Living locally is less about following a rigid guideline and more about a state of mind and heart. With that in mind, we want to stress that anything out there that incites conversations and teaching moments with your kids about raising your own food, choosing a local producer, and supporting a local business is a good thing. There are no right or wrong answers, only opportunities. You can have these conversations while watching the Food Network as easily as you can while reading a book about gardening.
Here is our list of resource suggestions that can help you partake in all the Estacado has to offer!
Check out these websites for resources to find local businesses, producers, and events:
• Local Producers: We’ve worked diligently to create a thorough list of producers in the Llano Estacado region. Take a day trip to visit some with your family!
• Lubbock in the Loop: This site serves as a hub for all things in the Lubbock area. It does include chain businesses, but makes an effort to highlight local businesses.
Visit your local farmer’s markets to get great local products while supporting your local producers:
• Lubbock Downtown Farmers’ Market
• List of regional Farmers Markets: if we haven’t listed one above, you’ll find it on this map!
Books for Kids:
• Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together With Children
• Mrs. Spitzer’s Garden (Note: while this one uses a garden in a metaphoric way, it does a beautiful job describing the process of gardening and makes it appealing for children—and adults!)
• Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z
We have plenty of suggestions for opportunities to shape your children into Locavores:
• Watch a cooking show with your kids to come up with new ways to prepare fruits and vegetables from your garden.
• At the farmer’s market, have conversations with your kids about where the food comes from
• Let your kids help in the kitchen—you might even go so far as to let them help plan the menus with you!
• Visit a local producer and let your child ask questions (and participate, if possible!)
• Make a practice of visiting local producers and businesses. Have coffee and hot chocolate every Saturday at a local coffee shop, buy soaps from a local soap maker, and choose a local bakery instead of the supermarket.
You can also check out the Kids section of our website! Here you will find coloring pages, activities, and tips for involving your kids in raising your own food and connecting with area producers.
