Monday, September 11, 2006

local foods

Recently a friend came to visit. The friend, her husband, and child were some of the pickiest eaters I have ever met. So many items that were cooked were "unusual" or not packaged (they were all fresh foods from the local market).

See, I try to only cook with items that can be grown locally. I am doing this in the event of any changes that may affect our family. Well, I want to be certain that our family can and will eat foods that I can either grow or find from local growers. What would happen if my children would only eat packaged foods? What if they only knew how to eat white bread? This would not do well in a sustainable lifestyle. Wheat is grown locally - I can grind wheat berries (and they are not bleached). I can grow spinach, kale, beets, potatoes, apples, tomatoes, and more ... Not oranges. My children will know how to eat whatever is prepared.

We know how to eat local foods. If we move, I will learn how to make foods from that region!

Ask yourself and then learn to fill the gaps:

  • What types of foods are grown in your region?
  • Do you know how to cook with them?
  • Do you know how to preserve them?
  • Can you learn how to grow these foods?
  • What can you do so that you are not dependent upon foods shipped to you?

6 comments:

BurdockBoy said...

I am so happy to read about people practicing the local food diet. My partner and I have been trying to mix a good percentage of local in my diet, but we haven't established enough garden to preserve much-although I have been wild harvesting. It's also tough here in Northern Wisconsin-it was much easier when we lived in the Willamette valley. Keep up the good work-you are making a difference.

Emme said...

Hey! I am from NE MN (now SE MN and hoping to move back to the shores the big lake). I know how difficult it can be to eat locally. - especially with a shorter growing season.

Keep it up!

BurdockBoy said...

At least we have wild rice, lake trout, and a pretty good orchard and berry scene up in the Bayfield peninsula. I'm trying to get someone to show me how to gather wild rice. We'll see.

Anonymous said...

What exactly was it that your friend didn't like? I'm curious.

Emme said...

They don't like eggplant, tomato, squash, the local cheese, or whole wheat. Preference would be hamburgers or hotdogs on white.

Sara said...

I am always amazed at other's eating habits. I feel like such a snob when I go grocery shopping ... but I just want to run up to all the other shoppers and tell them how HORRIBLE all that stuff is! Aaargh!

What do you use to grind your own grains? The grinders I've seen are so spendy...