If there’s anyone in the community that says eating local isn’t easy clearly hasn’t tried that hard. When the Eat Local Day challenge was made, local resident Calista Livingston took it to a whole other level, earning her top spot in the challenge.
When daughter Tyne had an upcoming birthday, Livingston thought what better way to feed 28 family members and friends then to create a meal entirely of local ingredients.
Livingston had the benefit of visiting both the Dryden and Oxdrift Farmers’ Markets the week before the Eat Local Day and getting everything from fruit and vegetables to beef, pork and even managed to get flour and eggs from other farmers in the area.
Livingston says that it was really easy to get local foods for her feast and she enjoys learning about the foods that the farmers have to offer.
“It’s kind of fun when you get to take these foods to the producer and ask them about it. How often can you ask someone in the supermarket about how to use it.”
Stephanie Cran of the Northwestern Health Unit, who also helped organize the Eat Local Day challenge, adds that it’s usually healthier to eat local foods and they encourage people to visit the Farmers’ Markets as often as possible.
Jessica Symington with the Cloverbelt Farmers’ Market says that they had numerous entries, all of which used over 10 local ingredients and will be accepting recipes and ideas until Sept. 2 when the Farmers’ Market is back in Dryden.
Entry forms are still available at the Farmers’ Markets, www.cloverbeltfarmersmarket.com, Eat Local Dryden Facebook page, the Northwestern Health Unit or they can send it via e-mail to kdscia@hotmail.com.
For ideas on what Livingston used in her feast, she submitted her entry form to the judges and won a Locavore box, filled with local foods and a gift certificate to the local farmers’ market.
Tyne’s 3rd birthday party menu:
Raspberry lemonade – raspberries from Gerber’s farm
Blueberry punch – wild blueberries
Pickled cucumbers – cucumbers from Rhyner’s farm, dill from Fisher’s farm
Pickled beets – beets from Sherwood’s farm, dill from Fisher’s farm
Potato salad – potatoes from Rhyner’s farm, radishes and green onions from Livingston’s garden, eggs from Moline’s farm
Crunchy slaw – cabbage and carrots from Rhyner’s farm, dill from Fisher’s farm
Devilled eggs – eggs from Moline’s farm
Crudites – carrots and radishes from Rhyner’s farm, broccoli from Sherwood’s farm
Beef, pork and chicken skewers – beef from Wildhaber’s farm, pork from Wall’s farm, BBQ sauce from Busters BBQ
Cat cupcakes – eggs from Moline’s farm
Watermelon, pineapple and strawberry skewers.