Public Service Announcements!

First, my apologies for not writing this yesterday. For the month of May, I'm going to try a little experiment. We've been into local food for a while now, but this month I'm taking it to another level. All local, for the entire month. If it's not made less than a hundred miles from me, or sold by a local store, then it doesn't come into the house. Well, not thanks to me- I can't control what Dwight does. No Target, no Starbucks, no Dunkin Donuts, no Amazon, no Ebay- none of it. I'm excited about it. There will be some gray areas that will have to be dealt with, I know. What about Netflix? Or our internet- provided by Time Warner? Do those count? I'm sure I'll come to some conclusion, but even the exercise of considering these things should prove interesting. I invite you to try it as well. Just think what it could do for your local economy. Take back control from multi-nationals and huge chain stores.

And for the locals in Kent, especially any gardeners, I want to ask you a favor. Kent Social Services and the Miller Community House are really feeling crunched right now, as are most providers of social services. Their demand is increasing, while their funding is shrinking. I'm asking you to donate any extra produce that you might have as it comes in. We're heading into the full-on growing season, and I know some of you will have planted more zucchini than you could ever try to eat. I probably did, too. Some of that delicious bounty, consider offering it to others in need. Because, really, doesn't everyone deserve fresh, nutritious, local food? Even if you're not in Kent, consider doing it for a group in your community. If you're not sure where, give me a buzz and I'll do a little charity-forensics.

And, finally another one for the locals. Blue Moon Co-Op is getting a little sparse and could use some help. If you're looking for reasonably priced, quality food, Frankferd Farms is a regional company that is a huge find. They're in Pennsylvanis, granted, but they deliver to Kent once every four weeks. Dry goods, canned foods, some produce, dairy, and meat substitutes; organic or conventional- none of it drek. Real food. Decent prices. By the individual or case. Check out their catalog at www.frankferd.com, or ask me, I've got extra hard copies. I can give you all the details on delivery and how to order. You can also call Pam at Frankferd and she'll have a real conversation with you about what they do and why they do it. My plan is to try and get things a little more organized so we can work out case sharing or social stuff for our little group as well, but that's still in the works- more info to come later.

That's all I wanted to chat about for now, and I hope some of these thoughts spark something in you and encourage you to think about what you buy and where you buy it, and who your habits help the most. Not to mention, are there any habits you can change.

Farewell, and hope you're looking forward to Haymaker's Farm Market as much as I am!