Well, it goes without saying that these are strange times. First things first, I want to take a moment and comment on the status of this blog. In the last nine months or so, I found blogging quite weird. Nowadays, every blog is about buy-buy-buy….and that’s totally fine. There is a place for that information and ample influencers to fill the space. But I’ve spent the past few years thinking about my own consumption and evaluating my values as I’ve gotten older. I’ve found myself interested in lifestyle communities like “low waste/low toxic” (for sustainability), “grandmillennial” (for classic style and hobbies), and “BIFL” (for purchasing quality over quantity). Other buzz-words that come to mind along these lines include traditionalism and homemaking. These concepts aren’t new to me, and I don’t need a catch phrase to tell me how to live my life, but rather, I’m prioritizing what’s important to me: a number of skills and interests that one expects a grandmother to enjoy, but not necessarily people in their 20s. At least, that was the case until COVID-19. I’m sure I’ll speak more about how this relates to this blog in a later post, but now seemed like as good a time as any to jump back in and share what I can in case it might help someone in need of support.

As many of us continue to shelter-in-place, there’s an understandable desire to get back to “normal”–though the meaning of that word seems to change as we start to count time by months and not weeks. However, I keep hearing stories of people asking how to bake bread, or where to find flour. An influx of panic buying led to empty grocery shelves and food insecurity. While how I choose to shop might be an aspect of this “new normal” that I will try to continue as restrictions end, I can’t imagine worrying about not having enough food to feed my family in times like these.

I have a few suggestions on where to find staples below, but I want to add this disclaimer: These are merely suggestions. They won’t apply to everyone/everywhere, particularly those in remote places. While I want to be a helpful voice, I’m not trying to be aloof or dismissive. If you have suggestions or experiences to add from your local community, please leave a comment. Conversely, many larger grocery stores have done their best to fulfill the needs of their customers. Services like Instacart, Postmates, and meal delivery programs have filled a void for people who can’t leave their homes. And nationwide, stores of all kinds have adopted new cleaning routines and special accommodations to those in need, like senior shopping hours and curbside-pickup/delivery. If that has worked for you thus far, I encourage you to continue using them. Even so, the aforementioned hasn’t been without its limitations.

I haven’t been to the grocery store since mid-March. Instead, I’ve found smaller markets and local purveyors easier to navigate because they offer less stressful shopping experiences, are usually fully-stocked, and support my local economy. Here are my tips:

FRESH PRODUCE, VEGETABLES, & EGGS

• Farm Stands: Research local farms and ask if they are selling product directly
• Farmer’s Markets: Many open-air markets are still open, and have implemented safe-distance requirements
• Farms: Research farms that usually attend farmer’s markets (check for a website) and ask if they are offering pick-up or shipping options
• CSAs: Many farms are delivering “Community Support Agriculture” boxes, in addition to already-established CSAs. *Google CSA + “Your City” and if nothing comes up, try broadening the area. Many CSAs have expanded their reach to meet demand.
• Victory Gardens & Container Gardening: Many people are wanting to grow their own vegetable patches. I’ve seen neighbors sharing seeds on Facebook and offering citrus, greens, herbs, and other items they’ve grown at their doorstep. Use your community resources to ask neighbors if they have any tips based on what USDA Plant Hardiness zone you live in. In my area, local nurseries have remained open, as well as hardware stores, both of which would love your business and are wonderful resources for your gardening questions.

We’ve opted to order from our local farmer’s market because it’s mutually beneficial. We can support our local farms who have a surplus of vegetables now that many restaurants are closed, and we’re getting a lot of items for far less than we would pay in the grocery store without panicking over what’s available. We also ordered a separate CSA box (as shown), which came fully packed with leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, citrus, avocados, leeks, radishes, and more. Also: Something our local markets have done is open up a donation option as an order add-on so that veggie boxes can be donated locally to the elderly and those in need.

MEAT & FISH

• Farmer’s Markets
• Some purveyors that rely on open-air market sales are shipping and/or offering local delivery
• Local Butcher Shops
• Google “fish market” + “your area.” Many fishermen that relied on restaurant business are still operating, but don’t have a system in place to sell direct-to-consumer.
• Smaller Family Markets and Neighborhood Markets
• Online: Here are a few I looked into for my family before this pandemic started. I’m including my full list, regardless of price or current availability, because status updates change daily. If some of the order minimums are more than you need, consider buying in with a friend or family member. This is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.
  • Crowd Cow
  • White Oak Pastures
  • Greensbury
  • Porter Road
  • Meat the Butchers
  • ButcherBox
  • Grass Roots Coop
  • Snake River Farms
  • Belcampo Meat Co.
  • Mary’s Free Range Chickens
  • Five Marys Farms

DAIRY

• Research smaller local dairies that might be near you
• Again, farmer’s markets are a great resource
• The Milkman! I recently read this article re: milk delivery and the resurgence of the milkman. Like for CSA boxes, Google “Milk Delivery” + “Your Area” to find out more. If you find a company near you but not including your exact area, call and ask as many businesses are expanding routes for the time being.

BREAD-MAKING SUPPLIES

This is the big topic. Everyone is making sourdough bread. I get why that would make sense when you have an established sourdough starter, but many people are freaking out about not having a starter and not knowing where to find yeast. As you will find many-a-conversation about online, there will never be a shortage of yeast, but that doesn’t mean sourdough is an easy bread to make. It’s also time consuming. I’m linking my favorite go-to bread recipe. I’ve been using it for years and I find it fool-proof. It was the second or third recipe I used when I started baking bread in a dutch oven and now I’m so comfortable with it, I’ve tweaked elements of the recipe to make it my own. It’s also delicious and quick (in comparison to others), and can be baked in everything from a dutch oven to a sheet pan. But it still requires yeast and flour….

• Firstly, many bakeries are open. Support your local businesses when possible.
• Some bakeries are selling their own sourdough starters and baking kits
• Some bakeries and restaurants are selling flour, sugar, yeast, and other pantry staples
• For businesses not advertising it, they might not think anyone would be interested in buying yeast. Ask them!
• Some restaurant depots have gone from industry-only to selling to the public. You can find these supplies in large amounts, as well as many of the other items you would expect a restaurant to use
• I’ve seen neighbors offering some of their starters, extra flour, cups of sugar, etc.
• I’ve seen neighbors starting their own home bakeries with bread and other baked goods for sale
• Online. Here are a few grain mills/flour companies I found (informational, not endorsements):
  • Janie’s Mill
  • Central Milling
  • Hayden Flour Mills
  • Bob’s Red Mill
  • Grist & Toll
  • King Arthur Flour
  • Anson Mills

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES

• Speciality Stores
• Local Boutiques
• Cafes & Bistros
• Wine Shops
• Restaurant Takeaway

…plus, for items like pastas, oils, grains, and stocks, some businesses are bundling supplies into meal kits or selling smaller portions from their bulk stock.

NEXT STEPS

Hopefully this list helps limit your need to go to larger stores if that wasn’t feasible for you. And if you do need to visit supermarkets, I hope you don’t feel as though it is your only option.

If you can, consider:

• Offering to shop for a neighbor or family member in need
• Donating supplies or money to local/national food banks
• Use resources like Nextdoor and neighborhood pages on Facebook to connect with your community

If you can give assistance, offer it. If you need a little support, ask for it. We’re all in this together and we’re going to make it through with grace and humility.