Where the Farmers Go

When it comes to picking up seeds and seedlings, it's good to go where the farmers go.  Alachua County Feed and Seed is the last of its kind in Gainesville, and visiting feels like walking into the past.  Today, James Duncan was behind the counter and helped me get some hay for our chicken coop (bedding).  While I waited, he also helped a customer who wanted to know the best determinate tomato for these parts - "celebrity" according to Mr. Duncan.  He knows because he grows them himself; he's been raising plant in his own greenhouse since he retired and started working at the Feed and Seed almost 20 years ago.  (He wanted me to explain that the lights on his cap are there because he needed them to take care of his plants before sunrise and the workday.)  Here, you won't wind up with lettuce that bolts in our spring heat or other plants that won't thrive here - like you might at one of the big box stores. And you can get chicks here, too. A new bunch is coming in every couple weeks.  

Buying local has other advantages as well. For one thing, we vote with our dollar to keep store like this open (and maybe someday to open more...).  And for another, buying local keeps more of our money in the community - supporting our friends and neighbors.

And the "shopping experience" is so different.  I go to the Feed and Seed to buy something I already have in mind and to get "boots on the ground" advice.  I almost always come away with what I need.  When I go to Lowe's or Home Depot, it's hard to find anyone to ask for one thing.  It's also hard (for me at least) to come away with only what I need.  There's so much STUFF.  And I admit I'm attracted to shiny copper lawn sprinklers and beautiful tomato supports with fancy finials.  Not to mention lawn furniture and lighting and hose rewinders (most made in China) - stuff I didn't know I wanted and certainly don't need.  There's a reason for this.  And I'd prefer my dollar not to go toward supporting it.

Plus Mr. Duncan is so nice. 

 

Comments

[Matthew Irwin]

We're really appreciating your blog so far---and learning!---because we've recently "gone local". I think finally being married and having someone by our side to say, "yes, let's go for it" finally helped us to act on our better impulses. We just couldn't conscience support factory farming any more.

We're anxious to get our hands dirty and start growing some produce and learning more when we return to Gville!