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Tofu Tour

Given the fact that it’s been below freezing all day long, Matt and I sure spent a lot of time outside!!

I didn’t feel like going to the gym today – I wanted a more natural workout (didn’t know how cold it was at this point!) So Matt and I drove to the Monticello Trail and hiked 4.2 miles in 68 minutes. We kept a swift 16 min mile pace just to keep warm!

After quick showers and a few nuts to tide hunger, we were on our way to Twin Oaks.

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Matt and I have been loving Twin Oaks Tofu since we moved here. It’s thick, spongy, needs no draining, and the herby flavors have herbs embedded inside – so much flavor!

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Here are some of the dinners we have made with it:

So when I was visiting Whole Foods a few weeks ago, I met Benji, the marketing director of Twin Oaks, and he invited me out for a tour of the community to see where the cubed gold is made. [He also loved that I had “tofu” written on my grocery list ; ) ]

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The Twin Oaks Intentional Community is a community built around values of cooperation, sharing, nonviolence, equality, and ecology. Founded in 1967, the commune now has about 100 members and is economically self-supporting through the sale of hand-made hammocks and TOFU [among a few other trades.] You can read more about the Twin Oaks way of life on the website.

Our tour took across the farm and through the organic gardens, greenhouse, dairy, chickens, tofu facility, dining hall, common areas, and a glimpse into the private living areas.

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But our tour began with a lunch!

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A bowl of a DELICIOUS Tofu + Daikon Radish Soup – with the most amazing broth I have ever tasted! Benji said he thought there was brown sugar involved… 🙂

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We also enjoyed a tasting plate of beans, rice, salad and stir fry. So warming to know that everything (mostly) was grown organically on site!

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Warming up by the fire

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All of the buildings at Twin Oaks are heated with wood fires

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We first toured the gardens, all organically grown, and the greenhouse, which had lettuces so beautiful I could hardly stand not to pick leaves and taste them right then and there!

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We visited the dairy – which produces many [many!] gallons of milk per day that is consumed or turned into yogurt or cheese

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And we played with the sweetest, friendliest calves I’ve ever met!

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Next up were the chick-a-dees, where we found an egg!

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This guy was keeping warm in what looked to be an oven!

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We weren’t allowed to photograph inside the tofu factory, but know that they produce 11,000 pounds of organic non-GMO tofu A DAY!!! We donned hairnets and stepped inside to see the machines at work. They are planning to expand the facility by 100 feet – tofu demand is growing! And they make some damn good tofu! FYI, you can see where it’s available here – many locations on the East Coast and as far west as Chicago.

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The hammock business is huge – they used to supply to Pier 1 for years [until Pier 1 sadly looked over seas for cheaper hammocks : ( ]

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I swang in the chair swing and must say it was the most comfortable tree swing ever!

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Lots of solar power going on!

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We toured a few of the buildings

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Including the dining hall where we tasted fresh milk

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Ever seen a real, live may pole!? They have a huge May Day festival and this pole is huge!

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Benji sent us home with a stock to last through the winter, including flavors from the More Than Tofu line such as Indian Masala and Peanut Ginger! Can’t wait to get busy in the kitchen with these!

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The scenery at Twin Oaks is just stunning – even on a frigid winter day!

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I love learning about new things, new ways of life, making new friends, and today was such fun. I’m so glad I now know the life behind the Twin Oaks Tofu made down the road.

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Comments

  13. Due to one of your past posts I made a point to purchase Twin Oaks Tofu while I was in Richmond over Halloween (lotta p’s in that sentence). We made a night of it, my two cousins and I, of experimenting in the kitchen. Almost burned down my aunt’s neighborhood, but hey, it was worth it to taste the tofu. Thanks for the recommendation!

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  15. This looks like such an amazing day and a really wonderful company. You look like a model for Home and Garden hangin’ out in that swing! I love your pea coat and brown boots. I hope I can find Twin Oaks tofu in San Francisco–I’ll start the search tonight!

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  21. Wow…so much fun! That would be my ideal day. I really admire these folks and their healthy, productive, peaceful & earth friendly lifestyle. What a treat for you!

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  24. I’m a total tofu virgin (seriously, I’ve always been too concerned with the texture I’ve heard it has). Advice? How do you slowly break in? My husband and I are toying around with the idea of eating vegetarian next month (just to see how it goes) and I’d like to be ready with a meat alternative.

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    • There is absolutely nothing weird or unique about tofu – just eat it! It’s just like eating a new vegetable or bean. Roasting is the best method of cooking for newbies.

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    • I never was a huge tofu fan (even tho I admit TO tofu is the best!). But the two ways I’ve found that are easy on those who dont like tofu yet are 1. deep-fry some and put it in a stir fry (I fry in 2 batches in the bottom of the wok, turning once, until lightly browned) and for a more extravagant meal, look up ‘mushroom tofu stroganoff’ – there are several versions and all yummy. Basically, fried tofu and lots of mixed mushrooms and onions and broth and (dry) red wine and (soy) sour cream . . . . delish!

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        • What I’d recommend is to bread the tofu with a mix of 1 T. cornmeal to 3 T. cornstarch–just cube the tofu, then drop it in the bowl with the above mixture and coat all sides. Then saute in a little bit of oil, browning on all sides. Remove it, place it on a place, cook your stir fry vegetables, add the tofu back in, dump in your stir-fry sauce and simmer it until it’s done. This is my favorite method! Gives it an almost deep-fried texture without having to deep fry.

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  26. GREAT post Kath. This farm is pretty much my idea of heaven; it looks like they take wonderful care of their animals as well as producing awesome tofu.
    I lived in England until I was 10 and took part in many May day festivities including dancing around the May pole.

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  29. this was such a great post. totally inspired me to search out this brand and support this company. power of the internet/your blog. cant wait to see what recipes you and matt cook up with the new flavors. thanks for sharing.

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  35. I’ve been really into tofu at school lately. Do you put any upper limit on your soy intake? (I haven’t done any real reading on the topic, just seen headlines about ‘dangers’ of excessive soy).

    I took a utopian communities class last semester–Twin Oaks is pretty neat. Very high turnover rate. My ancestors created an economically independent feminist community in rural Texas in the 1800s. They were all married and ditched their husbands!

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    • Cool about the communities class!

      I eat soy products a few times a week, and I definitely avoid soy protein isolates in processed food when I can (I won’t buy it but I will eat it if I’m served it). Whole soy is safe to me.

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  42. I was wondering if Matt could give a suggestion on where to start for homebrewing beer (any website, forums, online stores,…). My husband is very interested in homebrewing but doesn’t know where to start. Thanks!

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  43. A tofu tour?!?! That’s awesome. But I think what is even more awesome is that you have such a wonderful husband who will willingly go on a tofu tour with you! 😉

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  44. Everything about that community seems to amazing. I’ve been thinking about spending on serious time on a commune for years, and so far Twin Oaks looks like the best one I’ve seen.

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  46. It looks like you and Matt had a really nice and enjoyable day! I love seeing farms like the one you visited, it’s nice to know they are still around and its nice to know tofu is in more demand 😀 woo!

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  48. Wow, you always find the greatest places around your area. Makes me want to start looking a little better around my own neck of the woods 🙂 The visit looked great and I LOVE tofu! I am going to search for those at my next trip to Whole Foods 🙂

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  49. Wow Kath, what an incredible tour you did have! I love tofu, so I’m sure I would take the tour offer with no hesitation 🙂 Wish they sold twin oaks brand around here!

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  51. those calves are too cute…they make me want to be more than “mostly vegetarian”.

    thanks for the breakfast tip…due to a miscommunication about the existance of a shuttle from the doubletree to the med center, i didn’t have time to eat there but i did drive past it on my way.

    i am sad that i haven’t been able to explore since i arrived late and my interview was SEVEN! hours… it is super dark!…but i may have found my new lab home. everyone was so friendly!

    p.s. i can’t find your email?

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  52. Ohmygosh, those are the flavoured tofus I used to tell you to try when you first started talking about this tofu! I miss it all so much 🙁 If I ever go back to Charlottesville, I hope I can do a tour like you did!

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  62. So nice you got to tour the farm, I really like doing that whenever I have the chance. Last month I visited a local dairy farm, super nice to see people that really treat animals nicely.
    You made the tofu sound so delicious, I like tofu and now really want to try this brand. Must see if Whole Foods carries it here in this part of NC.
    Ana

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  63. Wow great pictures. Makes me homesick. I used to live there and spent most of my work days making that tofu– sometimes 10 hours in one day!

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  67. That just looks like the best day ever. I swear- sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era. Hoping to find the tofu here- not easily sourced via their site but it looks like they have a great relationship with Whole Foods so I’m checking the one by me. Don’t you just love seeing where things are grown/made? Vineyards, orchards…the works.

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  68. I have been looking forward to trying this local tofu ever since I saw it in blog world! I think they carry it at the Short Pump Whole Foods so I’ll definitely be on the lookout for it next time I’m there. Looks like a wonderful day 🙂

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  71. Ah! I want to try that tofu SO bad! I know they probably don’t want to ship their tofu this far west (Southern California), but would you consider a give away or something with the tofu? I am DYING to try it. The best Tofu I’ve had so far is the sprouted tofu sold at Whole Foods, but herby tofu would be great.

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  77. I have seen Twin Oaks tofu at my local natural store here in upstate NY!! 🙂 I need to buy some next time I see it, it always looks (and feels) perfect.

    Love their greenhouses + animals! I’d love to have all of that at my own home. Not sure I’d make perfect tofu, though! haha

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  78. Wow that is so interesting. I love tours, food, farms, drinks etc…

    Your so lucky to live near by.

    They don’t happen to sell it overseas do they? Australia? Of course it would have to be frozen.

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  84. Wow. So many comments on this fine post. i live at Twin Oaks and eat our tofu of course. Your readers should know that they can influence their local health food store to carry Twin Oaks Community food if they dont already by simply asking for it repeatedly, persistently and with a number of your friends – and then of course switching to it as your regular brand once it comes in.

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  86. Whoa! My Whole Foods carries their products and I love them. I had no idea there was this unique story behind it. I’m so glad you shared it with us. Spicy Thai More than Tofu = the bomb diggity.

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  89. Thanks so much for visiting and sharing! Communal living (particularly a place Twin Oaks where their shared values of cooperation, sharing, nonviolence, equality, and ecology are emphasized) is fascinating to me. The pictures, are as always, fabulous and I love your presentation of them. I really need to start pulling up some photoshop tutorials!

    p.s. Benji is a cutie

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  92. I used to live there and I miss their tempeh like crazy (also the place and people, who are a lovely bunch). The meals there were so amazing; I can still taste River’s yeast n’ mac and black beans lunches. Sigh!

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  96. What a great post Kath! I used to eat more tofu when I used to be a vegetarian, but since I started eating meat again it appears less often on the menu. This post made me want to eat more tofu and others non-meat alternatives meals. Thanks for the post.

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  98. I lived at Twin Oaks 1979-1981. I was a kid then, the youngest non-child member. In those days I made tofu for use only on the farm. I cooked it up one pot at a time. Nowadays I live in a California suburb, I work as an engineer, I’m married and I pay a mortgage every month. Beware, boys and girls, middle age could happen to you too! But I’m still a herbivore and I still enjoy tofu.

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    • Hi Cisco,

      Wow…..Wasn’t it hard in a way to swap Twin Oaks for a California suburb….especially for that workaday world?
      Ever considered returning to this beautiful place with your family, and your engineering knowledge?
      Just curious! – Good luck

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  99. Wonderful tour! We toured a community called Earth Haven in Black Mountain, NC, and had a similar respect for the commitment to sustainability!

    I get this tofu at EarthFare! It was great for me to learn the back-story. Kudos to you for showing Twin Oaks off! 😀

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  100. Inspiring post and photos of beautiful Twin Oaks.
    We were happy to find that the cooperative supermarket in our fine community of Greenbelt, Maryland carries Twin Oaks products. And yup – the TOFU is delicious!
    I considered moving to Twin Oaks about 20 years ago – and my reasons for not doing it were a combination of music opportunities and deciding to remain near family – but not because of Twin Oaks. In fact there are times when I still feel torn, and if I weren’t happy with my life and community now, I would again consider Twin Oaks.
    It was my several visits to Twin Oaks, and research on it, that provoked me to consider moving there, perhaps for life.
    I’m not sure about that “high turnover rate” mentioned by one poster. In fact, one of the many qualities that impressed me about TO was that the turnover rate was actually lower than average. That is to say, the average length of stay – at least five years at that time – was longer than that of the average American. Also bear in mind that there is a segment of people that come and go after shorter stays, less than five years….either because they’re young and just exploring life’s many choices….or others who try it and find it’s not for them…..etc. But despite all that, there are people who have been living at Twin Oaks for many years, including some for more than 20 years……

    I still visit from time to time. And it’s got so much more to offer than just the delicious food and beautiful land. A wonderful community, and we’re lucky it is there to provide such an inspiring example of human life and existence. Thanks again for highlighting this great place. – Lowspark

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