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Simple Joyful Food

eat happily

live happily

How to eat fresh from the garden when you don’t have a garden.

June 5, 2018 2 Comments
How to eat fresh from the garden - main (c)nwafoodie

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?

How to eat fresh from the garden - Walmart produce (c)nwafoodie

 

How to eat fresh from the garden - Walmart sweet potatoes (c)nwafoodie

 

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.

 

How to eat fresh from the garden - roadside stand (c)nwafoodie

 

How to eat fresh from the garden - roadside blueberries (c)nwafoodie

 

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.

 

How to eat fresh from the garden - ONF (c)nwafoodie

 

How to eat fresh from the garden - ONF turnips (c)nwafoodie

 

How to eat fresh from the garden - ONF greens (c)nwafoodie

 

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

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Recipe Rating




  1. Kimberly Mitchell says

    June 8, 2018 at 12:23 pm

    Another way to shop locally grown foods is through our new service at doslocosfarms.com and nwaonlinefarmersmarket.com. We deliver local produce right to your door!

    Reply
    • lyndi says

      June 24, 2018 at 3:55 pm

      Thanks, Kimberly! I enjoyed ordering from you guys!

      Reply

hellooooo Foodie!

author image of thejoyofeatingwell blogHi! My name is Lyndi Fultz, and I live in the beautiful Ozark Mountains that span Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri.

I’m a foodie on a journey to EAT HAPPILY and LIVE SIMPLY. Learning and encouraging along the way and writing about it here on Simple Joyful Food.

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On a journey to EAT HAPPILY and LIVE SIMPLY. Learning and encouraging along the way and writing about it. Local eats @nwafoodie

Lyndi Fultz
Simple isn’t just about food.⁠ ⁠ It’s a mi Simple isn’t just about food.⁠
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Ever wonder why a crackling fire draws you towards Ever wonder why a crackling fire draws you towards it like a moth to a flame? The fire’s warmth is more than just heat; the foods you cook on a flame add more than nourishment.⁠
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One of my favorite memories as a kid growing up in the Research Triangle in North Carolina was the annual church hayride at the country home of our friends, the Barbours. We lived in a suburb of the state capital, close to physically yet far away from life on the outskirts of town filled with Tobacco fields, cotton patches, and red dirt roads. ⁠
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My favorite part of the memory was the firepit, where everyone gathered around, laughed, and enjoyed each other’s company. It didn’t matter if you were a kid or elderly. ⁠
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You may think, “But I don’t have a fireplace or firepit! What can I do?” ⁠
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Improvise.⁠
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Food and drinks are necessities of life that susta Food and drinks are necessities of life that sustain us, and small, simple touches can make our meals some of our happiest moments of the day. ⁠
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Fresh-picked wildflowers.⁠
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Webster’s Dictionary has two excellent definitio Webster’s Dictionary has two excellent definitions for the word nourishment. One is “to provide with food,” and the other is “to provide for,” to provide support.⁠
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“Stop sneaking the spiced candied pecans!” I s “Stop sneaking the spiced candied pecans!” I said this not once, not twice, but almost three times before Dennis beat me to say those words again. “I’m sneaking some more,” he happily declared.⁠
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I’m delighted that he was enjoying them! I assured him that he could have allllll that his little heart desired… he just had to allow me to take a few photos for you!⁠
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You see these spiced candied pecans are simple and easy go-to appetizers that we should always have the ingredients on hand. For those “just in case” moments when… ⁠
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Link in bio for the recipe!⁠
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here’s a special bonding moment when you raise a here’s a special bonding moment when you raise a glass and give a toast, followed by that happy clink. Here’s why I think giving thanks and appreciating everyday moments are essential.⁠
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Salud!⁠
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To Your Health!⁠
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Cheers!⁠
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Did you know that folks in the UK will use the word “cheers” as “thank you?” From wedding toasts to praising someone for remarkable achievement, raising a glass with a special someone is a special bonding moment.⁠
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“Just like becoming an expert in wine–you learn by drinking it, the best you can afford–you learn about great food by finding the best there is, whether simply or luxurious. Then you savor it, analyze it, and discuss it with your companions, and you compare it with other experiences.” – Julia Child

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