Excuses, excuses…
So I was thinking about having a petulant little “August sucked rocks” temper tantrum and ask for do-overs, but then I remembered that time doesn’t work that way and I’m stuck in mid-September with no hope of ever accomplishing everything I wanted to accomplish during the August Eat Local Challenge. At least not in August.
So, I’m declaring the next (let’s see, how long will it take for me to truly get my ass in gear?) year… yeah, that’s it, year… as Mrs. D’s Eat Local Challenge, a.k.a. Mrs. D now gives herself a year to figure out how to do a better job of eating local.
It’s not that we completely sucked in August. Okay, well, we sort of did on some fronts ::cough:: Kellogg’s Raisin Bran ::cough:: but in some areas — produce, meat, fish — we did quite well. Well, except for those moments when someone offered us free fish that wasn’t local. We never turn down free fish.
Free ahi sashimi from, would you believe, Sysco?
Anyway, too many things interfered with our ability to visit farms, bake bread, pick crops, spear our own sea cucumbers… oh, wait, we never said we’d do that last one… but that doesn’t mean we can’t do it now. Or soon. Or, well, within the next year at least. Except maybe the sea cucumber bit.
Cuz here’s the thing: I really liked what we were able to accomplish. The local food was delicious. I found local manufacturers of items I never expected, and I learned — or at least started learning — what all grows right here in San Juan County. I mean, kiwifruit. Who would’ve thunk it?
September 13th, 2005 at 10:29 am
I’m comin’ over. Save some sashimi.
September 13th, 2005 at 11:36 am
D’oh! We ate it all.
We do still have half a moon fish in the freezer. Okay, maybe a quarter moon fish. Those fish are big, you know. Like the size of space stations, I swear.
September 13th, 2005 at 3:13 pm
Hey, don’t sweat it. Our August was fine, but it sucked too. There’s no way my family nor I have enough time or physical/mental strength to eat locally for an entire month. We do the best we can on a regular basis and that’ll have to be good enough.
Biggles
September 14th, 2005 at 4:20 pm
It’s hard to eat local. Everything in our culture makes it hard. I’ve been trying this, in Seattle, where we’re just blessed with great produce, fish, and meats. But still, it’s a full-time job.
I have a feeling that you’re doing better than 98% of America.
(And hey! when you’re next in Seattle, let me know. We can have a locally grown dinner.)
September 15th, 2005 at 7:38 pm
Hey Biggles. Yeah, I’m not sweating it too much. I just figured I needed to do some sort of August wrap-up, y’know. It was our first full, working tourist season up here and I don’t think either of us realized just how busy we’d get!
Shauna, this whole region is definitely blessed with a TON of good local stuff. We often ended up buying local meat without even thinking about it.
We’re hoping to make a Seattle trip at the end of the month and the plan, if it works out, is to meet at least a few Seattle food bloggers while we’re there. No details yet though — everything’s still completely up in the air.
September 22nd, 2005 at 10:18 pm
Ooh, I just came back to this comments page and read of your possible visit to Seattle. Please let me know. I would just love to meet you.
September 24th, 2005 at 10:06 am
hey Shauna — it looks like we’re not going this month, but maybe next. We’ll definitely let you know when we do!