I have a lot of small businesses in the area that I would like to feature, but my first is going to be One Step at Time Gardens. One of my goals for 2014 is to be a part of the local food movement, more than just purchasing local, I really want to educate and spread the word about the opportunities we have available in our area.

First, I want to talk about what a CSA is, and why you should be a part.  CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and essentially, you invest in a share of the farm, and throughout the season (usually spring to fall) you get a box once a week or every other week of farm fresh locally grown produce.  Dave and I did it 2 summers ago, and although it was an investment, it was great.  We ate vegetables that we had never heard of (garlic scapes?) and had so many delicious meals and salads that summer. One step at a Time Gardens is in Kanawha, IA and have a lot of options of farm shares (fruit shares, winter shares, once a week, every other week, etc). Check out their website and  Facebook page.

Also, If you're looking for a Valentine's day gift for a loved one, and want to keep it local, this is for you.  A few local businesses have teamed up and put together a basket, filled with homemade bread, jam, honey and soy candle, all local products.  You can order online.  Here are the details.

I’m excited to enter this community of small business owners and I think the more we spread the word about eachother, the more we all benefit, business and consumer.

Thanks for the support!