Locally Grown - Availability for June 24th , 2015

Hey Local Food Lovers,

The summer is here! It’s already been here I know but yesterday was the Summer Solstice, otherwise known as the official start to summer and the longest day of the year (about 14 and a half hours). If you’ve ever been confused what the summer solstice means, just imagine the north pole tilting towards the sun. This tilt reached it’s maximum extent of the year yesterday, with the sun passing directly over the Tropic of Cancer (that’s what that line demarcates actually, the maximum tilt towards the Northern Hemisphere, meaning we received the maximum amount of the suns rays). All the areas above the tropic of Cancer or below the tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere are the one’s that experience seasons because of the extreme tilt toward the sun during the Summer Solstice or away from the sun during the Winter Solstice.

Even though the days get shorter from here on out with the tilt receding, our hottest days are ahead in part because the land and waters around us continue to absorb and release the heat from these longer days slowly.

For millennia the Summer Solstice has been a time of celebration giving tribute to the fertility of the Earth (Stonehenge in Europe is believed to be both a tribute and a very early timepiece calculating when the solstice would occur).

Well in the tradition of paying tribute to the fertility and abundance of the Earth, and especially to those who make that abundance possible we are putting on our our own sort of CELEBRATION with the timing of our biggest events of the year, the Georgia Mountains Farm Tour and our first ever CROP MOBS!

What pray tell is a CROP MOB? Should I be frightened. Well no. This is another reinvention of ancient traditions. Neighboring farms back in the day would assist each other with large tasks such as harvest days when the prime moment to get a harvest out of the field occurred during a window of few days (Before bad weather came to rot). Farmers would provide labor to gather another farms harvest, then be repaid the favor when their own harvest came in.

Well today we’ve tweaked that formula a little bit to engage anyone and everyone in our communities who is interested in local farms, farmers and the food they grow to come and be of service. This was something that farmers identified as one of their primary needs and interests during this busiest time of year….and a great way to help them prepare for our FARM TOUR coming up next weekend.

If you have time this week to come and be part of this ancient and yet modern tradition here is the schedule of FARMS, DAYS and TIMES available for you to come lend a hand.

Mill Gap Farm 8-11am Monday June 22
Copper Pot Gardens 1-4pm Monday June 22
Veggie Patch 9-11am Tuesday June 23
Taylor Creek Farm 5:30-8:30pm Tuesday June 23
Melon Head Farm 9-noon Thursday June 25
Liberty Farm 9am-noon Friday June 26
Leah Lake Farm 1-4pm Friday June 26

If you would like to be a part of this SPECIAL EVENT please send Andrew an e-mail at gmfnfarmtour@gmail.com and he’ll send you directions and information on how to get involved. All helpers welcome. Just bring a hat and water and your enthusiasm.

And just as a farmer would receive something in exchange for their labor, we are offering a DISCOUNTED PRICE of $10 off your FARM TOUR pass for those of you who attend a CROP MOB. It’s a great way to get a more intimate view of what local food farming looks like up close.

Well this is the last week to get your FARM TOUR passes. We really encourage some of our new GAINESVILLE customers to consider this once a year opportunity to see all at once where the incredible foods from Locally Grown are produced. It’s a very special weekend of driving through the mountains from farm to farm, meeting great folks, eating great foods, and ultimately becoming a part of this burgeoning local food movement.

In addition to helping get the Tour started four years ago, I’ve had the pleasure to attend every one, and I’ll tell you it’s still the highlight of my year. It’s also one of the best weekends to invite friends to the region. My family has come to several and they often remind me of some of the remarkable visits they encountered with honey bee farmers, growers of micro greens, etc. Eating the food is special, but seeing how it is produced, and the care and intelligence involved is just profound, and likely to inspire you to do small little things around your home like plant rosemary, sage, mint, thyme and oregano in addition to al your flowers….or to compost.

There’s just a few more hours to order your brochure through Locally Grown, or if you don’t plan to order Locally Grown this week go directly to our website and order with a credit card and we’ll mail your brochure. Last orders will be tomorrow (Tuesday morning by 10am).

Go to http://EATWELLBUYLOCAL.ORG

Hope everyone enjoys this height of summer and don’t forget to …..

EAT WELL,

Justin, Chuck, Teri and Andrew