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

Hogtown HomeGrown is supported in part by these sponsors

Ward’s Supermarket We Make it Easy to Eat Local—Since 1951! local and organic produce, dairy, bread, cheese, fresh meat and fish, organic and bulk foods, chocolate and flowers, coffee, wine, fresh barbecue — everyday Open 8am-8pm Mon-Sat   9am-7pm Sun 515 NW 23rd Avenue   Gainesville   372-1741		Mosswood Farm Store Earth-Friendly Essentials for Country Living and Urban Survival Open Daily except Monday Sunday Farmers Market 1-5pm 703 Cholokka Boulevard Just off 441 in Micanopy 352-466-5002 Now Serving Organic Coffee & Pastrie	Alachua County Farmers Market Saturdays 8:30-1pm 5920 NW 13th Street
Tioga Monday Market Mondays 4-7pm Tioga Town Center West Newberry Road	Union Street Farmers Market Wednesdays 4-7pm Community Plaza Downtown Gainesville	High Springs Farmers Market Thursdays 2-6pm Saturdays 9am-1pm James Paul Park Downtown High Springs	Haile Village Farmers Market Saturdays 8:30am-12:00pm Haile Village Center off Tower Road
401 NE 23rd Avenue 352.373.6777 8am — 3pm open every day Bring Your Moms and get 10% off between 8 & 10am	A RECIPE FOR CHANGE YOU CAN CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY — CHOOSE HYPNOSIS! CAROL PERRINE, BS, CHt 352-328-8163 FREE CONSULTATION Enhance—Sleep, Study Habits, Athletic Skills, Relationships, Pregnancy, Birth Reduce—Anxious Feelings, Stress, Pain, Smoking, Weight SelfHealingMind@gmail.com	GOURMET INGREDIENT MIX 352.316.5489                www.junselle.com
		www.aersi.com                 352.376.8399