The Eat Local Challenge got some press today in the Southeast in the Greensboro, North Carolina centered News and Record. What a nice way to finish the month!
The market for local foods in this area seems to improve with each week. If you love to cook, your choices are nearly limitless. Nearly every kind of sustainably raised meat and poultry is sold at the farmers' markets, and a couple of vendors bring fresh seafood from the coast. There are several farmers who raise vegetables in hoop houses and greenhouses, extending the seasons. Delicious baked goodies and jams and jellies abound.
The biggest challenge that I have seen is connecting the restaurants with the local farmers and cooperatives. Hopefully our local Slow Food convivium will be successful in bringing more of these together. I missed eating out for lunch, and I found out that a couple of restaurants that I thought served local foods did not - after I was seated, unfortunately! In one case, I discovered that the staff thought that buying from a locally-based food distributor meant that they were buying local food.
The biggest thrill for me was eating my first artichokes from my garden, ever! I can't tell you how satisfying it was to raise them from seed during the winter of 2005 to harvest this month.
The biggest accomplishment for me is that I finally kicked the diet soda habit.
The most fun was going to a local foods tasting lunch at Bistro Sofia, and making my own salad dressings and mayonnaise.
The biggest disappointment, other than the restaurants, was that I didn't try more new things, such as making my own pasta, and checking out new markets. I had a busy month, so I didn't try to overdo it. It was the right choice; I'll get around to the things that I missed.
I wasn't perfect. I fell off the wagon a few times. But for the most part, the Eat Local Challenge was not that different for me. I was simply much more attentive and aware of each bite that I put in my mouth.
The first thing that I'll have in June will definitely have tomatoes as an ingredient. I have planted twenty Roma and Amish Paste tomatoes, and I plan to be ready with my own local tomato sauce and salsa for next year's challenge!
Laurie O. lives in Greensboro, North Carolina and writes a journal about simple living, slow food, and sustainability at ...slowly she turned. She is the webmaster for Slow Food Piedmont Triad.
