Take Heed: Support Your Local Farmers Markets
October 13, 2009 by Hedonista · Leave a Comment
Perhaps one of the best perks of living in Seattle is the vibrant network of – and increasingly popular – farmers markets. The Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance – NFMA for short – is a community-based 501(c)3 organization. Its mission is to support small farms and farming families in Washington State by way of neighborhood Farmers Markets and consumer education about local farm products and the benefits of buying local.
The West Seattle Farmers Market, Sundays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
There are seven Farmers Markets under the NFMA: Columbia City, Broadway, Lake City, Magnolia, Phinney, University District, and West Seattle. All seven markets are local, “producer-only” markets – meaning only Washington State farm produce and processed foods are sold here, so no crafts, flea markets or wholesalers. Although this personally saddens me, fear not, healthy and holistic hedonists, for crafts makers’ goodies can be found at the Fremont Market, which affiliates itself with the following markets, each with their own blogs: Wallingford, Ballard, Madrona and Queen Anne (note that it looks like the Queen Anne Farmers Market is no longer managed by the Seattle Farmers Market Association, at least for now).
There's often great entertainment, like great music to enjoy at farmers markets, too!
Local, fresh and affordable flowers ... does it get any better?
But back to the NFMA – specifically, the West Seattle Farmers Market, where I visit every single Sunday I can. There you can find everything you need for the week, from fresh flowers and baked goods to organic produce to pasta, dairy, eggs, free-range meats and seafood to locally-foraged wild mushrooms to locally made wines, ciders, and honey mead…. The list goes on (and seems to grow every week). It’s also a great way to get to know your neighbors.
And if the fantastic products and fab sense of community aren’t enough to entice, just remember that the U.S. loses approximately 1.2 million of acres of farmland to development each year. In 2005 alone, farmers of the NFMA state that they maintained 4,317 acres. So do your part to protect those that bring forth the yummy local organic goodness; for, quite simply, stuff tastes better if it’s grown to ripe-ready consumption right here. (Duh.)
Heed the Hedonist ... and Farmer Sam.
Local. Organic. Wild. And free (range, that is). Virtues worth fighting for with your pocketbooks. They should be rights, after all, and not mere privileges. Or worse, historical analogies.
As Farmer Sam says, “Only you can prevent small farm death.” (Or was that Smokey the Bear?)
Just do it, organic consumers … doooo it.
Your neighborhoods will thank you for it.
(Not to mention your local farms and the families they support.)
