Local Food Guide

The Northeast Chapter is busy gathering research on local farms/farmers/growers, as well as local restaurants and other establishments that offer locally grown food, in order to publish the first Buy Fresh Buy Local Northeast Region Food Guide.  The deadline for publication is June 15th.

The research process involves looking at local food providers who have signed up as part of the Northeast Region BFBL website, as well as other sources of farm-based data.  However, we do not want to miss anyone!

If you would like a free listing in our Local Food Guide, to be published near the end of June (and then annually from that point on), be sure you are either signed up under the BFBL Northeast Region Chapter, or contact Elaine Tweedy, Maria Montenegro or Lisa Hall at (570) 941-7588 to provide them with your information to obtain a listing. 

We will be sending a direct letter within the next week to those farmers/farms/growers, etc. we have compiled, to ask if they would like to be included in the Local Food Guide.  If you are already listed on the BFBL Northeast Region site, watch your mail.

Interesting Happenings on BFBL Listed Farms!

14 Acre Farm’s Farm Store is now open on Saturday’s from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.  14 Acre Farm is located at 169 East White Bear Drive, Summit Hill, PA.  Visit 14acrefarm.com or phone at 610-509-6829

14 Acre Farm will also be hosting an Open Farm Weekend on May 30-31, 2009, which will feature a farm-t0-plate dinner.  To see the menu, click here.  For more information on the event, click here.  Cost for the dinner event is $79.00 per person.

Opan Herb & Mushroom Farm’s Nathaniel Whitmore is leading several nature walks and study groups (see below).  For more information on how you can participate, contact Nathaniel at wathakes@gmail.com  or phone (570) 224-0264.

• WILD MEDICINAL PLANT WALK at Lackawanna College Environmental Institute, Wednesday, June 3rd at 6:30 pm          Moscow, PA.  Call to register (570) 842-1506
• WILD EDIBLE & MEDICINAL PLANT WALK at Library in Lakewood,  Saturday, June 6th, Lakewood, PA.   Call the Northern Wayne Community Library at (570) 798-2444
• MUSHROOM WALK at PPL Ledgedale land,  Saturday, June 13th at 1:30 – 3:00 pm, Ledgedale, PA.   Call PPL at (570) 251-6196
• POCONO NATURE FEST at Lacawac Sanctuary, Saturday, June 27th 10:00 am to 3:00 pm (walk at 2:30 pm), Lake Ariel, PA.     Call Lacawac Sanctuary at (570) 698-9494
• OUR HERBAL HERITAGE at Fort Delaware, All weekend of Friday July 31st through Monday August 3rd, Narrowsburg, NY.  Herb walks and presentations each day.   Call Fort Delaware at (845) 252-6660
• FESTIVAL OF WOOD at Grey Towers National Historic Site
  Weekend of August 8th & 9th wild food harvest display at festival, with food samples.  Walk at 11:00 am on Saturday, Milford, PA.  Call (570) 296-9630.
• WILD EDIBLE & MEDICINAL PLANT WALK at Lacawac Sanctuary, Saturday, August 15th at 2:00 pm,  Lake Ariel, PA.   Call Lacawac at (570) 698-9494
• MUSHROOM WALK at Damascus Forest, Saturday, September 26th at 11:00 am, Damascus, PA

Nathaniel offers this recipe for Immune Boosting Shiitake Soup:

Wakame Seaweed, Shiitake, Onion and/or scallions chopped, Miso

 Soak wakame and shiitake (if dried).  When hydrated, slice.  Bring water to a boil and simmer sliced wakame, shiitake, and onion for 10-15 minutes.  While cooking, remove a ladle of hot water to dissolve miso.  Add miso and simmer at low flame for 1 – 2 minutes.  Add chopped scallions and serve.

The Farm From “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”

The Washington Post has a great article today which you may want to read.  The article focuses on the farm tours at Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia.

The farm, discussed in Michael Pollan’s book, is educating people every day on how good farms in this country care about food and livestock production, focusing on safe practices and a bounty of fresh harvest.

I think it’s important to remind those of you who can, that farm tours are the best way to bring the consumer full circle to the understanding of what good, local produce is all about.  With that in mind, your Buy Fresh Buy Local Northeast Chapter is seeking farms who might be interested in showcasing their wares!  We can help you plan the event, and be there on the day of your tour to assist you in the process.

For more information, or to tell us “yes, I’m interested in a farm tour at my place” just ship an email to elaine.tweedy@scranton.edu or maria.montenegro@scranton.edu.