A handful of Mill Spring Ag center staff and office residents recently challenged themselves to two weeks of local eating only. Ag Center Director, Patrick McClendon, Polk County Office of Ag Development Director Dawn Jordan, and AmeriCorps volunteer and coordinator of the Growing Communities gardens at Ashley Meadows housing community are completing their two weeks each and on Sunday, Aug. 23, they challenge the lot of us to accomplish half that time or seven days. They want folks to think about eating more locally and to discover the joy in eating foods that are fresher and more nutritious for their literal proximity to plate as they are grown on farms on around us, here at home.

Besides reminding us of the joys of eating healthier and better tasting foods, we will make more time together in the kitchen cooking and enjoy our own creative twists to local flavor. Discover the joy in eating what your neighbor has grown and what you and your family can enjoy eating, cooking more meals, and enjoying the flavor of “local.”

You can follow their journey through July and parts of August on their blog at polkcountyfarms.org/blog.

Here is how Patrick describes the challenge they are now offering our community.

“A bit about the rules and take into consideration that to eat 100 percent completely local is going to be tough. We sure could eat raw carrots for a week but we not only want to eat local – we want to eat well, so there will be included some spices, or salt, or a few things here and there.  Tell us what you are finding. We also want to support local businesses that strive to source local ingredients but are making artisan products as well. So we might have an Oskar Blues beer (Brevard, NC) or might enjoy some tempeh from Asheville from Smiling Hara. No matter what – we want you to take the challenge and open up the discussion of local food, locally made, and sourcing the best ingredients for fantastic meals.”

Dawn Jordan’s main focus was on feeding a family on local foods. Sydney Klein focused on eating on a budget. Patrick blogged about changing up his eating habits for a healthier lifestyle.  He notes in his role as director of the Mill Spring Ag Center he often puts meals second to getting all his running around done but with some forethought, eating lunch out can be reduced with better planning methods.

The blog showcases local restaurants, meals, drinks, menus, and more throughout the area and helps set the stage for what we as the public can resource and enjoy, thanks to their pioneering tips for the journey.