Vegan Adventures - "A Tasty Mix"

For those of you who are following my vegan adventures (or who just want a really awesome potato soup recipe), check out my new guest post "A Tasty Mix" on McDougalling with Chile and Friends.

Happy (and mindful) Eating!

Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers Market

You may have noticed through the last 1o months of posts, eating challenges, and food porn that I'm a BIG fan of food (a shocker, I know), and more specifically, the local food movement. Now, I've never been much of an activist by nature. I tend to be fairly shy (Fine. I'm pretty much a recluse), but as I've learned more about the food system, the benefits of eating locally, and become empowered through the changes I've made in my life; I've discovered that I have a passion for spreading the word about our farmers' market and the benefits of a local diet. Who knew? Unless you count the fact that I light up like a christmas tree every time I talk about it.

As I've met new people, shared my story, and gotten more involved in my community, I've noticed something quite amazing - a serious percentage of our local population doesn't even know that we have a farmers' market. What?!? No!

Well, that did it. Ever since, I've been on a mission to spread the good news about the Brazos Valley Farmers Market. Not only have I managed to bring it up in just about every conversation I've had in the last three months; not only do I now host an informational booth at our Saturday morning farmers' market complete with brochures and handouts about eating locally; but I am actively founding a brand new non-profit called the "Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market" or "Friends" for short. 

My primary goal is to have a booth at every festival and fair in town to educate the public about the farmers' market, but I also want to get the community involved in our market - volunteering to host booths, putting together fund-raisers, coordinating special events like music, art, and cooking demonstrations on market days, etc. One thing we're not short on is ideas!

But starting a new organization, it turns out, is a paperwork nightmare so I'm not quite ready to accept paid memberships. Of course, that doesn't mean we've been idle. I've been working with the farmers' market to update their website and am also providing their weekly market update; I've launched the "Friends" website where you can get the latest info about the group's activities; I'm working with one of our volunteers to print our logo on reusable bags to be sold at cost on market days and at festival booths; I'm coordinating a number of special events to feature our farmers market vendors; I've signed up for upcoming events where I'll host an informational booth promoting the market; I've spoken with 9 individuals interested in becoming vendors at our market; I've met with a local grocery (Village Foods) and hooked them up with local producers (many of which are from our farmers' market); and I'm working with one of our volunteers to sew cloth napkins (to replace the ones that disappeared) for the Village Cafe, a big supporter of our market. Pshew! I'm tired just thinking about all that work!

Needless to say, it's been an exciting journey so far. One that has already proven rewarding. There's still much work to be done, but I can already see the difference as our vendor numbers continue to grow, new people come to the market each week, and community members actually come to me to ask for our participation in their festivals. The word is out; the community is ripe for change; and little-ole-reclusive me is actually leading the charge. The adventure has only yet begun!

Market to Table - February 26, 2009

Now in my 16th month of being a locavore, I pretty much have the hang of all my favorite meals. I shake things up with something new from time to time, but for the most part, I enjoy the oldies but goodies with a little twist here and there depending on what's at the market in any given week (or these days, what's ready to pick in the backyard garden). Here's what made it from the market to my table this week:

Cabbage Stir Fry - Similar to last week's stir fry (keep in mind I have a lot of cabbage out in the garden), but not exactly. This week's cabbage stir fry started out with (you guessed it) cabbage and green onion, both from my backyard garden. Then I chopped a carrot and some broccoli (from the farmers' market), as well as a couple mushrooms (local Monterrey mushrooms from the Farm Patch). Everything was sauteed in a drizzle of olive oil (farmers' market) and served over a bed of brown rice (bought in bulk from local company RiceSelect). This marks week 3 of cabbage stir fries in one form or another, and I have yet to tire of the beautiful blend of flavors, or the idea that I grew some of these goodies in my backyard. Local is awesome (and it tastes great too)!

Strawberries - Now that I finally found more local strawberries, I just had to show them off. A few of these for breakfast each morning, and I was a very happy camper. Mmmm, berries in February. Keep 'em coming! I froze most of the berries I picked up this week, so there should be many more berry breakfasts to come. Not to mention that some day soon I'll be heading off to a local pick-your-own to pick them myself. I'm learning and will surely be prepared with more canned and frozen fruits next winter!

Potato Stir Fry - One more stir fry for you this week. The market is plum out of sweet potatoes so I've moved on to my second favorite tuber - red potatoes. Another easy recipe consisting of a little chopping and sauteing. I took a couple medium sized red potatoes (farmers' market), added some chopped green onion (backyard garden), and some of those Monterrey mushrooms (Farm Patch); and sauteed them in a little olive oil (farmers' market) until the veggies softened. Voila! Easy dinner that's local and Oh so good! (oh, and don't forget, leftovers taste GREAT for breakfast!)

Mac-n-cheese and Steamed Veggies - Here's another Dave dinner. Again, not entirely local, but this is a good example of ways to incorporate local into your meal if you're not ready to go 100% local. Let's see... the mozzarella cheese in the mac-n-cheese is from our local Sand Creek Farm and Dairy, and of course the steamed veggies are entirely local (carrots and broccoli from the farmers' market). Tasty!

There it is! This week's "Market to Table." Hope you enjoyed the photos and have been inspired to work a little local magic in your own kitchen. Remember, if I can do it, anyone can do it. So give it a whirl and find out how good local food can be. 

Have a great Thursday, everyone. And as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

Before you Recycle, Visit the Farmers' Market

One of the many things I love about buying our weekly supplies at the farmers' market is the fact that I come home with very little packaging - I bring my own cloth bags and fill them week after week with fresh, tasty veggies. Sometimes, however, packaging can't be avoided - spinach is sold in ziplocks, eggs come in egg containers, and try taking honey home in a cloth bag. Yeah, doesn't work.

So although we can't completely get away from packaging at the farmers' market, we have an incredible opportunity to practice the 3 R's of the environment. We all know them, right? Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. 

Everyone pretty much  knows to take those egg cartons back to the farmer who sold them to you. In fact, I now have a neighbor that saves all hers and I take them to the market to distribute them among the egg vendors (believe it or not, those egg cartons really eat into the profit). But don't stop there! Here are some other ideas of things you can save and give to your favorite market vendor:

• Plastic Bags - Not that we have many of these floating around, because we ALWAYS remember to bring our canvas bags when we shop, right? Well, none of us are perfect and one way or another, we end up accumulating a few of those notorious plastic bags. Some of our market vendors have had to actually buy new plastic bags (because we haven't completely trained our customers to remember to bring their own reusables). So don't take those plastic bags to your recycling facility. Take them to the farmers market and let the vendors give them one last hurrah!


• Glass Jars - I'm not talking about canning jars (but that's next). I'm just talking about regular old nut butter or mayonnaise-type jars. Glass jars are one of those things that are super easy to recycle. But don't forget, our first priority is to reuse! Most of my glass jars get saved to store food in the fridge, but I only need a few. So, I take my extra glass jars to our honey vendor who sterilizes and reuses them to sell honey. 


• Canning Jars - Ok. I get a little greedy here. I do actually keep all the canning jars that I get from the farmers' market (pickles, jam, etc) because I'm a canning addict and I NEED the jars. Seriously, though, if you're not a canner, take back your canning jars (Ball, Mason, etc) to the person from whom you purchased it. Some will even give you a discount on your next purchase when you return the jar. 


• Ziplock Bags - Some of our vendors sell baked goods, spinach, and roasted peanuts in Ziplock baggies. And these baggies, as useful as they are at home, end up adding up over time. Why not wash them and take them back to the vendor to use again?


• Newspaper - Newspaper, as we all know is great for packing delicate items. Ask market vendors who sell such items (crafts, jams and jellies, etc) if they need your old newspapers to wrap their wares for customers.


• Plastic Cartons - You know, those cartons our berries come in. I haven't quite figured out how to repurpose them at home, but the market vendors love to reuse them for their own berries, snow peas, brussels sprouts, just about anything small.


• Rubber Bands - The mint I buy every week comes bound in a teeny-weeny rubber band so the stems all stay together. Take them back to be reused.


• Twine - My greens come tied with twine. Again, don't toss it, return it to be reused.

Those are just a few ideas. The point is, don't stop with the obvious. Really think about the things we so mindlessly toss. Can they be reused at home? If not, maybe one of your market vendors can benefit. 

Now it's your turn. What do you take to your farmers' market to be reused?

UPDATE: A friend just reminded me about another recycling venue - We have an artist at our farmers' market. Her business cards are made from cut up cardboard boxes. She uses fabric scraps and brown paper bags in many of her creations. So ask around. An artist near you may have a need for things you never even imagined!

Brazos Locavores- March Field Trip Announcement

Get ready for another wonderful field trip - this time to Leaning Tree Farm!

The March trip will be a special treat for those of you who frequent the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market, because Leaning Tree Farm is home to Lois and Garlin Vaughn, by far the largest vendor at the farmers' market. The Vaughns have grown their farm as the demand has steadily increased at the market. They now provide a wide variety of vegetables, seasonal fruits, jams and jellies, canned goods, herbs, home-ground flours, firewood (seasonal) and beef (by seasonal order). 

Come visit the farm with us and see how they work their magic, turning the tiniest of seeds into the beautiful fruits and veggies we see every week at the farmers' market. But be prepared for beauty - both the peach and plum trees should be blooming by the time we arrive. Here's the scoop:

When: Sunday, March 15 (1:00 PM)

Where: Brazos Natural Foods (we'll meet in the parking lot and carpool out to the farm)

Everyone is welcome and don't forget to bring the kids! These field trips are a wonderful opportunity to teach our little ones about where good food originates.

Please RSVP to me by Thursday, March 12. This is so that I am able to provide enough maps to carpoolers as well as inform the farm as to how many people to expect. If you have any questions, just let me know. See you there!

P.S. Want to receive the latest news on upcoming field trips and events straight to your email? Join the Brazos Locavores Google Group.

And to read about past field trips or learn more about eating locally in Brazos County, visit the Brazos Locavores website.

Millican Produce - A Brazos Locavore Field Trip

Saturday's drenching rain behind us, Sunday provided the perfect weather for a day on the farm. It also marked another successful trip of the Brazos Locavores. With a record 45 people in tow, we carpooled to Millican Produce (about 20 miles south of Bryan-College Station) eager to meet with owners Tanya and Steve and discover how they provide those gorgeous year-round vine ripened tomatoes.

Both Tanya and Steve have a history in large scale agriculture, but wanted to start their own farm and learn to live sustainably off their own land. Everyone said they couldn't do it, but on just 4-1/2 acres, they've not only grown year-round tomatoes, but have built a very successful business in the process. You can now find Millican Produce tomatoes at our local Farmers' Market, at both the Bryan and College Station Krogers, the Farm Patch, and several local restaurants (including  my personal favorite, The Village Cafe). 

Following a warm welcome and introduction to the history of the farm, we received the grand tour of the greenhouse, home to 1,000 tomato plants (and a few eggplant and peppers). The tomatoes are grown hydroponically, in other words, rather than being planted into the ground, they are planted in sacks of cocoanut coir and receive their nutrients through the supplemented water supply. Each plant is hand pollinated by a battery powered wand and kept warmed or cooled (depending on the temps outside) at around 64 degrees with the help of fans and a wood burning stove. Even more fascinating is how each tomato plant is mounted on a reel. When the plant gets too tall, it is lowered by turning the reel and the vine gathers at the base of the plant where it's easy to pick all those vine-ripened tomatoes. Ingenious!

Back outside the greenhouse into cooler temperatures, Steve gave a fascinating demonstration on how they graft both the tomato and watermelon plants. Then the kids had the opportunity to plant their own seeds in take home containers to start their own beautiful gardens, while parents could head back into the greenhouse to pick and take home some of those gorgeous tomatoes. I do believe just about everyone went home with a little something extra.

Success for Millican Produce doesn't stop here. They're talking about leasing an additional 20 acres in an effort to start their own CSA.  With any luck, it'll be up and running this fall. In the meantime, immediate plans include expanding the current greenhouse in both directions and adding 3 more to the South of the current greenhouse. Tanya and Steve, if you grow them, we'll eat them! Thanks for a great day and best wishes for a very productive future!

For more information on the Brazos Locavores, visit our website. Or receive announcements on future trips by email by joining the Brazos Locavores Google Group today. A new Brazos Locavore field trip is only a month away. Hope to see you there!

Local diet update - February 23, 2009

Saturday morning was chilly and wet, but that didn't stop the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market from setting up shop in the parking lot of the Health Department (although it did mean I left a little earlier than normal, wimp that I am). We had food, we had crafts, we even had free samples of spanish tortilla (egg, potato, and onion - almost like a potato pancake but MUCH better) for everyone to enjoy. It was a trial to see if people would be interested in buying them in the future. Let's just say, the potential vendor got a BIG thumbs up on that idea. Everyone is hoping she'll become a market regular. Mmmm, mmmm! 

The rain started in about 10AM and had us scrambling for cover. Thankfully quite a few people had brought canvas covers and we were able to find enough shelter. We talked, laughed, and watched Robert do magic tricks with a quarter (he showed me how he was doing it and I STILL couldn't guess which hand the quarter ended up in). There were less customers this week, probably scared away by the weather, but the faithful were back for their weekly

supplies. Me included. I also had a chance to hand out a few more vendor applications (come on, spanish tortillas!), and speak to people about eating a local diet, upcoming farmers market events, and the Brazos Locavores - until it started pouring anyway. But, back to the food!

This week's market featured another wide variety of winter goodness including red potatoes, white potatoes, yellow onions, green onions, purple onions, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, carrots, collard greens, leaf lettuce, kohlrabi, turnips, eggs, baked goods (yeast breads, corn bread, quick breads, cookies, and cakes), wheat flour, cornmeal, jams and jellies, pickles, canned okra, a variety of salsas, plants, firewood, and crafts (hats, scarves, coasters, mini easter baskets, pot holders, aprons, wooden bird houses, dolls, journals, and art).

Of course, with all that cabbage, onions, and herbs coming out of my home garden, I didn't need much to round out the weekly food supplies. I picked up some carrots, broccoli, and red potatoes; as well as a knitted scarf and hat that I'll give to my Mom on her birthday.

In addition to all the goodies from the market and my personal garden, I still have LOTS of local items stocking my shelves at home: brown rice, mushrooms, eggs, canned tomatoes and soups, jams and jellies, grapefruit, oranges, and mozzarella cheese (Sand Creek). I suppose with all those goodies, I didn't really need to buy anything at the farmers' market, but who can resist?

But again, that's not all. After several trips to Farm Patch only to discover that they were (yet again) out of local strawberries, I finally hit the jackpot. I went ahead and bought 6 containers of berries and froze four of them for the coming weeks (I'm kind of at the end of my citrus tolerance this season). This should last until I have a free day to head up to one of the local orchards to pick some myself. I nibbled on one as I was prepping them for the freezer and they are indeed as good as they look. 

Well, it looks like I'm set for another fabulous week of all local foods! Stay tuned for Thursday's "Market to Table" post to discover what I did with all these local goodies. In the meantime, have a great week, everyone.

And as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

Going Green - The high school edition

This week, I met with the Community Liaison for one of our local high schools. She contacted me to help them "get the whole green mentality in our high school." Now I may not know a whole lot about high schools these days (I mean, it has been about 17 years since I set foot in one), but I have learned a thing or two in the last few years about making changes in our daily life. So I steered my advice down that road. So how exactly do we go about greening our high schools? Here is my take...

I fully believe that we as humans put our energies toward the things in which we are personally invested. Want a greener high school campus? Put the kids in charge.

Gather a group of interested students and have a teacher or administrator act as mentor. Let the students lead the group. Have them identify ways in which they would like to see the school improve its environmental footprint. Let them spread the word and recruit friends into the effort.

Have the students start by writing a mission statement for what they'd like to achieve with the group; name it. Then get those ideas rolling. Some suggestions might be:

• Food - compost food waste from kitchen, recycle food packaging, start a school garden and use the harvest to supplement the school kitchen and/or donate to the local mission or food bank.
• Trash - determine what is recyclable in our area, provide proper receptacles within easy reach, create a sign campaign to encourage recycling, work with city programs as well as Terracycle for more information on ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
• Air Quality - establish a no-idling zone in front of school.
• Energy - change bulbs to CFLs, turn off/unplug equipment, lights, and monitors when not in use.
• Water - install low flow aerators on sinks and low flow shower heads in locker rooms.

Most importantly, I felt, was to concentrate on education/outreach...

• Education/Outreach - Start an environmental movie or book club. Visit local sustainable farms. Visit the local landfill, recycling, and composting facility. Discuss current events like our new landfill, actions by the EPA/FDA/Congress, Earth Day, gas price increases, etc. Invite speakers from the community to come and talk to the group.

Let the students, as they learn more about the problems facing us, decide where they feel they can make a difference. And don't forget to contact the local paper and TV news station as you achieve your goals. There's no reinforcement like being recognized by the entire community (and what better way to get the parents behind it than to have their kids recognized publicly for their wonderful efforts). 

Most importantly, however, go slowly. Have the group select one or two initiatives a year. Just like the rest of us, if we try to do it all at once, we get overwhelmed and are more likely to give up. But if we take it step by step, educating ourselves along the way, we become empowered by our successes and inspired to do great things.

So what about everyone out there? What green initiatives have you seen in your schools? I'd love to pass along more ideas to our local community liaison...

Market to Table - February 19, 2009

If there was one word to describe my diet over the two weeks, it would be cabbage. You'd think I'd get tired of it eventually, but not yet. I harvested another cabbage from the garden, made a huge pot of cabbage soup and canned 7 quarts of it. Of course, that still left me with enough cabbage to make stir fry every day this week (it was another BIG cabbage). But don't worry, I have more than just cabbage to show you this week. Let's get started with this week's edition of Market to Table:

Cabbage stir fry over rice - Looks good doesn't it? As usual, nothing complicated comes out of my kitchen. This was a super easy meal that tasted fabulous, every single time. 

While I cooked a half cup of local brown rice on the stove, I chopped some cabbage (backyard garden), carrots (Farmers' Market), spinach (Farmers' Market) and mushrooms (Farm Patch Produce Market), and sauteed them in a drizzle of olive oil (Farmers' Market) with just a hint of salt. Once the veggies had cooked through and softened, I set them aside until the rice was done, them mixed it together to make an lunch SO tasty, that I made it the exact same way every day this week. Why play with perfection?

Sweet Potatoes - It's been a couple weeks since I've shown off my all-time favorite potato. I've now eaten the last few I had stored in the fridge, and they've disappeared from the market as well. I'd like to say a few words to my delicious friend SP, who I won't likely see again until next fall/winter. I LOVE YOU, SP. I'LL MISS YOU...

Right. So anyway, as usual, I just chopped some sweet potatoes (farmers' market) into bite-sized pieces as well as some yellow onion (farmers' market) and mushrooms (Farm Patch). I tossed everything into a frying pan and sauteed them in olive oil (farmers' market) with a little salt until the veggies had softened. Super easy, super fantastic meal! And it's all local (well, except the salt). Mmmm, mmmm!

Baked Spaghetti and Steamed Broccoli - The picture is a little fuzzy since I took it right after I dished the plate (it was still steaming hot). This is another one of Dave's meals. Over the holidays, I got a few recipes from Dave's mom - things he enjoys eating for those few times a year I actually feel likecooking dinner. I'm not winning any wife-of-the-year awards, I know. Anyway, it's not all local, but most of it is. Let's see. The baked spaghetti was made with grass-fed ground beef (local and given to us from a friend), onion (farmers' market), spaghetti (not local), and one can of tomato soup (not local). As a side, I steamed some of the broccoli from our farmers' market. 

Like last week, I can't vouch for the tastiness of the meal, but Dave ate every last bite!

*******

Well there you have it - this week's Market to Table post. I wish I had more of those yummy strawberries to show you, but every time I've hit the produce market, they've been out of them. I guess I'm not the only one enjoying local foods! 

Have a great Thursday, everyone. And as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

More than a grain of truth - Buying local rice

Most of what I eat on a day to day basis comes from my local farmers' market - lots of vegetables (potatoes are an almost daily staple), herbs, honey, olive oil, and (mostly during the summer months) fruit. But there are a few local foods I enjoy that have to be purchased elsewhere - like the mushrooms from Madisonville (about 40 miles from home); fruit from pick-your-own farms and roadside stands in the area; and the rice I eat pretty much on a daily basis. 

Actually, last year I was surprised and delighted to discover that Texas is a HUGE rice producer. I mean, we have our own rice festival and everything! Access to local rice, means I have an alternative to potatoes. And when you're eating local, alternatives are a beautiful thing! But when you don't purchase from the farmers' market, where you can talk to the farmer, you have to set some criteria for choosing a grower you trust. And THAT can be difficult.

For the last year, I've been purchasing all my rice in bulk at our natural food store. It's organic, grown in Texas, and distributed by Arrowhead Mills. I love that I can buy the rice in bulk, using my own containers so that I eliminate any waste. Plus, buying the rice at our natural food store means I'm supporting a local business. Right. So, it all sounds good, but I still had two concerns, 1) I didn't know how local the rice was (where exactly in Texas it was grown); and 2) Arrowhead Mills is a pretty decent size company that doesn't exactly specialize in rice.  And the food recalls in recent years have me questioning the safety of the food industry. Can I trust them like I do the farmers at my farmers market?

There is one other option I've found and tried on occasion - RiceSelect (Alvin TX - 130 miles away). It's a fairly small company, yet their rice is lauded nation-wide for its great taste.  My only problem has been that the rice is sold in plastic containers. Don't get me wrong, the containers are nice and can easily be reused or recycled (they're #1 plastic), but I eat A LOT of rice (about one of those containers a week) and well, what am I going to do with all that plastic, right? The Arrowhead Mills bulk rice just seemed the way to go. 

Then, I discovered, that RiceSelect will ship direct to me in bulk. Hmm. So I started to do some research. First, I emailed Arrowhead Mills to find out where in Texas the rice is grown (this would address one of my concerns about the rice I had been buying in bulk). Second, I emailed RiceSelect to find about the extent of packaging associated with their bulk rice. So what did I discover?

Three weeks later, I still haven't heard from Arrowhead Mills. But RiceSelect responded to my inquiry within a few hours telling me that the 25# of rice came wrapped in cellophane (which as we learned in December is compostable) and then shipped in a cardboard box. Hmm. That doesn't sound too bad. Plus it's actually $0.60 cheaper a pound that buying it from the health food store because RiceSelect doesn't charge for shipping. 

As you can tell from the photos, I ordered the 25# bag of rice from RiceSelect. In just a few days, as promised, it arrived in a cardboard box inside of which was a large cellophane bag containing the rice. Now, that's a lot of rice, so most of it is now sitting in the freezer until I need it, but so far I'm very happy with this choice. The rice is local, it comes from a small company that is responsive to its customers, and the packaging (perhaps no different that the packaging that it would be shipped in to the natural food store) is recyclable/compostable. 

If I knew a rice farmer, there would be no question from whom I would purchase my rice. But when our choices are somewhere "in the grey" we do what we can. Being mindful isn't a destination. It's a evolution of choices that we fine-tune as we learn more about ourselves and our environment. It takes time; it takes effort, but in the end, I believe we are better for it the journey. 

What challenges have you faced lately in your journey to be more mindful about food, consumption, the environment? 

Village Foods and SGF - Living deliberately

Just last week, I stopped by the new Village Foods (previously Appletree Market) to meet owner, Jim Lewis. I'd heard from several sources that he was actively meeting with local producers to stock a supply of local foods on the shelf. I'd also heard that he was interested in hosting the farmers market in his parking lot once a week. Of course, this is right up my alley. I was eager to meet him, talk more about his vision for Village Foods, as well as about some of the projects I'm involved with and how we can work together. 

Not long into the conversation, Jim's contagious enthusiasm for the changes coming to the store had me as excited as he was - new cash registers that print on both sides of the paper, new energy efficient freezers, a local gallery supplying art for the walls, the connections he's made with local producers to be featured in the store, and an amazing attention to detail. By the time we parted, I had an invitation to the grand opening and a new friend. 

Over the next couple days, we chatted over email.  We talked about working together in the local food movement, this blog, etc., and in one particular email, some of my lifestyle choices (like the fact that I bike just about everywhere I go, yet I take advantage of technology by using the internet to reach out to people through the blog). Here, let me offer you an excerpt of the email:

I really love the contrast between your decision to ride a bicycle as much as possible - old school technology - and your creation of a blog site - cutting edge technology. It's a cool blend of simple Amish-like lifestyle, but with a fat internet connection.

As I was reflecting on his comment, I realized that what he's talking about is finding balance - something that is an on-going struggle for me. It's really easy (at least for me) to get caught up in extremes - focusing on NEVER using the car; or NEVER eating anything that's not local (you get the idea). It's important to remember that extremism/perfectionism is not the goal. Here was my response:

I like what you said about balancing technology with a simpler lifestyle. Sometimes I have to remind myself of this (it's too easy to go to the extreme) that living a simpler, greener, or more frugal life isn't about depriving ourselves of things we want. It's about taking the time to think about what we truly enjoy in life (what brings us happiness) and balancing that with a symbiotic relationship with the Earth. It's about not doing things just because everyone else is doing them, but because we made a very thoughtful, mindful, deliberate choice to do them.

For instance, like you said, I use the internet/computer to reach out to people, yet I ride a bike. I made a very deliberate choice in both circumstances - I hate driving, but I love exercise, so I deliberately chose to live in an area where I can get just about everywhere I need to go by walking/biking. I have a computer and connect with people over the internet, mostly because I'm battling a long-term illness which at times can make me feel incredibly isolated and reaching out via computer makes me feel more connected. At the same time, we don't own a TV, a radio, or a stereo system (it's funny how people look at us when they find out we don't have a tv!)...

Anyway, It's amazing how much more fulfilling life can be when you start living deliberately. It changed my life (now going on 10 years).

This is similar to what you are doing in the store. Instead of going with a Whole Foods and spending a lot of money doing what they tell you to do to make it a Whole Foods, you took a step back, looked at what you really wanted and needed, and ran with it - very deliberate, mindful choices. I was really excited about the store after I spoke with you yesterday. I'm looking forward to shopping there for the things I can't pick up at the farmers market.

I realized as I was responding to his email, that this is a great reminder for all of us, and upon asking him, he generously granted me permission to publish our conversation. This journey of ours is about discarding all the chaff that clutters our life so we can concentrate our efforts on the things that bring true happiness. In living deliberately, we truly can make every day a beautiful adventure.

So tell me about some of the deliberate choices you have made in your life, perhaps against the grain of societal expectation. What have these choices meant to you? Has it made life more chaotic or opened a new world of opportunity. Do tell...

And for you locals - What a great opportunity to support a business that lives the very principals we strive toward! Village Foods is still in the process of remodeling (I'm really looking forward to the bulk bins) but they are currently open for business. Be sure to check them out over the next few weeks, then again after the Grand Opening on March 11. Or visit them on the web for health news, recipe ideas, and a wealth of other resources and information. 

Local diet update - February 16, 2009

Ok. I thought I was having fun at our farmers' market as a customer. It turns out, that was nothing compared to the excitement of hosting my own booth - sharing my locavore adventure with others, connecting people with local resources, signing up new vendors, sharing ideas to promote the market, getting to know the other vendors even better, shamelessly plugging my blog... 

Not only am I growing as a person, but we are growing as a market. I've mentioned this before - last year, we had only 3 vendors all winter long. So far this winter, we've had anywhere from 10-14 vendors. This past Saturday? We had a total of 18 vendors lining the Brazos County Health Department Parking lot. In one word - AMAZING! The summer months, like any market, are normally our heavy months, if this trend keeps up, we're sure to fill the entire front parking lot. Definitely exciting!

Of course, more vendors means more goodies and what a spread it was! This week at the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market, you could find: white potatoes, red potatoes, red onions, yellow onions, green onions, broccoli, cauliflower cabbage, tomatoes, brussels sprouts, spinach, lettuce, mustard greens, collard greens, beets, kohlrabi, carrots, eggs, honey, herbs, wheat flour, corn flour, jams and jellies, canned veggies, pickles, a variety of salsas, olive oil, locally roasted coffees, locally roasted peanuts, tamales, dried fruits, yeast breads, quick breads, cookies, bagel bites, cakes, crafts (wooden bird houses, handmade dolls, winter scarves and caps, hand sewn journals, puzzles made from a dried coconut shell, pot holders), a variety of plants... and I'm sure I've missed a few things.

So of that amazing harvest, what did I bring home? Well, let's see. I got LOTS of carrots, 3 yellow onions, a head of broccoli, some brussels sprouts, a bag of bagel bites, red potatoes, mint for tea, 4 small handmade dolls (thankfully none of the intended gift recipients are old enough to read this blog), and a plant that was a gift from one of the market customers - and for the life of me, I can't remember the name of this plant. I know. I know. But I'm getting old. Give me a break. 

I was thrilled to speak with some first time market visitors at my booth. Even more exciting, some of those first timers were people I'd met elsewhere in the community and encouraged to come. I have to tell you. Eating locally has changed my life. I love the food. I love the community I've found as a result of my journey. But what I love most is the feeling that I'm making a difference. And finally, the clouds part, the dove descends, and the angels encircle me as I find my calling. Ok, even I can be a little dramatic at times, but the result is the same. It turns out, after searching the world over to discover what truly moves me, that in the end I'm just a local kinda girl.

Stay tuned for Thursday's "Market to Table" post to discover what became of all these local goodies. Have a great week everyone, and as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

Garden therapy - A backyard garden update (Feb)

It has been an amazing month for Garden Therapy! There has been produce to harvest, seeds to replant, and preparations to be made for the spring garden, which is just around the corner. I've done just about everything but weed, thank heavens, though I'm sure with warmer temps, the weeds will find my little bed. Every day brings excitement as I watch my little garden grow. Sure, it may be small, but we've seen a BIG return so far. 

Picking

I've been picking green onions pretty much on a daily basis. These are multipliers so I'm trying not to pick them faster than they can multiply, but it's hard (I love onions). 

As you can tell, I still have quite a few left to last me until I do a massive replant in March for the Spring Garden. Next fall, I'll have plenty  more space and I'll definitely be planting  more of these green onions. They're easy to plant, maintain, and their incredibly hearty (not to mention, they taste fabulous is just about everything). 

As I mentioned on Monday, I also pulled my first cabbage out of the garden over the weekend. I refer to them as my mutant cabbage. They're so huge and beautiful! 

I was only one day eating into the first cabbage when I realized just how many days it was going to take me to eat it. Let's just say I canned a large batch of all-local cabbage soup this week and am planning on canning at least one batch of cabbage soup for every cabbage still in the garden. Yeah - there are four more of them. Mmmm, mmmm!

Planting

I pulled up both the spinach and snow peas this month as they just weren't producing much. I replaced one of the squares with broccoli and the other two squares with new spinach seeds. All the seeds are up and growing nicely. I do have one empty square at this point, and will have more as February progresses and I continue pulling those cabbage, but I'll be holding off any planting until I plant the spring garden in March.

That, of course, isn't the broccoli I just planted, but rather one of the originals. You can finally see the head coming up from the center and I have been so excited about it, I just had to add the photo. It won't be long before we're picking and steaming broccoli...

Planning

So, on to the planning (and ooh, do I have plans)! I've purchased all my seeds and just need to pick up some tomato plants when they hit the market (probably next month). The problem is, I need space! So this weekend, Dave and I are planning to pull out some of that cedar I got for Christmas, and make two 8 ft x 4 ft beds. Let's see that pretty much quadruples my space, right? Yeah, that'll work. 

One of the beds will be a foot deep so that I can do root crops like carrots and potatoes. The other will just be the 6" deep (like the one I have now) for the rest of the plants like bush beans, cucumber, tomatoes, spaghetti squash, and bell peppers. I can hardly wait to watch them grow...

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Once, I would have told you that gardening was one of those things I could never do and yet here I am, about to quadruple my growing area, ripping up my lawn to feed my family. I can't even begin to describe how fulfilling it is to be growing some of our own food - slipping into the backyard to pick an onion, a little spinach, or a humongous cabbage for lunch; digging into the beautiful soil with my bare hands, watching my harvest from seed to my table. In that tiny little bed, I've found both peace and nourishment. That's my kinda therapy!

Market to Table - February 12, 2009

I have to say I was feeling a little adventurous this week. I have no idea why. I just know it tasted REALLY good! So what goodies came from the market to my table this week?

Strawberries - I just had to show this beautiful little berries off. I found them at Farm Patch, our local produce market. Not everything at the Farm Patch is local, so you have to ask, but they do usually stock fruit from Texas so when I can't find fruit at the farmers' market - to the Farm Patch I go! I nibbled on a few of these berries just about every morning for breakfast. They're from Alvin, TX (about 130 miles from home). Having pretty much missed strawberry season last year (who knew it started in February?), I was better prepared this year and on the look out for sweet berry-love.

 

I also enjoyed both Texas grapefruit and oranges for nice afternoon snacks. 

Black Bean Burger and Sweet Potato Soup - Towards the end of last week, all the sudden I was craving those black bean patties again. Well, since I have to soak the beans first, it took a day or so to feed that craving, but it gave me time to put a little something special together. So that's the black bean patty (recipe here - veggies and beans local) on one of my homemade whole wheat rolls, sliced tomato (Farmers' Market), pickles (Farmers Market), and ketchup (um, heinz). 

As if that wasn't the epitome of "YUM," I took it one step further and made a pot of sweet potato soup. I've mentioned this before - I don't do recipes, really. I just start chucking stuff together - you know, whatever sounds good. So here's my version of sweet potato soup...

1. Chop green onion and mushrooms and saute in olive oil (all local). Set aside.
2. Chop sweet potatoes (Farmers' Market) and place in soup pot. Add water just to cover potatoes. Boil until softened.
3. Use a slotted spoon to scoop out softened potatoes (don't throw out the water - there's nutrients in there). Place the potatoes in a mixer bowl (I don't have a blender) and smash with a potato masher. Add salt and pepper to taste. Use whip attachment to make them as smooth as is possible.
4. Add the whipped potatoes back into the water you used to boil them. Add sauteed onion and mushroom. 
5. Cook for about 1/2 hour or until flavors are blended. 

Never having made a blended soup like this before (I've always done chunky soups), I'll admit, it wasn't as thick as I would have liked, so next time I'll probably only use half of the potato water (and save the rest for a recipe another day). Thick or thin, the soup was still wonderful delicious and made a great accompaniment to the burger. Mmmm! 

Cabbage Stir Fry on Rice - The day finally arrived. Having planted the cabbage in my backyard last October, I was ready to pluck the first from my garden. While some local brown rice (Brazos Natural Foods) cooked in a pot on the stove, I chopped some cabbage, green onion (both from my back yard) as well as some mushrooms (local, purchased at Farm Patch), black beans (local purchased at DiIorio Farms) and carrots (Farmers' Market). The veggies were sauteed in olive oil (Farmers' Market) and I added just a touch of salt (not local). Mmm, mmmm! I have to tell you, eating out of your own backyard is nothing short of magical! And there's more to come with four more cabbage just waiting to be called indoors. 

Eggs with Toast and Veggies - Last week, a commenter asked about what Dave eats. Though he's not on a strictly local diet like I am, he still eats quite a few local meals. I decided to take a photo of one of his dinners as a change of pace. Those eggs (Farmers' Market) are cooked once-over-easy. Of course, that's my homemade whole wheat bread (the only thing local is the honey and water - but it's good stuff!), with homemade grape jelly. And I snuck in a veggie medley (it was dinnertime after all) of steamed broccoli, carrots, and red potatoes (all from the Farmers' market). I couldn't personally tell you how it all tasted, but I can assure you, not a bite was left!

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Well, I do believe that's about as easy as cooking can get, and really, eating fresh, local food doesn't have to be hard. All it takes is a little imagination and a healthy appetite. Guaranteed, you've never truly enjoyed food until you've eaten local. Give it a shot. Scope out your local farmers market and make your next meal the best ever. 

Have a great Thursday, everyone. And as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

Richardson Farms - CSA

Contact Info:

Mike Richardson

Email

Phone: 979-696-1864

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GREAT NEWS! There's a new CSA in town!

Last week, I met with Mike and Amy Richardson, owners of the Richardson Farm CSA. Up until recently, Mike has operated his CSA in Rockdale, TX about 50 miles from Bryan-College Station in collaboration with his father, who specializes in a variety of meats. Those meats have been a favorite in Austin where they are sold not only at the farmers market, but in 5 restaurants in the Austin area.

In recent months, however, both Mike and his wife Amy have found jobs here in the Brazos Valley giving us the opportunity to enjoy their growing and farming expertise as they re-open the CSA in our community.

Though he grew up learning more conventional farming techniques, both father and son have turned to more sustainable practices. The veggies aren't all organic just yet, but Farmer Mike emphasized that he is eager and willing to learn. Most of all, the Richardsons value supporting the local community by providing fresh, healthy foods that are sustainably raised. Of course, I was convinced of his dedication when he used my favorite "M" word, saying it was important that we become more "mindful" of the way our food is grown.

Interestingly, Mike is taking a different approach than most CSAs. Typically, an individual or family purchases a share in the farm that gives them "x" number of weeks of fresh fruits and vegetables. Payment is made up front and (typical for our area) a 3-month membership costs $300; a 1 year membership costs around $900.

The Richardsons are taking a completely different approach. As Mike explained to me, he wants to offer greater choice by not restricting the program to certain time frames or certain foods. You could certainly receive a weekly supply of food if you wanted, but you also have the option to purchase only what you want.

Here's how it works:

1. You buy 1 or more shares at $100/share. That share is good for 1 year from the date you purchase it.
   
2. Refer to the farm website to discover what's available each week (or each season).
3. Let Farmer Mike know what items you'd like and when/how often (he emphasized to me that he wants share holders to be open about what kinds of foods they'd like to receive. Don't like eggplant? No problem. Want ONLY watermelon? That's fine too!)
4. You'll meet Mike at a designated pick-up location (he plans to have 1 in Bryan and 1 in College Station - or more if demand warrants it).
5. The items you receive will come out of your invested $100.

The best way I can describe it, is that the $100 share you purchase is like a debit card. You've invested in the farm for a share (or multiple shares) and the food you receive goes against that $100. Buy more shares as you need it. There's no obligation.

Sounds like a great idea, right? Well, it gets better. All the fruits and vegetables will be grown just outside of Bryan on Mike and Amy's farm, but included in the CSA membership is access to chicken, seasonal turkey, pork, and beef from Rockdale, still home to Mike's dad's farm. The meats are all UDSA inspected, sustainably and ethically raised, and delivered to you right here in town. What a deal!

As we concluded our lunch meeting, Farmer Mike reiterated that a CSA is more than good food. It's not just giving people a fresh choice in food, it's also about educating families; ethical farming, and mindful living.

Interested? The Richardsons will start accepting shares on February 15. Although the farm website is not yet active, feel free to call or email the farm for more information or to purchase your shares. Want to play a larger role in the farm? Farmer Mike will host farm days where you can help plant, harvest, mend fences, etc. In return, volunteers will earn share credit to be used to purchase produce and meat.

Mike Richardson

Email: farmnmike@yahoo.com

Phone: 979-696-1864

As soon as their website is launched, I'll be posting it on the side bar under "Local Food Resource Quick Links" as well as in the "Shopping Locally - BCS" food resource list here.

Best wishes for a successful future, Farmer Mike!

For more information on other CSAs in the Bryan College Station area, visit:

Long Bean Farm

Home Sweet Farm

Pedal Power Update - February 2009

Just as 2008 renewed my dedication to a life without driving, I've started off the new year with some serious pedal power. Despite chillier temperatures, I've done just about all my errands on the bike or on foot. It turns out, as long as there's isn't more than a 15 mile-an-hour wind, I can bike in just about any temperature. It's just a matter of layers. 

And layering is certainly something I've been taking advantage of. On one of my last bike trips to the farmers market, I was sporting 5 layers on the top half, and 4 on the bottom half. It was the only way I could bike to the market, stay for several hours, and still be warm enough to bike back home. All I know is it worked!

I did use the car a few times. Poor Kelsey (our dog) has had a horrible ear infection that required a vet visit 4 times in the span of 2 weeks. Yeah, not exactly her favorite car trip. But putting her in the kennel and onto the back of the bike just wasn't going to work and having access to the car made things much easier. I did take advantage of those days I had the car and ran any extra errands we needed that I'm not normally able to do on the bike. 

It also looks like I'll be using the car a bit more in the future. As I mentioned yesterday, I've been working with the board of our local farmers market to launch a new volunteer group, "The Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers Market." One of the activities of the group will be hosting an informational booth on market days to help spread the word about the benefits of eating locally, tips on shopping at the market, and other ways we can support our local community. Starting this past weekend, I got up extra early and with pamphlets in hand, had my own little booth at the market.  Of course, since I need quite a few materials with me, it means a short car trip, but if I'm able to spread the good news about eating a local diet, it's VERY much worth the 2 mile drive in the Prius. 

Never fear. I may be driving a little more often, but my commitment has not wavered. Just about every other day of the week, you can find me biking around town, my bike basket full of goodies. Some days you'll find me parked in front of the natural food store, other days the library, and about once a week along the railing outside the Village Cafe where I plan all my lunch meetings - their food (all local) is so fabulous that I strategically plan all meetings around lunch time!

So what about everyone else? Have you been making a greater effort to leave the car in the garage and bike or walk some of those errands? 

Local diet update - February 9, 2009

It may still be wintertime here in Texas, but on the local diet front, it just keeps getting better. I have multiple sources to brag about this week, so let's get started:

Farmers Market - As always, Farmers' Market day is my favorite day of the week and it just got better. I now have my own booth (yep, that's me in the photo) as a representative of the market and head of the soon to be announced "Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market" Volunteer Group (more on this in a future post). Although I have plans to do much more, I spent Saturday morning handing out brochures on the benefits of eating locally, info on how to become a locavore, and a list of shopping tips for the market. I also signed up four new vendors.

Of course, I didn't let a little market business keep me away from all the goodies. I was there setting up with everyone else as the market opened, so I had first dibs on a beautiful February harvest which included. Let's see how much of it I can remember. We had red potatoes, white potatoes, purple onions, yellow onions, green onions, kohlrabi, mustard greens, collard greens, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, herbs, eggs, freshly baked yeast breads, quick breads, cookies, jams and jellies, a variety of salsas, pickles, canned veggies (like okra and pickled beets) relishes, tamales, roasted peanuts, locally-roasted coffees, olive oil, firewood, crafts, plants... and no doubt I'm missing a few things.

As for me, I came home with a head of broccoli, some mint for my herbal tea, lots of carrots, a bag of spinach, 3 red potatoes, and the satisfaction of a job well done (not only did we get 4 new vendors set up, but quite a few people are interested in the volunteer group). Sweet success!

Farm Patch - The Farm Patch is our permanent produce market. Not to be confused with the local Farmers' Market, not everything at the Farm Patch is locally produced so you have to ask. There are a few things, though, that I can get at the Farm Patch that I can't find elsewhere. First, I can always count on them carrying Monterrey Mushrooms which are grown less than 40 miles from home (and I do love my 'shrooms)!

Second, I'm always on the hunt for local fruit (and in the winter, that often means anything within the state of Texas). Typically, I can only purchase fruit at our Farmers' Market from May - August, so I also turn to the Farm Patch for fruit in the off months. Pictured are some gorgeous Texas grapefruit and two containers of strawberries from Alvin TX (about 130 miles from home). I've already dug in to those berries and they are SO good! Berry season is here. Bring it on!

Backyard Garden - If that wasn't exciting enough, check this out... THAT, my friends, is from my garden. Ain't it purdy? In addition to this absolutely wonderful fantabulous cabbage, I'm pulling green onions on a daily basis. Onions go with EVERYTHING!

Of course, that's just what I've purchased or picked this weekend. Don't forget all the local goodies I have in stock in the pantry, fridge and freezer - like mozzarella from the dairy; sweet potatoes and eggs from the previous Farmers' Market; cans of local homemade soups and tomatoes lining the pantry; and lots of Texas rice. 

Well, it looks like it's going to be a tasty week. Stay tuned for Thursday's "Market to Table" post to find out what became of all the local goodies. In the meantime, go discover what's local in your neck of the woods. And as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

Staying toasty - Revisited

As some of you may remember, in January, after receiving a gas bill that was double our normal, we decided to take a serious look at our heating choices (see January post here). The temperatures in Central Texas have varied, but for the most part, we've seen quite a few chilly nights. With the idea of lowering that nasty gas bill, we programmed our heater at 60 degrees. I often noticed, however, that the bedroom would get much colder than the rest of the house and we often woke to temps in the low to mid 50's. Now to someone who thrives on heat, that's pretty low. Keep in mind, that's the temp INSIDE the bedroom. 

Despite the fact that I have serious issues staying warm without external assistance, I managed rather well during the daylight hours by relying on periodic walks (to keep my blood pumping), and a combination of heavy sweaters, wool knee socks, the pile of blankets that line the back of our couch and regular cups of piping hot tea, though I have to admit I was still chilled much of the time.

The nighttime was, of course, my greatest challenge. Our winter bedding, in addition to sheets, includes an electric blanket, a thoroughly worn comforter (about 10 years past it's prime) and a nice thick blanket. With the heater set low, the heat rarely went off so the majority of our heat (at night) came from the electric blanket. Unfortunately, Dave's and my internal thermostats are WAY different, so most of the time, in addition to the electric blanket (set on low so as to not completely cook Dave out of the bed), I slept on top of a heating pad as well. Of course, getting out of bed in the morning (with bedroom temps in the low 50's) was BRUTAL...

Experiment Results: 

So, after a month of low-heat living, how did we do? Well just last week, we received our newest gas bill and (drumroll please) - we're back down to our normal bill (aka, we cut the gas bill in half). Sweet success!

But (and here's the ultimate question) is this something I can live with (this being cold much of the time)? Really, it's not as bad as I thought. Sure. I would be more comfortable with a few more degrees buffering me from Old Man Winter, but those extra blankets (and the heating pad at night) seemed to do the trick quite nicely. 

Regardless, there was room for improvement, so last week, we purchased a heated mattress pad to replace our electric blanket (it has duel sided controls so I can completely bake myself while Dave maintains a lower setting). We tried it out for the first time Tuesday night and it was HEAVEN! And of course, heating the bed is WAY more efficient that heating the entire house at night. 

Verdict? We stayed relatively warm and still got our heating bill down by 50%. I'd say the experiment was a success, although I'm still pining for a good Texas heatwave. Maybe next week...

Have a great weekend everyone. Stay toasty!

Market to Table - February 5, 2009

Late last week, I was reminiscing as I perused some of my old "Market to Table" posts. Every week has been filled with fabulous meals (I hate to call them recipes because I pretty much make things up as I go along), but I noticed a few things I haven't made in a very long time. So, I decided it was time to pull some of those oldies but goodies from what can only be called my insanity in the kitchen repertoire and do a little veggie magic.

Stuffed tomatoes - What was once only a summer dish can now be a year-round delight thanks to one of our farmers market vendors who runs a fabulous tomato greenhouse. I often wonder if I'm dreaming when I'm buying my winter veggies only to see those plump juicy orbs of summer goodness. Mmmm! 

Right. Anyway, per my usual procedure, I just started pulling things from the fridge: brown rice, black beans (previously cooked), green onion, 2 tomatoes, collard greens, and mushrooms. While the brown rice steamed, I 1) cored the two tomatoes and set them aside; and 2) chopped the remainder of the veggies (including the tomato innards) and added them to a frying pan with a little olive oil and salt. Once the veggies were soft, I added the beans. Of course, when the rice was done, I stirred it into the veggie-bean mixture creating the filling. I filled each of the tomatoes and baked them in my toaster oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. As you can tell, they were so good, I had almost finished the first before I remember to take a picture. Good stuff and it's all local (well, except the salt)!

Stir fry veggies and mashed potatoes - Something else I realized I sorely missed was mashed potatoes. And with red potatoes on hand, it was an easy wish to fulfill. All I did was steam the potatoes in a steamer, then toss them in my KitchenAid mixer (peels and all - I love peels) with a little rice milk. Yeah, the rice milk isn't local, but I'm thinking I might try veggie broth next time (aka, the runoff from steaming other veggies like carrots and broccoli - I'm thinking it might add a nice flavor and it would definitely be local).

I used the mashed potatoes as a base for sauteed veggies (I'm a perpetual kid, always trying to mix my food up before I eat it). So I stir fried some collard greens, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and broccoli in olive oil and plopped them right on top of the mashed potatoes. Everything here is local except that rice milk and a little salt. Wish granted!

Rice and Veggies - Then back to my usual fare, though with new veggies every week, my meals are always just a little different. This week's highlighted rice dish started out with collard greens, onions, carrots, and mushrooms ; all sauteed in a little olive oil and placed on a bed of steamed brown rice. Again, everything but the salt is local. I have to say, I'm a HUGE rice fan and I never tire of these dishes.

Sweet Potatoes - Last, but certainly not least... remember all those sweet potatoes from the farmers market run? You can be sure I've been nibbling on them all week. All it takes is some chopped potato (bite size pieces), onions, mushrooms, a little salt, and some olive oil in a frying pan. Cook until the potatoes are soft and enjoy every local bite. It just doesn't get any better than this! (But then I have plenty of those 'taters left. I'm planning of whipping up some sweet potato soup soon...)

Of course, I've also been eating some wonderful Texas fruits like watermelon, grapefruit, and oranges; as well as sipping my morning all-local mint and sage tea. Now, look back at those photos. Not only does local food taste better than anything you can buy in the grocery, it looks pretty fabulous too! Should I expect anyone for dinner?

Have a great day, everyone! Don't forget to be fearless and try a little something new with your local produce. And, as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

Finding my place in the grand scheme

Having spent the better part of 4 years exploring the rest of the world, in 2004 I decided it was high time I explored my own backyard, so to speak. That July, I loaded up my father's motor home, and for 1 month I explored the western U.S. - just me, a friend, and my dog. The idea was to take our time, wander through each state, pull over when we were tired, get up when we were rested, and take in all the mystery and excitement the days had to offer. 

Little did I know that my perspective on life, the very core of my belief about myself would shift in that four weeks. Now, I've driven through the Alps; I've hiked the Great Wall of China; I've toured the ancient ruins of Greece and Italy; and each trip has made me a better person - more tolerant, more kind, more compassionate. My trip through the U.S., however, made me small. Let me explain.

Hiking into the Grand Canyon and observing the Meteor Crater; walking amongst the sequoias, thousands of years old; imagining the power that is unleashed when Mount Saint Helens erupts... you can't help but feel that the universe is so much bigger than we are. Sure, we plan our lives to the tiniest detail; we build our homes and fill them with things; we watch the stock market in anticipation that soon the economy will recover, ever looking for hope. But what are these things? In the face of a meteor crater whose impact could, in a matter of seconds, end civilization as we know it; in the shadow of a volcano whose pressure will again be unleashed upon us, to what do these plans of ours amount?

It was truly the most humbling experience of my life to realize that I will surely come and go, but the universe has existed farther back than I can imagine and will continue long after I am gone. In the grand scheme, my part is small and my importance negligible. If the Earth could speak, I have no doubt it would admonish us for the value we place on our own existence. What are we that live 100 years to a tree that lives 2000?

How important then it is to acknowledge our place in this grand scheme. Because it is in realizing how small we truly are that we are awed, inspired, and moved to revere what is so much bigger than ourselves; to care for and protect as it has cared for and protected us. We are small, but a distinct part of this world - not separate from it. There is no place where it begins and we end. We are born and nourished by the Earth, then die and are nourishment for it. We are one, in an infinite cycle of giving and receiving. 

And while I had begun my journey of simplicity long before that summer holiday, as surely as I breathe, it deepened my commitment to my need for less. It is only when we look beyond ourselves to the bigger picture that we find peace, contentment, a sense of place. It's not to be had in the future in some heavenly realm, but today in the beauty of a precious Mother Earth.

This post is my submission to the February APLS Carnival, "Nature and the Environment." Be sure to visit Green Phone Booth on February 20, to see how others have been inspired by nature to make a difference in their lives and in the world.