As part of the effort to network/source local staples....

1. LocalFirst Community Market
Casey said there has been some interest in opening a local food coop... with "local food" being the focus. This would be a storefront business, with goals including public education (ie the mere site of "food miles" signs on produce, along with farmer profiles), a place for community presentations, bookgroups, education classes, and for creating a critical food mass of sorts - coordinated community support for this is would generate more clout than uncoordinated, individual efforts. Casey is very interested in having this resource in Boise. She was thinking of having it out in here neighborhood - Collister, but is now rethinking her level of involvement (she already runs two businesses). So the location is still flexible. This is a vision she has been working on with another - Joni ? - who is currently quite busy working on the Green Expo until May - so the project is currently on hold. Casey is considering organizing a meeting of interested parties to keep the project moving forward. If I or anyone gets involved with this it'd be great to post the details here. If you're very interested in the project you can contact Casey at greenSheRa at hotmail dot com.

2. Local grains
There are apparently wheat berries being sold at the Boise Food KoOp. I'd like to know which farm where and how they're grown. But according to Casey they are indeed local. I'll try to remember to check this out next time I'm in there. If anyone happens to think of it before that please do share. You can get wild rice from Sandpoint. Don't know specific source, though.

3. Legumes -
M&M Heath Farms (Mike Heath and ____ Jones) out of Buell may have beans. Apparently the white navy and small red chili at the KoOp are from this farm. I believe these are the Idaho potato farmers featured in Botany of Desire. They also may have potatoes and squash.

4. Local (woodriver valley) farmer's coop
oooooohhh! Check this out! http://www.idahosbounty.org/shop.php Casey thought they were working on expanding to the Treasure Valley. I've got an inquiry into them just now to see if they are starting to deliver to Boise. They require subscription of $75, I think, as well as 15% member dues on sales and a delivery charge. Don't be discouraged, though. You've got to check this out. You can order what you want from multiple farmers. It's like a medium-distance local food coop. That sounds odd - they're WRV, but that's still a huge distance closer than our local Fred Meyers.

5. dairy
Oh, to get some raw dairy. I don't have anything to add here, other than huge sparkly wishes. If you know of any local-ish sources of raw dairy products please please please share.

BTW It was great to see old friends and new faces at the meeting tonight. I've missed you! The discussion was lively and at times heated and even sometimes on topic! I'd like to recommit to staying on the topic of personal, locally sustainable actions when we meet. Won't you join me? Let's share resources of knowledge, tools, time, skills, optimism and positive vision. Supporting each other....it's the right thing to do.