Local Farm Stands of the Season

One of our favorite enjoyments is to shop at local farm stands. In addition to the tremendous benefits in supporting local farmers,  shopping for locally grown fruits and vegetables is the most nutritious way to feed our families.

In my local area, there are many small farm stands where one can find a wonderful array of foods....eggs from happy uncaged chickens, cheeses, fruits and vegetables. fresh basil, cilantro, parsley.  One such farm stand is Beets Workin' Farm, near Longswamp, Pennsylvania,  run and tended to by a most devoted local farmer... a friendly fellow with a warm smile and an excellent knowledge of organic growing methods. All of his items are delicious, fresh and SO nutritious! The photos above are of his tomatoes and eggs.  We are frequent shoppers at his farm stand..he represents the very best of local farmers dedicated to the organic life...

Wherever you may find yourself...search out your local farm stands... stop along your small back roads...enjoy the lovely wildflowers...and bask in the splendors of the seasons....

Simply Salads....

I am completely in love with salads...and creating them is such a delight! Summer affords us the tremendous nutritional opportunity to create and enjoy seasonal salads...with ingredients grown locally...

The above salad is one of my favorites! If you are unfamiliar with arugula please begin enjoying it. . It blends well with any salad ingredients and is SO very nutritious!

Arugula Salad

Ingredients..any amount...no recipe needed!!

* fresh arugula

* carrots

* black or kalamata olives

* green olives

* dried cranberries or fresh strawberries

* chopped walnuts, they may be toasted beforehand in a bit of olive oil

* sunflower seeds

* feta cheese

A touch of any vinaigrette...using virgin olive oil and any balsamic vinegar

Enjoy!!!!

Lovely nature...

Lovely...lovely nature.... regardless of the season..or the time of day...or the weather ... it offers us an endless gift of enjoyment..  All we must do is venture out..and it welcomes us as a trusted friend..

The scene above was taken by me two weeks ago...a local setting...and after I entered it into my photo application in my computer..I noticed all the nuances and details that I failed to see as I took this photo. I knew the scene was one of beauty and color and tranquillity... but, as so often occurs quite by happenstance..it is after we step back and look closely at our finished photo..that we are able to notice the many details...the shades...the shadows...the flickering lights...

And so it is...above...the scene has many shadows...and it almost appeared to me that some tiny little woodlore creatures delighted in their almost invisible "pose"....I can see almost a twinkling among the greenery which I so enjoyed on that recent summer's afternoon...

Can you see it too?

Go out into nature today...bask in the sheer beauty of this glorious season...and discover some magic....