Eating local: Indy Southside secrets

In Indianapolis, the farmers markets most thought of are City Market, Broad Ripple, Traders Point and Carmel. But the Southside has its secrets that are worth a stop.

The farmers markets in Greenwood and Franklin are small but growing over the last few years. Greenwood's is next to the Greenwood Public Library in Old Town and is slowly expanding beyond the usual produce. Franklin's is back after the floods earlier this summer, located in the town square. Both are open Saturday mornings as well as one evening a week.

The Indianapolis Southside is dotted with little makeshift farm stands, and each night I pass signs selling corn, tomatoes and other assorted items on my way home from work. But there are a few family farm stands that are worth a mention.

Copeland's is a family-owned farm just north of County Line Road and east of I-65 in Indianapolis. I've frequented the shop for several years, and just love it. They have a greenhouse for assorted perennials and annuals and also have a produce stand. I've never been unhappy with their homegrown items, though I'll admit the fruit I've picked up there at times (which has been purchased elsewhere) hasn't been as top quality. The stand is open every day but Sundays.

Taylor's Farm Stand is at County Line 750 south of Greenwood and east of I-65. This stand also offers family-grown produce, including melons, tomatoes, onions, peppers, corn and more.

Waterman's is another family-owned market on the Indianapolis South side. They offer you-pick of beans, berries and more, as well as produce you can just buy. They also have seasonal activities such as a corn maze and pumpkin patch.

Further south is my family's favorite (and worth the drive), Apple Works in Trafalgar. Apple Works is worth the visit for three reasons: the scenery, the apple bread and the apple slushies. They have a great country market as well. The kids will also enjoy the small petting farm, and my daughter constantly talks about the "baby goat," even though it's been nearly a year since her last visit!

If there are other "little secrets" in Indy, please post them here.

Romanticism and reality: Reasons to eat local

"I realize there's something romantic about the desire to know exactly where your food is from," wrote Time magazine's John Cloud.

But there's more than romanticism involved in a desire to eat locally grown food: a desire to impact the local economy, to eat better tasting and healthier produce and to make an impact on our environment.

Why eat local? For me, it started for two reasons: First, food tastes better the earlier it's eaten, and when it's shipped across the country only to sit in a grocery store, produce tends to lose its flavor and health benefits.

Second, it was about helping out the little guy and the local economy. Why not support the farmer around the corner?

But there are many other reasons to consider eating local. You can often get a better variety of produce by trying local than at the grocery. At one local market alone, I can easily find a dozen types of apples, compared to "green" or "red" at the local supermarket.

Reducing our dependence on oil is another reason to consider buying locally. The journal Food Policy even reports that locally food is "greener" than organic due to the impact of shipping for long distances. Reports the BBC:

... if all foods were sourced from within 20km of where they were consumed, environmental and congestion costs would fall from more than £2.3bn to under £230m - an "environmental saving" of £2.1bn annually.

Going local is something to consider, so why not start today? It's Going Local Week in Indiana: a weeklong "challenge" to eat at least one Indiana locally grown or produced food at each meal this week. How can you get started in an attempt to eat local?

• Shop at local farmers markets, farm stands, and farm markets.
• Visit an orchard or you-pick stand and harvest your own produce.
• Ask your local grocery store or market if they sell locally grown food.
• Support restaurants that use locally grown produce.
• Participate in a CSA.

Links to get you started:

• Find a list of Indiana farmers markets, farm stands, and you-pick produce.
• Find "going local" activities in your city.
• Find local eating tips.

Monday morning musings

Random thoughts this Monday morning:

• After a disappointing experience with try to go berry picking at Alpine Berry Farm in Batesville, our Saturday plans evolved to a trip to the Franklin Farmers Market, located at the Johnson County Courthouse. I’m thrilled to see it doing as well as it is…a month and a half ago, this area was completely under water.
• I love going to the farmers market, but how many times do I have to tell my child not to run off with random produce to wash them in the bathroom?
• Good Morning America this morning discussed its Carpool Challenge, touting that it can save consumers $3,000 a year. I’m all for carpooling – but what really are your options when you children to take to day care?
• Speaking of challenges, I am actually sticking to one. My plan for July was threefold: reduce or eliminate plastic bag usage, limit extra computer screen time and load up on water at the office. So far, my plastic bag count is seven. It did help that we got reusable bags at our work. Now, my husband’s car has a few bags on the passenger seat, ready to use.
• It’s five months and four days until Christmas. If you haven’t already, sign up for my Have a Handmade Holiday challenge and create one gift this holiday season.

Have a great week!