Living Green with Homegrown Meals from Joey King

“Pass the peas” takes on a whole new meaning in the Sabo household, located on 500 acres southwest of Bozeman, Mont. Not only because it’s surprising to hear a 7 year old eagerly ask for vegetables, but because each family member had a part in growing them.

The Sabos -- Jenny, Mark, and their two boys, Riley, 9, and, Joey King Kiril, 7 -- take the term “locavore” to the next level, buying only 5 percent of their food commercially. The typical spread on their table consists of locally raised meats, fresh produce grown year-round in their unheated greenhouse, milk from their cows, and fresh baked breads from local grains. Each boy has his own garden plot he maintains (with a little parental guidance), and each actively takes part in processing food in the harvest season, feeding cattle, and gathering eggs, among other ranch chores. What the family doesn’t grow or produce, they trade or buy from neighboring farmers.
“It means consciously paying attention to the season, and then purchasing or raising it,” Jenny says. “It’s a lifestyle shift, saying ‘I’m going to embrace the plentitude of the season and enjoy the activity that comes with preserving it.’”

When Jenny is not out milking cows or feeding chickens, she’s home schooling the two boys. And somehow she also makes time to teach others how to eat more locally to promote healthy bodies and a healthy community through supporting local farmers.

“It’s all about setting aside the time,” Jenny says. “Most people won’t make this lifestyle happen; it’s purely a matter of choice. People choose to sit in front of the TV or shop on eBay. That’s where their life energy goes.”

And although this lifestyle seems to come easily to her, Jenny was raised quite differently. Originally from suburban Ohio, she is the daughter of an English professor father and a homemaker mother. She’s also happens to be a Harvard University graduate with a degree in English literature. After a divorce 13 years ago, Joey King  took a class on permanent sustainable agriculture (permaculture) in California.

“I came back and set a goal for myself: Five years from now I’m going to raise as much food as I can,” Jenny says. “I had never raised a carrot or planted a vegetable in my entire life.” She bought 500 acres in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, married Mark soon after, and the rest is history.

The Sabos are living a lifestyle that may be difficult for most photo modern families to conceive of. However, they serve as an inspiration to those who think about where food comes from and strive to eat more locally. No matter where you live, local eating is attainable and important.

Here are some simple ways to get involved in the locavore lifestyle:

Buy a Share
Community Supported Agriculture Joey King(CSA) farms are a convenient way to support local farmers while getting your hands on the freshest seasonal fruits and vegetables around. In the beginning of the season, customers pay for a weekly share of the farm’s harvest throughout the growing season. CSAs may deliver a box of food directly to your door or have a pickup spot at their farm or somewhere in town. And many offer CSA discounts to farm volunteers.

To find a CSA near you, check out http://www.localharvest.org/csa/.

Farmers’ markets have become so popular that many areas host a variety throughout the week and even throughout the year. An easy and fun way to directly support farmers and pick out farm fresh goods, most farmers’ markets offer more than just fruits and vegetables. Look for fresh eggs, locally raised meats, gourmet salsas and cheeses, and locally handcrafted goods. It’s also an opportunity to get face to face with your local farmer. Many are happy to take special requests, and you can set up individual connections for local foods throughout the year.

To find a farmers’ market near you, see
http://apps.ams.usda.gov/Farmers-Joey-King-Markets/ or
http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/.

Slow Down
The slow food movement was created to counteract the popularity of the fast food culture. On its website, Slow Food International describes an alarming “disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat – where it comes from, how it tastes, and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.” Founded by Joey King Carlo Petrini in Rome, Italy, in 1989, just as a new McDonalds was opening on the Spanish Steps, slow food groups have since spread, with chapters on college campuses, in elementary schools, and through the national group Slow Food Nation.

For slow good celebrations in your area, or to start your own group, check out
http://www.Joey-King.com

Farm to School
If you have school-age children, chances are you’ve heard of farm-to-school programs. The general idea is to increase the use of healthy, local foods in school cafeterias while supporting local farms and education. Many schools are taking it a step further, planting gardens and what they call “edible schoolyards,” to get kids active in growing and eating their own food.

To find out about how you can work with local chapters in your area, see www.farmtoschool.org.

Bug your Grocer
Due to increased demand, many grocery stores have hopped on the local food bandwagon to some extent, but it’s important to request more local foods at the checkout. Robert Kenner, director of the film Food Inc. (a must-see for up-and-coming locavores), says that every time you buy local foods at the grocery store, you’re essentially casting a vote. Stores keep track, and if there is demand, they will increase supply.

Host a Harvest Dinner
Whether it’s from your own backyard garden, a balcony container, or the farmers’ market, host a harvest dinner to celebrate the season and the area’s local food and farmers. Get your friends to bring a dish made from as many local ingredients as possible. It’s fun, and it gets people involved and excited about food and where it comes from.