Come see me today at Tom’s Restaurant at 782 Washington Avenue in Prospect Heights! (We make Brooklyn Fudge at the kitchen at 766 Washington Avenue, and our office is next door at 768 Washington.) I will be at Ton's as I usually am most Saturdays, giving out samples of Brooklyn Fudge to people waiting on line. Have one of their legendary Egg Creams or Cherry Lime Rickies while you’re there. Comfort food always makes you feel better!
Tomorrow I’ll be going up to the Hudson Valley for Maple Weekend at Remsburger Maple Farm and Apiary. I met the Remsburger Family at the Chocolate Expo back in February, and thought they and their products were great. They often do events here in the city, and sell at the Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal Green Market. They make wonderful things such as Maple Cotton Candy, Maple Cream, and there will be a Pancake Breakfast and Maple Tree Tapping Demonstrations.
The Remsburgers have been maple farming in the Hudson Valley for several generations. I'm happy that people are turning away from industrial farming and really starting to support local farmers more and more now with the organic movement and the 100 mile diet.
Supporting local farmers and conserving the land is very important to me, because I grew up on a small farm that had been in my family for generations myself. Unfortunately, like much of the farmland within 50 – 75 miles of Washington DC, it is now a housing development. My heart will always be broken over this, but I do my best to find ways to transform tragedy and disaster into something positive whenever I can.
Much of the Virginia countryside around where I grew up has transformed into strip shopping centers and sub-divisions now, and we cannot bring that land back. But we can preserve farmland and countryside that has not been (over)developed yet. The way to do that is to support local farmers whenever you can by shopping at the Green Market, places you know source from local farmers, ordering from a CSA in your area, and getting involved with organizations like the Land Conservancy. This world sure could use more farms and fewer Chuck E. Cheeses!
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