Chef In Attendance

    Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m all about trying to find the freshest food, from the freshest and most local source possible. It’s a no brainer that it’s obviously going to taste better the fresher it is, right? And, there’s something about shopping at your local farmer’s market that beats the heck out of wandering the sterile aisle of the nearest Giant Eagle or Kroger store.  Joe and I are blessed. We have good jobs and can afford to purchase and eat this fresh food whenever we like. Our kids are both living away from home at the moment and, let’s face it, that’s stimulated our own economy, particularly where food in concerned. Yet, for millions of Americans, fresh food isn’t an option. It’s too expensive, whereas the processed foods are cheap and readily available.

     Well there is one town that’s doing something about it. Tucked in between Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio, is a little town called Wilmington. I happened to know about it because our son just graduated from Wilmington College and our daughter just finished her freshman year. This town lost it’s biggest employer when DHL pulled out, leaving many families facing some severe hardships. In a lot of cases, both parents were employed by DHL. I shudder at the thought of both Joe and I losing our jobs. It would be a nightmare for sure. Yet everywhere I’ve been in Wilmington, I’ve seen signs of hope. I see happy, hard working folks who are willing to step up and do what needs to be done. I’ve seen a town that refuses to feel sorry for itself and I’ve seen many people quietly working to make things better for their friends and neighbors by being part of projects designed to help.

One of these projects is the Grow Food, Grow Hope garden initiative for Clinton County. (Check out their web page at www.growfoodgrowhope.com)  Utilizing students from the AmeriCorp program, GFGH is helping to teach people how to grow their own food and to make healthy choices. Teaching folks how to plant, grow and harvest their own gardens is only the beginning.  Cooking classes, classes for kids and a fresh farmers market are spreading the good word about the health benefits of buying fresh and buying local (something this cook is passionate about!)

     Below are a few pictures I took on a recent visit. Our daughter is one of the AmeriCorp students. We were thrilled when she chose to do this, shocked, but thrilled. Her enthusiasm and pride when she showed us the children’s gardens she works in made her dad and I so proud. Not only is she awakening her inner gardener, she’s tasting foods her mother has been begging her to taste forever. And guess what? She’s loving them. So here’s a toast to the good and kind folks of Wilmington, Ohio and Clinton County. May your hope grow in abundance, along with your gardens.