Eat Local

I'm back, and I am about to embark on big experiment. I am in the initial planning phases of a plan to see if it is possible, plausible, and affordable to eat an almost entirely locally grown diet (within a 100 mile radius). I admit, I have my doubts about this. A recent article in the Chicago Reader , entitled The Whole Hog Project, Eat Local Year Round was my inspiration. I am in the research phase right now, and plan to begin implementation in the summer, when local crops are abundant.


It seems the days of Co-Ops are giving way to something new (at least to me) called CSA's or Community Supported Agriculture. It works in much the same way as a co-op. Essentially, you pre-purchase shares in a farm and when its time to butcher/harvest, you are given back a portion. This is a shared risk/shared reward venture, if crops yield is low, if it's another bad year for tomatoes, you feel that as well. One thing I really enjoy about most of the CSA's I have been looking into is the availability of information. Most sites give information on the breeds of animals they raise, their animal husbandry techniques, their farming methods (ie: biodynamic, perma-culture, etc.) and many encourage you to visit the farm to meet the people making your food and to touch the soil.

I plan to put this into action this summer when the crops are at their peak. I am going to purchase shares in selected CSA's and supplement this with trips to local farm markets to buy extras for canning and freezing to get us through the winter. One thing I have not yet figured out is where to get my grains, and dairy. Most of the CSA's I have seen do not offer dairy products or grains. I know that some grocery stores around me offer local milk at least. Grains I am at a loss for so that will be my next area of research. In my next few posts I will be highlighting some of the farms I am considering and highlight their offerings, and the costs associated with it.