Money is tight this summer, but I want my family to eat healthy foods. What are my options?

Thanks, Stretched to the Max

Dear Stretched,

You aren't alone if you feel pulled in many directions. This economy is helping many of us look at our choices.

There's no surer route to good nutrition than fruits and vegetables. In fact, a local dietitian recently advised me to fill at least HALF of my plate at mealtime with vegetables. We're coming into the season when they're plentiful, so they won't be expensive.

The obvious option is to have a garden. It's not too late to plant most vegetables. Look at the information on the seed packets about the number of days to maturity. Don't put it off because we're in the season of the most sunlight right now.

If you don't have room or sunlight for a garden, consider tending a space in a community garden. Community gardens are areas where you rent space to grow your own crops. The soil is usually tilled and ready for planting. Some places water for you, but weeding and harvesting is your work.

If gardening isn't your interest, Community Supported Agriculture assures that you get a weekly supply of fresh produce. You pay a farmer for your share for the season, and he comes to a location near you once a week with that week's bounty. Your family gets to try a wider variety of vegetables than most people usually eat, so you may find a new favorite.

Farm markets are popular in our area, and allow you to choose which vegetables you want. Eggs, meat, flowers and crafts may also be for sale.

Last week I bought leaf lettuce and asparagus. Rhubarb will be available soon. These markets currently have tomatoes, peppers and herbs in pots if you want to have a container garden. Supermarkets are always available. Of course, you can't talk directly to the grower to find out what herbicides and pesticides have been used, but you do get some fruits we can't grow here. As always, to support your local economy and reduce the carbon footprint, select produce that's grown close to where you live.

In peak season, consider canning, freezing or drying produce for the winter. These choices allow you to offer nutritious meals all year, and produce preserved at home is less costly than fresh produce purchased out of season.

So decide which of the above possibilities you want to use, and check out some of the resources below. You can also contact your local chambers of commerce.

Community gardens

Borden Farm, 25042 Old Mill Road, Merrifield, (218) 765-3484.

Living Legacy Gardens, Central Lakes College, Staples Ag Center, (218) 894-2497, ask for Shirley.

Jenkins Woodland Bank, Larry Hendershott, (218) 568-5700 or larryh@woodlandbank.com.

Longville Community Garden, John Weber, (218) 363-2162 drgnfly@arvig.net.

Community Supported Agriculture

Great River Gardens, 43507 Highway 169, Aitkin, (218) 927-2521.

The Farm on St. Mathias, 7579 St. Mathias Road, Brainerd, (888) 404-5009.

Walker Green Scene, erin@walkergreenscene.com, (612) 963-9318, theresa@walkergreenscene.com or (218) 556-3980, http://www.walkergreenscene.com/

Farmers Markets

Aitkin, Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., outside Calvary Church.

Fridays, 1 to 6 p.m., at the Pamida parking lot.

Baxter, Fridays, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on 371 in front of Gander Mountain.

Brainerd, Tuesdays, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on 210 East by the Franklin Arts Center.

Crosslake, Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Town Square.

Hackensack, second Wednesday of June and July, at Flea Market; Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the American Legion.

Nisswa, Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the American Legion.

Pine River, Fridays, 4 to 8 p.m., Pine River Market Square, Barclay Avenue and Third Street.

Pequot Lakes, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on 371 South by Oasis Center.

Farms

Brambling Rows Berry Farm, 8754 Cook Road, Brainerd, (218) 829-3241.

Pine Ridge Pork, 11047 57th Ave. S.W., Pillager, (218) 746-3197.

John Simons Farm, 3901 84th St. S.W., Pequot Lakes, (218) 568-4825.

Swecker Hilltop Farms, 10655 State 64 S.W., Motley, (218) 352-6293.

Thompson Farms, 602 Second St. N.E., Aitkin, (218) 927-3320.

Wallin Berry Farm, East County Road 18, Nisswa, (218) 963-7456.

(This column is produced by Happy Dancing Turtle in Pine River in an effort to promote awareness and understanding of sustainable living by fostering ecological stewardship and related economic development.)