Holidays Farmer Style

This post expired on December 02, 2022.

There are a number of ways to do the Holiday shuffle, some of which are hyper-consumerist, while others are the very opposite. I, for example, am currently sitting at an Alternative Gift Market at Christ Episcopal Church (church is in session, so I’ve got a moment). A bunch of tables are set up, encouraging people to give in celebration of the holidays. Which is sort of anti-consumerist. Through our food club, I like to think, you can consume AND give at the same time!

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Spending money intentionally has always been what our food club is about. Buying from our small farms and gardens is an expression of a value. For the past seven years, your intentional spending has allowed food to make a comeback. Our market is doing great right now, which means more money is going to local growers, taking root right here, and growing better things. Keep it up!

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I’d like to direct your attention to a few ways to give in support of ALFN. We currently have a deal on our year-membership certificates: $45 for one year, i.e., three free months. Consider gifting a loved one a year with our food club; it’s a great way to get someone started on local eating! And we LOVE new members. If membership isn’t the route you want to take, we also have Food Club Dollars to spend on anything in our market. Order your Food Club Dollars on our site or pick a certificate up during pickup to give to someone.

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Don’t forget the donation opportunities a few of our growers have generously provided. Kellogg Valley Farms and Arkansas Natural are offering all manner of tasty greens for donation to Our House and Gaines House. You donate, and we deliver fresh, healthy produce to these excellent non-profits. A few months ago, we had over $100 donated through food club. Let’s do that again! As you can imagine, Our House and Gaines don’t typically receive the best quality food in their kitchen, so they are always delighted when we bring bags of greens and vegetables to them.

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The Market is open, and it’s loaded with ways to celebrate the holidays. Click a button, support our local economy, and eat well! On a final note, North Pulaski Farm’s Tat Soi is a work of art in itself. A member ordered some for yesterday, and we volunteers spent a good five minutes staring into the bag at the beautiful display of green, glossy leaves. It might even taste great too, but I’d buy it just to look at.

Sincerely,
Sam Hedges