I’ve always found that eggs are the hardest thing to get locally. The farmers markets are always sold out unless I arrive right at opening, and they are ridiculously expensive unless I find a neighbor who raises hens. Everyone wants eggs, it seems, putting them in really high demand. Of course, whenever something is hard to get from someone else, my immediate response is to figure out how I can make it myself (or get a hen to make it for me).

If you live in Fairfield County Connecticut, Greater Boston and near Stratton & Okemo Mountains in Vermont, you’re in luck, because Graze will deliver artisanal, sustainable Vermont meats and dairy right to your doorstep, and you can order them whenever it is most convenient for you. They’ll even send you wholesome, prepared meals to save you the trouble of cooking. And they’ll do it all without burning a hole in your wallet.

We’re deep into the apple season now in the Northeast, and with all the delicious varieties available at the farmers markets, we need a few ideas of what to do with them besides just eating the doctor’s prescribed one-a-day. Pies, sauce, crumble, muffins, breads, salads…the possibilities are endless! The first thing to know before you start cutting up your pomes is that certain apples are better for specific recipes than others.

Fall is by far my favorite season, and not just because you can find my birthday in it. The scarves and jackets, the crisp air and rusty smell, the brilliant colors all around, and of course the harvest vegetables! Here’s a toasty autumnal soup to warm you on a bright, breezy day.

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on earth, and it is notoriously challenging to contain. But if you master some simple harvesting techniques, it could be covering your plate instead of your yard.

During my senior year in college, I took a Social Philosophy class in which we read Bill McKibben’s Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future. In this book, McKibben discusses sustainability at length, and embarks on an experiment in which he eats nothing but locally-grown food for a year.

In the ensuing years, I have learned a lot about sustainable cuisine. Now I am a mother, and I feel it is my duty to teach my son about this, as well. It’s not always easy to engage a three-year-old in adult lifestyle choices, but I am making headway.

Perhaps tossed salads are one of the easiest dishes to prepare, as they are simply a mixture of various chopped vegetables, but when one hits upon a delicious and visually pleasing combination, it only seems right to share. 90% of this salad came straight from the farmers’ market, through a few rinse cycles, and into my bowl. The rest was pantry basics.

With summer in full swing, strawberries are literally choking the farmers markets. We at Farm to Table put out a call for a way to make use of all these delicious, sun-soaked berries. This recipe is perfect not only because it is something other than the traditional strawberries and cream, a pie, or jam, but because it’s also a frozen treat, making it the perfect summer refreshment. And you can use any kind of berry you find in season at your local market! Enjoy.

“What advice do you have for someone who would like to incorporate more local foods into his or her diet but isn’t sure where to begin?”

That’s a question I’ve been asked frequently, and it deserves more attention than I can usually give it in the context of a quick take-away response.

Maybe you found your way to this website because you have the same question. Or maybe you’re already deeply committed to the local/organic/sustainable food movement, and would like to help others just starting out on that path. Let’s take clear look at how to get started.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization specializing in research and advocacy related to public health and the environment, has released its 2011 updated “Dirty Dozen” list of the 12 fruits and vegetables containing the most pesticides. Topping this year’s list? Apples. This begs the question, “Can eating an apple a day really keep the doctor away?”

The answer may lie in where you get your apples.