So I really try on this blog not to bombard folks with my beliefs about food, the environment, etc...but I have decided that the following post must be shared so forgive me for yet another post on the benefits of eating organic and local food.
About a year ago, Tim and I stumbled upon the local food movement, specifically through the 100 mile diet challenge that was sweeping the country. When the average North American sits down to eat, each ingredient has typically travelled at least 1,500 miles—call it "the SUV diet." On the first day of spring, 2005, Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon (bios) chose to confront this unsettling statistic with a simple experiment. For one year, they would buy or gather their food and drink from within 100 miles of their apartment in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Since then, James and Alisa have gotten up-close-and-personal with issues ranging from the family-farm crisis to the environmental value of organic pears shipped across the globe. They reconsidered their vegetarianism and sunk their hands into community gardening.
Their 100-Mile Diet struck a deeper chord than anyone could have predicted. Within weeks, reprints of their blog at thetyee.ca had appeared on sites across the Internet. Then came the media, from BBC Worldwide to Utne magazine. Dozens of individuals and grassroots groups have since launched their own 100-Mile Diet adventures. As we learned about this idea of eating local food grown close to home we thought hmmm how can we do this?? First there are the farmers markets during the summer which are amazing. There is no greater feeling than seeing the farmers week after week that provide the meals you will cook for your family. But we wanted even more, this is when we came across CSA's, community supporedt agriculture. Basically Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a partnership of consumers and farmers. The member shareholders provide a guaranteed market and income, as well as labor, to produce and distribute the food for a growing season. The farmers provide weekly shares of fresh, seasonal, certified organically grown vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Both partners share in the risks and rewards of small-scale farming: weather, insect damage, and bumper crops.
Families and individuals who join the CSA receive a share of produce every week during the growing season (mid-May through October). In exchange, members sign a contract for the season, agree to pay in advance, and help with some of the work of harvest and distribution of the food. This idea was exactly what we wanted as our long term goal is to someday have our own property with a farm of our own. So, we found a farm in Kearney, Mo called Fair Share Farm. We read the literature, got on the waiting list and in March paid our money for the growing season. We are now in our 5th week of the CSA growing season and we feel truly blessed. I'm not sure I have ever tasted produce like this in all my life. To me I can truly taste the love and care that has gone into growing these vegetables and every week is an adventure wondering what will be in our share that week.
I recommend this to anyone interested in eating more local food. The price evens out to about $12 a week if you were to go to say Price Chopper and buy your produce but I can guarantee it will not taste the same. I have several links on this blog to the local food challenge and also our CSA Fair Share Farm if you are interested. Perhaps we can join the KC 100 Mile Diet challenge this year!
When you understand where your food comes from, you look at the world in an entirely different way.
-Alice Waters-
About a year ago, Tim and I stumbled upon the local food movement, specifically through the 100 mile diet challenge that was sweeping the country. When the average North American sits down to eat, each ingredient has typically travelled at least 1,500 miles—call it "the SUV diet." On the first day of spring, 2005, Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon (bios) chose to confront this unsettling statistic with a simple experiment. For one year, they would buy or gather their food and drink from within 100 miles of their apartment in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Since then, James and Alisa have gotten up-close-and-personal with issues ranging from the family-farm crisis to the environmental value of organic pears shipped across the globe. They reconsidered their vegetarianism and sunk their hands into community gardening.
Their 100-Mile Diet struck a deeper chord than anyone could have predicted. Within weeks, reprints of their blog at thetyee.ca had appeared on sites across the Internet. Then came the media, from BBC Worldwide to Utne magazine. Dozens of individuals and grassroots groups have since launched their own 100-Mile Diet adventures. As we learned about this idea of eating local food grown close to home we thought hmmm how can we do this?? First there are the farmers markets during the summer which are amazing. There is no greater feeling than seeing the farmers week after week that provide the meals you will cook for your family. But we wanted even more, this is when we came across CSA's, community supporedt agriculture. Basically Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a partnership of consumers and farmers. The member shareholders provide a guaranteed market and income, as well as labor, to produce and distribute the food for a growing season. The farmers provide weekly shares of fresh, seasonal, certified organically grown vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Both partners share in the risks and rewards of small-scale farming: weather, insect damage, and bumper crops.
Families and individuals who join the CSA receive a share of produce every week during the growing season (mid-May through October). In exchange, members sign a contract for the season, agree to pay in advance, and help with some of the work of harvest and distribution of the food. This idea was exactly what we wanted as our long term goal is to someday have our own property with a farm of our own. So, we found a farm in Kearney, Mo called Fair Share Farm. We read the literature, got on the waiting list and in March paid our money for the growing season. We are now in our 5th week of the CSA growing season and we feel truly blessed. I'm not sure I have ever tasted produce like this in all my life. To me I can truly taste the love and care that has gone into growing these vegetables and every week is an adventure wondering what will be in our share that week.
I recommend this to anyone interested in eating more local food. The price evens out to about $12 a week if you were to go to say Price Chopper and buy your produce but I can guarantee it will not taste the same. I have several links on this blog to the local food challenge and also our CSA Fair Share Farm if you are interested. Perhaps we can join the KC 100 Mile Diet challenge this year!
When you understand where your food comes from, you look at the world in an entirely different way.
-Alice Waters-
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1 comment:
I certainly agree with the quote at the end of this post. Even though I have not even barely scratched the surface of local and organic foods, my view of the world has started to change. Putting a face on the growers of the produce I've bought and the people who sell me eggs is exciting! (not to mention that the taste is incredible!) I definitely look forward to hearing of your 100 Mile Diet adventure!!
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