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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Jan 12 2013 at 8:07am | IP Logged
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My big strapping 19 yo football playing college student walked up to me in the kitchen yesterday and said, "I wish we could live somewhere where we walk down to the market every morning to pick out what's fresh. I would probably like fruit and vegetables a lot more." This from a ds who lives for pizza, mac and cheese, and other filling junk food (imo). We talked about how it would be very different - just walking down to the market every day sounds "healthy". He talked about buying fish from a fish monger, eating vegetables that were in season from the local farmers ... It was kind of a dreamy conversation in my opinion ... especially since I was having it with my ds and not my dd, who I found out later, is quite content with going to Sams Club to buy cases of canned goods so it's all there when we need it.
Anyway, it got me wondering, are there any places here in the U.S. where that happens? I know there are in other countries. Are my ds and I the only people who think this would be a great thing? ... at least to try for a while?
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Becky
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Kathryn
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Oh I def. don't think you're the only one that thinks this is a great thing. I for one would *LOVE* it. BUT, maybe it is a "states" thing that we are so spread out we HAVE to use our car to go just about anywhere. I technically COULD walk to our local market but it would take me at least an hour or two to get there and back. Granted, that doesn't sound like much but in the scheme of all I have to do in a day, I can get there in my car and back in 15 min.  
We actually bought our new house here on one acre so we COULD be close enough to walk...if we ever get around to it.  We have walked to church several times and walked my son down to his baseball practice. But haven't quite made the trip to the grocery store b/c we'd have to cross a main, very busy road and with the 2 little ones it just seems like it would take twice the time and frazzle my nerves keeping them from darting around the road. ?
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pumpkinmom
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Wonderful idea, but hard to come by as Kathryn has mentioned. I'm sure they exist, but I bet the cost of living in those areas are super high. I imagine everyone wants to live there! 
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JodieLyn
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I would think college towns are more likely since they tend to have a high pedestrian population and not all are in big cities.
You might look for farmer's markets.. while they aren't every day and you may not be able to walk to them, you can at least get fresh produce from the growers and learn to prep stuff so that it's easy grab on the go for later.
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CrunchyMom
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I think it can exist in some larger cities to a certain extent. some cities have famous landmarks of their market places like Pike Place in Seattle or Reading Terminal in Philly.
It does sound lovely. I lived within walking of an Italian grocer, and we would occasionally wa there to buy ingredients for our dinner. It was lovely, but it was impractical for every day. Not quite what you describe, though there was a fishmonger across the way 
It is a more sustainable way of life in many ways (though, not necessarily more sustainable then walking out into your garden to pick something for dinner ), and you will find a lot of information about promoting this sort of culture wound up into the urban planning and sustainability movement.
I don't know if she's around lately, but SusanJ who is a member here is very knowledgeable about this sort of thing. Maybe she'll chime in. 
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Kathryn
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Also I tend to think of downtown areas where everything literally is within blocks but that's where they're building the loft apts. and such so not really conducive to life with kids. It's mostly singles, or marrieds with no kids yet, empty nesters. Not much green space for kids and obviously lots of noise and traffic. Guess that's why everyone moved to the 'burbs.
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guitarnan
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This is where you break out the container gardening books and figure out how to grow what you can in the place that you live.
We have great farmers markets where I live...20-30 minutes away. Add gas costs to higher prices (deservedly so, might I add) for local produce, and a wacky dancy schedule all year long, and we don't get to many of those markets.
I have a black thumb  , but I try to grow at least one veggie every year so I can learn to cook with it. Even if I can't get it to grow the next year, I still have the knowledge.
Your son is SO right. We have lived in Italy twice and that is how Italians shop. Go to the veggie store down the block, point to the things you like and have the veg lady bag them for you. (No, you can't touch the veggies.) That is exactly how I learned to cook seasonally and stick to that pattern now.
So, yes, you can cook seasonally, and I would encourage you to try it no matter where you live and whether or not you can have a tiny garden. Your local store's produce prices will tell you what's in season, if nothing else.
It actually makes eating more interesting, too, because you look forward each season to the foods you have not had in a while.
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MichelleW
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I am totally embarrassed to say that we had that for a few years in Portland. The Saturday Farmer's Market was 6 blocks away. I would pack the kids in the stroller and we would leave for our morning walk down to the market. I spent $25 for a week's worth of produce! It was wonderful.
Then we moved. Bummer.
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guitarnan
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Michelle, it's okay that you moved and didn't have this opportunity present itself again in a way that worked for your family. No worries!
To me, Becky's original post lamented the lack of similar opportunities in cities near agricultural centers in the USA. While Portland residents can get great veggies, and I can buy CSA products and fresh seafood, there are many of us who have only one option - local supermarkets.
These supermarkets vary from place to place. Living, as I do, near the District of Columbia (definitely a place supermarket chains have found challenging), I am always glad when I read about a new supermarket opening in any part of DC. Whether those markets will remain open is a time-will-tell situation...we have to hope that the real customers will turn up and spend enough.
Sometimes you have the chance to change how things work where you live...never underestimate your unique role in that effort!
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pmeilaen
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Check out Simpler Times Village.
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kristinannie
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This post is timely for me. We moved into our "dream house" a couple of years ago, but it is in a neighborhood with a lot of rules. I am actually really starting to regret the move because I wish that we could become more self sufficient, raising animals and growing our own food. I would love to live in a situation like you describe. It just isn't possible where I live.  I do need to start frequenting the farmer's market though. Fresh fruit and veggies are so much tastier and healthier than the produce that has spent days (if not weeks) getting to our table. I can hardly wait for spring!
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Becky Parker
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I think the Farmer's Market is as close as we will ever get, unless we move to Italy or a big city. My DH said Pittsburgh had a really big open market in town that he and his mom would go to occasionally.
I think Simpler Times Village would be a neat place to visit Eva! It sort of reminds me of a Williamsburg type place.
My ds, who brings this up, is so funny. He eats very little that is not packaged or canned. I mentioned that and he said he would love fruits and vegetables if they were in season and fresh. I do try to do that - I only buy berries when it is spring/early summer, apples and pears in the fall, oranges in the winter ... but I guess he doesn't notice that part.
Being a total carnivore, he's really into the whole idea of going to a fish monger, a cheese shop, a real butcher instead of just the meat dept. at the grocery store. Not sure about a fish monger in MI, but I know there are cheese shops and butchers around here. Maybe next time he's home I'll take him to one. I didn't realize how deprived he was, never going to an actual butcher shop . I remember going with my mom all the time.
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Becky
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Random thought
