Market Philosophy

So, the tango metaphor may be stretched a little thin here, but, that aside, I wanted to share this video — it's a lovely piece about one of the big players at the All-Local Farmers' Market, Emile DeFelice of Caw Caw Creek Pastured Pork. I love Emile's philosophy on meat and food, and I love watching his pigs dig around for "protein" on his heavily wooded property.

RIDE THAT PIG TO GLORY from UM Media Documentary Projects on Vimeo.

Emile founded Columbia's All-Local Farmers' Market, and his philosophy is a huge reason I am an avid supporter. Says he: "I am not a revolutionary. I don't advocate overturning the system. I understand that Wal-Mart and Winn-Dixie will always be there, and that's fine. What I insist upon is providing a parallel food system so that folks have a choice. It goes beyond Emile's pig farm. What I'm trying to do here is offer folks a chance to get good food and to be able to talk with their producers and endorse with their dollar and their fork the production systems that they approve of."

As an added bonus, I will be at the market again Saturday, filling in for my sister at the Beautiful Briny Sea salt table. Swing on by: 8 a.m. to noon, 711 Whaley Street.

Perhaps precious baby piglet Juliette will also make a repeat appearance.

2011: The year of Meatless Mondays

So far: 1 out of 1! Off to a beautiful start.

www.meatlessmonday.com

Vocabulary Lesson: 'zip ties'

Hello, zip ties. Nice to finally remember your name.

Yes, it has been a while since I have been on the beach to pick up any plastic. (And, yes, I am going through terrible withdrawal from the crashing waves and soothing salt air.) But it's funny sometimes how unrelated parts of life have a way of relating to each other.

I was reminded today (by a WIRED article advocating zip ties as bike-tire traction for snowy days) of the name for these things that I had been simply calling "plastic ties." I just knew there was another name for them — it has been on the tip of my tongue, but eluding me all this time. What a relief!

World, meet "zip ties" — often found cluttering Montauk beaches, no doubt having some important function in the fishing world, but also great for riding your bike in the snow.

For the love of local food ...

The sister's market booth — Beautiful Briny Sea salts.
Rosemary salts, my fave.

I am headed to the farmers' market bright and early this morning to help my sister set up the Beautiful Briny Sea salt booth. But it is almost impossible to wake up at 6:30 a.m. when it's pitch black outside! Here's hoping I can do it when it counts next week, when I am officially filling in as the salt girl.

Did you watch 'The Walking Dead' on Sunday night?

I did. And this line really stuck with me:

"The world runs on fossil fuel. I mean, how stupid is that?"

- Dr. Jenner, "The Walking Dead"

Nothing like a zombie apocalypse to put things into perspective.

When winter is making you blue ...

... open the blinds and let a little sunshine in.

Columbia holiday shopping

More at www.sustainablemidlands.org.

I am doing some work on my laptop in a coffee shop today, and a woman from a local news station just stopped by to ask me if I was doing any shopping for "Cyber Monday." I tell her I prefer to shop locally.

She wanted me to come outside for an interview, but since I am working, I declined. Though, I thought I'd take this opportunity to tell whoever is interested where I will be shopping today. And if you're in Columbia, it couldn't hurt for you to check it out, too. If you're not, well, I bet there is an artisan market similar to this one in your neck of the woods.

Sustainable Midlands is having a Sustainable Holiday Celebration tonight from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 701 Whaley. And there will be a market full of local artisans to support! I have never been to this, so I can't give a review, but I'd say it's worth a visit, even if only on principle. I'll be sure to report back on what it's like. I'm excited.