One of the few words that I have been hearing in recent months is "
locavore". Now we have all heard of omnivore, herbivore, and carnivore but what that heck is a
locavore?
Dictionary.com defines a "
locavore" as "a person who attempt[s] to eat only food grown locally". Sounds very tempting doesn't it? Becoming a
locavore can be very easy if you know how to and where to look.
So you want be a
locavore? Here's how.
- Farmers market. Next time you are in the supermarket don't grab that head of lettuce instead visit a farmer's market. Lucky for the new locavore, more and more farmer's markets open every year! Pros: You'll know where your food came from and those who grew it are more knowledgeable then those in the produce aisle. Cons: You'll have eat seasonally as well. Fresh lettuce in the middle on December? Forget it.
- Visit a farm. "Pick your own" farms are popping up all over the place usually offering strawberries, peas, pumpkins, and tomatoes that you can pick your self. Pros: You will defiantly know how fresh your produce is. Cons: The weather will decide if you can pick or not.
- Start small. Don't try to localize your food sources all at one, try for at least five food items every month.
- Don't forget the meat! A farm doesn't usually always mean veggies and fruits but also meat! Next time you past the meat aisle in the supermarket put your nose in the air and walk away. Pros: You'll know the freshness of your meat and if the animal was treated humanly. Cons: It can get a bit pricey but do you really need those two enormous steaks for dinner?
- Preserve. Yes, winter does come and limit your supply of fresh produce but don't be discouraged! Preserve the fruits of summer with the art of preserving and root cellaring. Pros: You can create a food source year around and some things do taste better when aged. Cons: Hours of slaving over that pot of tomato sauce.
- Grow your own! Believe it for not, even in cities you can grow at least some of your own food. Community gardens, rooftop gardens, and window boxes are all great ways to garden in the city. Don't forget keeping chickens and honey bees! Pros: You choose what to grow, it's even cheaper (some seed companies sell seeds for only 6o cents), it's fun! Cons: A large initial investment, hours of weeding, and figuring out a way to de-bug your garden without hurting the environment.
Become a locavore? The choice is yours.
Resource books:
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
Backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan
Made from Scratch by Jenna Woginrich
Did I miss something? Please comment!
