Today's Weblog Is Brought To You By The Letter S.

One of my favorite things about eating locally farmed foods is the challenge of dealing with a truly spectacular bounty. There are more than a few crops that do so well in Arkansas that a devoted locavore may find themselves eating them every day for months on end. All too often, someone with the best of intentions will find themselves at the end of their rope, unable to bear the thought of eating just one more meal of the same old thing. And it’s a real shame. Because there are dozens of ways to prepare any given product, and none of this fabulous food that our farmers work so hard to nurture should ever go to waste.

This spring, I’m hearing a lot about spinach. Epic fields of spinach. Seas of spinach that stretch as far as the eye can see. And it occurs to me that spinach doesn’t have the best public image. If you’ve only ever had canned or boiled spinach, or can’t think of anything to do with it other than salad and lasagna, maybe it’s time to broaden your culinary horizons.

Aside from being super good for you, spinach is also incredibly versatile. It takes no time at all to throw a handful into your smoothie, omelet, or mac and cheese. It’s just as delicious creamed as it is in spanakopita. If you’re willing to set your preconceived notions aside, it may even have a place or two on your dessert table.

With this many mouth-watering options, it’s only a matter of time before the problem will be that there isn’t enough spinach to go around. Be sure to order yours before The Market closes. (Pro Tip: It freezes wonderfully after a quick blanch, and there happens to be a bulk listing.)

-Rebecca Wild
Program Manager

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

The Market is Open!

Good Morning Market,

Nothing more fun on a rainy day than ordering delicious food from local farmers! Support Arkansas food by ordering from the market and telling a friend!

- Alex Handfinger
Director of Operations

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

Market Reminder!

Arugula flowers? Zucchini plants? We have all that, and everything in between! So don’t forget to get your order in before The Market closes at noon.

-Rebecca Wild
Program Manager

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

The Market is Open!

Good Day Sunshine,

And what a good day it is! We found out this week that ArkansasGives is the gift that keeps on giving. Thanks to matching gifts from First Security Bank and a $1,000 bonus from Jane Hunt Meade for raising the most in the environment category, we ended up with a grand total of $2,751 that will support our mission of supporting small, sustainable, Arkansas farms. So many thanks go out to all of our donors, supporters, and especially the Arkansas Community Foundation for making this day so ridiculously incredible for so many Arkansas non-profits!

Keep supporting Arkansas farmers by ordering from the market, including products like:

• Kalepini from Arkansas Natural Produce. These tender shoots of flowering kale plants would be great cooked up like a less bitter broccoli rabe.

• I saw some sad faces at yesterday’s Food Club on those of you that missed the return of fresh fruit. Turn those frowns upside down by ordering some organic strawberries from Green Acres Atkins this week.

• Welcome back to Drewry Farm & Orchards and their delicious plants, pickled and canned goods, and even buttermilk pie. We’ve got their apple butter, chow chow, rhubarb berry jam, and so much more! Check out where all these delicious goodies are grown and made at their free farm tour on Saturday, May 16th.

Speaking of farm tours, there’s two exciting events coming up next weekend:

• The 2015 Arkansas Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 18th from 11am-4pm on the grounds of Heifer International.

• A tour of Willow Springs Market Garden on Sunday, April 19th from 3:30pm-6pm. Just meet at the Green Corner Store & Soda Fountain at 3:30pm to carpool over.

Locally yours,

- Alex Handfinger
Director of Operations

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

Market Reminder!

Well, y’all, it sure looks like we’re gearing up for a fantastic growing season. In fact, all the recent warmth, wetness, and sunshine is already doing fabulous things to the selection on The Market. Did you notice the first few fresh strawberries trickle in from Green Acres Atkins? Me neither, at least not in time to snatch them up. I’m sure there will be plenty more in the next few weeks, which means it’s time to hone those cream whipping skills!

And if you think fresh strawberries are the best news in food this week, prepare to have your mind blown. After a lengthy hiatus brought on by exceptionally difficult circumstances, and due, undoubtedly, to an unfathomable amount of hard work and determination, Kellogg Valley Farms is back in action! Check out their broccoli, mustard, and mixed greens; spinach; kale; and even broccoli plants. All Certified Naturally Grown, ridiculously fresh, and, if history is any indication, just the beginning of all the phenomenal produce we’ll see from this top-notch local farm. It’s gonna be a great year!

-Rebecca Wild
Program Manager

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

The Market is Open!

Good Morning Food Club,

A very happy Easter and Passover to those of you that celebrate! Hope that your day is full of good food, family, and friends, and that you can take a quick break to order from the market and snag some post-Holiday eats. We got our present on Thursday when we raised $1,685.95 through ArkansasGives! In fact, over 344 Arkansas non-profits raised over $2 million dollars from a whopping 7,552 different donors!!! SO many thanks go out to everyone that helped support this incredible day of giving. I am continuously amazed by the unending generosity of the good people of Arkansas. Maybe we should just go ahead and change our name to the Naturally Giving State?

You can continue supporting small, sustainable Arkansas farms by ordering…

• Willow Springs Market Garden is back with delicious greens like Blue Curly Scotch kale, sorrel, radicchio and spinach space leaves, fresh-cut herbs such as chives, cilantro, mint, oregano, and parsley, and beautiful plant starts including arugula, basil, sage, lavender, moringa, parsley, and the notoriously tough Sargent Crabapple tree. Check out Robert’s amazing South Little Rock operation first-hand by signing up for this tour of his farm on April 19th hosted by the The Green Corner Store & Soda Fountain.

• With all the new spinach on the market, I must admit I had to ask my colleague what savoyed means. She pulled out a bag and showed that it’s crinkled like this. With the number of healthy, delicious recipes out there, even Popeye would be proud.

• Exciting new flavors of fermented tea from Maison Terre, including chocolate kombucha and vanilla jun. These sweet, fizzy drinks are packed with probiotics that are good for your gut. And don’t forget to check out the specials section for 50% off on her delicious banana date chutney.

Mark your calendars because Tyson Gersh, founder of the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative, will be speaking tomorrow night at the Clinton School. The initiative is an incredible non-profit based in Detroit’s North End Community that uses urban agriculture as a platform to promote education, sustainability, and community. Come get inspired tomorrow night, Monday the 6th, 6pm at the Clinton School of Public Service.

Hope to see you there!

- Alex Handfinger
Director of Operations

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

Support ALFN Today And Your Gift Matched!

Nope, you haven’t forgotten what day of the week it is: This here is a special Thursday edition of the ALFN weblog to ask for your support during ArkansasGives.

Today is a statewide day of giving sponsored by the Arkansas Community Foundation, where any dollars donated to area non-profits through the ArkansasGives website between 8am-8pm will receive matching funds. This would be the perfect time to help us support small, sustainable, Arkansas farms through the Little Rock Local Food Club and Green Groceries Food Pantry. We’d be absolutely honored if you’d make your gifts here.

- Alex Handfinger
Director of Operations

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

*pssst!*

Don’t forget to stock up on all your Easter feast needs before The Market, closes tomorrow at noon. Nothing says spring like the bounty of lettuce, kale, and spinach rolling in with these warmer, longer days. Time to top a lovely salad with a few edible flowers, slow-roast a tasty leg of lamb or buffalo brisket, then sit back and relax while the egg hunt commences.

Speaking of eggs, consider donating a dozen to Our House this week. Not only do we make it as easy as pie, but Crescent Creek Farm is offering donation eggs at $2.50 this week to make sure that those hard-working families have plenty to dye, hunt, and devil. Let’s show our support for this incredible act of generosity by making sure they sell out!

One last reminder: mark your calendar, set your alarm, and stick a post-it to your mirror to make sure you don’t miss the chance to maximize your donation to ALFN this Thursday, April 2nd. All money donated through the ArkansasGives website between 8:00AM until 8:00PM will be matched. That’s twice the positive impact we can make in our already awesome local food community. It doesn’t get any better than this!

-Rebecca Wild
Program Manager

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

The Market is Open and a Great Time to Give!

Good Morning Food Club,

The market is open with delicious end cut pork chops from Crescent Creek Farm, roccina, or Kent Walker Artisan Cheese’s take on asiago, and the return of Rattle’s Garden and their beautiful organic spinach.

We’ve got an incredible opportunity to support our work this week: Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 2nd for ArkansasGives. ArkansasGives is a statewide day of giving sponsored by the Arkansas Community Foundation, where any dollars donated to area non-profits through the ArkansasGives website between 8am-8pm will receive matching funds. This would be the perfect time to help us support small, sustainable, Arkansas farms through the Little Rock Local Food Club and Green Groceries Food Pantry. So please mark your calendars and when the time comes, we’d be honored if you’d make your gifts here.

- Alex Handfinger
Director of Operations

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

Chag Pesach Sameach!

Whether you’re eager for Easter or planning the perfect Passover, now is the time to start gathering ingredients for your spring feast. The Market, as always, is brimming with gorgeous local ingredients ready to take center stage on your dinner table and add those little touches that make a great meal truly shine.

If you’re looking for seder staples, look no further. We have your maror and chazeret, karpas, zeroah, and beitzah, even pecans and cinnamon for your charoset.

For those of you whose feast is April 5th, we’ve got you covered as well. You can’t go wrong with a classic leg of lamb, and don’t forget to stock up on eggs, eggs, and more eggs. You can dye ’em, hide ’em, hunt ’em, and even devil ’em. So make sure you have plenty to go around.

While it’s always fun to plan the menu, don’t neglect the decor. Nothing brightens a room like fresh cut flowers, and no flower is more indicative of spring than the humble yet lovely tulip. Lucky for us, nature has decreed that the first tulips will be ready to adorn your table by the end of the week. Order now, and all this could be yours:

-Rebecca Wild
Program Manager

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!