Moving in a few days! Eek. Perhaps that's why I had a danish, a spinach and feta-filled croissant, and today for lunch a bowl of lentil soup with salad. Hopefully I'll get back on track next week after the chaos.
On an up note, check out this link from SPUD about economist Jeff Rubin's new book "Why Your World Is About To Get A Whole Lot Smaller": Its going to be a small world afterall .
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Interesting links
News etc. I like
1) Great NY Times blog about growing agriculture-minded schools. Amazing
2) Why not label foods with their emissions? Go Sweden!
Article
1) Great NY Times blog about growing agriculture-minded schools. Amazing
2) Why not label foods with their emissions? Go Sweden!
Article
3) Carolyn Herriot's Blog www.gardenwiseonline.ca (The article "Eating From Your Winter Garden" is especially relevant).
:)
:)
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Spinach Dilemma
I stopped into Whole Foods on the way home (a Capers store near Broadway and Cambie), entered the produce section to find yet more signs saying "product of the US", turned to the nice produce clerk, and voiced my frustration. I asked him "when it says US, do you know where in the US it comes from?" He explained that most of the produce right now if from California or Mexico. I told him about my new experiment and he said that there would be some things from greenhouses in Washington. I stopped, and I pondered, if I'm purchasing things from greenhouses, am I really making a positive change? Is it really so important that I exclude California? Like people have said, aren't things from California likely more effeciently produced? The produce clerk told me he had also tried to eat locally before but that he had prepared in advance and frozen his greens (what I'm missing right now from my diet). Hmmm.
As I walked around the store the wheels continued to turn (a lovely benefit from this whole endeavor). I saw green. I saw "brassica mix" (bits of delicious-looking kale and such) positively glowing in a regularly spritzed refrigerated bowl. It's lovely green and purple foliage taunted me and when I saw the California label I actually frowned and might have wimpered. You see, I'm one of those people who likes green in every meal, and I think I've had the colour 4 times in the last 2 weeks. Then I saw the spinach. Gorgeous and... giant smile :) from BC! "Yey!" I cried on the inside. And then I thought. Hmmm, I just went to a Vancouver garden in search of greens and found just a few sprigs of kale. "How did this spinach grow?" I pondered. I am thinking likely in a greenhouse and so the frown returned. Yet I stuck to my rule and lovingly packed a bag full of the amazing stuff.
As I continued to wonder with my find, I reached the frozen foods sections, contemplating getting finding some more local fare therewithin. Yet another dilemma... if it's been frozen since summer how eco-friendly is that? The not so reusable plastic bags egged me on my way. I had my spinach, this was enough.
I didn't mention the salmon. I got salmon. Lemon pepper seasoned spring salmon from our coastal waters and a bit of maple nuggets. Yes, dilemma 3, after 17 days I saw those filets, tasted some, and wanted some. Part of my excuse includes checking my oceanwise chart first and seeing that wild Canadian spring salmon is not on the good list, but it is also not on the bad. Surely buying a filet or two one every few months is my fair share, right? Plus, I need to add a bit more variety to my diet than grains, root veggies and dairy. I actually think I've gained a few pounds in the last week from all the dairy. Now, I need balance.
Well I would currently rather read than write, so I will leave it there. My current big thoughts are that if eating locally reduces our dependence on oil and builds a healthy local food system I am still fully behind it, I just need to figure out how to make that food system also organic, small-scale, energy efficient and seasonal. I think my next step is to visit an urban garden that is flourishing despite the fact that it is January. Growing winter hardy crops would be a simple answer.
In parting I will just say farmer's market finds from Saturday included portabello mushrooms, qualicum cheese, honey and biodynamic apples (they looked beautiful!). I'll also be sure to post my estimates food finances for the last two weeks soon. I am currently thinking it's been about $200, but not sure, hoping a bit less, but I did spend $20 on nuts (an exception although I've heard I could source some local hazelnuts).
Happy eating!
As I walked around the store the wheels continued to turn (a lovely benefit from this whole endeavor). I saw green. I saw "brassica mix" (bits of delicious-looking kale and such) positively glowing in a regularly spritzed refrigerated bowl. It's lovely green and purple foliage taunted me and when I saw the California label I actually frowned and might have wimpered. You see, I'm one of those people who likes green in every meal, and I think I've had the colour 4 times in the last 2 weeks. Then I saw the spinach. Gorgeous and... giant smile :) from BC! "Yey!" I cried on the inside. And then I thought. Hmmm, I just went to a Vancouver garden in search of greens and found just a few sprigs of kale. "How did this spinach grow?" I pondered. I am thinking likely in a greenhouse and so the frown returned. Yet I stuck to my rule and lovingly packed a bag full of the amazing stuff.
As I continued to wonder with my find, I reached the frozen foods sections, contemplating getting finding some more local fare therewithin. Yet another dilemma... if it's been frozen since summer how eco-friendly is that? The not so reusable plastic bags egged me on my way. I had my spinach, this was enough.
I didn't mention the salmon. I got salmon. Lemon pepper seasoned spring salmon from our coastal waters and a bit of maple nuggets. Yes, dilemma 3, after 17 days I saw those filets, tasted some, and wanted some. Part of my excuse includes checking my oceanwise chart first and seeing that wild Canadian spring salmon is not on the good list, but it is also not on the bad. Surely buying a filet or two one every few months is my fair share, right? Plus, I need to add a bit more variety to my diet than grains, root veggies and dairy. I actually think I've gained a few pounds in the last week from all the dairy. Now, I need balance.
Well I would currently rather read than write, so I will leave it there. My current big thoughts are that if eating locally reduces our dependence on oil and builds a healthy local food system I am still fully behind it, I just need to figure out how to make that food system also organic, small-scale, energy efficient and seasonal. I think my next step is to visit an urban garden that is flourishing despite the fact that it is January. Growing winter hardy crops would be a simple answer.
In parting I will just say farmer's market finds from Saturday included portabello mushrooms, qualicum cheese, honey and biodynamic apples (they looked beautiful!). I'll also be sure to post my estimates food finances for the last two weeks soon. I am currently thinking it's been about $200, but not sure, hoping a bit less, but I did spend $20 on nuts (an exception although I've heard I could source some local hazelnuts).
Happy eating!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Eating This Week
Hi!
Just thought I would say a quick hello. I just ordered my SPUD box for tomorrow and am not all too excited about the fact that my local organic vegetables for the upcoming week consist of a big green cabbage, some beets, and crimini mushrooms (plus squash, onions and potatoes that I have here at home). At least I can go to the Farmer's market at Wise Hall this Saturday. This past Saturday I also ended up biking over to Donald's Market on Commercial to get more milk, apples, cheese, yoghurt, mushrooms and *aghast* tahini. Honestly though I'm not that aghast. I think I'll have to add nuts, seeds and beans processed locally to my list of exceptions, at least until I figure out an alternative protein source (but then again, as you perhaps noted, I am getting my intake of dairy).
Today's reading is: SPEC's Food Security page
Just thought I would say a quick hello. I just ordered my SPUD box for tomorrow and am not all too excited about the fact that my local organic vegetables for the upcoming week consist of a big green cabbage, some beets, and crimini mushrooms (plus squash, onions and potatoes that I have here at home). At least I can go to the Farmer's market at Wise Hall this Saturday. This past Saturday I also ended up biking over to Donald's Market on Commercial to get more milk, apples, cheese, yoghurt, mushrooms and *aghast* tahini. Honestly though I'm not that aghast. I think I'll have to add nuts, seeds and beans processed locally to my list of exceptions, at least until I figure out an alternative protein source (but then again, as you perhaps noted, I am getting my intake of dairy).
Today's reading is: SPEC's Food Security page
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Learning
I've found myself pretty busy this week, but very happy to be occupied with the work I am doing.
I've still found time to have some great and thought-provoking discussions about Eating Local. (But not to do the dishes).
I'm learning more and more about the myriad issues that come into play, namely: the environmental issue of the impacts of vegetarians who "go local" starting to eat meat again and the social issue of not supporting foreign economies. These are two issues I need to work through, and I didn't address them well enough in my previous post, so here is my second (first real?) attempt.
Currently I am thinking that eating a bit of local meat isn't so bad because there will always be people who eat meat. By admitting some meat and supporting those who do it well, I would be helping to develop sustainable local meat production (I obviously need to be pretty choosing if I'm going to do this well). In a month though I won't be able to cook meat at home (new house rules) so I'll either have to find a few restaurants that serve organic local meat (also preferably SPCA approved) or add nuts, lentils and grains from California or as far away as Manitoba to my exceptions. I was recently told that eating a serving of meat can negate the environmental benefits of eating locally for a week. I'm currently waiting for the study that found this to arrive in my inbox - I want to know what they considered as the environmental benefits and losses (energy? carbon/methane emissions? erosion? impact on biodiversity?). In my opinion this would have to be a pretty extensive study.
The second issue goes a bit over my head after too much thought because we end up in the realm of global economics. I say that people should live in tune with their own environment because that is what ultimately sustains them (the "carrying capacity" chart from population biology class is what comes to mind). I also think that poorer foreign nations would benefit from selling their food and supplies locally instead of a few farmers selling it for a larger profit overseas while the remainder of their kinsmen have to rely on rice and corn and whatever else we drop from airplanes as 'aid' (the alternative is idealistic, yes; possible, maybe). This brings us to the ever so large population problem. If we are to bring populations more in line with the environments that sustain them (avoiding large scale extreme poverty) then, as far as I know, the answer comes in the form of education and health care (bringing down the need or desire to have large families). The question is, does the funding for health care and infrastructure come from profits made off of exporting goods (food or other resources) or, I'm just thinking here, a different form of foreign aid (money and help in building schools and hospitals? Perhaps coming as retribution for having pumped so many greenhouse gases into the atmosphere?) See, I'm over my head. I feel like I know more this week than I did last though, so who knows, maybe I'll have the answer for you next week. haha. Or maybe you have the answer? Again, thoughts are welcome.
PS: my local food thus far has consisted largely of squashes, potatoes/yams/sweet potatoes, mushrooms, cheese, milk and juice. I'm about to make that potato-leek soup :)
I've still found time to have some great and thought-provoking discussions about Eating Local. (But not to do the dishes).
I'm learning more and more about the myriad issues that come into play, namely: the environmental issue of the impacts of vegetarians who "go local" starting to eat meat again and the social issue of not supporting foreign economies. These are two issues I need to work through, and I didn't address them well enough in my previous post, so here is my second (first real?) attempt.
Currently I am thinking that eating a bit of local meat isn't so bad because there will always be people who eat meat. By admitting some meat and supporting those who do it well, I would be helping to develop sustainable local meat production (I obviously need to be pretty choosing if I'm going to do this well). In a month though I won't be able to cook meat at home (new house rules) so I'll either have to find a few restaurants that serve organic local meat (also preferably SPCA approved) or add nuts, lentils and grains from California or as far away as Manitoba to my exceptions. I was recently told that eating a serving of meat can negate the environmental benefits of eating locally for a week. I'm currently waiting for the study that found this to arrive in my inbox - I want to know what they considered as the environmental benefits and losses (energy? carbon/methane emissions? erosion? impact on biodiversity?). In my opinion this would have to be a pretty extensive study.
The second issue goes a bit over my head after too much thought because we end up in the realm of global economics. I say that people should live in tune with their own environment because that is what ultimately sustains them (the "carrying capacity" chart from population biology class is what comes to mind). I also think that poorer foreign nations would benefit from selling their food and supplies locally instead of a few farmers selling it for a larger profit overseas while the remainder of their kinsmen have to rely on rice and corn and whatever else we drop from airplanes as 'aid' (the alternative is idealistic, yes; possible, maybe). This brings us to the ever so large population problem. If we are to bring populations more in line with the environments that sustain them (avoiding large scale extreme poverty) then, as far as I know, the answer comes in the form of education and health care (bringing down the need or desire to have large families). The question is, does the funding for health care and infrastructure come from profits made off of exporting goods (food or other resources) or, I'm just thinking here, a different form of foreign aid (money and help in building schools and hospitals? Perhaps coming as retribution for having pumped so many greenhouse gases into the atmosphere?) See, I'm over my head. I feel like I know more this week than I did last though, so who knows, maybe I'll have the answer for you next week. haha. Or maybe you have the answer? Again, thoughts are welcome.
PS: my local food thus far has consisted largely of squashes, potatoes/yams/sweet potatoes, mushrooms, cheese, milk and juice. I'm about to make that potato-leek soup :)
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