I have an idea though that what we need is not more gloom and doom prophecies. While we need to be aware of the dangers, what we really need is hope. We need to know that there are alternatives, that they are achievable and that they will produce positive abundant results. We need to know that while the task seems insurmountable and impossible to tackle on our own, we are NOT alone. There are many others like us out there passionate about doing their part to make this world a better place. We need to do our part too. Every day in big ways and small, we can make changes that will move this world on the road to a better future.
I can do my part by setting a positive example and sharing my successes -and my failures- with you here.
Challenge number one: getting the family to support and participate in achieving my goals (more on that in a later post).
Success number one: preserving local food for winter use. It doesn't get any more local than this!
These jars of Salsa Verde were made from green tomatoes, green peppers, onions and cilantro all grown in our own garden and canned by my fabulous husband. Thanks sweetie! I'll be enjoying this tangy delight on everything from nachos, to enchiladas to salad for the next 6 months. (There are another 10 jars you don't see in this picture.)
We also scored these wonderful finds at Chase Farms in Wells, Maine. Chase farms is one of the oldest continuously operated family farms in the US. 50 pounds of Chippewa potatoes grown exclusively by Chase Farms and harvested with a horse-drawn digger. These will be a great addition to the root cellar. Potato and Leek soup in December will be a welcome treat.
And these beautiful squash along with Chases own humanely treated, vegetarian fed, all natural beef and local Maine Cheese.
Our larder is filling up with dry beans, flour and other sundries from local farms, markets and our own garden.
What are the payoffs? Along with the culinary delights described above and the fabulous batch of chili my darling is cooking up at this moment with some of that gorgeous green sauce, are the sense of real deep satisfaction and self confidence garnered from being able to take care of one's self directly without relying on wages earned working for someone else to provide for our daily food. The connections and friendships made with local food suppliers and the knowledge that by purchasing the fruits of their labor we are helping them to meet needs such has clothing, shelter and energy. And what's more, by doing this we have reduced food miles, carbon emissions and our dependence on fossil fuels just a little bit while enjoying some of the freshest, healthiest food we've consumed in a long time.
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