By Andrea Grom
On Wednesday, April 22nd, we celebrate Earth Day. Our beautiful world is a fragile one and it very much needs our help. On Earth Day, we are called to work together to create cleaner, more sustainable communities and environments. No effort is too small to benefit our planet.
Supporting your local farmers’ market is one of the best ways to help the earth. Consider this: produce and meat travel an average of 1,100-2,000 miles to your neighborhood supermarket. In contrast, meat and produce from your farmers’ market travel an average of 50-150 miles to reach your table. It’s a huge energy savings to buy local!
Vendors at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market are especially dedicated to sustainability. For example, all of our meat vendors raise their animals on pasture. Rotational grazing improves soil fertility and water retention, promotes animal health, and reduces emissions. Most of our vegetable and fruit vendors use eco-friendly growing practices, including natural fertilizers, no-till or minimum-till methods, and cover crops or compost to build healthier soils. The majority of our prepared food vendors limit their use of plastics, opting for compostable packaging instead.
Our farmers and producers are environmental innovators as well. Longlesson Farm uses gravity-fed tanks to capture spring water for their herds. Grazin’ Acres will be installing tanks to capture run-off water for irrigating vegetables and will let their pigs graze in the forest. The pigs will clear brush, allowing native grasses to grow and opening the forest canopy. The Mushroom Shop puts a natural byproduct (wood shavings and soy hulls) in biodegradable bags to grow stunning mushrooms. Their spent, mycelium-rich substrate enriches a local farmer’s vegetable fields. Our vegetable, flower and fruit farmers use drip-tape to irrigate their crops, which conserves water. Lovin’ Mama Farm grows a variety of flowers attract native pollinators. Parchment and Daily Fresh work with local municipalities to compost food scraps. Katie Bakes Gluten Free repurposes leftover bread into croutons and crackers, reducing food waste. The Argyle Cheese Farmer adds whey, a protein-rich byproduct of cheesemaking, to their baked good and pizzas. Truly, our farmers and producers go the extra mile to care for the earth.
Every dollar spent at the farmers’ not only supports our local economy, it gives farmers and producers the resources to conduct ecologically-responsible businesses. Thank you for helping us to help the planet!
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Wilton Mall through April 25. Beginning in May, the market moves outdoors to High Rock Park, open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. Visit us at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket.
