The Atrium

This is the season of harvest. Bushels fill with apples, bins fill with gourds, pears, concord grapes, pots fill with mums and asters. The weekly trip to a farmer's market becomes a must for the cook as well as the simple sensualist.

Where are those thirty area Farmer's Markets?
What days and hours are they open?
Where are the farms that welcome visitors and customers who would like to pick their own fruit and vegetables?
Where are the farms that adhere to organic standards for their produce?
Which restaurants in the area make a point of using locally grown foods?

These and other questions are answered in a new 46 page pamphlet offered free by the West Michigan Environmental Action Council. It includes a handy middle section of maps that makes locating the markets and farms a breeze. Copies are available at their headquarters, 1007 Lake Dr. SE, or from locations around town, including the main Grand Rapids Public Library. The guide is available on the web at http://www.foodshed.net/foodguide.

It may be a bit late to start this year's garden, but not to early to plan next year's. You could try your library for The Gaia book of organic gardening or Best garden plants for Michigan.