The Village Market on Wednesdays

If you miss the farmers markets on Saturday, there's now a mid-week option for you.  In the Whole Foods parking lot (Rodney Parham & I-430) on Wednesdays from 4-7pm you will find The Village Market.


Currently the farmers in attendance are Josh Hardin with Laughing Stock Farm, Kelly Carney with North Pulaski Farm, Kent Walker with Kent Walker Cheese, Bob Barnhill with Barnhill Orchards, Andrea Todt with Falling Sky Farm, and Tara Stainton of Rattle's Garden.  Occasionally there is a mobile grill and The Village Market anticipates more farmers joining them throughout the summer.

When shopping at Whole Foods, and it works with your schedule, try to visit The Village Market on Wednesdays from 4-7pm and support our local farmers!

Farmers Markets Open

The weather should be perfect for the opening day of the Certified Arkansas Farmers Market this Saturday in Argenta (North Little Rock.)

Last weekend, the Hillcrest Market was open - despite the rain.

The downtown Little Rock Market opens Tuesday, April 30.

Local Food All Year Long

Frequently on the blog, I talk about taking baby steps. If you are looking for your next baby step, here's a challenge for you: buy something this week from online farmers' market described below. Sam Hedges, from ALFN, gives us the skinny.   This is part II of what he started yesterday. - Julie

What is the Arkansas Local Food Network?  That’s a question we, the network, ask ourselves all the time.  Not because we have an identity crisis, but because we’ve always been an organization shaped by our community.  A better question to ask may be, “What do you think we are?”

Formerly the Arkansas Sustainability Network, ALFN is a non-profit committed to growing healthy food locally, through our farms, gardens, communities, businesses, the whole shebang.  We are small but strong in our community support and presence.  Over the years we’ve supported a number of initiatives.  A few more recent ones include our Community Fund (a small grant for community projects working on local food), the FRESH Local Food Directory (a community resource of Central Arkansas’ gardens, farms, markets, non-profits, and restaurants), and the Little Rock Local Food Tour (a walking-biking tour of Little Rock’s local food landscape).  The truth, however, is that our local food landscape is changing and growing all the time, and so are we.  

Year 'Round Online Farmers' Market
Our dearest project, our bread and butter, is the Local Food Club.  It’s an online farmers’ market in which you, a member, order local meat, eggs, vegetables, fruit, herbs, cheese, jams, bread (and so on) on our locallygrown.net site, from Arkansas producers, and pick up the following Saturday or Monday at our headquarters in Christ Episcopal Church.  You pay when you pickup (in case a grower over predicts his or her harvest and fails to fulfill all his or her orders), and enjoy your products at home.  It’s that simple.

Online markets are a new and growing segment of the local food world, and they provide an interesting set of benefits for customers and growers.

Easy for Customers
First, as a customer, you have access to hundreds of locally grown products every week.  All you have to do is click your mouse and pickup a few days later, and you have total control over what you put in your grocery bag.  Your weekly meal plan can revolve around what is in season.  Not sure what to do with all the okra you ordered?  Check out the recipe page.  If you are unfamiliar with a grower, check out the grower page to learn more about them.

Great for Growers
For our growers, an online market is an opportunity to easily sell their products without the need for their physical presence or the risk of low sales.  Physical farmers’ markets are time-consuming for farmers, usually taking a whole day, and there’s no guarantee they’ll sell enough even to cover the cost of getting there.  Of course, on the flipside, you get to meet the people behind the produce at a physical market.  While our market is convenient, it lacks that level of meaningful encounter.  You do still get to know our growers over time, through the things you buy from them, and the events we hold.

I like to say that our Food Club is for the serious local eater.  By that I mean the person who stocks their kitchen week after week with locally grown fare, who’s changed the way they eat to reflect their values.

Which raises the question, “Why eat locally?”

There are a multitude of answers, and the truth is that every person finds his or her own reason.  Let me share mine with you.  There are few things more fundamental than food.  The tradition of sharing a table and meal together is ancient.  If you want to connect deeply with the people around you, food is the best way.  Eating locally gives character and definition to the things that sustain you in a way that grocery stores will never be able to do.  Your relationships come to define your kitchen.  In a very real sense, I know my community because my food comes from my community.  That isn’t to say that local tomatoes are noticeably better than grocery tomatoes (though really, they are) or that Arkansas, pasture-raised pork is obviously the only way to go.  It’s just that eating locally is noticeably better than eating any other way.

Eating locally can be tough.  You have to accept limitations.  Seasonality, availability.  It takes patience, and you’ll have to force yourself to cook even when you don’t want to.  But these small annoyances get lost in the bigger tradeoff, of feeling connected, of feeling good about what you eat, of knowing the stories of your farmers and gardeners and neighbors.  And we, the Arkansas Local Food Network, are here to make that as easy for you as possible.  Step outside your door and see what’s growing!

-Sam Hedges
Arkansas Local Food Network

Live nearer to Conway?  Here's the market link there.
Live nearer to Russellville?  Click here.

Infrared Thermal Scans Available in Little Rock

Thermography was approved by the FDA more than 20 years ago as a viable adjunct to mammograms.  Thermal imaging is a safe, painless and accurate means of early breast cancer detection.  Due to concern regarding radiation exposure, many women are choosing thermography as an alternative to mammography.

November 3rd and 4th Body Scan for Health of Rogers, AR will be providing breast, half body, and full body thermal imaging at the Wellness Revolution on Chenal Parkway in Little Rock.

If you are interested in making an appointment or finding out more, please e-mail your phone number to  Lisa Lipe who is scheduling all appointments. (lisa8 AT sbcglobal DOT net)  Please do not contact Wellness Revolution regarding thermal imaging appointments.  Appointment spaces are very limited.

Little Rock's GAPS Practitioner - Pamela Berndt, RN, CGP

Journey into the World of a GAPS Practitioner
by Pamela Berndt, RN, CGP

I am no stranger to the belief that “You are what you eat”, or rather, “You are what you assimilate”.  Having grown up during the 50s and 60s, on 5 acres of rich, organic soil in the glacial basin of southeastern Wisconsin, I was truly an “organic child”.  However, these were the days when traditional ways of preparing and eating nutritious foods were rapidly being challenged by the “convenient”, processed food craze. New mothers were encouraged to bottle-feed their newborns, replacing mother’s milk with pasteurized cow’s milk.  During the ensuing 50 years, the American dinner table became a testing ground for an array of processed chemical amalgamations.  (If the previous three words sound oddly reminiscent of a typical ingredient list on todays cans, jars and boxes, it should come at no surprise).

As a young mother, I became more and more interested in the principles of nutrition. After all, I was now responsible for the health and development of two precious children. Even then, it seemed somewhat odd that our standard food pyramid was firmly planted in the American grain belt......and taking a deep, cleansing breath, I placed the next 2 loaves of whole grain bread into the oven.  Years later, by some quirk of fate, the owner of Serenity Farm Bread in Leslie, Arkansas, introduced me to Nourishing Traditions, by Sally Fallon and Wild Fermentation, by Sandor Katz.   Thus, began my facination with the Weston A. Price Foundation - its philosophy, precepts and practice.

This journey has now taken me into the world of a science-based nutritional protocol known as GAPS.  Many of you are familiar with the work of Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride and may also be following her recommendations.   The book, Gut and Psychology Sydrome, acknowledges and supports the fact that intestinal health is key to well-being.  It lays the foundation for understanding what causes gut dysbiosis and how to reverse it.  There was never any question in my mind when given the opportunity to become a GAPS practitioner.  This was simply the next, necessary step. Having integrated these principles into our family lifestyle during the past year, I have experienced, firsthand, their wisdom and value.

By Appointment:  Holistic Pathways, PLLC
                                501-224-2167
                               holisticpathways@me.com

Chipotle in Little Rock

Today's an exciting day.  Chipotle Mexican restaurant opens today on Highway 10 (next to Chick-fil-a, near Panera.)

Chipotle is one of my all time favorite chain restaurants.  Their specialty is burritos - really fresh and delicious burritos.  Oh and the guacamole, you gotta try it.

Because they provide real food options at fast food prices, I recommend this restaurant.

-Julie

TWO New Farmers Markets

There are two new farmers markets in town.

1.  There's a new online farmer’s market for UAMS (started Apr 15) and Blue Cross Blue Shield (starts April 29) employees.  The orders are placed online and will be delivered to the buyer’s office building.

The online market is open for ordering from 12:00 noon on Fridays until 2:00pm Mondays. The growers will drop off at the UAMS cafeteria on Wednesday mornings.

Questions?  Contact Diane Rose::  info AT farm2work DOT com 501-412-9493

Please spread the word to those who work at UAMS or BCBS.


2.  Hillcrest Farmers Market will open in two weeks at Pulaski Heights Baptist Church - Saturday, May 7th from 7am to noon.

The market will operate on Saturdays from May through September, in front of the church at 2200 Kavanaugh Blvd in  Little Rock.

If you'd like to sell something there, please contact Carolyn Staley:: cstaley AT phbclr DOT com

-Julie

Monday Market in WLR

Remember earlier this summer when the farmers market in west Little Rock was shut down?

Thankfully the city listened to reason and allowed the farmers to set back up a few weeks later.  It was encouraging to know so many people in west Little Rock wanted a farmers market.

Dutifully three or more farmers have brought their goods rain or shine to the corner of Hinson and Napa Valley. (It has poured on occasion and I don't have to remind everyone how hot it is.)

Last Monday - Lisa, Lori and I emailed everyone we knew and posted on Facebook to go to the farmers market from 2-5pm.  The guys were discouraged because business has been slow.  Thankfully many of you responded to our plea to encourage the farmers!

So, if you're like me and try to meal plan on Sunday, maybe this week you could plan a meal that was entirely local.  As my dad would say, "Put your money where your mouth is." 

Tomorrow's market offerings will include:
Barnhill Orchards will have Sweet Potatoes Turnip & Mustard greens, Ranch Eggs, Purple Hull Peas, Okra, Melons and more.

Kellog Valley Farms will have Turnip & Mustard greens, Kale, Okra, Zephyr Squash, Yellow Squash, Acorn and Butternut squash and more.

Falling Sky Farms will have chicken, eggs and BEEF!

North Pulaski Farms will have Tyria Cucumbers, Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans, Red & Green Bell Peppers, Yellow squash.

Three Buddies Mushroom Farm will have Shitake mushrooms.
 
Recipe Ideas
It would take a bit of tweaking, but you could use this slow cooker recipe for kale and substitute purple hull peas for the black-eyed ones.  I would also use homemade broth, brown rice, and add some okra, squash and bell peppers.  OK, maybe that's a lot of tweaking.
 
Cream of Mushroom Soup
 
Kale Krisps
 
Butternut Squash Soup
 
What ideas do you have?

New Kroger on Chenal

 

For lunch Friday, Lisa and I were invited to a blogger's sneak preview of the Kroger Marketplace on Chenal.  It is nice.  


While waiting in the lobby for everyone to arrive, I asked a question about Kroger's labeling.  I read labels. Everyone should read labels.  


A few weeks ago I was stumped. Two cans of refried beans with the exact same front had different ingredients.

Exhibit A ingredients above: cooked beans, water, contains 2% or less of lard, salt, seasoning [chili pepper, onion powder, spices, garlic powder, spice extract (not sure what it says)], vinegar.


Exhibit B ingredients below: prepared pinto and pink beans, water, blurry word (with BHA, BHT, propyl gallate, and citric acid to protect flavor), salt, distilled vinegar, chile pepper, onion blurry word, spices, garlic powder, natural flavor.

The answer given to me (and I'm that I'm condensing) was that Kroger buys products from several companies then adds the Kroger label.   


Another quick label example - Breyers ice cream has several styles of vanilla ice cream.  Only one style doesn't include high fructose corn syrup.  Moral of the story: keep reading labels.


Back to our regularly scheduled blog post...

The tour of the new-and-improved Kroger on Chenal.

It has a lovely floral section.  Parks Brothers from Van Buren, Arkansas provides some of the outdoor selections.

Arkansas peaches, y'all!

While talking with Joe Bell, Manager of Marketing and Public Affairs, Lisa and I expressed our desire to see more locally grown produce and meats in Kroger.  Mr. Bell explained that produce must have the internal temperatures cooled way down in order for it to have a longer shelf life.


For example, after the Arkansas peaches were picked, they were shipped to Memphis -to the distribution center- to be chilled then shipped back to Arkansas to be sold on Chenal.  This conversation helped me understand a grocery store's dilemma while building in me a greater passion for eating locally grown food.  I love the farmers markets!

I'd never eaten fresh currants before today.  The extensive produce section will *wow* you.

Rambutans.  What the heck?!

Mangosteen.

Tamarillos 

They also sell normal produce like potatoes and broccoli.

You'll find a bulk section that will give Whole Foods a run for their money.

Unsulfered no sugar papaya spears.  What is this world coming to?

Make your own peanut butter.  Or almond butter.

Sushi, thirty-five varieties made on site.  Everyone said it was wonderful.  I tried to like it.  I just don't like fish.  But if you like sushi, you would probably like the sushi from Kroger.

If sushi isn't on the menu for lunch (or dinner) maybe you'd like a made to order sandwich, which is a healthy alternative to a fast food restaurant.

I learned that "Boar's Head Natural" doesn't contain added nitrates or nitrites.  Did you know Boar's Head is in Arkansas?

Anyone felt like a "Chef on the Run?" I think that island of food will be helpful to a hurried mom in the future. 

Next stop?  Cheese shoppe.  

Yummy cheese.  It's so gouda.  Get it?  Good-uh?

Of the 85 varieties of cheese, I tried brie and this raw goat's cheese.  Delish.

Then we grazed at the anti-pastas and olive bar.

Oh, and then there were the sweets.  Man I had to practice self control not to go back for seconds!

Bread is baked daily.  The artisan breads are made in a different facility, flash frozen, shipped to Chenal, proofed, then baked.

There's a nifty bread slicing do-it-yourself machine.

From the bakery we went to the meat and seafood departments.  I didn't get a picture of the extensive seafood case, but they offer 30-35 varieties of seafood at any time.  

And the meat department was comprehensive as well.  But after watching Food, Inc. I stopped buying meat at a store.  My chicken and eggs come from Herman and my dad gives me beef.

There is so much more to see on Chenal.  If you're in the area, you really ought to stop by and take a look around.  Just stay on the outer perimeter of the store where you'll find real food.

Julie

In compliance with FTC guidelines, I must tell you that we were given a gift bag when we left.  Lisa and I did not have to blog about our Kroger tour, favorable or otherwise.

Country Life Delivers to West Little Rock!

This is Jay from Country Life Natural Foods delivering our buying club order to my house yesterday morning.

Yea! I no longer have to go to Conway to pick up the order.

Here's some of the food that was ordered: beans, grains, dried fruit, nuts, juice, peanut butter, baking yeast, and baking powder.

We shared a 25lb. bag of Real Salt and a 50lb. bag of organic evaporated cane juice crystals.

Everyone will come pick up their orders as soon as they can.

You can check out the Country Life Natural Foods website here.

If you want to know more about ordering with our buying club, e-mail me at realfoodlisa AT gmail DOT com. 

Lisa

Peach Pickin'

Collins Round Mountain Orchard, in Conway, is ready for your business!  

They even provide cute little strollers for your babies...

...and bags for your boys. The trees are perfect for climbing.

The peaches are so good the juice will drip down your arm.  You can eat as many as you'd like while picking and when you check out, they're only $1/lb!

So far, we've eaten them plain, made peach kombucha, decorated a fruit pizza with peaches and had peaches and ice cream.

I love summer in Arkansas!

If you'd like to go - make sure to call before making the drive (501) 327-0450.  Sometimes the orchard closes for "ripening."

Zoning office shuts down Pulaski Academy Farmers Market

You may be wondering what happened to the farmers market at Pulaski Academy yesterday. Unfortunately, a code enforcement officer came by and prevented the farmers from setting up. Apparently, they were in violation of city zoning laws and someone complained.

The farmers have been serving West Little Rock on Mondays at Pulaski Academy for several weeks after being invited by the school to set up on their private grounds. Neither the school nor the farmers were aware that they were in violation of zoning laws and needed a variance from the city to be able to legally hold the market. The farmers requested that they be allowed to sell the over $1000 dollars of food that they had already picked and hauled to the market, but were told they would be fined $1000 if they sold anything.

I understand that cities have zoning rules and that not everyone appreciates our local farmers the way that I do. What I don't understand is not giving them a warning and allowing them to go ahead and sell the food they had in their trucks. The harvest is pouring in right now and farmers can't afford this type of profit loss.

These farmers have been providing a valuable service to West Little Rock and lots of people want them to stay. I am ashamed that our city treated them like fake Swiss watch salesmen instead of giving them the respect that is due to men who labor in the Arkansas heat to offer us truly fresh food that hasn't been shipped from across the country or across the world.

The variance that the farmers need to keep selling generally takes a month of bureaucratic red tape. Usually red tape can be greatly speeded up with help from the right people. This is being looked into.

In the meantime you can call the zoning office manager, Mr. Dana Carney, and express your displeasure at the way this situation was handled. I called this morning and received his voice mail where I left a message. I will continue to try to talk to him in person. The message I would like Mr. Carney to receive is that there are a lot of people who want the farmers at Pulaski Academy. We think they deserve respect, and we are displeased at the way the city damaged their businesses yesterday by not allowing them to sell the produce that was already brought to market. The more people who call the better. You don't have to have a lengthy conversation just ask for Mr. Carney then say, "I'm calling in support of the farmers who were shut down at Pulaski Academy yesterday. I want to let the zoning office know that I am disappointed that they were not allowed to sell the food they had already picked for that day. I hope that our city will treat our farmers with more respect in the future and that you will do whatever you can to help reinstate them at Pulaski Academy." Be firm, but respectful.

You can reach Mr. Carney's office at 371-4844. You can also e-mail dcarney@littlerock.org Please make contact.

Eating Local: ZaZa's

"Where would you like to go for dinner tonight?"  Oh the dreaded question.

Let me give you a new fun option: ZaZa's Fine Salad and Wood Oven Pizza Company, in the Heights.  When possible, they use locally grown ingredients.

Be forewarned: the pizza is not American style - fluffy crust with pounds of cheap cheese.  Their pizza is delicious and more of an authentic Italian wood oven pizza.  On the menu, as their name implies, are also fine salads.

So the next time you're looking for a place for dinner, try ZaZa's.

And they have gelato.  Need I say more?

Produce Stand in WLR

Ross Burnett is selling FRESH PRODUCE and has moved his “stand” to the corner of Rahling Road & Chenal Parkway in the vacant lot beside the shopping center on Rahling.  

Ross picks fruits and vegetables from the Faulkner Lake Orchard, a conventional farm that uses chemicals, which is out past the airport.  He’s worked for several years at the farm and picks almost daily – weather permitting – then brings the produce out to West Little Rock to sell.  

If you’re interested but can’t make it by until later, you can reserve and/or make future requests.  His cell is (501) 626-0330 and his email is RBurnett AT uark DOT edu 

Today Ross will be set up from 2:15 until he sells out or it rains, whichever comes first.

Today’s Specials:

Tomatoes - $3 per pound

Heirloom tomatoes - $4 per pound

Eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini - $2 per pound

Jalapenos – 5 for $1

Banana peppers – 3 for $1

Onions - $2.50 per pound

Meet Your Farmers

Saturday morning I was itching to get out of the house and down to the Certified Arkansas Farmers Market in North Little Rock. You see, I gave birth to a sweet little girl three weeks ago and I've not been out much.  It was my intention to interview and take pictures of more farmers but my 5 year-old son was also along for the outing.  He didn't have much patience for talking.  Nonetheless, I was able to take a few pictures.

Meet Dwayne and Shellia Kornegay of Kornegay Berry Farm, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.  As the name of their farm implies, they grow berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and muscadines) but they also grow vegetables, with some use of fertilizers and pesticides.  Plants aren't the only thing growing on the Kornegay's Berry Farm.  They raise Texas A& M quail (for eggs) and bees to pollinate their berries.  When you stop by their table you'll see produce, honey, quail eggs, fresh baked goods as well as jams.


Pictured right: a chicken egg compared to quail eggs.

Robert of Willow Springs Market Garden is passionate about organic gardening.  Just stop by and chat with him and you'll learn something about growing plants or fighting insects the natural way.  He is very knowledgeable.

While chatting with him, the delicious aroma of dill was calling my name.  I bought some - as did my 5 year old son, who's money was burning a hole in his pocket.  I'd planned to use the dill with marinated cucumbers (using apple cider vinegar and honey) as well as with sautéed squash and zucchini.

Robert sells several herbs but gave me a sprig (with roots) of Vietnamese Coriander, telling me it can be used like cilantro, with a gentle warning to plant it in a pot.  Similar to spearmint, Vietnamese Coriander can quickly overtake your garden; it is best to have it contained.

When the market first opened in the spring,  I purchased soap from him.  Once you try homemade soap, you'll not want to go back to the store bought stuff.

Hope to see you this weekend at the market!

West Little Rock Farmers Market - Today!

It is very exciting that west Little Rock now has a farmers market! On Mondays you can bring home fresh produce if you stop by from 2pm until 5pm (or when customers cease shopping) at the corner of Hinson and Napa Valley, across from Pulaski Academy and down the hill from the library.

Today was the second week of the market and all three farmers said it has been a positive experience.

Below is Kelly, from North Pulaski Farms which is a certified organic farm.  He also has a blog and is on Facebook.  Today's offering from Kelly included lettuce, cucumbers, squash and zucchini.

Laughing Stock Farms had some delicious looking strawberries, yellow squash, cucumbers, and red potatoes.  He hopes to have green beans next week.

Sam, from The Garden @ Becky Lane (chemical free) was offering beautiful lettuce, fresh herbs of all kinds, and garlic bulbs.  He also was selling raw cheese from Honeysuckle Lane.

I came home with a little something from all the farmers, and encourage you to stop by, too.