Hi, I'm John Matthews. Last week, Brian Ries convinced me to blog for Creative Loafing concerning local foods. I've read some blogs, but never thought I would be doing this. But with the help of my lovely wife, Andrea, I hope I write a few things you will find informative and insightful.

To give you a little background on myself, in recent years I managed the Sarasota's Downtown Farmers' Market and facilitated the establishment of the 'Farm to School' program in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. In May of 2008, I created the Suncoast Food Alliance to further connect area farmers with their community. I am currently the Chairman of the Florida Association of Community Farmers' Markets. Whew, that was a mouth full, but I hope you can see that I have a passion for good food, good farmers and eating well!

When I came to Florida in 1999, I wanted out of agriculture.

From age 12, I had been working on farms. My degree is in Agricultural Economics and I followed the path of my family by working with large ag companies. But after almost 16 years doing this, I burned out. I moved to Florida and spent my first 4 years working for Verizon before they offered me 'early retirement', which I jumped at (I figured out it was the corporate world that I hated). About this time, Andrea was accepted as an artist in the Sarasota Downtown Farmers' Market. Being a good husband, I loaded up her hand-bound books, paintings and such and joined her at the market. This was during the time when the market was going through some turbulance and was running through managers pretty fast. The sponsoring organization brought me on board and my new journey in agriculture began.

One of the first people I met was Peter Burkard. Peter is quiet man who is the last remaining original vendor at the Sarasota market. We talked about farming and each others backgrounds. Oh, how opposite they were: me, with my corporate ag career and Peter, with his small, organic, 'tree-hugger' lifestyle.

But I noticed he loved agriculture for what it is, not so much about how much money he could make. It was growing things in their purest state for the joy of it. And his customers appreciated what he produced and were (and still are) amazingly loyal to his offerings. Almost every week he would hand me an article on the benefits of organic farming and eating, or enivormental issues - the type you would expect from someone with Peter's background.

And I read them. I learned more about what he was trying to do with his life and the other people like him. And I was reintroduced to the taste of fruits and vegetables at their best. Sure, they weren't always the picture perfect items you saw at the grocery store, but they blew me away! I figured that if I could eat great tasting food that was good for me, then I would be a better cook at home (I had taken over the cooking duties from my vegetarian wife), which meant more sex, which made for a happier home. What a deal!

My journey into sustainable living started about 5 years ago and my life has never been better. I know others are doing this and I can't wait to hear about them!

So, Peter thank you for starting me on this journey! I wanted my first writing to be about your mentorship that helped us create the happy home I enjoy everyday.

Peter has a book coming out in a few weeks about his green life. I've only read an excerpt from it, but as always I will read what Peter puts in my hands.  I hope you will too.

More next time -

John the Forager