After months of receiving CSA boxes from our still mysterious nearby farm, Farm Fresh To You, Jillian and I decided it was time to find out where all the magic happens. Up until this point, our “eating local” experience had been limited to the fruits and veggies that arrived every other week and an occasional visit to the farmer’s market. It was time to go beyond the vibrant color and yummy treats that were oh so conveniently delivered to our front doors. It was time for a farm visit.
Jillian and I decided to make it a double date as it was a gorgeous Saturday and what boyfriend doesn’t love being dragged to a farm to drudge through dirt and mud and pick their own veggies. We drove to Capay Valley (about a 2 hour drive from San Francisco) and joined the 40 or so other families who had come for the farm tour as well. The tour consisted of walking the perimeter of the farm and learning the history of the land, finding out where the particular crops were growing and why, and being shown what crops such as fennel, beets and kale look like in the ground. It was the first time during my food journey where I was struck by the realization of how little I know about the food I eat. During my lifetime, even fruits and veggies have become a convenience food– bagged spinach, baby carrots, pre-sliced apples – and what has been lost is a sense of knowing how food is cultivated and how it makes it from a seed to our tables.
It was a wonderful trip that concluded with picnicking on the grass and listening to a blues band, while sipping wine and taking in the views of our farm. As I looked around and saw the numerous children frolicking in the fields, it inspired me to know that parents are making it a priority to show their kids where their food is coming from. And it gave me hope to think that future generations may not all assume that vegetables come from a grocery store.
{ 1 trackback }
Comments on this entry are closed.