I feel that with every challenge in life, there comes an opportunity – and opportunity to grow and exceed all expectations.  I believe with every fiber of my being that this is true, and that I’m not just gripping for some higher cause to make me feel better when things get rough.  If you would’ve asked me when I was 18 if I would ever cloth diaper my child, I would have laughed in your face.  Same for hanging clothes out on the line.  But, growing my own food?  I probably would have snorted liquids out of both of my nostrils.  Funny what life’s challenges can show you.  What began out of necessity to provide our family with fresh vegetables this summer (that we could afford), became something that we love – and look forward to doing in future years, regardless of our income.  Our circumstances pushed me to give up the products I thought I could never do without.  It pushed me to go outside of my comfort zone – and being my stubborn self, I resisted…heavily.  My husband resisted even more.  But once, I managed to let go of certain items I thought I could never do without, my eyes opened.

I didn’t need them at all.

It became a game.  What can I get rid of next and live without?  Where else can I cut out cost?  We began cloth diapering half-time, making more meals and eating out much less (which hadn’t been that much to begin with, but is almost “0″ now – especially when it’s just us.)  What was born out of necessity has become something that EMPOWERED us.  TAUGHT us.  EMBRACED and FREED us, all at once.

And, now.  For something a little different.

I have a few new projects…or goals, in mind.  I may change my mind about any of them as I begin to learn more, but right now, I’m inspired.

1.  I’m collecting cookbooks.  OLD cookbooks.  While most of America is searching for 3 item recipe cookbooks, where you use a can of this and a can of that, I’m looking for cookbooks which may not even still have a cover on them.  I’m looking for cookbooks where the main ingredients are in their simplest forms – flour, tomatoes, squash, etc.

2.  I’m going to learn how to make my own pasta.  My own bread without the breadmaker (although I will mostly use the breadmaker.  I just want to know HOW and be confident in my ability to do so.)

3.  I plan to learn and fully educate myself on how to freeze all types of food, and other ways (like canning and drying) seasonal fruits and veggies from our garden, so we may eat them year round.  Because I can.

4.  By the spring of 2009, I want a Composter.  A nice one.  Preferably the rolling bins with legs.  My organic garden did well this year, but imagine if I had my own organic fertilizer?

5.  I plan to plant a garden next year, again.  Only this time, I’ll plant a little extra…just to give away to someone who needs it.  It’s time I do my part to do what I can to make this place I live in a little more caring about each other.

6.  I plan to learn even more about essential oils and herbs.  I want to learn how to use whole herbs to treat common ailments, and grow them and learn to use them.  I began exploring alternative medicine when we lost health insurance, but I have found something so very promising.  We’ll have health insurance starting TOMORROW (!!!!), but I still believe that the Earth can do so much more than we give it credit for (but I do still love some of Western medicine).

7.  And Lastly, next spring we plan to learn more about our region, this place we call home, by eating LOCALLY (except for the things that aren’t available).  We’ll do our best, and see what happens.  I’m hoping we can do this for an entire year.  This doesn’t mean eating from local grocery stores and restaurants, it means eating LOCALLY GROWN things.  It doesn’t have to be from my own garden, it can be from farmers markets, other small farms (like the Amish), or the game my family hunts.  Why would I do such a thing?  Because it’s a challenge.  Because I no longer look at food (or much else) the same way, now that I know (or don’t know) what’s in it.  I look forward to establishing relationships with local farmers, and trading and buying with them.  I look forward to helping support the little farmers.  I look forward to the education this will provide my family – that we will better appreciate the food we eat, and the bodies we have.  I look forward to being another person who is choosing to educate themselves on the dying art of natural food and medicines so that we may continue to have some hope for our future that is not filled with high fructose corn syrup and unhealthy additives that do little else than destroy the same bodies we strive to nourish.

If ANYONE is AT ALL interested in some of these “journeys” I am choosing to go on, do let me know.  I would be more than happy to post recipes, resources, and other random thoughts that I experience and learn.  You don’t have to travel with me, but I’d be more than happy to share any pieces you might be interested in, just let me know what you’re seeking.

Welcome back!