C’mon Home To Eat month in October is not just about the individual challenge of eating as locally as you can go, but about community. The October activity calendar sponsored by AV Foodshed offers a myriad of opportunities to join with other locals in conversations over a meal, a workshop, gathering local food, pressing cider, or meeting the farmers.

Whether you choose produce from your own garden, your neighbors, the Farmers’ Market, farm stands, markets, and/or come to the planned C’mon activities, this celebration encourages you to enjoy the bounty of the Anderson Valley harvest in October and beyond.

C’mon, Once Again 2019

October means chilled sun gold tomato soup, late season raspberries, pumpkin cake, and a whole collection of summer bounty stored on your shelves and freezers. Anderson Valley Foodshed’s 14 th annual C’mon Home To Eat in October 2019 has begun! Will you take the challenge to eat locally produced food for the month of October? … and beyond? Eating local, fresh food has its distinct advantages to your overall health, the community, and our local economy. You can know the farmer who grows your food. Thinking about climate change, eating locally can be your contribution to reducing fossil fuel use and working towards zero waste.

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The celebration to begin this month-long challenge and pleasure of eating locally will be October 4 th at the year’s final Boonville Farmers’ Market at the Disco Ranch in Boonville from 4-7 p.m. When you make a purchase from any of the vendors you will receive a raffle ticket to enter a drawing at the end of the market. Raffle prizes are a dinner for two at the Boonville Hotel, a magnum of champagne from Disco Ranch, a Boonville Farmers’ Market apron, and a BFM T-shirt. Lama will have the double-decade BFM scrapbook at the manager’s table so you can see some classic shots of the local markets in the past—you might be featured in one!

At this end-of-the-season BFM you can not only purchase a wide selection of veggies, fruits, olive oil, mushrooms, meat, eggs, melons, maybe avocados, and sunflower/radish sprouts, but there will also be children’s activities, music, and an end-of-the-season potluck at 6:00 and live music. Bring your favorite food dish, your BYO plate/utensils/cup and relax with other community members and enjoy. The Foodshed’s apple press will be there for you to bring your apples to make your own fresh apple cider. If you have not pressed cider before, there will be an assistant to show you how. Just bring apples and containers for your juice.

Local food in Anderson Valley is all around you. Farm stands are strategically placed:

 Apple Farm--Philo

 Blue Meadow—Philo

 Brock Farm—Boonville

 Gowan’s--Philo

 Petit Teton—Yorkville

 Seebass--Boonville

 Velma’s—Boonville

The restaurants/cafes that use local ingredients are numerous—The Bewildered Pig, Boont Berry Farm, The Boonville Hotel (Table 128), Lauren’s, Mosswood, Paysanne, Pennyroyal Farm, Poleeko Roadhouse, Stone and Embers, and the Yorkville Market. Check the menus for local ingredients.

Stores that carry local products are Anderson Valley Market, Boont Berry, Lemon’s Market, and the Yorkville Market. Don’t forget to stock up on the Mendocino County Grain Project’s fine flours for your baking needs.

Local nights at restaurants and other events will be listed as they arise. You don’t need to wait for an event—eat locally at home, invite others over to celebrate your favorite recipes, or share your own garden produce. Want a weekly update centered on local food and events?

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