A trip to Joy Stingers-and lovely candles

Joy and her beautiful pillar

When you meet Joy Stinger, you don’t forget it.  A bundle of energy,  amazing honey, and beautiful candles all from a woman who personifies German grandma. Don’t ask me to explain that, it just makes sense to  me.  Anyway, I was excited to get the chance to visit Joy at her home this week. My son got dragged along too, but lucky for him this meant the chance to see chickens, hold a rabbit, see fish, cats, and two dogs. It’s like a petting zoo and Santa’s workshop in Clayton, Missouri. 

The dog was licking the bunny...

I visited Joy to buy some of her beautiful candles for the holidays.  You’ll notice a photo of her pillars and one of her molds. The candles are amazing and many are made with antique molds. Joy also hand paints a lot of the candles which are made with beeswax and have the lovely aroma of honey.

Candle molds

In addition to candles, I was able to get a peek into Joy’s world. There is no shortage of animals to care for, candles to paint, molds to fill, eggs to gather…etc.  Seriously I don’t know how she does it all.

We have lots of her candles for sale at the store-tapers, pillars, pine cones, old-fashioned santas and small painted and unpainted ornaments.  As quickly as they are selling I think I’ll be heading back to Clayton very soon.

 

Plants, plants, plants at Local Harvest Grocery

They’re back–lovely herbs and vegetable plants from Biver Farms. This year we’ve lowered the prices–$2.99 for herbs, $3.49 for vegetable plants.  We are cheaper than Whole Foods! These plants are special because they are certified organic and because Biver Farms supplies us with many hard to find varieties–especially for tomatoes.  This year you can even buy the Sun Gold cherry tomatoes to grow in your own garden. These fly off the shelves at our store and he can barely keep them in stock at Farmer’s Markets.  These tomatoes are a beautiful and vibrant orange color with a taste that is  so sweet you’ll eat them right off the vine.

 

100% Grass Fed Beef

Local Harvest Grocery is excited to welcome Missouri Grass Fed Beef as a new vendor.  You’ll find that this  100% grass fed beef is comparably priced, delicious, locally produced and we believe better for the environment and the animal.  And, how great is it to be able to buy it right here in the City of St. Louis. No trip to the county is necessary. 

Please check out the information below to learn more about Missouri Grass Fed Beef.  Jeremy, one of the farmers  and owners, is very knowledgeable and a big believer in the importance of 100% grass fed beef, sustainable farming, and treating animals well.  

If you want to meet him yourself, he will be at the Maplewood Farmer’s Market this year. 

The meat arrives on March 26th so we hope to see you soon!

-Maddie

Website: http://www.eatmograssfedbeef.com/

Our mission at Missouri Grass Fed Beef is simple:

>Treat our animals humanely and ethically
>Provide the highest quality grass fed beef in a reliable year round supply
>Enable small farms to continue their way of life while leaving the smallest footprint on the environment

We forbid any growth hormones, steroids, or antibiotics to be given to our cattle so that our customers can be assured of receiving pure, healthy beef the way nature intended.

The beef we sell has been born and raised on the same farm from start to finish.  They are processed at less than 1 year of age which results in the leanest, most tender grass fed beef available.  They have never been fed any grain or animal by-products(standard practice at commercial feed lots) and have only had grass, legumes, mother’s milk, and free choice minerals.

Our family has been in the cattle business since 1945 and we have seen many changes in farming and ranching throughout the decades.  One thing that has not changed is our commitment to the land and to our animals.  We keep our land healthy and productive by utilizing a rotational grazing system.  This insures that our cattle are taking in the highest quality protein. 

 

New products–Mangia Pesto and Sauce

Craving the taste of Mangia but can’t be bothered to step out of your house. Well, next time you’re at Local Harvest I highly suggest you grab one of the new products we’re carrying from Mangia–Pesto and Pasta Sauce.  A few nights ago I enjoyed the pesto with some of the fresh Radiatorre from Mangia. It was sooo delicious.  The pesto was just right–not too oily and full of basil and garlic.  Made me think of summer time. 

Oh yeah, and don’t forget that we carry a variety of fresh pasta from Mangia and the selections change weekly.  A new one I had the other day was a beet fettuccine and it was delightful. The flavor was a little earthy and color was a nice light fuschia.  The pasta does not taste like beets which made my husband very happy.

-Maddie

 

NEW: Volpi Wine Salami

We’re excited to offer a new local product at Local Harvest Grocery–Volpi Wine Salamis.  These salamis are minimally processed and do not have nitrites.  We are currently selling them for $5.29 which is cheaper than you can order them on-line.  This is a high quality salami with a very unique flavor.  We carry Chianti and Pinot Grigio. 

Below is a description straight from Volpi.

                                                             WINE SALAMI

Two great Italian loves – Wine and Salami - come together resulting in one of the most authentic and innovative products in today’s world of charcuterie. Experience the unique, old world style of Volpi’s Chianti, Pinot Grigio and Rose Wine Salami.  These mouth-watering salami are infused with high quality wines, dry cured and aged to perfection.  Volpi wine salami are made with all natural fresh pork, minimally processed and contain no artificial ingredients or nitrites.  Like any good wine, Volpi wine salami are meant to be shared with family and friends and are best accompanied by soft, fresh cheese and crusty breads. 

 

ropp cheese from normal, il.

the store is now carrying some new local cheese – ropp cheeses.

these cheeses are made in normal, illinois with the milk from jersey cows, which tends to be a bit sweeter than milk from regular dairy cows.

we have quite a selection cheddars (like white cheddar, jalapeno, green onion, horseradish) and a delicious swiss.

the one type that caught my eye was the cheddar blue, it looks like this:

i would say that the sweetness definitely shines through, creating a subtle and creamy blue cheese with a bit of a white cheddar bite.

i had some with crackers and apples – it was great. and then i had some in a salad – it was also great.

andy from riddles penultimate and from eat here st. louis visited the farm and reported that the cows are happy and healthy.

the specialty cheeses cost $10.19 per pound and the others are $9.19 per pound.

come in and try some local delights.

-clara

 

We now carry salmon

We now carry frozen salmon from Wild Alaska Salmon and Seafood Company.  This company operates out of Illinois and Alaska.  Tony Wood, the owner and fisherman, lives half the year in the lower 48 and half the year in Alaska.  I’ve included the website so that you can read all about this company. http://www.wildalaskasalmonandseafood.com/about.php

We are carrying frozen sockeye salmon fillets (6-10oz) and frozen smoked sockeye salmon.  This is a wonderful product and we’re excited to be carrying their salmon. 

You’ll find it in our frozen food section.  It’s easy to find. : )

-Maddie

 

KUVA COFEE COMPANY PRESENT CAFÉ PERU CHILCHOS

A press release announcing the Cafe Peru Chilchos that is for sale at LHG. Enjoy.

-Maddie

 

 

 

WILLIAM L. BROWN CENTER AT THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN AND

KUVA COFEE COMPANY PRESENT CAFÉ PERU CHILCHOS

Ten percent of profits from the environmentally sustainable coffee to benefit WLBC

 

 (ST. LOUIS):  The William L. Brown Center (WLBC) at the Missouri Botanical Garden, in partnership with Kuva Coffee Company, proudly presents Café Peru Chilchos, an environmentally and economically sustainable coffee, grown under shade trees in the Chilchos Region of Peru. The coffee is available now for purchase in the Garden Gate Shop at the Missouri Botanical Garden and LOCAL HARVEST GROCERY. Kuva Coffee Company is donating 10 percent of their profits to WLBC to further develop research projects in Peru.  

Café Peru Chilchos is grown in the Chilchos Valley, an isolated region in the northeastern slopes of the Andes in Peru. Its inhabitants have tremendous respect for the natural environment, living in harmony with the ecosystem for hundreds of years. Conservation coffee farmers of the Chilchos Valley have worked meticulously to develop the highest quality Arabica bean without the use of chemicals or artificial fertilizers, thus protecting flora and fauna.

The Chilcho people were part of the Chachapoya ethnic group living in the dense cloud forests in the Huayabamba river valleys in Peru’s Amazonas region. They formed a free and democratic society, living in harmony with their natural environment. After the Spanish conquest, the Huayabamba area depopulated, and only a few families remained in what is now the actual province of Rodriguez de Mendoza. A small part of the huge abandoned area was “rediscovered” in the late 19th century by local farmers. Local families grow high value conservation coffee to sustain their livelihoods and conserve the remaining forests.

The Huayabama cloud forests are a refuge for a large number of plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. The Chachapoya Biocommunity Network, with help from local NGO INBIAPeru, together with the William L. Brown Center at the Missouri Botanical Garden and Kuva Coffee Company, are working to establish the Huayabamba Conservation Corridor that will ensure the protection of flora and fauna, while giving the population a better and more sustainable livelihood by supporting small producers who grow high quality conservation coffee and cocoa. 

The Missouri Botanical Garden is the oldest continually operating botanical garden in the nation, celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2009. Missouri Botanical Garden: Green for 150 Years.

 

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate

I’m sure some of you have vowed to cut back on calories and maybe even sugar–if you are one of those, please don’t read this post.

New Chocolate Products

KaKaO: Hazelnut spread. Way better than Nutella, this delightful spread has a wonderful consistency, a strong hazelnut kick, and it is sweet, but not overly so. I love it, love it, love it.

Patric Chocolate: Three new products in the store since December.  Hot chocolate discs, Chocolate Nibs, and a 75% Cocoa bar.  The 75% Bar is unbelievable and what is not to like about Hot Chocolate Discs.  These are perfect for the cold, cold, nights we’ve had lately and they are wonderfully rich. 

So come on in for a chocolate treat.

 

Bulk-up in the New Year

That’s right I wrote Bulk-Up.  Of course I’m referring to our ever expanding bulk section. In the coming weeks we hope to add several varieties of loose leaf tea, more varieties of nuts and possibly even flour if space and equipment permits.

Locally grown bulk items included: pecans in the shell, popcorn, Black-Eyed Peas (great for New Year’s), Lima Beans, Crowder Peas, Black Beans, Pinto Beans, Kidney Beans and a lovely Heirloom Red Bean.  We also carry almonds, pinenuts, walnuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds and crystallized ginger.

We welcome your suggestions for other products.