Information meeting with Avalon Acres June 2

If you are interested in joining the Avalon Acres CSA there is an informational meeting at 6 p.m. June 2 at the South Cheatham Library in Kingston Springs.

If enough people enroll, the farm will drop off meat, eggs and produce in Kingston Springs between 10 a.m. and 10:45 on Sunday mornings.

Please refer to the Avalon Acres site for more information and pricing.

Delvin Farms Spring Covered Dish picnic

The organic farm in Williamson County is having a covered dish picnic from 2 to 6 p.m. tomorrow, Sunday May 25 at their farm. The picnic is for their CSA members and anyone interested in learning more about Delvin Farms. Bring a covered dish with copies of the recipe, meet the farms and pick strawberries out of the patch.

For more information, contact the farm.

Avalon Acres considers Kingston Springs drop-off site

Kingston Springs residents who are spearheading a campaign to bring local farm goods to town have secured the interest of Avalon Acres Farm.

The Howenwald-based farm practices sustainable and organic methods to bring fresh produce and safe meats, such as chicken, turkey and pork, to market.

Owner Tim Bodnar says he would like to make Kingston Springs a drop-off point and could do so if enough households sign up to purchase goods.

Avalon Acres is a CSA, short for “community supported agriculture.” Residents pay a seasonal fee and receive weekly deliveries of farm fresh in-season produce and pasture-raised meats.

Currently, the closest Avalon Acres drop off point is in Nashville, as are the drop-offs for most other local CSAs.

If you would like to participate please contact Avalon Acres at farmer@avalon-acres.com or call 931-628-2476. You also can register on-line at Avalon-Acres.com.

Linda Bush of Kingston Springs has organized two monthly dinners in town to promote Tennessee food goods. This month’s dinner was hosted by Cat Carter at the Cliff View Golf Course and attended by more than 15 residents who brought salads, pastas, eggs and pies made by local producers and farmed by local growers.

The group has quickly found, though, that it isn’t easy or quick to find a great variety of local foods in grocery stores, which is why Bush is encouraging residents to support Avalon Acres, any other CSA who would like to make Kingston Springs a drop-off point, or local farmer’s markets.

The group will be meeting the third Friday of every month to enjoy a potluck meal and brainstorm ideas for starting a food-buying club and farmer’s market, where local residents with extra vegetables, herbs and flowers can come to sell.

For more information on the monthly dinner check back here soon.

Contact Studio Mills downtown for more information about the art and farmer’s market, which will debut June 7.

CSAs with pick-up locations convenient to K.S.

Peaceful Pastures
Fresh Harvest Cooperative
Barefoot Farmer

Paradise Produce (no web site)
paradiseproduce at yahoo dot com

Creating a farmer's market and co-op in Kingston Springs

A group of Kingston Springs residents that aims to join farmers and residents to create a local farmer’s market and food co-op needs community feedback and support.

“We want to get people together who want good, clean food at a fair cost,’’ said organizer Linda Bush.

An informational meeting and potluck will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, May 16 at the Cliff View Golf Course and Driving Range.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to bring a covered dish, preferably something locally grown. The food may be purchased at a store. Residents are asked to bring a reusable plate, fork and cloth napkin, rather than plastic or paper utensils.

The first meeting was held last month at Bush’s home and attended by a dozen people inspired to improve their health, reduce consumption, support local farmers and enjoy the beautiful food and produce grown in this abundant region.

Some of the foods of the feast included goat cheese from Bonnie Blue Farm, eggs from chickens raised in Kingston Springs, ostrich meat raised on Mt. Pleasant Road, Tennessee wine, a pear and gorgonzola savory cheesecake from Savory Secret and fresh pasta from Lazzaroli’s, both of Nashville.

Some of the foods came right from the growers and producers and some came from Whole Foods in Nashville.

Bush and fellow organizer Catherine Carter say their group envisions a few ways to make locally grown food available in Kingston Springs:

- Start a farmer’s market. Already a couple of downtown locations have offered the space.

- Find a location for a dry goods co-op and produce store.

- Convince farmers to make Kingston Springs, or South Cheatham, a drop-off point for their CSAs, also known as Community Supported Agriculture.

Community Supported Agriculture, growing in popularity in Tennessee and across the country, allows local farmers to contract with buyers to provide food such as vegetables, meat and fruit during a growing season.

The benefit to the consumer is a healthier diet of mostly organic and bio-diverse foods, in addition to preserving beautiful farm lands and supporting the local economy.

During a recent two-day planning meeting with the American Institute of Architects, many Kingston Springs residents in attendance expressed interest in supporting a local farmer’s and artist’s market downtown. This might be the first step toward that goal, organizers believe.

In Middle Tennessee, most CSA farmers have drop-off points in Nashville and Williamson County. Some farmers with land and business closer to Cheatham County make the weekly trek to the Franklin Farmer’s Market, a bit of a haul for anyone in South Cheatham who wants to buy locally and economically.

“With so much food coming from all over the world, a local connection is needed,’’ Bush said.

Directions to the Cliff View Gulf Course.