Rachel Morey Flynn, Neighbor

I’m told an introduction is in order. Hi. I’m Rachel. I teach cooking classes and write about food.

I’d rather be home than not. I’d rather be in Iowa than anywhere else, and I have mad love for summer produce.  My great respect for the heirloom Iowa tomato grew from years of growing and eating them.

Most of the food my family consumes is sourced locally.  It’s a process that began about five years ago, and it has taken time to try different things, meet farmers and producers who we trust to feed us well, and keep the grocery budget steady.

Like a lot of people, I spent decades of my life eating processed foods from cans and boxes, taking my food sources for granted, and feeling pretty entitled to serious volumes of junk food. Somewhere between massive food recalls and trying to keep my little kids healthy, I found the inspiration and motivation to seek out a different way of eating.

Luckily for me, eating organic local food and slowing down the whole process of feeding ourselves wasn’t my idea. Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle lit a fire under me, as did the now legendary Michael Pollan. Information, inspiration, and motivation is all around us. I take food very seriously, but try not to be boring.