I’ve talked about this a bunch since I stated the One Good Deed blog, but today being the official start of summer, I thought I’d just post a reminder. It’s now also farm stand season, and these people, who are your neighbors, work all year long to make a living in a few short months. I’m not saying sometimes the produce and pies for sale aren’t a little more expensive, but they’re fresh, and every purchase helps your local economy.
Me, I’m in New York City today, so I may have to resort to some pricey mozzarella and my own backyard basil…but it’s handmade cheese, and I can watch it being made at my own corner too-expensive gourmet shop. Doing my part.
Support your neighbor.
I no longer buy fruits and vegetables at my supermarket so I can support our local farm stand (Lane Farms). John Lane has a family farm smack dab in the middle of Santa Barbara, California. At Christmas time he sells trees, and at Halloween he has a pumpkin patch with horse drawn wagon rides for the kids. The whole community loves these seasonal events, but they forget the rest of the year when the Lane family is dependent on the sale of their fruits and vegetables at their farm stand. I didn’t realize this until working on a documentary about urban farming, and John was interviewed. He pointed out how difficult it is to make a living if people don’t support his farm for the entire year, not just for Christmas and Halloween. Since then, I won’t buy my fruits and vegetables anywhere else but at John’s stand. I send out this message not only to my good neighbors in Santa Barbara, but to everyone who lives in a city that is still lucky enough to have local farm grown produce. Support local (it tastes so much better!) and help keep these farms in business.
Funny thing, Darlene — my local hometown farmer’s name is John, too — John George. Not only has he (and his dad before him) run this local farm for decades, but he has served as a Massachusetts assemblyman, too. So it’s clear that *he* cares about his neighbors! John and his partner Sandra also sell Christmas trees, ornaments (displayed where the tomatoes are in summer!) and make wreaths to order. And did I mention they run the local bus station? They are the hardest working people in town…and the nicest.
Of course, I am a little partial to them. Some years ago they slipped me a private phone number to reserve silver queen corn in the morning before they run out. The Private Corn Number is among my most prized possessions.
Thanks so much for your comments. I think this is a Good Deed that really makes a difference.