Pantry Stock-Ups: Buy in Bulk Direct From Farmers!

On a cold and rainy day in winter, there's nothing like reaching into your pantry and pulling out some of the summer harvest that you squirreled away, then letting it fill your kitchen with the scent of something bubbling away on the stove. Think a pot of beans slowly simmering in the oven with onions, a slab of bacon and dried bay leaves, or a big, hearty vegetable stew to dig into for dinner (if you can wait that long, that is).

If you're like me and your garden wasn't quite prodigious enough to keep your family fed through the winter, there are three upcoming events where you can buy bulk quantities of staple and storage crops directly from farmers. Stock those pantry shelves for the winter with dry beans, grains, flours, nuts, honey, root veggies, garlic, onions, winter squash and more. You can even order ahead online and pick up your bulk goods at the event!

• Fill Your Pantry in Corvallis, Sun., Nov. 1, noon-3 pm. Guerber Hall, Benton County Fairgrounds, 110 SW 53rd St, Corvallis. 541-351-8735.
• Fill Your Pantry in Hood River, Sat., Nov. 7, 2-6 pm. Rockford Grange, 4250 Barrett Dr., Hood River. 541-207-5140.
• Fill Your Pantry in Portland, Sun., Nov. 8, 11 am-2 pm. Rigler Elementary School, 5401 NE Prescott St. 503-581-7124.