Local Food Systems
Our local food systems is composed of lots of different elements. There's production, how the food is grown. It includes seeds, soil fertility, pest control, farmers, ranchers, fishermen, the equipment used to till the soil and harvest the crop, the energy used, farmers markets, grocery stores and what we do with the waste.
HomeGrown Poultry co-owner Janie Burns has created a series of cartoons to show a different side of our food system. Take a look.
Cartoons by Janie Burns about our local food system
View the different cartoons about Idaho's Local food SystemA Boise Weekly Article about the Cartoons and Local Food Systems
Local restaurants
If you find yourself in downtown Boise wondering where to eat, you'll get great food and great atmosphere at the Bittercreek Ale House and Red Feather Lounge. Owner Dave Krick goes out of his way to support local farmers, including us. In 2008, his 2 restaurants purchased about 25% of their food from local farmers. He has a composting worm bin in the basement, and a wine menu that tells you the mileage each wine travelled. He and his staff are also doing a lot of not-so-glamorous stuff that adds up to a more sustainable world. Pick Red Feather for a quiet night out or Bittercreek for a pub experience. www.justeatlocal.comWhen in Nampa, Brick 29 Bistro in the old Masonic Temple at 4th St. South and 11 Ave. South is a good choice. Chef / owner Dustan Bristol uses as much local food as he can locate.
Boise Coop
Co-owner Jack Kleeb supplies the meat department with his eggs and poultry. They are great supporters of local foods.
Idaho's Bounty
If you can't make it to the farmers' markets and can't find locally-grown food anywhere else, try Idaho's Bounty, a web-based local food distribution system. You go on-line, find the food you want, read about the people growing it and order. Right now they are delivering every two weeks to the Wood River Valley and to Boise. It's a new way to link the farmer and the eater. Idaho's Bounty - Local Food for Local PeopleCSA
Farmers markets
Idaho State Department of Agriculture:The Idaho Preferred Local Marketing
Festivals and Market Information
Sustainable Community Connections
Think Boise FirstOther Great Local Sites
www.PastureProper.com Their mission: It’s simple: Help small farms and ranches become sustainable and produce good for you, good to eat, food. We work with family owned ranches throughout the Pacific Northwest educating, consulting, and certifying Pasture Proper™ food.www.canyonbountyfarm.com Our friend Beth Rasgorshek grows amazing organic veggie starts, organic seeds, and grinds her own organic wheat into flour. Check out her website for greenhouse hours and dates.
www.morningowlfarm.com Another good friend, Mary Rohlfing, is Idaho's duck queen, selling eggs and duck egg quiches.
Know any other great local food system sites? Let us know through the query on the FAQ page.