(Ed. Note:  Today’s intro and repost is from the Nibble Blog, a new project of the Somerville Arts Council.  Be sure to tell us what you think or ideas you may have in the comments!)

Nibbles and Bits!

As part of its ArtsUnion Project, the Somerville Arts Council has launched a new blog about food and culture in Union Square and beyond. It’s called Nibble. To give folks an idea of what this blog is all about, let’s start with the definition…
Definition of “Nibble”

1) a small bite

2) an expression of interest in something

You may ask: Why is an Arts Council writing about food?

Several reasons. Food is a great common denominator; it gets people from different ethnic backgrounds talking. Through our ArtsUnion Market Tours of Union Square, we’ve found that food tells endless stories about cultural identity. We are also intrigued by the intersection of food and art—whether it’s a chef creating artful sushi or an artist using food as a subject or medium.

We invite you to join us on this gastronomic adventure. We hope you’ll leave comments, give feedback on recipes and initiate fiery discussions about esoteric foodie topics like which dried chilis work best in chili: ancho, guajillo or both?

“Nibble” is just an appetizer. We hope it inspires you to eat your way through Union Square—to shop at its numerous international markets and dine at its diverse eateries.

Here’s a recent post from the Nibble blog where Nibble guest blogger Alexis Kochka recounts a Saturday visit to the Somerville Winter Farmers Market and reflects on the culture of buying local.

Upon a recent visit to the Somerville Winter Farmers Market I was happy to see that New England’s farming heritage is strong and visible. Popping in to pick up a few things, I noticed that a lot of my Somerville neighbors had the same idea: to enjoy a Saturday morning among community and good food. The market is held in the old Armory—an expansive, unique piece of architecture that sticks out like a castle among Somerville’s double decker homes. Once a place for military drills, The Armory’s auditorium now hosts a bustling market on Saturdays.

Local Honey ~ just a bit sweeter

The market includes a wonderful mix of local farmers and food artisans selling local and regional in-season produce and goods. Breads, root vegetables, fruit, preserves, meat, honey, cheese, wine, and even seafood fill the arena. Each vendor I met with was happy to entertain my questions. “Where’s your farm?” “How long have you been in business?” Consistently, their answers conveyed the time and mindfulness that goes into producing their goods.The cornucopia of staples and treats looked fresh, smelled tasty, and were fairly priced. I stocked up on winter carrots, apples, squash—and picked up a few treats, like a cider doughnut that I devoured then and there with the excitement of a squirrel feasting on his first acorn after months of hibernation. And I wasn’t the only one. Later I noticed that the doughnuts were sold out; apparently other squirrels at the market had sniffed out the cinnamon goodness.

Farmer's Markets = Community

Leaving the market, I felt pleased to have participated in the time-honored food culture of New England: eating what we grow, catch and store here—in a time of empty fields and stocked cupboards. It warms my heart that this tradition is alive and well in Somerville’s contemporary urban landscape. What’s more, I was thrilled to eschew a Saturday at a big grocery store buying produce that lacks the flavor—and the heritage—of a New England tradition. [Editor's note: There are also vendors at the market, like Taza Chocolate, who import produce from far away yet practice fair trade and environmental sustainability.]

The Somerville Winter Farmers Market is held at Arts at the Armory every Saturday from 10-2, from January 8-March 28; we suggest getting there early as certain items (like cider donuts and fish) can sell out early. Participating vendors include Enterprise Farm in South Deerfield, Winter Moon Farm in Hadley, Stillman’s Farm in Hardwick, Apex Orchards in Shelburne, Cook’s Farm in Brimfield, Austin Brothers Valley Farm in Belchertown, Globe Fish Company in Boston, Hi-Rise Bread Company in Cambridge, Great Cape Baking Company in Marstons Mills, 3 Little Figs in Boston, Seta’s Mediterranean Foods in West Newton, Q’s Nuts in Georgetown, Reseska Apiaries in Holliston, Elaine Hsieh, Chocolatier, in Somerville, Taza Chocolate in Somerville, Coastal Vineyards in South Dartmouth, Turtle Creek Winery in Lincoln and Zoll Cellars Winery in Shrewsbury.

The Union Square Farmers Market will begin June 4.

Nibble is part of the Somerville Arts Council’s ArtsUnion Project, which aims to spur the cultural economic development of Union Square, Somerville. Generous funding for the ArtsUnion initiative is provided by the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s John and Abigail Adams Program and the City of Somerville. ArtsUnion has numerous partners, such as SCATV, Union Square Main Streets, ArtSomerville and the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission.