*How can I afford this? 6 people with one income and private school tuition is tight! We will have to adjust our budget; we will need to cut into our entertainment funds, clothing budget, maybe throw/attend less parties, etc. We have to be smart; we have to know what is a good price for food, where is the best place, and when is the best time to buy it. We have to cut out waste; we need to eat leftovers, the kids can't just snack all day, and we need to freeze things before they go bad. We need to eat proper portion sizes! With something this important we WILL find the money. We simply have to get serious about it.
*What in the world are we going to eat? We will have to change. I will have to learn new recipes. We will have to try new foods. Luckily here in Virginia we can grow a lot of different foods. We can purchase grass fed animals from local farmers. We can become part of a CSA (community supported agriculture). That is kind of like a subscription to a farm. It's an agreement between you and a farmer, you provide money and weekly pickups while the farmer promises you boxes full of fresh seasonal produce. We can educate ourselves on the foods that are okay to buy from stores.
*What can I grow? This I think will be huge for us. We live on almost an acre of land. I had a garden every year growing up so I am familiar with gardening. I am glad that my dad and Joe's grandfather has spent years teaching him in the garden. I think EVERYONE can grow some of their own food. Our kids are in charge of the herb garden and will have "garden chores" to help them learn. Funny story, my aunt puts tomato plants in a bag of dirt she buys from the store and grows okra in her flower bed. Everyone can grow! Here is a list of foods you can grow in VA....there is a lot and I may have missed one or two:
Vegetables: Arugula, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, butter beans, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery root, celery, chard, chicories, chiles, collards, corn, cucumber, eggplant, fennel, green beans, greens, green onions, kale, leeks, lettuce, okra, onions, parsnips, pea greens, pea, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, scallions, shelling beans, snap peas, sorrel, spinach, squash summer and winter, sweet potatoes, turnips, zucchini, zucchini blossoms
Fruits: apples, blueberries, cantaloupes, cherries, grapes, nectarines, melons, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelons.
Herbs: basil, cilantro, garlic, mint, oregano, parsley, sage, thyme
*For foods that we don't grow, where will I buy my food? Once I had this question I was pleased to see how many farmers markets popped up in one quick search! There are farmers everywhere attending markets. This is where we will find fresh, local, nutrient dense, healthy foods all in one spot. You will see fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, breads, dairy....the list goes on and on. We will be visiting a lot of markets, talking with a lot of farmers (I need to know what their practices are), and going to farms. I will compile a list of trusted sources for our food purchases. I will cut out the middle man and buy directly from the farmer. **Be careful, just because a place is called "the farmers market" doesn't mean they only sell local foods. ASK! The meats from a farmers market near me comes from either the US, Mexico, or Canada (no thanks)....but some of their produce comes from my neighbor who is a very trustworthy source. Know what you are buying.
*What about meat/poultry? Our local markets will have someone there with grass fed meats. We can also buy straight from a farm. I would LOVE to buy a cow, have the farmer butcher it, and freeze the meat. I am working on a local farm list and that will be part of my next blog post. I want to make some calls and do some more research! For right now it's Trader Joe's organic meat for us and it is costly.
I will put a list of local farmers markets to the 757 at the bottom of this page. It includes the Southside because Chesapeake and Virginia Beach are huge growers. They will have some of the larger markets. It seems worth it to me to make that trip every now and then. Make a day of it....go hit the beach while you are there, go to a pick your own farm when strawberries come in - the kids will love it, spend the morning catching up with a friend while you drive to the market.
As you can see I have put a lot of time and energy into this. I am serious about making the changes. I hope that sharing the information I find may help you, too, make healthy choices. It's going to be difficult adjusting...BUT WE CAN DO THIS!!!! We have to, our family's health depends on it.
Here are some tips for visiting a farmers market based on my epic fails!!!
- Bring cash, some will accept cards but some will not. Small bills help.
- It's rare but you may need to pay for parking...have some cash on hand.
- Call and make sure the market still operates before checking out a new market.
- Take your kids to the bathroom before you leave the house!
- For better prices (if you ask) go to the market late. For better selection go early.
- Usually markets with a website are large and you can get a wide variety of items.
- Enjoy! Markets are FULL of people to talk to. Farmers want to meet you. Old people want to talk to your children. Your children will want to meet the dogs people bring. There are tons of smiles and laughs to be had. Relax and have a good time.
- "Like" markets on facebook, it's a great way to keep current on what is in season.
Here is the list of local farmers markets. This is just a list of markets, my next post will have a list of local farms. You can buy directly from a farm too.
Please let me know if you find more I would love to check them out!
FARMERS MARKETS:
CHESAPEAKE
Chesapeake Farmers Market (2 locations)
*900 Greenbriar Parkway, Chesapeake VA 23320
Open: Wednesday & Saturday, June – November, 8am-1pm. 757-382-6348
*4437 Portsmouth Blvd, Chesapeake, VA 23320
Open: Thursdays, 4pm-7pm, May – October. 757-382-6348
GLOUCESTER
Ware Neck Produce Market
6682 Main Street, Gloucester, VA 23061
Open: March – 12/24, Mon – Sat, 9am-6pm. 804-694-0708.
Farmers Daughter
10935 George Washington Memorial Highway, Gloucester, VA 23061
Open: April – 12/24, daily, 9am – dusk. 804-694-0569.
Stagecoach Market, Antique Village, Flea Market, Farmers Market
6053 George Washington Memorial Highway, Gloucester, VA 23062
Open: May - September, Saturday & Sunday, 8am – 4pm. 804-693-3951.
Like them on facebook!
Gloucester Farmers Market
3900 George Washington Memorial Highway, Ordinary VA 23131
Open: Saturdays, May - September, 9am-1pm. 327-0050.
Like them on facebook!
HAMPTON
Dean and Don’s Farmer Market
600 Lasalle Avenue, Hampton, VA 23669
Open: I have tried calling them numerous times. They are seasonal and should be open April/May. 757-722-3161.
Like them on facebook!
NEWPORT NEWS
Port Warwick Mid Week Farmers Market
Styron Square & Nat Turner Blvd. in Port Warwick, Newport News, VA 23606
Open: Wednesdays, 5/11-11/30, 8am-2pm. 757-771-9343
Like them on facebook!
Dean and Dons Farmer Market
12601 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA 23606
Open: I have tried calling numerous time for when they open. They are seasonal and should be open April/May. Monday-Saturday 8am-7pm.
757-930-2707
Like them on facebook!
Newport News Farmers Market
Jefferson Avenue between 28th and 29th Streets
Open: Summer; Wednesday – Friday, 9am-6pm. Winter; Friday 10am-5pm, and Saturday 9am-5pm. 757-247-2351
NORFOLK
Five Points Community Farmers Market
2500 Church Street, Norfolk, VA 23504
Open: Thurs/Friday 11am-7pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, & Sunday 11am-5pm. 757-640-0300
Like them on facebook!
SMITHFIELD
Smithfield Farmers Market
115 Main Street, Smithfield, VA 23430 (in the parking lot of Bank of Southside Virginia).
Open: Saturdays 9am-12pm; Spring specialty market 3/31, 4/14, 4/28, Summer; every Saturday 5/5-10/27. Fall/Winter specialty market 11/17, 12/1, 12/15. 757-375-3031.
Like them on facebook!
SUFFOLK
Suffolk Farmers Market in Historic Downtown
326 North Main Street, Suffolk, VA 23434
Open: Saturdays, June – September, 9am-12pm. 757-514-4130.
Like them on facebook!
Governors Pointe Farmers Market – the shoppes on the Village Green
1893 Governors Pointe Drive, Suffolk, VA 23436
Open: Friday evenings, June – August. 757-238-3810.
VIRGINIA BEACH
Virginia Beach Farmers Market
3640 Dam Neck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Open: Monday – Saturday, year round, 10am – 5pm. 757-385-4395
Like them on facebook!
Old Beach Farmers Market
620 19th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
Open: Saturdays, mid May – end of September, 8am-12pm, Fall/Holiday market; 10/15, 11/19, & 12/17,9am-12pm
Like them on facebook!
WILLIAMSBURG
Williamsburg Farmers Market
402 W. Duke of Gloucester Street, Williamsburg VA, 23185 (757-259-3768)
Open: Saturdays; 2/11 & 3/10 (8:30am-12:30), 4/7-10/27 (8am-12pm), Holiday Markets; 11/17, 11/24, & 12/18 (8:30am-12:30pm).
Like them on facebook!
YORKTOWN
Yorktown Market Days at the River
425 Water Street, Yorktown VA, 23690 757-890-3500.
Open: Saturdays 5/12- end of September, 8am-12pm. 10/13 is Fall Festival market (8am-3pm), 11/10 is holiday open house market (8am-3pm), 12/15 (8am-12pm).
