Hogtown HomeGrown - Local and Seasonal Recipes, Menus and More

Local and Seasonal Recipes, Menus and More

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What is Hogtown HomeGrown? Well, obviously it is a newsletter and website full of local and seasonal recipes, but it is more than that - I want you to get away from the processed fast food mentality. I want you to get together with friends and family to enjoy local fresh food, lovingly cooked and eaten with laughter. Gather around the table every day – get to know each other – become a family!

Why the name “Hogtown HomeGrown”? When I moved to Gainesville, I was new to vegetarian cooking, but immediately began working at Hogtown Granary – a co-op on University Avenue that sold fresh local produce, dried grains and beans and natural products at a discount to members. To me, Gainesville has always been Hogtown! Historically, Gainesville was never Hogtown – the Hogtown Settlement and then Hogtown Fort were located in and around what is now Westside Park, at the corner of Northwest 34th Street and 8th Avenue. The city of Gainesville, the county seat, was 4 miles to the east, and eventually expanded its borders to include Hogtown. Did you know that Toronto is also nicknamed Hogtown? Their name refers to the muddy road conditions after severe Canadian winters – I’m glad we didn’t earn the nickname that way!

Why “HomeGrown”? Think about all the businesses that originated in and around Gainesville – including this newsletter and website! Think about all the local farmers who provide us with everything from fresh produce to honey, meat and milk. Would you rather have items trucked in using lots of natural resources or local goods and services made available from people that live and work near you? Most of the money spent at a big box leaves our community, but money spent in a “homegrown” locally owned business stays in our community. What a difference we could make if we made a point of buying locally and seasonally!

So that’s the Hogtown HomeGrown philosophy – buy local and seasonal food, support our community’s businesses and Save the World – One Dinner at a Time!

Stefanie Samara Hamblen