Celebrating Middle Georgia’s Farm Awesomeness

August, 2011

I am in love with my kitchen. Why, you might ask? All the incredible local food I find on a weekly basis makes cooking exciting again! I love local food. Not only does it taste better and provide more nutrition than it’s cross country rivals but is provides an economic bump for the farmers and the local economy. My hope for this column is to serve as a forum for sharing good food information. I hope you will share your local knowledge with me as well.

Here are some highlights from the summer so far and a few things on the horizon to get excited about.

Mulberry Street Market and International City Farmers’ Market
A card reader made its debut at Mulberry Street Market and International City Farmers’ Market courtesy of Community Health Works. The machine accepts credit cards, debit cards and EBT cards. Market patrons can visit the Community Health Works table where cards will be swiped and redeemed with tokens accepted by vendors. For those who use EBT cards as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, every dollar token will be doubled in value by a grant from Wholesome Wave Georgia, through its Double Value Coupon Program. The program benefits both small food producers and vulnerable consumers in Macon and Warner Robins by making wholesome, locally grown food more accessible.

Mulberry Street Market
Macon, Wednesdays 4pm – 7pm

International Farmers’ Market
Warner Robins, Thursdays 2pm – 6pm

Macon Roots –The Massey Urban Farm Project
Another exciting development on the food system is the beginnings of Macon’s first urban farm. Macon Roots, a nonprofit organization working to develop the local food system, has secured 14 acres in East Macon off Jeffersonville Road. The property has the potential for as much as 7 acres of growing space, and is surrounded by beautiful streams and forest. The group is developing its plans and securing funding now to develop the property as a youth agriculture education center in one of Macon’s food deserts – an area without good access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Named for the family that has held the land for generations and is donating the property – is seeking community input. So, if you live in east Macon, or have something to say about the project, contact them at maconroots [at] gmail [dot] com.

Dinner in the Orchard
Everything old is new again on the quiet North Macon campus of the Georgia Industrial Children's Home. In support of a master plan to refurbish the existing pecan orchard and to establish an organic gardening site, a kick-off fundraiser will be held on October 15th. The first of its kind in Macon, “Dinner in the Orchard” will provide attendees with the opportunity to indulge in locally grown and produced food and wine. The event will be staged under a beautiful harvest moon, with the pecan trees serving as the canopy for the evening. It is sure to be an unforgettable evening for attendees.

If you would like more information on the event, or wish to purchase tickets, please contact Linda Finley at (478) 474-8220.

Food Day October 24th
Food Day is a national campaign to promote delicious, healthy and affordable food produced in a sustainable humane way. The principles of Food Day are laudable and deserve your support: reduce diet-related disease by promoting healthy foods; support sustainable farms and cut subsidies to big agribusiness; expand access to food and alleviate hunger; protect the environment and animals by reforming factory farms; and promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids.

Mark your calendars because Macon Roots is coordinating and planning some great local events. Get involved in the grassroots movement to change our nation’s food system – follow us at facebook.com/maconroots for event updates and details. For more on Food Day, go to www.foodday.org.

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Celebrating Middle Georgia’s Farm Awesomeness

May