The Local Challenge

I was inspired to be a better eater last fall after hearing about 3 folks from the White Earth Reservation in Northern Minnesota who had pledged to eat only food grown within 100 miles of their home for an entire year. My reaction: If they can do i in northern MN, I can do it on the Far Coast. I was reluctant to begin the year in November though. It seemed easy enough, well, not quite easy maybe, but within my power, but I needed a growing season to prepare. But it also seemed as though the whole purpose was to demonstrate that local eating is possible. And it should be possible for everyone, not just those who have the benefit of a farm at their disposal.

So, here it is, mid-June, and I'm still all talk--though I'm full of A LOT of talk. I think it's time to do more. There are a million excuses, though--What if I move and I can't take all of my canned goods with me? I don't have a good root cellar just now, I don't have a freezer, I'm sick of early summer greens, What about coffee, citrus and spices?

Doing a bit of web research, I found out that May was local foods month--aha! what a simple solution: Eat local for just a month at a time. That's easy enough to commit to. I still need a bit of time to prepare; maily to figure out what I'm going to eat other than veggies and meat. Here are the rules I propose to begin by:

1. All food must be grown or produced in the state. This is a big beginner's concession allowing foods that have been produced but not necessarily grown locally (i.e. bread, ice-cream, cheese or beer that includes out of state ingredients.)
2. A nod to community. Sharing food with friends is an important and valuable part of my life. Potluck and dinner party food prepared by friends gets a free-pass.
3. I don't eat out often here on the Far Coast but in the spirit of community there are some friends that I just don't see except over a meal out. I will allow myself two chances to eat restaurant meals that will almost certainly not be local, though I will make an effort to eat at establishments that make an effort to include local foods on their menus.

A few sites for more local eating inspiration:

• The 100 mile diet
• Localvores
• The Eat Local Challenge