South Jersey Locavore

South Jersey Locavore has moved - please change your RSS feed

2009-09-09T09:27:00.000-07:00

I appreciate everyone who follows this blog. If you've got South Jersey Locavore in your RSS feed and you haven't gotten a post in a while, it's because you still have the old RSS feed.

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We're moving

2009-05-07T19:48:00.000-07:00

I'm moving the blog from blogger over to Wordpress. There will be new posts by mid next week. Until then stop by a farmers market, buy a bottle of wine from a local winery or plant something edible in your backyard.

The Green Cafe in Edgewater Park is now open

2009-05-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

Edgewater Park has a new cafe that relies on local and organic foods to make up the bulk of its menu. The Green Cafe @ Whitebriar opened earlier this week. Carole Moore, who owns and runs the place with her husband Bill, answered a few questions for SJ Locavore about this cafe that will use organic produce and eggs from its own gardens and supplement with organics from farms around the country.

You’ve recently opened The Green Café @ Whitebriar. What makes it green?
1st Reason: I've been organic since age 14 when I got my father's Organic Farmer and Gardener, by Rodale Press. (I memorized every article, and lived it since then raising our twin daughters with home made, organic, home cooked, "canned", dried & fresh garden foods)

2nd reason: It's at the end of Green Street,

3rd Reason: My husband is Irish and likes green, Fourth Reason: We're hoping it will bring in some "green backs" so we can pay the enormous mortgage. We originally named the cafe, THE SOUP BANQUE, a play on the "past life" of the building as the Old Fleet Bank, but friends started "volunteering" to serve the "unemployed, and homeless", thinking it was something that it wasn't, so we had to change the name to The Organic Green Cafe @ Whitebriar. Although we are not "incorporated", our "trade name" for our Bed and Breakfasts, Our Childrens and animal Mentoring Program (C.A.M.P. Whitebriar), our Murder Mysteries At the Dunk's Ferry Inn at Whitebriar, always includes "Whitebriar" which is the name of our 300 year old home, next door to the cafe, and we didn't think after three centuries, that we should change it's name. We often answer to Mr. and Mrs. Whitebriar, although we are really, Carole and Bill Moore.

What are the sources of many of the foods you use at The Green Café?
Albert's Organics in South Jersey specializes in what we need, so he supplements us in winter, and what ever doesn't grow in our organic gardens. Our organic -free ramge- chickens provide the eggs for our quiche, cakes, muffins, etc.

Give us an idea about what’s on the menu. Will items change with the seasons?
The organic vegetables in the salad might change, but basically, everything is organic from other parts of the country that have nice weather all year round. Our sandwiches could be either organic beef,pork, or chicken/turkey, which ever one I can find "organic" or "healthy-range fed" or any combination of the above. The sandwich is served on an herbal/oatmeal roll that is about 4" round. We serve it "healthy with a slice of organic tomato and lettuce, but we also have "barbq" sauce, etc. to "doctor it up, if you don't want it sooooo healthy.

We pride ourselves on our Cheese quiche or the bacon/ham quiche, which is served on a bed of organic fancy lettuces, with a few other seasonal vegetables. It's great with our own Pear/raspberry vinegrete but you can also choose traditional creamy italian, french or balsamic vinegar dressings. Home made macaroni & cheese, cucumbers vinegrette, fruity waffles, etc. will be added as we go along. Our Pastry area includes different treats each day. Today it is an applesauce walnut/raisin ring cake, chocochoco cake, Our Prize Winning "Cinnamon coffee cake", Blue berry or pumpkin pie, spice cupcakes, to mention a few.

Besides food, what else will visitors to the Green Café find?
You can find your friends here because we are not trying to be "apple bees". We want to be the "home town cafe", as a matter of fact, that was my second choice, after "Green Cafe". There is a tourism center if you want to travel any place around this state and the 2 or3 states that join us. Everyone brings me back a couple brochures, so we can keep our inventory active. We also have a "welcome center" so if folks would like to leave us with their "new Neighbor's name, address & contact phone or e mail, we will deliver a "welcome basket" from the local business' as well as our cafe.

When are you open?
Well, it took God 6 days to make the earth, but after waiting 9 months to jump thru all the hurdles of this buracracy, it's gonna take me 7 days to pay the mortgage. We're open 7 days a week from 7am to 7pm, so you know where to find me, for the rest of my life....

1101 Cooper Street
Edgewater Park, NJ 08010
phone: 609-871-9555

I want to thank Carole for taking the time during her busy opening week to answer questions. When I get a chance to get to The Green Cafe @ Whitebriar, I'll put up another post. Until then, if you're in the Edgewater Park neighborhood, stop by and give it a try. Then let us know how it was.

Use the abundant local asparagus to make guacamole

2009-05-06T07:20:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I told you about my take from the Collingswood Farmers Market on Saturday and that I was going to try turning some of the local asparagus I bought into asparagus guacamole. I made it last night, and guess what. It was good. I was a little skeptical going into it, but I like it. It's great for dipping crunchy veggies in or tortilla chips.

Here's the recipe taken from the Taste of Home website:

Ingredients

1 pd fresh asparagus that’s been trimmed and cut into one inch pieces
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove
1/3 cup chopped seeded tomato (I didn’t seed)
2 tbsp reduced-fat mayonnaise
1 tbsp lemon juice
½ tsp salt
3.4 tsp minced fresh cilantro
¼ tsp chili powder
6 drops hot pepper sauce

Directions

In ½ inch of water, bring trimmed asparagus to a boil then reduce heat and cook until fork tender (about 5-7 minutes).
Drain asparagus very well and place in food processor or blender with the onion and garlic; blend until smooth.
In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients then add the asparagus mixture and combine. Chill.
Serve with raw veggies or tortilla chips.

Hey, don't forgot that the Westmont Farmers Market opens today. If you're in the area, stop by on your way home from work and pick up something local for dinner tonight.

Opening day at Collingswood Farmers Market

2009-05-05T06:05:00.001-07:00

I wasn't there at exactly 8am - closer to 8:30. By the time I got there the market was already buzzing even with the damp, gray weather. It threatened to rain the entire time I was there, but it didn't. It did begin to rain a little later in the morning, though, so I'm sure the market got some rain.

All of the regular vendors that I had missed all winter were there - Springdale Farms with the cider donuts for my boys; DanLynn Farms had the organic fertilizer for my vegetable garden that worked so well last year, organic scallions, and eggs; Hillacres Pride Farm supplied me with grass fed ground beef from happy cows and a half pound of bacon; Buzby Farms sold me a couple of eggplant ($1 each!) and pepper plants (50 cents each!) that were leftover from their own planting; Sikking Flowers had beautiful fresh cut tulips; and Mind Your Own had my favorite wildflower honey.

Not everything I bought was local - lemons won't ever be local and the peppers I bought were from Florida.

My favorite part of the morning was getting breakfast. Chef Mark Smith from the Tortilla Press had set up a booth and gone to the vendors before the market opened to buy produce to make breakfast with local ingredients. He made quesadillas with broccoli or with leaks and spinach. I had a leak and spinach quesadilla for breakfast, and it was delicious. I can't wait to see what he comes up as more and more local produce comes into season.

I walked away with three shopping bags full of food including some asparagus that I'm going to try to make asparagus guacomole with. If it's a success, I'll post the recipe here.

Westmont has a farmers market. Who knew?

2009-05-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

I got waylaid by a million yard sales yesterday on my way home from the first day of the Collingswood Farmers Market (pictures and report to come tomorrow), and as I was hopping from yard sale to yard sale I saw a lawn sign on a corner about The Westmont Farmers Market.

Huh? How did this slip past my radar. Don't know, but it did. Their website isn't up and working yet, but I was able to get some information on this mid-week market.

The Westmont Farmers Market opens this Wednesday, May 6 on the corner of Haddon and Stratford Avenues from 4-7 in the evening. It will run each Wednesday through October and will be offering fresh, locally grown produce, meats, cheeses, bedding plants, fresh cut flowers and prepared foods direct to Haddon Township and the surrounding community. Started as a one-time event in October of 2008, the market’s popularity led to the opening of a summer mid-week market this year.

I am really happy that there is a mid-week market in the area. I love waking up on Saturday mornings and heading to the market, but it's not possible to get there every weekend. This market will give me the opportunity to make it to a farmers market each week, pick up items I run out of mid-week, and become acquainted with more vendors and local foods.

Guess where I'll be late Wednesday afternoon.

Garden State Blues & Wine Festival: May 23 & 24

2009-05-01T10:40:00.001-07:00

From NewJerseywines.com:

The Garden State Wine Growers Association will hold its annual Blues & Wine Weekend Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24 at Natirar Park -a 411-acre preserve set in the scenic hills of Somerset County.

This year's festival brings together a weekend celebration of hundreds of award winning wines, live blues, artisan vendors, gourmet food and kids activities. Special treat will be the appearances of the Craig Thatcher Band Saturday from noon to 4:30 p.m. and the Matt O’Kee Band Sunday from noon to 4:30 p.m.. The Craig Thatcher Band has a well earned reputation for blending classic rock and blues standards with impressive original tunes, all with a joy of playing that's up front and bold. Blues performer, Matt O’Kee, is a Blues guitarist who has performed and shared the stage with such legends as BB King, Buddy Grey, Leslie West and Mountain, the Marshall Tucker Band and The Outlaws.

Both bands will be playing against the verdant setting of Natirar, which showcases many aspects of the area’s rich architectural, cultural, historic and archaeological heritage. Festival participants can blend their wine and their blues with a two-mile walk along Natirar’s picturesque loop trail that passes along the scenic North Branch river corridor, through wooded areas and across open fields.

Festival hours for both days are noon to 5p.m. Tickets are $20 per person at the gate. Advance tickets can be purchased only at the association web site for $18 a person.

Are you ready for a trip to the farmers market?

2009-04-30T06:44:00.000-07:00

If you've been reading this blog, you know I'm excited that some of the local farmers markets will be opening this weekend, and you'll be able to find me at the Collingswood Farmers Market bright and early this Saturday morning. The picture at the left of the bag is one that will be given away this Saturday at the Collingswood market. It's one of a kind, made from last year's market banner. I want it. You can enter to win at the market info tent and the winner will be drawn at noon.

I wrote a piece just around this time last year that I thought was worth reprinting (with a few changes) here about planning a trip to the farmers market.

Finding a Farmers Market

If you don't know where your closest market is, there are some websites that will help you locate one.

Arming Yourself

There are some things that you will need to take with you to make your trip successful.

Cash - Most of the vendors at farmers markets work on a cash only basis.
Reusable bags - Sure the vendors will have plastic bags for you to carry your food, but taking your own bags helps the environment and saves the vendors a little money.
Smaller bags for small produce - Many times if you're buying berries, green beans, mushrooms or some other small produce item, they will be in containers that the farms keep so they dump the items into a smaller plastic bag for you. If you take your own small plastic bags that you've saved from bread or some other sources, you can save new bags from being used.
Your own coffee mug - Farmers markets usually don't just have produce, meats and flowers. Many of the larger ones have local coffee houses, bakeries, and crafters set up tables, too. When I get to the market at 8am on Saturday morning, I head right for the coffee table first.

Arriving Early

Things can sell out quickly at farmers markets, so if you're looking for something specific, get there early. I've seen fresh flowers gone after the first half hour of the market. The first week that corn is in season creates a frenzy that you have to see to believe.

However, arriving right before closing time may have its advantages, too. Some vendors may cut their prices so they don't have to haul everything home. This doesn't always happen, but if you can't get to the market until later in the day, you may get some bargains.

Making the Rounds

Do a quick once around before you begin purchasing. One vendor may have zucchini at 2/$1 another may have them at 3/$1. Or you may spend all your money before arriving at a vendor who has something that no one else had. Doing a quick survey of what is offered and the prices the different vendors have before you begin to purchase is a wise idea.

Asking Questions

If you're interested in buying only what is in season, buying only organic, or buying only locally, you'll have to question the vendors about their products. Just because something is at the farmers market does not mean its in season, organic or local. I know that the bananas, lemons, limes and grapes sold at my farmer's markets are definitely not local and never will be.

Don't be afraid to ask questions about the items being sold. If a vendor doesn't want to answer your questions, move on to the next one.

Some questions to ask:

Where was this grown?
How was it grown?
When was this picked?
How far did this item travel from where it was grown to this market?
What conditions did the hens live in who grew these eggs?

Many vendors are also more than happy to give you advice as long as they don't have a long line of customers to attend to. This past Saturday, I had a couple who run an organic farm happily answer my questions I had for my personal garden. People who are passionate about what they do are usually passionate about talking about it.

Taking the Kids

It's a great idea to take your kids. My kids will often eat vegetables or fruits they helped pick out at the farmers market that they would never eat if I just brought it home from the grocery store. Give them a dollar or two and tell them that they can spend it on whatever type of produce they want as long as they promise to eat it in the next couple of days.

Sorry about the font of this piece not matching the rest of the blog - for some reason it's all funky and I can't seem to fix it.

Visit an SJ winery for Mother's Day

2009-04-29T12:44:00.001-07:00

John and Lisa did a great job on their blog John and Lisa are Eating in South Jersey putting together all the info on what local wineries are doing for Mother's Day. I won't reprint it here - I'll just send you over to their blog and their post Do Something Different for Mother's Day - Explore our Wineries.

If I wasn't planning on going to NYC for Mother's Day weekend, I would really love visiting a few of our fine wineries.

Book Review: Food Lovers' Guide to New Jersey

2009-04-29T08:33:00.001-07:00

I asked last week if anyone had read Food Lovers' Guide to New Jersey by Peter Genovese, and I did end up picking it up. There's a specific section about South Jersey, and I got some great information about resources of local foods that I didn't know about.

There's a list of farmers markets in the region and farms & farm stands. There's also a list of food happenings like the Vineland Dandelion Festival that occurred a month ago or some of the many strawberry, blueberry and peach festivals that celebrate some of our state's finest produce. Chapters on food made here, specialty stores & markets, places to learn to cook, places to learn about wine, brewpubs & microbreweries, and the wine trail round out the SJ section.

This is the second edition of the book published in 2008, and as will happen with any book about local businesses a few of the places will inevitably be gone - like Olga's Diner in the Landmark Eateries section.

Not every item in the book has to do with food produced locally, but there is quite a bit here for locavores to eat up. It's going to be a great source of information as I work on adding content to this blog. It will also be a great resource for planning weekend food themed excursions.

The other sections in this book are North Jersey, Central Jersey and the Jersey Shore.

An interview with me on Glue and Glitter

2009-04-28T09:59:00.000-07:00

Becky Striepe from the Glue and Glitter blog interviewed me, and she asked about SJ Locavore in the interview. In the interview I explain why I started South Jersey Locavore.

Becky has a really cool Etsy shop where she sells hip reusable lunch bags that can be an eco-friendly companion for lunch made from local foods (or non-local foods - it's not like the lunch bag will eject your lunch if the ingredients aren't local).

Westmont's The Pour House pours local brews

2009-04-28T03:22:00.000-07:00

In the space that used to be Dockhoppers on Haddon Ave. in Westmont, the P.J.W. Restaurant Group has opened The Pour House - A Better Beer Bar. (Anyone think that "beer bar" is redundant?)

My husband and I had lunch there are Friday and I was pleased to see a large selection, both on tap and in bottles, of beers from local breweries.

On tap there are beers from

Dogfish in Lewes, DE
Flying Fish in Cherry Hill, NJ
Philadelphia Brewing Co in Philadelphia
Sly Fox in Phoenixville, PA
Stoudts in Adamstown, PA
Troegs in Harrisburg, PA
Victory in Downingtown, PA

Several of those breweries are also represented in their selection of 69 bottles plus one additional local brewery

Yards in Philadelphia

That's a pretty impressive showing form local breweries. They've also got a selection of beers from around the country and around the world.

On May 28th, The Pour House will have a 4 course meal paired with beers from Victory in Downingtown. The cost is $40/person.

124 Haddon Ave
Westmont, NJ
856-869-4600

South Jersey Farmers Markets opening dates in May

2009-04-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

In the next few weeks, many of the local farmers markets will be opening - others won't open until June.

Here is a list of the opening dates in May that I could find. If you know of anything I've missed, please leave a comment.

Camden County

Collingswood Farmers Market - Opening Saturday, May 2, 2009 and open every Saturday through the weekend before Thanksgiving. 8am - noon.

Gloucester City Farmers Market - Opening Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10, 2009, this new market will be open every Sunday until November 22 at the Marina in Proprietor’s Park. 10am - 2pm.

Haddonfield Farmers Market - Opening Saturday, May 2, 2009 and open every Saturday through the fall (unsure of exact last date). 8am - noon.

Salem County

Woodstown Farmers Market - The 2009 Woodstown Farmers' Market begins May 8th, 2009 and will be held every Friday from 9am-2pm through October. Located along the railroad tracks in historic Woodstown, New Jersey, the 1st Annual Woodstown Farmers' Market will feature Jersey Fresh produce grown by local farmers in the Salem County area.

I'll do another post in a couple of weeks with all of the markets that will be opening in June.

East Coast Slow Food and Wine Festival will be here in NJ!

2009-04-24T11:12:00.000-07:00

Formerly just a New Jersey event, the Slow Food and Wine Festival has been expanded to the East Coast Slow Food and Wine Festival. It will be held at Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington on June 27 &28. They'll be local foods, wines, seminars, demonstrations from chefs and wine experts, a farmers market and more.

I will definitely be attending this festival. Anyone else?

Our visit to Cream Ridge Winery

2009-04-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, my family and I drove to Cream Rid ge Winery for their anniversary celebration. They were quite busy and we had the boys with us, so I didn't take the time to really speak with anyone who worked at the winery.

The parking lot is right next to the vineyard so when we got out of the car my husband and I took the boys to check out the still barren grape vines. I'm always amazed at what will interest my boys. It didn't hold their interest for very long, but for a few minutes they asked some questions and really looked at the vines - until they saw a stack of wine barrels they could climb on.

I tasted several of their wines and walked away with two bottles of their Pinot Gris. It was crisp and refreshing with just a tad bit of spice. From their specialty store I walked away with a bottle of Mediterranean Dipping oil that my older son enjoyed a tasting of. I had to let him know that it was a tasting - not a buffet or he would dipped all the bread there was in it.

I'm on a mission to try several of the wineries in the region. Someone let me know which one I should try next.

Has anyone read 'A Food Lovers's Guide to New Jersey?'

2009-04-20T11:51:00.000-07:00

I found out about this book today, A Food Lover's Guide to New Jersey, by Peter Genovese. I was wondering if anyone has read it. Would it be worth someone interested in South Jersey local foods to pick up?

I'm still searching for sources to draw from for this blog, and if this book is worth it, I'll pick it up. Thought I'd ask for opinions first, though.

On another note, my family and I drove to Cream Ridge Winery yesterday for their anniversary celebration. Pictures and my thoughts will be up tomorrow.

Free composting seminar in Haddon Township

2009-04-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

Haddon Township will be holding it's Green Event on the same day that Collingswood will be holding theirs down the street - April 25th. The Green Event will take place in the Westmont Theater Parking Lot, 49 Haddon Avenue, from 9am - 3pm.

Locavores who grow their own vegetables will be interested in knowing that among the activities planned for the day is a composting seminar. Seminars will be held throughout the day. They will also have composting receptacles available for $25, but the announcement I read in the paper doesn't say if you have to be a resident of the town or not to purchase one.

And if you have a pile of papers waiting to be shredded, there will be a shredding truck available for you to dump them all into from 9am - 1pm.

Other things going at the event - electronic equipment collection, donations to GoodWill and a raffle.

Cream Ridge Winery anniversary celebration

2009-04-17T05:20:00.000-07:00

Locavorism isn't all about fruits and vegetables. Local wines are included in the fun. New Jersey has over 30 wineries, and supporting these wineries helps to support local agriculture and helps to reduce your food (or wine) miles. This weekend, one of our wineries is hosting a celebration.

Cream Ridge Winery will be celebrating its 21st anniversary with an open house this weekend - Saturday, April 18 & Sunday, April 19 from 11am - 5pm. Admission is $5. There will be live music, food samples, tours throughout the day and a chance to talk with the winemaker. The winery will also be releasing their Riesling and Zinfandel at the celebration.

In 2008, Cream Ridge received 14 awards at the NJ wine competition including five gold medals for their Cherry, Walnford White, May, Almondberry and Plum wines. In 2005 Cream Ridge was awarded NJ Winery of the Year at the competition.

This will be an indoor event so any April showers shouldn't keep you away from the festivities.

Cream Ridge Winery is located at 145 Route 539, Cream Ridge, NJ. Click here for directions on their website.

Collingswood Green Festival

2009-04-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

From the Collingswood.com website - Collingswood's Green Festival will incorporate gardening and food.

Green Festival!
April 25, 2009 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. along Irivn Ave.

With a bike share, farmers’ market, composting programs and hundreds of tree plantings yearly, a green festival was a long time coming in Collingswood. The Borough that has been initiating green ideas for years will bring together the work and ideas of like-minded businesses, residents, officials and guests on April 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. along Irvin Avenue in Collingswood.

“It’s a natural fit for this town,” said Commissioner Joan Leonard. “We’ve been implementing green ideas for years now and this event will really bring it all together and showcase what we can do for everyone to take part.”

The event will showcase environmental products, services, programs and more on both a local and larger scale. Visitors can take a close look at hybrid cars, tree planting (Collingswood Shade Tree Board will feature huge discounts on trees for home planting), composting, gardening, energy conservation, reserving water, solar power, recycling and even a kids’ section where little ones can play and learn about the environment. Learn more about green architecture and get involved with Collingswood’s bike share and get a free bike tune up from volunteer mechanics. Get to know local businesses that sell sustainable and eco-friendly products.

There will also be giveaways, prizes, food, music and much more to celebrate making the world a greener place. Listen to Earth friendly rock and folk group Mamapalooza and pick up reusable grocery bags. Bring old ink cartridges and cell phones to recycle and help raise funds for Collingswood grade schools. Collingswood will also continue its composting and rain barrel seminars. It takes only minutes to learn the basics of using a composter or rain barrel from professional workshops on site at the festival. There's something for beginning environmentalists and even the most dedicated to green causes.

The first Collingswood Green Festival will also be held on the same day as the Camden County Hazardous Waste Collection event in Collingswood at the Public Works garage on N. Atlantic Ave. This way, green-minded residents can drop off hazardous waste safely and then check out the fair to learn what else businesses, organizations and other residents are doing to be green.

New Jersey restaurant week

2009-04-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

Governor Corzine has proclaimed April 20-27, 2009 New Jersey Restaurant Week.

Not only can New Jersey residents take advantage of Restaurant Week to help the state’s economy, they will also have an opportunity to take full advantage of the culinary riches New Jersey has to offer. During New Jersey’s Restaurant Week, restaurants will feature varying dining values to suite every budget.

There's a list of participating restaurants in pdf form on the website.

I'm wondering if anyone happens to know if any of the participating restaurants use sustainable practices or source local foods. If they do, I'd love to put a list up here so others can make choose to go to those particular restaurants if they do want to help stimulate NJ's economy by eating out.

I'm not suggesting that anyone go out to eat if they can't afford it, but if you do want to participate in this event, wouldn't it be great to make your efforts count double by supporting NJ and a restaurant that has some of the same values you have.

Slow Food has a South Jersey chapter

2009-04-13T03:00:00.001-07:00

I recently found out that South Jersey has a Slow Food chapter. What is slow food?

Slow Food is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating. It is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.

The Slow Food movement holds that food should be good, clean and fair.

Good - For Slow Food, the idea of good means enjoying delicious food created with care from healthy plants and animals. The pleasures of good food can also help to build community and celebrate culture and regional diversity.

Clean - When we talk about clean food, we are talking about nutritious food that is as good for the planet as it is for our bodies. It is grown and harvested with methods that have a positive impact on our local ecosystems and promotes biodiversity.

Fair - We believe that food is a universal right. Food that is fair should be accessible to all, regardless of income, and produced by people who are treated with dignity and justly compensated for their labor.

Slow Food of South Jersey is based out of Cape May. Here are some of the events and projects that the group has planned.

Connecting area school cafeterias to local farms
Sharing skills, tips and equipment for canning, dehydrating, and preserving
Extending the season for the West Cape May Farmer’s Market
Connecting artisan food producers from inside and outside the South Jersey area with local restaurants
Taking field trips to wineries and other artisan producers
Collaborating with other Slow Food Conviviums (e.g., attending events in Princeton, Philadelphia, North Jersey or New York City)
Hosting local, slow food “pot lucks” in members homes, places of worship, and/or public venues
Having our meetings at restaurants that feature local and/or seasonal foods
Creating an advocacy group to support all of the above, including perhaps “Victory Gardens” in people’s backyards or community gardens or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms
Sponsoring the Northwest Earth Institute’s “Menu for the Future” 6-session study series

For more information on Slow Food of South Jersey, visit their website and sign up for their newsletter.

New farmers market will open in Gloucester City

2009-04-13T03:00:00.000-07:00

According to Cleary's Notebook, beginning Sunday, May 10, Gloucester City will have its own farmers market. It will be open every Sunday until November 22 at the Marina in Proprietor’s Park. Additionally, on the second Sunday of each month there will be crafts people and artisans selling original works.

There will be a wide range of produce available, including Jersey Fresh vegetables from several farms, Jersey Fresh fruits from local orchards, certified organic produce, fresh herbs, fresh honey, fruit preserves, jams and butters, sweet bakery treat, authentic French-style baked breads, Jersey Grown cut flowers, gourmet coffees and breakfast treats.

Also, there will be a Gloucester City table, giving out info about the town and local businesses, and fundraising tables available for local organizations.

To buy a space, or for information, call Kelly at 1-888-202-2155, or email gcfarmersmarket@-gmail.com.

Interesting stuff you want to know

2009-04-10T03:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a big week for the South Jersey Locavore blog. I started a Twitter account (@SJLocavore), contacted several restaurants that support local foods that are interested in being featured here, and saw the readership increase 10x over the week. Thank you to everyone who has read, made comments, and re-tweeted the posts on Twitter. I feel like I made the right decision in starting this blog, and because of the positive response it's gotten so far, I'm dreaming big for its future.

Over on A Little Greener Every Day, one of my other blogs, there's a list today of 10 outdoor places to take the kids that Tina Yerkes, whose job it is to promote the SJ region, kindly put together. If you're trying to figure out what to do with your kids next week when they are off school, check it out.

I thought I'd leave you with a few links to things on the web that I ran across this week that are of interest to locavores. Happy weekend reading.

The Food Renegade blog has a guest post by farmer Joel Stalin on why local food is more expensive.
The Atlantic has a piece on Love, Local Food, and Canned Peaches. Did you know that Yale supports local, sustainable food?
On Eat.Drink.Better my friend Derek Markheim debunks 5 myths about the food safety act (hr 875) that has everyone concerned about the future of small and organic farmers.

Enjoy your weekend, don't eat too much candy, and I'll see you Monday!

10 reasons why you want to buy local foods

2009-04-09T06:33:00.000-07:00

Buying local food benefits both you and your community. When you buy local food you

Reduce your food miles. The fewer miles your food has to travel, the less environmental damage occurs.
Eat fresher food. When you buy at farmers markets and farm stands, the food is usually picked that day or the day before. When you buy local food at the grocery store, it's still fresher than the food that's been shipped hundreds of miles.
Eat better tasting food. Ever wonder why the strawberries you get from the local farm taste so much sweeter than the ones you buy in the middle of winter at the grocery store? To get strawberries to your store in the middle of winter (unless you live in a climate where they grow all year long), they are picked before they are ripe and force ripened along the trip to your store. It makes a big difference in the taste.
Eat more nutritious food. Food loses its nutrients as it sits around waiting to be shipped and then on the long trip to your store. Fresher food not only tastes better, it is better.
Financially support local farmers. According to sustainabletable.org, when you buy food in a grocery store, about 3.5 cents of each dollar you spend makes it to the farmer. When you buy directly from the farmer, 80-90 cents of each dollar you spend makes it in the farmers pocket.
Preserve open spaces. In the South Jersey region, when a farm closes and the land is sold, it invariably becomes a cookie cutter development or worse, the parking lot for a big box store. I can imagine that's the same all over the place. By putting money into the farmers' pockets, you're helping to keep the farm running.
Help the environment. When farmland is turned into a suburban development or a parking lot, lots pollution occurs, lots of critters lose their homes and lots of traffic starts pouring in. Open farmland is good for the environment.
Preserve genetic diversity. There are hundreds of tomato varieties out there, but you're grocery store only carries a handful of them. Go to the local farmers market, and you'll find dozens of varieties. Why? Some tomatoes "travel" better than others. Some varieties of tomatoes just can't survive the difficult trip over hundreds of miles. Because of this, large scale farms only grow a few varieties. Local farms can grow the less hardy varieties because they don't have to travel far to get to you. If the local farms go away, we could lose genetic diversity in crops.
Give animals a better life. Local food isn't limited to fruits and vegetables. Most small farms that raise animals for meat treat their animals more humanely. They feed them the food that is natural for them to eat and give them room to roam around. When you buy locally raised meat, you help to support this type of meat production instead of the cruel factory farms.
Get inspired. Once you get a taste for local foods, chances are you'll want to grow a little of your own in a container garden or a full fledged garden. Or, you'll look at that butternut squash on the table at the farmers market and say, "hmmmm. I've never made butternut squash before, but I think I'll give it a try." You'll try things you've never tried before.

Collingswood's Tortilla Press takes the green lead

2009-04-07T13:13:00.001-07:00

As I reported on MNN yesterday, The Tortilla Press in Collingswood is going green. In chef Mark Smith's newsletter e-mail, he announced that he was going at it from many angles.

Spring is here and with it – new growth, new life and new ideas at The Tortilla Press.

First, after much thought and consideration, The Tortilla Press is going green. I’ve examined every single aspect of our restaurant and we are making changes everywhere in lighting, heating, take out containers, fair trade products – well, many things – and I am making a pledge to dedicate this restaurant in as many ways as possible to using eco friendly materials. We’ll join other chefs in this effort as part of the SJ Green Dining Association.

Chef Smith is already a supporter of local food. He shops the Collingswood Farmers' Market during the season and takes part in Farm to Fork week.

The Tortilla Press is located at 703 Haddon Avenue in Collingswood. It's a block from the Patco High Speedline, making it easy for Philadalphians to get to, too. If you've never been to the Tortilla Press, you can bring your own wine, beer or even tequilla (to put in their awesome margharittas), the restaurant does not serve alcohol.

Locavores - check out the New Jersey Department of Agriculture

2009-04-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

There are many resources for locavores on the NJ Department of Agriculture's website. Their Jersey Fresh section has a clickable NJ maps that help residents find:

I don't know how complete the site is. There are a couple of things that I noticed missing as I was checking it out, but I also saw a lot of accurate information.

Grow a row to donate to PhilAbudance

2009-04-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

This summer, you can take your abundance from your garden and donate it to PhilAbundance. Springdale Farms is asking gardeners to "grow a row" and donate their extra produce to Philadelphia's food bank. Gardeners can drop off produce during the week to Springdale Farms, and it will be picked up on Saturdays during the summer by PhilAbundance. Nice.

Philadelphia CityPaper gives SJL a shout out

2009-04-04T08:51:00.001-07:00

While checking out my stats this morning, I noticed that South Jersey Locavore has been getting some traffic from Philadlephia CityPaper. Using my super online sleuthing skills, I tracked down why. A month ago, CityPaper mentioned the blog in their Meal Ticket section. On Wednesdays, Meal Ticket "pokes around the food blog world to see what's simmering."

You can see the shout out, here.

And, take a look at who they mention underneath me. The John and Lisa are Eating in South Jersey blog got a shout out, too. It's good to see the CityPaper recognizing this side of the Delaware.

Haddonfield Farmers Market opens May 2

2009-04-03T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Haddonfield Farmers Market will be opening for the season on May 2. The market features fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and dairy, bakery items and non-edible garden plants.

Their website announces that they will have a Haddonfield Farmers Market Harvest Festival this year (date to be announced) where gardeners can enter their vegetables. Winning categories for kids under age 10, tweens and teens, and adults.

The market is held at the Presbyterian Church parking lot off Kings Highway at Chestnut Street
(about halfway between PATCO station & Haddon Avenue). Parking is free.

Keep your eye on Veggie Trader

2009-04-02T04:18:00.000-07:00

If you grow tomatoes or zucchini, there's a good chance that at some point in August you're going to have more than you can eat. I think it was in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle that Barbara Kingsolver wrote about a certain point every summer when neighbors started to lock their house doors and car doors, because if they didn't, others would open the doors and place bags of zucchini inside. Heck, last summer, my basil was so plentiful that I was taking basil bouquets to friends' houses.

A website recently launched, Veggie Trader, that allows people to buy, sell, or trade local produce. It's simple. You sign up for free. When you have an abundance of produce that you want to find a home for, you post it on veggie trader and offer to sell or trade it. You can also view what other people are selling or trading even if you don't have anything to get rid of.

Of course, the success of Veggie Trader in our region will depend on how many people in our region are willing to sign up and use the website. So keep your eye on it as the growing and harvesting season comes into full swing. It may be a way for some of us with an abundance in our gardens to make sure it doesn't go to waste.

Local meats for Easter

2009-04-01T12:59:00.001-07:00

I know Passover is coming soon, but not being Jewish, I'm not sure what is traditional to eat for Passover. But I do know what is traditional for Easter - ham or lamb. I've been searching for sources of local ham or lamb, but I haven't come up with much. If anyone knows of a local source in the region, please leave it in the comments.

The Fair Food Farmstand at the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia has a way to order ham or lamb from some Lancaster region farms. You would need to order in the next couple of days.

Orders should be sent to ruth@whitedog.com by the deadlines stated below.

Heads UP: the sooner you order, the better your chances of securing these wonderful products. Competition for local, grass-fed lamb is fierce this time of year!

Meadow Run Grass-Finished Lamb
For delivery on Tuesday 4/7/09, DUE by 3 pm Friday 4/3/09
BONELESS LEG $16.00/LB
BONE-IN LEG $11.00/LBBONELESS SHOULDER $9.50/LB
RACK OF LAMB $18.00/LB (tentative, respond asap if you want this cut)

Green Meadow Double Smoked Ham
For delivery on Thurday 4/8/09, DUE by 8 am Monday 4/6/09
Homecured, available in whole or half size.
Bone-In Ham (12-15LBs) $6.75/LB
Boneless Ham (10 LBs) $8.00/LB

I'd also think that any of the local Amish markets like the one in Mullica Hill would have ham or lamb, too.

I hope by this time next year, I've familiarized myself enough with the local options that I'll be able to bring you a much better list.

An iPhone app for Locavores

2009-04-01T10:19:00.001-07:00

I wrote about this on my food blog on Mother Nature Network, but it's worth mentioning here, too. A new application for the iPhone has been created to help locavores find local food. It's named, aptly, Locavore.

The app uses the GPS system in your iPhone to determine your location, then it points you to markets that sell local foods, tells you what's in season, and lets you know what's in season elsewhere.

It sells for $2.99 from the iTunes store. I downloaded it onto my iPhone, and when I first got it, it correctly placed my location. Now, for some reason, it's placing my location in Pennsylvania, and pointing me to markets that aren't particularly local. The maker of the app is accepting quesitons and recommendations, and seems like he's willing to make improvements.

There isn't much information on Locavore that can't be found online, but I think that the app will come most in handy for me when I'm on vacation or visiting a friend - helping me find local foods when I'm in an unfamiliar area.

Collingswood Farmers' Market Opens May 2

2009-04-01T07:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's April 1st. Time for me to start focusing on this blog since the local foods are going to start rolling in soon.

I got an e-mail from Collingswood Farmer's Market this morning. They will be opening May 2 - only one month to go. It will be the market's 10th season. Collingswood Farmers' Market also has a page on Facebook now that you fan. If you post comments on the page or photos of the market on the page you could win a $5 gift certificate to the market.

If you've never made your way to the Collingswood Farmers' Market, you need to check it out. Fresh produce, local meats, cheeses and eggs, fresh bread from local bakeries, and my boys' favorite apple cider donuts are just a few of the things I come home with every week. Get there early - the market opens at 8am, and after the first few weeks by about 9am it's very crowded.

I cannot wait to see the first strawberries of the season in about 7 weeks. I miss strawberries. I know I can buy them at the grocery store all year round, but it's one of the foods that I choose to only eat locally and in season.

If you know of opening dates for other farmer's markets in the region, please leave them in the comments, and I'll be post them here. In fact, any event that you know of that would interest a locavore, I'd be happy to post about.

Philadelphia Go Green Expo happening this weekend

2009-03-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

The Philadelphia Go Green Expo is happening this weekend at the Convention Center. If you're interested in going, it's in very close walking distance to the 8th & Market Patco station so you can easily hop a ride from any of the South Jersey Patco stations. No need to drive into the city and find parking.

There isn't anything specific in regards to locavorism in the region, but there will be a variety of food and beverage exhibitors - some more interesting than others. I'll be blogging about what I find there on Mother Nature Network next week.

I'm writing about it here, though, because I figured the expo would interest many locavores, and I plan on turning my trip to the Expo into a mini-locavore excursion, too. I'm finally going to get over to the Fair Food Stand at Reading Terminal which is very close by, too. I'm looking forward to grabbing some local cheese and perhaps even some wine from Blue Mountain Vinyards from Lehigh Valley.

If you're looking for something local that is actually going on in South Jersey this weekend, don't forget that Springdale Farms Market in Cherry Hill opens for the season this Friday.

I expect to posting more often starting next week as we get closer and closer to spring.

Clark Park Farmers' Market open year-round in Philadelphia

2009-02-23T08:49:00.000-08:00

I read about this on a site a stumbled upon, Seasonalchef.com, a site dedicated to finding and using locally produced foods. There is a farmers market that is open year-round in Philadelphia, Clark Park Farmers' Market. It's in the University City district.

It's located at 43rd Street and Baltimore Avenue. Hours of operation are from May through November from 10am-2pm on Saturdays and 3-7pm on Thursdays and from 10am-1pm on Saturdays December through April.

On a February 14th trip to the market, the Seasonal Chef reported in his market report that

about a dozen farms were represented at this market today, offering meats, cheeses, dried herbs and beans, processed foods and a surprisingly varied array of produce, considering that its mid-winter and the temperature in these parts was in single digits just a few weeks ago. In addition to mushrooms, root crops and storage apples, there were nearly a dozen varieties of cold-tolerant greens including spinach, arugula, Tuscan and Russian kale, chard, collard greens, cabbage and brussel sprouts. There was even romaine lettuce grown in a greenhouse.

I just may have to go check this market out this Saturday. I have so missed going to the farmers market on Saturday mornings and am looking forward to the South Jersey ones opening up in May.

Image: papalars

Springdale Farms in Cherry Hill to re-open March 13

2009-02-19T06:36:00.000-08:00

I got an e-mail from Springdale Farms today that they will re-open for the spring on March 13th.

Forget everything you ever heard about Friday the 13th…because our slumbering farm is rousing itself slowly from its winter rest to get ready for our re-opening in just 6 weeks!

Our store is filling with lovely items…our market is restocking with wines and cheeses…our bakery is filling with the scent of new spices and old favorites…and our greenhouses are beginning to come to life with tiny shoots and buds.

Hours will be:
Monday through Saturday, 8am to 7pm
Sunday, 8am to 6pm

If you click on the link above, it will take you to a web page of the e-mail I was sent. There is a coupon for buy 6 cider donuts, get 6 free. If you've never had their cider donuts, you need to try them. They are delicious.

Just today, I wrote a post on A Little Greener Every Day about the evidence of spring. Notice of Springdale Farms market opening for the season is just one more piece of evidence that spring is not too far off. Local foods will be getting easier to get in the next few months. I'm ready.

Heritage Station Winery's Valentine's weekend chocolate and wine tasting

2009-02-10T08:54:00.000-08:00

I drove past the Heritage Station Winery and Market in the Richwood/Mullica Hill area the other day. My son's preschool class had gone apple picking in their orchards a couple of years ago, but I had forgotten about the place. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to stop in, but their sign outside caught my eye.

Heritage Station processes their own grapes and they process and bottle the wine in their own winery. They offer Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon as well as several fruit wines including Peach, Apple, Sugar Plum, Sour Cherry and Blueberry. They have tastings seven days a week and offer wine and cheese tastings with reservations.

They also have Wine 101 classes. The next one will be February 28th and the cost is $30.

What caught my eye as I drove past, however, was the sign advertising this upcoming Valentine's weekend's event. They are offering wine and chocolate tastings from 12 - 5 on Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $8/person.

The market sells various jarred food with the Heritage Station logo on it - jams, salsas, etc. I'm not sure how much of it comes from their own farm, but it may be a source of local foods in the winter.

I don't know if I'll be able to make it down there this weekend, but I do hope to get there sometime soon, and I'll let you know what I find.

Heritage Station
480 Mullica Hill Road (Rte 322)
PO Box 26
Richwood, NJ 08074
Ph. 856-589-4474

More info on The Fifth Annual Brewer's Plate

2009-02-04T15:41:00.000-08:00

The Fifth Annual Brewer's Plate

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

What: The Brewer's Plate is the main fundraiser to support ALL of the programs at Fair Food. This marquee event of Philly Beer Week 2009 showcases excellent pairings of gourmet food from independent, local restaurants and craft beers from local, artisinal brewers. Last year, twenty-one of the region’s top craft breweries paired with the Philadelphia area’s most distinguished and reputable restaurants to create a gourmet experience no food or beer lover should miss!
Where: UPENN Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
When: Sunday, March 8, 2009
Time: General Admission: 4:30-7:00pm; VIP Ticket Option: 4:00-7:00pm
To purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.

Farmicia: a Philadelphia restaurant that focuses on local and organics

2009-02-02T12:58:00.000-08:00

I ate at Farmicia in Old City Philly last Saturday night and wrote a review for Mother Nature Network. Farmicia is one of the few restaurants in Philadelphia that focuses on local and organic foods. Wish we had one here in South Jersey!

Wegmans has a good deal on CFL's this week

2009-02-01T04:33:00.001-08:00

I know this has nothing to do with food, but I would imagine that many of us locavores and locavore wannabes are also concerned about the environment. So I thought I'd pass this along.

In the Wegmans circular for 2/1 - 2/7, they are advertising Energy Star Earthmate CFL bulbs, 15w or 20w, for $1.99 each. They are regularly $3.99. The Earthmate CFL's are

energy saving, eco-sensitive CFL light bulbs are designed to reduce electricity consumption, prevent greenhouse gases, and fight global warming - all while providing long-lasting, economical, and reliable lighting for your home or business.

Earthmate light bulbs use 75% less electricity than comparable incandescent bulbs, which helps conserve natural resources used in energy generation - such as coal, oil, and natural gas - while reducing green house gas emissions. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient Earthmate bulbs will not only reduce your energy cost, but you'll be helping to fight global warming and preserving our planet for generations to come.

If you haven't bought CFL's yet because of their price, here's a chance to pick them up at a really good discount.

If you're concerned about how to handle a CFL if it breaks because of the mercury contained in it, the EPA website has detailed instructions.

If you're concerned about disposing of your CFL's once they burn out, you can go to Earth911 to find a disposal center near you.

The Fair Food Farmstand

2009-01-27T13:28:00.000-08:00

I got to tell you, it's even more difficult than I thought when I began this blog to find information on what we can get local in the winter months here in South Jersey. I was hoping to do a post on where to get local honey which should be available all year long, but most of the websites for the beekeepers and honey makers in NJ are not particularly informative. A few allow you to order from their website, but none have a list of what stores, if any, carry their products locally.

So instead, I thought I'd talk about the Fair Food Stand in The Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. For me, it's a short 20 minute train ride into Philly to the Market.

The Fair Food Farmstand carries a variety of fresh produce, meats, poultry, dairy, eggs, cheese and value-added goods from over 90 organic and sustainable farms and other businesses throughout the southeast Pennsylvania region. We emphasize local and artisinal foods from small-scale producers, like humanely raised meats, organic and specialty fruits and vegetables, and raw milk cheeses. Come visit the Farmstand, open Tuesday through Sunday on the Arch St. side of Reading Terminal Market between Metropolitan Bakery and Bee Natural. (hey, Bee Natural - maybe they carry local honey products).

It's been a while since I've been to The Reading Terminal Market. Perhaps it's time I make a trip across the Delaware.

Fifth Annual Brewer's Plate

2009-01-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

I just received news of The Fifth Annual Brewer's Plate event in an e-mail newsletter that came from The Fair Food Farmstand (to subscribe to their newsletter, click here).

SAVE THE DATE!!!

The Fifth Annual Brewer's Plate
Our fame favorite craft beers and gourmet food at a new bigger and better location...
What: The Brewer's Plate is the main fundraiser for the year to support ALL of the programs at Fair Food. This marquee event of Philly Beer Week 2009 showcases excellent pairings of gourmet food from independent, local restaurants and craft beers from local, artisinal brewers.
Where: UPENN Museum of Archeaology and Anthropology
When: Sunday, March 8, 2009
Time: TBD

Stay tuned for more details...

Hmmmm. Gourmet food from independent, local restaurants and craft beers from local, artisinal brewers. Sounds good to me. When I get more information, I'll pass it along.

The locavore in winter: join a CSA now

2009-01-19T08:31:00.000-08:00

CSA is short for community supported agriculture. Here is what the fabulous website, Localharvest, has to say about CSA's.

Many farms offer produce subscriptions, where buyers receive a weekly or monthly basket of produce, flowers, fruits, eggs, milk, meats, or any sort of different farm products.

A CSA, (for Community Supported Agriculture) is a way for the food buying public to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce. By making a financial commitment to a farm, people become "members" (or "shareholders," or "subscribers") of the CSA. Most CSA farmers prefer that members pay for the season up-front, but some farmers will accept weekly or monthly payments. Some CSAs also require that members work a small number of hours on the farm during the growing season.

A CSA season typically runs from late spring through early fall. The number of CSAs in the United States was estimated at 50 in 1990, and has since grown to over 2200.

While spring may be a while off, right now is the time to sign up for a local CSA. Many of them have begun to take subscriptions and if you wait to sign up until spring, it may be too late. They may not have any more subscriptions to offer.

LocalHarvest has a search feature that allows you to find CSA's in your local area. On the CSA page, simply type in your zip code and a list of CSA's that are in your region will be generated. There were 46 listings generated when I typed in my own SJ zipcode - some more convenient than others, and one that I am considering joining.

If you want to stretch your locavore wings, then joining a CSA is a great way to do it. You will get local in season produce and other food and you will be supporting a local farmer. They need all the support they can get.

Locavore podcast

2009-01-18T16:16:00.001-08:00

I just found a free podcast on iTunes called Homegrown that is described as "a weekly podcast exploring all aspects of the locavore and slow food movement. While not specific to South Jersey, I am hoping that it has some good information and tips on the locavore movement in general.

I'll report more on it when I get a chance to listen to an episode or two, but that might not be until next weekend so I thought I'd let you know about it now. If anyone listens to it, pop back here and let us know what you think in the comments.

The locavore in winter: local wines

2009-01-15T05:42:00.001-08:00

As I mentioned yesterday, starting this blog may have been easier if I had waited until the spring, but I didn't want to wait. For the next few days, I'll be talking about what we can get local, even in the middle of January.

First up - wine. No one should be surprised I'm starting with wine. I'll be heading to the Boston Wine Expo in a couple of weeks with my friend Susan. There probably won't be too many wineries local to my region there, but if there are, I will definitely spend some time at those booths.

There are many wineries withing a hundred mile radius of my home. There is a good list of New Jersey wineries at NJDiningGuide. Since I live so close to the Pennsylvania border, I am also in close proximity to the wineries in Chester County, PA. In fact, a couple of years ago, Susan and I spent a weekend traveling the Brandywine Valley Wine Trai l. Even the wineries of beautiful Bucks County, PA would fall within an acceptable locavore distance.

If you enjoy wine, but you've never taken the time to visit a local winery and have a tasting in their tasting room, you really should do it. You'll get to sample several of their wines before you buy them. You'll also probably get a few lessons in grape growing and wine making, along with a history lesson about the vineyard.

There may not be any Jersey tomatoes or corn available right now, but that's okay. We can still support local wineries throughout the entire year. If you can't take a trip to a local winery, ask at your liquor or wine store what they have in stock that comes from local producers. Pick one bottle that strikes your fancy and take it home.

Welcome to the South Jersey Locavore Blog

2009-01-14T07:47:00.001-08:00

I don't have time for another blog, but this one is just begging to be written. There is very little out there about locavorism in South Jersey. I can find a lot about North Jersey/NYC. I can find some about Philadelphia (which I consider inside my locavore perimeter). But not much about South Jersey.

So I'm going to start it.

Starting a blog about what is available to locavores in my region in the middle of January is a bit of a challenge. This would be so much easier in May when the farmers markets are about to open and everyone is beginning to plant a garden. Yet, I find myself compelled to start it now. Today.

My posting may be sporadic at first. But I hope to build this into a community where those concerned with where their food originates can come to find resources and conversation.

I am not a full fledged locavore. I call myself a locavore wannabe. I grow an organic garden and shop at the farmers markets when they are open. But I have a long way to go to be able to call myself a true locavore. I'm aspiring to buy a little more of my family's food from local sources this year than I did last year.