The weather’s warm, the buds have opened, birds are singing and farms not far from your Charleston beach house are producing a plentiful bounty. One of the cool things about this time of the year (other than the fact that the weather’s great and you can still score some deals on luxury beach house rentals SC, before the peak rates kick in for beach rentals Charleston) --- is that farmers markets crank up again, connecting local producers directly to us, the consumer. Here’s to cutting out the middleman! Charleston’s Green Connection recently shared a rather shocking statistic:
“Our food travels on average 1,500 miles before it reaches our plates. Agribusiness is SC's largest industry, however over 90% of our food is still imported. Choosing to eat locally grown and produced food effects our environment, our health, our communities, and our local business economy.”
It’s about time we changed that stat. Shopping local is a great way to bring the freshest, healthiest food to your loved ones staying in your Charleston beach house.
Eat Local Month
In this spirit, April has officially been designated as “Eat Local Month” by Lowcountry Local First. They are challenging folks to eat food that has been sourced close by (and at least within the state of South Carolina). We’re talking about buying fresh goods from farmers, fishermen, ranchers or other producers within close range of our SC vacation rentals. Here’s more on the effort and events associated with it: http://lowcountrylocalfirst.org/events/eat-local-month/ Lowcountry Local First has even produced an app to help in the effort, listing over 600 cool businesses here in the area near Charleston. You can download it here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lowcountry-local-first/id1080459794?ls=1&mt=8
Great farmers markets near your Charleston beach house
Of course, farmers markets are perhaps the easiest and best way to eat local. Here’s a breakdown of ones near your Charleston beach house and when they opened or will open for business: The biggie, the wonderful farmers market in Charleston's Marion Square, kicked off its season this past Saturday, April 8th. It’s open on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. http://www.charlestonfarmersmarket.com/ Marion Square is located on the historic peninsula downtown and is convenient to all our rental homes South Carolina, be they Isle of Palms vacation rentals or a Folly Beach house Charleston.
Farmers Markets near your Charleston beach house
--Mount Pleasant has already opened its season as well and is located at Market Pavilion on Coleman Boulevard, next to Moultrie Middle School. It runs on Tuesdays from 3:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. This is especially convenient to our Isle of Palms luxury rentals. From your luxury house on Isle of Palms, just head over Breach Inlet to Sullivan’s Island, cross the Ben Sawyer Bridge into Mount Pleasant, and drive up Coleman Boulevard. It’s right past the school on your left. Sullivan’s Island opened its relatively new market April 6th. It takes place on Thursdays from 2:30 till 7:00 p.m. in front of Poe Library. The address is 1921 Ion Avenue. --Summerville has also already opened its season at 200 S. Main Street in the First Citizens Parking Lot. They're open Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Free parking is available for shoppers in the Town Hall parking garage. --Goose Creek holds their farmer market at 150 Howe Hall Rd. on Saturdays at 8 a.m. They will be taking WIC Vouchers and Senior Vouchers for Farmers Markets and SNAP/EBT cards as well as debit and credit cards. It kicks off April 22nd. --North Charleston will open its market on May 4th. Located at the Felix C Davis Community Center at 4800 Park Circle, it will run from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. every Thursday. --The Sunday Brunch Farmers Market at the Pour House on James Island has kicked off as well. It runs from 11:00 a.m. till 3:00 on Sundays at 1977 Maybank Highway. So shop local, and heal the planet and yourself. And remember to call EP when you are shopping for local beach house rentals Charleston SC. Our SC vacation rentals are the freshest around! All best, Lowcountry Lisa your Isle of Palms vacation blogger