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I was just reading my friend Anita’s great post, Off Grid, Part-Time at Prairie Dreams about a family who is going off the grid and eating locally for a one month trial.
When I began thinking about eating locally or growing my own food, I found inspiration at Path to Freedom with their 100 Foot Diet Challenge. My garden is small and actually looking like it may never produce ANYTHING, so I feel a bit defeated at the moment.
Here are the specs for the Urban Homesteader/Path to Freedom 100 Foot Diet Challenge….
If not from BACKYARD, then Locally produced (PTF’s addition)
If not LOCALLY PRODUCED, then Organic.If not ORGANIC, then Family farm.If not FAMILY FARM, then Local business.If not a LOCAL BUSINESS, then Fair Trade.
In the past, Anita and I have shared our concerns over not being able to find much locally grown produce available for purchase. We hope that soon the Farmer’s Market will be able to assist with this dilemma, but I began thinking about an alternative for future seasons after I left a comment on her post. What if Anita and I cooperated with each other…with a backyard C.S.A.? We live within 20 miles of each other, so that would certainly meet the 100 Mile Diet requirements. What if we found just two more backyard farmers who were interested in the same?
I don’t quite have the logistics of how this might work, but it is definitely something to think about for when Anita is moved into her house and has her garden growing. Do you think I should have asked Anita first, before putting her garden up for barter?
June 25th, 2008 - 1:45 pm
I think it’s a fabulous idea… CSAs all have to start somewhere… lol
Of course it will be NEXT year before I actually HAVE a garden…
June 25th, 2008 - 3:48 pm
I think that would be a great idea if everyone grows different crops or fruit to exchange. Since you’re so close, everyone’s vegetables would probably be ready at the very same time. You know how bad it is when just one garden has zucchini.
Back when I had a garden I often wished for a friend to share not so much the produce itself but someone with whom to share the putting up. Those chores always go so much faster when working with another person. I hope you and Anita will be able to do that.
June 25th, 2008 - 5:01 pm
Thanks Alice…I think it would be fun to work together as well.
We usually end up with that 3 foot zuchini when friends begin sharing..haha!
June 25th, 2008 - 6:52 pm
DOn’t feel defeated anajz - I sympathize, every year at least one thing in my garden doesn’t turn out right and then I feel disappointed. At this point I just have to chalk it up to experience and write it down on my lessons learned. Like last year’s lesson learned was don’t let weeds get bigger than the vegetable plants ;).
July 2nd, 2008 - 8:22 am
From downtown Valley Center to downtown greensburg is 116 miles, but I am 9 miles outside of downtown Valley, so that puts 107 miles between my house and downtown greensburg. If you guys are 7 miles east of downtown, then maybe we can pull off the 100 mile limit. I have other things besides veggies to offer, but because of the laws of the state you will need to ask me via email.