Eat Local Challenge - May 2006

As some of you may know, I have been championing an "Eat Local" lifestyle. Last August, I and some other bloggers participated in an Eat Local Challenge. There is a similar challenge staring in May. Anyone can particpate. See this post by Jen Maiser to learn more.

Also, as the post above indicates, there is a forthcoming blog, on the whole subject of eating local. I hope you all take the time to visit. I'll post the URL when it's live.

Rob

Vital Information wrote:
Also, as the post above indicates, there is a forthcoming blog, on the whole subject of eating local. I hope you all take the time to visit. I'll post the URL when it's live.

Rob

I know some of you have been, I do not know, intrigued ( ), by my posts and comments on eating local.

Anyways, for those interested in the topic generally, the eat local blog is finally live. I hope you all take the time to visit occasionally.

Rob

VI,

I can't say I'm savvy to the nuances of being a locavore, but I love the word.

On your blog, you wrote, "In my theory of eating local, anything that can be effectively shipped with no degradation of quality is as good as local."

By "as good as" you mean only in terms of flavor, right? I'm only partly in tune with the locavore movement, but I'm sure you also eat local to support the local farmer (e.g., Vicki), reduce dependence upon (and energy costs associated with) stuff shipped in from far away; avoid eating out of season, etc. Not arguing here, just making sure I understand, in whatever limited way I can hope for, what locavorism is all about.

I appreciate what you and others are doing in the same way I appreciate what the Sierra Club and others are doing. I don't take an active part, but I hope to reap the benefits.

Hammond

Thanks for reading the old stuff David.

Three things:

First, on the Eat Local Blog, there is a list of reasons to eat local. The Localvores site also has a good list of why eat local.

Second, as to my definations and such, I would say I've changed a bit. As I have dived into the challenge, worked at it, especially trying to extend the notion into the winter and spring, I have come to recognize a lot of nuances involved in eating local. Needless to say, as when this came up before, I'd rather not discuss the non-taste factors on this Forum. The bottom line is, I'm trying reduce certain exceptions I have had in the past.

Which gets to the third thing, the exceptions. I'm not trying to be pure, 100% local, whether in my 100 mile foodshed or my more expansive "Big 10 Conference" boundry. For one thing, I'm not above the occasional papaya and proscuitto. For another thing, I cannot fathom losing various items. Do I drink beer only, not wine? Potsum instead of coffee? Butter or lard instead of olive oil? Dried garlic instead of fresh, I mean what about salt and pepper? Finally, what about eatin' out. My family and I have greatly reduced the amount we eat out, but we still eat out a lot. And that's a whole lot of not local right there.*

So, as I remarked on my blog the other day, my goal for the May Eat Local Challenge is not so much to find farmer's markets and eat from my CSA. Rather, my goal is to explore all my food choices, go local whenever possible, but them if I cannot go local figure out what is the best choice based the ideas that motivate me to eat local in the first place. Again, while some of these motivations are tasted related, some are not. Thus, go to blog (click on the www below) to see where I am going.

*I will work on identifying restaurants with local products on their menu.

Here's a great post that discusses the limitations on eating local.

If I ever go the Eat Local route, I will have the foresight to move to Sonoma.

May is a tough month to do this kind of thing. I understand it's kind of appropriate, being springtime and all, but it'd be easier to get on this bandwagon if it were, say, August.

Hammond

For those interested in the eat local movement, Jen M, the instigator and workaholic of the Eat Local Blog, will be on the radio today--the Tom Douglas show in Seatle. There will be no archive, but if anyone is bored this afternoon, with a good connection, here's the url:

http://www.710kiro.com/

Here's the url for the Douglas show:

http://www.tomdouglas.com/

If interested in how a variety of people are trying the Eat Local Challenge, here's a list of participants:

http://www.eatlocalchallenge.com/2006/0 ... at_lo.html