Media Credit: Allison Fang Michael Lopez of Bikkurim Farms, a "chemical-free farm," sells vegetables at Austin Farmers' Market, open weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Read Marla Camp's new magazine, Edible Austin, and you will get in touch with your roots. Or, to be more specific, learn about where to buy delicious, locally grown, seasonal foods. You will meet farmers that lovingly care for their crops. You will discover restaurants and vineyards that bother to use organic, local ingredients. In short, Edible Austin offers up a treasure of culinary and community wisdom that might just change the way Austinites think about food.

A grassroots magazine is born

"A few years ago, I was in New York and a friend had shared a copy of Edible Brooklyn with me. I love food and community building and my whole goal is to combine these things," Camp said. "It's always been my dream to own a publication."

Camp's realization is Edible Austin, a locally owned and produced magazine with ties to all the Austin farmers' markets, the Capital Area Food Bank, numerous restaurants and a handful of nonprofit organizations. Their mission is to transform the way communities shop for, cook, eat and relate to the food that is grown and produced in their area.

"This is a new model for publishing," Camp said. "It's a very grassroots way of growing publications. Whenever a community feels it's ready, they decide to start one."

Eating well on a small budget

As a student, it can be difficult to think about cooking often and trying to eat organically. Camp said there are at least a few simple ways to modify a diet to suit a more sustainable way of life. Camp said even students in small spaces can grow their own food.

"You can grow your own herbs and tomatoes in pots or all in one container," Camp said. "You can even grow an orange tree inside."

She recommended visiting stores such as the Natural Gardener and It's About Thyme Garden Center for ideas on how to grow your own food. Shopping at the farmers' markets is also an easy way to contribute to the local food economy.

"When you go to the farmer's market you tend to buy less food and use simple preparation," Camp said. "You don't have to cover the food up with sauces because it has so much inherent flavor."

Leading, eating by example

Jenna Noel is Camp's first full-time employee. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in December 2005 with a degree in advertising and works on ad design for the magazine.

Noel said that since Edible is a start-up company, she and Marla do a lot of their own photography work. She said if she doesn't know how to do something at work, she goes out, buys a book and learns how to do it. Since she's also on a budget, Noel now cooks a lot of her own food and has become more health conscious.

"It's important for students to know that organic does not mean expensive. If you buy stuff that's in season, the food's not that expensive," Noel said. "You can even make deals with vendors at the markets sometimes."

An array of tasteful features

The fall issue features a story about a bison ranch in South Texas that uses neither hormones nor antibiotics to raise their animals. Every issue includes an entry from Michael Guerra, the chief operating officer from the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, and an array of mouth-watering, seasonal recipes.

The long haul towards a goal

Camp also owns and runs a graphic design firm called Impact Productions.

"All the Edibles are independently owned and produced, and responsible for editorials and advertising," she said. "It's not easy. I design and lay out the magazine, though Edible Communities will design and lay out your magazine for your first year, if you need them to."

Marla started her career on the East Coast and worked in publishing for 20 years. She has been the art director of an Ann Arbor newspaper and the graphics editor for The Detroit News.

"This is not morbid news, it's about celebrating constructive practices," Camp said. "Having your own publication lets you support and sustain other local food groups and non-profits."

The Austin Public Library called Camp after the first issue this summer and bought a subscription for each of their branches. The magazine is being archived by all the locations. Camp said she would also like to get the magazine into local schools. She said they have an article for kids and a kid-friendly recipe in every issue.

A closer connection to food

Camp said she thinks people are too isolated from their food now.

"When you meet the people who farm and milk and harvest the food you're eating, you have the chance to trust that what they're doing is good for you," she said.

Edible Austin is a quarterly magazine distributed to 30 counties in Central Texas. You can find free copies at Whole Foods Market, Central Market, Fresh Plus and at all of the local farmers' markets. You can also visit their Web site at http://www.edibleaustin.com.

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