Week 10 is upon us, and I find myself to be so busy that it is hard to stay on top of everything. It’s time for the last set of exams before finals, and a big reminder that another term is coming to a close.

While it may sound cliché to say so, time really is flying. I think that this term, especially, feels like it’s passing by quickly, because it is one of the first that I have had requiring so many different types of work. We are writing more, putting on presentations and having opinions about the topics we learn about. It’s a sign that we are getting closer to the end of our time in the program. There has been a considerable shift from just learning the facts, to being in a position where we now need to prove that we understand what we have learned up until this point. This, paired with spending added time with patients in the clinic, makes for a different experience.

On a bright note, I did finally make it out to the farmers market for the first time this year!  There are a ton of markets in the area, so I chose one that was relatively close to home. There is something about getting your food directly from the people who are growing it that makes it taste so much better.

Some of the vendors I have known for years now, and they know the things that particular customers usually buy, and will let you know when they will be ready to harvest. The other plus, is that buying local organic food here is sometimes more affordable than buying from the supermarket–you are just faced with the challenge of having the contents of your meals planned for you based on the availability of what’s there. That’s one way to broaden your cooking skills. We came home with broccoli, onions, zucchini, green beans, and berries–and the best part was the kids stealing produce out of the bags to snack along the way!

If you would like some more information on farmers markets and other events like them in your area, check out the site below. They have a countrywide listing of places where you can go for locally sourced food: https://www.localharvest.org/locations/il.