On our quest to add more local food to our diet, the ladies and I set out one Saturday afternoon after gymnastics to find milk from the Hatcher Family Dairy. Now, you would think, as the blogger writing about how to find local food in Southern Middle TN, I would have the common sense to be sure of where I was going (print a map?) and perhaps to check the hours of a business (conveniently, centrally located on THIS WEBSITE) before setting out on a trek to find them.  Alas and alack, not so.  Here’s where I confess that I’M JUST LIKE YOU.  Probably worse.

Anyway, my brave locavore crew and I set out from Lynchburg, stopped in Tullahoma for gymnastics, and then continued on our way.  Through Shelbyville, on to Eagleville (where I knew their milk was listed as being sold, but I couldn’t quite remember where) and on to Cottage Grove.  When I saw the big golf course construction eyesore in the middle of farmland, (I’m so sorry, Hatcher Family) I knew we must be close.  Sure enough, right across the road.  Closed.  Very cute, but closed.

Here you can see my oldest.  She’s checking the hours for her mom, who should have known better.  So here’s the big moral of this story…  When shopping for local food, double and triple check your hours BEFORE you go, because you will have to bribe your kids with brownies at the first opportunity if you drive them all the way out to a farm, luring them in with the thrill of the hunt, and you’ve gotten the hours wrong.  Check your directions (and write them on something better than the back of a napkin) so you can avoid unnecessary backtracking, while you’re at it!  And go earlier, rather than later, cause the kids (and mom, by the end of the trip) will be tired, cranky, and hungry.  And you’ll resort to some very non-local snacks to cheer everyone up.  Trust me.

So, now, I bet you’re wondering if we came home empty handed…  Actually, thankfully, no.  We didn’t.  Thanks to my decent sense of direction, and great deductive reasoning, I decided if I too a left instead of a right on Horton Highway I’d come into “downtown” College Grove.  And, at least for once that day, I was right.

There we found the College Grove Grocery, who sell what???  Hatcher Dairy Milk.  Amen, and thanks to them for that!  So, we grabbed our gallon of milk, and a half gallon of buttermilk, and headed home.  Too bad I forgot (because I didn’t check, or write it down) that they also are supposed to sell the Organic Grounds Coffee that I like.  Next time, I guess.  Since I knew I could get home to Lynchburg by heading south, we ended up coming back through Chapel Hill, Farmington, and Flat Creek, completing the circle at about 124 miles (and nearly 4 hours) round trip.

Now, I’m sure you’re wondering, was it worth it?  Absolutely.  I mean, I hope I don’t have to go to such extremes the next time, just for milk, but it was the best milk I’ve had in a LONG time.  Thick, creamy, and delicious!  I have since looked, and discovered there’s a store in Lewisburg that sells it, which is MUCH closer to home, so I think next time, I’ll double check their hours, print a map, maybe even call ahead (which is what I recommend) and try this all again.  No one ever said local was easier.  Just better.  Got milk?

View Larger Map

(click on “view larger map” to see the crazy route we took)

While they may not stock all local food, you can’t overlook Swiss Pantry in Belvidere. First of all, their breads are great. They may not be made with 100% local ingredients, but someone in Franklin County is standing there baking this bread. I think that counts, don’t you? I firmly believe that eating local isn’t about some perfect ideal in a perfect world.  It’s more about doing what you can, right here, right now to support your local community.  In doing so, you’re doing your part to turn the tide of nameless, faceless groceries in the other direction. The last time the girls and I were there, we got some link sausage from Paris, TN that was really delicious when served with some of Mrs. Miller’s  garlic & parsley egg noodles.  The yogurt cheese is very good, as are their spices, dried fruits, and snack mixes.  This is also where I buy my yeast (Saf-Yeast) for baking, as I can get it in a BIG 1 lb. package, and it lasts me much longer.  I also like the results far better than what I get from the little packages you buy at the bigger stores.  Be sure to check out their website for online shopping, or, if you’re out driving around looking for your local groceries, stop in and try some of their soup, a sandwich, or some fresh bread.  You won’t be sorry that you did.

The Swiss Pantry is open Tuesday- Friday from 8:00 am- 5:30 pm.

Saturday from 8:00 am-4:00 pm.

They are CLOSED Sunday and Monday.

In most of the local challenges I’ve seen (specifically the show on PLGN last year) finding local wheat is one of the biggest challenges people face.  However, here in Southern Middle Tennessee, we are very lucky in this regard.  We have Falls Mill. Not only can we get local wheat and corn, but it’s ground at a water-powered mill.  How COOL is that!

The girls and I visited the Mill recently, and were able to get Wheat Flour, Buckwheat Flour, Cracked Wheat, and Pancake Mix.  The day we were there, they were also grinding corn, which they use to make grits & cornmeal, but we still have some of both of these, so didn’t get any this trip.

The owners, John & Jane Lovett, are always so nice to our girls, answering any questions they have, and giving great explanations of how things work.  This time, Jane demonstrated the printing press & movable type they have to print their bags with, which went along nicely with the girls’ recent study of Gutenberg.  She also showed them how the corn becomes cornmeal and grits, and how the dog-powered butter churn works.

The Mill is open Monday-Saturday 9:00 – 4:00 (CLOSED WEDNESDAY)

Sunday 12:30-4:00

If you’ve never been, you should go.  If you have been, you should go again.  Soon.