This was my first visit to the West Seattle Farmers Market in weeks. I had missed the fresh vegetables, sustainable proteins, and the vendor smiles as they share their knowledge and tips for preparing their goods. I grabbed my Flip ‘n Tumble shopping and produce bags and headed to the market sans husband.

Through the Twitter grapevine but mostly from the mouth of @LolaLocal, I discovered the Cascade Harvest Coalition’s Eat Local Challenge for Thanksgiving. I unofficially took on the challenge, but there was just one small glitch. My grandma-in-law is the sanctioned Thanksgiving chef in the family and I couldn’t step in and dictate her ingredient choices.

White canopied tents lined Nicollet Avenue, vendors unloaded baskets of fresh produce, and pedestrians gravitated toward the freshly cut flowers. I was a sophomore in college and this was my first experience with a farmers market, a seasonal gathering in downtown Minneapolis. I bought some vibrant stems to adorn my dorm room and I returned [...]