I’ll admit, this whole “Eat locally for a year” wasn’t an original idea of mine.  I adopted it actually.  I found this little book:

It’s basically a memoir-journal-ish book about a family who left Arizona to go live in the country.  Where they had lived previously, was of course the desert, and the officials had told them that although the water was safe for you and your kids, don’t put your fish in it.  Because they would die.  Mmhmm.  I’d trust that.  So, they moved.  They moved to a place where people wouldn’t curse the rain because it meant they wouldn’t get to wash their car, but instead to a place where although it might interrupt their plans, people knew rain was important.

Their move was the beginning, but they chose then to grow a farm and what they didn’t grow, they would get from other farmers that were local.

So, what’s that have to do with me?

Well, I don’t plan to move – at least, not across the country nor do I plan to become a farmer.  Quite frankly the thought of plucking a chicken and all that just makes me want to become a vegetarian.  I don’t want to own a ton of land that I have to plow and harvest.  It’s not my passion.  However, I do realize that most of our food today is made with CORN, one of the lease nutritious, overly abundant crops ever.  Our nation has become fat and yet malnourished all at once.  And, we wonder why.  We wonder why we get random headaches, why we feel so tired and run-down, why we can’t stop gaining weight, and the other random symptoms we have no explanations for.  We go to our doctors and they write us a prescription, which oftentimes just covers up the issue rather than fix what caused it in the first place.  And, so we go on…we keep doing what we’re doing and the pill works for a bit…until next time.  Then, that symptom or another pops up again.  We are a nation that accepts illness of many sorts as “healthy”.

In the past year, I’ve been more careful about the things I put in my body.  I eat more vegetables and fruits, less processed items, and try to stay away from high fructose corn syrup (except on occasion).  I’m not a poster child for healthy eating, but I’ve definitely traded in a few bad habits like Stouffers lasagna and hamburger helpers for more healthy conscious (but good) meals.  And, I’ve noticed some differences in my health.  Real differences.  Huge differences.

Next year, I want to buy our produce and meats and other food items as much locally as I can.  I may grow some things in the garden or trade my brother for his game during season or it may just mean changing where I buy from.  Farmers, as it is are hurt more than protected by the farm bill.  Most smaller farmers make almost nothing for doing everything a machine does, only by hand.  They use their bodies and hands to do the work, reducing the chemicals and gas needed.  Big time farming companies don’t worry about the tastiest tomatoes, they go by those that are most uniform in color and shape and easiest to package…and those that tend to preserve easier.  Many times, we eat genetically modified produce and don’t even know it.  We thought we were helping our body and eating healthy, when in reality we were stuffing our guts with more pesticides and other things than you’d ever want to imagine.

By staying as local as I can, I’m hoping to gain more appreciation for the local farmers, for their work.  I admire them as is, but I want to know their names and faces.  I want to learn, as well.  I want to bring better tasting and more healthy food to our table.  I want our health to continue to improve.

So, as I prepare for what will be a huge change, I’m researching local farms within driving distance.  So far, I’ve found 3 listed (using www.localharvest.org).  But, I know there are more.  Next spring, I’ll just have to frequent the farmers markets and ask for cards!

Welcome back!