| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| marcy jo |
Posted - Sep 16 2008 : 10:33:11 AM
I read "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" and decided to eat as local as possible. I didn't put much effort into it at first, just thought a lot about it. This weekend I committed to it as best as possible. I went to Shipshewana, where they have a meat and cheese shop that sells local made products. Then I went to the bulk food store that sells grain from a local mill. I have all the stuff from my garden but the only things I haven't located yet are dairy products and sugar. It was great to know that 90% of my groceries were local! Anyone else try this???
When I stand before God at the end of my life I hope that I would not have a bit of talent left and could say “I used everything You gave me”.(erma bombeck) |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| K-Falls Farmgirl |
Posted - Sep 28 2008 : 3:38:33 PM
Since moving to K-Falls Oregon from Arizona. We have purchased all meat from a local meat shop. Raised a garden with a few peas, beans, tomatoes, peppers. I had little time after moving here to plant corn but bought from a roadside farmer. Next year its going in the garden. Our soil is in need of compost as it's quite full of clay. We plan to add our own compost * which is brewing* in the spring and add more topsoil. We also are drawing plans for a chicken coop.. I can't wait to purchase some chicks.. We have a small pond that is seasonal and would like to improve it to have a couple ducks as well.
Cheryl #309
Farm girl sister
Keep life simple, to Simply live. Life is too short to worry about it. |
| chickabella |
Posted - Sep 26 2008 : 03:40:33 AM
There's a huge "buy local" push in the Austin TX area, whether it's food or durable goods; one of the many things I admire about this place. I buy local as much as I can/afford, and hope to have my own fruits and veggies next summer. Three of our hens just started laying this month, so we now have 20-yards-from-back-door local eggs now, too!
Farm blog: http://farmnatters.blogspot.com
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Heart of Texas Farmgirls Chapter; Farmgirl Sisterhood Member #275
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| marcy jo |
Posted - Sep 25 2008 : 3:30:23 PM
You're so right taste is everything. That stuff from the store has no flavor. I made beef and taters with green peppers and onions last night. Fed 2 grown men who raved about how good it tasted. The beef was local and veggies from the garden. If I had made hamburger helper mine would have won the taste test. Food from a box just makes my stomach turn nowadays!!
Marcy #257
When I stand before God at the end of my life I hope that I would not have a bit of talent left and could say “I used everything You gave me”.(erma bombeck) |
| susanreno |
Posted - Sep 22 2008 : 5:04:24 PM
It really is amazing how much better produce is when it's either from your own garden or a local farm. Even though that sounds obvious, tasting is believing. This weekend after a trip to the farmer's market, I made a big salad to go with some grilled sausages for lunch. Honestly, the salad practically jumped off the plate, it had so much flavor. Just a touch of olive oil and a good quality balsamic was all it needed. My "meat and potatoes" father-in-law who was in town for a visit raved and raved about it.
I try to buy local as much as I can - I think every year I do a little bit better. Always room for improvement though. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Sep 22 2008 : 4:53:04 PM
We do try really hard. I buy our beef locally from a butcher who grows some himself each year to sell, pork too, if I buy it, and wew raise our chickens or buy locally. I get local produce as much as possible, what we don't grow ourselves. I try to buy from small farms the rest we buy for canning or whatever...not everything is easy to get here in our county, but I try.
I have a cow for our milk and some cheese, butter and cream and chickens for eggs. There are some things we can't avoid buying "out there" but I quit buying mandarin oranges forever when I realized they ALL come from china...at least the brands I have seen. I am a label reader from way back..and wont' buy things from other countries. If not local I want at least USA grown food.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| marcy jo |
Posted - Sep 22 2008 : 4:35:26 PM
That's all it takes just a few baby steps at a time..before you know it we've done it!! Every little step we take when joined together makes one big kick in the pants for those who think they control our food choices!!
Marcy #257
When I stand before God at the end of my life I hope that I would not have a bit of talent left and could say “I used everything You gave me”.(erma bombeck) |
| prairie_princess |
Posted - Sep 21 2008 : 2:51:38 PM
i plan on eating more locally. my hubby and i have a strict spending plan... when we did attend farmer's markets, we compared prices and it was more expensive for alot of things. i wish i didn't have to worry about money, should concentrate on helping the local farmers, but sometimes it just can't work that way. but we have decided when our freezer isn't packed, we would like to buy local beef and pork. it actually has turned out to be less expensive (and i'm sure better for you, too). my husband does hunt, so at least we don't have to worry about hormones and nasty stuff in wild game. we do plan on having chickens and goats soon and i grow as much as i can, so we will eat locally that way... from our own making. kudos to those of you who do support local farms! |
| dutchy |
Posted - Sep 20 2008 : 09:27:46 AM
I try to! I can buy many locally grown things here, like pumpkins, veggies, meat (oké, that doesn't grow, but you know what I mean, lol) We have pig farms that sell their own meat. It is a bit too far for me to ride on the bike, but maybe in the future, I will buy a motor bike (YAY!) and will be able to go further. There is a farm that sells fruit as well, also too far. I sometimes ride past it when I go biking to the next town and then see the ad.But then I have to ride a long way and so I don't do that. But it IS possible for others to do that, so yes.
And I eat at home, never go to a restaurant, so that is MY eating locally, lol
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
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my new BLOG.
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| marcy jo |
Posted - Sep 20 2008 : 09:21:04 AM
It's true eating locally is a bit more work. Once you make the change I think it's easier to stay with it. I don't want to go back either!!!
Marcy #257
When I stand before God at the end of my life I hope that I would not have a bit of talent left and could say “I used everything You gave me”.(erma bombeck) |
| sweetproserpina |
Posted - Sep 17 2008 : 12:35:44 PM
I definitely try to as much as I can. It's easy for fruit and vegetables, especially this time of year. I'm trying to can and freeze as much as I can, and going to the farmer's market. Some staples I still just buy in bulk at the big supermarket - sugar and flour for example. But eventually I want to get to the point of buying local flour (I think I know a source) and buying organic fair-trade sugar. I certainly use more local honey now than I used to, instead of sugar. It's hard cost-wise for some things, but it's little steps.
I love Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. I had to buy it too! The recipes are really yummy too..
"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world."
http://quaintandkeepinghouse.blogspot.com New Homekeeping Blog!
http://theprimroseway.blogspot.com/ |
| prairielandherbs |
Posted - Sep 17 2008 : 10:01:22 AM
As much as possible, and more all the time! What I can't get locally (chocolate, some sugar, olive oil) I try to buy fair trade and/or organic. it's a constant learning experience, and i LOVE it. We've been doing this for about a year and I never want to go back! |
| Kris Sherrill |
Posted - Sep 16 2008 : 8:40:06 PM
I found that book at the library last year and kept it a month. They made me return it. So I bought one. I love how they finally just grew so accustomed to eating local they just kept on doing it.
There's another really good book you should read called"This Organic Life" (confessions of a suburban homesteader) by Joan Dye Gussow.Mother earth had a story about her a few years ago and I had to get the book, too.
I grow as much as I can and freeze, can and dry all I can. Also raise all our meat, eggs, goats for milk. I know everyone is not able to do that. So local markets and CSA's are a great alternative. You can find anything at those places.
I'm also a firm supporter of the "little people" businesses. I REFUSE to go to Walmart!
I have a friend who makes soap, and lotions and washing detergents. She's working on shampoo!
I do have to rely on Montanna to grow my wheat for wheat berries for bread and olive oil fron Italy and I don't know where the gluten and lethisin comes from...
But local can be done and keep doing it!
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| Marybeth |
Posted - Sep 16 2008 : 7:17:31 PM
I really didn't mean the actually hauling--I meant what happens from the time it is picked in costa Rica or New Zealand until it get here. And yes it is hard to find everything one needs, locally, but a start is a start. And I do applaud the haulers. MB
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com www.holyhouses-day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
| gramadinah |
Posted - Sep 16 2008 : 3:30:21 PM
The Shipping is not what does anything different to food. It is the packing and the handling of the food before the truck gets to it. The truck just maintains the temperature and sees that it gets to its destination in as good a shape as it was put on the truck. We haul produce all over the Country. Some treated and some organic. I buy local as much as possible too but even at that at some time a truck had that product on. I buy local to help out my community but still have a hard time getting everything a family needs local.
Diana
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
| Marybeth |
Posted - Sep 16 2008 : 1:19:34 PM
I think/know it is the best idea possible. I have a CSA from a local farm and they deliver once a week. All kind of local and organic fruits and veggies. I can also order milk and eggs even meat if I wanted too. Local is so good---even if you cannot do organic, local is good because it has not been treated to all the indignaties shipped food goes through. MB
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com www.holyhouses-day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
