monkey in la: Going for Green

One of the books I picked up at the library on Sunday was The Food of a Younger Land, Mark Kurlansky's compilation of the historical writings of some of America's first foodies (though they might not have known it) under the Federal Writers Project (yes, Uncle Sam funded writing & the arts!). And it got me thinking about

local food. Organic foods. Non-GMO foods. The traditions of food. While I don't always mention this in my recipes, we certainly try to eat organic and we're working on getting to the farmers' markets regularly...Because you see, before there were giant supercenters and Safeway online, there were gardens and orchards where baskets of fruits and vegetables were grown without chemicals and picked for the enjoyment of locals, not to be shipped across the world. People shared recipes. They cooked with love. And they knew when to eat what. Sadly, we now eat pineapple in November. Hey, I'm guilty of it, but I've got to get a grip. In fact, with the enormous stack of food-related books on my nightstand, I really should be together about it.

In Los Angeles, there is no reason to not eat well even if you are living on a budget. We have farmers' markets every day of the week, tons of bookstores with useful information, our fair (maybe unfair) share of Whole Foods, co-ops and organic restaurants and if you drive a few miles, green farms where you can pick up grain-fed meats and cage-free eggs. And while yes, it seems easier to throw a couple of food items in your basket while picking up toothpaste at Target, the benefits of eating fresh and organic are countless, copious and bountiful!

Here are some ways to get a green grip too:

Eat Well Guide

Just type in your zip code to find organic and local food including

produce, dairy, meat, etc.

Greenopia

A green guide to everything including restaurants, shopping, and organizations.

Farmer Net

A listing of every farmer's market in and around LA including dates, times and what's in season.