Supporting Local Flavors
by: Scott Schirkofsky
In the last 10 years Americans have seen a boom in local food markets and for good reason. While Americans continue to buy more fast food, they still expect perfect ingredients and they are finding them.
So why are they turning to their local markets more and more? In a nutshell they want fresh, healthy produce with great flavor. There are numerous other benefits to buying local products and it would seem Americans are now rediscovering what their local growers have to offer.
FRESHER
Care for fresher ingredients? Locally grown items are usually harvested 1 or 2 days before hitting the market making them significantly fresher then traditional store bought ingredients. For those folks lucky enough to live in rural areas, many of your local ingredients may be available to you the same day they are harvested. Produce flown in from other parts of the country or world is considerably older given that on average they travel 1,500 miles to get to your dinner table. These products may be harvested before they are ripe because of the delay in getting the product to market. Given that produce loses nutrients quickly, a recently harvested crop is preferred for its ripeness alone.
SAFER
Local food is often safer, too. Even when it?s not organically grown, small farms tend to be less aggressive than large factory farms about using chemicals. While biotechnology companies have long been experimenting with genetically altered produce, small local farmers do not have access to these seeds and most would not use them even if they did have access to these seeds. For those consumers opposed to using genetically altered produce, locally grown produce will offer the best product.
BUILDS COMMUNITY
When you go to a local market you get a chance to see the grower and talk to them eye-to-eye. You get to see their reaction when you ask them if the use chemicals. You get to see how proud they are of what their hard work has produced. And you get to see that happiness in their eyes when you support their farm with a purchase. This opportunity to meet the growers in person goes a long way in creating a sense of community and maintaining tradition in addition to supporting local growers financially.
BENEFITS OPEN SPACE & LOWER TAX DOLLAR SPENDING
As we have become wrapped up in the conveniences of the corner grocer, we seem to have forgotten how valuable our farmers are to our local communities. If you grew up in a rural area, you most likely remember the vast open space and picturesque countryside the crops created. As long as the small local farms exist this open space will not be developed into commercial property. Why is this important? Aside from maintaining the beautiful landscape, it is also most cost effective for the region, supports a cleaner environment and affords wildlife a greatly desirable sanctuary.
On average almost four times as much tax revenue is spent on services for a residential area then is spent on services for farms, forest or open space. For instance for every $1 collected in taxes from a residential area, almost $1.20 is spent on services to support that area. Conversely, only $.34 is spent to support rural area for each dollar collected. Because farms contribute more taxes then they require in services, local farmers make for a surplus in tax revenue. In addition to the lower cost needed to support rural areas, they also help to clean 12-14% of the carbon emitted by vehicles and industry.
By continuing to support local growers today, you are ensuring that they will be around tomorrow. In fact more and more non-chain grocers are carrying locally grown products. They must, it?s what consumers are demanding.
Try buying local flavors. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain.
About The Author
Scott Schirkofsky is the chef and owner of At Home Gourmet. You can find more recipes, cooking tips, spice blends, food and beverage articles on his highly recommended website: http://www.athomegourmet.com and http://www.foodandbeveragenetwork.com.
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Tips On Lawn Care For Different Kinds Of Grass
Tips On Lawn Care For Different Kinds Of Grass
by: Andrew Caxton
How to get a perfect lawn is what most homeowners wish to know. An excellent turf is not easily won. There are many determinants that influence into a healthy soil. It is not only to thoroughly care for the lawn, by mowing, trimming and irrigating, but you have to feed it too. Feeding the soil is more important than you may think. However, you have to start from choosing the soil that more suits with your yard. A typical mistake of many beginners is to have a non-ideal soil, which will carry important troubles afterwards.
Understanding the basics of lawn growing, which are basically water and nutrients is not enough. It depends on more than these factors. What you should do first, is to make a study to evaluate your ground situation, and then select the proper soil. In order to allow watering and fertilizing the lawn as it should be, your must choose a soil equipped to capture...
Tips On Lawn Care For Different Kinds Of Grass
Seeds > Tips On Lawn Care For Different Kinds Of Grass
A Natural Remedy for Gingivitis, Toothaches, and Mouth Sores
A Natural Remedy for Gingivitis, Toothaches, and Mouth Sores
by: Rudy Silva
Everyone has a variety of bacteria in their mouth. Some have more than others. This bacterium helps you by beginning the digestive process.
Excess bacteria in your mouth have now been found to cause more than tooth decay, gingivitis or gum disease. So, you need to know, even though you might not have gingivitis, how to control these plaque-building bacteria in your mouth.
Bacteria that create gingivitis live in your plaque and cause your gums to inflame, bleed, and separate from your teeth. You can also have bad breath when you have gingivitis. In more severe cases, your gums become sore, teeth hurt, gums recede, and teeth loosen.
To stop the inflammation and gum separation use this natural remedy to kill some of these bacteria and strengthen your gums in your mouth.
Here are the herbs and the formula you will need to make a remedy for a mild case of...
A Natural Remedy for Gingivitis, Toothaches, and Mouth Sores
Seeds > A Natural Remedy for Gingivitis, Toothaches, and Mouth Sores
A Natural Remedy for Gingivitis, Toothaches, and Mouth Sores
A Natural Remedy for Gingivitis, Toothaches, and Mouth Sores
by: Rudy Silva
Everyone has a variety of bacteria in their mouth. Some have more than others. This bacterium helps you by beginning the digestive process.
Excess bacteria in your mouth have now been found to cause more than tooth decay, gingivitis or gum disease. So, you need to know, even though you might not have gingivitis, how to control these plaque-building bacteria in your mouth.
Bacteria that create gingivitis live in your plaque and cause your gums to inflame, bleed, and separate from your teeth. You can also have bad breath when you have gingivitis. In more severe cases, your gums become sore, teeth hurt, gums recede, and teeth loosen.
To stop the inflammation and gum separation use this natural remedy to kill some of these bacteria and strengthen your gums in your mouth.
Here are the herbs and the formula you will need to make a remedy for a mild case of...
A Natural Remedy for Gingivitis, Toothaches, and Mouth Sores
Seeds > A Natural Remedy for Gingivitis, Toothaches, and Mouth Sores
Hydroponic Systems
Hydroponic Systems
by: 77hydro
Hydroponic comes from a Greek word, hydro meaning water while ponos means labour. Growing of plants without soil is popular for its efficiency as it allows large amount of food to be produced in a small space.
Hydroponic gardens and plantation require no soil as the nutrients are added directly to the water. The different ways to provide nutrition to water plants turns into a ""hydroponic system"". Hydroponics ensures that the plants get oxygen, nutrients and appropriate light for optimum growth and a better yield.
What can you grow with Hydroponic Systems?
You can grow anything you normally grow in soil by using a hydroponic system. It will have to include wide variety of flowers, herbs, vegetables, fruit trees, and more.
The advantages of using Hydroponic Systems for growing plants are,
It is easier to control the plant growing environment
Needs less water supply and no soil...
Hydroponic Systems
Seeds > Hydroponic Systems
Amazing Chili Recipe Turned Into Nightmare!
Amazing Chili Recipe Turned Into Nightmare!
by: Jonathan Teng
This chili recipe is, indeed, a really nightmare! Taste it only when curiosity becomes unbearable and courage is strong! :o)
Ingredients:
1 cup Pinto beans, dried
1 tsp Paprika
5 cups Water
1 Nutmeg, ground, whole
2 tbsp Lard
1 tsp Cumin
1 tbsp Bacon drippings
2 tsp Oregano, dried, pref. Mexican
1 Onion
4 tbsp Sesame seeds
12 oz Pork sausage, country-style
1 cup Almonds, blanched, skins removed
1 lb Beef, coarse grind
12 Red chiles, whole dried
4 Garlic cloves
1 tsp Anise
1 1/2 oz Milk chocolate, small pieces
1/2 tsp Coriander seeds
1 can Tomato paste (6oz ea)
1/2 tsp Fennel seeds
2 tbsp Vinegar
1/2 tsp Cloves, ground
3 tsp Lemon juice
1 Cinnamon stick, ground
1 Soft tortilla, chopped...
Seeds > Amazing Chili Recipe Turned Into Nightmare!
Amazing Chili Recipe Turned Into Nightmare!
Amazing Chili Recipe Turned Into Nightmare!
by: Jonathan Teng
This chili recipe is, indeed, a really nightmare! Taste it only when curiosity becomes unbearable and courage is strong! :o)
Ingredients:
1 cup Pinto beans, dried
1 tsp Paprika
5 cups Water
1 Nutmeg, ground, whole
2 tbsp Lard
1 tsp Cumin
1 tbsp Bacon drippings
2 tsp Oregano, dried, pref. Mexican
1 Onion
4 tbsp Sesame seeds
12 oz Pork sausage, country-style
1 cup Almonds, blanched, skins removed
1 lb Beef, coarse grind
12 Red chiles, whole dried
4 Garlic cloves
1 tsp Anise
1 1/2 oz Milk chocolate, small pieces
1/2 tsp Coriander seeds
1 can Tomato paste (6oz ea)
1/2 tsp Fennel seeds
2 tbsp Vinegar
1/2 tsp Cloves, ground
3 tsp Lemon juice
1 Cinnamon stick, ground
1 Soft tortilla, chopped...
Seeds > Amazing Chili Recipe Turned Into Nightmare!