Hi all (or, as it’s said around these parts- these parts being the outskirts of Asheville, NC- “Hey Ya’ll”) . Ashley English here. I’m enormously honored to offer today the first of a new weekly column for Design Sponge, Small Measures with Ashley. As a nod to the simple, accessible suggestions for sustainable living that I offer on my blog of the same name, each week I’ll bring you information, hints, links, suggestions, and assorted and sundry musings on simple ways of treading a bit more lightly on the planet. This could manifest as everything from using cloth napkins instead of disposables, to hanging your laundry out to air dry, to where to find biodegradable bags for your pet’s “business.” It could also be a link to a blog or organization promoting sustainable and conscientious practices. It might also just be something as basic, yet essential, as remembering to smile at strangers (I’m personally a big fan of winking at kids after I tell them something especially goofy or sharing a wink and a grin with a senior I might meet in line at the grocery store).
This week, for my first Small Measure, I’d like to draw your attention to farmer’s markets. Whether you live in Brooklyn or Bozeman, you can most likely find a farmer’s market nearby. Although I keep chickens and have a vegetable and herb garden, and even though I’m 10 miles from town, I still make the trip to a market or two just to see what unexpected veggie or pasta or pastry or fig tree someone might be proffering.
CLICK HERE for the rest of Ashley’s post after the jump!
Here in Asheville, we’re fortunate to have a community of thriving local farmer’s markets. In fact, the whole of Western North Carolina, thanks to the efforts of area non-profit A.S.A.P. (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) , offers farmer’s markets in every county, with many counties featuring multiple markets on different days of the week. A recent visit to Asheville’s downtown Saturday market found me loading my shopping bags with Farm and Sparrow croissants (sweet with local berries and savory with green beans, cherry tomatoes, yellow squash and cheese-I die, folks, I DIE!), goat cheese with Herbs de Provence, a lavender and honey cupcake, and golden cherry tomatoes that would be just as well-placed in a crystal candy bowl as they would be tossed into a salad with some arugula.
If you’d like to find what tasty morsels, intriguing eye candy, and curious people-watching (not to mention pet-viewing) might be had in your area, check out Local Harvest for a state-by-state listing. You can also search the USDA website for listings. Farmer’s markets aren’t just a scrumptious way to pass the time. By patronizing local farms, you aid in reduced consumption of fossil fuels (otherwise used for long-distance transit and refrigeration), assist in keeping your local economy strong and viable, encourage the next wave of farmers that their livelihood is worthwhile and financially prudent, and get to know the people who grow your food. You truly are what you eat, so why not make sure it tastes good to you AND benefits those that take the time and devoted attention to keep us all thriving?
About Small Measure: The core idea behind Small Measure is that making environmentally sensible lifestyle choices need not be daunting. There are simple, daily gestures individuals can take to benefit themselves, their families, their communities, and the planet as a whole. Small Measure chronicles the triumphs, attempts, and challenges of one person in her attempt at living with deliberate awareness of the world around her, offering tidbits of seasoned wisdom and advice for others along the way .
