Support your Local Farmers' MarketsShalom and welcome to Tikkun Tips, a monthly nugget of eco-Jewish thought from your friends at the Teva Learning Center. We are now a few weeks into the summer and the warmer weather and awe inspiring storms have certainly arrived in the Northeast. While the heat and humidity is sometimes uncomfortable, there is much summer energy in the city of Philadelphia. Outdoor concerts, picnics and barbeques, and of course, the farmers’ markets have all resurfaced.
While Philadelphia is one of the best big cities on the east coast for urban agriculture projects and access to local produce, other cities are also making it easier for farmers to find local markets for their products. We often stress the importance of buying local, whether with respect to locally grown food or supporting locally and independently owned businesses. But for those of us living in areas with colder climates in the winter, living entirely off of local food throughout the year is more of a challenge. (Californians take note; appreciate your endless growing season!)
But now is the time when we can all fill our bellies with locally grown food. The farmers’ markets in Philadelphia are starting to carry varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and squash, having moved past the early season salad greens, spinach and kale. Roughly 2,500 years ago, the scribe Ezra instituted the practice of public readings from Torah on Mondays and Thursdays, the market days. As those days were busy with many people coming and going, the buzz of commerce was complemented with the words of Torah. Ezra understood the potential of these market days to help foster an even greater sense of community through shared religious practice.
As we celebrate the birthday of this nation, we can reflect on all that is good in this country as well as all that needs repair. Among the images of America that trouble me are those of the strip malls, the mega stores, the increasing homogeneity of our landscape. But those images are offset by those of farmers’ markets full of the local abundance. As much of this country rapidly moves away from the smaller, more intimate communities that once existed, there is also a push to reclaim that sense of community. Just as Ezra understood how simply going to the market with your neighbors can become the fabric that weaves us all together, contemporary farmers' markets can serve the same purpose.
So now is the time to find out what your local harvest has to offer. It may take shifting your routine of heading to the supermarket to fill your fridge, but there are organizations out there to help you make the transition. Local Harvest has an easy to search database of farmers’ markets, CSA farms, Co-Ops and even restaurants that use locally grown produce. The North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association also has loads of information about farmers’ markets and runs The Farmers’ Markets Coalition whose mission it is to strengthen farmers' markets for the benefit of farmers, consumers and communities. In this week’s Philadelphia CityPaper there was even a Local Food Guide .
Farmers’ markets become gathering centers for the community. In Philadelphia, the markets are often held in neighborhood parks, where other community events are held throughout the summer. The farmers’ markets are opportunities to see neighbors and friends, meet some local farmers, learn more about the work that went into growing the food you enjoy, and add a little bit of country flavor to the big city.
Signing off from Philadelphia,
Nati Passow
Nati Passow is a carpenter, educator and writer living in Philadelphia, Pa. He is Co-Director of the Jewish Farm School.
Teva Learning Center
307 7th Ave Suite #900
New York, NY 10001
teva@tevacenter.org
www.tevacenter.org
|
Are You an Educator?
Check out the
FoodRoutes Library for loads of resources that will help you spread the “Buy Local” message.
Like what you see here? Tikkun Tips is a project of the Teva Learning Center which relies on the support of individuals to bring our message to people throughout the country. Your help allows us to expand the scope of our programs and the numbers of people we reach. Please consider making a contribution to support our work. Support Teva
|
