All the vegetables: from Lower Valley Farm

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First, a little blog info … I have had to delete the Subscribe option. There is one more update needed before I can re-enable that. I heard from a few that a re-confirmation email was sent. Sorry! I will put a blurb on the sidebar when all is reset and again, sorry … but you will need to re-subscribe if you’d like to be notified of new posts. Meanwhile, I will be posting at least several times per week and maybe daily if only a photo or two. My Instagram is on “inactive” status although it appears it is viewable to followers … so I’m unclear what “Inactivate” did.

On to gorgeous vegetables and some Lower Valley Farm love!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBqTBYHDf_F/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Lower Valley Farm’s setup at Kalispell Farmer’s Market. I miss it very much. The Farm stand is there, I just will not attend market at the moment.

BUT, Jay and Mandy did NOT let COVID-19 stop them. They applied for and received a grant to allow them funds to buy software and labor to set up an online ordering system. I can login and select a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday “no contact” pickup of vegetables.

There’s more, but you can see how it works!
This photo is part of the farm, on my first visit in April. On 6 acres, they grow vegetables and a few fruits to feed a LOT of people. AND, they have researched soil and growing information so that all they grow is nutrient dense which also equates to FULL.OF.FLAVOR.

As a 1 human household, even a 1 human that tries to make all meals vegetable-centric, it can be a challenge to eat a “share” (actually partial share) of vegetables every week. I have learned a lot over the last 10 years that I’ve been buying and have a process for using and preserving … nothing goes to waste.

For me, the changes made with the online ordering, have been a silver lining of COVID-19. I am able to order online … what I know I will eat … pick up safely and have delicious vegetables. AND, what I buy is picked the morning before I pick it up. This means that what I buy, lasts for 2-2.5 weeks! I do have some containers and methods that I know from experience, work well to maintain various items.

Still, my experience with grocery store organics is that I am fortunate to get 3-7 days life, depending on the item. Yes, Lower Valley Farm is certified organic. And, I am supporting a local family as well as the people that they employ. I am happy to do that and thrilled that I have this available. In fact, the Flathead Valley, where I live, is home to a number of organic farms that do similar, i.e. there are a variety of options, no matter where you live in the valley, to eat well and support local agriculture. HOO-RAH!!

This week, 2.5 weeks after my last order … and I still have some kale, chard, collards … I ordered large:

I usually order for Thursday at the farm, but because of the holiday and not wanting to be out and about on Thursday afternoon before the Friday holiday AND because of the wonderful flexibility offered … I ordered for this afternoon at a location near the small, natural grocery I like …

So, in addition to the large direct order from Lower Valley Farm, I added micro radish from https://www.mountainvalleyfoods.com/ which is supplied by Lower Valley Farm: win-win. For the record, https://www.mountainvalleyfoods.com/ is local family owned and they have been super vigilant about safe protocol: masks, 10 people max in store, 1 way aisles and curbside option.

And lest we forget Auggie and Emmett (NEVER) … Chewy.com will be delivering this week.

We are all set for weeks. Seriously, I have been going to public grocery bi-tri-weekly as well as Lower Valley Farm bi-weekly. My love of cooking means I love to grocery shop, but having segued into longer intervals, I am finding that very freeing, so ???

Onward.

Auggie, Emmett and I wholeheartedly agree!!!

Sadly, although the public stuff is not happening, the private stuff is and it is the private stuff which gives us (me actually, as neither Auggie nor Emmett get upset about the noise…) grief. Bah, humbug!!