Linda McGurk

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Retiree creates “Going Local” and becomes voice for movement

September 30, 2009 By Linda McGurk

BY LINDA McGURK

Indiana Correspondent

LEBANON, Ind.—A Connecticut native who ran a regulatory compliance consulting business for years and didn’t start cooking until she was in her forties, Victoria Wesseler may be an unlikely voice for the local foods movement in Indiana. But by combining her passion for gardening with her aptitude for writing and creating the blog site Going Local (www.goinglocal-info.com), that’s exactly what she’s become. “The Going Local site is all about the pleasure of local food,” Wesseler said. “The goal is to make it the go-to site for local food lovers in Indiana.”

Wesseler writes the blog from her rural home just north of Lebanon, Ind. When she and her husband, Robert, bought the seven-acre property in 1997 it was little more than “a pile of dirt and weeds,” she said. Today, several vegetable gardens abound with crops such as eggplant, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, kale, zucchini, chard, beets, asparagus, onions, green beans and sweet corn. A small orchard sports Asian pears, apples, plums, peaches and sour cherries, as well as a wide variety of berry bushes. And around the patio, edible flowers and herbs are mixed in with the ornamental varieties.

Growing up, Wesseler didn’t take much interest in cooking and gardening. But after meeting Robert, who grew up on a grain farm in Batesville, Ind., and taking a master gardeners’ class, she discovered a latent desire to grow, cook and preserve food. She estimates that she and Robert now produce about 50 percent of the food they eat. What they don’t consume themselves is given away to friends and local food pantries. “Last year we had so much fruit we were literally begging people to come pick it,” Wesseler said. “But at the end of the season it’s all gone. Nothing goes to waste.”

Nearly two years ago, Wesseler decided to retire from her consulting business and spend the next phase of her life doing something completely different. She created the Going Local site as a way to share her knack for gardening and cooking while promoting and celebrating foods produced in Indiana. “It was absolutely born out of passion,” she said about the site.

Going Local averages about 400 hits per day and Wesseler frequently hears from producers who want to be added to her list of local farmers. Since she started the site, Wesseler has noticed a surging interest in locally produced foods. “I think the last couple of years, the local food movement in Indiana has gained a lot of traction,” she said. “There have always been pockets of it, like in Bloomington, but now I think we’re seeing a more conscious effort to eat local in Indiana. I think the ISDA (Indiana State Department of Agriculture) has always made an effort to promote local foods but the last couple of years they’ve promoted it more aggressively.”

Wesseler believes there are many reasons behind the rising popularity of local foods, including better taste, improved traceability and a desire to support local farmers. “One thing that I talk a lot about is that it keeps money in the community, and I don’t think helping local producers will ever go out of style,” she said and added, “I think we’re getting to a point where eating local is the norm, not the exception. But there will always be a place for grocery stores…Buying local is more challenging in January and February, but we’ve got winter markets here in Indy and I’m just blown away by what they have to offer. Eggs, milk and cheese are always in season.”

Last year, Wesseler launched Going Local Week, a state-wide celebration of local foods that encourages Hoosiers to eat at least one locally grown or produced food at each meal during the seven-day event. The goal is to increase awareness of the availability of local foods in Indiana communities, provide support and recognition for local food producers, and ultimately boost the consumption of local foods in the state. Both the ISDA and the Indiana Department of Tourism have joined forces with Wesseler to promote the event, which runs from Sept. 6-12. “It’s a time to really go out and celebrate Indiana foods,” Wesseler said.

View the published article at: http://www.farmworldonline.com/News/ArchiveArticle.asp?newsid=8247

Filed Under: Article, English, Featured

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“A perfect antidote to the hyper-vigilant, extra-electrified, standardized-tested, house-arrested, 21st-century childhood.” —Richard Louv, bestselling author of LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS and VITAMIN N

"Smart, friendly and Swedish. Packed with sane ideas that will get your children outside, independent, and filled with the joy of living. This book will open your eyes—or maybe tempt you to move to Sweden. Now: Go outside and play!"
—Heather Shumaker, author of IT'S OK NOT TO SHARE and IT'S OK TO GO UP THE SLIDE

"I could not put this book down! Linda McGurk not only offers a fresh perspective about parenting and outdoor play from a Scandinavian viewpoint, but she is a fabulous storyteller and will hook you on the first page.”
—Angela Hanscom, author of BALANCED AND BAREFOOT

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Linda Åkeson McGurk
Some days we struggle to get outside. Other days a Some days we struggle to get outside. Other days are like this.🙏🏻 There was nothing else I would’ve rather done today, nowhere I would’ve rather been than right here. We may only get this kind of of amazing ice a few days a year - if we’re lucky - so the decision to drop everything else for this was an easy one to make.❄️ The otherworldly sound of the ice singing, the pale sun on our faces, the feeling of being one with nature. This day was one to remember.❤️
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Darkness is a constant presence here this time of Darkness is a constant presence here this time of year and you can either fight it or embrace it. I choose the latter🌑

When the nights are long and the days are short, I fall back on the simple joys of life. Sledding under a starry night, going for a quiet walk along old gravel roads, thawing frozen hands over an open fire. With friends who will always have my back❤️ 

I could’ve been dreaming of a sunny beach in a faraway location, but truthfully, right there and then on this ordinary yet magic Thursday, there was nowhere else I’d rather be. Thank you for the hot chocolate and the good times, @mallanut😘
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Reality check. I’m working 50-60 hours per week Reality check. I’m working 50-60 hours per week right now, on top of caring for two children on my own. This work burden is not something that I strive for, nor is it something that I idealize, it’s just how it is for me sometimes. While I know that I’m busier than what’s good for me right now, there’s one thing that keeps me going even when things are tough. You guessed it - nature.🌿

Once I go out the door and hit the trail, nothing else matters. By the sparkling lake, I turn off work completely and all deadlines suddenly become irrelevant. In the shade of the tall pine trees, the constant noise in my brain fades into a whisper. Out here, in the crisp air, all my worries and concerns peel away and my heart is filled with gratitude.🙏🏻

I know it’s hard to make time for nature experiences in this busy day and age, but our harried souls need nature more than ever. And time in nature is never wasted.❤️
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #optoutside #outsideeveryday #wildfamily #naturelover #naturelovers #naturetherapy #sweden #swedenimages
We have this unofficial rule in Sweden that you “have to” go outside every day, even if it’s just for a little bit. Fresh air is good for you, there’s no such thing as bad weather, etc etc...And on days when the sun is out, even if it’s ever so faint, the rule is that you don’t go back inside until you really have to🌞 
This obsession with the sun may be hard to fathom if you live in a climate where light is abundant but to Scandinavians, a sunny day is a welcome relief from more or less perpetual twilight in the winter. On these latitudes, time in the sun is never wasted. So after our walk in the woods, we simply stayed outside and drank some tea and chatted about everything from the evolution of bitcoin to whatever happened to Octomom. It was a beautiful day with family❤️
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I love cooking outside any day but with the pandem I love cooking outside any day but with the pandemic we’ve been doing it even more than usual.🥦 Trying to decide whether to include more of it in my feed🤔So tell me, would you be interested in some tips and recipes for cooking over the campfire?
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It’s not a normal New Year’s Eve by any means It’s not a normal New Year’s Eve by any means but with forest, fire and friends it turned out to be a pretty darn good party anyway😁 Are you celebrating outside today?❄️
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I think we all have places in nature that we keep I think we all have places in nature that we keep returning to because they speak to us on a higher level. Places that are essential to our inner beings and make us feel part of something much larger than ourselves.⛰Often, they’re places in nature where we’ve spent time with loved ones when we were children. In adulthood, the smells, sights and sounds of these places give us goosebumps and solace in equal measure. @richlouv calls these the places we carry in our hearts. I’ve got several, but one that stands out is the Swedish mountains. This is where I go to lose my soul and find home.💕Where’s your special place in nature?
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Almost thirty years ago, my parents got me a pair Almost thirty years ago, my parents got me a pair of cross country skis. And with that, they gave me another way to connect with nature during the cold months. Sure, they’re a bit dated and certainly not the fanciest skis out there, but they’re good enough. Every time I get them out, I’m reminded that while it certainly helps to have good gear when you recreate in nature, it doesn’t have to be the latest and greatest technology or the hippest brand. Real nature connection is not about competing to be the fastest or greatest at something. It’s not about conquering nature or taking the best selfie. It’s just about being in nature for the sake of being in nature. I won’t be winning any races with my skis, but every time I hit the track with them is a gift, a time for me to reflect, breathe and be in the present moment.❄️
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I never realized that having an outdoor routine wo I never realized that having an outdoor routine would help me live through a pandemic. I guess I never really expected the pandemic at all, or at least not one this bad. What I do know is that now more than ever, getting outside on my daily lunchtime walks and hanging out with family outside is what keeps me sane. Thank goodness germs don’t spread as easily outdoors as they do indoors🙏🏻. 

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thank you to all who This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thank you to all who participated; we will announce the winner soon!

❄️ All Weather Nature Play GIVEAWAY ❄️⁣
⁣
I’ve partnered with some inspiring accounts to give one winner the following set of prizes that encourage all weather nature play:⁣
⁣
❄️ $100 store credit to @mknordika
❄️ Mud boots from @loneconeshop
❄️ 32 oz. water bottle plus carabiner ring from @⁣1000hoursoutside
❄️ Knit hat from @1000hoursoutside
❄️ There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather from and by @rainorshinemamma 
❄️ The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
❄️ Cinders, A Chicken Cinderella by Jan Brett
❄️ Sky Tree by Thomas Locker

TO ENTER:⁣
❄️ Like and Save this photo⁣
❄️ Follow me and my friends:
@rainorshinemamma
@theamericanfieldtrip
@vagabond3
@1000hoursoutside
@mknordika
@loneconeshop
❄️ Tag a few of your adventuring friends in separate comments. One tag = one entry
❄️ BONUS ENTRY: Leave a comment with your favorite children’s nature book! This will give all of us some holiday ideas :).
⁣❄️BONUS ENTRY: Share this post in your stories and be sure to tag me so we can give you credit.
⁣
Open worldwide but winner is responsible for shipping costs if outside the United States. Giveaway ends Saturday, December 12th at midnight, EST and the winner will be randomly selected and notified through direct message by Monday, December 14th. Participants must be 18 years or older. This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram.
With my oldest daughter now practically a teenager With my oldest daughter now practically a teenager, I find myself fighting almost a daily battle to keep the whole family active outside. Research shows that this is the age when kids’ physical activity declines considerably, while screen time goes up (hardly a coincidence😏). To find some sort of balance I often have to use a combination of carrot and stick to get this girl outside. There’s no screen time without “green time” and my kids both know that daily nature play is non-negotiable in this family.🌿

Although I try really hard to let their interests guide us, they just have zero motivation to leave the cozy comforts of our home some days. But as the saying goes, the hardest part is often getting out the door and once we’re outside they’ll usually find something that captures their attention. A tree to climb, a puddle of ice to slide on or a neighborhood cat to cuddle🐈 Now if only they’d remember all the fun things we do outside, that would be great...😅

I’d love to hear your take on this - are you struggling to keep your tween active outside and if so, what are your best tips?🤔
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I know the trail description said black diamond bu I know the trail description said black diamond but I didn’t expect this...😅 We weren’t even supposed to be here; we had booked a night at a spa this weekend to celebrate our one-year anniversary but alas, corona put a stop to that. And who needs to soak in hot tubs and drink green tea out of tiny cups when you can be outside in the freezing cold, beating yourself up on a mountainbike trail that is way out of your league? Fortunately, I have a partner who likes to humor my wild side and basically never says no🙌🏻 Here’s to many more years of love and adventure❤️
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Black Friday. Literally😂 But yeah, a moonlit wa Black Friday. Literally😂 But yeah, a moonlit walk beats a crowded mall any day in my book. How do you feel about this day? Love it or leave it?🌿
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Somebody put a lot of time and effort into making Somebody put a lot of time and effort into making this fort! Love finding signs of other kids playing in the woods.❤️
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THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! The winner will be an THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! The winner will be announced shortly😊

𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯.
-Vivian Greene 

🌧 ☀️ ❄️ No Such Thing As Bad Weather Giftaway ❄️ ☀️ 🌧 

We’ve teamed up with accounts passionate about giving children the gear they need to dance in every type of weather! 

One winner will receive:

⛄️ $80 Shop credit from @mknordika 
⛄️ There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather book from @rainorshinemama
⛄️ @vivobarefoot shoes from @dear.wildlings
⛄️ @janandjul Snow gloves
⛄️ @loneconeshop Rain Boots
⛄️ 1lb Cocoa mix
⛄️ 2 Stainless steel double walled thermoses 
⛄️ Teavana Apple Cider Tea 
⛄️ $50 Amazon gift card to grab extra gear

To enter:
⛈ Like & Save this post
⛈ Share which giftaway item you would use the most
⛈ Head over to @acres_ofhope to complete your entry

Bonus entries:
🌈 tag friends (one tag per comment)
🌈 share in stories and tag @acres_ofhope

***Not sponsored or endorsed by Instagram. Open to the US, CAN, and AUS. International winner outside the domestic US cover shipping fees, import taxes & additional costs. Products subject to change based on availability. Open 11/16/20-11/19/20.
I think we all have our own way of handling the pa I think we all have our own way of handling the pandemic; I’m doubling down on my commitment to going outdoors daily and bringing the girls with me. Nature is proven to reduce stress and a powerful antidepressant. What better place to be when the world as we know it seems to come crashing down?🌿

I always try to find a silver lining in things and maybe one of the positive effects of the travel restrictions is that we’re forced to look at our local green spaces with new eyes. We now spend our weekends trying to discover hidden gems, like this scenic OCR course only half an hour from home. I’m already amazed at all the sights that have completely passed under my radar and thankful that we now have a reason to explore them.🍁
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Somebody must have had a good time adding a bit of Somebody must have had a good time adding a bit of magic to this old tree stump.🌲🤩 I’ll just file this under the category “Things that make me happy when I’m out in nature.” Have you found anything unusual on your walks lately?🌿
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I sometimes get the question whether kids can and I sometimes get the question whether kids can and should go outside when they’re sick.🤒 Well, fresh air is good for the mucous membranes in our airways and getting Vitamin D from the sun is a boon for the immune system, so why not?👌🏻 

These two have been home all week with mild cold symptoms and fatigue, so we haven’t been logging as many hours outside as we normally do. But when the sun came out in full force yesterday, they grabbed some blankets and sat in the lawn chairs and cuddled with their rabbits for a while.🌞

So yes, kids can absolutely be outside when they have a cold or the flu, as long as they can still rest and not get too hot or cold. Obviously, there are times when kids are too sick to leave their bed but I think common sense and a little bit of parental instinct goes a long way here. Getting fresh air is not a magic cure, but we all usually feel better from being outside, even if it’s just for a little bit.😁
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I know today is Halloween, but in Sweden it’s al I know today is Halloween, but in Sweden it’s also All Saints’ Day, a day when we honor the dead by visiting their graves and lighting candles.💛

I’ve been bringing the girls to the cemetery on All Saints’ Day every year since we moved to Sweden, to share this simple ritual and tell them the stories about my grandparents. And every year I find myself wishing that my grandparents would’ve had just a little more time on this earth, a few more years to get to know the girls and to see what has become of them and of us.🌿

Now, all I have are the stories. About my grandparents taking me hiking in the wilderness, building snow tunnels with me in the winter and showing me their best wildflower spots. I keep telling myself that if my girls hear those stories over and over, they’ll get to know my grandparents in a small way. And the stories will live on, even if my grandparents don’t.❤️
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