A couple of nights ago my book club met at my house to discuss Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Aside from the new addition of the 5-month-old baby Harlan, the best thing that’s happened to our book club this year, we had the most interesting discussion and food that we’ve had in a long time.   This month we all decided to bring locally grown food to our discussion.  We had green bean dip from one of the book’s recipes; locally made goat cheese; tomatoes, basil and mint from my mother’s garden; locally grown peaches; Missouri wine from Herman; Missouri grape juice, and a whole host of other yummy eats that we stuffed ourselves with!

As it turned out we didn’t have to go through difficult and arduous planning to get the locally grown stuff that we got.  A local farmer’s market is located conveniently in most of our neighborhoods; all in all 12 different markets in St. Louis City and County.  And, you should have tasted the food!  We all wondered why we hadn’t done this earlier.  Locally grown food not only tastes better and is healthier, but it also supports the local growers, the local economy and the overall well being of our state’s population.  Read Kingsolver’s book and find out how we can overcome most of today’s ailments and health problems by eating produce and meat that has been grown and raised without herbicides, antibiotics, growth hormones, chemical fertilizers, and is not genetically altered!! 

You don’t have to alter your entire life style to eat locally.  Small changes make a big impact.  Even if you dedicate 25% of your food shopping expenses to locally grown food you’ve altered the economic map of your state.  You will help local farmers hold on to their farmland and not be forced to sell them to big corporate growers.  Click here to find out about your area’s farmers’ market. There you can find the location of all local farmers’ markets, contact names, telephone numbers, and days/hours of operation.  There are 19 farmers’ markets in St. Louis, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Genevieve, Warren, Washington and Montgomery counties, plus 6 in St. Louis City!!!  So, what’s your excuse now?

Eating locally is a great trend that is sweeping across the country.  Be a part of it!!!  And come visit us to get a copy of Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. 

Happy reading and eating.