Perspective

Wow, Friday’s post was a fun one, wasn’t it?  I guess low blood sugar combined with hormone fluctuations and a dip in iron reserves really does wonders when you’re trying to set a world record for self-pity.  But it turns out the judges won’t give you an award simply for having your period.  Too many other people in the same bloody boat.  Ditto for making a crap dinner.  But, wait, there’s more, I exclaimed, as I outlined a newly amended list of grievances.  No deal, they said.  Come back later when you have actual problems.

Anyway, that post went up because I think it’s important to examine all the aspects of the Eat Local Challenge, not just the ones I’ve lovingly crafted to make myself look good.  Thanks for your encouragement, by the way, especially you who offered to do some shopping for me—it all helped.  Now let’s review why I’m doing this challenge.  Perhaps my failure to outline these reasons at the beginning is why it’s been so easy for me to lose sight of them. 

Why Am I Doing This Again?

1. To continue to show my support to local growers and producers in my community.
2. To learn what else we produce around here that I’m not aware of.
3. To share this information.

The goal is not to “win” the Eat Local Challenge.  The goal is not to “prove” anything.  The goal is merely to learn.  Okay, Tammy?  Got that?  Everybody’s a winner when we do it that way, so calm down.

The problem, of course, is that I’m emotionally invested in it.  I owe a lot to the local foods movement for improving my quality of life.  My first Eat Local Challenge last year had a huge impact on me.  It was the reason why I joined a vegetable CSA for the first time.  It was how I got in the habit of sourcing my meat, eggs, milk, and cheese locally.  It made me examine my priorities, including what’s important to me in my immediate community and what I want to pass on to my kids.  And it completely changed the way I cook and look at food.  It’s the difference between seeing food as something alive versus seeing it as something dead.  Whom do we entrust to nourish us and how do we think of them: as nurses who nurture us to good health, or something more like morticians, just painting the illusion of life onto a corpse? 

Hyperbole?  You tell me.

There’s an element of romance to my view of it, to be sure, some of which matches up to reality (and some of which doesn’t).  The Challenge continues to be a learning experience.  An extreme exercise devised to help you figure out your own balance.  So I go on, trying to keep this idea of balance in mind.

I might potentially need more alcohol, though.

Comments

[NurseJen]

I have not, officially, joined nor committed to the Eat Local Challenge. I have, however, made a personal commitment to eating as much locally produced stuff as I can. I live with someone who couldn't give a rat's ass about it, though, so unless I'm willing to do all of the shopping and all of the cooking... OK, so I do actually do all of those things. BUT, I also live with a redneck farmer boy who turns up his sunburned nose at quite a few foods, so I am limited with some of this.

My point is, you are absolutely right to remind yourself that this is a personal challenge, not a job nor a governmentally mandated edict. Cut yourself some slack once in a while and remember why you write this blog.

[Melissa]

I don't think it's hyperbole. I think you have the right idea.

Glad to know you're not still on the pity pot, but don't think you aren't allowed to be, if only once in a while. Lordy, people have to remind me of that all the time.

[adele]

I think you're doing a great job. I learned about Stillman's from reading your posts, and now I buy meat from their Copley Stand, and one of my friends joined their CSA.

As for alcohol - well, if you want to keep it local (and if you don't, I think your readers will understand) you've got Sam Adams right in Boston, and Trader Joe's carries a great apple cider called Newton's Folly that's from Vermont. I think Woodchuck comes from Vermont, too.

[Brian]

So I should imagine my food as a living nurse?

Ooh-kay, but isn't that, like, a disorder? I mean, I'm just saying if I google I want to eat a living nurse, it's not going to make me in a healthy direction.

Of course, neither will I want to eat a dead mortician. I guess I should just keep visualizing my food as ice cream.

[Brian]

Aw man, your blog took out my italics. Now my comment is like 75% less funny.

[Tammy]

Brian: Don't worry, I don't know what the hell I was writing yesterday. I think you drew the right conclusion, though.

Adele: That makes me happy! Perhaps I should change my morning apple cider to morning hard cider and start the days off right from now on.

Melissa: I might be off the pity pot (mostly), but I wish I could get my cooking mojo back.

NurseJen: Exactly. We do what we can do. (I'm still jealous of your farmer boy, though.)

[Flood]

I'm sorry. Did you say it's not about winning? Or proving anything? Great. Now, how am I supposed to carry on?

[Tammy]

Flood: I know, it took the wind out of my sails, too. We could still compete against each other, if you want?

[Katrina]

I haven't read the Friday post yet but I wanted to have a group hug about the romance part of eating local first. You picture captures it and I don't ever want to loose that part of it. Even if I do have to walk through poop laden fields or reach across barb wired fences to get to it sometimes. It's worth it.

[Egy Azziera]

No more challenge — there’s no way I can keep up with it. However, there are a lot of inspiring local people who do wonderful things with the "eat local" ideals, so I know we’ll be checking in with them often.