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| An early crop of mulberries |
SIMPLY LIVING
February 18, 2013
It looks like it’s going to be an early spring. Loquats began ripening toward the end of
January, a good month ahead of normal and the mulberry trees in our yard are
flush with fruit. Blueberries are also ripening
earlier than usual. While that’s one
crop we don’t grow ourselves, we do take advantage of nearby farms that welcome
u-pickers.
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| Loquats are also ripening earlier than usual |
One of our favorite U-pick operations is Lake CatherineBlueberries in Groveland (5849 Lake Catherine Rd, Groveland; 352-429-8221) run by Dustin and Jamie Lowe.
According to Jamie Lowe, this year commercial picking should be starting
in March and they expect to open their U-pick operation in early April. That’s a couple weeks ahead of last year, but
I’m not complaining. I’ll gladly indulge
in an early feast of local produce.
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| U-pick blueberry season should be beginning in early April |
The popularity of locally grown fruits and vegetables seems
to be on the rise. Within a five-mile
range of my home, I know of three new “farmettes,” backyard gardens turned into
businesses to supplement the fruit and vegetable needs of several families. Three other specialty farms – farms that
focus on specific crops like strawberries, blueberries and blackberries – are also
nearby as well as three “egg farms” where small flocks of free-range chickens
produce enough eggs to help their owners earn a little extra “scratch.”
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| No eggs can compare in taste, texture or nutritional value to those produced by backyard flocks of free-range, uncaged chickens |
My son’s girlfriend, Malory Foster, is among the new
crop of garden enthusiasts eager to share a passion for plants with the public. Shortly after joining forces, Malory
converted a sandy patch of weedy lawn into a verdant oasis of organic vegetables. One garden led to two, which led to a third
as well as the installation of a small greenhouse.
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| Malory Foster and Tim Boas share a passion for farming and a desire to share their knowledge of organic gardening and healthy living with others |
My husband and I have watched with nostalgic pleasure as the energetic couple sought out sources of local horse manure then proceeded to tote loads of the nitrogen-rich fertilizer to their property to mix with woodchips, peat and compost. Just as we did when we were starting out, Tim and Malory have managed to transform sadly deficient soil into a healthy composite of produce-supporting nutrients. Malory’s gardens now provide enough surplus vegetables to launch a small CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) in addition to a stand at the Clermont Farmer’s Market on Sundays.
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| The kitchen garden: arugula, Siberian kale, lettuce, broccoli, bok choy, Swiss chard — at The Food Forest at Beautiful Bamboo Farm. |
I find myself encouraged by the surging interest in edible
landscapes. Even in small spaces like
patios, balconies and postage-stamp-sized front yards, people have begun to realize
how much sense it makes to grow a few vegetable, herb or fruiting plants.
Perhaps the abundance of online information has helped.
Anyone who wants to learn how to grow a particular plant
need only do an Internet search for how-to videos. Consider tomatoes. A Google search on “how to grow tomatoes” yields
1.2 million posts by people eager to teach others how to do everything from plant
tomato seeds to trellis growing plants, to preserving their harvest.
And then there’s Facebook.
In addition to reconnecting with high school classmates,
Facebook is a great place to find others who share common interests. Both experienced and would-be gardeners can join
any of Facebook’s many specialty groups set up by individuals with passion for
particular aspects of homegrown goodness. One of the Facebook groups I find particularly
inspiring is called Grow Food Not Lawns (website: www.growtest.org), which strives to spread
the word about sustainability, permaculture and edible landscaping.
Fortunately for those who either don’t have the opportunity
or interest in growing their own food, people like Malory Foster, Dustin and Jamie
Lowe and numerous other small-scale, local farmers have stepped up to the plate. Their willingness to dedicate the time, labor
and resources needed to provide the public with fresh grown, local foods is a
welcome addition to the community.
No matter whether the growing season is running early like
it is this year, late or along normal lines, it’s good to know resources are available
to make locally grown foods more accessible to anyone with the desire to seek
out a more nutritious (and delicious!) way of eating.
Online sources for local farms:
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