Stocking up for winter offers comfort and security

Posted by farmfresh

Posted: October 16, 2008 - 9:55 pm

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It’s been far too long since I have written a post from my heart. The summer seemed to wiz by. Though it was filled with exciting events: new houses, weddings, and family visits, I have not had the time to really write authentically about accessing local foods in Alaska…I hope my following words and information will help to inspire you to grab a few bushels of lovely roots still available at local farmers markets.

As the air changes from the summer smells of fresh cut grass and sweet smelling flowers, to fallen leaves and fermented high bush cranberries I think something in our DNA or psyche shifts. I have found myself plagued with thoughts related to the long winter, questioning whether I have put-up enough canned, caught, dried, frozen, and purchased foods to last, if not the whole winter, at least a month. As descendants of hunters, gatherers and farmers I think each of us are hard wired to want to store food in the fall, for later nourishment. For modern day eaters, what can we do to satisfy the urge to gather and store?

Stock your pantry with organic bulk grains, collect roots to store in your cellar, and fill your freezer with blanched local produce, vacuum sealed meats, and fish to carry you through the winter.

Part of our family’s personal food security plan has been to buy extra bulk foods like rice, dry beans, and canned goods every pay period, along with our regular groceries and farmers market purchases. I have skillfully squirreled food away stuffing it throughout the house, as not to use right away, but to save it for future use. As I have shared before Alaskans hang by a 2-day thread when it comes to the foods most of us eat every day.

Fortunately, there are many producers to buy bulk vegetables and meats from. This weekend is the last farmers market for many locations in Anchorage and the state. Please see the list on the main page of the blog for locations. You don't want to miss out on the opportunity to buy the last of the local roots.

Happy Fall and may your pantry, crawl space and root cellar be full of local edibles

see you at Bioneers right...
Kim

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