Springtime wishes to you! It feels great to have more hours of sun per day and warmer days. In addition to having beautiful weather in Santa Barbara, we are also very lucky to be able to have easy access to local produce. There are at least three ways to obtain seasonal local produce here in Santa Barbara. You can grow your own garden, shop at local produce stands that carry fruits and vegetables from local farmers, or shop at the local Farmer’s Markets (six days a week). Visit: http://www.sbfarmersmarket.org/events.php for the Farmer’s Market weekly schedule.
If you have never had a garden before or don’t think you have the space, try container gardening. You can easily plant lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, salad greens, and a variety of herbs in pots. This especially works well if you have a very small yard or would like a low-maintenance garden. Summer is right around the corner, and this is the perfect time of year to start a garden. The local nurseries are usually a very helpful place to look when getting started. I’m the coordinator of the Turnpike-area gathering of “SB Food not Lawns.” To learn more, visit: http://sbfoodnotlawns.org/. At our monthly gatherings, neighbors get together to share their extra produce with one another, visit, and discuss gardening tips and thoughts on local food. I personally have a very small garden, mostly in pots, but I always have some extra produce to share. I also have a few neighbors who have too many lemons, limes, and oranges which I also share.
We are also blessed to have many local produce stands that have mostly local organic produce. These markets include: Lanes Farms (one on Hollister near Turnpike and one on Walnut, off Hollister also near Turnpike); Mesa Produce; Happy Harry’s in Goleta, and Fairview Gardens (also in Goleta).
This month, I challenge you to try some local produce and/or plant a garden. Once you start to grow your own produce or begin buying from local farmers you will not want to go back—the food is that much more delicious!
Enjoy your bounty.
In health,
