farmers' market

I love summer because it makes shopping for low-waste, in-season, fresh, local produce and goods SO much easier! This is absolutely my favorite way to purchase things because I can feel good about supporting organic farmers in my area who value quality and sustainability, just like I do. Shopping at a market is a great way to get the things you need, in an eco-friendly way, while avoiding the (insane) FDA rules and regulations about bringing your own container.

First and foremost, I bring my reusable, canvas bag! I love this one because it is durable, easy to wash, and it has a bit of a shocking message right on the front that usually gets quite a few reactions when I am out and about. I want to make people THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX (or package) and that is exactly what the reverse side of this bag says!

(I got this from Package Free and you can get one of your own by clicking the "favorite products" link at the top of my page and then going to "shopping")

Inside my bag..... are more bags!!! On the top left is a cotton bag that I repurposed - it used to contain my set of bedsheets, but now it works perfectly as a produce bag. Right underneath is a cotton bag I actually purchased from Package Free (available by following the same steps above). The mesh bag in the middle is actually just a laundry/lingerie bag, and below are some repurposed pasta sauce and jam jars, just in case.

Here are few of my favorite purchases:

Applesauce is usually pretty easy to find in a glass jar, but nothing compares to this stuff from Wienke's Market - local and in season fruits are unbeatable!!!

(If I'm not careful, I eat it all in one sitting.)

Nothing like fresh snap peas! I bought half a pound for $2 and they put them directly in my cloth bag, so no plastic!

Super tasty + waste fee = MAJOR WIN

Cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables, extremely versatile and a great substitute for many things in gluten free and/or vegan recipes! It is difficult to find it without a plastic wrapping, especially in small town WI, so I was thrilled when I saw this at the market!!!

Even during strawberry season, they are impossible to find in the store without that plastic clamshell container. I chose to get these strawberries from the booth I did because they were in a cardboard container as opposed to a plastic one. Although its not recyclable, it will burn cleanly or even compost!

I'd be crazy if I went to a Door County farmers' market and left without getting some cherries! I was pleasantly surprised when the person running the booth said she would take the container back if I didn't need it so they could reuse it, so I ended up just dumping a quart of cherries into my mesh bag!

The last thing from my farmers' market haul is bar soap! I got these from the Logan Creek Soap booth, which I have purchased from before and I love!

I got a regular body soap/shaving bar and a shampoo bar! I was able to forgo the plastic bag they offered AND the plastic packaging that soaps etc. usually come in! I really like getting soap from them directly because they usually send me home with a few sample slices of other types of bars or scents.

Even if you haven't gotten your reusable bags quite yet, supporting local, in-season produce and goods saves on all that invisible waste (energy and water it takes for mass agriculture, shipping, etc.).

Please, take a trip to the market to look at all the opportunities to make mindful choices placed right in front of you!

xoxo