a lower cost. The following are a list of local u-pick farms:

Ambrose Family Farm -

Follows organic practices, strawberries, pumpkins
2349 Black Pond Lane

Selkirk Plantation Road
Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487.
Phone: 843-559-0988.
Alternate Phone: 843-559-9999.

Email: ambrosecsa@stonofarmmarket.com.

Open: Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm. During Strawberry Season, beginning April 15, Mon-Sat 9am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm for u Pick Strawberries.

Directions: Highway 700 (Maybank Highway) onto Wadmalaw Island. 7 miles from the Wadmalaw bridge turn right onto Liberia Road 1 mile exactly, left onto Selkirk Plantation Road Take an IMMEDIATE Left through the farm gate.

Boone Hall Farms Market - blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes,
2521 Highway 17 North,

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466.

Phone: 843-856-8154.

Alternate Phone: 843-856-5366.

Email: steve@boonehallfarms.com.

Open: U - Pick Open when available - Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm Closed Sunday. Directions: Boone Hall Farms Market is located on Highway 17 North on the out skirts of Mt. Pleasant, S.C. 1/2 mile past Long Point Road.

Strawberries late April to early June Blackberries late June to mid July Blueberries late June to mid July Tomatoes mid June to August and late Sept to late October

Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.

Champney's Blueberry Farm - blueberries, u-pick and prepicked

4492 Rose Drive,
Ravenel, SC 29470.
Phone: 843-763-6564.
Fax: 843-832-6052.

Email: champneysblueberries@gmail.com.

Open: from the first Saturday in June, Monday thru Saturday 9:00am til 8:00pm. Directions: From Citadel Mall take highway 17 south towards Savannah. Travel approximately 8 miles and you will see our sign on the right. It will be 1/2 mile south of the intersection of highway 17 and highway 162.

Payment: Cash, only. Prices in 2010: $8 per gallon bucket if you pick, $3 per pint if we pick.

Plantation U-Pick - Strawberries, Pumpkin Patch, Christmas Trees
Hwy. 17 N.,

Mt. Pleasant, SC.

Apr 1 - August 31 9 am to 6 PM.
Pumpkin Patch (August 5 - August 31)

Christmas Trees (Nov 27 - December 24)
Strawberries U-pick or We-pick (Apr 1 - June 10).

Local Distributors:

If you are unable to buy direct from one of the sources, consider supporting a store that purchases from local growers and producers. Items purchased locally are usually labeled but if you are not sure what is local, do not hesitate to ask! Here are the five major stores that are currently selling local goodies:

The Vegetable Bin

10 Society Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-6424

Queen Street Grocery (they have crepes too!)

133 Queen Street
Charleston, SC 29401-1950
(843) 723-4121

Books Herbs and Spices:

63 Spring Street
Charleston, SC 29403-5327
(843) 722-4747

Remedy Market:

162 C Spring St
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 793-3003

Piggly Wiggly: Visit the website for a complete list of locations

Whole Foods: (look for the LOCAL tags on products)

923 Houston Northcutt Boulevard
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 971-7240

Earthfare

74 Folly Road Blvd
Charleston, SC 29407-7551
(843) 769-4800

Playing with your food:
Now that you have your food, what is next? There are two options: cook it or store it. If you are going to cook your vegetables but feel uninspired, consider purchasing a cookbook that lists recipes based on the produce or season rather than categorically so you can figure out what to do when tomato season leaves you overflowing with salsa. In addition, you can sign up for classes from Charleston Cooks that focus on local ingredients and even on what to cook with your CSA share.

If you want to extend the life of your produce or you have over-abundance, consider “putting-up” your food by freezing, pickling, preserving, or canning it. Local preserver and author Stephen Dowdney wrote the book “Putting up: A year round guide to canning in the Southern tradition” as well as “Putting up More” to help teach the Lowcountry how to make everything from chutney to pickled shrimp. If you are seeking a hands-on approach, Fields to Families has developed a Charleston CANs program to teach proper food handling, preparation and preservation that includes canning classes and private canning parties.

If you have read all this and it just sounds a little overwhelming, there is always the option of supporting restaurants and food vendors that use local ingredients instead. There are actually more than you would think in Charleston and it is not only high dollar restaurants downtown. Check out the SC Certified Grown Fresh on the Menu Members website to see a list of all of the registered restaurants purchasing SC grown produce: http://www.certifiedscgrown.com/FreshOnTheMenu/Members. Just know that there will be many restaurants that may not be registered and do not appear on the list.

As for my personal favorite producers and restaurants, here are a few to get you started: Med Bistro, Granville’s, Al Di La, Closed for Business, FIG, Husk, Taco Boy, Swamp Fox, Roti Rolls, Holy City Brewing, Hello My Name is BBQ, Roots Ice Cream, Diggity Doughnuts, Boulevard Diner, Savory, McCrady’s, Okra Grill, 17 North, Coast Brewery, and Queen Street Grocery.

Although it may take a little extra time and research at first, eating locally pays off in so many ways. Learning about the local vegetable, seafood, and meat seasons will help you to appreciate the basic systems that support our everyday life. Getting to know your farmer and local providers will help you to find food that healthier, fresher, tastier, and more socially responsible. And in the end, the money that is spent on local products goes directly back to the producers, helping to support a healthy local economy and ensuring that farmers can actually make a living providing for the community.

After you have enjoyed your first locavore meal, you will discover that going green has never tasted so good!