When I grow up, I want to eat fresh from my backyard garden. Do you have a backyard garden? Four years ago we moved into our home and started renovating. The inside is finished and while some parts of the outside are spiffed up, much of it still has a ways to go. Our backyard is wide open to any ol’ passerby, so the vanity in me wants it to be aesthetically appealing. Did I also mention we have a slope? And deer, fox, groundhogs and chipmunks? Thankfully, we have now moved into our outdoor renovation phase and once the hard-scaping is in place, let the gardens begin! Patience, Lyndi, patience.

Are we alike? Do you have aspirations for a home garden but not enough time, land, or whatever is needed to make it happen? It’s okay, because we have Plan B.

Plan B is buying locally what is farmed locally.

On Friday I ran around town and purchased groceries from here and there, all the while keeping my eyes peeled for local produce. Here’s a sample of what I found and I barely scratched the surface!

Walmart

I was happy to see that my local Walmart is calling out locally farmed produce. From cabbage to sweet potatoes to berries, I applaud this so stinkin’ much. Does your local Walmart have the same?

 

 

Roadside Stands

As I made my way south to Whole Foods, I took the back road through Johnson and popped into a roadside stand. Not everything stocked was technically “local,” but I made sure to seek out the produce that was. It doesn’t take a lot of effort or time to go out of your way ever so slightly. I was in and out in five minutes flat.

 

 

 

Co-Op

After making my way to Whole Foods and stocking up on uncured peppered turkey bacon, I stopped into Ozark Natural Foods. They ALWAYS have an abundance of local items stocked and unique variations of the everyday produce. I’m proud of the way ONF takes care of the neighborhood.

 

 

 

 

These are just three ways to eat from the garden, even when you don’t have one. And while farmers markets are perhaps the most popular places to stock up, sometimes it takes just a little bit of exploring our backyard to uncover its delights.

Happy shopping.

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Lyndi