1. Locally grown food tastes better

Food grown in the Treasure Valley was probably picked within the last day or two and is crisp, sweet, and loaded with flavor. Produce flown or trucked in from California, Mexico, China or New Zealand is much older and possibly picked green and gassed to coax ripening. We are lucky in Boise to have a staggering diversity of fruit orchards, 3 season vegetable farms, grass-fed beef & lamb, range fed poultry, fresh dairy and more.

2. Local produce is better for you

Fresh produce loses nutrients quickly, sugars turn to starches, plant cells shrink, and produce loses its vitality. Buying local lets you get food that is at the peak of flavor and nutritional value. Our bodies naturally crave seasonal crops, requiring more hearty potatoes and cabbages when weather turns colder, and lighter salad greens and cucumbers when it is warmer. Shopping locally tunes you in with the seasons.

3. Local Food Preserves Genetic Diversity

The modern industrial food system favors varieties with thick skins that can survive packing and shipping, leaving little variety. Family farmers place value on different things, like choosing varieties that are uniquely suited to the Treasure Valley, often favoring heirloom varieties that have been passed down from generation to generation. Old varieties contain genetic material from hundreds of years of human selection; they may someday provide the genes needed to create varieties that will thrive in a changing climate.

4. Local food is Genetically Modified Organism Free

A June 2001 survey by ABC News showed that 93% of Americans want labels on gmo food – most so that they can avoid it. Biotech companies currently only license gmo fruits and vegetables to large commercial growers, which means that local farmers will guarantee a non-gmo source.

5. Local food supports local farming families

We need to support talented and hardworking farm families from disappearing, as each 5 year agricultural census shows they are – less than 2% of the population is currently a farming family. A typical farmer gets paid 10 cents of the retail food dollar, but buying directly from the producer or conscientious retailer keeps more $ in their pocket and their family on the land. A few of our local farm families include: City Gardens, Earthly Delights, Rice Family Farms, M&M Heath Family Farm, Sunset Butte Organics, Ballard Cheese, Rolling Stone Goat Cheese , Jack Kleeb-Turkey Ridge Farm, Morning Owl Farm, Clover Leaf Dairy, The Mushroom Ranch, Canyon Bounty Farm, Purple Sage, H&H, Gastons Bakery, Granny’s Farms, Hard Ball Farm Pork, Lava Lakes Lamb, Meadowlark Farm and numerous others.

6. Local food builds community

Chat with Becky Morgan at Boise Urban Garden School (BUGS) or discuss heirloom wheat with Beth Rasgorshek at Canyon Bounty Farm – it’s a great connection for eater and grower. Knowing farmers gives you insight into the seasons, the weather, and the accessible miracle of raising food. Go to www.treasurevalleyfoodcoaltion.org for a complete listing of local farmers.

7. Local food preserves open space

When more people put their dollars into the pockets of farmers and show that their work is valuable, farmland becomes less likely to be developed. We face enormous pressures in the Treasure Valley with a high migration rate, putting our area at particular risk.

8. Local Food benefits wildlife

The habitat of a farm – the patchwork of fields, meadows, woods, ponds and buildings – is the perfect environment for many beloved species of wildlife, including bluebirds, herons, bats, rabbits, and eagles.

9. Local food supports a clean environment

If recent air quality alerts are any indication, land-use in our area may not always be in our collective best interest. A family farm however, is a place where resources like fertile soil, clean water and pollution free air are valued. According to some estimates, farmers who practice conservation tillage can sequester 12-14 % of the carbon emitted by vehicles and industry.

10. Local food is about the future

By supporting Treasure Valley farmers today, you can help ensure that there will be farms in our community tomorrow, and that future generations will enjoy all the jerusalem artichokes, heirloom potatoes, goat cheese, kale, eggs, strawberries, peaches, pasture raised poultry, grass fed dairy & beef and more that this region has to offer.

Think Local First

*List courtesy of Dave Krick, owner of Red Feather and Bittercreek restaurants

Happy Spring, everyone! We’re thrilled to offer a brand new series of classes for the home gardener, just in time for growing season! Three of our favorite local farmers will share their wisdom!

Classes are $20 each for Boise Co-op members, and $25 each for non-members.
Classes will be held at the Fort Boise Senior Activities Center, 690 W. Robbins Road (near the Elks Rehab Center). Space is limited, so sign up early! Please sign up at the Co-op Customer Service Desk, or by calling 472-4500. 

Growing Spectacular Vegetables
with Josie Erskine of Peaceful Belly Farm
Thursday, February 24, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
http://www.peacefulbelly.com
Always wanted to grow a vegetable garden but not know where to start? Have questions about tomatoes and all the different types? This class is for you. Come learn a few insider tricks on making your veggie garden rock. Josie Erskine from Peaceful Belly will pack as much information as she can in a class about veggie gardens and how to make yours better. We will talk about choosing the right plants for your yard. What compost to use. Drip irrigation systems and so much more.

Save Water and Go Native in Your Landscape
with Diane Jones of Draggin’ Wing Farm
Monday, February 28, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
http://www.waterthriftyplants.com
This class will provide you with the basics for transforming a traditional lawn-based landscape into a yard with more beauty, more life but less water and less work! Slides will be used to illustrate different approaches to xeriscaping (“xeri”=”dry”), including the appropriate use of native plants.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Boise Urban Garden School (BUGS) is an incredible local organization that engages youth, their families, classrooms and community through organic gardening.  This learning environment is instrumental in providing much needed education about the benefits of a sustainable local food system, overall personal nutrition and health, environmental protection and awareness, and the importance of community-mindedness in the development of a local, sustainable economy.  

Boise Urban Garden School is now offering Adult/Family Workshops for 2010!! Check out this great line-up:

January 23: Home Composting

The ultimate approach to “reduce (your curbside garbage), reuse (your nutrients), recycle (your waste).” And it’s not icky!

January 30: Backyard Chickens

Food, Fertilizer & Pest Control – your complete introduction to raising this amazing food source (and great pet), family-style!

February 20: Square Foot Gardening

Sustainable, intensive backyard gardening that’s fun for everyone. Great for that “postage stamp” yard, and big gardens too!

March 20: Pest Management

Techniques to beat the bugs without the chemicals for a healthier family, healthier pets, and a healthier environment.

September 18: Preservation I

Saving the harvest for winter. Freezing and canning techniques for better eating all year long.

October 2: Preservation II

Using solar dehydrators to store up more of the harvest. Drying techniques for winter nutrition and great taste.

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Sign up now to take part in these wonderful, sustainable community classes!  Workshops will meet from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Backyard Chickens will be held at the instructor’s home, 5323 Hill Rd.  All other classes will be held at the BUGS site, at 4821 W. Franklin Rd. Cost per class is $40. Kids and spouses are free! Reserve your place NOW by sending a check (and noting the desired workshops on the check) to Boise Urban Garden School, P.O. Box 833, Boise, ID 83701.

More information is also available at www.boiseurbangardenschool.org or by contacting Susan Medlin at ssmedlin@peoplepc.com

For over 100 years, the Treasure Valley Family YMCA has been providing young people with lasting memories in their resident camping programs in Valley County. Amidst the beauty of nature, Y Camp has always promoted the YMCA’s core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

The Y has now entered into an exciting new era with the opening of YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir this past summer! Only occasionally in the past 50 years has a new Y Camp been built in the United States, and this rare opportunity to create one in the mountains of Idaho is something everyone in our region can be proud of.

Operating Y Camp is a costly venture, and the Boise Co-op wants to help the YMCA continue to provide this incredible opportunity to families in our area. So, on November 10, we will donate 4% of our net sales for the entire day to this program. Please mark you calendar and plan to shop your socks off that day!

The milk in glass bottles is back!!!

Cloverleaf Creamery is a family-owned farm out of Buhl, Idaho.   As weather permits, the farm is home to roughly 70 cows, all 100% pasture raised registered Holsteins.  The cows are always pampered and given the best possible feed and care.  Every one of them has a name!  Because of the care and consideration given the animals, the Cloverleaf cows live and milk well into their teenage years.  Lots of pride is taken in this family run operation.

Milk is always hormone and antibiotic-free.  Whole milk is non-homogenized with a cream top!  Delicious and good for you, good for the cows!!!