As incredible as Austin farmer's markets are, sometimes they just don't make the weekend priority list... there are rivers to swim in, soccer games to attend, and hangovers to nurse. Monday hits, and you've got a problem. You need groceries and wish you had easy, week-day access to local ingredients, like those you could find at a farmer's market.
Enter: Local Pastures. If you haven't yet heard of this new (micro) grocery store (which also happens to be our newest CSA pickup site), we're DELIGHTED to tell you about it. Local Pastures is the brainchild of two local regenerative farms: Belle Vie and Shirttail Creek Farm. If you're unfamiliar with these farms, check them out. Not only are the farmers just good people, they're also at the forefront of producing high-quality, nutrient-dense food in a way that supports the land, their family, and their community's health.
Both Belle Vie & Shirttail Creek farm using regenerative methods, which improves not only the taste of the end-product, but also improves the health of the pastures on which animals are raised. The quality of the eggs, beef, pork, chicken, and duck offered by these two farms really can't be overstated. It's the best of the best, and if you're able, you should fill your freezer. The shop also has local milk, (VRDNT) produce, coffee, and honey... all raised by the awesome community of farmers, ranchers, and food artisans from our region.
If you want to learn more about regenerative agriculture and some of the methods these farmers use, check out this video on the Shirttail Creek website.
Located in a small, navy blue trailer, this micro-grocery has just about everything you might need for a wholesome, delicious, and locally-sources meal...without the hassle of an HEB parking lot. Plus, it's located just across the street from ABGB on Oltorf. Soo... pack a cooler, and grab a beer after you load up.
If you're ever struggling to figure out what to make for dinner, or how to feed your family healthy and tasty food, going to Local Pastures can simplify the decision-making process. Food doesn't have to be complicated, and by narrowing your scope to include ingredients grown by farmers you can know, farmers who are dedicated to "doing it right", you can put together a meal, easily. There's something so nice about editing out the endless isles and billions of dollars that are spent on marketing commoditized and packaged foods. Back to the basics. A protein, some veggies, and maybe a hunk of bread are our favorite dinners, anyway.
A sample menu after a CSA pickup at local pastures: Alice Waters Crispy Roasted Chicken
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Wasn't that easy?
Love this!! We love Shirttail eggs and beef, so happy I can start picking up my veggies here!