Top 5 Reasons You Need Not Fear the Indy Food Swap

So, the great news is I can feel the excitement in the air for our inaugural Indy Food Swappers event on August 27th at Earth House! But a little birdie told me a few people are afraid to register because they’re worried their goods won’t stack up. WHAT THE WHAT? Say it ain’t so! Don’t you remember? The swap is about fun & community. Not stress & intimidation.

Time to nip this one in the bud, my food-loving friends! Behold, I give you the top five reasons you need not fear the Indy Food Swap:

1.  It’s just food. That’s all. 

No expectations that you map a path to world peace, or find a solution for global warming. (Though if you can do either of those, do tell, as I know the universe would be most appreciative.) If you’re sweating thinking about this swap, you’re missing the point.  Which is…

2.   It’s not Top Chef.

Indy already has Neal Brown, Greg Hardesty, Chris Eley, and a whole host of culinary rock stars. They don’t need us, people. And that’s not who we’re trying to be, anyway. But rather than mourn the fact that we’re not as cool/creative/rocktastic as them, let’s celebrate our D-list culinary status! We like good food. We attempt to make it on our own. Sometimes it soars, sometimes it doesn’t. But the fun is in the trying, right? And in the sharing. I’ll trade you my jam for the sage from your garden. Or the brownies you discovered in an old issue of Real Simple magazine. Or whatever. There’s no judgment here. Only growling stomachs.

3.  There’s no place in Indy more chill and supportive than Earth House.  ‘Nuff said.

4.  Good food doesn’t always require blood, sweat, & tears.

Some people have asked me what I’m bringing to the swap. You may not be sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for the answer, but I’m going to tell you because I think it will help demonstrate that food swap participants need not be winners of Martha Stewart’s Apprentice. I couldn’t decide on one item for the swap, so I’m bringing two. The first is a caramelized onion jam, which is basically a fussy way to say I’m bringing onion dip (!). Once I caramelize the onions stovetop, I toss them in a food processor with some spices and cider vinegar, and poof—donesville. The other thing I’m bringing is watermelon lemonade, which requires approximately twenty minutes of my time and a blender. So, you see… it’s not brain surgery. Neither item will get me booked on Martha’s talk show, but I suspect both will be appealing to people at the swap.

And, finally, the most important reason you should set aside your fear and give the Indy Food Swap a try…

5.  Because I said so!

So, there you have it. No excuses. The only requirement for your participation in the swap is a passion for homegrown or homemade food. Don’t worry about the rest. If you make it (or grow it, or forage it), they will swap.

Peace out, swappers. I’ll see YOU August 27th!