We went to Lyon's Farm yesterday with Zack's kindergarten class. Gramma gave us some money and asked us to do four things: 1) Buy some strawberries for her to freeze; 2) Buy some peas, if they were in yet; 3) Find out what kind of green beans they'd planted; and 4) Find out where they're going to have their veggie stand in the city limits this year... still @ Asbury Methodist?
1) Got 22 lbs of strawberries (which Gramma froze into 16 quarts).
2) They didn't have peas ready yet.
3) The lady at the cash register didn't know what kind of beans were planted, but she did know they weren't white half-runners, so it didn't really matter.
4) There will be no farm fresh local produce stands in the city limits this summer.
I had a little conversation with Mr. Lyon about the produce stand. Seems that the same world-class city council that brought residents the joys of banned garbage disposals has also made it so that local farmers cannot set up roadside produce stands this year.
I had to stop and ponder that. Hummm... Fresh fruits and veggies are much healthier for my family to eat. Check. Gas costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $3.60 per gallon. Check. We have an issue with ozone/ air pollution in the summer, so we're supposed to drive as little as possible. Check. Buying locally grown produce is not only healthier for my family, but it's healthier for our local economy and our environment. Check.
Our city won't issue permits to local produce vendors, so I'm either going to have to buy non-locally-grown produce at the grocery store or drive to the other side of town to go to the farmer's market or haul everyone into the next county to Lyon's Farm. Either way it's a 15-20 mile drive and instead of having one truck come to town, you have scores of cars driving all over the place. Consumers pay even MORE in gas and food costs. Local farmers get even less for their crops.
Yep... that's about typical for our brilliant city council. Problem is... it just ain't right.
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