As we look longingly towards spring, I can’t help but think about new growth. Growth for my terribly neglected garden, for the vines that will start to emerge against the fence in my yard, for the potted herbs in my kitchen. As I start thinking about what I want to accomplish this season, I realize that growth is more than what emerges from the soil. There is more I can do, more I can learn, more I can talk about with others to grow myself as well.

As immersed as I am in the San Diego food scene, and as knowledgeable as I have tried to be about the environmental, health, and social justice issues tangled up with our global food system, there is always more I can do and more I can learn.

Photos by Chris Rov Costa and Drew McGill

This spring, I am taking steps to help strengthen my ties with our local foodshed as well as learn more about what I can do to help ensure a resilient food system that provides nutritious food for all while treading lightly on the Earth’s resources. If your thoughts run similarly, here are a few ideas to help grow your involvement with local food, farms, and the food community.

1. Take a Class

Our food system is increasingly complex and, as consumers, the more we know, the more we can make informed choices that benefit our environment, our community, and our health. Fortunately, there are a vast number of educational resources available to us, both locally and online. Stores like Hipcooks in North Park and The Conscious Cook in Mira Mesa can help you expand your skills in the kitchen. Bastyr University also offers cooking classes. Organizations including the Solana Center, City Farmers Nursery, and Victory Gardens San Diego have offered gardening workshops and classes for a range of skills and interests. And a growing number of online resources allow those who are curious to dive deeper into the science, policy, and cultural issues intertwined with our food system, such as the massive online open courses (MOOCs) offered through Coursera. Where to begin: Identify the topic you’d most like to learn more about, then commit to taking a class this year.

Photos by Chris Rov Costa and Drew McGill
Photos by Chris Rov Costa and Drew McGill
Photos by Chris Rov Costa and Drew McGill
Photos by Chris Rov Costa and Drew McGill
2. Buy Something Locally That you Usually Buy at the Store

If you’re reading this magazine, chances are at least some of your weekly food purchases are done locally, if not most of them. But are there products you could source locally that you haven’t yet explored? Digging deeper to explore the full reaches of our local foodshed can help expand our awareness of where our food comes from and what it takes to produce it. Take stock of your fridge and your pantry to determine whether there are items you use that could be purchased from a more sustainable source. Whether it’s olive oil, meat, rare fruit, or even kitchen equipment such as cutting boards or tableware, there are dozens of products we can buy locally, helping to support local businesses, reduce food miles and keep dollars in our community. Where to begin: Branch out from your regular farmers’ market or CSA and explore a farmers’ market you’ve never been to. It doesn't have to be food, either, we are in love with the re-claimed wood creations at San Diego Urban Timber.

3. Sign-up for a CSA Membership

CSAs, or community-supported agriculture programs, connect local farms directly with consumers, providing subscribers with a regularly scheduled box of food in exchange for financial support for the farm. There are at least a dozen CSA options in San Diego County, including both produce and meat CSAs. Programs vary by contents, pick-up locations and quantity, meaning chances are high you can find a program that works for you. If you hesitate because you aren’t confident you’d know what to do with everything in your box, don’t worry—there are plenty of resources that can help.  Where to begin: To find a farm near you, check out our interactive San Diego County CSA map. The San Diego County Farm Bureau website lists several local CSAs at SDFarmBureau.org. Explore each program to find one whose contents, price, and location best meet your needs.

Photos by Chris Rov Costa and Drew McGill
4. Grow Something (New)

Whether you have an apartment balcony or a sloping south-facing hillside, growing your own food can be both educational and rewarding. Coaxing a vegetable from seed to start to harvest involves patience, knowledge and skill, but it is a skill anyone can learn. This spring, stretch your imagination and sow something new in your soil—whether you’re a first-time container gardener or a seasoned urban farmer trying out a new crop. Where to begin: The San Diego Master Gardeners’ website has videos, instructions and links to help you get started growing just about anything that can be grown locally (MasterGardenersSanDiego.org). San Diego Botanic Garden offers classes on gardening, keeping chickens, and hydroponics (sdbgarden.org/classes). Or try getting involved with a community effort like the new Little Free Garden.

5. Start a Compost Bin

Composting helps turn food waste from your kitchen into nitrogen-rich humus that can be used in yards, gardens, and containers. Converting food and lawn scraps into compost also helps keep waste out of landfills. And in San Diego, both compost supplies and instruction are readily available. City of San Diego residents qualify for discounted compost bins from the City of San Diego, which are available at Dixieline ProBuild locations, and City of Encinitas and Carlsbad residents can buy discounted bins through the Solana Center. You can also build your own bin with a few basic materials. If you already compost at home, consider starting a compost bin at your office or school. Where to begin: The Solana Center’s website, SolanaCenter.org, has a wealth of composting information, including how to buy discounted bins. The Center offers free compost workshops at various locations throughout San Diego County. If you have a composting question, you can call the “Rotline” at (760) 436-7986 x700.

Photos by Chris Rov Costa and Drew McGill
6. Make Something (New) from Scratch

Readers of Edible San Diego are no doubt handy in the kitchen, but even for the most talented chefs, there is always something new to learn. Try preparing a dish you’ve never tackled before, using a new ingredient, or learning a new technique. Expanding your culinary repertoire builds new skills, helps you feel more comfortable in the kitchen and can be thrilling when the results turn out well. Where to begin: The San Diego Public Library has an extensive cookbook collection, with many of the books available through inter-library loan. Or use FoodBlogSearch.com to explore recipes from thousands of food blogs.

Photos by Chris Rov Costa and Drew McGill
Photos by Chris Rov Costa and Drew McGill
Photos by Chris Rov Costa and Drew McGill
Photos by Chris Rov Costa and Drew McGill
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