Local Foodie Lit

Yesterday, we received something in the mail called Cultivate.  My housemate looked over at the stack of mail and said, "Did you order a magazine on growing pot?"  I believe I responded with a comment about his intelligence.

In any case, Cultivate is a magazine that the Virginia Farm Bureau sends to its associate members. It looks like the previous owners of our house were just that (don't worry, we'll forward it on to them).  I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened Cultivate, I actually wondered if it was something like Flavor Magazine (a local indie about local food, wine and sustainable agriculture).  After reading this issue, I'd say they're certainly in the same magazine grouping, but I wouldn't tell you to get one instead of the other - they're both good reads.

To give you an idea of why, as a local (old or new), these two magazines might interest you:

Cultivate's April 2012 issue starts with a brief explanation of why it is so important to watch out for farming equipment on the roads around here (where I live feels so suburban, but go thirty minutes to west and you're in farmland) which may seem like common sense, but if you've experienced the drivers here, you'll be wishing everyone read about this.

In addition to a few seasonal recipes, there is a great article on farmer-veteran partnerships.  Virginia isn't the only place to have these partnerships, but DC does have a large population of both farmers and military veterans and the article is downright inspiring.  Having grown up in California, I am very familiar with farmer's markets, but the DC Metro Area seems much more attuned to sustainable eating and living (CSAs, locavores, etc.).

I dearly miss the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market in San Francisco (if you're in the Bay Area on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, do yourself the favor of going - it's worth braving the crowds) and the Martinez Farmer's Market, which was right outside my last job's front door.  But there are farmer's markets all over this area (even one in Falls Church that is year round) and I'm going to take up the challenge on page 18 to spend $10 a week on local foods (the challenge came from the Virginia Food System Council).  Hold on a moment.  Go back and click on that link embedded in the word "challenge" and look at that map!

There's more to read about in Cultivate and if you go back up to its first mention, the April issue is available in the embedded link.

And then there's Flavor.  Instead of telling you about the most recent issue, I have got to tell you about the Winter 2011 issue, which was the first one I picked up.  I can't imagine California doesn't have something like this somewhere, but I certainly never read or took interest in it.  I saw "The Younger Farmer's Issue" in the magazine aisle of my local grocery store (Wegman's) and picked it up because I remember seeing it at a friend's house (and that friend does not farm).  You'll love the Local Grazings section, since it is really hard to figure out where to start in an area as big and crazy as the DC metro (and in the suburbs, it's easy to feel disconnected and not realize that you're just over the hill from a great winery or a place that makes their own felted-wool wrapped goat milk soap).  If you can get this back issue, the article on the "future of farming" features mini-interviews with local farmers who are all 40 or under, many of whom did not grow up on farms or learning about agriculture.  And, of course, there are recipes spread throughout.  But if you have any interest in wine, you'll want to turn to the back of the magazine for Terroir, several pages devoted to local wine.

Since I didn't have time to get pictures of these great magazines (but again, linkage!), I am including a couple of pictures of why I am grateful to my brother and the Alexandria Farmer's Market.  Picutred is the gift of rosemary focaccia and fresh fruit, which reminds me of breakfasts with my mom in Genoa.  And since I can't visit her this year, I'll say goodnight and leave you with my favorite view from her apartment.