The past couple days I’ve been reading Plenty, the story of a Canadian couple who decided to eat foods sourced within an one hundred mile radius of their house. It’s gearing me up for the challenge, inspiring food combinations, and uncovering sources I’d never dreamed existed. I have a veggie patch in the back yard, gardening is a lifestyle as much as a hobby, and have been along-time fan of “organic” and all the other eco-popular buzz words swarming the food industry right now. I agree whole heartedly with what Sandy said in the last post, that’s just the way it’s supposed to be, it’s just the natural way.
I’d been researching local foods prior to signing up for the challenge. Looking for local cow and goat milk to further practice my rudimentary cheese making skills. Seeking outlets that surely must sell the local wheat I see thickly growing by the North Carolina roads. Ready to know the season by the foliage in gardens around town. My husband and I have been practicing car-free weekends to localize on the most literal level. Though it was finding out about this challenge that was the boot-to-my-behind to dive in and eat the way I believe I should be eating. Not just food, I expect the Eat Carolina Challenge will help me find my own roots the local community, connect me to others and to the earth. I feel pretty certain those connections will last a whole lot longer than seven days, too.
Originally written for and posted on the Carolina Farm Stewardship Assn.’s blog.
