Food Blessing Me

Local beef and veggies--the sourdough didn't make it into the photo!

Since moving to North Carolina in June, I have had the good fortune to become acquainted with many people. I’m grateful for friends I’ve made through church, through reconnecting with Young Harris College, and several groups I’m participating in. As an introvert, I knew I would need to find points of connection and that it would require me to step out of my comfort zone to meet new people and become part of a new community.

One of the great joys and surprises has been getting to know local people who are providing much of my food. I found a local farm offering CSA shares and most of my vegetables come from Zach and Ilana, the first-generation farm couple who own Levity Farms, grow amazing food and are also just delightful people to know. While I normally pick up my weekly CSA share not far from me, it’s fun to drive the extra thirty minutes to their farm, where I’ve walked the fields to see what’s growing. They have an especially cool bamboo tunnel you walk through to get from the produce coolers to the fields!

Brasstown Beef @ Ridgefield Farm is only about fifteen minutes away. They raise cattle and sell beef. In addition to being animal welfare certified and certified pasture centered, the farm has also placed a large portion of its land into a conservation easement that protects it from being developed for housing. For a number of years, I have sought to avoid purchasing factory-farmed meat, because of the inhumane way the animals are raised. To drive by the pastures and see the cows that are able to live as they were meant to live makes me happy to purchase beef from this farm!

A young couple the next town over from me bakes the most wonderful sourdough bread! Every time I pick up a loaf from them I enjoy conversation and seeing the progress they are making on opening a storefront on the town square. I also enjoy talking with their children, who are so comfortable with all the folks dropping by to pick up bread. I’m excited to visit The Firefly Café in Hayesville, and look forward to supporting them as they build their business.

I still do make trips to the grocery store, but I relish the fact that I know where much of my food comes from, and know the people who are making it possible, and that the food and the providers are local! In addition to supporting local small businesses, I feel like every purchase I make from any of these folks is putting my own roots deeper into this community I now call home.

While many of us will be saying a blessing over our food this Thanksgiving, I can turn the table and say that my food in this new home is blessing me! To live in such close proximity with people who are providing what I eat is nourishing both to body and soul!