Down With Winter, Up With Veggies!

One of my favorite things about going to the community college in my hometown was that it was right across the street from the local farmer's market. This meant that at least once a week, I would come home from school with bags of fresh veggies: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, green beans, squash, beets -- all manner of good, healthy stuff. Depending on what was available that day, I would pick up things I didn't even know what to do with, just to challenge myself to try something new. There is absolutely nothing like fresh, locally grown produce, sold to you by the people who grew it. I miss that. I cruised through the Oakland farmer's market a handful of times last summer, but it just wasn't the same (although I can heartily recommend the Emerald Valley Artisan Cheese stand -- no seriously, check it out). This year I would love to grow some veggies in the backyard, but as my lease is up at the end of July and I don't yet know if I'll be renewing it, I'm a little iffy on investing in a garden. I'll have to see how things go. What is for damn certain, however, is that I am craving fresh produce. Spring/summer cannot come fast enough. Winter has overstayed its welcome in this town, and I am ready to see the sun again.