Roots have always been so fascinating, from the anchoring roots of a tree to the delicious tubers we so dearly call potatoes. Roots can anchor us, fuel us and even guide us! It is through our personal roots that we grow into the people God created us to be!
When I think about what in life led me to this passion for food and culture, I think about my own personal roots. All of these veins of life, knowledge, culture and beauty that have shaped me into the woman that I am today from my parents, grandparents, friends and extended family.
Like most southern families, food has been a large part of our upbringing! Every year we would make the trek to the farmer's market to buy bulk tomatoes, green beans, butter beans and okra to put up for the rest of the year. It was a family affair where everyone had a job, but the bounty was so worth it. Sunday’s are for eating a large meal (dinner) after church and if your plate isn't overflowing . We enjoyed our seasonal CSA (community supported agriculture) box every week and I loved discovering crafty ways to cook with the odd vegetables we got. However, local food and health wasn’t the focus back then. For the majority of my life, our food came from a grocery store.
It wasn't until later into my teenage years that our family started to focus on local. My Dad started working with the Department of Agriculture and we began visiting farms and buying more local produce. This critical time in my life is also when I started to be more aware of my health and how what I'm eating affects my body. Since then I fell absolutely head over heels with the local food movement and natural living!
Working on the farm has surely given me a greater sense of respect for our food systems, especially the farms and farmers that grow the food! I've always strived to buy a good bit of local food and thankfully I have a wonderful husband that loves just about everything I cook. This year, however, my dream to start a website that bridges the gap between consumers and farmers really started to blossom and with it came the drive to ensure that my household was purchasing and consuming as much local as possible. As a family, we set the goal to move our food purchases to at least 85% local.
With 2020 coming to a close and things slowing down at the farm, I decided it was time to make my dream a reality! So, during 2020 we have joined a vegetable CSA, re-learned how to put up bulk veggies, joined a *local* meat CSA, use locally made products, and make a lot of our own beauty/personal care items. My family has adventured to some amazing farms in South Carolina and met some amazing people that run those farms! I'm so excited to share my knowledge with you and hopefully, plant your own roots in the local food movement.
I'm so thankful for these roots that have guided me into the person that I am today, and I can't wait to continue to grow and flourish!
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