Sustainable Eating!

Corn

Hello Readers!!

One of the purposes of the farm is to teach people the simplicity of growing food in a sustainable manner which, by default, means to eat in a sustainable manner. Now, eating in a sustainable manner can be very fun but it entails a few things.

1) Eat local...
        One of the most important things to consider when attempting to have a more sustainable diet is that you should eat local. Organic can be important for a number of the ingredients you might use but local is higher up on that ladder. By eating local, you are making the choice to purchase foods that were grown within the vicinity of the area in which you live. As a result, your food is fresher and healthier! But something a lot of people do not consider is how much carbon their food costs (food miles). On average, food travels 1500 miles from farm to plate. That's a lot of fossil fuels! So when you eat, you are also consuming fossil fuels. By eating local, you reduce your consumption of fossil fuels and your carbon footprint. That is not say all your ingredients should be local...just make attempts to use more local ingredients than non-local. You could even grow your own!

2) Know your impacts...

Volunteers at the farm!

        This part is simple, yet so complicated at the same time. Wendell Berry once said; "Eating is an agricultural act". Michael Pollan goes on to make the claim that eating is also an ecological and political act as well. Today, our vision is often obscure to the impacts we have on the world by the simple act of eating. But the choices we make, in regards to our diets, have a profound effect on our world. Whenever we eat, we our making a choice to indirectly endorse specific agricultural practices and their impacts on the natural environment. We also relay a message to our representative that certain practices or subsidies are acceptable. To eat with conscious rather than being oblivious to everything at stake with each bite can seem a bit daunting but can also bring great satisfaction.

3) Be creative...
        Eating local, at times, can take a bit of creativity. For most my meals,  I try to include the majority of local ingredients. This takes quite a bit of imagination. Don't be afraid to try new veggies or fruits. Mix things together that you might not never imagine being together. Remember that not all ingredients have to be cooked. For example, yellow squash, zucchini, and beets all taste great raw!! Take your mind outside of the standard meal box and create a new paradigm!!

Eating local is one of the easiest ways to begin living a sustainable lifestyle. Of course, doing so involves a lot more than the three things mentioned above! These are just a good place to start. Think local, be aware of your choices, and be creative! Once you do, you'll find eating sustainably is very rewarding!




Below, you'll find a couple pictures of food I've created using mostly ingredients from our farm. Enjoy!
(Interested in having the recipes to the meals shown below? Add us on facebook or join our mailing list!)

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-Agroecology Education Farm

Green beans and chard topped with flounder (obviously not local) , a corn relish and bell peppers. Served with a tomato-basil salad. Garnished with an orange slice and fennel. 

Pizza with tomato, bell pepper, basil, and mozzarella cheese on top of  homemade pizza sauce and  crust.