Doing Without--Or Not

I had to attend a local writers/readers conference this weekend and wasn't able to go to the farmers' market on Saturday. Makes me jealous of the countries/places who have almost daily green markets. If there was a daily market, one needn't have to choose what to do on Saturday based on one's need for groceries. While the farmers' market was going on yesterday, I was attending classes and panels, and then there was a luncheon with a keynote speaker I didn't want to miss. The conference was held in the building right next to the area where the Boise farmers' market is held, so I had the feeling of being so close to the groceries I needed, yet so far away. Just outside that door were many of the vendors I've been purchasing food from since late April, and my inability to go shop with them during the limited hours they'd be there meant that my family would have to make do with less food this week.

Or not. If I had to choose a weekend to not buy market food, this was an acceptable one. Right now, my own small backyard garden has abundant heirloom lettuce in two varieties, spinach, giant chinese cabbage, kale, wild lambs quarters, and radishes. I still had two complete bunches of red romaine lettuce from the farmers' market of the previous week, one bundle of bok choy, some cilantro, green garlic, green onion, and a couple of leeks. There are also several white heirloom carrots and probably at least one onion and a couple of small potatoes left. We just recently picked up a bunch of frozen organic/free range chickens. We still have beef left. Plus, the organic farm down the road has finally opened its gates for U-pick strawberry season. My friends and I are really excited about this; we've been planning at least one outing to go pick strawberries, and they're finally ready! We'll go out and pick one day this week, then probably come back and make a bunch of strawberry jam/jelly. Looks like the Squeezo strainers will finally get some use, as will all the jelly jars I bought in preparation for this weeks ago.

I think I can manage to feed my family this week after all, despite the fact that I missed the farmers' market. Maybe I can be a writer and still eat, too.