support for the farm. There are at least a dozen CSA options in <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> County, including both produce and meat CSAs. Programs vary by contents, pick-up locations and quantity, meaning chances are high you can find a program that works for you. If you hesitate because you aren’t confident you’d know what to do with everything in your box, don’t worry—there are plenty of resources that can help. Where to begin: To find a farm near you, check out our interactive map at ediblesandiego.com. The <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> County Farm Bureau website lists several local CSAs at SDFarmBureau.org. Explore each program to find one whose contents, price, and location best meet your needs. 4Grow something (new) Whether you have an apartment balcony or a sloping south-facing hillside, growing your own food can be both educational and rewarding. Coaxing a vegetable from seed to start to harvest involves patience, knowledge and skill, but it is a skill anyone can learn. This spring, stretch your imagination and sow something new in your soil—whether you’re a first-time container gardener or a seasoned urban farmer trying out a new crop. Where to begin: The <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> Master Gardeners’ website has videos, instructions and links to help you get started growing just about anything that can be grown locally (MasterGardeners<strong>San</strong><strong>Diego</strong>.org). <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> Botanic Garden offers classes on gardening, keeping chickens, and hydroponics (sdbgarden.org/classes). And take a look at Matt Steiger’s article on the basics of starting a backyard garden (Spring 2013, page 31). 5Start a compost bin Composting helps turn food waste from your kitchen into nitrogenrich humus that can be used in yards, gardens, and containers. Converting food and lawn scraps into compost also helps keep waste out of landfills. And in <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong>, both compost supplies and instruction are readily available. City of <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> residents qualify for discounted compost bins from the City of <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong>, which are available at Dixieline ProBuild locations, and City of Encinitas and Carlsbad residents can buy discounted bins through the Solana Center. You can also build your own bin with a few basic materials. If you already compost at home, consider starting a compost bin at your office or school. Where to begin: The Solana Center’s website, SolanaCenter.org, has a wealth of composting information, including how to buy discounted bins. The Center offers free compost workshops at various locations throughout <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> County. If you have a composting question, you can call the “Rotline” at (760) 436-7986 x700. 6Make something (new) from scratch Readers of <strong>Edible</strong> <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> are no doubt handy in the kitchen, but even for the most talented chefs, there is always something new to learn. Try preparing a dish you’ve never tackled before, using a new ingredient, or learning a new technique. Expanding your culinary repertoire builds new skills, helps you feel more comfortable in the kitchen and can be thrilling when the results turn out well. Where to begin: The <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> Public Library has an extensive cookbook collection, with many of the books available through inter-library loan. Or use FoodBlogSearch.com to explore recipes from thousands of food blogs. 7Try eating less meat Globally, conventional (industrial) meat production puts an enormous strain on the Earth’s resources. Calorie for calorie, the amount of water, grain and fossil fuel needed to produce industrial meat is from 7 to 10 times greater than plant-based food. [Editor’s Note: However, there is some evidence that carefully managed pastured animal production has a neutral and potentially negative carbon footprint.] Reducing your meat consumption positively benefits the environment, while eating less red meat also benefits your health. Purchasing less meat may also allow you to afford more expensive grass-fed or local meat, which compared to industrial meat is far better for both the environment and your health. If you eat a lot of meat, consider cutting down on the amount you consume. Could you rely on plant-based meals once a week? Or explore dishes that use meat sparingly? Could you allocate your meat budget to a smaller amount of local, sustainable meat from Da-Le Ranch, Sage Mountain, Womach Ranch or other local farms? Where to begin: Visit MeatlessMondays. com to learn about a campaign to encourage the public to eat meat one less day a week. 8Talk with a farmer Talking with the men and women who grow our food can help us better understand what is involved in food production. It can remind us of the hard work that goes into the greens, grains and growth we take for granted. And it can help us see the passion, the challenges and the innovations that our farmers face each day. Where to begin: Start by asking questions the next time you shop at the farmers’ market. Ask about how something is grown, how it can be prepared or what makes it unique. 9Get more involved with the local food scene <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> is fortunate to have many local organizations working to ensure a just and equal food system. If you’ve done all of the above, or even if you’re just starting to dip your toes in the food system waters, your participation in our area’s nonprofits can help strengthen our local food system; raise awareness about critical environmental, policy or justice issues; or help improve the health of our community. Whether your interests are in health, access to food, sustainability or keeping food dollars in the community, I encourage you to make <strong>2018</strong> the year you get involved. Where to begin: Check out Victory Gardens <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong>, <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> Food Not Lawns, or <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong>’s local Slow Food chapters for volunteer opportunities, or join a networking organization such as <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> Green Drinks. D 12 edible <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> <strong>January</strong>-<strong>February</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
When it's about food... #specialtyproduce BETTER FOOD AT WORK Eat healthy when you’re busy. luckybolt.com Mention this ad for a free trial lunch. <strong>January</strong>-<strong>February</strong> <strong>2018</strong> edible <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> 13
Change language