Dear Valued Nutrition Clients,
I miss you so very much and am looking forward to seeing each one of you very soon!  As New York prepares to open again, I am committed to helping you prepare for whatever this new world throws our way, from the inside out!
Beginning April 27th, I will have limited appointments available on Monday’s and Thursday’s for those of you in need.  If you are experiencing Anxiety, Depression, Fatigue, Aches and Pains or ANY health concern that is limiting you from functioning well in your life or, if you are looking for Immune Support with the exact right nutritional supplements for you, please request an appointment!

*The very best way to request an appointment is to text or call me directly at 585.797.4320

Our office has put all the recommended COVID safety measures into place and we are limiting the number of people coming into the office so, when you arrive for your appointment, p​lease call or text us to the office 585.383.8833, and we will let you know when to come in. 

Please Be Prepared for Your Appointment!

1. Write down in advance the supplements you need, and hand the list to Michele.
2. Wear a mask to your appointment.
3. Wash your hands upon entering the office.
4. Hand Michele your Completed Food Journal and then lie down on the nutrition table. Food Journals can be found HERE.
5. When you are done, give the front desk the list of supplements you need. We will prepare your order at end of day and contact you for pick up on another day or to drop ship directly to you.
6. Once you have completed payment at the front desk, please leave the office and do not linger.

I am looking forward to working with you again to supercharge your health and wellbeing!
Be well,
Michele
585.797.4320 (Call or Text)

​Good morning valued practice member,

Unfortunately, I will be suspending Nutrition Services until April 19th as recommended by the CDC and NYS Governor.

Please contact me ASAP to order the supplements you need to continue your program support through the month. In addition, if you are interested in Immune Support or Support for Anxiety, Stress, Sleeplessness, etc... please let me know so I can help find the right supplements or herbs for you.

We do have supplements in the office that can be prepared for you to pick up OR we can ship directly to you from the company.  Any in office supplements pick ups will be scheduled as needed directly through me.

I encourage you to keep in touch with me regarding your supplement program and nutritional recommendations.
You can reach me by phone or text: (585) 797-4320 or
direct email: ISHACMichele@gmail.com.

Thank you for being an important part of my practice. I look forward to seeing you in person as soon as we are able to reopen!
Please stay safe and well.
Michele Law

Last week, a concerned mom asked me what she could do to be prepared for the potential of the coronavirus coming.  Once I saw the CDC reports I understood the widespread panic that may be felt by those who had been watching the news.  In doing a quick search of the coronavirus I noted that there have been other viruses in the past such as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome 2012) and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2003) that also affected the respiratory system (lungs). This winter alone we have seen so many people with other types of upper respiratory illnesses that I wanted to talk to you about what you can do to boost your health and keep it strong so your body can fight off any potential infection.
Stay hydrated!  Water is necessary for every single cell in our bodies to function. It also assists in filtering out waste, bringing in nutrition and keeping cells plump and working properly. Good hydrators are spring water, filtered water, herbal teas, coconut water, vegetable/chicken/beef stocks and broths.
Eat a rainbow of different vegetables. The more colors the better. Each color has different nutrients that we need to be healthy. Eat only real foods grown or raised in nature and not created in a lab. Since food supplies the building blocks for each cell of our body, when we feed our cells junk, we get junky cells. Our immune system is created from the food we eat so to have a strong immune system we must have strong building blocks.
Rest is so important.  Adults need between 7 – 9 hours per night to ensure the body recalibrates and regenerates properly. There are many studies that show the effects of sleep deprivation and getting less than 7 hours is simply not enough to support the body’s recovery from day to day stress.  To improve your sleeping, limit your screen time of TV/computer/phone in the evening to keep the blue light from interfering with your circadian rhythm.  Plan your sleep by setting a bedtime and a waketime to ensure you’re getting the sleep you need.  Check out Wise Traditions Podcast #214: Why Can’t I Sleep for some great tips!
Practice mindfulness, meditate, pray or whatever helps you quiet the mind and focus on things that are positive for you.  Keeping the mind focused on the positive and what you have control over and letting the rest go will do you more good than you can probably believe. Worry and stress challenge our body and immune system. Quieting the mind helps to strengthen it. Did you know that Dr. Donald Londorf has a meditation CD available in our office?  If not, ask Nikki or Lauren at the front desk for how you can get a copy!
Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue.  This minimizes the number of droplets in the air after a cough or sneeze.  The droplets in the air linger and move through a room which is why others can be affected after someone coughs or sneezes.
Wash your hands with soap and warm water.  This is the most effective way to minimize the spread of germs… no matter the germ.   When I worked in an office environment with lots of other people, I kept a jar of hand cream with an immune protective essential oil (Thieves by Young Living or On Guard by DoTerra) added to it for additional protection and to ensure my hands were moisturized after washing because soap can be drying.
Brush your teeth and tongue twice per day.  Change out your toothbrush every three months. So many germs remain lurking on a toothbrush, they are meant to be changed.  If you don’t remember when you changed your toothbrush or the brush head on your electric toothbrush, now is a great time to get a new one!  Removing the debris between your teeth with floss will minimize the food remnants from gathering unwanted bacteria thus supporting your health as well.
Move your body.  Take a walk, get on your bike, bounce, dance around the living room… no matter what, moving your body moves your lymphatic system and this part of your body requires you to do a little movement to keep it moving.  This is important because when the lymph gets sticky, you feel congested or stuffy and can possibly experience brain fog.
Sauna… we cannot say enough good things about using a sauna.  An infrared sauna will warm you up from the inside out, stimulate circulation, get your lymph flowing, support your detoxification pathways, support your nervous system and your immune system, and simply make you feel all warm and happy.  We love the one in our office and we offer individual sessions and packages for you to enjoy as well.   Just schedule your time at the front desk, sit back, and relax.  The sauna does all the rest!
LAUGH and do things that bring you joy!  They have said that laughter is the best medicine.  Watch funny shows… the ones that get a good belly laugh.  Laughter relaxes the body, reduces the stress response, boosts immunity, can combat depression and relieve pain!  https://chopra.com/articles/6-reasons-why-laughter-is-the-best-medicine; https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200504/laughter-the-best-medicine
What to avoid?  Processed and unnatural sugars along with packaged and refined foods.  These non-foods create inflammation which leads to a depressed immune system.  Studies have shown that eating processed sugars will depress the immune system essentially “freezing” it for 5 hours after eating the sugar.  If a person is eating processed sugars for each meal plus some snacks and/or beverages, then the only time the immune system can fully function would be in the wee hours of the morning.  Good news is that some recent studies have found that the body might actually need some form of sugar when fighting a viral infection.  Good sources would be local raw honey or dates so if you are fighting a viral infection, go ahead and add some honey to your herbal tea!  https://blog.bioticsresearch.com/does-sugar-weaken-the-immune-system;  https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/09/glucose-inflammation/498965/  
After reading this article on WebMD,
​https://www.webmd.com/lung/coronavirus#1, and after listening to a few local medical doctors in the local Rochester area, the recommendations seem to be the same for this virus as with any other virus. The symptoms begin in the same way as other viruses but if they don’t go away in a few days, you should seek testing from your doctor to determine the type of virus you have.  If you do in fact have the coronavirus, you will need to get plenty of rest, eat healthy, stay hydrated, and stay home.
There are a few supplements we generally recommend that enhance the immune system for prevention such as Standard Process Immuplex, Congaplex, and Echinacea Premium.  These supplements work very well in adults and children to not only build immune health but to support you when dealing with an immune challenge like a virus or bacteria. We actually have many more immune strengthening supplements and herbs that can be provided with a Nutrition Response Testing evaluation in order to know what would be exactly right for you.

We all have our vices! Mine are tacos, pizza and coffee to name a few, but I had not considered my fabric softener use as a vice until this weekend.  I have used the same softener labeled Free and Clear for so many years and often speak with nutrition clients about the use of detergents and softeners with fragrance due to the negative effects of fragrances used in these products.   (https://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2007/12/ask-ewg-what-fragrance)  In fact, I had taken all fragrance products out of my home years ago because of their effects on my health, specifically allergies, respiratory and endocrine concerns.  Out of habit, convenience, or lack of concern I never investigated the ingredients within the softening agent I was using.

Upon a recent store brand purchase of a perfume and dye free fabric softener, I opened the bottle to add it to my laundry.  There was a very strong chemical smell that I had not noted with the brand I usually purchase, and I experienced an immediate sensation in my brain that is very hard to describe, so I’ll just call it a headache.  I know it to be the feeling of neurotoxicity based upon past experience and it felt like a tingling throughout my brain.  After a few minutes, I noted a tightness in my chest/lungs and throat.  Since I knew why this was happening and what had triggered the event, I knew how to help myself and took a couple whole food supplements to support my body in processing this chemical challenge and within a few hours I was back to normal.

Because of this experience, I was initially upset that the product packaging indicated it was free of perfumes and dyes and yet had such a clear and strong smell of noxious chemicals.  Then I got online and looked up the ingredients. To be fair, the first ingredient was water, but the second ingredient was Dialkylester Ammonium Methosulfate.  This ingredient is member of a chemical group known as “Quats” or ammonium salts that are used as a disinfectant in many cleaning products and in fabric softener is used as the softener and antistatic aspect.  This type of chemical is associated with symptoms such as mild skin and respiratory irritation and can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.   In addition, “Quats” have been determined to have a probable connection to birth defects and fertility issues. 
​(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaternary_ammonium_cation and for further investigation, https://www.womensvoices.org/cleaning-with-pesticides-quit-the-quats/)

Another ingredient listed is Methylisothiazolinone.  This is a powerful biocide and preservative, often used as a method for controlling microbial growth in water containing solutions.   This ingredient is often associated with allergic contact dermatitis and is identified as a cytotoxin which means this is a substance known to be harmful to cells.  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylisothiazolinone ; https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/703935-METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE/

Once I knew the ingredients in this store brand fabric softener, I looked up my usual brand. They had very similar ingredients and it was listed with a failing rate on the Environmental Working Group website.   You can check that out here: https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/1752-DownyUltraLiquidFabricConditionerFreeGentle?formulation=7339

I was left feeling like I had been living under a rock, and simply not paying attention to this one aspect of lifestyle and how it may be impacting my own health.  At this moment, I can not be sure what will be different now that I will no longer be using any fabric softeners, but I hope to become aware of changes in the coming weeks and months.

The information that I have provided within the links above was more than enough information for me to decide to kick my fabric softener habit; however, there are some good reasons people use this type of product. If you have hard water and your clothes feel rough and scratchy after they are washed, then fabric softener can be a solution. Some people, like me, just like having that extra softness.  Others, use the scented products to leave a scent on their clothes they might like and may make them feel like their clothes are cleaner?

So, here are some solutions:  If you have hard water, own your own home, and can afford to do so, invest in a whole house water filtration system that softens and filters the water.  This is an amazing solution to address all the hard water issues in the house, dishwasher, shower, bath and washing machine and the benefits are usually noted very quickly.   This is not a solution for everyone so the two solutions below are simple, effective, and easy on the wallet!

Adding Distilled White Vinegar to your washing machine when doing a load of laundry will do the trick and then some!  I have used this vinegar hack for some time and the laundry I did this weekend was just as soft, if not more so, than it would have been with fabric softener.  Vinegar also acts as a natural deodorizer, it cleans your washer while it washes your clothes, helps maintain the color of clothes, helps fight stains and more!  https://www.thespruce.com/top-uses-for-vinegar-in-laundry-2147286

Dryer balls can be a great option to using chemical dryer sheets and they work very well.  You can buy them at many locations now days.  One of my favorite makers and retailers is a local Rochester company: Impact Earth.  You can find them at the Brighton Farmers Market on Sundays and you can find them here: https://impactearthroc.com/store/wool-dryer-balls   The dryer balls will soften and assist with reducing the static cling! You can also add a few drops of your favorite Essential Oil fragrance to the balls to scent your clothes.

In addition, one of my favorite product lines is a small, family run company called Branch Basics.  They have created a non-toxic cleaning product that WORKS!  It’s a concentrated cleaning product that can be used for every household cleaning task you have.  I have been amazed with the results and have been using Branch Basics for all my cleaning needs for about 2.5 years now.  They have an informative blog and have done extensive research into the chemicals in cleaning products.  https://branchbasics.com/blog/12-toxic-chemicals-in-dryer-sheets-fabric-softeners/  and https://branchbasics.com/?s=dryer

And if you are interested in checking out Branch Basics products, here is a discount on your first-time order!  http://branchbasics.refr.cc/michelelaw

Click this link for further research completed by The Environmental Working Group: https://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2011/11/dont-get-slimed-skip-fabric-softener

Now that you know more about fabric softener are you ready to kick fabric softener to the curb?  Let me know in the comment section below.

Boosting Immunity…Naturally
By Michele R Law, INHC
 
Here we are, the beginning of February and we have been in the “Cold and Flu” season for a number of months. We also have a couple more months to go. I wanted to share some easy, proven and effective ways you can help yourself and your family boost your immune system before and during an illness.

So, what happens to you when you have a cold or flu bug? Your body’s immune system identifies a foreign invader.  At first, it doesn’t know what it is, much like a stranger ringing your doorbell.  Do you let them inside?  Do you send them away?  

After a moment of checking out this stranger, your immune system determines it is a potential menace and attempts to send it away by mounting an immune defense.  This is called ‘innate immunity’ and it’s one that you develop naturally over time after meeting foreign invaders and creating antibodies against them.
If the invader is new, your immune system must make new antibodies to fend off this new stranger.  As the body fights to clear the invader you may experience symptoms, and this is how you know your immune system is working properly.  Once you create new antibodies, your immune system will know exactly what to do with that particular invader in the future and you may not experience those symptoms again in the same way.

So, what is the best way to assist your body when it is fighting an infection? Truly, it is to get as much rest as possible and stay hydrated. The best hydration is always filtered water, teas, soups and fermented beverages like Kombucha, Kevita Probiotic Water, Kevass or Kefir. If you need to be around other people when ill, make sure to cough into your elbow, sneeze into a tissue or your elbow and to wash your hands often with plain soap and water. These are the still the best ways to keep from sharing your infection with others. I would caution against using anti-bacterial soaps and chemical hand sanitizers too often because they kill off beneficial bacteria that make up the biome of your skin as well as surface germs. Instead choose hand sanitizers made from essential oils or natural products. Plus, your skin absorbs whatever you put on it so keeping chemicals out will help your body fight infection better.

Oftentimes people are looking to boost their immune system by taking supplements such as Vitamin C, Zinc and what is becoming more mainstream, Elderberry Syrup.  Vitamin C is amazing in its complete form. Your body needs more than just Ascorbic acid which the only ingredient found in most Vitamin C supplements.  A whole food Vitamin C contains Ascorbic Acid plus the other 6 Co-Factors needed to ensure proper absorption and utilization. At Inner Sage, our go-to is Standard Process Cataplex C.  This is a whole food derived C that contains all 7 components of Vitamin C to optimally boost your immune system and all cells of your body.  For the best Zinc product, we recommend Standard Process Zinc Liver Chelate.

Elderberry Syrup is amazing and does a terrific job as a preventative supplement if taken in the very early stages of a viral illness.  Elderberry Syrup can stop the viral replication process and speed your healing, but you must take it at the first sign of infection.  Elderberry Extract has become more mainstream and can be found in grocery stores now.  It is also a great product to keep on hand each season, just in case!  At Inner Sage we love using a liquid botanical product from Energetix called Core Sambucas that has the Elderberry along with Echinacea, Eyebright and Goldenseal which supports the immune system, respiratory system and digestive system.  This is easy for children and adults to take because it is a liquid.
​
If you would like some help determining which supplements are the best for you or your children to take, we can test different kinds with Nutrition Response Testing to determine the exact right supplement that will be most beneficial for your specific situation.  Our goal with all infections is to support your immune system with the nutrition it needs to get you feeling better as quickly as possible.

​Change…
So many of us have a fear reaction to the word “change” and every year at this time we decide we are going to concur positive changes by making resolutions we don’t stick to for longer than a week or two. 
A number of years ago I gave up making resolutions each January for this very reason.  Instead, I do resolve to tackle areas of life that need improvement and this year is no different. 
I have been on a health journey for well over a decade and over this time so much has changed.  I started by following all sorts of information I found in books, media, magazines and the like.  Nowadays there is so much information available to us but a good amount of that information just does not work!
Why?  Because how you came to have your symptom is not how I came to have my symptom… and what helps aid in the reduction of those symptoms will be different for each of us. 
In my case, I suffered with Allergies. Through Nutrition Response Testing I discovered I actually had multiple food sensitivities. As I removed those foods from my diet my allergies began to improve. About 9 months later I was able to add back in some of those sensitive foods and found that there were a few I could add back in in small amounts and a couple of others that were an absolute No, or my allergies would flair up again.
Now, I no longer suffer from chronic allergies.  I have no need for antihistamines, decongestants, or to carry a box of tissues with me everywhere I go.  I also don’t have rebound headaches that were due to the regular use of those medications.  I am so grateful I resolved to get to the bottom of this health concern as well as many others.  
 I made the choice to commit and play full out by changing what I was choosing to eat and making the changes recommended to me. I allowed myself to wait long enough for the inflammatory response to resolve and then determine which foods were good for me, which foods I could eat sometimes, and those I needed to remove from my diet to keep my health optimum.  If I do experience an allergy symptom, I know it was something I ate, drank, or it was environmental, and I can make necessary corrections much earlier.
Now that the holidays are over, most of us are ready to feel better again and want to make healthier choices and I am no different! This year I have embraced the need to improve my detoxification pathways and started the Standard Process Detox Balance Challenge that began on January 6th. 
I have historically been very sensitive to detox products and I found that I would detoxify too fast for my own body to keep up.  I began the challenge doing the recommended program but have tweaked it, so the detoxification process is not as intense.  For those clients I work with that are doing The Detox Balance Program or The 21-Day Purification Program, I approach each case in the same way.  If you are able to handle your detoxification process the first few days as recommended, please continue.  If you find you are detoxifying too quickly meaning you are having lots of symptoms, we dial back the program and work up to what is tolerated best by your body.
I share my story with you to bring light to the fact that the work I do with my nutrition clients is centered around understanding your background history then testing your body through Nutrition Response Testing and making recommendations that will support you in being successful.  All you need to do is to decide, Is NOW the time you want to be well?  If you are ready and willing to do what it takes to improve your health, you will succeed! Call me to schedule your first visit and let’s begin. 585.383.8833
Here’s to your health!
Michele Law, INHC

You have gone Gluten Free.  Is it enough?

Whether you have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease or you have gluten sensitivities, gluten itself definitely needs to be out of all items you eat and drink.  In most cases, also out of all body care products and cosmetics.  When you continue to experience symptoms of gut pain, sluggishness, joint pain, insomnia, exhaustion, depression, anxiety, headaches/migraines, etc… gluten free will not be enough to heal your gut.

 YES, you can heal your gut!

For years I suspected that I needed to get gluten out of my diet and still I had no idea how serious this was for me.  I did not experience the gut wrenching pain and damage of Celiac Disease; however, I would spend many days curled up in a ball of pain, holding my head hoping the pain and pressure would subside.  When it did, I went on with my life.  I had no idea what was causing this debilitating pain and it seemed to come on without a clear culprit.  This was my “normal”.  Finding a Nutrition Response Testing practitioner to test me and find that wheat was a problem for me was a blessing; however, I also tested as having a challenge with oats, sprouted grains, millet, rice, rye, corn… the list went on to include sugars, dairy, and eggs.

What did this mean?  That all the food I was eating was beating up my stomach and keeping it in the same condition… a never healing condition.
What was recommended?  Staying off all of the foods that tested as a challenge long enough for the gut to heal and then test the foods I took out to see if they still caused trouble.  How long is long enough?  6 months to over a year.  GASP!  While the stomach lining is one of the fastest to heal in the body, when it has been beaten up for many years or decades, there needs to be a good amount of time for it to heal and be in a calm state of production so it can work optimally for you. 

I share this with you because in today’s environment, we expect everything to be done in a New York minute.  When this does not happen, we get frustrated, give up, and say nothing works.  It took a couple decades to get my body in the condition I did not want, so it was going to take more than a few weeks or months to get my body in the condition I did want.  In fact, this took 2.5 years of being on a Nutrition Response Testing program and I continue to heal every day. 

Why might these other foods cause stress on the body and be a part of the problem when they are so good for you?  Some of those foods, like Oats, could be cross-contaminated by wheat.  Sprouted grains are a delicious way to get young nutrients into the system, unless they are made with grains in the wheat family.  No wheat, spelt, or rye.  Corn is not the corn of 30 years ago and has become a larger problem due to the genetic modifications made to the seeds which in turn, create trouble in our digestive tract.  Dairy and sugar cause inflammation in the body and when it is ALREADY inflamed from the food we eat, we are simply adding more fuel to the fire.  Eggs are not usually the main challenge, but when removed for a time can often be added back in easily.  Ultimately, if your body is having trouble with digestion, the goal is to ensure proper digestion is happening and many of the problems you are facing will begin to reduce and disappear!

It is time to have a different conversation with ourselves in order to allow our brains and bodies to understand that something needs to shift.  Because there has been a serious reason to restrict ourselves in one area, we tend to feel very restricted and any further discussion about what not to eat sends us into a feeling of overwhelm.  It is time to have a conversation about what we can eat and make choices that allow us to grow and create in a way that gives our bodies energy and strength! 

As a Nutrition Response Testing Practitioner, I am able to identify underlying stressors or weaknesses in the body’s systems and organs which may be affecting your overall health and find the appropriate whole food remedy to bring your body back to balance so it can heal.  With Nutrition Response Testing we look for the underlying causes of your symptoms and work from there.

​Are you ready to get started?

Dear Coffee,
I was a late bloomer to your world.  It was like a club I never belonged to: a non-coffee drinker.  Only four short years ago I found your taste to be delicious.  Previously it had been too bitter.  All of a sudden, with a bit of cream foamed on top, I found you to be one of the best tastes ever!  It started slowly and unassuming.  I enjoyed a cup of your deliciousness once to twice per week.  Gradually, I began enjoying you every single day.  One cup, two cups, sometimes three. 
Not only did I love your taste, I felt like I could get so many things accomplished once the kick of your caffeine began to take effect.   I didn’t let myself believe I wanted the caffeine, but that I simply wanted to enjoy your delicious taste.
Reality bites!  I found that I could not have you for a day or maybe two, and then I would really crash and need to have you.  Sometimes my mood was in the crapper and a hit of coffee would have me back round to my perky self… or at least tolerable to be around. 
Two weeks ago I made a choice.  A simple choice.  I planned to reduce my coffee intake and work myself out of this habit.  This time I started slowly but with great purpose.  I started drinking my normal 2 cups and then the next day 1.5 cups… eventually I was down to ½ a cup and felt really good.  It has now been 7 full days without you as part of my morning routine.  I am waking up more easily, ready to begin the day.  I have better mental capacity than I was experiencing and stay on top of tasks better.  As I write this letter, it is mid-day and I have not had a mid-day crash.   My sleep has been better as well.
While I can honestly say I am not writing you off for the rest of my life, for right now, I am working on cleaning up my internal system and breaking habits that are not necessary and causing challenges within my body.  I will be without you for the next 3 weeks as I complete the 21 Day Purification Program and then I can reassess if I want to add you back into my life. 
With love,
Michele

​Have you heard about a CSA and wondered what it stood for or what it is?
Let’s break it down…
Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, is a way for you to purchase locally grown foods direct from a farmer in the form of a share.  We are used to hearing about buying shares of stock and increasing our net wealth.  This method is similar in that we reduce the toxic load of commercially produced crops, support our local farmer, and know we are feeding our bodies the best we can, our greatest wealth!
How does it work?  You purchase a share from a farmer or group of farmers and they package the food/produce into a box or make them available for you to bag/box and take home.  The produce is picked fresh that day and you get what the farmer can sell based on the number of shares purchased.  For some farmers who have smaller scale farms, they may have an abundance of a particular item i.e. zucchini and you may have such a large amount you can freeze, can, or dehydrate for another time during the year. 
Inner Sage practitioners have utilized The Good Food Collective (TGFC) the past several years and have found this to be an exemplary way to get high quality food and variety.  TGFC offers produce from a variety of local and organic farmers so they can offer a variety of produce to the customer base each week.  They offer vegetables and fruits in the basic share plan and then you can add on to include meat, poultry, more fruit, eggs, coffee, fermented foods, etc…   You can learn more about them here: https://thegoodfoodcollective.com/

What is really exciting about a CSA is you will inevitably find something you don’t know what it is or how to prepare it.  The famer generally gives handouts or will tell you what you have in your share and how to prepare it.  TGFC has a website and Facebook page with links to tell you what you will have in your share and recipes.  This brings an exciting time in the kitchen as well as to your taste buds!  There are a wide variety of CSA’s in our local Rochester area and you can locate them at Local Harvest.  http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

In Rochester, we are incredibly fortunate to have an abundance of local businesses who are committed to bringing the most fresh and healthful food to us.  Wegmans does a very good job with their offerings of organic produce and local produce when in season.  Abundance Co-Op, Lori’s Natural Foods, and Hart’s also offer wonderful organic produce and more.   If you want a more personal experience, get to know a farmer, and see first-hand how your dollars can impact the lives of local families growing organic foods, you can find them at the Rochester Public Market and a wide variety of farmers markets throughout the growing season. 

I find the CSA makes for more efficient use of my time.  I go to one place, pick up my share, and take it home.  There is no searching for the best looking produce or prices and I almost never have to run to the store for produce during our growing season because the bounty is enough for the week.  Another reason why I love TGFC is their flexibility with how you purchase shares.  You can buy an entire season or weekly.  Many of the CSA's require you to buy once for the whole growing season.  Depending on your budget, TGFC has versatility!

If you have had an experience with a CSA, please share in the comments below.