There’s no doubt farmers markets are increasing in popularity, but for cooks who are used to the grocery store’s shelves, figuring out what to do with a bounty of raw materials can sometimes be a challenge.
Enter the From Scratch Club, a group that’s becoming more and more involved in the local food movement. Its founder, Christina Davis, advised beginner home cooks to “keep it simple” — and that’s what her group is doing too, by and large.
“Our mission is basically to encourage and inspire everyday people to get back into the kitchen, their gardens and the community – visit a farmer and buy food from farmers. The idea is to sort of lift the veil on it (local food),” said Davis, who lives in Milton.
The club is a network of growing knowledge about local food and its members are willing to share what they learn, offering food swaps (open to the public and free, donations accepted) and do-it-yourself classes held at various locations throughout the Capital District.
They can also be seen at area farmers markets offering recipes and cooking tips.
“Christina (Davis) is especially involved with the local food movement, she’s a really good source for people and it’s amazing how much knowledge she has,” said Josh Rockwood of West Wind Acres Farm in WestCharlton.
Rockwood and his wife Stephanie are among the many young farmers taking to the field raising grass-fed beef. They have hosted farm tours for the From Scratch Club at their farm.
“She kind of really helped form marketing (of local food) … she’s a cheerleader … food swaps are a great way to meet people interested in local foods. We’re going to be taking some food preservation classes. She’s doing a lot of amazing things. Not only how to get it, but how to preserve it. Knowing where your food is coming from is becoming more important, especially with outbreaks (of food-borne illnesses),” said Rockwood.
Davis started the food themed enterprise in 2010 after her son was diagnosed with multiple food allergies.
“Although I had considered myself a farmers market, CSA (consumer supported agriculture) member and pretty food savvy, I actually really didn’t know how to actually make 21 meals a week. There are so many common ingredients (that we can’t use), we needed to cook from scratch,” said Davis.
Her efforts have evolved into closing the “gap” between buying food and home cooking.
In the beginning, Davis gathered friends and formed a kind of coffee group for herself and other moms to discuss food and trade recipes. At that point it was “just kind of an outlet.”
From there, Davis set out to learn all she could about food and soaked up knowledge from everywhere possible. She started passing on that knowledge, along with recipes from the informal group, on fromscratchclub.com in2010.
Now the club is made up of about a dozen regular local contributors and several guest contributors. Local contributors hail everywhere from all over the Capital District. Topics range from food preservation to grass-fed beef and are written by farmers, chefs and food advocates.
“All of our contributors bring something new to the table. …Some people are looking for small-scale backyard gardening, some have full on farms or small homesteads. … We try to give a broad perspective on food,” she said.
From Scratch holds two food swaps every month (advance sign-up required on their website). A food swap works kind of like a minimarket/auction. Members bring homemade edible foods, drinks and items to trade with others who also bring their homemade creations. People set up their creations, browse and then trade with one another.
The club also offers a DIY (do it yourself) school, the FSC Academy.
The academy is a mobile school with classes in Albany, Troy and Schenectady. Davis said they’re “slightly borrowing commercial kitchens to teach classes” to offer Classes in a Bag.
If you can’t make it to a location, Davis and some members will come to your home or place of business.
“You can even choose the class you want,” said Davis. The cost is $45 per person, and group rates are available.
Locations for classes include The Arts Center in Troy, All Good Bakers in Albany, First Unitarian Society of Schenectady and now Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa, with classes starting there in September.
The next From Scratch Club Academy class will be held on Wednesday, July 18, in Schenectady from 7 to 9 p.m. at the First Unitarian Society of Schenectady. Sign up ahead of time online at fromscratchclub.com.
