Hi all (or, as it’s said around these parts- these parts being the outskirts of Asheville, NC- “Hey Ya’ll”) . Ashley English here. I’m enormously honored to offer today the first of a new weekly column for Design Sponge, Small Measures with Ashley. As a nod to the simple, accessible suggestions for sustainable living that I offer on my blog of the same name, each week I’ll bring you information, hints, links, suggestions, and assorted and sundry musings on simple ways of treading a bit more lightly on the planet. This could manifest as everything from using cloth napkins instead of disposables, to hanging your laundry out to air dry, to where to find biodegradable bags for your pet’s “business.” It could also be a link to a blog or organization promoting sustainable and conscientious practices. It might also just be something as basic, yet essential, as remembering to smile at strangers (I’m personally a big fan of winking at kids after I tell them something especially goofy or sharing a wink and a grin with a senior I might meet in line at the grocery store).
This week, for my first Small Measure, I’d like to draw your attention to farmer’s markets. Whether you live in Brooklyn or Bozeman, you can most likely find a farmer’s market nearby. Although I keep chickens and have a vegetable and herb garden, and even though I’m 10 miles from town, I still make the trip to a market or two just to see what unexpected veggie or pasta or pastry or fig tree someone might be proffering.
CLICK HERE for the rest of Ashley’s post after the jump!
Here in Asheville, we’re fortunate to have a community of thriving local farmer’s markets. In fact, the whole of Western North Carolina, thanks to the efforts of area non-profit A.S.A.P. (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) , offers farmer’s markets in every county, with many counties featuring multiple markets on different days of the week. A recent visit to Asheville’s downtown Saturday market found me loading my shopping bags with Farm and Sparrow croissants (sweet with local berries and savory with green beans, cherry tomatoes, yellow squash and cheese-I die, folks, I DIE!), goat cheese with Herbs de Provence, a lavender and honey cupcake, and golden cherry tomatoes that would be just as well-placed in a crystal candy bowl as they would be tossed into a salad with some arugula.
If you’d like to find what tasty morsels, intriguing eye candy, and curious people-watching (not to mention pet-viewing) might be had in your area, check out Local Harvest for a state-by-state listing. You can also search the USDA website for listings. Farmer’s markets aren’t just a scrumptious way to pass the time. By patronizing local farms, you aid in reduced consumption of fossil fuels (otherwise used for long-distance transit and refrigeration), assist in keeping your local economy strong and viable, encourage the next wave of farmers that their livelihood is worthwhile and financially prudent, and get to know the people who grow your food. You truly are what you eat, so why not make sure it tastes good to you AND benefits those that take the time and devoted attention to keep us all thriving?
About Small Measure: The core idea behind Small Measure is that making environmentally sensible lifestyle choices need not be daunting. There are simple, daily gestures individuals can take to benefit themselves, their families, their communities, and the planet as a whole. Small Measure chronicles the triumphs, attempts, and challenges of one person in her attempt at living with deliberate awareness of the world around her, offering tidbits of seasoned wisdom and advice for others along the way .
30 Comments
I wish I could try one of those Farm and Sparrow croissants right now! Well, two actually – one savory, one sweet. Yum.
I look forward to reading your weekly column!
I’ve been enjoying local offerings a lot lately. Besides the ethical advantage, the taste is second to none. It’s difficult to get local produce in winter in Canada so this time of year is truly special and worth making the most of!
Wonderful new weekly column! I’m excited for it’s progress! I love farmer’s markets and have friends who either sell at them or run small CSA programs. Support! Fresh produce and goats cheese….magic.
These pictures make my heart flutter and my mouth water. Thanks so much for what you do!
yay this makes me more excited to go to the farmer’s market tomorrow morning!
I’m SO pleased to see D*S now covering these important topics, and I look forward to seeing Ashley’s weekly contributions. This post is just the reminder I needed to add my local market to my weekend agenda. It’s always such a treat to see the season progress in such a tangible way.
This is not just a way of life. This is a movement to get America healthy. Thanks for being a leader.
thanks nicole-
ashley is my “living better” idol so i felt it was only right to go straight to my inspiration source for the column. i try to know as much about design as possible, but i really love getting to bring in experts like her to discuss other topics on d*s.
grace :)
What beautiful photos! Very happy to see you’ll be doing a weekly column on sustainable living–a topic that’s so important and means a lot to me.
I love heading to the local farmer’s market in Raleigh, but will have to stop by the one in downtown Asheville the next time I’m up that way. Though we have plenty of excellent vendors down in the piedmont – I can’t say we have anything as amazing as those croissants. Yummy!
What a gorgeous post! It made me very excited to see a post about Asheville, I am an alum of Warren Wilson College and actually worked for a local honey farm, Spicewood Farm and sold their honey at the Asheville City Market. Yay for local farming/eating!
As much as I adored your first design*sponge post, it was miserably unfair that it appeared on Friday instead of Saturday when the market is open! I suppose I shall have visions of plum tomatoes in my head until tomorrow morning. *sigh* Congrats on a perfect debut!
I’ll be a regular reader. I was already pleased to find out that a friend’s contributing to my favorite blog–and then I read your great post, with mentions of ASAP and Asheville City Market. An addition to your comment for local readers: To find markets in the Southern Appalachians, go to http://www.buyappalachian.org and search tailgate markets (or a number of other categories) in the online Local Food Guide.
mmm these all look so delish! I just got back from my local market this afternoon and can’t wait to dig in. Great post!
Hi Ashley! I’m pretty stoked to see this new feature on DS. And also pretty excited that its being written by someone so close to home. I live close to Asheville, myself. Can’t wait to see your ideas.
Oh, we’re growing purple beans (and carrots, and blue pototaoes…!) in our garden this year, and the ones we’ve gotten are DElicious. Homegrown/local is the best.
I am psychic!!!! I was only thinking yesterday about what could make the perfect blog even more perfect and i thought an environmental, sustainable column would be perfect and voila!! Thank you, thank you for now creating my absolute, 100% perfect blog!
This new weekly column is great! I can’t wait to see all the tips and ideas Ashley will be sharing. Living simply is something my family and I strive for everyday, so I’m glad to see this brought to Design Sponge!
Ashley,
Sweet to see you doing what you do best- creating kind moments around simple living. Your gentle way is sure to fill many lives with the very recipe most desired. I will be checking in every week to see what you bring to the table!
Steve Rothrock
I love the new column! Nice to see more appreciation for our fabulous farmer’s markets. Great photos, too!
Thanks to you Ashley for the mention of drying clothes on the line! If we all used a clothesline for 5 months out of the year we would reduce our co2 emissions by 3%. Such a simple thing and those pricey jeans last so much longer!
Of all the new additions/members to d*s – and they’re ALL great – I love Ashley’s site the most. I’m all for green living. This just made the simple, tasteful designs you publish on d*s even more beautiful.
So glad to see this great new addition to d*s…and Ashley’s blog is stunning! I had just visited my local farmer’s market in Toronto before seeing her post. Perfect timing…
wow, all those beautiful veggies are so tempting…I feel a late night salad craving coming on!
Inspired!
What a gorgeous collage of photos. It reminds me of the Eames House of Cards…gorgeous images alone and even more sublime as a group. Love it!
I was stupidly surprised when the purple-beans, aka green beans turned [well, green!] upon hitting blanche-temperature water…when you think you know “it all” about in season food, the farmers market is your trusty, always-there teacher. love the photos.
Helloooooooo Ashley ! What a great column! So much info and what GREAT PHOTOS ! Keep on writing cause I’m hooked on you!!!! I really like your down to earth style and free flowing informative way of expressing yourself. I’m looking forward to many more interesting columns. DA(MOM)
Wonderful photography! Thank you Ashley for your enthusiasm and for sharing your passions. You are an inspiration! I love your “Small Measures” blog and now we get to read more on DS! I feel so fortunate to live in Asheville with all of the wonderful markets and farms so near!
Hi Ashley! Chris from Lark Books recommended your site to me. It’s goregeous!
-AlizaEss
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