Very Vegan Farm Market + Vegan News You Can Use (July 22, 2012)

Yesterday Dave and I drove up to Katonah, NY to check out the Farm Market at John Jay Homestead. We made the 25-mile drive because I’m doing my first public cooking demonstration at the market in August! The food editor for my “I Eat Plants” column is pitting me, the home-cook, against a fellow columnist, a chef, for a good-spirited Farmers Market Throwdown on August 11. Maria and I really had fun walking the tables, brainstorming ideas and ultimately deciding on the same ingredient we will each use in our recipes. Two ingredients, actually – cipollini and bunching onions from Amawalk Farm.

I picked up vibrant tomatoes, cucumber and chard from Amawalk in addition to the bright onions.

The Farm Market is quaint. It’s incredibly manageable (my local farmers market gets a little out of control) and each farm offers a small selection of simply what’s best that day. One farm had corn and tomatoes only. What took me by surprise at this market – other than being greeted at the entrance with Big Bang Company’s fair trade coffee for sale – was seeing the word “vegan” everywhere I turned!

Dave wanted to try the Border Blend pasta so we picked up a bag – I’ll share a photo of the playful pasta once we prepare a meal with it!

If you are in Westchester County, NY this summer be sure to check out the John Jay Homestead Farm Market. Fruit and veggies + vegan-friendly vendors = swoon!

This week’s vegan links and news

Future astronauts could be vegan
NFL Player Arian Foster’s New Vegan Diet Causes Controversy
Camping While Vegetarian: How To Pack When You’re Roughin’ It
Vegan St. Louis family touts dairy-, egg- and animal-free diet
Veganism can enhance success, not hinder it
Why Meat Causes Inflammation
Veg-Out With GrubHub’s List Of Top Vegetarian-Friendly Cities (I cannot believe Portland and Manhattan are not on this list!)

I also wanted to share some news from my friends:

Entrepreneurial animal activists Nathan & Adriana Pope have announced a fundraising campaign on IndieGoGo.com to help finance the hard-launch of their one-of-a-kind website VeganCorner.com.

VeganCorner serves as the vegan’s answer to the popular reviews website Yelp* and also acts as a social platform where vegans can support each other’s choices with user-submitted recommendations of new eco-concious and cruelty-free products. VeganCorner users can also submit vegan-relevant event listings, share news about their favorite non-profit, or share recipes and other helpful resources with vegans and vegan-curious visitors alike.

My friends at GUNAS – luxury vegan purses, wallets/clutches and travel bags for women and men – launched their new, gorgeous website. I’m a GUNAS Gem which means you can use my special code, JLYNN05, and you will receive 10% off your order at check-out!