BCFA Mission Statement: To increase markets for and consumption of local, sustainably grown food. We work to develop and support a network of local farmers who grow fresh, nutritious, sustainably grown food for local consumption. We provide public education to increase understanding of the benefits of local, sustainably grown food and to promote public demand for it.
I love this idea. The word relocalization is the term used to describe the idea of getting back to sourcing your needs locally. It makes so much sense and is also a great way to support your neighbors in your community. It used to be that people knew each other who lived nearby. If you lived in a rural area, you'd probably know most of the people within a few miles-- most of them. Now, its not uncommon to not even know your neighbors. It took me a few years to get to know the people who own the property next to ours. Their property is at least 20 acres, and there are a lot of woods between us. Last summer, they invited a bunch of neighbors over who live within half a mile. It was great. We met folks who lived less than a block away who we'd never met.
Finally, still at the farmer's market, I took another glance at the first table, the one selling the greens, and I saw they were Blue Moon Acres, a local farm, specializing in growing salad greens, and microgreens for restaurants. I drive past their farm, and their greenhouses, every time I go to my office, to the train station, to Anchor Run farm... and so, when I realized who they were, I went back to the table. Jim Lyons, the owner, farmer was describing how he did some of the harvesting. Then he started talking about weeding.
I've always wondered how they get rid of the weeds, when they're growing organically. He explained that they flush the weed seeds out-- water them like crazy so they grow, then kill them with something like a propane flamethrower, until there are no more weed seeds left in the top few inches of soil. Nice! No toxic chemicals that way. I wanted to ask him if I could borrow it for the field of thistle growing in the bed where our azaleas grow. I ended up buying a container of mixed baby greens.
microgreens from Bucks County's Blue Moon Acres
Finished at the farm market, I remembered I needed to stop and pick up some mouse traps to greet an uninvited recent tenant of our basement. There a store much closer to my home than thenearest box store, that's a community treasure-- Buckingham Lumber and Millwork. It's a family owned business that's been in existence through several generations for close to 50 years.
The name is misleading. The store is an incredible collection of all the kinds of hardware, tools, etc. that you'd find in Lowes or Home Depot. And Manager Ray Reeves, IV, is a virtual wizard at finding anyting in the store. Unlike the massive box stores-- Lowes and Home Depot-- Ray's business is very funky. Low ceilings, tight aisles, but loaded with the works.
Inside Buckingham Lumber and Millwork Co. You can find an incredible array .
I usually just walk in, call out "Hello," and tell Ray what I need. He gets it and then tells me the best way to use it. Sound like an old fashioned country store? It has a bit of that kind of feel.
The problem is, I don't always think of Buckingham Lumber. Instead, I, almost reflexively think of the big box stores, which are further away, tend to import more of their products from China, and cost no less. But I"m working on it. Hey, even the mouse traps I bought-- for less than the box store-- were made in the US, even somewhat local, made in Lititz, PA, my state.
I was suprised to learn that Ray does well selling electronic equipment too-- 63 inch plasma screen TVs alongside the screws, mousetraps and hammers. He tells me his prices are competitive with the big box stores and he can offer third party extended service policies that cost a third to a half the price of the big electronics stores. (sorry no website but it's located off route 413, about a mile east of route 202, on 4469 upper Mountain rd. 215 794 5668)
Going local is something YOU can do, not only without sacrifice, which cuts down on energy use, it also offers some great benefits-- getting to know your neighbors, supporting local businesses, healthier, better tasting food. Give it a try. Google CSA for your county. Google relocalization and your county name to find some resources and groups that help you get started. You may also find something at relocalize.net,/a>
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