Local Farms and Local Foods

Sharing this photo will you has been on my list of things to-do since Wednesday evening.  Better late than never.  Local ingredients!

We have spent the last year searching local farms for the staples that our kitchen needs and loves.  All of the above items came my way within three days of each other and this photo makes me incredibly happy. When you decide to quit supporting big name companies and are ready to support our local farmers, you will know where to go.

That big jar of honey?  It came to me through a friend who is the friend of the producer.  Make sense?  It's from Rice's Bee Farm located on Arrowhead Rd in St. Stephen, SC.  I haven't been to this farm personally but their honey comes highly recommended.  Actually, I can highly recommend it now, too!  I can't find a website but I do have a phone number...843.567.3991.  

Goat cheese didn't used to be on my list of favorites but it has grown on me in leaps and bounds in the past year.  Maybe it's the fact that it is locally produced or the fact that it is so versatile in the kitchen~I don't know but we love it!  This block comes from Burden Creek Dairy on Johns Island.  It's made fresh on their farm and contains only pasteurized goat milk, cultures and vegetable rennet.  We went with the Herbs de Provence variety but they did have a few others.  Click on the Burden Creek Dairy link above and you can read all about their farm and their goats.  Interesting story and they are open to the public on Sundays at 4:30.

The peppers came from the Livingston's farm Wabi Sabi.  A newer farm to the area, they are making a go of selling fresh vegetables, shrimp and clams and my, are they dedicated.  Rumor has it that this incredible couple is also taking over the management of our Moncks Corner Farmers Market.  YEAH!  They have peppers galore right now and I've been using them in everything the past two days.  The eggs came from them but not their farm.  They do have chickens but not a supply of eggs yet.  A neighbor sells eggs and Jo hooked us up.  We now have two dozen fresh eggs every week.

Okay.  So, there you have it~this week's discoveries in terms of local producers.  Isn't life amazing?  We set out on this mission to find local ingredients and the more we search, the more we are learning. 

I am spending this Saturday morning at home~laundry, coffee, pj's, reading.  Much needed down-time after a crazy, full-tilt, kind of week.  Off to enjoy some Charleston Restaurant Week adventures this evening.  Happy Saturday from Charleston Treasures!!