locavore

“Ugh, I hate grocery shopping,” complained my dental hygienist. “I want to buy the healthy food but it’s so much more expensive than the crap.” I realize that this is the perception of so many Americans. Although I frequent Whole Foods, I typically stick to a list or create a budget before heading over. After all, “Whole Paycheck” is the infamous knock that ain’t so far from the truth. Do I shop at Whole Foods or farmer's markets 100% of the time? No. But I’ve been thinking a lot lately about  the "cost" of food versus the cost of “food.” Find out more about the cost of food, after the jump!

Have you procrastinated planting your seedlings for your spring and summer garden? If you're looking for some easy shortcuts, check out some starter plants. Don't run to Home Depot or Lowe's - think small and support local farmers. You'll pump money back into the local economy, minimize the risk of pesticides (or god-forbid!) GMO crops. Although the GMO seeds are unlikely, (find out why you should "go small or go home" and see some awesome bonus photos, after the jump!)

The Philly Farm & Food Fest returned to the Philadelphia Convention Center this past Sunday. Over 4,000 attendees chatted with local farmers,  artisans & businesses. The second shot at Philly Farm & Food Fest had a great mix of tastes, education & variety. The cheeses were mouthwatering, the sauerkraut was freshly fermented, and there was even crisp local apple cider. I kicked off my locavore dream tour with a (Find out about how the Philly Farm & Food fest went, complete with awesome pics - after the jump.)

Philly Farm & Food Fest is back for locavore lovers this Sunday, April 14th! The 2nd annual Philly Farm & Food Fest at the PA Convention Center (Annex - Broad Street entrance) will be inviting local foodies from 11AM to 4 PM with food samples, 4 cooking demonstrations, 8 workshops & presentations, kids activities and much more. Over 117 farms, food artisans & businesses will sample, sell & share their stories of locavore perfection. Don't believe me? Exhibitors include a variety from GMO Free PA, Greensgrow Phila, Happy Cat Farms, John & Kira's, CSAs, FreshaPeel Hummus, Mompops, Yellow Springs Farm, Capogiro, and my favorite Dad's Hat Rye Whiskey. Find out more about Sunday's event and how to win a FREE pair of tickets, after the jump!

Oh, we've been a-waiting. Cedar Point Bar & Kitchen, the Fishtown follow-up to the No' Libs restaurant formally known as A Full Plate, finally opens this evening. We were able to take a sneak peek & sample some of the delicious treats of Cedar Point. As Chef Shannon Dougherty explained, the menu is 50/50 vegan and carnivore to satisfy all customers. And satisfied, we were. To make Jack Johnson proud, we took mental pretty pictures of the things we ate... (Find out more about the delicious fare, after the jump!)

Attention local food & brew lovers: we hope you made it to the one-of-a-kind the Brewer's Plate this year! The Brewer's Plate had a perfect balance of local noms, brewskies, liquors and dessert. Each exhibitor was enthusiastic about their tasty creation, and the pours were generous. As Ann Karlen, Executive Director, Fair Food stated, "The event benefitting Fair Food was a huge success in bringing together brewers, restaurants and consumers as a way to celebrate local foods and artisans – a very big part of our mission. We tried something new this year, as we featured Aimee Olexy in our VIP area where she led a guided tasting of cheese paired with beer. Everyone really found it interesting and enjoyed it". Let's take our tastebuds and revisit the Brewer's Plate 2013:

Craving a winter food fest destined for locavores? The Brewer's Plate 2013 hosted by Fair Food Philly promises to be a tasty celebration of local breweries, restaurants, farmers & artisan producers all from within 150 miles of the city. Find out more, after the jump!

With 2 shares to go, I've endured 20 weeks of overflowing, fresh, local veggies in my fridge. Sharing a Red Earth Farm CSA share with two of my BFF's was one of the best decisions I made! Unsure about the experience or new to CSAs? Here are 8 things I learned from my experience:

Looking for a way to eat super-locally? Even if you have a more black-than-green thumb, many herbs are easy to grow. You can guarantee an organic & local food, from your yard to your plate! These plants grow quickly and are way cheaper coming from your own house. No outdoor space? No sweat! Herbs can prosper indoors, as long as you water them and give them a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight. Ready to get started? (Here's where to go for more info, after the jump!)