EATING Close to the Land
As I indicated in my first post, in addition to blogging about farm life in general, I intend to blog about food~ growing it, finding it locally, preparing it and, of course, EATING it. Though I have always been interested in and grew up eating regional foods, in the last few years I have focused on learning more about traditional ways of preparing locally produced foods. During this same time, by participating in the training provided by our county’s Cooperative Extension Service (in cooperation with North Carolina State University), I became a Master Gardener. This training not only set me on a path to expand my knowledge of plants and gardening, it also connected me to a great group of kindred spirits (my fellow Master Gardeners) who share not only their unique experiences and knowledge about gardening but also some fabulous recipes and tips on preserving and using fresh products. For more info about the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service or Master Gardener Training, you can go to: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu.
In addition to growing more of my own food, I have also been honing my culinary skills related to cooking wild game and fresh fish that are plentiful in the area where I live. Though I don’t hunt myself, I live on a farm just off the Roanoke River where for generations fish and game have been an important part of our culture as well as our diet. At home we particularly enjoy dishes which feature venison, wild duck, dove, rabbit, squirrel and all kinds of fish. On rare occasions, we have the opportunity to eat (and sometimes cook) raccoon, beaver, bear and other more exotic game. Over the past 25 years that I have been living on this farm, I have gathered a number of recipes for turning the game that we have into tasty dishes to feed my family and to share with friends. One of our favorite “wild concoctions” is my Roanoke River Chili which features five local products~ my tomatoes, peppers and venison, and red wine and honey from some local producers. A couple of years ago I entered my “land-based” chili in a local chili cook-off and was surprised to win first place.
In the case that I can’t produce my own food, when possible, I like to acquire fresh products that are grown in our region or at least in our state. I like the idea of acquiring food that is as fresh as possible as well as contributing to the regional economy. In order to get the freshest local products, I am particularly fond of roadside stands, “pick your own” farms, farmer’s markets and farm-to table networks. For me visiting these venues is like a kid “going to the candy store.” I love the rainbow of colors and the opportunity to learn from the producers as well as the opportunity to conduct a treasure hunt for some new produce that I haven’t tried before or some that has a limited season like figs or persimmons.
As I mentioned in my first posting (Carolina Carol on Food and Farm Life- December 2011), I am working on a cookbook which will contain regional recipes and stories. While I am completing my cookbook, I am hopeful of using this blog to develop a community of folks that want to talk about food, farm life and rural culture and community~ or “living close to the land”.
Hope this gives you some idea where I am going with this blog. My next post will be an actual game recipe. I tried a new duck recipe this past week and after sharing it with some friends, we thought it was a definite keeper. Hope that you will follow my blog and join me to “talk food and farm life” … and perhaps share this link with your friends.
Coming soon … Savory Duck Stew
Carolina Carol
My fellow Master Gardeners
- Posted in: cooking ♦ Food ♦ Uncategorized
- Tagged: chili recipe, cooking, cooking wild game, Cooperative Extension, culture, family, farm life, fish, food, fresh produce, gardening, gardens, locally grown produce, Master Gardener, plants, recipes, regional cookbook, Roanoke River, wild game
CLOSE TO THE LAND 
Carol, I love this! The kids and I want to start a small garden this spring. I could use all the help I can get. Would you be up for helping me get on the right track?
Thanks Steph! I would be happy to lend any help that I can. My best suggestion would be to contact your Wake County Cooperative Extension Service. They can offer you free soil tests (to determine if you need to amend your soil) and a good source of convenient, reliable horticultural information. Our county service is my best source of info. Just let me know if I can be of further assistance and Happy Gardening to you and your kids 🙂
Carol
I love this blog posting as well. I recently saw that Pitt County was opening up a new class for master gardeners and have been considering it. I don’t have a great background in gardening. Was that a problem for you or did you already have a great background? I also joined a CSA here in Pitt County last summer and found it to be a wonderful experience. We are doing it again this year. Keep the posts coming!
Hi Cathy~ great to hear from you. So glad that you asked about the MG class. One of the best things that I have done for myself in recent years. Not only did I enjoy the class but I loved getting to know all the fellow gardeners who are an eternal source of knowledge and inspiration (kindred spirits). I think that you would enjoy the class and NO, I didn’t have a vast gardening background. Like many of the others in my class, I had always just relied on trial and error as my teacher. Getting a little base knowledge is a much better way to go. Let me know if you take the class and do keep in touch 🙂
Thanks Carol,
Diane forwarded me your email. I enjoyed reading your blog and the comments from others on line. Our Master Gardener are in the process of putting together our display at “Rodeo”, big deal in San Antonio. I’ve volunteers to work the Master Gardener Booth on several night and youth demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday. We’re also in the process planning for the state wide Master Gardener Conference to be held here in San Antonio. Are you interested in coming? It will be in May. If so, I’ll send you more details.
I’m still involved with the Childrens Garden at the Botanical Gardens. I’m hooked!
Texas has two growing seasons – Spring and Fall. Believe it or not, the fall season is actually the best. Nothing can sustain the heat of the summer – except peppers. No wonder so much Mexican food is made with peppers.
I’m anxious to see what you have growing this year.
Are you planning anything for your father’s birthday? Gene is trying to put together a reunion and I told him it would be great if it could be on the same weekend as Bill’s birthday. Let me know what you have planned. I’ll try to fly in on that weekend.
Take care!
Garry
Happy that you checked out my blog. I would love to think that I could make it to your Texas Master Gardener Conference but with the completion of the house still 2 months or so out I am afraid that we will be still in the middle of moving in May. I will just play it by ear and see how things go. If it looks doable, I will let you know. Would so love to make it work. Glad that you are enjoying your volunteering. I find it to be very gratifying too. Looking forward to planting this year more than ever. Can’t wait for some fresh things to create meals around 🙂 We will definitely do something for Daddy’s birthday in September since this will be his 80th … his birthday is the 8th. Hope to be settled into the house by then. Pencil that weekend in on your calendar and I will keep you posted as our plans develop. Let’s be in touch in the coming weeks/months. Til we talk again … happy gardening 🙂