Days 5 and 6

I didn't post last night so I am combining yesterday and today in one post.

Yesterday was a normal day with the normal fare that is becoming my staple, asparagus omelletes and giant salads of romaine, swiss chard, arugula and spinach.  The most difficult part of yesterday was eating my salad during a meeting with my youth team from church while watching them eat food that looked amazing.  Including what I think was chocolate chip cookies.  I tried to look at their plates as little as possible and I didn't ask for any clarification about the types of cookies they were enjoying.

Today has been quite out of the ordinary.  I had oatmeal, honey and rhubarb for breakfast (thanks to the Norris family) breaking my streak of daily egg breakfasts that started when I began this journey.

I then was given a box full of delicious local items from Tara Kepley including: pickles, hot peppers, sundried tomatoes, apple butter, salsa, chives, yogurt starter, and sourdough bread starter.

I had an omellete for lunch with asparagus, (I'm getting addicted to these) with some of the Kepley family salsa on it and it was delicious!

I am once again floored by the generosity of people who care about sustainability and health and I guess me, enough to want to see me survive during this experience!

I'm headed this afternoon to pick up some local cheese and meat.  I think its time to diversify my meal plan a bit.  I am going to attempt the bread next week and if that is successful I think this thing will get a lot easier!

Tomorrow will close out week one of living la vida loca(vore).   Its been a blessed week.

Day 4

Breakfast - Eggs and asparagus
Lunch - Sauteed Veggies
Supper - Spinach and Romaine Salad

Great day today in the locavore world.  My friend Ashley, who takes her daughter to Sing and Sprout at Mercy Church on Tuesday mornings, and, along with her husband Aaron, is an expert on all things local and edible, delivered to me today chives, rhubarb, oatmeal, and honey!  It takes good community to be a locavore and I have great community.

I am also about to receive some great things including a sourdough bread starter from my friend Tara.  God has truly blessed me with some great people who care about eating in a sustainable way.

This morning I spent time in a pastor peer group where I found out about a cookbook called "Simply in Season" a cookbook put out by a Mennonite publisher about cooking and eating seasonally.  I am thankful to be part of a denomination that cares about such things.  I plan on heading down to 10,000 villages tomorrow and picking up a copy.  From what I heard today it is part cookbook and part devotional.  I am quite excited for the devotional piece because I truly felt led by God to attempt this journey.

As I read through the cookbook and attempt to cook, which could be interesting, I will share the recipes I attempt.

I had someone inquire about the possibility of starting a book club reading through books like Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan  etc.  

Any interest in that?

Day 3

Breakfast - eggs with onions and spinach
Lunch -  Omelette with asparagus
Supper - Assorted Sauteed veggies

Had a long day today, capped by playing a church softball game at 9.  I was a little nervous that I wouldnt have  enough energy so I made sure to load up on protein eating eggs twice.   I had more than enough energy and felt great.

I feel like I am starting to hit a rhythm and I am no longer craving the food I am used to.  I am really enjoying how fresh everything tastes.  Eating locally, in season, assures me that I am getting the freshest food possible.

I will leave you tonight with a food tip from Michael Pollan.  "Don't eat anything incapable of rotting."

Great advice - eat fresh, eat local and eat real food!

Day 2

Day 2 is in the books!  Today was a big test for me because Sunday is a busy work day and I played softball with my church team for three hours.  I was concerned that eating in this way would not leave me with enough energy to tackle a busy day that included exercise,  I was wrong, I had more than enough energy and I still feel great.

Today didnt start great as I woke up late and realized I didnt have time to make eggs.  Having no other breakfast options, I went to church without eating.  Does anyone have any ideas for a quick breakfast to grab on the go?

For Lunch I duplicated the salad I ate yesterday,  and for supper I made a delicious omelette full of fresh spinach and asparagus.  I think this could be my go to meal for awhile.

Thanks to everyone who commented yesterday with some great tips and thanks to the Norris family for meeting with me yesterday and helping me not fear cooking so much.  I know without a doubt that I would not be able to complete this thing without a good chunk of support, so thanks to everyone!

I am a big Michael Pollan fan and he is one of the people who inspired me to start this journey.  Here is a good Pollan clip on eating locally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhaG_Zi6izU

Day 1

Today was the day when an interesting idea turned into a difficult, yet fun and I believe, possible, reality.  I went to the farmers market to get my food for the week.  I left with swiss chard, romaine lettuce, spinach, asparagus, onions, radishes, and boc choy.  I spent only 30 dollars and I believe I purchased enough food to feed me for a week.  (I already had a dozen local eggs from a friends family farm that should help me out as well.)

I found it very enjoyable to buy my food directly from the people who planted it, cared for it, and harvested it.  I am amazed that up until today, all of the food I consume on a daily basis comes from an unknown source.  It just appears at a grocery store or restaurant, ready for my consumption.  It is a blessing to be able to know where my food comes from and it feels great to be able to support local farmers who are growing food in sustainable ways.

For lunch today I ate a salad of spinach, romaine lettuce and swiss chard.  It was....edible.

For supper I sauteed asparagus, onions, radishes and boc choy.  It was delicious!  

I plan on eating pretty much these two dishes all week, unless somebody has some good ideas for me!  I am open to any and all suggestions.  I am also looking for other local food ideas beyond eggs, and fresh produce.

I also decided to try and plant some of my own food.  As an apartment dweller my gardening options are limited, however, I do have a deck.  So I got my hands on seven large flower pots and planted two kinds of tomatoes, three varieties of peppers, zucchini, and spinach.  Hopefully these vegetables are fool proof because I have nothing that resembles a green thumb.

Barbara Kingsolver states that the two most difficult requirements to eating a local diet are having patience and restraint.   Two things that don't often come naturally to those of us who have spent our entire lives emerged in a culture known for over-consumption and immediate gratification.

Lord, help me learn patience and restraint.

I am beginning a journey tomorrow that I am excited to document via a short term blog.  I am embarking on a journey of eating only food that has not traveled more than 100 miles from field to my table.  This experiment will begin on May 5th and end October 1st.  Even as I write this I have no idea what I will eat for the next couple months.  Living in South Dakota makes it difficult to have abundant choices when it comes to fresh, local fruits and vegetables.  My plan is to purchase all my food for the week at a farmers market on Saturday mornings.  If I misjudge how much food I need to eat, I will get some more at a farmers market on Tuesday afternoon.  (those are the only options that I know of in Sioux Falls)  I am traveling a couple of times this summer, and while I am traveling, I will attempt to eat as locally as possible, I am not going to be legalistic about it while staying with friends and family.  I have no interest in being a guest at someones house that adds stress by following a difficult and often expensive way of eating.  And truly, the crux of this experiment is to see how possible it is to eat locally in South Dakota.

Making this a little more difficult for me mentally is the stress of training for a half marathon in June and a full marathon in October on a diet like this.

Wendell Berry and Michael Pollan both agree that we are co-creators of the food system in which we are a part of.  The food system that I am a part of is very broken, unsustainable and unhealthy.  As a Christian I believe that we are called to live out our values in all areas of our lives.  There is often large areas of disconnect in our lives when we don't live out our values in a holistic manner.  Thanks to the writing of Berry and Pollan, I am convinced that eating food out of season that travels thousands of miles, foods that are highly processed, and food grown or raised in ways that are unsustainable and inhumane do not mesh with my values.

I will attempt to document this experience well.  I will check in daily sharing what I ate and how I feel etc.

Here's to a holistically healthy experiment!