Local Farms | Rachel's Table

Local Flavor at Home Grown Cafe

April 20, 2012 by rachelocal

When I was younger, I referred to Home Grown Cafe as “that hippie place” on Main Street. Now well into my adult years, I view Home Grown Cafe as more hipster than hippie. Home Grown does things on its own terms. It is culturally aware and upholds certain food values. Vegan options abound on the menu and local bands play often. I can’t label Home Grown as completely hipster, because the owners obviously care about the food and the restaurant environment. […]

Categories: Local Farms, Restaurant • Tags: CSA, farmer's market, food, local, locavore, restaurants, vegan

Parsnip Accolades

April 13, 2012 by rachelocal

I’ve been talking about parsnips a lot lately. Mainly because my friend Valerie gave me one from her garden, and also because they are delicious when smashed with sweet potatoes and topped with goat cheese. One particular parsnip, Valerie’s miracle parsnip, has brought me joy of another kind. Because of my review of said parsnip, Valerie’s husband Rogers included me as an example of “pretty good writing” on his blog, The Writing Rag. This blog shares tips on how to […]

Categories: Gardening, Local Farms • Tags: accolades, Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, food, life, local, locavore, parsnip

The Amish Know Best

April 10, 2012 by rachelocal

Every time I walk through the doors of the Dutch Country Farmer’s Market, I’m hit with a heady aroma evoking nothing but happy thoughts—Saturday morning breakfast, still-hot apple pie, blueberry picking in the sunshine, cozy Sunday afternoon naps, and s’mores around a bonfire. It’s hard not to think happy thoughts when fresh bread is baking, bacon is sizzling at the lunch counter, and local produce is awaiting my shopping cart. And do you know why this place is so heart-warming […]

Categories: Farmer's Markets, Local Farms • Tags: Amish, Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, farmer's market, food, local, sustainable agriculture

How to Plant Strawberries

April 5, 2012 by rachelocal

John called me this week, wanting me to help plant new strawberries–75 of them. When I got to his house, he already had 50 in the ground, so I helped with the rest. Nothing more local than your own strawberries, so I was eager to learn how it’s done (as you know I am a novice <understatement> gardener and have a paralyzing fear of growing things). The first thing you must do is buy strawberry plants. John orders his from […]

Categories: Delaware Farms, Farmer's Markets, Gardening, Local Farms, Random • Tags: farmer's market, food, gardening, in season, strawberries

Rumbleway Farm

April 4, 2012 by rachelocal

I visited a local meat market recently. (An actual meat market, selling beef and poultry, not a club or a bar.) After my visit, I was disappointed that I couldn’t recommend this place. Not because it’s a bad place. In fact, the butcher and staff were hospitable and answered all of my questions. When I found they get their meat mostly from two places, one located in Philly and another in Maryland, I was thrilled. But after doing some research, I […]

Categories: Delaware Farms, Farmer's Markets, Local Farms, Local Stores, Random • Tags: farm, farm to table, food, gardening, local, maryland, rumbleway farm, sustainable agriculture