June 5, 2024

It's a great day for loans, castration and alpaca coffee.

Yeah, you read that right.

Writer:
Words by
David Cook
Photographer:
Photography by
Sarah Unger

Food as a verb thanks

Niedlov's

for sponsoring this series

Yeah, you read that right.

Anybody color their hair yesterday? Or ask for a loan? Apparently, Tuesday was a good day for that.

And last Wednesday? A great day for castration.

Today is prime time for baking. And moving. And starting projects. (Wait! We have a new project starting today! Keep reading!)

So says The 2024 Old Farmer's Almanac, which, if you haven't read one lately, is a fascinating, content-rich experience.

"Useful, with a pleasant degree of humor," it proclaims.

Since 1792, when it was first published, the Farmer's Almanac was bedside reading for generations of farmers who relied on the almanac as a storehouse of instruction. When to plant root vegetables? Slaughter pigs? Wash floors, mate sheep or quit smoking?

The Almanac was a trusted resource for nearly everything using old-time knowledge.

"Sun, moon, stars and planets," it says.

Is it still?

Food as a Verb is putting out the call: how many people still plant, harvest or farm following lunar and astrological signs?

"According to this age-old practice, cycles of the moon affect plant growth," the Almanac declares.

The other day at the farm, I had two left feet and ten thumbs. I forgot my hoe. Ran into the fencepost. Twice. Dropped the tiny red plastic gas cap into the tractor's gas tank. Mumbled all this under my breath to best mate and my farming partner.

"Did you check the moon?" he said.

The old tradition of planting with the signs suggests that astrological patterns impact and affect our agricultural work.

"Plant annual flowers and vegetables that bear crops above ground during the light, or waxing of the moon," the Almanac says. "Plant flowering bulbs, biennial and perennial flowers and vegetables that bear crops below ground during the dark, or waning, of the moon."

Anyone out there – farmers or gardeners – still practice this?

We'd love to hear from you.

  • We're also thrilled to announce a new Wednesday series:

Food in our Phone: weekly nibbles and encounters.

Each week, we'll share some snapshots of meals, drinks, garden veggies and, well, maybe even an alpaca or backyard chicken.

This week's edition comes from Sarah.

Food in our Phone

weekly nibbles and encountersRosie May's Alpaca Farm and coffee shop. If you haven't been, go and grab a coffee (they use local beans from Mean Mug) and feed these fun-loving creaturesRosie May's Alpaca Farm and coffee shop. If you haven't been, go and grab a coffee (they use local beans from Mean Mug) and feed these fun-loving creatures.

  • Rosie May's Alpaca Farm and coffee shop. If you haven't been, go and grab a coffee (they use local beans from Mean Mug) and feed these fun-loving creatures.

  • Strawberries from my porch! Anyone have any suggestions on keeping these from getting nibbled on?

  • SMASHBOYZ! One of the best burgers in town. Only catch is, you have to find them at a pop up. Find their weekly schedule on their instagram page!

Keep an eye out for reader contributions soon.

Coming soon: we're sharing with you a really tender love story.

Have a fabulous week, everyone.

Circle S Farm, Menlo, Georgia

All photography by Sarah Unger (sarah@foodasaverb.com)

All design by Alex DeHart

All words by David Cook (david@foodasaverb.com)

Story ideas, questions, feedback? Interested in sponsorship or advertising opportunities? Email us: david@foodasaverb.com and sarah@foodasaverb.com

This story is 100% human generated; no AI chatbot was used in the creation of this content.

Regional Farmers' Markets

  • Main St. Farmers' Market

Corner of W. 20th and Chestnut St., near Finley Stadium

Wednesday, 4 - 6pm

  • Brainerd Farmers' Market

Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Ave, Chattanooga, TN

Saturday, 10am - noon

  • Chattanooga Market

1820 Carter Street, Sunday, 11am - 4pm

  • Fresh Mess Market

Harton Park, Monteagle, TN. (Rain location: Monteagle Fire Hall.)

Every Thursday, 3pm - 6pm, beg. June 6 - Oct. 3

  • Ooltewah Farmers' Market

The Ooltewah Nursery, Thursday, 3 - 6pm

Pre-order online for Thursday pick-up between 4 - 6pm at Bachman Community Center

  • South Cumberland Farmers’ Market

Sewanee Community Center (behind the Sewanee Market on Ball Park Rd.) Tuesdays from 4:15 to 6:00 p.m. (central.) Order online by Monday 10 am (central.)

  • St. Albans Farmers' Market

7514 Hixson Pike, Saturday, 9.30am - 12.30pm with a free pancake breakfast every third Saturday  

  • Walker County Farmers' Market

Wednesday, 2 - 5 pm, Rock Spring Ag. Center

Saturday, 9 am - 1 pm, downtown Lafayette, Georgia

To include your farmers market, email david@foodasaverb.com

food as a verb thanks our sustaining partner:

food as a verb thanks our story sponsor:

Niedlov's

X

keep reading

November 6, 2024
read more
November 3, 2024
read more

Yeah, you read that right.

Anybody color their hair yesterday? Or ask for a loan? Apparently, Tuesday was a good day for that.

And last Wednesday? A great day for castration.

Today is prime time for baking. And moving. And starting projects. (Wait! We have a new project starting today! Keep reading!)

So says The 2024 Old Farmer's Almanac, which, if you haven't read one lately, is a fascinating, content-rich experience.

"Useful, with a pleasant degree of humor," it proclaims.

Since 1792, when it was first published, the Farmer's Almanac was bedside reading for generations of farmers who relied on the almanac as a storehouse of instruction. When to plant root vegetables? Slaughter pigs? Wash floors, mate sheep or quit smoking?

The Almanac was a trusted resource for nearly everything using old-time knowledge.

"Sun, moon, stars and planets," it says.

Is it still?

Food as a Verb is putting out the call: how many people still plant, harvest or farm following lunar and astrological signs?

"According to this age-old practice, cycles of the moon affect plant growth," the Almanac declares.

The other day at the farm, I had two left feet and ten thumbs. I forgot my hoe. Ran into the fencepost. Twice. Dropped the tiny red plastic gas cap into the tractor's gas tank. Mumbled all this under my breath to best mate and my farming partner.

"Did you check the moon?" he said.

The old tradition of planting with the signs suggests that astrological patterns impact and affect our agricultural work.

"Plant annual flowers and vegetables that bear crops above ground during the light, or waxing of the moon," the Almanac says. "Plant flowering bulbs, biennial and perennial flowers and vegetables that bear crops below ground during the dark, or waning, of the moon."

Anyone out there – farmers or gardeners – still practice this?

We'd love to hear from you.

  • We're also thrilled to announce a new Wednesday series:

Food in our Phone: weekly nibbles and encounters.

Each week, we'll share some snapshots of meals, drinks, garden veggies and, well, maybe even an alpaca or backyard chicken.

This week's edition comes from Sarah.

Food in our Phone

weekly nibbles and encountersRosie May's Alpaca Farm and coffee shop. If you haven't been, go and grab a coffee (they use local beans from Mean Mug) and feed these fun-loving creaturesRosie May's Alpaca Farm and coffee shop. If you haven't been, go and grab a coffee (they use local beans from Mean Mug) and feed these fun-loving creatures.

  • Rosie May's Alpaca Farm and coffee shop. If you haven't been, go and grab a coffee (they use local beans from Mean Mug) and feed these fun-loving creatures.

  • Strawberries from my porch! Anyone have any suggestions on keeping these from getting nibbled on?

  • SMASHBOYZ! One of the best burgers in town. Only catch is, you have to find them at a pop up. Find their weekly schedule on their instagram page!

Keep an eye out for reader contributions soon.

Coming soon: we're sharing with you a really tender love story.

Have a fabulous week, everyone.

Circle S Farm, Menlo, Georgia

All photography by Sarah Unger (sarah@foodasaverb.com)

All design by Alex DeHart

All words by David Cook (david@foodasaverb.com)

Story ideas, questions, feedback? Interested in sponsorship or advertising opportunities? Email us: david@foodasaverb.com and sarah@foodasaverb.com

This story is 100% human generated; no AI chatbot was used in the creation of this content.

Regional Farmers' Markets

  • Main St. Farmers' Market

Corner of W. 20th and Chestnut St., near Finley Stadium

Wednesday, 4 - 6pm

  • Brainerd Farmers' Market

Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Ave, Chattanooga, TN

Saturday, 10am - noon

  • Chattanooga Market

1820 Carter Street, Sunday, 11am - 4pm

  • Fresh Mess Market

Harton Park, Monteagle, TN. (Rain location: Monteagle Fire Hall.)

Every Thursday, 3pm - 6pm, beg. June 6 - Oct. 3

  • Ooltewah Farmers' Market

The Ooltewah Nursery, Thursday, 3 - 6pm

Pre-order online for Thursday pick-up between 4 - 6pm at Bachman Community Center

  • South Cumberland Farmers’ Market

Sewanee Community Center (behind the Sewanee Market on Ball Park Rd.) Tuesdays from 4:15 to 6:00 p.m. (central.) Order online by Monday 10 am (central.)

  • St. Albans Farmers' Market

7514 Hixson Pike, Saturday, 9.30am - 12.30pm with a free pancake breakfast every third Saturday  

  • Walker County Farmers' Market

Wednesday, 2 - 5 pm, Rock Spring Ag. Center

Saturday, 9 am - 1 pm, downtown Lafayette, Georgia

To include your farmers market, email david@foodasaverb.com

Food as a verb thanks our story sponsor:

Food as a Verb Thanks our sustaining partner:

keep reading

November 6, 2024
READ MORE
November 3, 2024
READ MORE
November 6, 2024
READ MORE
November 3, 2024
READ MORE
October 30, 2024
READ MORE

Regional Farmers' Markets

Brainerd Farmers' Market
Saturday, 10am - noon
Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Ave, Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga Market
Sunday, 11am - 4pm
1820 Carter Street
Dunlap Farmers' Market
Every Saturday morning, spring through fall, from 9am to 1pm central.
Harris Park, 91 Walnut St., Dunlap, TN
Fresh Mess Market
Every Thursday, 3pm - 6pm, beg. June 6 - Oct. 3
Harton Park, Monteagle, TN. (Rain location: Monteagle Fire Hall.)
Main Street Farmers' Market
Wednesday, 4 - 6pm
Corner of W. 20th and Chestnut St., near Finley Stadium
Ooltewah Farmers' Market
The Ooltewah Nursery, Thursday, 3 - 6pm
5829 Main Street Ooltewah, TN 37363
Rabbit Valley Farmers' Market
Saturdays, 9am to 1pm, mid-May to mid-October.
96 Depot Street Ringgold, GA 30736
South Cumberland Farmers' Market
Tuesdays from 4:15 to 6:00 p.m. (central.) Order online by Monday 10 am (central.)
Sewanee Community Center (behind the Sewanee Market on Ball Park Rd.)
St. Alban's Farmers' Market
Saturday, 9.30am - 12.30pm with a free pancake breakfast every third Saturday
7514 Hixson Pike
Walker County Farmers' Market - Sat
Saturday, 9 am - 1 pm
Downtown Lafayette, Georgia
Walker County Farmers' Market - Wed
Wednesday, 2 - 5 pm
Rock Spring Ag. Center