I have a confession to make: I buy most of my food at a cheap discounter. Yes, I’m writing a blog about green and whole-some living in all aspects of life, but I’m also a poor student. My food budget is quite small, so I often choose price over quality. Then, sometime last week – while I was biting into a piece of toast that (even after toasting) actually tasted like a piece of pasteboard – something clicked inside of me. The food I bought didn’t really deserve to be called food, I just ate it because I was hungry, not because it was enjoyable. The same day I watched Food Inc, a really great documentary and an eye-opener as well. It showed the horrifying facts about the food industry that most people (me as well) try to forget so often. I don’t know if you have seen it, but you definitely should.
Long story short, I wanted to change the way I was buying my food. Yesterday, I went to the farmer’s market for the first time. It was such a nice experience! There’s a market in our part of town every Thursday and farmers from around the city come to sell their freshly produced goods. It was such a relaxed atmosphere (okay – everybody except me was older than 60), you didn’t really feel like you were in the city anymore. The vendors helped me picking what to buy, it was the perfect way to spend the morning.
After I happily carried everything home and put it away, my whole kitchen smelled like fresh strawberries the whole day. The cheese actually smelled like cheese (and not the stinky type). There was dirt on the vegetables! You are probably rolling your eyes by now because I am such a city child, but I liked that. And the carrots taste exactly like the ones from my Grandma’s garden when I was little. I can’t wait to go again and try some more products next week. It was also a little bit cheaper than I had expected and the whole experience – from buying, to cooking to eating is so much more fun (although I guess that could also have some psychological reasons ;).
What about you, are you going to the farmer’s market from time to time?
Hanna’s Places is a green lifestyle magazine written by Hanna Ulatowski. It’s all about slowing down in a fast-paced society and finding ways to live a more sustainable, simple lifestyle.
June 14, 2013
I am so fortunate to live in a city that has a farmer’s market just about every day. (in different locations) My husband and I go every Saturday morning! I’m telling you… when I first moved to California and learned what a “Farmers Market” was, it changed my life. I use to buy food at a grocery store… and not a good one either. The food was never fresh, but it was cheap and convenient.
But! Like your first trip to the farmers market, it changed me. Now I only shop there and other locally owned organic stores. :)
And like you said — you can really TASTE (and smell) the difference!
Haha, it is silly that I am so excited for you? :)