Eat Local Challenge

redesigned

Ten months ago we embarked on our eat local challenge which was our own not too stringent version of the 100 mile diet. The main point of it was to learn about the food that comes from my area by trying to limit ourselves to what has been grown and/or produced locally. I wanted to see what it was like to get through the winter eating seasonally. It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought. It wasn't nearly as expensive as I thought it would be either.

We know a lot now about the food that is produced (and not produced) in our area that we probably never would have known if we hadn't embarked on this adventure. Do you sense closure in my tone? Yes, I've been thinking about our challenge for the last month and seeing its meaning in the bigger picture of change. I've been assessing my needs versus the things that need to change for the earth to keep on spinning on its axis.

As our life has been restructuring (I'm working 3 days a week and spending the rest of the week looking for work etc.) its been getting more difficult to stick with our challenge. A lot of the things that make cooking healthy food quickly can't be bought (at reasonable prices) from local sources. Pasta, for example. Tofu. Rice. I haven't bought any of these things in 10 months. I've made pasta from scratch quite a lot but I just can't do it quickly and as a consequence we rely a lot on grilled cheese sandwiches for quick food.

I've gained more weight in the past year. It's true that that needn't have been the case if I wasn't a beer chugging cheese gulping freak without sense enough to stop at ONE beer and ONE thin slice of Tillamook. One doesn't have to turn to grilled cheese sandwiches whenever there's no time to make pasta from scratch. Yet we do because we love them (!!!) and they are satisfying. Since I can't get feta from local sources I eat everything with cheddar. I have no self control when it comes to cheddar. You get the picture.

I miss garbanzo beans. I haven't bought them in 10 months either.

So while I dripped rivers of sweat off my sun screened nose out in the great sweltering blueberry fields today I thought about all these things for the hundredth time this month. And I came to a decision. I have learned all I can learn from my challenge as it is. I've decided not to engage in any more "challenges" because just being me is challenging enough. The point of challenges is to stretch ourselves in new and positive directions. To find out our limitations and also to learn new things.

Rather than engage in more challenges with rules and time periods I am just going to commit to change. Steady change. It never happens over night. I've become not just enamored with the effort to eat local and shop local- I am committed to it in that my eyes are always open now to both the contents on labels but the origins of everything I buy. I don't buy anything without looking. That is change. I not only know the ingredients I know as much as a person can about where it came from. I will always choose local when I can.

I intend to buy more of my food in bulk to reduce overall packaging waste. I still won't buy much produce that isn't seasonal and doesn't come from within my general region. I may sometimes buy bananas for smoothies but I won't ever again buy apples from New Zealand or kiwis from out of state. I won't buy avocados but for very special occasions and the same goes for oranges and tangerines which do not grow here. I may buy some lemons and limes on special occasions but only until I grow my own (which will have to be protected in the winter).

I will buy feta cheese again but only until my new friend Sarah teaches me to make my own. I won't buy store bought ricotta because I learned how to make my own from scratch while on my local food challenge.

I will buy tofu again. My friend April has found locally made tofu in Portland but I've yet to find any here.

I will wait until things are in season here to buy them. Watermelons from Hermiston instead of from California or Mexico. Tomatoes from Bernards Farm or from my own yard.

The big picture is that there is life as a whole to make decisions about that impact everyone. It isn't just where your food comes from but what's in it and how much packaging or energy it took to get to you. You have to consider what you can afford and not surprisingly- buying in bulk and using u-pick options whenever you can will make your groceries cheaper. Learning to make things from scratch will bring you closer to your roots, to your familial food history, and is hugely satisfying. But being able to rely on dried staples that may not come from your region makes life a whole lot more comfortable.

How are you getting your groceries? Do you take four trips a week to the grocery store? Do you bring your own bags? Do you drive a giant SUV? Or do you ride your bike (I don't and need to!!)? These are all important things that go into the equation.

What all our problems boil down to is that we often don't live thoughtfully enough. We don't weigh our choices and make decisions with an equation that includes all these factors. We don't look at ourselves and the choices we're making and why enough. Taking on challenges helps us hone in on areas in our lives that we want to see change.

In a couple of more posts I'll go over more of what I've learned from my challenge and share with you the most pertinent and permanent changes we've made to our diet as a result. Then I'll move on to share the other changes that are on my mind. Things I'd like to accomplish, not as a part of a specific challenge but just in my ongoing quest to make good change.

Right now the kid is clamoring for a good old Bionicle battle at the top of the stairs. I'm tired from frying myself in the 100 degree heat. It's time for some beer (my mom bought us lots this week!!) and after a rousing game of Bionicle ball busting I intend to watch some Sponge Bob (or whatever Max wants) and pretend I'm not a giant cut of roast human.