It’s this spirit of community that often makes farmers markets the most recognizable local food outlet. Dogs and their owners populate the perimeter, enjoying a sandwich, drink or treat from the local food cart. Live music and the sound of cooking demonstrations may drift across the crowd. Local farmers hawk their wares, while children weave through a sea of legs. It’s a familiar scene: stalls and booths line a bustling outdoor space where shoppers mill about with canvas bags. In an effort to clarify Athens’ thriving local food scene, here are three ways to get local food in Athens, defined and explained. But shoppers are often confused by the terminology of these organizations: you probably know what a farmers market is, but what about a grocery co-op? CSA? The average shopper may be intimidated by these terms, preventing them from exploring their local food options. Several local organizations capitalize on these advantages, striving to connect residents to their food in a variety of ways. That puts almost 2,700 farms well within even the strictest “local” radius. According to the most recent agricultural census, there were 90 farms operating in Clarke County 2012, with another 2,604 farms operating in the surrounding counties. The city’s proximity to agriculture also helps boost its produce profile. “I think Athens is really special where we actually have this beautiful system of people working together and wanting to help everybody else out,” Barnes said. The arts and culture scenes here attract sustainably-minded residents, creating an ideal environment for local produce organizations to grow and thrive. First, it’s no secret that the city is one of Georgia’s hipster hubs. “ giving back to our farmers that are around here and thinking about our food coming from a mile away instead of being shipped around the world,” said Brittany Barnes, a research professional at the University of Georgia and member of local CSA Collective Harvest.Īthens is particularly well-suited to develop local food networks for a couple of reasons. Purchasing local produce also supports small, regional farms instead of large commercial operations, adding an economic incentive to shop locally. More food miles mean more fuel consumed and carbon emitted to get a given piece of produce to market, resulting in a higher environmental toll overall. The point of eating locally is often to reduce “food miles” - the distance food must travel before it is purchased or consumed. Strict “locavores” often reduce this distance to 100 miles, and neighborhood markets may reduce it even further. How local is local, though? The 2008 Farm Bill states that a product may be marketed as local if “the total distance that the product is transported is less than 400 miles” from its origin. Over the last two decades, demand for locally produced fruits, vegetables and animal products has spread across the United States, prompted by a rising public interest in sustainability and works like Michael Pollan’s “ The Omnivore’s Dilemma.” Shoppers are now more likely to question the origin and impact of their food and seek out local outlets. Since then, however, the local food movement has taken off. Head on over to Escape the Space, the escape rooms, Athens GA, at 540 Hawthorne Avenue and join the fun.“Where do you get your groceries?” wasn’t always a loaded question.īefore the mid-2000s, you weren’t expected to wonder where your supermarket apples were grown, or how they got to the supermarket. Families with younger children are welcome to play in private game settings. Games are geared toward those fourteen years and older. Will there be time to straighten him out? Or grab a seat in the Tree House Cafe escape room. One of the baristas on staff has had a bad day and gone a little crazy. Yep that’s right! The MacAllisters are on vacation and the Wet Bandits are determined to break in again. The Wet Bandits team tries not to be outsmarted by a child again. In another escape room, teams work to escape the MacAllister's house for a second time. The team has been instructed to steal a significant file for an unsavory character or else. In one escape room, the Evidence Locker, time is of the essence. Escape Rooms that are Ever Changing!Īt Escape the Space, rooms change periodically to keep things interesting so team can return again and again to experience new escapes. Locked in an escape room, Athens GA teams work together in a time controlled setting to figure out clues and puzzles in order to free themselves from the room. Groups of friends gather At Escape The Space to challenge their minds. The latest trend in interactive entertainment has hit the streets in Athens.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |