Illinois Valley news., March 29, 2017, Page 10, Image 10

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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Livin’ the dream, diggin’ the deli
By Dan Mancuso
IVN Writer
Cave Junction has the Grateful Dead to
thank for its newest deli. After growing up
in the Chicago Suburbs and sailing on Lake
Michigan with her grandfather, Joy McEwen
packed up and headed west traveling as a
“Dead Head.”
The year Jerry Garcia died McEwen
made the decision to head to Oregon landing
in Ashland. Eventually McEwen found herself
in Corvallis, Oregon where she met her now
husband, Eric McEwen, and found her passion
while working in and around the Corvallis
farmers’ market scene. “I worked there for
(Photo by Dan Mancuso, Illinois Valley News)
Joy McEwen reads the hand-painted mural on the wall of the deli Friday,
March 17. The mural details McEwen’s beliefs on farming and family.
10 years and it was very inspiring to me. I
learned a lot about the farm-to-table process.”
McEwen spent some time at Oregon State
University where she received two BS degrees
and a MS in Environmental Science with an
emphasis in Environmental Education.
The newly opened deli at Diggin’
Livin’, a store that for the past four years has
focused on providing organic, wholesome and
locally grown foods for the community and
was recently named “Top 5 New Restaurant
and Best Grocery” from the Rogue Valley
Messenger.
Owners Eric and Joy McEwen started
out traveling across the surrounding valleys
selling their food at local farmers’ markets,
until one day Joy McEwen had had enough.
“We were at the Ashland farmers market and
I stood up and said, ‘You are going to come to
me.’” McEwen realized that between the hours
on the road and the amount of fees paid to
rent space at farmers’ markets they could have
their own storefront. And their small storefront
has tripled in size since relocating to the old
pharmacy location.
McEwen feels at home in an agrarian life.
Agrarianism is a belief that values rural life
and independent farmers as a way of life that
can shape the ideal social values. It promotes
the virtues of a simpler rural life as opposed to
the complexity of city life.
McEwen is also passionate about
conscious consumerism and many of the
products in the store and deli reflect that. “You
don’t have to clear cut a forest in Indonesia
to have palm oil when we can use olive oil to
make your meal.”
McEwen and Diggin’ Livin’ are
committed to a “farm-to-table” model, both
within the store and their new deli. They
are taking an active role in the community
by buying from local farms seasonally and
McEwen encourages local farms interested in
a business relationship with them to set up an
account.
The deli now offers high quality food
from local produce to organic meats for
Valley residents that care about sustainability
and want to make eating on the go appealing
and healthy. They offer a variety of coffees,
baked goods, wraps and sandwiches; there is
something for anyone, whether you’re vegan,
vegetarian or omnivore.
“Oh, and try the ‘Farmhouse Waffle,’ it’s
full of surprises and delicious. So, if you find
yourself in town, try our new deli, anytime
of day, you’ll find something you enjoy,”
encouraged McEwen.
Diggin’ Livin’ has also expanded their
deli to be a place where people can congregate
for socialization or business meetings with
plenty of tables and chairs. They even have
a small stage for poetry readings and music.
“Mayor Dalegowski could even get up there
and speak to the people if he wanted, I think
that would be cool,” said McEwen.
Being a proponent of shopping local,
McEwen said “when dollars leave to
community they don’t come back. I am a
farmer first. We are not going to succeed
selling produce on Amazon, we need a strong
local economy.” She is excited about the
growing community and the influx of people
who are interested in preserving the basic
independence of individuals while building the
strength of the community.
McEwen was pleased that travelers along
the 199 corridor stop in and are amazed at the
unique store and deli. People traveling through
come in and say, “‘This is so great!’ When I
hear that it just feeds my soul.”
The deli is currently open 8:30 a.m. - 5
p.m., Monday-Saturday. Orders can be phoned
in at 541-592-4483.
-------------
Elizabeth Pruitt contributed to this article.
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