Think long-term: Think about when different produce  will become available and make a plan for how you can process or store various fruits and vegetables when they will be at peak of their flavor and ripeness.

Dry it, freeze it, can it or ferment it. There are many ways that you can “put by” or store produce when it is in season so that it will be available to you year round.  If you aren’t familiar with these techniques, maybe now is the time to learn.  Both MOFGA and the UMaine Co-operative Extension offer workshops on food preservation, or you can find how-to materials at your local library.

Stock up!: Buy an abundance of produce when it is in season.  It will save you money and make you feel rich in food security when you bring home that bushel of onions.

Consider joining a CSA. A Community Supported Agriculture program can keep you in fresh produce throughout the year.  And you get the benefit of knowing that you are directly supporting the livelihood of another member of your community.  Put a face with your food!  To find a Community Supported Agriculture program near you, pick up a handout at the Co-op or download a list of CSA’s sorted by county from MOFGA’s website:  www.mofga.org

Grow it! Imagine being able to eat your very own locally grown food this year.  You could grow a small container garden on your porch, convert some of your lawn into an edible landscape, or join or start a community garden.  A small windowsill herb garden could be kept going through the winter so you have fresh seasonings throughout the year.  Contact  Carolyn Pressley or Marshall Mittnick at 338-0842  for more information about the community garden project in Belfast.

Clean out your closet. A closet in an unheated room of your house could be the perfect area for storing an abundance of root crops during the winter.  Get ready by finding a new home for closet clutter and read up about innovative methods for winter storage.  Try Root Cellaring by Mike and Nancy Bubel.

Talk to your farmers: Farmers may have other products that they don’t make available for sale at market, or might be able to sell to you in bulk quantities.  Farmers are also often in touch with other producers and growers that you don’t see at your local farmer’s market and could put you in touch with other resources for local ingredients that you are looking for.

Ask at a Food Co-op: Your local food co-op buys from many local growers. Don’t hesitate to ask about pre-ordering local foods in bulk when they are in season. Sometimes we can also special order items that are not on the shelf.